"Big Brother!"
As the sun set in the western hills, Zhang Jiujin pushed open the door and walked out of the alchemy room, his brow faintly exhausted and excited as he bowed towards Lu Jin'an: "I have fulfilled my mission. The Star Gathering Pill has been successfully refined."
Looking at the jade bottle in which the pills were jumping around and jumping, Lu Jin'an put away the dozen or so pills he had forged, turned around and accepted the jade bottle handed over by Zhang Jijin. He gave a bow in return: "Thanks to Jijin younger brother."
"It's nothing, nothing," Zhang Jijin waved his hand. Then, with a look of anticipation, he said, "If Big Brother can complete the Nine Star Fortification of the Body in this era, can all the pills needed after that be entrusted to me?"
"Alright."
"Good!" Zhang Jijin clashed his right fist with his left palm, his eyes increasingly excited: "Helping Big Brother complete all the refinement in this era, I am absolutely sure that I can surpass the Master, hehehe..."
Lu Jin'an laughed, "Head Master Chen has lived for so long, he must have refined the pills for the Nine Star Refinement of the Body."
"He hasn't finished it yet," Zhang Jijin chuckled. "I am very familiar with Master he, and the content of the pills for the Nine Star Refinement of the Body in this era is not like in the past."
"Alright." Lu Jin'an nodded: "I'll leave first."
"I'll start gathering the materials needed later as well," Zhang Jijin patted his chest: "I will give my all to ensure that there are no worries in the logistics for Big Brother."
"Don't worry, what if I fail?"
"You are the Master Brother!" Zhang Jijin's face became serious: "Shouldering the future of Wandao Sect, Little Brother believes that Master Brother will definitely succeed."
Lu Jin'an stroked the jade bottle with his finger, turned around, and took a step: "Wait for my good news."
"Wishing Big Brother martial arts blessings and prosperity!" Zhang Jijin deeply bowed.
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At the highest peak of the Wan Dao Sect, in front of the Taiyi Peak stone steps.
The old man with white hair and a thin, slightly stooped figure, supporting himself with a cane and combing his beard, appeared to be an old and feeble figure. However, when he opened his mouth, it sounded like a thunderclap: "You don't have to worry about it. It's not just you who considers him a precious gem."
Standing a short distance away, Fei Wan Yu took her eyes off the Dan Peak: "But where he wants to go…"
"Young people have their own path, what can you accomplish by always protecting them?" The old man knocked the ground with his cane: "I worry too, but worrying is useless."
"He has confidence, the trust of his brothers and sisters, and the support of the entire sect. As the head teacher, you should be even more reassured. What he shoulders is not just himself!"
The old man turned around and looked at the vice-sector chief of Taishi Temple, who manages it, "Old man will celebrate my birthday this time."
Ji Wenchang bowed slightly, understanding the implication of the sect master's words: all the tribes would be invited.
The old man took a step forward and walked towards Taiyi Hall: "Taking advantage of this opportunity, let Jin'an assume the position of the divine son."
The divine son is the future leader of the Wan Dao Sect.
"Understood." Ji Wenchang bowed, his mind already settled on the specifications for the master's birthday banquet.
After the footsteps of the master disappeared, Ji Wenchang stood up straight, looking relieved: "It should have been that Jin'an takes over the position of the divine son long ago. The master has been holding back for too long…"
Fei Wan Yu looked forward: "Since no one else vies for this position, it's not a problem if we wait a bit."
"They dare?" Ji Wenchang shook his head: "Do they even know their own worth, thinking they can vie for Jin'an's position? I'll break their legs first."
"It's an exaggeration."
Ji Wenchang said calmly: "Preventing problems before they happen, who dares to intrigue and disturb the sect etiquette, I will definitely kill without mercy."
The top beam being straight ensures that the lower beams will not be crooked.
"I will leave first." Fei Wan Yu took a step forward: "I have only one precious apprentice."
Ji Wenchang frowned slightly: "You be careful he doesn't grow up."
"I promised my apprentice to protect him on his path," Fei Wan Yu said lightly, "And besides, I have my limits."
Ji Wenchang shook his head and said no more, instead he also left Taiyi Peak. Now that Lu Jin'an is to inherit the position of the divine son, he should also teach his disciple Jiang Wuyaya how to better assist the divine son.
······
After leaving the Dan Peak, Lu Jin'an went to other several halls to confirm one by one that everything was prepared, then took the flying ship and set off towards his destination.
Twenty thousand years ago, after the fierce competition among all races, it was determined that the Cloud Peak Continent now has five major realms: East, West, South, North and Central. As one of the victorious races, the human race occupied the entire Eastern Realm as well as parts of the Northern and Central Realms, ranking second only to the Demons.
However, although the territories of each race were established, there were still some areas on the Cloud Peak Continent that were unclaimed. These areas were mostly death zones where entry was forbidden.
Among such a large number of forbidden areas, there is one that is truly a death zone - after the Breach, where the ancient land of the Devas is located.
In the southwest of the Central Realm, the Eighth Methodic Abyss resembles a shattered boundary wall, with spiritual power unable to enter and life even more difficult to penetrate.
After three days of flying at high speed, Lu Jin'an emerged from the cabin onto the deck, overlooking the Breach at the end of the realm where spiritual power ceases. The interwoven abysses seemed to be able to swallow people whole, making one dare not approach.
"The Soul Retribution Corridor..."
Lu Jin'an lowered his gaze slightly, then withdrew the flying ship and arrived at this city, which is the only one in this place. It is called "Ghost City" by the cultivators.
What lies within sight is sparsely populated, filled with coffins and various items needed only for tomb visits.
As soon as he entered the Ghost City, the operation of spiritual power became obscure. However, Lu Jin'an did not care, but rather curiously looked around.
Because his destination was the legendary Underworld, and the Ghost City was the nearest human realm to it.
In Lu Jin'an's understanding of the Cloud Peak Continent, the heavens, the earth, and the underworld exist. However, the heavens and the earth can be said to have become one, as cultivators and ordinary people coexist in this realm. It's just that ordinary people are unable to see the real cultivators.
However, the underworld cannot be integrated into this realm, because whether it's cultivators or ordinary people, they are all 'life'. Once it is merged with the 'dead', it would create chaos.
'Perhaps for death, life is death, and death is life.'
Lu Jin'an pondered to himself, walking to the side of the road and watching the pallbearers pass by in front of him. He was clear about their role in the Ghost City: they were the Devalaya's tax collectors.
To deliver messages for the living, and fulfill wishes of the deceased.
After a living person's death, the entry of their soul into the underworld and the rebirth cycle is not something that can be done immediately.
Lu Jin'an has many unanswered questions about the Cloud Peak Continent, but he also knows that with his current cultivation level, he cannot understand the rules of how the world operates. For now, he can only follow the Taoist rules that have existed on the Cloud Peak Continent for an unknown period of time.
Lu Jin'an turned his head towards the closed city gate at the end of the city, rumors say that passing through that gate can lead to the Soul Retribution Corridor and then have a chance to reach the ancient land after the Breach. However, no one has ever confirmed it.
Because life and death are two different rules, there is no 'superiority'. Even the Deity Concealment realm dares not easily pry into the mysteries of the ancient land of the Devas. Conversely... perhaps it is the same?
Lu Jin'an may not know, but it does not prevent him from walking towards that gate.
Lu Jin'an wants to become immortal, but becoming immortal requires adhering to the Dao, and the path he is taking cannot bypass that gate.
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Author: It's my first time writing a fantasy novel, and I have many shortcomings. I am still in the process of learning and making progress. Everyone has different worldviews and perceptions. If you find anything unreasonable, you can make suggestions. Of course, with limited knowledge, I will gradually supplement and improve under the premise of not violating the outline. If there are things that cannot be improved, let's just consider them as part of the setting of this book ~
Author: Thank you for showing leniency to a deeper understanding of fantasy readers. I am very grateful~
