Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

"Naturally, I have no objections."

"If Senior does not mind, I can allow him to cultivate at Black Fire Immortal Mountain."

Upon hearing these words, Yuanmie’s face instantly showed delight: "Thank you, Young Master."

With his disciple’s talent, he was certainly qualified to cultivate at Black Fire Immortal Mountain.

Even becoming a Core Disciple would be possible.

In the past, he naturally dismissed such a prospect. After all, as a Golden Immortal, being a loose cultivator, for a mighty Golden Immortal like him to seek resources for his disciple was all too easy.

But now, things were different.

Soon after,

Xu Yang directly released Yuanmie.

Feeling the explosive surge of Immortal Spirit Qi at Black Fire Immortal Mountain, Yuanmie sighed, "As expected of a top-tier immortal sect."

Turning to Xu Yang, Yuanmie’s heart was an intricate tangle of emotions.

He, a dignified Golden Immortal, had suffered a resounding defeat.

Yet now, the resentment and dissatisfaction within his heart had greatly diminished.

Golden Immortal?

Only a loose cultivator.

Early Stage of Golden Immortal at that.

To submit to a peerless genius with a Ninth Grade Immortal Foundation—he was barely even qualified for such an honor.

Now, he harbored no doubt toward Xu Yang’s previous words.

Following Xu Yang might truly be a tremendous opportunity, perhaps yielding extraordinary fortune, even raising him to a level he could once never have imagined.

"Young Master, first take me to a more secluded place. If I recover here, the commotion of absorbing Immortal Spirit Qi will be far too great," Yuanmie said respectfully.

He swiftly composed himself.

Being discovered wasn’t a concern in itself.

Yet, it did feel somewhat shameful.

"Very well."

Xu Yang pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.

Then, he led Yuanmie away from Dan Feng and deep into the vast mountain ranges of Black Fire Immortal Mountain.

Three days later.

Xu Yang bade farewell to his master and quietly departed from Black Fire Immortal Mountain.

The only ones aware of his departure were a handful such as Ji Hong and Zhou Tai.

On the day he left, yet another guest arrived at the Void Celestial Fire Shifting Array.

It was none other than Yang Yuan.

...

"It’s just up ahead."

Yuanmie pointed to a valley wreathed in verdant shade before them.

This was his cave dwelling.

Not far away was Cangyan City, a great city of North Province, merely a few hundred miles distant.

This place too lay within Black Fire Immortal Mountain’s sphere of influence, though already near the boundary; to the east, not too far away, lay the domain of the Hongtian Guiyuan Sect.

The territories of the three top immortal sects of North Province formed a triangular wedge: Black Fire Immortal Mountain in the southwest, Hongtian Guiyuan Sect to the southeast, and in the far north, Ice and Snow Immortal Palace stood at the pole.

To the northeast from here was the converging zone between these three great powers.

Since Ice and Snow Immortal Palace cultivated the Dao of ice, most dwelled in the polar glaciers, and this northern-leaning zone was a chaotic region with forces in disorder.

Though nominally considered part of the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace’s domain, they could scarcely be bothered to manage it.

"I didn’t expect Senior’s cave dwelling to be so close to the city," Xu Yang remarked in surprise as he glanced at the nearby, faint outline of Cangyan City.

In his mind, Golden Immortals should prefer places devoid of human presence.

Yuanmie laughed, "I, an old man, naturally dislike socializing, but Ruoruo has always been with me since childhood, and she must have people to interact and play with. Hence, we settled here."

Xu Yang glanced at Yuanmie, thinking this Golden Immortal certainly doted greatly on his disciple.

He had originally thought it to be a male disciple, yet it turned out to be a young lady.

And younger than he, only sixteen years old.

Yet her cultivation was not weak, already at the Early Stage of Celestial Immortal Realm.

Such a level of cultivation would surely qualify for a Core Disciple at Black Fire Immortal Mountain.

The two of them approached slowly, a stream running through the valley, the fragrance of flowers and grasses drifting through the air.

The environment was outstanding.

As they entered the valley, Yuanmie’s expression changed dramatically.

All the flowers and plants had been trampled into chaos, traces of havoc everywhere, and the two small houses lay in utter ruin.

Xu Yang’s brows furrowed—a mishap had occurred.

But who would dare lay hands on a Golden Immortal’s cave dwelling?

"Damn it."

Yuanmie flashed to the ruins, extending his Primordial Spirit to carefully sense the surroundings.

Soon, he moved to one side of the wreckage, fixing his gaze on a sword mark upon the ground.

"The Feng Family!"

Yuanmie’s eyes blazed with fury, his teeth gnashing.

"Who are the Feng Family?" Xu Yang asked, puzzled.

"They are the strongest clan in Cangyan City, possessing a Golden Immortal whose strength surpasses my own. We once exchanged pointers without enmity. However, the Feng family brat coveted Ruoruo and once had his ancestor request a marriage alliance but was refused by me."

"To think they’d strike at such a time."

"Truly damnable."

He swept his gaze around, his face so grim it seemed ready to drip water.

Suddenly.

He appeared atop the slope above the valley in a flash, bent down, and parted a patch of weeds—his eyes lit up instantly.

Xu Yang followed, seeing a line of scrawled writing beneath the undergrowth, clearly left in haste.

"Worthy to be my disciple, hahaha."

"When Starry Extreme Night ended, and I did not return, that Feng family brat came. Sensing something amiss, Ruoruo tricked him and then fled immediately."

Yuanmie couldn’t help but laugh, but soon restrained himself.

Although Ruoruo had escaped, if the Feng Family was determined, they might yet catch up in pursuit.

"Senior, what does this strange gorge-like mark here mean?"

Xu Yang pointed at an odd sign following the inscription on the ground and inquired.

Yuanmie explained, "That’s East Gorge, a region at the edge of Ice and Snow Immortal Palace’s domain. Both sides rise steeply, with a low, narrow expanse between—hence the name. I once took Ruoruo there."

"In that case, we’d best hurry over," Xu Yang said.

"Very well."

Yuanmie, eager beyond measure, apologized, seized Xu Yang, and shot into the sky.

The speed of a Golden Immortal was indeed unparalleled.

Flying past Cangyan City, Yuanmie looked down and ground out, "Those old bastards of the Feng Family—if anything happens to Ruoruo, I’ll risk my life to make sure your Feng Family pays the price."

His greatest concern now was Ruoruo’s safety.

If he went to seek revenge on the Feng Family, but their ancestor had greatly improved during this Starry Extreme Night, things would go terribly wrong—even he might be unable to escape.

This vendetta must wait for another opportunity.

Yuanmie’s disciple was named Xu Ruoruo. Judging from the traces a moment ago, though Xu Yang hadn’t met her, he sensed the girl must be quite clever and resourceful.

Yuanmie sped along the way, his pace blindingly fast.

In just a few hours, they had left the domain of Black Fire Immortal Mountain.

Continuing east, the terrain to the north and south rose higher, while the broad central region dipped lower.

Halfway to their destination,

Yuanmie suddenly changed direction, descending from the sky to land upon a barren rocky hill.

Xu Yang was puzzled, only to see Yuanmie scanning the area, then flicking his sleeve to lift a pile of rubble several yards away, revealing a jade slip beneath.

Xu Yang’s eyebrows rose sharply in astonishment.

This pair of master and disciple certainly were intriguing.

Yuanmie retrieved the jade slip, immersed his mind in it, and the gravity on his face slightly lessened.

"This jade slip was left four days ago. At the time, the Feng family brat had not yet caught up. Barring unforeseen events, Ruoruo should already have reached East Gorge by now."

"The Feng Family have no foundation in East Gorge—even if that brat is bold, he may not dare follow her there."

Yuanmie nearly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least in theory, Xu Ruoruo was still safe.

Xu Yang also realized something, "Once at East Gorge, there must be a place where Senior and Miss Xu both know to meet, correct?"

Yuanmie grinned widely, "Of course there is."

"There’s no time to delay, let us go."