I forge immortality with spiritual treasures.

Chapter 49 Feng Xufeng

Soon, the sun set.

As the last rays of sunset disappeared into the horizon, the stars and moon had unknowingly drawn back the curtain of night.

Even after nightfall, the Cloud Boat remained bustling, especially with the colorful lanterns hanging from each building, illuminating the surroundings and giving Ying Chan a dreamlike feeling.

It seemed as if in an instant, he had arrived in a world completely different from this one.

But when he lowered his eyes and looked at his Taoist robe and cloth shoes, he ultimately just smiled.

Things are different now, after all.

The group walked past the Jade Pool again, and perhaps because of the appearance of the superior-grade magic artifact during the day, the number of people gathered around the Jade Pool did not decrease.

Indeed, even spiritual practitioners cannot escape all kinds of delusions.

At this moment, Li Zhuo glanced at the sky and said, "The Dharma assembly should be starting soon, let's head over there too."

Ying Chan followed the direction he pointed and saw a magnificent, golden pavilion.

This pavilion, located in the very center of the Cloud Boat, has nine stories and is the tallest in the boat, making it extremely luxurious.

Li Zhuo led a few people to the foot of the building, whereupon a steward greeted them and bowed, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li has arrived."

Li Zhuo returned the courtesy with a simple bow and said with a smile, "I also brought a few junior brothers and sisters with me. Please arrange the seating, fellow Daoist."

“This is easy.” The manager immediately summoned his men and ordered them to make preparations. Then he personally led a few people up the stairs and headed straight for the top floor.

"The boat owner is currently entertaining distinguished guests and has not yet appeared at the Dharma assembly."

The steward said, "However, many guests have already taken their seats, and Sword Maiden will be making her appearance soon."

"I see." Li Zhuo simply nodded, while Ying Chan and the others followed silently.

The manager, seeing this, still smiled, but immediately became less talkative.

Soon, the group reached the top floor, and Ying Chan suddenly realized that the scenery here was completely different from what he had seen outside; there was no obstruction on any side.

The vast space was completely exposed to the moonlight. Looking out, one could see the colorful lanterns hanging in the boats and the bustling crowds nearby, and in the distance, the shadowy peaks and the starry sky. It was a truly pleasant place.

The venue was spacious, with dozens of tables set up, each with burning incense, creating a serene and calming atmosphere. Many people had already taken their seats, some in groups of three or five, clinking glasses and chatting happily, while others were alone, enjoying their food and drinks, listening to the music playing in the venue, occasionally clapping along, and not feeling lonely at all.

"Fellow Daoist, please follow me."

Just as the steward was about to lead the group to their seats, Li Zhuo's gaze was already fixed on the room.

Ying Chan followed his gaze and saw only a silhouette wearing a golden crown and Taoist robes, pouring himself a drink.

Whether or not he noticed their gazes, the Taoist suddenly turned his head and looked in their direction!
Ying Chan felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and he couldn't help but take half a step back. Li Jingqiu even exclaimed, "Ah!"

Li Xuanying remained relatively calm, but upon seeing this situation, he immediately became vigilant.

But to the surprise of the three, the golden-crowned Taoist priest, upon recognizing their faces, suddenly transformed his sharp gaze into one of joy, and stood up, calling out, "Li Zhuo!"

Li Zhuo smiled slightly, led the group through the crowd, and came to the Golden Crown Daoist. "Xu Feng, it's been a long time."

The Golden Crowned Taoist grabbed Li Zhuo and laughed, "What? Long time no see, you've become so polite?"

"Why would I be so polite with you..." Li Zhuo moved his shoulders, but couldn't break free, so he said helplessly, "Let me go."

The Golden Crowned Taoist chuckled, released Li Zhuo, and then glanced at the faces of the group before asking, "Aren't you going to introduce me to your junior brothers and sisters?"

Li Zhuo spoke to the crowd first: "This Feng Xufeng is my good friend. We entered the Dao Academy to cultivate at almost the same time and even lived in the same courtyard. However, he cultivated to the Xuan Guang level early on and joined our sect, while I only achieved this after several years of hard work after my ten-year term was over. I can only be a junior Daoist."

Feng Xufeng said unhappily, "Why are you bringing this up?"

Li Zhuo laughed heartily, but said, "I'm just letting my junior brothers and sisters know how powerful you are."

After saying that, he introduced them one by one: "This is my younger sister Jingqiu, this is my junior brother Yingchan, and this is my junior brother Li Xuanying."

"Hmm..." Feng Xufeng stroked his chin, "These two junior brothers live in the same courtyard as your sister? When did the academy change its rules?"

"Who told you they're neighbors?" Li Zhuo said irritably, "Junior Brother Ying is a young friend I met at the alchemy workshop."

"However, he and Jingqiu both entered the sect last year and were guided by the same Taoist master to cultivate Qi, which is quite a coincidence. As for this Junior Brother Li, he is Junior Brother Ying's neighbor."

"Both of you started last year?"

Feng Xufeng, who had been listening with a smile, showed a slight look of surprise at this point. After looking at Ying Chan for a moment, he said, "You must have opened about twenty mystic apertures by now."

"what?"

Before Ying Chan could answer, Li Jingqiu exclaimed again, drawing the attention of everyone seated nearby.

But she just stared at Ying Chan, her almond-shaped eyes wide open: "Brother Dao, you, you, you..."

"..." Ying Chan thought for a moment before replying, "I have just opened twenty acupoints."

"Twenty acupoints?" Feng Xufeng stroked his chin again: "Such strong magical power, is he cultivating the 'One Yuan Qi Refining Scripture' or the 'Mysterious True Vast Primordial Method'?"

However, before Ying Chan could respond, he suddenly said, "Never mind."

Feng Xufeng waved his hand, poured himself another cup of wine, raised it, and gestured to Ying Chanyi, saying, "I was just curious and did not intend to inquire about the cultivation technique you practice, junior brother. Please do not take offense."

With that, he downed the entire drink in one gulp.

“Senior brother, you flatter me,” Ying Chan said. “My study of the ‘One Yuan Qi Refining Scripture’ is not some kind of secret.”

Li Jingqiu listened from the side, but her eyes were already vacant, her mind only focused on: "Opening twenty acupoints? Opening twenty acupoints?..."

Li Zhuo was also somewhat surprised and said to Ying Chan, "I only knew that you were exceptionally talented and made rapid progress, but I didn't expect that you were cultivating such a profound method. Your future achievements will surely be limitless."

Feng Xufeng just chuckled: "I wonder when this junior brother will be able to cultivate the Profound Light Realm? Will he be able to get the Southern Dipper Ranking changed as soon as he enters the realm..."

Ying Chan asked doubtfully, "The Southern Dipper Ranking?"

"The Southern Dipper governs life, the Northern Dipper governs death." Li Zhuo said, "I've heard that within our sect there's a Southern Dipper Ranking, and only the most promising cultivation geniuses with the greatest hope of achieving immortality can be listed on it..."

Upon hearing this, Ying Chan simply shook his head: "Senior brother, please don't flatter me."

Feng Xufeng, holding his wine cup, suddenly chuckled softly, "Junior Brother, do you feel unworthy of being listed on the Southern Dipper Ranking?"

Unexpectedly, Ying Chan replied, "That's not the case."

"Whether one can achieve immortality or not, and what the Southern Dipper holds, is not something that can be determined by mere words."

"All I need to know is where I am on the road."

"Oh?"

Feng Xufeng raised his glass, took a sip of wine, and a subtle smile appeared in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)