As Yi Tianxing stepped into the teleportation gate, he was instantly transported through a tunnel of space and time.
"Hmm? Where is this?"
When he emerged, he immediately sensed the ground beneath his feet and found himself no longer on the God-Demon Battlefield. Gone were the bleached bones and demonic hordes. Instead, he was surrounded by verdant mountains and clear waters, lush greenery and vibrant life.
Before him stood a grand mountain, ancient and awe-inspiring. At its peak was a Daoist temple, radiating a strange resonance at first glance.
"Mount Two Realms…"
Yi Tianxing's gaze fell upon the stone stele at the foot of the mountain, where three large ancient characters were inscribed.
Just then, a lazy voice echoed behind him, followed by the sound of someone drinking.
"First time here, fellow Daoist? Why not head up? The others should already be here."
Turning, Yi Tianxing saw a white-robed young Daoist with a sword strapped to his back and a wine gourd in hand.
"Yi Tianxing of Great Yi. Greetings, fellow Daoist. May I ask your name?"
Though the man looked young, Yi Tianxing knew better than to underestimate anyone present at this gathering—each of them was undoubtedly a supreme powerhouse, even saints reborn into the world. This man gave off an unfathomable aura, as sharp and fierce as a sword's edge.
"So, you're the Lord of the Great Yi Dynasty—Yi Tianxing. A pleasure! This poor Daoist is Pure Yang."
Yi Tianxing's eyes flickered.
"Pure Yang... Lü Chunyang... Lü Dongbin."
A jolt of recognition struck him.
Lü Dongbin—a legendary figure in human history, known as one of the Eight Immortals of Daoism. A founding patriarch of the Quanzhen Sect, famed for his mastery of alchemy and the sword, and once referred to himself as the "Reincarnated Wanderer."
He was said to be the reincarnation of the Eastern Hua Emperor, with peerless talent, vast knowledge, and immense cultivation.
But his hedonistic, wine-loving nature was just as famous as his power.
Seeing Lü Dongbin in person confirmed the extraordinary caliber of this gathering. These were not beings one could usually encounter—let alone converse with.
"So this is Pure Yang Immortal himself. Indeed, my first visit. Might I ask—what exactly is this Mount Two Realms?"
Yi Tianxing did not hesitate to ask. In such matters, ignorance wasn't shameful.
"With your status as the Emperor of Great Yi, you naturally qualify to attend," said Pure Yang, smiling. "This place is known as Mount Two Realms, also called Two Realms Grotto-Heaven. Its master is the Dao Lord of Longevity—though perhaps you're unfamiliar with that name. But I bet you've heard of his true identity."
"I'm listening."
"Wanshou Mountain, Five Villages Temple—the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, Zhenyuan Zi."
The moment he heard this name, Yi Tianxing's expression changed.
"Zhenyuan Daxian...!"
He couldn't hide his shock. If it weren't for the fact that Lü Dongbin had no reason to lie, he would've thought it a joke.
But thinking it over, it made perfect sense. A being like Zhenyuan Zi, one of the greatest saints and an Earth Immortal Patriarch, possessed the ability and background to host such a gathering. Even a saint's incarnation from him would still be an apex powerhouse.
"Come on, you'll understand once we're up there. The Dao Lord won't be stingy as a host. If we're lucky, we might even get to taste his legendary Ginseng Fruit. Don't get your hopes up, though. Just a chance."
With that, Pure Yang grinned, took a swig of wine, and strode up the mountain.
The path ahead was a long flight of stone steps winding up the mountain. Despite its length, the terrain didn't matter to cultivators of their level. Yi Tianxing followed easily.
At the summit stood the Daoist temple—modest in appearance, yet seamlessly harmonized with its surroundings, blending perfectly with nature. It was called:
The Temple of Longevity.
A plaque hung over its gate, and on either side were couplets:
"From the primal cosmos, the sun and moon are born."
"Through heaven's age and earth's ruin, seek eternal life."
Yi Tianxing silently praised the sight.
Outside the gate stood two youths: a girl in red robes and a boy in green, clearly Daoist acolytes.
"Red Flower, Green Leaf! So you two are on welcoming duty today?"
"I told you last time—want to come explore the mortal world? There's food, drink, friends your age. Become my attendants, and I'll show you all the joys of the red dust."
Pure Yang chuckled, eyes sparkling as he pointed at Yi Tianxing.
"Look—this is the Lord of the Great Yi Dynasty! His empire holds billions of people. The best food and playthings—he's got it all. You won't regret it."
Yi Tianxing raised an eyebrow at this.
He could tell Pure Yang was joking, but… openly trying to poach disciples from the Temple of Longevity? That was brazen—even reckless.
"Master Pure Yang, you jest," said Green Leaf, face darkening."There's no better place than Mount Two Realms. The red dust may bring pleasure, but this is the land of cultivation. We follow our master to seek the Dao, not amusement. Please, go inside—the others are already here. Master will begin his discourse soon."
"Haha, alright. But do think about it!"
With a laugh and a drink, Pure Yang walked inside. Yi Tianxing followed.
No invitation check was needed—the invitation token itself was proof of qualification. Red Flower and Green Leaf didn't stop him, especially after hearing his name.
"Master Pure Yang, is this gathering meant for the Dao Lord to lecture?"
Yi Tianxing asked curiously. He'd never gotten a clear answer from Zhuang Zhou before.
"The Dao Lord is one of the rare, true Great Powers—his insight into the Heavenly Dao is extraordinary. Those who attend are all first-class cultivators. Every gathering involves discussions of the Dao, not just lectures."
"At the level of Nascent Soul and beyond, spiritual power is no longer the main bottleneck. What matters is one's own Dao—finding your path and walking it. In that process, all others become your teachers."
Yi Tianxing nodded in agreement.
"That… truly sounds worth the trip."
Before long, they entered a Daoist courtyard. A censer burned quietly at its center, releasing an ethereal fragrance that calmed the mind and cleared distracting thoughts.
Surrounding it were numerous meditation cushions.
Already seated on them were cultivators of all shapes and sizes—woodcutters, farmers, beggars, and more. Each radiated a distinct and powerful aura.
Yi Tianxing spotted Zhuang Zhou among them, who gave him a slight nod and a smile.
And at the head of the hall sat a middle-aged Daoist, robed in simple elegance, exuding a natural and transcendent grace—
The Dao Lord of Longevity.
Pure Yang sat down quietly on a cushion, waiting in silence.
Yi Tianxing likewise took a seat and began to await what was to come.