Chapter 445: Trying to Steal My Favor!? Ancient Moon Sect, Liu Qingqing! Divine Mountain’s Forbidden Seal! Young Master Long Jiu!

Yet at this moment, this thought had deeply rooted itself in their hearts.

No one dared to casually provoke this young Daoist, so they decided to leave early and try their luck on the divine mountain.

“Perhaps only the Dharma form of the Fire Virtue Star Lord, who suppressed ancient taboos before, could stand against him in battle!” They couldn’t help but compare the two, sighing in astonishment.

Young people nowadays are truly fierce.

Li Yanchu stored the alchemy furnace in his Universe Pouch, a move that once again shocked everyone. He wasn’t in a hurry to leave, as Mount Taoyuan’s Blissful Land was vast; even if one were to encounter immortal fortune, it wouldn’t yield results immediately.

Moreover, from Li Yanchu’s perspective, the immortal fortunes within a Blissful Land mostly came with great risks, and even someone in the advanced second realm could fall at any moment. The return on investment was too low.

But he wasn’t anxious because he had merit points backing him, and he could enhance pills and magical artifacts at will. Otherwise, for a mere shred of immortal fortune, for longevity, for breaking through limitations, he might have been even more eager than anyone else.

At this time, Zhang Wei walked over, smiling. “Congratulations for obtaining the alchemy furnace and the divine pill, Senior Cao Cao!”

He was genuinely impressed. Everyone fought to the death for treasures and resources, so it was common enough. But seeing fortune follow someone like it was tailing them personally? That was something he had rarely seen before.

Looking at this somewhat sycophantic-looking alchemy furnace, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Meanwhile, Li Yanchu smiled faintly as he saw a young girl approaching. She was pure in appearance, her eyes strikingly clear, yet her figure astonishingly curvy.

Many people recognized her. It was Xiao Ran, one of the most famous beauties of the Daois sects in the Kingdom of Qian.

“Congratulations, Daoist Master!” Xiao Ran said.

“The token you gave carries quite a lot of value, do you realize that?” Li Yanchu replied calmly.

A single token wouldn’t be enough to make the alchemy furnace act so devoted, and Xiao Ran had given him one. Two tokens together greatly increased the chances of obtaining immortal fortune.

Xiao Ran paused for a moment but didn’t care much, softly saying, “I’m glad that it’s useful to you, Daoist Master.”

Hmph, women.

Zhang Wei twitched the corner of his mouth again. Judging by her words, she was giving it to him for free.

“Shall we go take a look at the divine mountain together?” Li Yanchu invited her.

“Sure!” Xiao Ran responded happily.

From the look in Xiao Ran’s eyes, Zhang Wei felt a subtle sense of danger. This woman... was trying to compete with him for Senior’s favor!? His heart sank, as it seemed he had no inherent advantage here.

Zhang Wei tried to think of a woman from his own family who could rival someone as stunning as Xiao Ran.

After racking his brains, he realized there was basically no one. Xiao Ran’s looks and aura were perfect, and she would undoubtedly appeal to a veteran like Daoist Cao Cao.

Suddenly, Zhang Wei’s eyes lit up as he thought of someone.

What if I introduce my second sister to Daoist Cao Cao? I wonder what he would think?

Zhang Wei’s second sister was gentle and serene, though she was already married. Her husband was short-lived and died early. In terms of pure appearance and aura, only his second sister might rival the beauty of the Daoist priestess, Xiao Ran.

Only... I’m not sure what kind of woman Daoist Cao Cao prefers

, Zhang Wei thought to himself.

The three of them set off together toward the divine mountain, and Zhang Wei’s mind was already spinning a drama between the two women. Xiao Ran’s smile was stunning, and she was sure to become his rival in currying favor with Daoist Cao Cao!

When the three arrived at the foot of the divine mountain, a large crowd had already gathered. There were monks, Daoists, old women, sword-bearing women, middle-aged scholars, elderly literati, burly warriors; a true mix of all kinds.

One group, however, was particularly eye-catching. A provocatively dressed, alluring woman stood at the center, surrounded by a few cultivators who kept her in the middle.

The woman had a fox-like beauty[1], fair and delicate skin, meticulous makeup, exuding sensual charm. A man could get lost in her at a single glance.

By her side was someone dressed as a maid, lifelike in expression and movement. Yet to Li Yanchu, there was a hint of stiffness. Her eyes flashed with Dharma light, and he used his Spirit Eyes to take a closer look and discovered that these people weren’t alive, they were earthen dolls made entirely from clay.

Li Yanchu was slightly taken aback. He had seen paper effigies and painted skins before, but clay dolls were a first. The alluring woman froze for a moment when she saw Li Yanchu, then flashed him a dazzling smile.

“Daoist Master, you are remarkably handsome!” Her voice was tingling, almost igniting heat in the listener.

The cultivators around her subtly revealed hostility, their gazes unfriendly.

Charm technique?

Li Yanchu furrowed his brows and gave her a cold look.

The woman froze. What kind of gaze was that? Could this be a young man indifferent to female beauty? Just now, she had even sensed a flash of lightning-like energy in the young Daoist’s fleeting glance.

At that moment, the alluring woman noticed three or four old monsters with deep, unfathomable cultivation staring at her with strange expressions.

“Huh?”

“What’s going on?”

The woman’s name was Liu Qingqing[2], the Sacred Maiden of Ancient Moon Sect.

Ancient Moon Sect wasn’t a proper Daoist sect but a heterodox one, filled with beautiful female disciples, all with stunning figures and skilled in charm techniques. They specialized in beguiling and manipulating the hearts of others. In fact, her cultivation method didn’t necessarily involve

caibu

[3]; it was just that her reckless behavior made both the Buddhist and Daoist sects dislike her.

Since traveling the world, Liu Qingqing had been pursued by countless young heroes, noble sons, and disciples from prestigious families, which had made her somewhat self-absorbed. She hadn’t expected to encounter a tough, immovable obstacle today.

Liu Qingqing was a clever woman and sensed that something was off. So she stayed silent and looked down toward the foot of the mountain.

Mount Taoyuan’s Blissful Land was vast. The old monsters they had seen earlier were all witnesses to Li Yanchu’s audacious methods.

Liu Qingqing and her companions, however, had not approached closely, and they had merely witnessed a breathtaking duel from afar. Thus, they didn’t realize that the

golden armored immortal

mentioned earlier was right in front of them.

However, Li Yanchu paid it no mind. His gaze followed the crowd’s line of sight and he saw a young boy holding a compass, calculating something at the foot of the mountain. His complexion was pale, as if he had suffered injuries, and tiny beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

A burly giant stood guard by his side, along with several impressive-looking elders who clearly knew how to fight.

“I wonder if Young Master Long Jiu can break through the divine mountain’s seal.”

“Of course he can. Young Master Long Jiu studied under Daoist Jiushan and is a master of formations. Didn’t you see the old monsters from Zhishou Temple[4] and Guangming Temple[5] standing around him?”

“The seal on this divine mountain is truly terrifying. You know that powerful bear demon we saw just now? One step in and it was reduced to minced meat. Luckily, Young Master Long Jiu is wise and noble. He’s breaking the seal for us!”

Li Yanchu and his two companions listened for a while and gradually pieced together the situation. It seemed the seal on this divine mountain was extraordinarily powerful, which explained why these people were guarding the mountain from below.

He lifted his gaze slightly, looking at the palace atop the mountain, and muttered to himself, “A seal, huh?”

In the divine techniques of the

Yellow Court Classic

that he had cultivated, there happened to be a method perfectly suited to this very situation.

1. In Chinese culture, a “fox-like beauty” refers to a woman whose allure combines physical charm with intelligence and a hint of danger, a concept rooted in the folklore of fox spirits, or

huli jing

. These supernatural beings could shape-shift into beautiful women, often enchanting or deceiving men, and their allure symbolized both temptation and mystical power. A fox-like beauty is typically graceful, delicate, and captivating, yet also clever, resourceful, and sometimes manipulative, embodying a duality of attraction and risk. Historically, this archetype conveyed moral lessons about desire and caution, while also highlighting a subtle form of feminine power. In modern usage, the term still evokes seductive charm and wit, though it is often more playful or flattering than ominous, emphasizing elegance, cleverness, and mysterious appeal. ☜

2. The surname 柳 (Liǔ, “willow”) evokes images of grace, flexibility, and natural beauty, often associated with gentle elegance and poetic sensibilities in classical literature. The given name 轻轻 (Qīngqīng, “lightly” or “softly”) emphasizes a sense of subtlety, gentleness, and ethereal charm, reinforcing the imagery of a willow swaying lightly in the breeze.

To me, the full name conveys a refined, almost dreamlike femininity. It suggests a character who is gentle, graceful, and quietly captivating, with an air of softness and poetic elegance. ☜

3. Cǎibǔ refers to a practice of nourishing oneself by absorbing the vital essence or life energy of others. It is commonly found in ancient Chinese Daoist

fangzhongshu

(sexual arts) and later appears in wuxia fiction. The practice typically involves sexual activity as a means of transferring energy between men and women; for example, the male technique of “cǎi yīn bǔ yáng” (“drawing yin to replenish yang”) involves sexual intercourse without ejaculation to extract essence from a woman. Modern medicine considers this practice to have no scientific basis. ☜

4. The temple name 止守观 (Zhǐshǒu Guān) conveys a sense of calm, discipline, and introspection. The character 止 (Zhǐ), meaning “to stop” or “to halt,” suggests restraint and the cessation of worldly distractions. 守 (Shǒu), meaning “to guard” or “to maintain,” emphasizes vigilance, discipline, and faithful adherence to spiritual practice. Together, the name can be understood as “Sanctuary of Restraint and Vigilance” or “Temple of Stillness and Guarding,” evoking a place dedicated to meditation, disciplined cultivation, and mindful observation of the spiritual path. ☜

5. 广明寺 (Guǎngmíng Sì) carries a sense of expansiveness and enlightenment. 广 (Guǎng) means “broad” or “vast,” suggesting inclusiveness, reach, or the spreading of teachings. 明 (Míng) means “bright” or “illumined,” symbolizing wisdom, clarity, and spiritual illumination. The name can be interpreted as “Temple of Great Illumination” or “Monastery of Vast Clarity,” evoking a place where wisdom is widely shared and spiritual insight shines brightly, embodying the ideals of learning, enlightenment, and moral guidance central to Buddhist practice. ☜