Chapter 886: A Conversation Between Father- and Son-in-Law

In the purple moon illusory realm, atop Chiyang Peak, a ray of golden light shot into the sky, accompanied by a surge of intense spiritual energy. Xia Xingchen had successfully broken through into the realm of a Boundless Immortal.

Xia Zi and the disciples of Chiyang Peak were all overjoyed.

Meanwhile, those skulking about in the fog around Chiyang Peak frowned.

"Xia Xingchen has become a Boundless Immortal. There's little we can disrupt at this point. Let's withdraw," one cultivator said.

"Understood!"

The group quickly withdrew.

Xiao Nanfeng was surprised at the remarkable coincidence—he had arrived just in time to witness his father-in-law's breakthrough.

After waiting patiently for some time, a loud boom resounded as the doors of a nearby hall swung open.

"Congratulations, Master!"

"Congratulations, Master!"

The Yuqing disciples knelt and congratulated Xia Xingchen in delight.

Xiao Nanfeng bowed as well. "Congratulations, Mountain Lord Xia.

Xia Xingchen emerged from the hall. The moment he saw Xiao Nanfeng, his brows furrowed slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"Father, Nanfeng was instrumental in driving away those troublemakers just now. Without his presence, I might not have been able to stop them," Xia Zi said immediately.

He recounted what had happened earlier in detail.

Xia Xingchen nodded, a glimmer of approval flashing in his eyes. He didn't express gratitude; after all, he had already tacitly acknowledged Xiao Nanfeng's relationship with Yu'er. It was expected that his son-in-law would help guard him during a breakthrough.

"How did you make it into the purple moon illusory realm?" Xia Xingchen asked.

Beside him, Xia Zi suddenly frowned. "That's right. Nanfeng, how did you make it in? Even my three mothers aren't qualified to do so. Only direct disciples of the Yuqing holy land who have cultivated the Yuqing Yin Body can enter. Didn't anyone stop you?"

"By a fortuitous encounter, I was able to cultivate the Yuqing Yin Body. I opened a portal into the realm myself," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

"What?" Xia Xingchen narrowed his eyes.

Xia Zi's eyes widened. He turned to the gathered disciples and hissed, "Do not divulge what Nanfeng said."

"Understood!" The disciples chorused and nodded, but they clearly seemed confused.

"This way," Xia Xingchen said.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He followed Xia Zi and Xia Xingchen toward a pavilion in the distance.

Xia Xingchen sat down and erected a formation around the pavilion to prevent any sound from leaking out.

Meanwhile, Xia Zi hurriedly asked, "How did you come across the Yuqing Yin Body? Didn't you know that the Yuqing holy land pursues those cultivators who learn it without being Yuqing disciples themselves?"

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Aren't there plenty of cultivators of the Yuqing Yin Body?"

Xia Zi pursed his lips.

Many forces had covertly obtained the manual for the Yuqing Yin Body and practiced it in secret, though this was hardly something that could be revealed in public.

Suddenly, Xia Zi frowned again. "No, hold on. You said you opened the portal yourself?"

"That's right." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

Xia Zi's eyes widened. "How can that be possible? Only the twelve Mountain Lords and the Yuqing hierarch should be able to do so. Others can't do it at all!"

"Why?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Because the Yuqing Yin Body that ordinary Yuqing disciples cultivate is different from that practiced by the hierarch and Mountain Lords. Could you have obtained the Mountain Lords' version? But that's a highly guarded secret of the Yuqing holy land! How could it have been leaked?" Xia Zi asked in astonishment.

"It was a gift from the Heavenly Emperor before his death," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

"The Heavenly Emperor?" Xia Zi asked in surprise.

Xia Xingchen relaxed. "No wonder."

"Father, could the Heavenly Emperor be familiar with the Yuqing Yin Body, too?"

Xia Xingchen nodded. "In fact, all members of the Yuqing holy land once practiced the ordinary version of the Yuqing Yin Body. The version that we twelve Mountain Lords and the hierarch now practice was granted to us by the Heavenly Emperor himself."

"What?" Xia Zi was shocked.

"I'm not certain about the details, but it seems that the Heavenly Emperor had deep ties to the Yuqing Grandmaster," Xia Xingchen explained.

"That makes sense. I've seen the Heavenly Emperor transform his subordinates into purple-furred lifeforms, and even seen him bequeath the Yuqing Grandmaster's insights on the cultivation of the heart to others. Even the heavens thought that he was the Yuqing Grandmaster," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Actually..." Xia Xingchen hesitated.

"What is it, Father?" Xia Zi asked curiously.

"When Yu'er and I first entered the purple moon illusory realm, we once saw a visage of the Yuqing Grandmaster. I was shocked. He looked just like the Heavenly Emperor."

"Could the Heavenly Emperor be the Yuqing Grandmaster in truth?" Xia Zi exclaimed.

"It's unlikely. The Heavenly Emperor has already passed away, but the Yuqing Grandmaster's aura remains strong within this realm. In fact, it's growing more potent, as if he's slowly recovering."

"Why can't I sense the Yuqing Grandmaster's aura?" Xia Zi asked.

Xia Xingchen glanced at his son, but didn't furnish an explanation.

"Nanfeng, your actions earlier may have drawn attention. Be cautious. Someone might come here to cause trouble for you."

"Don't worry, Mountain Lord Xia. If that happens, I'll leave immediately to avoid making things difficult for you," Xiao Nanfeng promised.

Xia Xingchen nodded.

"Mountain Lord Xia, is Yu'er here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked expectantly.

Xia Xingchen nodded in approval to see Xiao Nanfeng ask about Yu'er. He glanced at the sky. "Yu'er's meditating, but should be finished shortly. I'll take you to her then."

"Thank you, Mountain Lord Xia," Xiao Nanfeng said gratefully. After a moment, he asked, "When you broke through earlier, your aura seemed incredibly strong. You've just entered the realm of a Boundless Immortal, but your strength far surpasses that of an early-stage one, as far as I can tell."

Xia Xingchen nodded. "My cultivation technique is rather unique and particularly challenging to advance. Thanks to the blood rain about a dozen days ago when the Heavenly Emperor passed, I was able to break through. Otherwise, it would have taken me even longer to do so."

"Were you able to witness the Heavenly Emperor's final battle?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Of course. The Heavenly Emperor lives up to his title as hegemon of the era. He has truly surpassed the ages."

"Indeed," Xiao Nanfeng said wistfully. "Is the Mt. Kunlun of this realm the same one that was in the Imperial Court?"

Xia Xingchen nodded. "Indeed. I believe it to be a gift from the Heavenly Emperor to the Yuqing Grandmaster."

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes widened. "Truly?"

"Have you discovered that everything here seems to be a facsimile of reality?"

"Quite. I noticed the similarity on my way here."

"The Yuqing holy land of this illusory realm was initially located in the north of the realm. When the Heavenly Emperor perished, the holy land was suddenly transported here without rhyme or reason. Then, we saw Mt. Kunlun appear out of nowhere with our own eyes—and heard that it had simultaneously vanished from reality."

"Then there's no doubt about it. This must be the same Mt. Kunlun. Have you investigated what lies on it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"We can't approach it. Ever since it appeared, no one has been able to get close. Perhaps it's under the Grandmaster's protection."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. He was growing more and more curious about the identity of the Yuqing Grandmaster.

"I remember hearing you mention that Yu'er received a boon from the Yuqing Grandmaster upon entering the purple moon illusory realm, Mountain Lord Xia. Can I confirm that she did?"

"Naturally."

"What kind of blessing?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"These thirteen Yuqing yin pillars," Xia Xingchen said, pointing at his surroundings.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced around at the twelve pillars of purple light, one for each of the Yuqing holy land's twelve mountains.

"Yuqing yin pillars? Thirteen of them?"

"There were thirteen at first, but Yu'er was the first to enter. Guided by the Yuqing Grandmaster's own specter, she has already absorbed one of the pillars. That's why there are only twelve left."

"Oh?"

"The purple moon illusory realm subsequently allowed other Yuqing disciples to enter. Before the Yuqing Grandmaster's specter vanished, he appointed twelve holy maidens who cultivated the Yuqing Yin Body to absorb the remaining pillars of yin energy."

"Twelve Yuqing holy maidens?"

"Indeed. There weren't twelve Yuqing holy maidens present at the time, so we had to rush to appoint more. They're each cultivating underneath one of the yin pillars now. Yu'er is starting to absorb a second, but it's a lot more difficult without the Yuqing Grandmaster's assistance."

"As long as Yu'er is fine," Xiao Nanfeng murmured, nodding.

Yu'er's health was paramount; whatever boons she had received were secondary.

Xia Xingchen could tell that Xiao Nanfeng truly cared for his daughter, and he grew even more pleased with him.

"The Yuqing yin pillars are unique. They contain pure yin energy, but are surrounded by a barrier of pure yang. Were you able to sense it?" Xia Xingchen asked.

"I noticed it as I drew near. The yang energy here is hundreds of times more concentrated than in the world at large. What's going on?"

"It's one of the special features of the Yuqing yin pillars. They absorb spiritual aether furiously, but selectively filter out yin energy. As a result, yang energy concentrates around their surroundings."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng blinked, deep in thought.

By his side, Xia Zi smiled. "Xiao Nanfeng, you really are lucky. If Yu'er is to marry you in the future, she'll serve as a natural magnet for yang energy—and all of it will go to you."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded, understanding that Xia Xingchen was attempting to impress Yu'er's elevated status on him.

"I understand, Mountain Lord Xia. As long as I'm around, I won't let Yu'er suffer even a modicum of indignity." Xiao Nanfeng bowed deeply.

Xia Xingchen nodded. Xiao Nanfeng was insightful and quick to respond to his pronouncements, which made him very satisfied.

"Let's go, then. She's almost finished with meditation now," Xia Xingchen said as he rose.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded, bowing.