The actual business could be summarized in just a few words; the rest of the time was spent chatting. Through Bai Qianzhu’s introductions, Gu Zhao also got to know the several friends who had come this time.
The middle-aged man in the brocade robe had studied magic in the Central Plains during his lifetime. After death, he became a ghost, returning to the Southern Border to protect the region, eventually ascending to godhood through Incense offerings.
The Dudou Child and Purple Cloud Monarch of Wuya Ridge were of the same kind. However, he was a White Ginseng spirit; although younger than Purple Cloud Monarch, his Dao Practice was higher.
The old woman leaning on the dragon-headed walking stick also had a Ghost God body. In life, she had been exceedingly beautiful, but it was exactly her beauty that led to her death. Still, she possessed a kind heart. After avenging herself, she didn’t turn to the dark side, but instead chose to appear in the guise of an old crone.
The couple dressed in red were Vermilion Bird spirits. Unfettered by nature, they loved traveling around.
The burly man was a Cyan Ox Spirit, brash yet simple and honest.
Lastly, the beautiful woman and the young girl were an elk and a bobcat spirit, respectively. Both were quiet by nature and disliked speaking much.
Among these experts, even the one with the lowest Dao Practice had three thousand years of cultivation. The highest belonged to the beautiful elk woman, whose Dao Practice was approaching six thousand years. All were renowned experts of the Southern Border.
If any of these figures were to encounter someone like Mo He Divine Monarch or a Demon Cultivator like Yun Fei’ang alone, even if they couldn’t win, they wouldn’t be defeated quickly either. At the very least, they absolutely had the ability to send out a message.
Niu Dali downed another three cups of alcohol and asked Gu Zhao, "I’ve never been to the Central Plains in my life. Who knew the alcohol there would taste so good?"
Gu Zhao smiled and said, "Ordinary alcohol from the Central Plains isn’t this delicious. This is Daluo Palace’s secretly brewed Wuliangye. Unfortunately, we didn’t bring much with us this time. If Brother Niu is interested, I’ll welcome you with open arms at Daluo Palace."
Niu Dali chuckled and drank another cup. "Then it’s a deal!"
He was willing to exert effort, but they had to cover his food and drinks.
***
As it was a rare gathering, everyone spent another day chatting at Cyan Hill Mountain. After lunch, they all went their separate ways before the sun set.
Gu Zhao asked for the locations of their cave dwellings, promising that after the Elders of Daluo Palace headed south, they would seek them out.
Backed by these experts, many of Daluo Palace’s older Taoists whose Dao Practice wasn’t particularly high—those who had yet to break through the five-hundred-year mark—could actually come to the Southern Border to earn Evil Qi.
Nowadays, Daluo Palace was already on the right track. Although the older Taoists’ Dao Practice wasn’t too high, they possessed the Spirit Flying Jade Talisman for mid-air flight, the Golden Light Curse to ensure immunity to all evil, and the Five Elements Great Evasion to travel underground.
Their defense and evasion capabilities were practically maxed out!
If they encountered an unbeatable expert, escaping would be no problem at all.
Even if the opponent’s Dao Practice was too high, making it difficult to shake off their tracking and targeting, they could still call for backup via voice transmission through the Thunder Seed.
Even if the group of older Taoists couldn’t handle it, Gu Zhao was backing them up. He could even call upon the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Spirits.
Right, and now there was also Celestial Fox Ancestor.
In short, for the older Taoists brought over from modern Blue Star, as long as they had around three hundred years of Dao Practice and had learned the Earth Travel Skill, their safety was basically guaranteed.
Since this was the case, they could naturally be a bit more aggressive. They no longer needed to stay in the relatively safe Jiangzhou, Yongzhou, or Yazhou. Instead, they could head to Wanling Jiangbei or the Southern Border Mountains to continue accelerating their cultivation.
"Martial Uncle Zhi Qing, Martial Uncle Zhixiu, Martial Uncle Han Zheng, Martial Uncle Han Xuan," Gu Zhao performed a roll call via the Thunder Seed.
During this battle in Shanzhou, Taoist Zhi Qing and Taoist Zhi Xiu from Celestial Master’s Mansion; Taoist Han Zheng and Taoist Han Xuan from Sanmao Mountain; Taoist Yu Hua, Taoist Ling Ya, and Taoist Chong Xuan from Feiyun Mountain; and Taoist Xi Ning and Taoist Miao Zhen from Huashan Sect had all broken through.
Daluo Palace truly reaped a bountiful harvest.
Gu Zhao planned to have the four Taoists from Celestial Master’s Mansion and Sanmao Mountain enter the Southern Border, while the five from Feiyun Mountain and Huashan Sect would head to Shanzhou to support Taoist Gao Yue in preparation for entering the Western Divine Kingdoms.
Besides these older Taoists who had achieved breakthroughs, the later batches of older Taoists were also chasing closely behind. In particular, Taoist Qing Ye of Ge Xuan Mountain’s Spiritual Treasure Sect, and the two older Taoists from South Mountain’s Wen Shi Sect and Shaoyang Sect, were almost at the threshold.
Most of them were currently in Yuezhou, but now a new instance had opened up in the Southern Border.
Gu Zhao sent a voice transmission via the Five Thunders Order, instructing Taoist Zhi Qing, Taoist Han Zheng, and the other two to come to the Southern Border first. Once Taoist Qingwei’s group of four finished dealing with the Demon Cave beneath Poison Dragon Swamp, there would be eight experts in total.
This would be enough to secure Daluo Palace’s presence in the Southern Border.
***
After staying at Cyan Hill Mountain for another two days and seeing that many of the mountain’s experts had descended, Gu Zhao bid farewell to Celestial Fox Ancestor and Bai Qianzhu.
"Brother Gu is the Master of Daluo Palace, so it’s indeed inconvenient for you to stay here long-term.
"However, whenever you have free time in the future, Brother Gu, please come visit us often.
"With Daluo Palace in Jiangzhou and the Ancestor opening up roads, it’s very likely that we will also visit the Central Plains more often in the future."
While Bai Qianzhu chatted with Gu Zhao on the side, Celestial Fox Ancestor waved her hand, calling Bai Yiqi to her side. Then, she extended a finger and tapped the center of Bai Yiqi’s forehead.
Bai Yiqi’s gaze focused and her body trembled slightly. Her entire aura seemed to undergo a subtle transformation.
"Daluo Palace received Dream Transmission from the Spirit Realm Upper Gods and has the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations as Guardians," Celestial Fox Ancestor said to Gu Zhao as she pulled Bai Yiqi closer. "I heard that the palace still has a vacancy for the Heart Moon Fox Star Official. What do you think of Yiqi?
"Yiqi is considered somewhat talented within the Qingqiu Celestial Fox Lineage. She was also saved by the Palace Master, so it can be considered a fateful connection. Coincidentally, she’s willing to join Daluo Palace, cementing the amicable ties between our two factions.
"I just passed down the Celestial Fox Secret Technique to her. She is on the verge of breaking through five hundred years of Dao Practice, so she won’t disgrace the position of a Star Official."
Celestial Fox Ancestor chuckled. "Daluo Palace possesses great providence, and our Cyan Hill Mountain wishes to share a piece of it."
Gu Zhao smiled and cupped his hands. "It is exactly as I wished!"
Bai Yiqi’s beautiful eyes fluttered as she offered a gentle, radiant smile.
However, just as Gu Zhao and his group were taking their leave, Bai Yixuan clamored to accompany her sister. Yet, her eyes kept meeting Bai Ke’s, and she would occasionally wipe her drool.
And so, when they returned to Daluo Palace, they brought Bai Yixuan along as well.
***
Celestial Fox Ancestor and Bai Qianzhu stood at the peak of Cyan Hill Mountain, watching Gu Zhao’s departure.
"The Spirit Realm Upper Gods are all Demon Gods, and according to Cyan Hill Mountain’s historical records, no Mage has ever achieved Ascension." Bai Qianzhu looked at Celestial Fox Ancestor. "But in my bloodline inheritance, there are indeed humans present, and they are definitely not Demon Gods who assumed human forms."
Celestial Fox Ancestor nodded. If Bai Qianzhu could see the images their distant ancestors had engraved into their bloodline inheritance, she naturally could see them as well.
"Indeed." Celestial Fox Ancestor’s eyes flickered. "Therefore, the gods who gave them Dream Transmission might not be from the Spirit Realm."
"Huh?" Bai Qianzhu was puzzled.
"In the past, we were ignorant and only knew of the Spirit Realm," Celestial Fox Ancestor said calmly. "It was only when the Celestial Demons descended ten thousand years ago that we learned of the existence of the Demon Realm.
"Since that’s the case, the existence of yet another Realm isn’t anything strange." Celestial Fox Ancestor smiled. "However, our Demon Race has an ancient legend of the Harmony technique, and Daluo Palace’s actions are upright and repel evil. It’s clear that Demons and Mages are not inherently enemies."
Celestial Fox Ancestor’s judgment aligned with that of Chaoyang Island’s Celestial True Monarch.
"That’s true," Bai Qianzhu realized.
Celestial Fox Ancestor smiled faintly. "Daluo Palace has great providence. By basking in their light, Yiqi and the others might also have hope of achieving Ascension, perhaps even earlier than you."
Bai Qianzhu didn’t believe it at all. She put her hands on her hips with a proud and haughty expression. "How is that possible?"