93: It's been tens of thousands of years, and the fairy is still alive?
It was as if Zhang Jiu had heard something terrifying; he didn't even want the wooden bucket anymore and immediately pulled Li Yan to an secluded spot.
"Fellow Daoist, how dare you speak the Ember Immortal's name in public? Are you tired of living?!"
The Daoist in front of him was full of panic.
He was afraid Li Yan would speak carelessly in public; if the people of Mi Mountain City heard him, Li Yan's life would be in danger!
Seeing Zhang Jiu so flustered, Li Yan also realized if something had changed after he altered history.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, I am not a local. May I ask what is taboo about the Ember Immortal's name?"
If it were anyone else, Li Yan would not have asked for guidance so humbly.
However, this Dragon Tiger Mountain Daoist in front of him was the sole successor of the Dragon Tiger Immortal from thirty thousand years later.
He did not Cultivate the Blood Law, and he was still in the Qi Refinement Stage at fifty years old.
This showed that he did not eat people or use them to refine Gu.
Instead, he slowly cultivated Immortality by relying on the thin Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth.
However, cultivating Immortality in the Age of Dharma Decline was considered eccentric in the eyes of others.
Others murdered and committed arson, relying on eating people to Cultivate Blood Pills.
And you are still honestly doing Qi Refining?
Isn't that just a complete fool?
However, in Li Yan's view, Zhang Jiu's willingness to do Qi Refining rather than eat people showed that he was still upholding his Dao Heart.
This person might be trustworthy.
He could learn about the situation within Mi Mountain City from him.
Facing Li Yan's inquiry, Zhang Jiu first nervously looked left and right.
After confirming that there were no other people around, he lowered his voice: "Young friend, how can you directly call the Fairy's name?"
"She, that venerable elder, is the first Venerable of Mi Mountain City and the owner of the Holy City."
It seems history has indeed changed.
The Ember Immortal became the founder of Mi Mountain City; she chose a holy mountain with excellent geomancy and established a city.
Recalling the "plea for help" message left by the Ember Immortal in the cave.
Clearly, she had been bitterly waiting for him here for tens of thousands of years.
Li Yan quickly asked, "Then, how long ago did that venerable elder pass away?"
When Li Yan spoke these words, a look of shock flashed in Zhang Jiu's eyes.
"Young friend, what you said... these words are a capital offense!"
"The Ember Immortal Venerable, that venerable elder, is still alive!"
When he heard that the Ember Immortal was still alive, Li Yan could hardly believe his ears.
His Disciple was still alive?
After more than thirty thousand years, she was still alive?
Could it be that she was still waiting to meet him?
Before Li Yan left, he had instructed them to leave a message in place if anything happened.
If he returned, he would surely seek them out.
He hadn't expected that the Ember Immortal truly believed him; had she been bitterly waiting for him in Mi Mountain City for thirty thousand years?
The thought of his Disciple still being alive filled Li Yan with mixed emotions.
First, the Ember Immortal being alive was certainly a good thing.
But with his current identity, how could he meet the Ember Immortal?
Should Li Yan simply swagger directly to the gate of the holy mountain palace and announce his name?
He would undoubtedly be beaten out with sticks and driven out of Mi Mountain City.
Li Yan looked up at the Snow Mountain Heavenly Palace, which was within reach.
That Heavenly Palace was built on the mountain peak, covered with a layer of white snow.
The Ember Immortal lived in that mountain peak palace; it must be lonely at such heights.
Just like her personality, she was still so aloof.
The palace she built was quite similar to her temper.
Seeing this, Li Yan couldn't help but smile: "This girl, she still hasn't changed."
Zhang Jiu beside him flinched: "Fellow Daoist? Are you alright?"
"You, boy... could it be that you've got hysteria?"
Daoist Zhang Jiu began to doubt whether Li Yan's mind was normal; had he gone crazy from cultivating Immortality?
Nowadays, Immortals often had some mental issues, and Zhang Jiu was accustomed to it.
However, he saw that Li Yan, though young, was reckless and dared to openly discuss the Ember Immortal Venerable; this young friend was likely to cause trouble in the city and would not live long.
Li Yan always felt a faint call from the Immortal Palace on the mountain peak.
It was as if the Ember Immortal was calling him.
It was as if his Disciple was calling for his help.
Li Yan quickly shifted his gaze; the urgent matter was how he could meet the Ember Immortal.
"May I ask, brother, if I wish to meet the Ember... Immortal Venerable?"
"Do you think I have a chance?"
Hearing that Li Yan was so presumptuous as to want to meet that ancient Immortal.
Zhang Jiu almost burst out laughing.
He stroked his long beard and pointed at Li Yan: "Young friend, you only need to drink this bowl of talisman water from this humble Daoist."
"Drink your talisman water? And then I can meet the Ember Immortal Venerable?"
Li Yan showed a look of suspicion, then heard Zhang Jiu say.
"After drinking this bowl of talisman water from this humble Daoist, your dream should wake up; my talisman water can cure hysteria."
This sole Disciple of Dragon Tiger Mountain clearly thought Li Yan was dreaming foolishly.
He was an outsider, a Loose Cultivator without sect or faction.
Wanting to meet the Ember Immortal Venerable of Mi Mountain City?
Zhang Jiu smiled bitterly and shook his head: "You, young friend, still want to meet the Ember Immortal Venerable?"
"It's better to say you want to become a Golden Core Cultivator; at least you can still dream about that."
Facing Zhang Jiu's discouraging words, Li Yan smiled without speaking.
After all, he was truly a Golden Core Cultivator; it was just that Zhang Jiu's cultivation was too low to perceive Li Yan's strength.
Seeing Zhang Jiu start to ramble, Li Yan shook his hand and took out a bag of Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
These shattered Low-Grade Spirit Stones were trash; to Li Yan, they were just a bag of waste.
But to Zhang Jiu, this was a treasure that could help him Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment!
When he saw Li Yan throw over a bag of something, Zhang Jiu was still indifferent.
"Young friend, don't give me any more elixirs."
"Even if you give me Spirit Stones, I won't agree to lead the way for you..."
When Zhang Jiu opened the bag and saw that it was full of shattered Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Zhang Jiu's face stiffened, and his eyes widened.
In today's Age of Dharma Decline, even Spirit Stones of such poor quality were scarce goods!
Zhang Jiu immediately shut his mouth and put the bag of Spirit Stones into his sleeve.
He coughed dryly, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Fellow Daoist, it seems you are fated with this Ember Immortal Venerable!"
Just a moment ago, he said that Li Yan's desire to meet the Ember Immortal Venerable was a pipe dream.
But old Zhang Jiu was now changing his tune.
Looking at his before-and-after attitude, Li Yan smiled without speaking.
Taking money to resolve problems for others, this kind of thing, he believed, was a mandatory lesson for every Daoist.
Having accepted Li Yan's favor, Zhang Jiu was silent for a moment.
"Fellow Daoist, if you want to meet the Ember Immortal Venerable, it's not impossible."
Li Yan cupped his hands and said, "I hope Daoist Priest will elaborate."
Zhang Jiu hesitated, looking at the bag of Spirit Stones in his hand, as if a fierce internal struggle was going on within him.
After a long while, Zhang Jiu sighed.
"Forget it, I can't accept your Spirit Stones."
"I cannot do things against my conscience, Fellow Daoist, I will return these Spirit Stones to you."
Zhang Jiu really returned a large bag of Low Grade shattered Spirit Stones to Li Yan.
Earning this kind of money would torment his conscience.
Seeing Zhang Jiu decline, Li Yan didn't want to beat around the bush with him anymore.
"Daoist Priest, just tell me directly, what is the method!"
"If the method is too dangerous, I'll just give up; take these Spirit Stones, I won't go back on my word."
Zhang Jiu hesitated for a long time: "I do have a way to take you to see the Ember Immortal Venerable."
"But... I'm afraid you might die on the way!"