The mountain gate of the Nine Cauldrons Sect was originally the headquarters of the Yin Moon Sect.
However, after thousands of years of developnt, there are no longer any traces left from the Yin Moon Sect era.
One by one, the peaks are shrouded in immortal qi, with countless immortal birds and spiritual beasts leaping among them, and even more so, there are innurable exotic flowers and rare herbs, heaven and earth treasures planted here.
Many heaven and earth treasures, just by being brought out to the world, would be enough to make so cultivator sects go to war over them, fighting fiercely to the death.
So spiritual elixirs could even allow an ordinary cultivator to directly ignite heavenly fire and ascend to the skies in one step.
Here, it has completely beco the sacred land in the minds of all cultivators of the Northern Sea Star.
Every year, countless talented individuals from small sects and prodigies from small families travel great distances to co to the mountain gate of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, just to be accepted as one of its inner sect disciples, or even just an outer sect disciple.
And with the deterrence power that the Nine Cauldrons Sect currently possesses, even being an outer sect disciple is enough to help their small sect beco an overlord-level existence in their area, with everyone looking up to them.
If anyone harbors malicious intentions towards them, they too would be full of apprehension and not dare to act rashly.
"Speaking of which, the quality of cultivators from the Northern Sea Star seems to have risen quite a bit."
Alkaid stood outside the mountain gate of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, clearly sensing that inside the Nine Cauldrons Sect at that mont, there were thousands of Hollow Void Realm cultivators, with the numbers of Refining Void and Shattered Void level cultivators also greatly increased.
Among them, there were over a hundred Shattered Void Realm cultivators alone.
This was sowhat surprising to him.
After a mont of contemplation, he seed to think of sothing: "On one hand, the Nine Cauldrons Sect is now the strongest among the Ten Great Immortal Paths, even surpassing the Three Pure Sanctuaries; on the other hand... the number of Dao Lords in the vicinity has drastically decreased, and the materials that should have been tributed to the Dao Lords, or taken away by them, have fallen into the hands of Shattered Void Realm cultivators, naturally causing the number of Hollow Void, Refining Void, and Shattered Void level cultivators to rise along with the tide."
"Fellow Daoist, have you also co to admire the sacred land of the Nine Cauldrons Sect? Shall we go together?"
At this ti, a familiar voice ca from Alkaid's side.
A suave young man dressed like a handso aristocrat approached with a smile, seemingly having deliberately hired soone to explain the glorious history of the Nine Cauldrons Sect to him.
Following behind him were two young ladies dressed in red and green long dresses, chasing after him with brisk steps: "Brother Zhan Lian, wait for ."
"Brother Zhan Lian, can't you walk a bit slower?"
The two young ladies were coy and each look they cast at the young man was filled with tender affection.
Their adoration for this Brother Zhan Lian was clearly beyond words.
"I told you not to follow , yet you insist on coming. Isn't it good to study at ho? I'm going to climb the Nine Cauldrons Thirty-Six Peaks, this process is not easy, you should go back, don't tire yourselves out."
The young man Zhan Lian, who greeted Alkaid, was sowhat helpless.
"Indeed, Brother still cares about ."
"How dull it would be for Brother to view the scenic beauty of the Nine Cauldrons Thirty-Six Peaks alone. Allow , your sister, to accompany Brother Lian on the tour, so it's also good to have company."
The two young ladies softly uttered.
But when they said this, not only the woman who was responsible for explaining the scenery along the way but even Alkaid nearly shuddered.
This taste...
So intense.
"If you love to follow, then just follow, just don't get tired out."
Zhan Lian said, then turned his gaze to Alkaid: "I see you've been standing at the foot of the mountain for a while, constantly observing the surrounding scenery. It seems like you want to tour the Nine Cauldrons Thirty-Six Peaks but don't know where to start. Fortunately, I've hired a guide to plan the optimal route and provide explanations. If you don't mind, fellow Daoist, shall we journey together?"
Alkaid looked at him, subtly understanding that Zhan Lian was annoyed by the two young ladies and would rather converse with him, a "stranger," than deal with them.
However...
This feeling of having soone else explain the tour of his own sect was sothing he had never experienced, so he imdiately agreed: "That would be great, I shall trouble Brother Zhan then."
"No need for formalities, fellow Daoist. You have an elegant and noble disposition, surely a person who delights in the beauty of mountains and rivers. May I inquire as to how to address you?"
"Alkaid."
Alkaid replied.
Upon hearing this, Zhan Lian was slightly startled and then said, "Fellow Daoist, your na is rather 'grand,' it's the sa as the legendary figure renowned throughout the North Sea Realm, Supre Elder Alkaid of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, the only one to ever hold the permanent position of Supre Elder. It seems you too, admire the deeds of Supre Elder Alkaid, and have specially co to the Nine Cauldrons Sect in a pilgrim-like manner to witness this legendary place and experience the majesty and grandeur of the No. 1 Cultivation Sacred Land of the North Sea Realm."
"I used to spend so ti here, and now I'm revisiting the old place, I do want to know how much it has changed."
Alkaid smiled and nodded.
"Ha-ha, that's great. I too am embarking on the Nine Cauldrons Thirty-Six Peaks, which are specially opened to the public for tours, with this ntality. Let's go, let's head up the mountain."
Zhan Lian called to Alkaid to follow, and said, "I'm not sure about others, but as for that Nine Cauldrons Sect's Supre Elder, who is also their only permanent Supre Elder Alkaid, I know his story through and through. The detail I know of his legend is unparalleled among my peers. My whole life is to follow in his footsteps, first to enter the inner sect, then beco a True Disciple, and later achieve Hollow Void and start a legend!"
"Very good, that's quite the ambition!"
"Isn't it? Otherwise, how could I be indifferent to any outside temptations? I'm emulating Supre Elder Alkaid, who never took a Dao companion in his lifeti. Let tell you, my dedication to pursuing the Dao is frighteningly steadfast."
Zhan Lian spoke emphatically, "Let's go, I will share more about Supre Elder Alkaid with you on the way."
The two chatted and laughed, quickly ascending the mountain.
The other two young ladies also followed.
However, their looks towards Alkaid were clearly filled with so resentnt and dissatisfaction.
Such ingratitude.
Along the way, Alkaid also learned about the significance of the Nine Cauldrons Thirty-Six Peaks. In fact, it was an area on the periphery of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, specifically opened for outsiders to visit and understand the cultural history of the Nine Cauldrons Sect; it wasn't considered the main part of the sect.
At the sa ti, he also learned of Zhan Lian's identity.
His family had once produced a Hollow Void Realm cultivator, one of the first group of Hollow Void cultivators to live in this region.
Indeed...
He is the descendant of an old acquaintance.
His family had soone who beca a disciple below Elder Ling Xi of the Nine Cauldrons Sect who reached the Shattered Void Realm four thousand years ago, becoming one of the Elder's direct disciples.
It is for this reason that these two misses, born into Hollow Void Noble Families, linger around him, unable to leave.
"Ling Xi, ah."
Alkaid felt sowhat nostalgic upon hearing this na.
Back when he joined the Heavenly Dao Sect, Ling Xi was the second True Disciple, second only to Yanhuang. Later on, his show of sufficient potential led the Ling Family to join his faction, following him, the now Vice Sect Leader, to the Southern Region.
To this day, due to so exchanges of interests, the Southern Region has been divided into the territory of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, and the Ling Family branch that had lived there for generations naturally joined the Nine Cauldrons Sect as one of its subordinated powers.
The Zhan Family had people who beca disciples under this Shattered Void Realm Elder, and although only one of many True Disciples, their significance was still not sothing ordinary Hollow Void Noble Families could compare with.
During the journey, most of the ti, it was Zhan Lian speaking, with Alkaid occasionally replying with a sentence or two.
However, he is, after all, a person who has lived for thousands of years, with experiences and knowledge far beyond what ordinary cultivators can compare to.
Even among those who Integrate Dao and beco Dao Lords, none can match him in terms of experience and insight.
Even in their brief exchanges, he demonstrated an extraordinary eloquence, which made Zhan Lian take him a bit more seriously.
Furthermore, Alkaid communicated without any pretense, making their interactions quite harmonious.
As Zhan Lian devoted most of his ti to Alkaid, naturally, he had little ti to pay attention to the two young ladies.
This situation inevitably caused dissatisfaction among the two misses.
Although the two misses were envious of Zhan Lian's background, they too were mbers of the Hollow Void Clan and, naturally, carried the pride of great clan descendants in front of outsiders.
Finding an opportune mont, the young lady in yellow interrupted, "Brother Lian, the date for your Golden Core Grand Banquet is approaching; you two seem to get along so well, wouldn't you invite this friend?"
"Indeed, I've prepared a precious gift especially for Brother Lian's Golden Core Grand Banquet—a Heavenly Jade Crystal. It should be very beneficial for refining the True Qi within your body," added the young lady in green, choosing this mont to show a united front.
They regarded Alkaid as a "rival."
"Heavenly Jade Crystal?"
Zhan Lian, who was conversing with Alkaid, frowned, "Isn't the market price for such a treasure nearly a thousand? Where did you get so many Pure Yang Great Pills?"
With that, he waved his hand, "Take it back, take it back."
Alkaid, on the other hand, was wondering why he had never heard of sothing like "Heavenly Jade Crystal."
Only after Zhan Lian explained that the price was less than a thousand Pure Yang Great Pills did he realize.
Such low-level cultivation materials were naturally not sothing he would rember.
"Brother Lian is at a critical juncture in becoming an Inner Sect Disciple. If you have the Heavenly Jade Crystal to refine your True Qi, the chances of cultivating a Blazing White Golden Core will undoubtedly increase," said the young lady in green with a smile, "Moreover, Brother, you are one of the most outstanding disciples of the younger generation of the Zhan Family; there's a chance to et the Zhan Family's Ancient Ancestor, soone at the level of Elder Ling Xi's direct disciple. Only such treasures are worthy of your status."
"Yes, I've also specially asked for a favor from the family to get so Soul Cleansing Water for Brother Lian, which benefits in cleansing and refining the Divine Soul, making the Divine Sense more nimble. You shouldn't stand on ceremony with us," the young lady in yellow followed.
"I've told you, I can't take it. The Golden Core Grand Banquet is organized by the elders, I..."
"Then we can't afford to let Brother Lian lose face," they retorted.
"I saw Brother Lian struggling day and night in the past few years to cultivate the Golden Core. It pained to watch. I could not help in other ways, so I collected these cultivation materials as best as I could, hoping to make it easier for you," the two young ladies pleaded, one after another, with pitiable looks.
However, the materials they ntioned were all starting at a hundred Pure Yang Great Pills without exception.
At this point, if Alkaid was tactful, to avoid being invited to the Golden Core Grand Banquet and being put in a position to give a gift worth hundreds of Pure Yang Great Pills, he should tactfully take his leave.
Alkaid understood this and couldn't help but smile.
These two young ladies ant no harm to Zhan Lian, but they were a bit too self-righteous.
"Alright, since you know I rarely co out to enjoy so peace, can't you two calm down?"
Zhan Lian glared at them, "In the following period, my mind will only be on cultivation; I will not stop until I beco an Inner Sect disciple! If you two don't want to waste dozens or hundreds of years for nothing, it's best if you stop hovering around !"
After saying that, he turned to Alkaid and apologized sowhat, "Don't mind them. The Nine Cauldrons Thirty-Six Peaks might take ten days and a half-month to visit completely. Do you have a place to stay below the mountain? If not, you are welco to be a guest at my residence."
"No trouble."
Alkaid waved his hand, "As for a place to stay, I think there should be..."
After probing with his Divine Sense, he followed up with assurance, "There is."
"Shall we head down the mountain today?"
Zhan Lian smiled, "You and I took to each other at first sight; I have much more to discuss with you."
"No need to go down the mountain; I live up here," Alkaid replied with a smile.
"On the mountain?" Zhan Lian was taken aback.
"Alright, if you truly beco an Inner Sect disciple, you might as well co and sit at my Purple Cloud Peak. Then I'll listen to your plans on how to emulate the deeds of Dao Venerable Alkaid. Of course, I might no longer be around by then, so whether we can et depends on our destiny," Alkaid patted his shoulder, "I'm off."
Reviews
All reviews (0)