Chapter 1562: Haoyu Zhenren

On Chongyang Mountain, within a green pavilion adorned with carved beams and painted pillars, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, Murong Bo, and Li Jiong sat together on the third floor, drinking tea and chatting. Li Jiong looked a bit grim.

To apprehend Situ Mei, the Dual Sages of Sun and Moon paid a hefty price to acquire two fourth-tier Millipede Blood Gu worms from Myriad Beast Island. They split into two groups to search for Situ Mei, and after finally locating her, she managed to escape. They scoured an area of a million miles but found no trace of her, forcing them to give up.

The person who rescued Situ Mei used lightning-attribute divine abilities and managed to snatch her from right under their noses, indicating a cultivation level of at least late Nascent Soul stage. By following this clue, they might be able to trace the culprit.

There aren't many late Nascent Soul cultivators in the Eastfence Realm; they either specialize in lightning arts or possess rare lightning-attribute treasures.

Unable to find Situ Mei, Li Jiong had no choice but to send someone to contact Du Xu and Fang Yue. Upon learning that the Great Yan Dynasty was hosting the Hundred Immortals Assembly, he immediately rushed over.

Each time the Hundred Immortals Assembly is convened, a large number of Nascent Soul cultivators participate. Perhaps someone there knows a special tracking secret art that could help them find Situ Mei.

“Fellow Daoist Li, is Situ Mei really that formidable? The three of you teamed up, yet she still managed to escape?” Wang Changsheng asked with a frown. He had expected Situ Mei to be dead for sure, but her rescue was certainly not good news.

Li Jiong knew about the marital ties between the Wang and Zhang families, so Wang Changsheng's inquiry about Situ Mei's fate was understandable.

“That person’s divine ability was extraordinary; we couldn't even see them before Situ Mei was rescued. It must have been a Spirit Treasure-grade flying magic treasure, not much inferior to our Sun-Moon Shuttle, the treasure of our Sun-Moon Palace.” Li Jiong stated solemnly, his voice filled with resentment.

He would not have mentioned it if Wang Changsheng hadn't asked; it was too embarrassing.

“A Spirit Treasure-grade flying magic treasure?” A flicker of surprise crossed Wang Changsheng's eyes. His Azure Lotus Throne was a flying magic treasure, but not a Spirit Treasure. If one possessed a flying Spirit Treasure, perhaps only a God Transformation cultivator could stop them.

The materials required to forge flying Spirit Treasures are exceedingly rare. Even among the ten major sects of the South Sea, cultivators possessing such treasures are few and far between.

“It's a pity we don't have any more fourth-tier Millipede Blood Gu worms; otherwise, we could still use secret arts to search for Situ Mei,” Murong Bo said with a tone of regret. The Murong family wished to return to the South Sea for development; they had already hit a ceiling in the Central Plains cultivation world. To advance further, either the Central Plains would need to descend into complete chaos, which was practically impossible. Despite the turmoil in the Great Qin Dynasty, most casualties were Core Formation cultivators, with Nascent Soul cultivators rarely perishing.

Without widespread chaos in the Central Plains, the Murong family's only path to further advancement lay in the South Sea, with its numerous islands and abundant cultivation resources.

The compensation offered by the Sun-Moon Palace was too generous; otherwise, the Murong family wouldn't have wanted to get involved. Who would have thought that they were on the verge of successfully eliminating Situ Mei, only to fail at the last moment?

Cultivating fourth-tier Millipede Blood Gu worms was difficult; Myriad Beast Island had only managed to cultivate four, and all of them were now used up. They could no longer rely on the Millipede Blood Gu worms to perform secret arts to locate Situ Mei. With the world being so vast, they had no idea where to find her.

“She has been severely injured and won't recover for at least a century. She only has a little over a hundred years of lifespan left. If we can't find her, we'll just wait for her to die of old age,” Li Jiong said fiercely. As long as they could endure for a little over a century, it would be difficult for Situ Mei to cause trouble.

Even if Situ Mei recovered, she wouldn't have much lifespan remaining, making it almost impossible for her to advance to the God Transformation stage.

“I heard that True Monarch Haoyu will also be attending the Hundred Immortals Assembly, Fellow Daoist Li. You could ask True Monarch Haoyu for help,” Wang Ruyan suggested with a smile.

“That's what I was thinking too, but True Monarch Haoyu's whereabouts are unpredictable. I heard that True Monarch Heavenly Demon and True Monarch Haoyu are good friends. I was planning to visit True Monarch Heavenly Demon, hoping she could introduce me...”

Before Li Jiong could finish speaking, Murong Bo suddenly pulled out a silver-white magic disk, struck a spell into it, and a line of small characters appeared on the disk.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, Fellow Daoist Li, True Monarch Haoyu has arrived. He's right outside.”

“Oh, then let's go meet True Monarch Haoyu! I've wanted to meet True Monarch Haoyu for a long time.” Wang Changsheng rose and headed out, and Murong Bo and the other two followed.

Murong Bo, a native cultivator of the Great Yan Dynasty, had never even met True Monarch Haoyu, let alone Wang Changsheng and the other two.

On the wide, clean street, a refined scholar in a white robe walked slowly, a faint smile on his face.

The white-robed scholar had a jade-like complexion, wore a blue scholar's cap, and had a white folding fan tied at his waist. Tall and graceful, he exuded the demeanor of a refined young master.

True Monarch Haoyu, not yet three hundred years old, had already cultivated to the late Nascent Soul stage. His cultivation speed was second only to the Seven Absolutes Blade Emperor.

While the Seven Absolutes Blade Emperor enjoyed challenging local masters everywhere, True Monarch Haoyu had no such hobby. He preferred to teach and nurture people, slay demons and devils, and care for the common folk.

A large number of cultivators had gathered on the street, their gazes drawn to True Monarch Haoyu. Their expressions varied: some were curious, others awestruck, and still others envious.

Zhou Ningshuang emerged from the crowd, her face beaming with smiles. She quickly approached True Monarch Haoyu, performed a respectful cupped-hand salute, and said, “Fellow Daoist Chen, you've finally arrived. This little sister has been waiting for you for a long time.”

“Princess, you are too kind. I am merely a carefree wanderer, unworthy of such courtesy from Your Highness,” True Monarch Haoyu said politely, returning the cupped-hand salute.

“Fellow Daoist Chen, you jest. If you are unworthy, then no one else in the Great Yan Dynasty is. I am not speaking on behalf of the imperial court, but on behalf of all the common people in the world.”

Zhou Ningshuang said solemnly. True Monarch Haoyu had truly embodied the Confucius's principle of 'education for all.' He would go to farmlands to teach farmers' children to read and write. When cultivators of unorthodox paths truly repented, True Monarch Haoyu would let bygones be bygones and instruct them in the sagely rites. From immortal cultivators to ordinary commoners, True Monarch Haoyu had taught them all.

“I am truly unworthy of such praise. It is merely my duty. Traveling a thousand miles is better than reading a thousand books. I have only done what I ought to do,” True Monarch Haoyu replied humbly.

“Well said! Listening to Fellow Daoist Chen's words is worth ten years of study,” a hearty male voice suddenly rang out. As the words faded, Murong Bo emerged from the crowd, his face beaming with smiles.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan stood behind Murong Bo, curiously observing True Monarch Haoyu.

True Monarch Haoyu glanced at Murong Bo but then paid him no further attention, his gaze settling on Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

He nodded at Murong Bo, then swiftly stepped forward to Wang Changsheng, performing a cupped-hand salute. “I have long heard of the illustrious reputation of the Azure Lotus Immortals. Today, I finally have the honor of meeting you in person,” he said.

Only six cultivators in the Eastfence Realm had triggered celestial phenomena. The Azure Lotus Immortals, having simultaneously formed their Nascent Souls and thus drawn such phenomena, were particularly noteworthy.

“Haha, Fellow Daoist Chen, you are too kind. My wife and I have also long admired Fellow Daoist Chen, and we are finally meeting you in person. Seeing you today, your reputation is truly well-deserved!” Wang Changsheng chuckled heartily, praising him.