Chapter 2610: Cloud Dream Chu Family

On the Spirit-Mystic Continent, inland, lies the Cloud Dream Mountain Range. Stretching for tens of thousands of miles, this range is the Chu family's stronghold, renowned for its exotic flowers, rare plants, immortal cranes, spiritual apes, strangely shaped rock formations, and towering waterfalls.

The Chu family's ancestor, Chu Tianhong, came from the Divine Armament Sect and was a master of artifact forging. The Chu family gained fame in the cultivation world for their forging skills and controlled several large metal ore veins.

According to unofficial reports, a Chu family member with a Celestial Spirit Root has become a disciple of the Divine Armament Sect's vice-sect master, greatly enhancing the family's prospects.

Chu Tianhong's ten-thousand-year birthday was being celebrated with a grand ceremony, to which many factions were invited. As a large number of guests flocked to the Chu family's stronghold, the family increased its patrol personnel.

Chu Yiyun, who had cultivated for three hundred years and was now in the late Nascent Soul stage, was leading a patrol team.

A clear and resonant bird cry echoed from the sky, as a seven-colored spiritual light appeared on the distant horizon.

"Someone's coming," Chu Yiyun murmured, his expression tightening as he gazed at the distant sky.

Not long after, the seven-colored spiritual light stopped, revealing a peacock with a wingspan of a thousand zhang, its feathers shimmering with seven colors. Over a hundred cultivators stood upon it, their robes adorned with a cyan lotus pattern. Leading them were Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao.

"The Wang family of Cyan Lotus Island!" Chu Yiyun's expression turned serious. He quickly bowed and saluted, saying, "This junior, Chu Yiyun, greets Senior Wang."

"Young friend Chu," Wang Qingcheng said, "we were invited to attend your Chu family patriarch's birthday. Here is the invitation." He took out a golden invitation and, with a gentle flick of his wrist, sent it flying to land before Chu Yiyun.

Chu Yiyun carefully examined the invitation, then took out a communication plate to contact the family elders. "Seniors, please wait a moment," he said politely. "Fifth Uncle-Ancestor will be out shortly."

Wang Qingcheng nodded. They had come to attend Chu Tianhong's ten-thousand-year birthday celebration, hoping to exchange for materials needed for tribulation transcendence or Dharma Idols. For this purpose, they had brought various Dharma Idol materials and a set of sixth-tier defensive array formations. If he wasn't mistaken, Chu Tianhong was also holding this celebration to gather tribulation transcendence materials. According to their intelligence, Chu Tianhong had already overcome at least three major heavenly tribulations. The ten-thousand-year birthday was merely an excuse; whether Chu Tianhong was actually ten thousand years old was of no concern to anyone.

A streak of blue light flew swiftly from the distance. Not long after, the blue light stopped, revealing a flying boat shimmering with blue light. Lan Fukong and a dozen other cultivators from the Lan family stood upon it.

"I am Lan Fukong from Cloud Hang Mountain!" Lan Fukong said politely. "I heard your esteemed patriarch is celebrating his ten-thousand-year birthday, and I've come specially to offer my congratulations." He had already overcome his first major heavenly tribulation. He then looked at Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao, smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, what a coincidence! Years ago, I just bid farewell to the Cyan Lotus Sword Sovereign. Is he not with you?"

"Fellow Daoist Lan, you've met my seventh brother?" Wang Qingcheng was slightly startled; he had naturally heard of True Monarch Wild Wind.

"Of course," Lan Fukong replied, full of doubt, transmitting his voice. "We met in Azure Flood Dragon Valley and even attended Venerable Seven Flames's sermon. We parted ways afterward; has he not returned to Cyan Lotus Island?"

The whereabouts of a top combatant from a major force naturally cannot be casually revealed to outsiders, and Lan Fukong understood this discretion. "We haven't encountered him," Wang Qingcheng replied vaguely. "He might be on his way back."

Lan Fukong nodded, asking no further questions. "Senior Lan?" Chu Yiyun asked politely. "Do you have an invitation?" He had not heard that the family had invited the Lan family.

Cloud Hang Mountain is several hundred billion li away from the Cloud Dream Mountain Range, and the two families had no particular dealings, so the Chu family had simply not invited the Lan family.

"No, I don't," Lan Fukong replied politely. "However, I have long admired Fellow Daoist Chu and hurried here to offer my congratulations. Please, young friend Chu, convey my presence." He knew that at any large-scale event, he could certainly meet other high-level cultivators and perhaps exchange for Dharma Idol materials and tribulation transcendence materials. Having already overcome his first major heavenly tribulation, he was in need of Dharma Idol materials, which were always traded through bartering. Thus, he needed to widely interact with other Void Refinement cultivators. Besides attending various gatherings and large auctions, Lan Fukong would also attend various birthday celebrations and festivities, even without an invitation. He wasn't there just for free food and drink; he always brought gifts. Of course, he had often been turned away, but after advancing to the Void Refinement stage, this happened less frequently.

Chu Yiyun acknowledged, taking out his communication plate to notify the family elders. From high in the sky, a gentle male voice echoed for ten thousand li in every direction, saying, "I have long heard of Fellow Daoist Lan's great name. It is very thoughtful of Fellow Daoist Lan to rush here to congratulate our patriarch."

A streak of golden light flew swiftly from the distance, stopping with a flash. It revealed itself to be a four-sided beast carriage shimmering with golden light, exuding astonishing spiritual energy. This was a Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure.

A handsome young man in golden robes stood inside the four-sided beast carriage. He had a robust physique and bright, piercing eyes.

The golden-robed youth cupped his hands and said politely, "I am Chu Yunjie. I greet Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, and Fellow Daoist Lan." He then instructed Chu Yiyun, "Yiyun, there's nothing more for you here. Go back to your patrol!"

Chu Yiyun and the others acknowledged and left the area.

"I have long heard of the Chu family's Seven Talents," Lan Fukong flattered, his face full of fawning. "Fellow Daoist Chu is truly young and promising; to enter the Void Refinement stage at such a young age... this old man is far inferior compared to you. Fellow Daoist Chu's future achievements are limitless." The Divine Armament Sect stood behind the Chu family, and with a Chu family member possessing a Celestial Spirit Root now a disciple of the Divine Armament Sect's vice-sect master, the Chu family had a high chance of producing Integration stage cultivators in the future.

Lan Fukong did not forget Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao. "Fellow Daoist Wang and Madam Wang are clearly extraordinary individuals," he added. "It's a certainty that you will both advance to the Integration stage in the future." He knew that only flattering Chu Yunjie might offend Wang Qingcheng and Sun Yuejiao.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, and Fellow Daoist Lan, please come in," Chu Yunjie said, making a welcoming gesture. "We have already prepared your accommodations." He then led the way.

Not long after, they stopped. Before them lay a desolate mountain range, devoid of any human figures. Chu Yunjie took out a golden token and infused it with spiritual power. A golden light flew out and merged into the void, causing ripples. Where the light passed, a continuous stretch of lush green mountains appeared.

Large numbers of buildings could be seen, some floating in mid-air, others perched on cliffs or nestled on mountain peaks. Many streaks of light were visible, and a golden tower shimmering with golden light particularly caught Lan Fukong's attention.

The golden tower shimmered with spiritual light from top to bottom, displaying the five golden characters "Golden Blaze Demon-Locking Pagoda." This was a low-grade Heaven-reaching Spirit Treasure that the Chu family used specifically to train their younger generation. It could conjure various demonic beasts to attack those who challenged it, a type of treasure many factions possessed.

The Lan family also possessed such a treasure, though theirs could only conjure fifth-tier demonic beasts. However, this was not an issue, as the Lan family only had three Void Refinement cultivators, which was currently sufficient.

Chu Yunjie arranged their accommodations. The residences for the Wang and Lan families were adjacent, both located on the same mountain peak. Chu Yunjie gave a few instructions, then left, telling them to rest well.