Chapter 156: The Immortal of Ying Tian

Thinking back, the Immortal Fairy, as one of the Five Ancient Immortals, was renowned across the universe, her existence known to all. Ancient humans, demon races, and others would often build altars, offering rare treasures and powerful artifacts to worship the Immortal Fairy, seeking her favor. Furthermore, some tribes revered her as their totem and a guardian deity, holding large annual sacrificial ceremonies. The Immortal Fairy enjoyed unparalleled glory during that period.

Unfortunately, since her resurrection, times have changed drastically. She has fallen on hard times, with only a dim-witted cult believing in her—a cult that doesn't even know her name and has mistaken her gender. Residing in Lu Yang's body, she is occasionally scared by that little girl named Yun Zhi and ridiculed by Lu Yang; her life is truly miserable. Let alone an immortal, even a Tribulation Stage cultivator shouldn't be treated like this.

Now, finally, someone has opened their "Heavenly Eye" and recognized her true identity, asking her to accept such a massive flying boat as a tribute. Look at the gems embedded in the ship's hull, look at its colossal size—this is how an immortal should be treated!

In the spiritual space, Lu Yang squinted at the Immortal Fairy, thinking, "I think you've been having quite a good time as sect master these past two days. A Foundation Establishment cultivator instantly killing a Soul Transformation cultivator — such a feat is unprecedented throughout history. Any genius would feel inferior in the face of such an achievement; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say a historical record was set."

"It's fine you came, but you brought such a grand gift," the Immortal Fairy said with a smile, reaching out to Qiu Jin'an for the magic artifact that controlled the flying boat, speaking in ancient language.

"What are you doing?" Qiu Jin'an asked, looking bewildered at Lu Yang, who was grinning foolishly. He didn't understand what the Immortal Fairy was saying, as he only knew that one phrase in ancient language. Qiu Jin'an observed Lu Yang, wondering who this person was. His cultivation wasn't high, yet from his position, he appeared to be the central figure, in the sect master's seat. Most importantly... he seemed a bit effeminate?

"Didn't you just say, 'Oh, great Immortal, please accept your servant's humblest tribute,' and wasn't the tribute this flying boat?" The Immortal Fairy was also a bit bewildered. "Can you go back on your word now? Do you still want to be the vice-cult master?"

This time, the Immortal Fairy spoke in Mandarin, and Qiu Jin'an understood. His eyelids twitched as he finally grasped the meaning of that ancient phrase. He hadn't expected to meet a cultivator proficient in ancient language.

"Do you truly understand ancient civilization?" Qiu Jin'an asked, looking at the Immortal Fairy skeptically.

The Immortal Fairy thought for a moment, then spoke the plain truth: "More than you do."

Qiu Jin'an was so exasperated he laughed. "Young man, don't think you understand ancient civilization just because you've read a couple of books. Let me test you! Do you know that in ancient times there was a concept of the 'Heavenly Court,' and that the Heavenly Court divided immortals into several ranks? Do you know what those ranks are?"

Recently, while exploring a ruin, Qiu Jin'an happened upon an ancient text personally written by an immortal, which meticulously recorded the grand events of ancient times, with a particular focus on the "Heavenly Court."

"Are you referring to Human Immortals, Earth Immortals, Heavenly Immortals, Golden Immortals, Grand Unity Golden Immortals, Primordial Immortals? Or Human Immortals, Earth Immortals, Immortal Kings, Immortal Venerables, Immortal Emperors? The first set was compiled by Ying Tianxian, and the second by Qilin Immortal."

"The system I compiled back then was First-Rank Immortals, Second-Rank Immortals, Third-Rank Immortals, Fourth-Rank Immortals, and Fifth-Rank Immortals." The Immortal Fairy scratched her head. Back then, they had compiled several sets of cultivation ranks, and she wasn't sure which one Qiu Jin'an had found.

Qiu Jin'an retorted angrily, "Stop spouting nonsense! This is a work written by an immortal; how could it be 'compiled'?"

The Immortal Fairy was puzzled, then suddenly realized, "There's no rule that immortals must tell the truth, right? Oh, I see now. You must have seen the set compiled by Ying Tianxian. His compilation was the most comprehensive and particularly misleading. Let me tell you, you can't trust anything Ying Tianxian says; it's all lies. He used to deceive me often even before he became an immortal. I used to beat him as if he were my grandson."

Qiu Jin'an was stunned, thinking the Immortal Fairy was spouting nonsense. Yet, the ancient text indeed stated "Ying Tianxian." "You've read that book?" he asked.

The Immortal Fairy nodded. "Of course. Didn't that book also mention a Huo Jinxian besides Ying Tianxian?"

Lu Yang thought to himself, "Why does this sound like it has something to do with paralysis? Is it just my imagination?"

"If you don't believe me, bring out that book, and I'll tell you how to distinguish truth from falsehood."

Qiu Jin'an, half-believing and half-doubting, pulled out the ancient text. It had a very grand name: *Imprisoning Heaven*. He pointed to the cover and said, "Look, it's clearly written here, 'Written by Ying Tianxian.' It was written by Ying Tianxian."

The Immortal Fairy shook her head. "Haven't you noticed a small blank space between the characters 'Tian' (Heaven) and 'Xian' (Immortal)?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're reading it wrong. You're reading it as 'Ying Tianxian, written by,' but the actual reading is 'Ying Tian, Immortal work.' So this is a book written by someone named 'Ying Tian,' not by Ying Tianxian."

The Grand Elder and others secretly chuckled, seeing Qiu Jin'an put in a difficult spot. "Hahahaha, Jin'an, I told you long ago, don't always show off with your level of knowledge!" The Grand Elder and others laughed more subtly, while Shangguan Yu, standing behind Qiu Jin'an, burst out laughing loudly, completely disregarding Qiu Jin'an's expression.

Shangguan Yu, with an apologetic tone, said to the people of the Wen Dao Sect, "I apologize, you all know Jin'an. He's just thick-skinned and never admits mistakes. He didn't know the original meaning of the ancient language, which led to this misunderstanding. My sincerest apologies. Please accept these gifts."

Disciples of the Five Elements Sect continuously carried various magic artifacts, ores, elixirs, and cultivation techniques off the boat. Each item was valuable enough to be a highlight or even the finale at an auction. The most precious were the Five Elements ores, a specialty of the Five Elements Sect. These ores were divided into five types based on the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—and could be distinguished by color. Each type represented the extreme of its respective attribute and was a highly sought-after material for artifact forging masters. Upon seeing the Five Elements ores, Fifth Elder Zhou Xin resembled a wolf spotting prey at night, his eyes gleaming green.

When the five great immortal sects visited each other, they would always bring gifts. For example, the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace often gave gifts such as moon laurel branches and moon essence. The Hanging Temple offered Buddhist scriptures and consecrated Buddhist treasures as gifts. The Prison-Suppressing Sect presented tamed specters and demons as gifts.

The Wen Dao Sect was quite peculiar, or rather, quite casual, especially when Daoist Buyu was still around. For instance, they once sent a top-tier body-refining technique to the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace. After cultivating it, one's body would become incredibly tough, bones like steel, skin hard as poured iron, impossible to pinch, allowing one to sweep aside everything. The people of the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace were so infuriated that they wanted to hit someone. What kind of female cultivators would look like this after training?

Another example: they sent the long-lost "Silent Meditation" cultivation method to the Hanging Temple. Daoist Buyu even claimed he had cultivated it himself and that the results were exceptionally good. The abbot chuckled twice, thinking, "If this beast could cultivate it, would he still be called 'Buyu' (Non-speaking)?" Daoist Buyu repeatedly insisted it was genuine. The abbot of the Hanging Temple, half-believing and half-doubting, practiced it once. Then he discovered that whenever he spoke, he smelled of garlic, and everyone around him begged him to shut up. Daoist Buyu's explanation was: "Isn't 'Silent Meditation' just about others telling you to shut up?" The abbot was so enraged that he instantly transformed into Acala to suppress that beastly Daoist Buyu.