Chapter 619: The Silent Taoist Has This Tribulation in His Fate

Jiang Lianyi looked slightly puzzled. Judging by the name, it seemed to be a cultivation method related to the Dragon and Phoenix clans, resembling a human body-refining technique.

"In ancient times, I never saw cultivation methods for humans transforming into dragons or phoenixes. Is this a recent creation?"

Filled with curiosity, she carefully opened the book.

Then, various unseemly words appeared before her eyes, vividly describing the mating process of dragons and phoenixes. This truly startled her, and she dropped the book as if shocked by electricity.

"This, this, this... what kind of indecency is this!"

Such books did not exist in ancient times.

"Senior Lianyi, what's wrong?"

Lu Yang heard the commotion and quickly came over. The second floor was very quiet; even speaking a little loudly would attract the attention of everyone there.

"Who is the author of this book?"

"Which one?"

Lu Yang closed the book, saw the title on the cover, and remained silent for a long time.

Why is this book everywhere?

The first time he came to the Sutra Pavilion, he encountered this book and thought it was some kind of serendipitous encounter or a mysterious cultivation method. Then a senior disciple from the Sutra Pavilion told him it was pornography.

Just before heading to the demon realm, he learned from Grandfather Ba that this thing was written by his master, and the one in the Sutra Pavilion might be the original version.

All copies of "Dragon-Phoenix Transformation" in the outside world had been destroyed. Weren't the copies on the first floor collected by the senior disciple of the Sutra Pavilion? How could there still be one on the second floor?

Master, just how many copies have you hidden in the Sutra Pavilion? Is "a wily rabbit has three burrows" applicable here?

"Who wrote this book?" Jiang Lianyi asked, indignant and furious. She was determined to make the author pay!

Lu Yang's scalp tingled from the question; this answer concerned his master's life. Since he joined the sect, his master had treated him well. Although his master was rarely in the sect and never guided his cultivation, he often made enemies everywhere, causing Lu Yang to be afraid to mention his sect when he went out. Furthermore, because his master was frequently imprisoned, it implicated Lu Yang, preventing him from participating in the imperial examinations to become an official.

But no matter what, despite Daoist Buyu's countless flaws, he was still his master!

"It was written by my master, Daoist Buyu."

His master was destined to face this tribulation, which was both a calamity and an opportunity. His master often taught the senior disciple that pressure brings motivation, so Lu Yang presumed his master had long prepared himself mentally for this.

Jiang Lianyi nodded slightly, a terrifying smile curling at the corners of her lips. "Daoist Buyu, the sect leader of our Wen Dao Sect?"

"Yes."

"Where is he now?"

"He wanders the four corners of the world, and his whereabouts are unknown. Even the sect elders cannot find him."

"I see. Then I'll look for him after I leave."

Jiang Lianyi took possession of "Dragon-Phoenix Transformation." The contents of the book could not be seen by outsiders.

Just then, a hunched old man walked over. His appearance was unremarkable.

"Esteemed Daoist friend," the old man said, "this book belongs to my Sutra Pavilion. The note approved by Xiao Yun only allowed you to enter and browse books freely. It didn't say you could take them, did it?"

His voice was ancient and full of stories; he was a gaunt-faced old man.

He spoke slowly, but with an unmistakable authority.

"Elder Tao," Lu Yang said, cupping his fists in greeting. This was someone from his master's generation who had retired to guard the Sutra Pavilion, and whose cultivation was unfathomable.

Jiang Lianyi let out a cold snort, revealed her true appearance, and showed no regard for the old man.

"Ancient Ancestor of the Phoenix Clan?!" Elder Tao's eyes widened abruptly, and his eyelids twitched. As an older generation cultivator, he had more knowledge and experience than the eight elders, having seen Jiang Lianyi's statue in the demon realm.

"Heh, what if I do want to take it?"

Elder Tao, with equal stubbornness, replied, "Then take it. I'm not stopping you!"

Lu Yang: "..."

Inside the Wen Dao Sect, all was calm. Outside, however, the news of the Phoenix Clan's Ancient Ancestor, the legendary ancient great demon, awakening, had already thrown everything into disarray.

The demon realm, the East Sea, the Buddhist kingdoms, the imperial court, the martial arts world, the three great demonic sects, and the underground black market—wherever cultivators existed, they were all shocked by this news.

"The Phoenix Ancestor, who disappeared for 300,000 years, is actually alive? And her combat power is undiminished from back then? She even defeated Supreme Lord Zhutian, who was known as the foremost figure below immortals?"

"Furthermore, the Phoenix Ancestor is also proclaimed to be one of the Four Sovereigns of the Heavenly Court, and the young sect leader of the Heavenly Court Sect appeared with her at the founding ceremony of the demon kingdom!"

"The Heavenly Court Sect actually possesses such terrifying hidden strength?"

"See what I mean? I've long said that the Heavenly Court Sect is the true ancient Heavenly Court! Don't think that just because you read a couple of books, you can claim the Heavenly Court Sect is fabricated. The facts are right here!"

"The Phoenix Ancestor even personally revealed the true form of the demon immortal—it really is the legendary auspicious Qilin!"

"And the Qilin Immortal and the Phoenix Ancestor are actually a married couple! The Phoenix Clan's hidden strength probably far exceeds what people imagine. No wonder there were ancient rumors that no one among the half-immortals dared to provoke the Phoenix Ancestor; with the Qilin Immortal as a backer, indeed, no one would dare provoke her."

In a small tavern, thoroughly drunk patrons discussed matters of the demon realm with great animation and excitement, as if they had personally witnessed the world-shaking battle of half-immortals.

"Wait, Supreme Lord Zhutian, Phoenix Ancestor... does that mean the demon realm has two half-immortals?"

Officially, no major faction had a half-immortal; the highest cultivation level publicly known was the Tribulation Transcendence stage. With this revelation, the demon realm instantly became the most powerful force.

"A half-immortal, huh..."

Whether they were Foundation Establishment grand cultivators or Nascent Soul old monsters, they all felt a sense of awe when mentioning the half-immortal realm. It was a realm they could never hope to reach in this lifetime.

Most Foundation Establishment grand cultivators didn't even know that the "half-immortal" realm existed. Learning about it from others, they could now boast about this knowledge when they returned.

Soul Transformation cultivators were considered the backbone of the cultivation world. They had a keener sense and sniffed out an unusual aura from the news.

"Two ancient half-immortals have successively awakened," they mused. "This is likely no coincidence. This is the prelude to a great era of contention..."

An old man in a dirty Daoist robe listened to these tidbits of news intermittently, feeling even more emotional than others.

"How did Xiao Yang get involved with the Phoenix Ancestor," he wondered, "and even trick her into joining our Heavenly Court Sect? Even I couldn't do something like that."

Daoist Buyu was greatly puzzled; every time he heard about his young disciple, it challenged his understanding.

"Xiao Yang is bold enough to even trick the Phoenix Ancestor," he mused. "Next time I see him, I must tell him: don't trick people you can't afford to offend; it easily leads to disaster."

Daoist Buyu had extensive experience in trickery, and his survival to this day was no mere luck. Rather, he had a bottom line: never to provoke those he couldn't afford to offend.

For example, with a big shot of the Phoenix Ancestor's caliber, he would definitely hide far away if he saw her, without even meeting her.

"Hmm? Someone's coming?"

Daoist Buyu keenly sensed a mighty Integration-stage cultivator approaching him; their aura was wild, not like that of a human!

A burly middle-aged man entered the small tavern and sat down next to Daoist Buyu. His deep voice held respect for knowledge.

"I heard that the most popular storytelling performance right now, 'The Legend of Wen Dao Sect,' was written by you," he said. "Do you still accept disciples?"

Daoist Buyu recognized the middle-aged man's appearance and was slightly startled. "Patriarch Jin?"

The second update will be at 11 PM.