Chapter 704: The Ask Dao Sect's Former Strongest Trump Card

“Is the ancient Heavenly Court our Ask Dao Sect?”

He had heard that the ancient Heavenly Court was filled with powerful figures: Heavenly Venerates, Sect Masters, Four Sovereigns, Guardian Heavenly Kings, and various geniuses. He recalled stories like the Phoenix Ancestor defeating the Vermilion Heaven Supreme, and Sect Master Yun capturing two half-immortals.

“Wait, two half-immortals?” Daoist Xiantian suddenly remembered Nightmare Supreme and Void Supreme, who were imprisoned in Prisoner Peak. “Weren’t these the two half-immortals rumored among the common folk?”

Overwhelmed by a barrage of revelations at Prisoner Peak, he had lost his ability to think. Now that he had recovered, he realized Sect Master Yun couldn't possibly have willingly handed over two half-immortals to the Ask Dao Sect.

“Unless Sect Master Yun was a member of our Ask Dao Sect!” If that were true, everything would make sense!

“But that doesn’t seem right,” he mused. “The Heavenly Court Sect originated in ancient times. Could it be that our Ask Dao Sect was actually an ancient major sect? Why didn’t I know about this?”

“To be precise, some members of our sect belong to the Heavenly Court Sect,” Lu Yang corrected. “Our ancient Heavenly Court endured great hardship and disguised itself as a demonic sect to capture all demonic sects in one fell swoop.”

Daoist Xiantian looked at Lu Yang strangely. “They disguised themselves as a demonic sect, but ended up becoming the leader of all demonic sects?” Given the strength the ancient Heavenly Court had displayed, in their era, it would have been enough to sweep across the world multiple times over.

As they spoke, the four arrived at a bamboo forest on the outskirts of the sect. Deep within the grove, a stream flowed gently.

“Senior River Spirit, please show yourself,” Yun Zhi called out loudly.

The calm stream became turbulent, forming a fountain on the surface. A weathered figure appeared atop the fountain.

“What is it?” River Spirit asked indifferently.

“Little Green!” Daoist Xiantian’s eyes lit up when he saw River Spirit, and he blurted out River Spirit’s nickname.

River Spirit looked a bit embarrassed. How could anyone still know that name? No, he didn't admit that was his name.

“Who are you?” River Spirit fixed his gaze on Daoist Xiantian, not recognizing the young man.

“It’s me, Qi Tongtian,” Daoist Xiantian excitedly introduced himself. He hadn't expected River Spirit, Little Green, to still be here.

The stream's history was even older than that of the Ask Dao Sect. Before the Ask Dao Sect existed, the stream had produced a flicker of spiritual light, which at that time had not yet gained sentience. When Daoist Xiantian was traveling, he accidentally discovered the stream's unusual nature. He then confined this spiritual light within the stream to prevent it from dissipating and brought the stream back to the Ask Dao Sect, which is how River Spirit later came to be. By rights, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Daoist Xiantian saved his life, which is why River Spirit had always protected the Ask Dao Sect.

“Holy cow, you’re Qi Tongtian? You’re still alive?” River Spirit, seeing Daoist Xiantian, showed a rare expression of excitement, unable to stop smiling.

“Still alive, just had a bit of an accident,” Daoist Xiantian scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly.

“Looks like quite an accident; you’ve become a mortal.”

“Being alive is enough, I’m content.”

“True, that’s always been your mindset.”

“The Ask Dao Sect is truly extraordinary now, completely different from when you first founded it.” River Spirit had witnessed firsthand how the Ask Dao Sect grew stronger step by step.

Daoist Xiantian nodded. “I can see that. The juniors are all very diligent, much stronger than I was.”

The two chatted back and forth, sharing stories only they knew, their expressions exhilarated. Meeting after a separation of 120,000 years, it was as if they had returned to the Great Yu period, with endless things to say. They chatted for a good part of the morning, only pausing for a moment, still looking like they had more to discuss.

Yun Zhi reminded them from the side, “Seniors, you can chat anytime you wish in the future. Grand Ancestor, there’s still one more person you haven’t met.”

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were puzzled. They had calculated that they should have met all the high-ranking members of the Ask Dao Sect. Who else was there to meet?

“That’s right, we haven’t met everyone yet, let’s go.” Daoist Xiantian slapped his forehead, remembering that they couldn't spend all their time here. “Little Green, see you later.”

River Spirit chuckled, scolding him, “I told you I don’t want that awful name! Think of a new one for me later!”

“Senior Sister, is there anyone else we haven't met?” Lu Yang whispered.

“Yes, there’s one more. You’ll know when we get there.”

The last high-ranking member was far from here. Senior Sister once again plucked a cloud, turning it into a flying boat to carry the three of them. The cloud flew past the Great Grasslands, Prisoner Peak, and the original site of the Sword Cleansing Pond, showing no signs of slowing down. It continued until they reached a desolate mountain deep within the Ask Dao Sect, a place Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had never been before, where it finally stopped.

“This is Cangmang Mountain, the seclusion spot of a senior sect member,” she explained. “The reason you haven’t met him is because he has been in seclusion. Furthermore, his identity is quite special, and few people know about him.”

As Senior Sister spoke, she pushed aside withered vines, revealing a cave behind them. “Senior, are you there? If you’re not in seclusion, please come out.”

Soon, a youthful voice came from the cave. By its sound, it seemed to belong to a young man about the same age as Daoist Xiantian. “Why are you shouting so loudly? Don’t you know to respect your elders?”

The Immortal Fairy in the spiritual space let out a soft ‘oh?’ Before Lu Yang could ask what was wrong, a young man emerged from the cave, looking impatient.

“Let me introduce you. This is the ancestor who revived our sect, Dao Lord Hanhai, Fang Wuya.”

This time, it was Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou’s turn to be shocked. Dao Lord Hanhai, the ancestor who revived the sect 50,000 years ago! He’s still alive? Didn't they say he was only at the Tribulation Transcending stage?

“No, he’s a half-immortal,” the Immortal Fairy revealed Dao Lord Hanhai’s cultivation realm.

“I’m busy with seclusion, what do you want?”

Dao Lord Hanhai’s existence was the Ask Dao Sect’s strongest trump card. He wouldn’t make a move unless the sect faced a life-or-death crisis. At least, that was the case before Yun Zhi joined the Ask Dao Sect. After Yun Zhi joined, her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. Dao Lord Hanhai felt that this junior was a talent worth guiding, so he offered to give her some pointers. Subsequently, he was utterly defeated by Yun Zhi, spitting foam and collapsing to the ground. From then on, he vowed to redouble his efforts, achieve immortality, and restore his dignity as the ancestor who revived the sect. Thus, he went into seclusion deep within the Ask Dao Sect and vanished from public view.

“We’ve found a senior who might need to meet you.”

“Oh, which junior is it?” Fang Wuya asked casually. As the venerable ancestor who revived the sect, while Yun Zhi considered him a senior, everyone else was a junior to him.

“This one,” Yun Zhi stepped aside, revealing Daoist Xiantian. “We found the founding patriarch of our sect, Daoist Xiantian, Qi Tongtian.”

“Hello, I am Qi Tongtian,” Daoist Xiantian greeted politely, as always.

“Grand… Grand Patriarch?” Fang Wuya was greatly astonished. Originally, he held the highest status in the Ask Dao Sect; in terms of both cultivation and seniority, he was first. Then Yun Zhi appeared, causing his cultivation to fall to second place in the Ask Dao Sect. Now, it was even worse; he wasn't even the most senior in terms of generational rank anymore.