Under Yuan Ming's command, Wulu and the other three each busied themselves, preparing for the impending journey.

Meanwhile, Yuan Ming alone sought out the Three Realms Sect cultivators who were imprisoned and found Fire Wing Immortal among them.

He closed his eyes, focusing his mind, and activated the mysterious Reincarnation Eye, delving once more into Fire Wing Immortal's memory.

During the previous interrogation, Yuan Ming had already obtained valuable intelligence about the Wentian Secret Realm from Fire Wing Immortal's memory.

It was a secret realm shrouded in mist, into which the first Sect Hierarch of the Three Realms Sect, Gongshu Lingren, had once ventured, leaving behind his artifact refining inheritance, waiting for a destined person to inherit it.

Gongshu Lingren, a name renowned among the artifact refiners of the Chuyun Realm, was once the foremost artifact refiner there, and the value of his inheritance was naturally immeasurable.

Upon learning this, Yuan Ming's heart could not help but swell with strong interest.

However, Fire Wing Immortal's memory did not contain detailed records of the specific location of the inheritance site.

The map that recorded the location had always been held by the Three Realms Sect leaders, with the previous holder being the Black Emperor, and it was now likely in the hands of Su Wu.

The entrance to the Wentian Secret Realm was extremely secretive, and even though the Three Realms Sect had the map, they had never succeeded in obtaining the inheritance.

The most direct manifestation of this was that the Sect Hierarch token of the Three Realms Sect— the Three Realms Immortal Order, had never revealed its true face to the world.

This order was a magic treasure of Dao Treasure level, possessing the divine skill to confine everything.

It is said that after it was refined, Gongshu Lingren had activated it a few times, showcasing its immense power.

But afterward, he concealed the Three Realms Immortal Order along with his inheritance in the Wentian Secret Realm.

The Seven Emotions Prohibition of the Seven Spirits Daoist was crafted in imitation of this treasure.

Yuan Ming delved into the memories of Fire Wing Immortal and others a second time, attempting to extract more detailed intelligence about the site of the inheritance.

However, after some effort, he still came up empty, feeling a bit disappointed in his heart.

At this time, Hua Zhi and the others had completed their preparations.

Yuan Ming had to temporarily set aside his thoughts and led them into the Shura Palace.

In a flash, the group disappeared from their original place, rushing towards Evergreen Island.

...

On the coast of the South Sea, the azure waves stretched endlessly, and above the sea, a majestic palace floated into existence, like a mirage.

Yuan Ming led Hua Zhi and the others out of the palace, his eyes sharp as he identified the direction ahead.

Then he gently waved his hand, and the Shura Palace vanished without a trace. The group switched to relying on their physical bodies for flying escape, rushing towards Evergreen Island.

The place where the Great Mahayana Ancestor resided was undoubtedly extraordinary, and Yuan Ming dared not act rashly.

He fully understood that using the flying escape technique with the physical body was not only a form of respect for the Great Mahayana Ancestor but also a reverence for the path of cultivation.

After flying for merely a few hundred miles, the group saw ahead, floating on the sea, an enormous flower basket, as grand as an island.

Within the flower basket, the blossoms were as brilliant as a brocade, filled with fragrance; the elegant floral scent mixed with the salty sea breeze, making one feel refreshed.

Among the clustered flowers, Nangong Xian'er gracefully emerged, her figure light, like a fairy descending to the mortal world.

"The Ancestor anticipated Fellow Daoist's arrival recently and specially ordered me to wait here." Nangong Xian'er flew into the air, smiling sweetly at Yuan Ming, her voice melodious and pleasant.

"Have the other fellow Daoists already arrived?" Yuan Ming cupped his hands in thanks, then asked.

"You are the first to arrive," Nangong Xian'er shook her head slightly, speaking softly.

At her words, Yuan Ming nodded slightly, feeling somewhat surprised.

He followed Nangong Xian'er onto the flower basket and continued advancing towards Evergreen Island.

Along the way, the two exchanged cultivation insights; Nangong Xian'ar was enthusiastic yet measured, and Yuan Ming responded fluently, their conversation gradually growing in volume.

Hua Zhi and the others remained silent, eyes following noses, noses following hearts, not daring to slack in the slightest.

After some time, they saw in the distance smoke and clouds swirling on the sea ahead, dimly revealing a gargantuan banyan tree extending its crown, like a rising sun in the clouds, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

As the flower basket plunged into the smoke and clouds, the surrounding spiritual energy suddenly became dense, as though they were immersed in an ocean of spiritual energy.

Yuan Ming took a deep breath, only to feel the spiritual energy pouring into his body, making each inhalation and exhalation faster than cultivating for two hours under normal circumstances.

The Hua Zhi and others behind him were even more stunned, instinctively accelerating the pace of absorbing spiritual energy, and after walking just a short distance, their cultivation had notably improved.

"This place is where the Ancestor resides, and after countless years, the concentration of spiritual energy is naturally extraordinary. You are new here, freely absorb, but remember not to overdo it, lest your meridians become clogged and disrupt important matters," Nangong Xian'er observed with a smile, offering a reminder.

Yuan Ming had strong self-control and naturally would not be tempted by the spiritual energy before him.

He sighed inwardly, recalling how he used to worry about spirit veins in his past cultivation, and now seeing Nangong Xian'er and others with such superior cultivation environments, it's no wonder the disciples of the Mahayana Sect often outperform others.

Before long, the flower basket reached the shore, and Yuan Ming and his group stepped onto Evergreen Island.

Amidst the mist, the island appeared flourishing with flowers and grass. Spirit fog pervaded the air, and a strong sense of life surged forward.

Yuan Ming felt as though his lifespan was subtly increasing, but he knew it was merely an illusion from absorbing a large amount of life energy. He quickly settled his mind and followed Nangong Xian'er onward.

Passing through the mountain forest, they arrived at a blue lake in the island's center, where they boarded another small boat.

On the boat, a Returning to Void Cultivator had been waiting for some time. Once everyone was aboard, he gently swung the oar, and the boat slowly left the shore.

Midway through the journey, the surrounding mist gradually dispersed, and a sudden cold wind arose on the lake surface.

Yuan Ming was surprised to find snowflakes drifting in the sky, falling sparkling and crystalline onto his shoulder.

He was amazed because it was not winter, so how could the island's climate be so peculiar?

Nangong Xian'er noticed Yuan Ming's surprise and explained, "Elder Bing Lan is currently reminiscing with the ancestor on the island. This sudden wind and snow might be the handiwork of the elder."

Yuan Ming suddenly understood, but then he remembered something, and his expression darkened with a surge of unease in his heart.

The falling snow was everywhere, and when they reached Lake Heart Island, they saw it covered in a light layer of snow, a world clad in silver.

Yet the central banyan tree seemed divinely protected, with no trace of frost or snow on its branches, which was astonishing.

The group walked under the banyan tree, seeing from afar Daoist Mu and Elder Bing Lan sitting opposite each other, a chessboard placed on a stone table, both absorbed in their match.

Daoist Mu looked calm and composed, while Elder Bing Lan was frowning deeply, clearly pondering intensely.

Noticing the group's arrival, Elder Bing Lan immediately relaxed his frown, gently smiled, and with a wave of his hand, disordered the chessboard.

"Xian'er is back," Elder Bing Lan said with a warm and kind voice.

At this moment, Elder Bing Lan's complexion was ruddy, vastly different from when he was previously injured by the Reincarnation Demon Lord, clearly indicating he had recovered.

Seeing Elder Bing Lan's playful gesture, Daoist Mu shook his head helplessly and then flicked his fingers, causing the black and white chess pieces to fly into the air and automatically fall into the chess pot.

His gaze then went past Nangong Xian'er, landing on Yuan Ming.

"Hmm, not bad. In such a short time, you've comprehended the Five Emperors' True Intent and cultivated the Five Elements Dao Fruit. You haven't wasted my efforts on you," Daoist Mu said, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

"Thank you, elder, for your guidance," Yuan Ming responded respectfully, bowing.

Elder Bing Lan also looked at Yuan Ming, nodded slightly, and said, "You must be Yuan Ming? No wonder Fellow Daoist Mu values you so highly. With such talent, you're indeed rare in the Chuyun Realm, and Sima Changqin's defeat by you was not unjust."

"That battle was fortunate for me, truly. In terms of strength, I might not surpass Fellow Daoist Sima," Yuan Ming humbly replied.

His words showed respect to Elder Bing Lan without expressing any hostility towards Sima Changqin.

"The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit. On future battlefields, the Demon Clan won't speak of fairness," Elder Bing Lan shook his head and said.

Yuan Ming nodded silently, fully agreeing.

Elder Bing Lan then shifted his tone to a more gentle one.

"The enmity among you young ones is not my concern. However, the Phoenix Ancient Zither, which I personally bestowed upon Changqin, would greatly weaken him if lost. With the Demon Clan ready to strike, and war imminent, I hope you'll return the zither to Changqin out of respect for me."

"Elder, you're too kind. The grudge between Sima Changqin and me is nothing but banter. Once he arrives, I will return the zither to him. As for those hundred pieces of sixth-level spirit wood, let's not mention them again," Yuan Ming said, appearing magnanimous despite feeling somewhat unwilling.

The grudge between him and Sima Changqin ran deep, and returning the zither was akin to aiding the enemy. He certainly wouldn't hand it over for nothing and would seek some benefit in return.

But he had to show respect to the Mahayana, and with so many present, Yuan Ming believed Elder Bing Lan wouldn't let him suffer a loss.

At this moment, Daoist Mu spoke up, "To know shame and then be brave. If Sima Changqin easily retrieves the zither, his mindset will inevitably be lacking in the future."

"Fellow Daoist Mu is quite right. However, with war pressing and the Heavenly Saint Academy's resources all committed to the frontlines, gathering a hundred pieces of sixth-level spirit wood quickly is challenging. How about this: I propose a cultivation technique as compensation; what do you think?" Elder Bing Lan nodded slightly and said.

"Everything is up to the elder's decision," Yuan Ming replied respectfully, despite feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

Elder Bing Lan smiled faintly, raised his hand, and countless words flowed into Yuan Ming's Sea of Consciousness, quickly forming into a profoundly mysterious cultivation technique.

"This technique is called 'One Qi to Three Pure Ones,' ranked seventh on the Creation Heaven List. It should suffice to match those hundred pieces of sixth-level spirit wood," Elder Bing Lan said calmly.

Yuan Ming's eyes brightened, and he was overjoyed in his heart.

He had long envied this technique when he saw Su Wu perform it, and now he unexpectedly obtained the complete technique from Elder Bing Lan.

Any technique ranked on the Creation Heaven List is a priceless treasure. Although the hundred pieces of sixth-level spirit wood were valuable, they were still slightly inferior to 'One Qi to Three Pure Ones.'

"Thank you, elder, for bestowing the technique," Yuan Ming's grievances vanished, and he respectfully bowed to Elder Bing Lan.

Afterward, he took out the Phoenix Ancient Zither, presented it with both hands, and handed it over to Elder Bing Lan.

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