"Let's go!" Lu Fan's figure soared into the sky.
Outside Twelve Gorges Village, two figures simultaneously took flight, chasing after Lu Fan. They were Zhan Tai Ruomei and Li Jingjing.
Chirp... A bird's cry pierced the night sky. A great eagle, carrying a slovenly old Daoist with a lewd expression, flew leisurely over.
"Old fellow! Tell me the truth, what exactly is going on?" Lu Fan glanced at the slovenly old Daoist and asked calmly.
"Cough cough! Kid! This Daoist master has calculated with his fingers..."
The slovenly old Daoist shook his head and wagged his temples, but before he could finish, Lu Fan waved his hand to interrupt him. "Old fellow, stop the nonsense! Don't think I'll believe your ghostly tales anymore. Tell me, who am I, and who are they?"
Beside them, Li Jingjing and Zhan Tai Ruomei also turned their gazes. They too wanted to know what the slovenly old Daoist would say about their identities.
"Cough cough! Well... alright! This Daoist master has calculated with his fingers, and you, kid, are a manifestation of a single strand of primordial spirit from the Heavenly Lord of the Heavens. These two are your disciples, the Golden Bell Saint Mother and the Ghost Spirit Saint Mother, who have guarded you generation after generation out of gratitude for your teachings," the slovenly old Daoist said, clearing his throat twice.
"Am I truly the Heavenly Lord of the Heavens?" Lu Fan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Cough cough... I also calculated with my fingers; how would I know if it's true or false? You need to find the answers yourself. However, you cannot go to Kunlun Mountain this time. We're going to Qingcheng Mountain," the slovenly old Daoist said with a pout.
"Why not Kunlun Mountain?" Lu Fan asked.
"Of course, it's to save your life! Do you know whose territory Kunlun Mountain is?" the slovenly old Daoist suddenly asked.
"Whose? Yuan Shi Zi's territory, of course!" Lu Fan replied without thinking.
"Hmph! He's just a gatekeeper. Kunlun Mountain is where the Primordial Heavenly Lord once cultivated. Kunlun Palace is the earth, and Yuxu Palace is the heavens. Ascending to heaven from there would be walking into a trap!" the slovenly old Daoist said, shaking his head and wagging his temples.
"So you deliberately let us fall onto Penglai Island last time?" Lu Fan rolled his eyes at the slovenly old Daoist.
"That was to help you retrieve your treasures and gain some means of self-defense. Otherwise, with the three of you unarmed, you wouldn't even make it to the heavens before perishing," the slovenly old Daoist said disdainfully.
"You know everything? Then who are you?" Lu Fan suddenly looked at the slovenly old Daoist and asked.
"This Daoist master knows everything by calculating with his fingers! Hmph!" the slovenly old Daoist said proudly.
"Hmph...!"
"Hmph...!"
The two young beauties pouted.
...
In Qingcheng Mountain, within the Laojun Pavilion, True Master Yiqing, Daoist Haidu, and Old Nun Suzhen sat cross-legged in the main hall, cultivating with their eyes closed.
Suddenly, all three opened their eyes simultaneously. Swish, swish, swish... Three figures instantly appeared outside the main hall.
"Prefect!?"
"Prefect!?"
"Prefect!?"
Upon seeing Lu Fan, the three exclaimed in surprise.
"Seniors! Forgive the intrusion!" Lu Fan cupped his fists and said to the three.
Chirp... With a bird's cry, a golden eagle circled and landed. The slovenly old Daoist dismounted from the golden eagle.
"Damn... You three juniors, no respect! You ran so fast, you made this Daoist dizzy!" The slovenly old Daoist got off the golden eagle, lost his balance, and almost fell to the ground, still muttering curses.
"Daoist Master!" True Master Yiqing and the others quickly bowed to the slovenly old Daoist.
"Prefect! Thank you for the elixirs you bestowed, which greatly boosted our cultivation. Perhaps in the near future, we will attempt to transcend our tribulations. If successful, we will be eternally grateful for your great kindness," Old Nun Suzhen stepped forward and said.
"Oh! Congratulations to you all, seniors!" Lu Fan said with a pleased expression, cupping his fists.
"Seniors my foot! You've already successfully transcended your tribulations. It's only fitting that they call you senior!" The slovenly old Daoist seemed to have sobered up a bit and said with a pout.
"The Prefect has successfully transcended his tribulations?"
True Master Yiqing and the others exclaimed in surprise. Half a year ago, this kid hadn't even reached the Soul Realm. Now, he had already transcended his tribulations.
"Hmph! Of course. We've come here to ascend to the heavens. You old fellows, keep up the good work! We'll go ahead and wait for you in the immortal realm!" The slovenly old Daoist strutted towards the Laojun Pavilion main hall.
Uh...? Lu Fan and the two young women were bewildered. The slovenly old Daoist's behavior made it seem as if he was the one ascending to immortality.
The group arrived behind the Laojun Pavilion main hall. Indeed, there was a small path there. The path didn't seem very long, yet it appeared to be endless.
Looking at the path, Lu Fan felt a bit uncertain. Didn't people ascend to heaven by flying up? Why would there be such a path?
"Hey! Old fellow! Aren't you taking your wife? Don't come begging me later!" Lu Fan suddenly shouted at the slovenly old Daoist.
"His wife?"
"...?"
"???"
True Master Yiqing and the other two looked at the slovenly old Daoist in surprise. What did he mean by bringing his wife? Could one bring their family when ascending to immortality?
Chirp... The golden eagle behind them also let out a cry, seemingly reluctant to leave!?!
"Go back! Once I establish myself in the immortal realm, I will definitely come back to bring you!" The slovenly old Daoist shamelessly waved his hand back at the golden eagle.
"Good heavens... Old fellow! How did you trick a bird?" Lu Fan felt a sense of awe. The old fellow was indeed extraordinary, managing to fool a bird!
Those around, including Yiqing, were utterly confused. What was going on?
The slovenly old Daoist ignored their gazes and ran onto the path, as if afraid the golden eagle would catch up and stop him.
Lu Fan and the two young women also walked onto the path, leaving Yiqing and the others staring in astonishment. In their eyes, the four figures who walked onto the path instantly vanished.
"Old fellow! You seem to know the way and are walking so fast! Have you been here before?" Lu Fan asked as he watched the slovenly old Daoist speed ahead.
"Kid... Kid... Grab me! I... I... I can't stop!" Suddenly, the slovenly old Daoist seemed to be desperately trying to retreat, but even though he wasn't taking any steps, his body was rushing forward rapidly, as if something was pulling him along.
"Old fellow, what's wrong?" Lu Fan's expression turned serious. He rushed forward, reaching out to try and grab the slovenly old Daoist.