"Friend, forgive me."
"Senior, please proceed."
A demon immortal with True Immortal cultivation activated a mirror, and a fiery red light enveloped Yang Hong entirely. He stood with his hands openly spread, allowing the immortal energy light to inspect him.
Upon arriving at this island, Yang Hong had already sensed powerful immortals present. It was precisely because of their presence that he dared to sleep so deeply and soundly.
Knowing of the existence of powerful immortals, he dared not make any rash moves.
The fiery red immortal light washed over him like warm currents, feeling quite comfortable and even inducing a slight sense of drowsiness.
The immortal light persisted for a quarter of an hour before being withdrawn.
"Friend is indeed of the human race, not a demon, nor tainted by demonic energy. Moreover, the purity of spiritual energy within you is something this old man has never seen before, not even in the Immortal Realm have I encountered anyone with such pure spiritual energy."
A demon immortal who appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, spoke with an aged tone as he evaluated Yang Hong, thus delivering his verdict.
He was not a demon.
However, his next words were something Yang Hong had not anticipated.
"Friend, become my disciple. I am a True Immortal of the Xuanwu clan, specializing in defense. If you become my disciple, I shall immediately impart to you the 'Xuanwu Imperial Heaven Immortal Scripture'."
As he spoke, the 'youth,' whose actual height was less than Yang Hong's chest, floated upwards to be a head taller than Yang Hong, extending an invitation with anticipation.
Was this a plea for a disciple?
"No need, thank you."
Yang Hong shook his head with a peculiar expression, directly refusing. He had been sought after as a disciple several times in his life.
But strictly speaking, he truly had no master, having learned everything through self-study.
Now, even a True Immortal from the Upper Realm wished to take him as a disciple, and an immortal demon at that.
What a strange fate.
"Alas, indeed, I am still too young, perhaps that is why it is difficult to take on a disciple? But I am already three hundred and sixty thousand years old. Although I am still a child in the Xuanwu clan, to many other races, even becoming an immortal does not grant a lifespan of three hundred and sixty thousand years."
"Uh... Senior, you are truly long-lived."
Yang Hong had initially expected this individual to be angered by his refusal, but instead, the latter became self-pitying.
But, is this not a form of bragging?
A thirty-six-thousand-year-old youth?
Even if humans achieved immortality, they could not directly attain eternal life; their lifespan merely extended to a hundred thousand years.
Thirty-six thousand years? Even True Immortals could not live for thirty-six thousand years!
This was clearly advanced-level bragging.
Watching the youth walk away, shaking his head and sighing as if deeply disappointed, Yang Hong could only offer a wry smile.
"Cough cough... Fellow Daoist, Ancestor Xuan Changzuo is always like this. He always wants to take on a disciple but has never met a suitable one."
After the youth had departed, Feng Wei, accompanied by Feng Ruhua, approached.
As for Qing Rongchang, he had already been led by other Fire Phoenixes into the active volcano for his "Nirvana Rebirth."
"Heh heh, Senior truly has a genuine disposition. By the way, may I leave now? I am in a hurry to return to Taiyuan Continent."
"No! You must lay eggs with me!"
Before Feng Wei could speak, Feng Ruhua cried out anxiously, lunging forward to grab Yang Hong's arm.
However, Yang Hong merely dodged with a slight shift, evading her grasp.
"Fellow Daoist Feng, please conduct yourself with decorum. It is impossible between us."
"You are my husband! The entire Fire Phoenix clan knows this, and the entire Phoenix Five Clans know it! You cannot shirk your responsibility!"
Feng Ruhua persistently reached for Yang Hong, but he skillfully evaded her at every turn with nimble movements.
"Heh heh, that's Sun Wukong, the Lingming Stone Monkey. What does that have to do with me, Yang Hong?"
"It is you! It is you! It's all you!"
Feng Ruhua appeared to be a lovesick maiden, but her heart was clear.
This Yang Hong was quite renowned on Taiyuan Continent. Besides being known as the "Divine Farmer," there was also speculation that he was the foremost expert in the Mahayana realm below immortals.
Having such a person as a Dao companion would not only protect her from bullying but also deter Buddhist cultivators from casually extorting the Fire Phoenix Island.
Furthermore, if she truly cultivated dual cultivation with a powerful individual like Yang Hong, it would undoubtedly accelerate her cultivation breakthrough.
A phoenix over two thousand years old, how could she be a brainless love-struck fool?
"Stop! Ruhua, come back here first."
Feng Wei could not fathom her granddaughter's thoughts, but she harbored a similar subtle wish to take Yang Hong as her grandson-in-law.
Therefore, after calling out to Feng Ruhua, she immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Yang, the engagement between you and Ruhua is indeed known throughout the entire Phoenix clan. For over three hundred years, Ruhua has remained chaste for you, rejecting the proposals of thousands of Tier 8 and Tier 9 demon races, as well as human cultivators.
This is because she has always believed that you were not dead and would return to find her, care for her, and live a happy and blissful life with her."
"Has a woman who has steadfastly held on for you like this for 388 years not proven her sincerity and fidelity enough?"
Feng Wei spoke with fluctuating intonation, even infusing her words with magical power. Yang Hong looked around with a bitter smile.
The cultivators who had initially hidden due to the battle and the appearance of immortals had now emerged, craning their necks to look over. Their gazes towards Yang Hong held a strange sort of meaning.
"Fellow Daoist, your words twist black into white. Feng Ruhua and I truly have no relationship. Why are you acting shamelessly?"
As Yang Hong spoke, he suddenly felt reluctant to continue. This old vixen, Feng Wei, had used her magic power to shield his voice, preventing his words from reaching the outside.
"Fellow Daoist, why don't we discuss this further in my cave dwelling on Fire Phoenix Mountain? It might not be appropriate with so many outsiders watching."
"Very well."
Yang Hong nodded in agreement. Although he could escape with a single movement technique, ensuring neither Feng Ruhua nor Feng Wei could catch him, his reputation would be ruined.
The three did not use sword flight. Their qi manipulation alone was not slower than the average cultivator's sword flight. They soon arrived at the active volcano.
"Let's not speak of me helping Feng Ruhua improve her cultivation and forming a Dao union."
Upon entering Feng Wei's cave dwelling, Yang Hong directly stated his terms.
"Uh... Fellow Daoist, do you know that for our Fire Phoenix clan to break through to Tier 7, we generally need to refine all our fiery energy through the method of Yin and Yang harmonization to form a new Fire Phoenix egg before we can achieve a breakthrough?"
"I have heard of it, but I have other methods to help Feng Ruhua harmonize her fiery energy and Yin and Yang energies."
"Oh? Then I eagerly await. Please, begin."
Evidently, Feng Wei did not believe Yang Hong's nonsensical claims.
However, Yang Hong simply replied with a "Good," walked behind Feng Ruhua, and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Circulate your cultivation technique and begin your breakthrough."
"Ah! Oh..."
Feng Ruhua was stunned for a moment, then, with surprising trust, she did not struggle and began circulating the Fire Phoenix clan's 'True Scripture of the Fire Phoenix,' initiating her breakthrough through acupoints.
Yang Hong, right in front of Feng Wei, began to circulate the 'Immovable Joyful Buddha' cultivation technique, channeling his own magical power into Feng Ruhua's body. It followed the circulation of her energy and actively merged with her magical power, becoming a part of it.
In just six hours, Feng Ruhua's 'True Scripture of the Fire Phoenix' had circulated five times and was accelerating.
Feng Ruhua's cultivation, stuck at the Tier 7 Fusion stage for 400 years, began to break through.
*Bang!*
A muffled sound echoed within Yang Hong's body. Before Feng Ruhua could complete her breakthrough, Yang Hong had already advanced.
Although he had returned all of Feng Ruhua's Fire Phoenix magical power to her, his own magical power, tempered by the Fire Phoenix energy, had surprisingly completed the transformation from magical power to immortal essence.
What was initially an effort made out of helplessness had unexpectedly yielded such a delightful surprise.