The three continued their stroll and soon arrived at a waterfront area on the west side of the Immortal Palace.
The terrain here was relatively open, with a mountain peak visible in the distance.
Faint noises could be heard coming from that direction; it was precisely where Elder Mo Lin had chosen his Immortal Cave.
"Huh? Over there... are they fighting?"
A Yao suddenly pointed at a Martial Arts Field ahead.
Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli turned to look, only to see two figures—one black and one yellow—clashing rapidly on the field.
Dull booms erupted from their collisions, and waves of Qi surged outward.
It was Ink Scale and Fu Shan in their human forms!
However, they weren't engaged in a life-or-death struggle; it was more like a friendly spar.
Ink Scale's movement was agile, with traces of lightning and mist accompanying his strikes, maintaining a continuous offensive.
Fu Shan, on the other hand, fought with wide, sweeping motions. His punches and kicks were heavy and powerful, each strike carrying the might to shatter mountains and crack stones.
The sparring of two Mahayana Yao Kings, even when they deliberately restrained most of their power, was no small matter.
Had it not been for the protective Formation on the field, the surroundings would have been in ruins long ago.
Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli watched, mesmerized.
Gu Luoli, in particular, had her Double Pupils glowing slightly as she tried to capture the Concept contained within their Moves.
"Elder Mo Lin's use of the dual Water and Lightning systems is exquisite, and Elder Fu Shan's control over his strength has reached the Transcendent level..."
Gu Luoli analyzed in a low voice, her eyes sparkling with brilliance.
Liu Ruyan also nodded secretly, committing some of the clever counters to memory.
"Hahaha! Refreshing!"
"Old Mo, these soft Moves of yours still can't break my defense!"
Fu Shan laughed heartily as he shook off one of Ink Scale's Divine Abilities with a punch.
Ink Scale's figure drifted back several yards. His expression remained unchanged as he said calmly:
"Nothing but brute force."
"If I were at the Black Dragon Pool and channeled the pool's waters, how long could your brute force last?"
"Hmph! If I were at my Giant Rock Valley and borrowed the power of the earth's veins, I could flip you upside down with a single punch!"
Fu Shan shouted back, unconvinced.
The two refused to yield in their bickering, but their eyes were filled with satisfaction.
At their Realm, finding a well-matched opponent for a hearty spar was a rare joy.
"Alright, that's enough for today."
Ink Scale stopped and turned his gaze toward Liu Ruyan's group, nodding slightly.
Fu Shan also stopped, scratched his head, looked over, and grinned:
"Oh, it's you guys?"
Liu Ruyan quickly led Gu Luoli and A Yao forward to pay their respects:
"Greetings, Elder Mo Lin, Elder Fu Shan."
"We were just passing by. Watching the two Elders spar has been very beneficial for us."
"Haha, little girl, you certainly have a sweet tongue."
Fu Shan laughed and sized up Gu Luoli.
"This must be the new third Disciple, right?"
"Not bad, not bad. Your Foundation is very stable, but your physique is still a bit weak. You need to train more!"
Gu Luoli said respectfully:
"Thank you for the guidance, Elder Fu Shan."
Ink Scale's gaze lingered on Gu Luoli's eyes for a moment, a flash of surprise crossing his face.
"Please continue, Elders. We won't disturb you any longer."
Liu Ruyan took her leave at the right moment, leading A Yao and Gu Luoli away from the lakeside.
Once they were further away, Gu Luoli asked in a low voice:
"Second Senior Sister, Elder Mo Lin seemed to be looking at my eyes?"
"Elder Mo Lin's true form is an Ink Flood Dragon. He has keen senses, so it's not surprising he could see something,"
Liu Ruyan explained.
"Within the Immortal Palace, we are all fellow members. Although the two Elders are from the Yao Race, they are both very kind."
Gu Luoli nodded, her mind at ease.
Through what she had seen and heard this morning, her understanding of the Yaochi Immortal Palace deepened.
The Grand Elder with profound sword Dao, the hearty and straightforward Elder Fu Shan, the steady and sharp Elder Mo Lin... and that Elder Butterfly Dance who specialized in illusions, whom she had yet to meet.
Although this Immortal Palace didn't have many people, every single one of them had a significant background.
More importantly, the atmosphere here was harmonious. Despite the vast differences in cultivation, there was no sense of disdain.
This made Gu Luoli, who was used to the coldness of the world in the Qingyun Holy Land, cherish this place all the more.
"I want to get stronger quickly so I can do something for Master..."
Gu Luoli clenched her fists, her conviction growing firmer.
Before they knew it, the three had walked to the Main Hall area.
As they approached, they heard Gu Han's voice coming from inside the hall:
"All of you, come in."
Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli exchanged a look, quickly tidied their appearance, and entered the hall while leading A Yao.
They saw Gu Han still sitting on the main seat, her silver hair like snow, looking peerlessly elegant.
Yun Miaoyi, Ink Scale, and Fu Shan were already in the hall, standing on either side.
Elder Butterfly Dance had arrived at some point as well, standing quietly to the side.
"Master."
"Master Mommy."
The three bowed in unison and stood to the side.
Gu Han's gaze swept over everyone below and she nodded slightly:
"Everyone is here."
"The Immortal Palace has just been established, and there are many complicated matters. Now that we have enough hands, it's time to set some regulations."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying an unquestionable authority.
Everyone's expression turned solemn, knowing that the Palace Master was about to formally arrange the affairs of the Immortal Palace.
"From this day forward, the Yaochi Immortal Palace shall establish a system of 'Nine Peaks, Four Pavilions, Three Halls, and One Pagoda'."
"Li Hanyi shall be the Inner Sect Grand Elder, presiding over Snow Moon Peak!"
"The remaining eight peaks will be overseen by old friends of mine."
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other. People who could be called 'old friends' by the Palace Master must surely be extraordinary.
Only Liu Ruyan seemed lost in thought.
"The Three Halls are: the Protector Hall, the Inspection Hall, and the Internal Affairs Hall."
Gu Han's voice rang out again.
"Ink Scale, you are appointed as the Elder of the Protector Hall, in charge of the Immortal Palace's defense, Disciple training, and protection duties."
"Fu Shan, you are appointed as the Elder of the Inspection Hall, in charge of patrolling the Immortal Palace's territories and investigating external movements."
"The position for the Internal Affairs Hall is temporarily vacant and will be handled by Ruyan for now."
Upon hearing their assignments, Ink Scale and Fu Shan stepped forward and bowed to accept the orders:
"We obey the Palace Master's command!"
It wasn't until Gu Luoli gave her a tug that Liu Ruyan snapped out of it, stepped forward, and said:
"I obey Master's command!"
Gu Han frowned slightly at her distracted state.
But clearly, now was not the time to ask. She looked at the crowd, cleared her throat, and continued:
"The Four Pavilions are: the Pill Refining Pavilion, the Artifact Refining Pavilion, the Formation Pavilion, and the Scripture Pavilion."
"Yun Miaoyi, you are appointed as the Pavilion Master of the Pill Pavilion, in charge of the Alchemy Legacy, the refining of Medicinal Pills, and the cultivation of Spirit Medicines."
"Butterfly Dance, you are appointed as the Pavilion Master of the Formation Pavilion, in charge of the Formation Legacy, Disciple trials, and Formation maintenance."
"The positions for the Pavilion Masters of the Artifact Refining Pavilion and Scripture Pavilion are temporarily vacant."
Yun Miaoyi and Butterfly Dance both gave a graceful bow:
"Miaoyi accepts the command."
"Butterfly Dance accepts the command."
"The One Pagoda is: the myriad manifestations pagoda, which will be the cultivation site for future Disciples, managed jointly by all Halls and Pavilions."
After explaining the basic structure, Gu Han's gaze fell upon Gu Luoli.
"Gu Luoli."
"Disciple is here!"
"Your Double Pupils have just awakened, so you should prioritize your Cultivation."
If you encounter anything you don't understand in your Cultivation, you may come to consult me at any time."
"Yes! Disciple understands!"
Gu Luoli also respectfully complied.
She knew that Master was giving her ample time to grow.
Gu Han's gaze turned back to Ink Scale and Fu Shan:
"If you lack manpower, the two of you may return to your respective territories to select talented Yao Race Disciples to join the Yaochi Immortal Palace."
Ink Scale and Fu Shan's eyes lit up, and they quickly expressed their thanks.
"Thank you, Palace Master, for being so considerate of us."
They exchanged a look, deeply moved. Although this Palace Master belonged to the Human Race, she did not exclude their Yao Race.
Gu Han then looked at Liu Ruyan.
"Ruyan, the affairs of the Internal Affairs Hall are numerous. Be diligent. If you face difficulties, you may discuss them with the Elders of the various Halls and Pavilions."
Liu Ruyan nodded firmly. "Don't worry, Master. Disciple will certainly do her utmost."
Gu Han arranged each task methodically, her thinking clear and her considerations thorough.
Everyone below listened with deep respect, while also feeling the weight of responsibility on their shoulders.
The framework of the Immortal Palace was being built bit by bit by the hands of this Palace Master.
"That is all for now."
Gu Han said finally.
"The Immortal Palace has just been established and everything is waiting to be done. All matters must proceed step by step."
"Each of you perform your duties and cooperate with one another. If there are matters difficult to decide, you may come find me."
"We obey the Palace Master's command!"
"I obey Master's command!"
Everyone responded in unison, their voices echoing in the hall, carrying a surge of vitality and firm conviction.
Gu Han looked at the team before her, which already showed some promise, and a flash of satisfaction crossed her eyes.
She rose from the Cloud Bed, her moon-white long dress trailing as she walked slowly to the front of the hall.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through the hall, looking toward the Yaochi and the distant mountains outside.
"The future of the Yaochi Immortal Palace does not lie with me alone, but with every one of you."
Her voice was clear and resonant, carrying a strange charisma.
"I hope that one day, when the outside world mentions the Yaochi Immortal Palace, they will think not only of me, but also of you..."
Her gaze swept over everyone, her voice firm.
"I want the name of the Yaochi Immortal Palace to resound throughout this world, and even... higher worlds!"
As her words fell, an invisible sense of pride and aspiration rose in everyone's hearts.
Even great Yao like Ink Scale and Fu Shan, who had cultivated for ten thousand years, felt their blood boiling at this moment.
Not to mention young people like Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli, whose eyes were already burning with a fierce flame.
"We are willing to follow the Palace Master (Master) to forge a supreme Dao lineage!"
Everyone shouted in unison once more, their voices even louder and their conviction even firmer this time.
Gu Han smiled slightly and waved her hand:
"Go and get busy. Ruyan, stay behind."
Everyone bowed respectfully and exited the hall one by one, leaving only Liu Ruyan behind.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"