Yan Zhen slipped out of the Fire Refining Starry Sky, washed his face in a tree hollow, then bid farewell to Yu Shizun before flying toward Jialan Peak.
When he arrived at the grand hall, he found Jialan Fairy seated solemnly in the main position. She was clad entirely in white from head to toe, her hands neatly folded in her lap, gazing at him with merciful eyes like a pure white holy mother as he entered the door.
A Holy Dao Halo bloomed behind her head, while white lotuses bloomed and faded around her body, causing the space itself to tremble faintly.
She wasn’t emitting any overwhelming aura, but no one would dare underestimate her.
—A Mystic Saint powerhouse was terrifying indeed!
Yan Zhen stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute. “Holy Lord Teacher.”
Jialan Fairy’s face remained expressionless, but her eyes clearly showed her dissatisfaction. “You can call me teacher for now, but after the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow, Yan’er, you’ll have to address me as ‘Master.’ Otherwise, I won’t accept it.”
—Uh… Why did it feel like the Holy Lord Teacher was deliberately vying for status with the Beautiful Master?
Hearing this, Yan Zhen didn’t dare wait until after the ceremony. He immediately changed his tune. “This disciple greets the Holy Lord Master!”
Jialan Fairy’s expression instantly softened into one of mercy—affection, even. “I’ve already discussed it with the Seven Peaks Peak Lords. We’ll hold the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow so you can formally join my sect, Yan’er. You’ve finished all your business, right? Stay put on Jialan Peak today and don’t wander off.”
“Got it.”
Yan Zhen looked perfectly obedient.
Jialan Fairy rose to her feet and walked over to him. She gently patted his head and said warmly, “Don’t be angry anymore, Yan’er. I’ve punished Uncle-Master Ling Shan and planted a White Lotus Seal on him. If he ever breaks his word, it’ll automatically seal him away in the Holy Prison until his time runs out. I woke up too late this time, but it won’t happen again, all right?”
Yan Zhen lowered his head and let out a reluctant “oh.”
Jialan Fairy took a needle pouch from her sleeve and handed it to him. “This is the ‘meeting gift’ I got for you ahead of time from Uncle-Master Ling Shan—eighteen God-Exterminating Needles. Below the True Realm, a single hit is instant death. All eighteen unleashed together? Nothing below the Mystic Realm can stand against them. Consider it compensation.”
God-Exterminating Needles? Yan Zhen nearly let out a whoop of excitement.
These were amazing—a rare soul artifact, and at the eighth tier no less.
In the script, when the Demon Domain launched their assault, Spirit Mountain Ancestor had used these very needles for a sneak attack on one of their half-saints, buying some breathing room for everyone else.
They were his favorite treasures. Yan Zhen never imagined his Holy Lord Master could get her hands on them—probably half persuasion, half force.
Jialan Fairy remained kindly affectionate. “Take them, Yan’er. You deserve this.”
Yan Zhen accepted the needle pouch and gave it a once-over. With a light hum, he said, “Well, since the Holy Lord Master insists, I’ll give you face and not hold a grudge against the old man.”
He’d originally planned to find a chance to secretly summon the Gilded White Dragon and unleash Ultimate Sure-Kill: 87 Million Storm to sweep away all the treasures on Supreme Peak—enough to give those three old codgers a heart attack.
Jialan Fairy patted his head again, as if soothing a sulky child.
“Apart from Uncle-Master Ling Shan, Uncle-Master Jingang and Uncle-Master Changsheng sent their ‘junior meeting gifts’ ahead of time too, Yan’er. Take a look.”
She produced a small earthen-yellow jar and a stalk of purple bamboo from her sleeve. “This is Earth God Blood from Uncle-Master Jingang. You’re cultivating the Primordial Dharma Body Atlas, which requires divine blood. I bet you don’t have any Earth God Blood yet, right? Perfect timing.”
Yan Zhen’s eyes lit up once more.
According to the script, he’d only obtain Earth God Blood during his trip to Yellow Turban Continent to rally their alliance.
That place was far from Jialan Continent, separated by both Emerald Continent and Evergreen Continent. It was a haven for body refining, where body cultivators and Pill Refiners held the highest status.
Yellow Turban Holy Land was allied with the Earth God Clan, much like Jialan Holy Land with the Heavenly God Clan.
Since Earth God Blood greatly enhanced one’s physique, Yellow Turban Holy Land was always happy to trade it.
It wasn’t surprising that Ancestor Jingang, who hailed from Yellow Turban Continent, had some on hand.
Later, at the Merchant Alliance’s major auction, there would be a drop of Sea God Blood up for bids. With that plus this Earth God Blood, Yan Zhen wouldn’t have to worry about body refining bottlenecks for quite a while.
—Perfect.
“And this bamboo?”
“That’s Cloudsea Purple Bamboo. Plant it on a mountain peak, and it’ll gather heaven-and-earth Mystic qi while coalescing Heaven and Earth Great Momentum. It’s far superior to any Mystic Gathering Array or momentum-borrowing formation… Once Cai Lian gives birth to Flame Princess, your mother and daughter can recuperate quietly in the bamboo grove—no one will disturb them.”
“I see. Nice, very nice.”
“Take it all. It’s all yours, Yan’er.”
Yan Zhen happily stowed away the Earth God Blood and Cloudsea Purple Bamboo. Suddenly, Ancestor Jingang and Ancestor Changsheng didn’t seem so bad after all, did they?
No need for the Gilded White Dragon to swipe their treasures this time.
“The three uncles are all in seclusion and won’t attend the ceremony, so they handed everything over to me early. Tomorrow at the ceremony, the seven peak lords will probably give you some little gifts too. Just accept them without a second thought—no need for any mental burden.”
“Understood, Holy Lord Master. Whatever the peak lords give me, I’ll take it.”
“Good child~”
Jialan Fairy patted his head for the third time, seemingly addicted to it. Even the Beautiful Master never patted quite so persistently.
Taking someone’s gifts made it hard to complain, though—and with Yan Zhen’s mood sky-high, he didn’t mind at all.
After patting for a good while, Jialan Fairy finally withdrew her hand and resumed her dignified, merciful holy-mother poise. “That’s enough for now, Yan’er. Go rest. Someone will come for you when the time comes—just follow the ceremony procedures.”
Yan Zhen exited the grand hall and wandered around the empty Jialan Peak before settling down to meditate at the edge of a cliff.
Sunset faded into night, and night gave way to dawn.
At first light, a Beautiful Woman Elder he’d never seen before approached and gestured for him to follow.
He bathed and dressed, donning ornate robes and a crown that made him look dashingly handsome. Only then did he set off from the base of Jialan Peak, ascending the steps amid throngs of disciples, deacons, and elders on either side in a grand display. Step by step, he climbed to the summit. First came worship at the altar to heaven and the ancestors, then entry into the grand hall, where he knelt before Jialan Fairy and offered her tea.
Jialan Fairy sat upon the highest throne, her gaze gentle as she accepted the tea from Yan Zhen. She took a light sip before giving her instructions. “Yan Zhen, from this day forward, you are my disciple in Jialan Holy Land—and its Quasi-Saint Son. Remember the ancestors’ teachings well. Cultivate diligently and contribute your strength to the holy land and all its people.”
Yan Zhen naturally responded, “This disciple obeys the Holy Lord Master’s command!”
To the left of the hall stood the seven peak lords—even Wind Supreme had sent an avatar despite rarely visiting the holy land. To the right were Yan Zhen’s family: Cai Lian, Long Ying, Mentor Yu Xuan, and Aunt Shui Bailan. Seeing Yan Zhen so radiant and striking, their eyes brimmed with deep affection.
With the ceremony complete, the Jialan Seven Sages came forward one after another to present their gifts. Soon Yan Zhen’s entire body shimmered with Mystic light, dazzling onlookers and making him look every bit the upstart tycoon.
It was a bit gaudy, sure, but Yan Zhen couldn’t help thinking:
Freeloading felt amazing!
