A short while later, at the Miao Clan’s tea pavilion.
The Miao Ancestor and Tianji Feng sat facing each other, as tea bubbled in a small red clay stove, filling the air with a soothing fragrance and gentle wisps of steam.
The Miao Ancestor lifted the red clay stove and poured a cup of hot tea, handing it to Tianji Feng. "Brother Tianji, please have some tea."
Tianji Feng smiled as he accepted the cup, took a sip, and praised, "Brother, your tea-making skills have truly improved."
He drank two more sips before setting the cup down, sighing, "Brother, hasn’t it been a thousand years since we last met?"
The Miao Ancestor nodded with emotion, his eyes tinged with memories. "Yes, a thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye, yet our adventures in the cultivation world feel as if they happened just yesterday."
Tianji Feng’s expression darkened slightly. "Most of our old friends have passed away. To be able to sit and drink with you here is truly a blessing."
"By the way, how did you escape from that deadly place all those years ago? Why haven’t we heard any news of you for so long?" The Miao Ancestor suddenly recalled the events of the past and asked with concern.
Back then, he, Tianji Feng, and six other friends had ventured into a deadly abyss seeking treasure. Eight went in, but only three managed to escape.
Tianji Feng was one of the five who became trapped inside.
Tianji Feng fell silent for a moment before saying, "Actually, I only left that place three years ago."
"What?" The Miao Ancestor exclaimed in shock.
Tianji Feng continued, "Back then, we were chased and scattered by demon wolves. I managed to stumble into an ancient formation left behind by a senior cultivator. To escape, there were only two ways: master the array manuals he left, or raise my cultivation to late Out-of-Body stage."
Hearing this, the Miao Ancestor’s expression changed slightly as he stared at Tianji Feng. "Brother, have you broken through to late Out-of-Body stage?"
Tianji Feng nodded with a smile, a hint of pride in his brows. "Actually, I broke through to late Out-of-Body five hundred years ago. But the environment inside the ancient formation was rather good, so I stayed there to study arrays for another five hundred years. Three years ago, I finally left. After coming out, I searched everywhere for news of our old friends, but after so long, almost all of them had vanished. So I started wandering, and recently arrived in Yuyang Commandery. By chance, I overheard people talking about the Miao Clan, so I looked into it and was delighted to discover it was founded by you. That’s why I came here so abruptly—please don’t blame me, Brother."
The Miao Ancestor laughed. "Haha, how could I blame you? I’m thrilled you came to see me!"
"By the way, Brother, are you facing some trouble right now?" Tianji Feng suddenly changed the subject.
The Miao Ancestor’s face darkened slightly, a bit embarrassed, and he fell silent.
Tianji Feng added, "Brother, we’ve been friends for years. If you need help, just say the word—there’s nothing I wouldn’t do!"
"Forget it!" The Miao Ancestor waved his hand. "You’ll laugh at me for this, but here’s what happened…"
The Miao Ancestor recounted the entire story, his eyes flashing with determination and murderous intent as he finished: "If you can help me kill that woman called A-Qing and reclaim the Yellow Springs Secret Canon, I’m willing to share it with you!"
"Yellow Springs Secret Canon?" Tianji Feng looked puzzled.
Seeing his confusion, the Miao Ancestor suddenly realized that Tianji Feng had spent a thousand years in the abyss, missing the rise of the Yellow Springs Immortal.
So he explained, "The Yellow Springs Secret Canon was left behind by the Yellow Springs Immortal, an incredible figure who fought thousands of battles in his life without a single defeat. His main cultivation method was the Yellow Springs Secret Canon. Even after ascending to the immortal realm, he slew two immortals of equal strength."
That’s why everyone calls him the Yellow Springs Immortal.
Fifty years ago, the Yellow Springs Secret Estate appeared in Taiyin Prefecture. Not just Tang Dynasty experts, but even powerhouses from other nations flocked there, because legend had it that before his ascension, the Yellow Springs Immortal placed the Yellow Springs Secret Canon inside his secret estate.
It’s said that whoever masters the Yellow Springs Secret Canon will be invincible among peers of the same realm. No one doubts this legend, since the Yellow Springs Immortal’s undefeated record is the best proof."
"Is the Yellow Springs Immortal really that powerful?" Tianji Feng’s eyes lit up, clearly tempted by the Yellow Springs Secret Canon.
The Miao Ancestor nodded solemnly. "There’s no doubt about it. Unfortunately, my unfilial descendant obtained the canon but selfishly kept it from me, so my cultivation has been stuck at early Out-of-Body for years."
At this point, the Miao Ancestor’s face again showed anger.
"Brother, are you sure the Yellow Springs Secret Canon is with that woman called A-Qing?" Tianji Feng asked again.
"I’m almost certain. I searched the entire Miao Clan estate and couldn’t find it anywhere. You must have heard about Yuhua Sect going to the Jade Maiden Sect—why would such a big sect bother with a minor sect unless word got out about the canon? They went to seize the Yellow Springs Secret Canon, but that woman’s cultivation was so profound she killed both the Wind Division master and Ethan Ye, the sect master. She must have practiced the Yellow Springs Secret Canon; otherwise, how could she be so powerful?"
As he spoke, the Miao Ancestor was already gnashing his teeth, a deep jealousy in his eyes.
Hearing this, Tianji Feng grew even more tempted. "Brother, what are we waiting for? Let’s go to the Jade Maiden Sect right now and take back the Yellow Springs Secret Canon!"
"No rush!"
The Miao Ancestor waved his hand. "In two or three days, that woman will come here to collect spirit crystals from the Miao Clan. When she does, we’ll join forces and capture her—there’s no need to hurry!"
"But delays bring complications. With my strength, I could easily crush her—why wait?" Tianji Feng urged.
The Miao Ancestor reasoned, "Don’t worry, Brother. Since she was able to kill the Yuhua Sect master, her cultivation must be at least mid- or even late Out-of-Body stage. No other sects or powers can do anything to her, so the Yellow Springs Secret Canon is safe with her for now. I’ve already ordered arrays set up in my mansion—when she arrives, it will be much easier to capture her, and we’ll avoid unnecessary losses."
After hearing the Miao Ancestor’s analysis, Tianji Feng felt a bit embarrassed. "Brother, you really think things through. I was too impatient. By the way, I spent five hundred years studying formations and consider myself quite skilled—why don’t I personally set up a grand array in your mansion to guarantee that woman won’t escape?"
"Haha! That would be perfect!" The Miao Ancestor laughed, all his worries vanishing as he grew confident about reclaiming the Yellow Springs Secret Canon.
A confident smile appeared on Tianji Feng’s face as well, as if he could already see himself obtaining an immortal-grade cultivation art.