Chapter 862

He did not act.

Li Rui acted as if nothing had happened and followed the Purple Lightning Immortal back to Penglai City, ignoring the situation with Wu De entirely.

When he arrived at the City Lord’s Mansion.

Ji Fan and Ye Yuan had already arrived.

Unlike Li Rui, these two had previously visited Penglai City, so they showed little curiosity, and Ji Fan even gave off the air of a half-owner, waving at Li Rui.

“Changqing, you’ve come.”

Li Rui studied Ji Fan, then bowed and said:

“Congratulations, Immortal Ji, your cultivation has made great progress.”

Ji Fan laughed heartily: “Indeed, I’ve gained some fortune, enough to condense the Shi Gu Wheel—still far behind the two of you.”

His words were humble, yet his joy was plain to see.

He never expected to surpass Li Rui or Ye Yuan.

As long as he saw hope, that was enough.

This time, with the Immortal Dao origin he obtained in the Immortal Palace, he had more than enough to reach the Xuan Ni Wheel within a century and enter the late stage of Body Integration; if fortune favored him, he might even re-enter the Dao Lord realm.

He had seen hope.

The gloom that had weighed on him vanished completely.

Seeing Ji Fan so spirited, Li Rui and Ye Yuan were both pleased.

Of the five from the Three Lives Dao Altar back then, two had perished, leaving only these three elders.

Cultivation is hard; having another companion along the path is a good thing.

Ji Fan did not hold back—he immediately recounted everything he had seen in the Immortal Palace in full detail.

Of course, he had not obtained the Ascension Platform’s Immortal Dao origin like his avatar Lu Chuan, but his gains were still extremely rich.

In the past,

any Immortal secret realm among the Fourteen Provinces could draw the attention of several Dao Lords—how could one ever hope for such gains?

Ye Yuan had no interest in secret realms, but upon hearing of Lu Chuan’s scheme against Fan Yu True Person, he burst out laughing:

“Lu Chuan is quite a character—I must meet him someday when I visit the Three Pure Ones Sect.”

To deceive a True Person with a split spirit.

Requires courage, cunning, and skill—all indispensable.

Lu Chuan is truly a talent.

He loved talent.

Ji Fan nodded approvingly: “A high disciple of the Three Pure Ones Sect—truly remarkable.”

Though he had not participated in that day’s events, he had witnessed the entire process through his spiritual sense—he knew he would never dare do such a thing while in split spirit form.

It was outright audacious.

“This man truly has some ability.”

Li Rui also praised him.

After this brief interlude,

the four began exchanging their cultivation insights.

Li Rui and Ye Yuan stayed on Penglai Island for three days before departing separately.

But unlike Ye Yuan,

Li Rui turned back toward Penglai Small Isle.

In a secluded forest,

the slightly plump Daoist Wu De cursed: “These Penglai City bastards—do they have the instincts of dogs? Chasing me down like this? I’m not close to those old bastards at all!”

Ever since that incident in the Immortal Palace, when he was tricked by Fan Yu True Person,

he had been targeted by the True Persons of Penglai City.

He knew they wouldn’t kill him, but the treasures inside the Immortal Palace were certainly out of his reach, so he decisively withdrew from the Immortal Palace.

Afterwards,

he retreated to Xiangqu City.

But unfortunately, the two True Persons of Xiangqu City had both suffered Dao injuries; after holding on for only two years, they left with their respective bloodlines.

His own Xiangxiang lineage was abandoned on Penglai Small Isle.

In recent days, Daoists of the Xiangqu lineage like Wu De had been hunted down by Penglai City cultivators.

After finally shaking off his pursuers,

Wu De was just about to find a place to hide when the smile on his lips froze.

Before him, three zhang away, a figure had suddenly appeared.

“Immortal Wu, it’s been a long time.”

Li Rui smiled warmly at the vigorous Wu De standing before him.

That day, he had not acted,

because he was certain Wu De still had a way to save himself.