Chapter 243: Descending to the Lower Realm, Like-minded and Harmonious

Upon receiving the news, Lu Yuan immediately unleashed his Supernatural Power and instantly appeared on Jieyin Peak.

Originally, Jieyin Peak was a low-to-mid-tier cave dwelling rented out to the public, equivalent to a communal rental property in the world of cultivation.

Ever since the Reception Array was discovered, this place had been sealed off by a formation set up by True Monarch Huanglong; aside from him, Liuyun, and a few others, no one had the authority to enter.

However, at this moment, Jieyin Peak was exceptionally lively. One could see the Huanglong clone, the Liuyun clone, and even Qin Ruoning, Su Lingyue, and others all standing beside the array. Upon seeing Lu Yuan arrive, the former two immediately offered their salutations:

"Greetings, original self."

Seeing this scene, although they already knew the general situation, Qin Ruoning and Su Lingyue still felt deeply shocked and hurriedly followed suit with their own salutations.

After all, it was only a short while ago that they learned from Lu Yuan that True Monarch Huanglong and his disciple had conspired to move against him, only to be defeated and refined into clones.

Such a matter, even though they had been completely converted into "one of our own" by the Thought Imprint of the Nightmare Prayer Divine Ability, still left them feeling extreme terror upon hearing it suddenly.

After all, in their understanding, although Lu Yuan's strength was powerful and far superior to an average Golden Core Cultivator, he was ultimately still within the scope of the Golden Core Stage and was still a considerable distance away from the Nascent Soul Realm.

Yet they never imagined that their understanding was completely outdated; even True Monarch Huanglong, the master of Longshan Immortal City, was no match for Lu Yuan, and had even fallen to the miserable state of being refined into a clone!

This was naturally done by Lu Yuan on purpose; on one hand, it was to deliberately display his own means, and on the other, it was to take the opportunity to further reinforce the Thought Imprint of the Nightmare Prayer Technique on the two women.

The Thought Imprint reinforced this time after his cultivation breakthrough was even more profound and solid, ensuring that there was absolutely no possibility of the two women betraying him.

After landing lightly on the mountain peak in this manner, Lu Yuan waved his hand slightly to indicate there was no need for formalities, then said:

"Are the Array Flags and all other necessary items prepared?"

The Huanglong clone said:

"Everything is prepared, please take a look, original self."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeve, and thirteen Array Flags, shimmering with spiritual light and emitting a faint power to stabilize the void, flew out, along with five Two Worlds Jieyin Talismans:

"The materials for refining these Two Worlds Jieyin Talismans are extremely rare. True Monarch Huanglong searched everywhere before, but the materials he found could only refine two more; in total, they can support five people traveling between the two worlds, and their cultivation still cannot exceed the Golden Core Stage."

Lu Yuan nodded slightly, and Su Lingyue immediately spoke up:

"This concubine is willing to go to the lower realm on behalf of True Monarch Lu to re-deploy the array."

The fragile void structure of the passage between the two worlds could not avoid damage simply by hiding one's cultivation. Lu Yuan clearly could no longer descend to the lower realm in his original body, but he smiled and said:

"Sending just you won't be enough for the task of re-deploying the array; I had better go myself."

Having said that, celestial light shone brightly from his body. He plucked a strand of hair and blew on it gently, and then a light shadow, extremely solid and identical to him, walked slowly out from the celestial light and appeared before everyone.

Naturally, this was another clone created by Lu Yuan using his Cloning Supernatural Power.

Amidst the shocked gazes of Su Lingyue and Qin Ruoning, Lu Yuan smiled and said:

"Although it is inconvenient for my true body to go, using a clone is the same. This clone has roughly the cultivation level of a mid-stage Golden Core; it is sufficient to re-deploy the array in the lower realm. Let him go with you."

Su Lingyue was naturally filled with awe and immediately bowed, saying: "This concubine obeys your command."

Afterwards.

Without further delay, the Huanglong clone immediately invested a large number of Spirit Stones and activated the Reception Array.

This array was a massive money-burner; every activation required tens of thousands of Spirit Money as a base. One could see vast fluctuations sweeping across all directions, and amidst the surging Spiritual Machine, celestial light erupted from within the formation. Then, the void began to twist and ripple, as if opening a passage to somewhere.

Afterwards, everyone watched as Lu Yuan's clone and Su Lingyue each took a Reception Talisman and stepped into the array, and then their figures vanished instantly.

The moment the clone entered the passage between the two worlds, Lu Yuan clearly felt that the connection between himself and the clone became extremely weak, as if the signal were poor.

Regarding this, he had anticipated it and was not surprised.

After all, Yuanling Heaven and the lower realm belonged to different worlds; it was normal for the connection between the clone and the original body to be completely severed when separated by two worlds. Being able to maintain a trace of connection under the current Cloning Supernatural Power was already not easy.

And it was precisely at the same time the Reception Array was opened.

In the lower realm.

Chen Zhantang, who was meditating in the side hall of the Dao Palace on Xiantai Mountain, suddenly opened his eyes as if he had sensed something.

He had just stood up when he saw a graceful figure flying into the hall, her voice melodious and filled with joy:

"Zhantang, good news, good news! My young lady just sent a message via the communication talisman; your master has made all preparations and opened the Reception Array. In a moment, he and my young lady will descend to the lower realm, and both of us can follow them to the Upper Realm!"

It was Hanyu, Su Lingyue's personal maid.

"So fast?"

Chen Zhantang was pleasantly surprised upon hearing this:

"That's great, Master truly did not break his promise! There is no time to lose, let us quickly head to the Extreme North!"

Although Lu Yuan could not contact his disciples after ascending to the Upper Realm, Hanyu, as Su Lingyue's personal maid, had received a cross-world message from Su Lingyue three months ago, knowing that they would soon descend through the passage between the two worlds again, not only to re-deploy the array but also to lead the two of them back to the Upper Realm.

Upon learning this news, Hanyu was fine, but Chen Zhantang, who had been waiting for news, was overjoyed and spent his days waiting for news from the Upper Realm as if each day were a year.

And now, he had finally waited for it.

Compared to Chen Zhantang's loss of composure, Hanyu pursed her lips and smiled:

"Don't be anxious. In her message, the young lady said that this time your master intends to try and bring more disciples up, so he asked you to first gather them and wait at Xiantai Mountain."

"Good, I will go right now!"

It had only been three years since Lu Yuan ascended to the Upper Realm, but not only was the entire New Nation developing with each passing day, the Dao Palace had also grown, with five hundred Gatekeepers and disciples in total, all of whom had excellent aptitude, only limited by the environment of the lower realm, which made their progress slow.

Without alarming all the Dao Palace disciples, Chen Zhantang first gathered the first and second batches of original disciples of the Dao Palace.

These disciples, totaling over thirty people, had all entered the Refining Essence into Qi Stage with the help of the Erhuan Pill he had refined. Upon hearing that the Grandmaster was about to descend from the Upper Realm and might take them to a vast and mysterious world of cultivation, they were all stirred with excitement and could not wait; not a single one hesitated or refused.

After all, since these people stepped into the Dao Palace and came into contact with the methods of cultivation, they had embarked on a completely different path of practice.

However, although the status of a Dao Palace disciple made the world respect and revere them, and the immortal arts could grant longevity, far surpassing Martial Arts and Daoist Arts, they also clearly knew under Chen Zhantang's teaching that the heaven and earth environment of this world was degrading, and the path of cultivation in this world would be bumpy and slim, with the vast majority of people likely unable to achieve anything in their lifetime. After the news of the Supreme Heavenly Master and the Dao Palace Grandmaster breaking through the world to ascend was spread, these disciples all gave birth to a faint hope, secretly wishing that this Grandmaster had not forgotten the Dao Palace disciples. Never did they think that it had only been three years, and now their wish had come true!

Amidst the excitement of these original disciples, Chen Zhantang requested them to wait at the Dao Palace, and then he used the dedicated line set up in the Dao Palace to notify Zhao Shuhua, Peng Yidao, Lin Sheng, and others at the Heavenly Master Mansion.

Although the four former fellow disciples had each embarked on different paths, they were all the first batch of disciples under Lu Yuan, so naturally, they had to be notified now that Lu Yuan was descending to the realm.

Upon learning the news, Zhao Shuhua, Peng Yidao, and Lin Sheng, who were already in high positions, were equally pleasantly surprised and rushed to the Dao Palace at the first opportunity.

Upon ascending to the Dao Palace and seeing Chen Zhantang, the three were all incredibly excited:

"Zhantang, we are here!"

"Is the Heavenly Master truly going to descend from the Upper Realm today!?"

"You must not deceive us, only to let us have a hollow joy!"

Facing the inquiries of the three, Chen Zhantang smiled slightly:

"This matter is absolutely true; the Master should be on his way, and I presume we shall be able to see him very soon."

Peng Yidao and the others were immediately anxious and said:

"As disciples, how can we let the Heavenly Master come to see us?"

"Where is the Heavenly Master? We should take the initiative to go and pay our respects!"

"Indeed, this is our duty as disciples!"

Chen Zhantang laughed in spite of himself:

"The three senior brothers need not be impatient. Waiting at Xiantai Mountain is also the Master's instruction. He has not come down to the lower realm this time for nothing; he intends to repair the passage between the two realms in the Extreme North, and to take some disciples to the Upper Realm to establish the Dao Palace once more."

Taking disciples to the Upper Realm!?

Peng Yidao and the others were unaware of these circumstances, and their eyes suddenly shone with intense hope and brilliance:

"Could such a thing be true?"

"What are the conditions for the Master to take disciples? How many will he take? Do we have any hope of being chosen?"

Chen Zhantang shook his head:

"I am not clear on these matters; it is entirely up to the Master. As for whether you can be chosen, forgive me for being blunt: the three senior brothers are no longer young, and you now hold high positions in the New Nation with happy families. According to the Master, the environment in the Upper Realm is extremely perilous; countless cultivators and mortals face a world-ending catastrophe and live in fear day and night. Although reaching the Upper Realm offers more opportunities to approach the Dao and longevity, is that truly what the three senior brothers desire?"

Peng Yidao, Lin Sheng, and Zhao Shuhua looked at each other and all let out a long sigh:

"What you say is..."

Since joining Guangwu Hall, nearly twenty years had passed; they were no longer young, and having held high positions and lived in comfort for many years, they were no longer the energetic and driven selves they once were.

Furthermore, they had begun their cultivation of the Dao too late and their potential was exhausted; even if they followed him to the Upper Realm, it would likely be meaningless and might even become a burden.

However, the three of them had a rough idea in their hearts and showed no signs of discouragement or despondency. Peng Yidao said, full of hope:

"It does not matter. Although we are no longer useful and cannot serve the Master, we still have our descendants. Counting it up, that boy of mine has been sent to the Dao Palace for nearly seven years now; does he have a chance to be chosen by the Heavenly Master?"

Lin Sheng and Zhao Shuhua also spoke up one after another:

"Indeed, there is also that boy of mine. As soon as he could remember things, I had him practice the Guiding Technique. I hear he has already begun Refining Essence into Qi; he should have a chance to follow the Master to the Upper Realm, right?"

"Although my mortal body can no longer serve the Heavenly Master, my descendants are endless. As long as the Heavenly Master needs them, they can go to even the most dangerous places without hesitation!"

After the rise of the New Nation and the stabilization of the world, these people had all branched out and had their own offspring.

To make up for their own regrets, they began teaching the Guiding Technique to their children as soon as they could remember things, and when they were only seven or eight years old, they pulled strings to send their offspring into the Dao Palace to cultivate.

Out of consideration for them, Chen Zhantang had also provided much care, so although their descendants were not old, their progress in cultivation was quite fast, and some had even entered the realm of Refining Essence into Qi.

Facing the three, Chen Zhantang smiled helplessly:

"The three senior brothers need not be like this. The Master has already given instructions that this time he will only select from the first generation of disciples, and the number is not yet fixed. Your descendants are all third generation or later, so..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

Suddenly, as if he had a premonition, he stood up abruptly:

"The Master and the others seem to be arriving soon. Three senior brothers, please join me in welcoming them!"

Having said this, he walked out quickly, and Peng Yidao and the others also tightened their expressions, following him out of the side hall to the open space on the mountain peak plaza.

At this moment, the sound of bells echoed. The first-generation disciples, who had been prepared, gathered quickly and stood respectfully in wait, including Hanyu, who had been living in the Dao Palace, who also flew out at the first opportunity and stood side by side with Chen Zhantang.

Before long, everyone saw two brilliant rays of immortal light streaking across the sky like meteors in the distance, descending above Xiantai Mountain.

The arrivals were a man and a woman, wreathed in immortal light, as if true immortals had descended. Who could the leading man be if not Lu Yuan?

And at the moment they saw clearly.

Chen Zhantang, and even Peng Yidao and the others, who had not seen him for three years, were incredibly excited:

"We (the disciples) respectfully welcome the Heavenly Master (Master) back—!"

Although it was a Cloning, in a sense it could be regarded as a wisp of consciousness separated by Lu Yuan. He smiled and scanned Chen Zhantang, and even Peng Yidao and the others:

"Not bad, not bad. You three have come as well; could it be that you also wish to follow me to the Upper Realm?"

The three of them were so excited they could hardly contain themselves:

"We heard the news and came specifically to pay our respects to you, Heavenly Master. We dare not hope for anything else."

"However, should the Heavenly Master have need of us, we will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Lu Yuan said:

"That will not be necessary. The Upper Realm is not a kind place; you had best stay here in the lower realm in peace... Zhantang, are you prepared?"

Chen Zhantang glanced at Hanyu beside him, took a deep breath, and said:

"This disciple is prepared, and thirty-six other first-generation disciples are all here, ready to follow the Master at any time!"

Lu Yuan scanned the incredibly respectful and excited disciples, turned his gaze back to Chen Zhantang and Hanyu, and could not help but smile:

"I asked you to gather them only to make a trial; the matter of selection can be discussed later. I heard from Fellow Daoist Su that you and Hanyu are a good match here in the lower realm. Do you two have any plans to become Dao companions?"

As soon as these words were spoken, both Chen Zhantang and Hanyu immediately blushed deeply.