Chapter 2018

Xun Shuang nodded, as if she had guessed something.

Soon, they arrived at Star Realm Mountain.

The immortal crane climbed upward along the divine mountain, its speed still very fast.

Along the way, some Divine Kings and Ancestral Gods appeared to block them, but after sensing the terrifying aura emanating from Xiao Feng and Xun Shuang, they all retreated.

Whether it was Xiao Feng, laden with treasures, or Xun Shuang, whose Innate Dao Body had reached the Golden Immortal realm, neither could be provoked by beings of Ancestral God level or below.

After a moment, the two arrived at the place where Hidden Profound Venerable refined pills.

The main gate of the Alchemy Pavilion had been closed, but upon their arrival, the heavy stone door boomed open.

Two child attendants appeared at the entrance, calling out from afar: "Honored guests, coming from afar, please enter the hall." They gestured for them to go inside.

"Thank you," Xiao Feng said.

At the same time, he sent a mental message to Xun Shuang: "This Hidden Profound Venerable is a master; not only is his pill-refining skill extraordinarily high, he also possesses the ability to foresee the future. By relying on the River Chart, he already knew three years ago that I would come seeking medicine—unfathomably deep."

Hearing this, Xun Shuang frowned slightly and replied via mental transmission: "We are both anomalies; fate cannot be spied upon. Hidden Profound Venerable's cultivation should be below that of my senior sister; even she cannot see through our future, so even if he uses the River Chart to calculate, he would struggle to obtain accurate information. This person is likely just playing mysterious to deceive you—don't take it seriously."

"Er..."

Xiao Feng's expression stiffened.

Could what she said actually be true?

Is Hidden Profound Venerable just trying to fool him?

Upon further thought, the game world changes too quickly; a mere Venerable realm certainly couldn't possibly know the future that far in advance.

Conversely, if Hidden Profound Venerable had received guidance from the River Chart and only began refining pills after Xun Shuang was injured, swiftly completing them,

then it would make much more sense!

"Damn, I actually got tricked..."

Xiao Feng silently sighed to himself, never expecting that despite having become a Divine King, his intellect remained so low.

Indeed, adding only to intelligence merely boosts magical attack and has nothing to do with being smart or not!

Fortunately, Fairy Maiden Xun Shuang is ice‑snow smart and saw through it at once; otherwise he would really have been bluffed by Hidden Profound Venerable!

Lost in thought, the two arrived at the Alchemy Pavilion and entered side by side.

Inside the main hall, beneath the Eight Trigrams Furnace, the Hidden Mystery Venerable sat with eyes closed in quiet meditation; behind him the furnace fire blazed fiercely, still refining elixirs.

"Xiao Feng (Xun Shuang) has met the Hidden Mystery Venerable; thank you, Venerable, for your gift of medicine!"

Their movements and voices were in unison as they simultaneously clasped their hands in salute, a rare moment of tacit understanding.

Xiao Feng also sent the prepared items over with a gesture, saying: "Junior has some high-quality spiritual herbs and materials that no one can refine; I offer them to you as a token of gratitude."

The Hidden Mystery Venerable opened his eyes, seeing these 9th-grade medicinal ingredients and three 7th-grade Supreme Treasures, and was somewhat surprised.

"You have good intentions." He did not refuse, casually placing them on a nearby cabinet, thus accepting them.

Then he turned his gaze to Xun Shuang, and was again startled by her peerless beauty.

But after all, he is a Venerable who has lived for over a million years; his state of mind remains lofty, and he quickly regained composure, smiling faintly: "Junior Sister Xun Shuang, congratulations on entering the Golden Immortal realm; the Venerable looks forward to your progress."

"Junior Sister?" Xiao Feng expressed some surprise.

But he could also understand.

On Star Realm Mountain lies the legacy of the Primordial Patriarch Fuxi; the Hidden Mystery Venerable attained this stage through fortune, thus considering himself a nominal disciple of Fuxi. Although Xun Shuang is a direct inheritor, she is much younger, so naturally she is regarded as his junior sister.

Seeing the Venerable address her thus, Xun Shuang did not stand on ceremony and replied:

"Thank you, Senior Brother Hidden Mystery, for your kind words."

She then asked: "You invited us both here; do you have any instructions?"

The Hidden Mystery Venerable waved his hand, laying out two futons, indicating they should sit.

He then said: "It's nothing major; I merely heard that Junior Sister Xun Shuang possesses peerless talent, being an Innate Dao Body rare in all ages, favored by the heavens and personally taught by the Dao Ancestor. Out of curiosity, I wish to meet you and exchange insights on the Dao."

"Well..."

Xun Shuang humbly replied: "You are a Venerable; I have only just entered the Golden Immortal realm, my understanding of the Dao is still shallow, and I fear I am not yet worthy to discuss the Dao with Senior Brother."

"No, no, it's different. Although your cultivation is still shallow, you are destined to become the ultimate powerhouse; your spiritual heart and wisdom cannot be measured by a mere stage. Later, let us go to the mountain summit to view the River Chart Stone Carving, where you will naturally gain insight. What I desire is simply to hear your understanding of the River Chart, Junior Sister Xun Shuang." The Hidden Mystery Venerable explained.

Only then did Xiao Feng and Xun Shuang realize that the purpose was not to exchange current insights, but to gain understanding after contacting the River Chart.

"If that is the case, then Xun Shuang will obey the senior brother's orders." The Fairy Maiden Xun Shuang agreed.

The Hidden Mystery Venerable said to Xiao Feng: "Young friend Xiao Feng, please come along as well; I would also like to hear your views."

"It is better to obey than to merely show respect." Xiao Feng smiled and nodded.

The Hidden Mystery Venerable casually formed a few hand seals, and the furnace fire behind him gradually weakened.

"Young ones, watch the fire and condense the elixir at the proper time."

He said to the two boys.

"Yes, Master." The two boys immediately entered, sitting one on the left and one on the right beside the furnace, watching.

The Hidden Mystery Venerable then rose, and together with Xiao Feng and Xun Shuang went out the door.

Just as they stepped out the door, the distant immortal crane

attracted the Hidden Mystery Venerable's attention.

"What a magnificent 9th-grade divine bird; its bloodline aura is strong, not inferior to that of the Phoenix Venerable!" he exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng's heart stirred, and he asked: "Senior, do you know the Phoenix Venerable?"

The Hidden Mystery Venerable nodded: "Several hundred thousand years ago we had some interaction; I received a strand of the Phoenix Venerable's true fire origin, which allowed me to have my present alchemical fire, so I am indebted to his favor."

"Oh… then the Phoenix Venerable must be very strong, right? I don't know where he is now," Xiao Feng asked again.

The Hidden Mystery Venerable stroked his beard and smiled: "He is certainly strong, not inferior to the Kirin Beast God. How come, young friend, you just slaughtered the Beast God Realm and now you're thinking of targeting the Phoenix Venerable?"

The matter of Xiao Feng's great battle in the Beast God Realm is no secret; almost all Venerables know of it.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng quickly shook his head: "No, no, no, I have no grudge against the Phoenix Venerable, nor any such intention. I am purely curious, wanting to learn more about top-tier experts."

Although the Phoenix is also a primordial being, it did not obtain the primordial source power of the Primordial True King, which is meaningless to him.

Moreover, the Primordial Sacred Artifact "Soul-Severing Sword" of the Spirit Bird Tribe is a Supreme Treasure that greatly restrains the primordial spirit; it is not of a "gentle" nature and has no strategic value.

He had merely heard that the Phoenix is second only to the Kunpeng among mighty flying beings, and he wanted a chance to witness it, hoping to thereby gauge the Kunpeng's depths.

"It's fine if you have no ideas; otherwise you might suffer. The Phoenix Venerable has a bad temper and also wields the Soul-Severing Sword; no matter how high your talent, one strike will severely wound your primordial spirit, leaving you unconscious for at least three to five years." Said Venerable Hidden Mystery.

Then beneath his feet

mist and clouds rose up, carrying the two of them flying higher toward Star Realm Mountain.

Hearing this, Xiao Feng couldn't help but secretly rejoice.

Moreover, it's fortunate that the Phoenix is not among the "Top Ten"; otherwise he truly wouldn't know how to deal with it.

Being unconscious for three to five years… by then the training period will have ended, and the hegemony struggle will have been ongoing for a long time. Without him, if enemies launch a large-scale invasion, even Blue Star No. 8 might not be able to withstand it.

"The Phoenix possesses a Primordial Sacred Artifact, Emperor Jiang even has four Primordial Sacred Artifacts, the Kunpeng is even more terrifying—its fleshly body is comparable to half a Chaos Sacred Artifact, and its true strength is unfathomable. Sigh… when will I ever be truly invincible under the heavens?" Xiao Feng secretly thought.