Chapter 984: Reunion with an Old Acquaintance

Vast Snowfield.

Rumble——

Suddenly, a majestic mountain range quakes intensely.

In the forest, countless beasts panic and erratically roar, their hooves frantic in flight while foliage sways wildly in the gale.

At the mountain’s foot, the villagers are pale-faced and overwhelmed with panic.

“This is bad!”

“The Mountain God is angry!”

A group of villagers kneels in terror, continuously bowing and praying for blessings.

Whoosh——

Suddenly, someone looks up at the sky and exclaims.

“Look at the sky! What’s that?”

“Golden light fills the sky! It seems like there’s someone in the clouds!”

On the crimson cloud-covered firmament, Black Ebony stands silently within.

His Dao Foundation power roars in motion, brilliant golden light rippling like water waves, slowly enveloping the entire tumultuous mountain range.

Deep underground, heavy and majestic Earth Veins lie like ancient dragon veins, winding beneath the rock and soil.

Buzz——

The power to shift mountains gently unfolds, meticulously combing along the texture of the Earth Veins.

The scattered chaotic terrain energy is completely gathered into place, the underground surges gradually calming and stabilizing.

Only then do the people at the mountain’s foot notice the anomaly.

Though the mountains still slightly tremble, the surrounding fragmented rocks and plants remain unmoved, showing no signs of damage.

At that moment.

Roar——

From the dense forest, a majestic leopard’s roar pierces the sky.

Packs of black leopards step out of the woods, their demeanor imposing.

Among them, a robust leopard king slowly walks out, as large as a small hill, with an invisible wind wing faintly condensing on its back, fierce winds encircling its body.

The beasts that were frantically fleeing now fall silent, lowering their bodies, casting their heads in submission.

Whoosh~~

The leopard king spreads its wings, soaring into the skies on a long wind.

Reaching beneath the crimson clouds, it lowers its posture, repeatedly bowing reverently to Black Ebony in the sky.

Black Ebony gazes down, a faint smile in his eyes:

“It seems to have some understanding.”

He calculates for a moment and comprehends the origin of this black leopard.

Long ago, a chance mingles of Winged Fire and Long Wind essence touched this leopard by serendipity, awakening its latent bloodline.

Later, the leopard resided in an ancient temple within the mountain, where it was washed by Buddhist scriptures, shedding its wild ferocity, self-initiating its path of cultivation.

Recalling his own past cultivation journey, Black Ebony muses with a light chuckle:

“I happen to lack a mount beside me, today I’ll take you along.”

His sleeve gently sweeps, a nurturing force securely supports the black leopard, and together they ascend with the flowing clouds into the distant sky.

The remaining leopards in the forest raise their heads and howl, their voices long and drawn out.

The villagers at the mountain’s foot exchange baffled glances:

“Could there be a peerless treasure hidden deep within the mountains?”

“Or is a High Immortal theringing a demon leopard to heel?”

At that moment.

A clear voice suddenly rings amid the crowd.

“This is the great Dharma protector of the Buddhist sect, arranging the mountain’s Earth Veins, everyone look beneath!”

The crowd turns at the sound, looking at the ground beneath their feet.

“This…”

“What is…”

The once withered and lifeless flora now visibly sprouts and blooms.

In no time, the mountains are covered in vibrant flowers, life force wildly expanding.

“After the Earth Veins are properly placed, the mountain streams are clear and pristine, the soil becomes rich and fertile, the mountains and rocks firm and unmovable…”

The voice continues, narrating its benefits.

The people finally realize, and by their side stands a figure whose presence was unnoticed.

The man has a gilded Dao crown on his head, his immortal robe gently swaying in the wind, ethereal immortal energy surrounding him, clearly not an ordinary person at first glance.

The elderly man leaning on a cane bows respectfully, his tone exceedingly reverent:

“May I ask the Daoist’s title, and where your grotto heaven is located? Could you be Ling Mountain Duke?”

Fellow Daoist Chu’s lips hold a shallow smile, understanding.

Ling Mountain Duke is indeed the Mountain God here.

However, long ago, the Earth Element Divine Monarch has fallen, and the Mountain God and Earth Affinity Spirits that dependently occurred have all decayed and vanished.

If not for this, Black Ebony wouldn’t need to stabilize the Earth Veins himself.

“Not so, not so!”

“Merely an ordinary Southern Border Qi Refiner!”

As the words fall, cloud aura rises around him, his form gradually becoming ethereal and blurred.

The villagers hurriedly bow and kneel, their shouts echoing.

“Meet High Immortal! Meet Immortal!”

…

Upon the peak of the nine celestial clouds.

Black Ebony sits leisurely on the back of the black leopard, his gaze gentle.

“The ancient surname of the leopard tribe is Fu, you carry the essence of winged winds and spiritual rhyme, from now on you’ll be called Fu Feng.”

Fu Feng, enlightened by Black Ebony, has already refined its throat bone, speaking human words, bowing respectfully in thanks.

“Thank you, Master, for naming me!”

Seeing this, Black Ebony can’t help but smile, secretly sighing that he has now become a master.

Suddenly, a steady call comes from the sky behind.

“Zen Master, please hold for a moment.”

Black Ebony raises his eyes to look back, his gaze slightly moving.

“May I know which Fellow Daoist calls me?”

Whoosh——

Gurgling Spiritual Spring flows from the void, its ethereal spring rhyme forming a human outline

A Daoist stepped forth with a gold crown on his head, smiling kindly, quietly watching Black Ebony.

“Does the Zen Master still remember Fellow Chu?”

As familiar energy enters his mind, Black Ebony’s thoughts quickly churn, a moment later his eyes widen:

“Ah, it’s you! The Human Race Cultivator from back then, I sent you to Dragon-Slaying Immortal City.”

“Later when chaos broke out in the Southern Border, I went to aid but couldn’t find any trace of you anymore.”

Fellow Daoist Chu nods slightly, his expression earnest.

“Back then, thanks to Zen Master rescuing me and granting a protective token, I was able to cultivate stably in the Immortal City for several years.”

“Afterward, I wandered to train, coincidentally obtaining many opportunities during the Southern Border’s upheaval, recently reaching the Dao Foundation Realm successfully.”

Black Ebony upon hearing this does not doubt, knowing that within that chaos were many hidden fortunes.

Didn’t he himself gain the True Monarch’s legacy?

“It’s rare for old friends to reunite, come with me to the grotto heaven for a little chat.”

Fellow Daoist Chu candidly agrees:

“Then I shall impose on Zen Master.”

…

Inside the Sandalwood Mountain grotto heaven.

Seeing old friends, past memories swell, the two converse leisurely without pause.

Black Ebony personally brews Spirit Tea, its aroma gently wafting.

“Fellow Daoist Chu, does the mountain and river scenery still have its old form?”

Fellow Daoist Chu looks around at the surrounding mountains and landscapes, nodding gently:

“Just as in my memories, unchanged in the slightest.”

Black Ebony laughs heartily, his demeanor carefree:

“I’m accustomed to living here, back then expending great effort to root the entire mountain from the Southern Border to this Snowfield.”

Fellow Daoist Chu smiles softly and speaks:

“Why doesn’t Zen Master refine the mountain, forming a portable grotto heaven for convenient control?”

Black Ebony slowly shakes his head:

“Shifting mountains and refining earth is my cultivation, no need to force the refinement of a grotto heaven.”

As the two converse leisurely.

Suddenly, in the distant sky, vast Buddhist light bursts forth.

Blazing golden Buddhist light blankets the heavens, drawing both their attention.

Black Ebony gazes afar, immediately speaking:

“Wuxiang Master is initiating his Arhat Enlightenment Ceremony, wonder if he can succeed this time.”

Fellow Daoist Chu remains silent, now his cultivation sees far beyond Black Ebony’s, seeing through the depths with a glance.

Formless monk’s foundation is stable, confirming his path is a given.

His eyes sparkle, silently murmuring to himself:

“According to my calculations, this Formless Monk, though he can attain Arhat, will not do so smoothly.”

“Indeed, it’s due to that Wuchen Arhat…”