Infinite Save: I Cultivate Immortality Through Reincarnation

"Gentlemen."

The middle-aged man at the front stepped forward a few paces, blocking Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen's path.

"Heavenly Summit Mountain is currently hosting the once-a-decade Dao Inquiry Assembly of Chenping Continent. No unrelated persons are permitted entry. Please understand."

Although this middle-aged man was a disciple of the Five Great Sects, hailing from Star Heaven Sect, he held deep respect for the two cultivators who had climbed all the way up Heavenly Summit Mountain through sheer hardship. His tone was remarkably approachable, and he conveyed his apology with tact.

"We've come to participate in the Dao Inquiry Assembly of Chenping Continent," Chen Yan said slowly, reaching his hand into his Daoist robe.

"But—"

The middle-aged man clearly wanted to say something more, but when his gaze landed on the letter the handsome young man in the plain white Daoist robe withdrew from his garment, his unfinished words died in his throat. He recognized the emblem on the envelope—it was the crest of Mirage Palace.

"This is a letter of recommendation from Mirage Palace," Chen Yan stated.

"Understood. Please follow me. I'll take you to meet our Supervisor."

Still, a flicker of doubt lingered in the Star Heaven Sect outer court administrator's mind. If they had a letter of recommendation from Mirage Palace, why hadn't they come with Mirage Palace's ferry? Why climb up instead? Something felt off. But since the envelope bore Mirage Palace's crest, this was no longer something he could decide on his own. He had to report it to the Supervisor first.

Of course, the reason Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen hadn't taken Mirage Palace's ferry was simple: Zhou Jinyun hadn't invited them.

As the Daomen Xingzou of Mirage Palace, if Zhou Jinyun favored Su Hongzhen and recommended him as a Dao Inquirer at Heavenly Summit Mountain, she certainly had the authority to invite both him and Chen Yan to ride Mirage Palace's ferry to Heavenly Summit Mountain. The flagships of the Five Great Sects were all extraordinarily imposing—they represented the face of their respective sects. Bringing along an extra two people was utterly insignificant.

But the internal situation at Mirage Palace might still be quite complicated.

Ever since four years ago, when Mirage Palace's Supreme Imperial Law Elder, Shang Ao, brought Chu Fan and Zhou Jinyun back to Mirage Palace, not a single whisper of internal change had leaked out. Chen Yan knew that eight thousand years later, Mirage Palace would tolerate that grotesque possession technique—Xiao Bo'an was the perfect example. But what exactly had happened in these eight millennia? That was likely Mirage Palace's deepest secret, something no one could ever uncover.

Of course, even if Zhou Jinyun had invited Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen to ride Mirage Palace's ferry together, Chen Yan would have flatly refused. He believed that in the current circumstances, it was better to keep his distance from Mirage Palace. Although he had once displayed three immortal artifacts before Shang Ao—surely Mirage Palace wouldn't dare act rashly in his presence—the main issue was that Chen Yan didn't want to get involved.

That was why Chen Yan had brought Su Hongzhen to climb from the foot of Heavenly Summit Mountain all the way up, over eight thousand zhang, to the gates of the mountain.

As for Zhou Jinyun's death centuries later, Chen Yan believed the truth behind it might not be as simple as her dying in battle while hunting the Great Demon of Dao Union Realm. There had to be some other foul play at work. It might very well have been the final outcome of the internal factional struggle within Mirage Palace between Shang Ao's faction and Zhou Jinyun's.

As for Shang Ao himself...

When Chen Yan had browsed the relevant records about the Falling Star Realman at Wind Ravine Valley, he had gained a general understanding of the historical backdrop of eight thousand years ago. He did know that in this era, Mirage Palace had a Supreme Imperial Law Elder named Shang Ao. However, the records on this elder were sparse—barely a few dozen words summarized his entire life. As for Shang Ao's ultimate fate... Chen Yan hadn't seen any mention of it either.

Lost in these thoughts, Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen followed the Star Heaven Sect outer court administrator into a building on Heavenly Summit Mountain.

The interior was simply furnished.

An old man in a Star Heaven Sect outer court Daoist robe sat upright behind a desk. Hanging from his waist was a simple wooden token, inscribed with eight large characters: "Star Heaven Sect, Heavenly Summit Mountain Supervisor." Although the words on the token might seem impressive, in truth, this old man was merely a Martial Spring Realm cultivator from Star Heaven Sect's outer court. He held a bamboo slip in his hand, his brows furrowed as if he was verifying some information.

As Star Heaven Sect was hosting this Dao Inquiry Assembly of Chenping Continent, this old man, serving as Star Heaven Sect's resident outer court Supervisor at Heavenly Summit Mountain, undoubtedly had a mountain of affairs to handle.

The Star Heaven Sect outer court administrator who had guided them hurried forward, respectfully bowed to his direct superior, quickly explained the situation in a low voice, then turned his head toward Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen, who were standing at the entrance.

"A letter of recommendation from Mirage Palace..."

The Star Heaven Sect outer court Supervisor looked up, his aged gaze sweeping over Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen, his eyes narrowing slightly. Then he immediately broke into a smile and rose to his feet.

"Please, gentlemen, come in quickly!"

This old man naturally put on an enthusiastic demeanor. Heaven-chosen talents from minor sects or rogue cultivators obtaining a letter of recommendation from the Five Great Sects to participate in Heavenly Summit Mountain's Dao Inquiry was nothing unusual—such cases occurred every decade or so. And any cultivator favored by the Five Great Sects was certainly no ordinary genius. They wouldn't be kicked out in the first two rounds of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry.

Given the depth of the Five Great Sects, they wouldn't bother with so-called "heaven-chosen talents" unless they were truly exceptional. These talents could often hold their own against the Dao Inquirers of the Five Great Sects for at least dozens of exchanges. Each and every one of them was genuinely outstanding.

For a young prodigy of this caliber, the Star Heaven Sect outer court Supervisor naturally lowered his stance further. Even though the other party's current status was low, a decade from now, when the next Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry came around, they might have already become an Inner Court Supervisor or even a Protector of Mirage Palace.

Chen Yan remained silent, merely retrieving the letter of recommendation from his Daoist robe and handing it to Su Hongzhen beside him.

Su Hongzhen then stepped forward and presented the letter of recommendation.

"Senior, this is my letter of recommendation," he said.

The Star Heaven Sect outer court Supervisor took the letter from Su Hongzhen, carefully opened it, and glanced at the words written on the recommendation. He froze for a moment.

"This is... a letter of recommendation from Dao Traveler Zhou?" he exclaimed in surprise.