Chapter 471 - 481: The Daoist Priestess Shoujing

Several days later, Wen Qingye had almost reached the northwestern region of the Eastern Profound Domain.

In those few days, Wen Qingye’s injuries had fully healed. Furthermore, his comprehension of the Slaying Immortal Sword Dao’s Overlord Law had deepened, and he believed a breakthrough to the Earthly Realm was not far off.

The Ice Python soared through the sky as Wen Qingye sat cross-legged on its head. He chuckled and said, "Xiang Jing really lived up to his name as a Core Disciple of the Thousand Nether Valley. He had over a thousand Top-grade Primordial Stones and even a Spirit Grade Healing Elixir. Otherwise, the injuries to my Primordial Spirit wouldn’t have healed so quickly."

"Mm, and that fruit from the Thousand Nether Valley was delicious," the Ice Python said, a nostalgic look in its eyes.

Inside Xiang Jing’s Sumeru Mustard Seed, Wen Qingye had also found a good number of Thousand Nether Ice Fruits. These fruits were intensely cold; an ordinary Martial Artist would have their internal organs frozen solid the moment they ate one. The Ice Python, however, was different. It had a natural fondness for such frigid fruits.

"Canglan Country... we should be there in about four or five days," Wen Qingye said slowly, gazing at the vast expanse of clouds before him.

The Ice Python’s ice-blue eyes looked ahead, its forked tongue flicking. "I sense a densely populated area up ahead, and there’s no way around it. To avoid being discovered, you should probably travel on foot. Besides, I’ve consumed a great deal of my Primordial Qi and need to recover. We wouldn’t want any trouble to arise because I’m not at my best."

"Alright," Wen Qingye nodded. They had been rushing their cultivation and travel for days; he could afford to spare some time.

The Ice Python landed in a grove of trees and slowly transformed into a small ring, coiling around Wen Qingye’s finger.

A clamor rose from up ahead; the area was quite bustling.

Suddenly, soft, golden rays of light shone toward Wen Qingye.

Dao-light!

His curiosity piqued, Wen Qingye watched the wisps of golden light and took out his map of the Eastern Profound Domain.

’So this is the Shang Country,’ he thought after looking at the map, raising his head to gaze forward.

Although located in the northwestern part of the Eastern Profound Domain, the Shang Country was a vassal state of the Daoist School of Non-action. The entire nation was deeply devoted to Daoism.

Then, from a distance, came the sound of chanting. It was gentle and carried a mesmerizing power that couldn’t help but calm one’s heart.

Wen Qingye found himself walking forward, drawn by the sound.

After walking for some time, he reached what seemed to be the edge of the forest. The morning light shone down, sprinkling the earth with flecks of gold.

Ahead, at what appeared to be the entrance to a village, a group of people sat under a thick, sturdy tree, gathered around a female Daoist. Her palms were pressed together as she chanted softly.

The Daoist was a woman in her forties. Fine lines were visible at the corners of her eyes, but they only served to make her appear all the more serene.

"This Daoist... she’s extraordinary."

"I’ve never heard anyone explain Daoist Techniques with such profundity."

"Where is she from? Why have I never heard of a figure like her?"

Suddenly, two voices reached Wen Qingye’s ears. He frowned and turned to look.

Two men were standing not far off, their eyes locked on the female Daoist. Their cultivation was considerable—both were at the Destruction Realm Third Heaven.

Wen Qingye mulled over the two men’s words. Puzzled, he turned his gaze back to the female Daoist.

The female Daoist rose to her feet and spoke with a smile, "A mind devoted to the Dao knows no distractions. To follow the Three Pure Ones is to cast off the mortal world. Infinite Celestial Venerable. That is all for today’s lecture on Daoist Technique. If we are fated to meet again, we shall. There is no need to force it."

After she spoke, she began to walk away at a slow pace. The crowd rose to their feet and performed a Daoist salute. As she was leaving, her eyes met Wen Qingye’s. She gave him a friendly smile before continuing on her way.

Watching her departing figure, Wen Qingye thought to himself, ’She’s definitely not from the Daoist School of Non-action. She doesn’t have their characteristic Cyan Yang Dao aura. Instead, she carries a trace of the Qianyuan Infinite Dao.’

Among the Three Thousand Great Dao, the Cyan Yang Dao is ranked 714th, while the Qianyuan Infinite Dao is ranked 317th. The disparity between them was clear at a glance.

The Ice Python frowned and said, "That Daoist is so strong. I feel she’s not much weaker than Jin the Third. Just what is the true extent of her power?"

Wen Qingye shook his head with a smile. "I’m not sure either. She cultivates the Qianyuan Infinite Dao. My own cultivation isn’t high enough, so I didn’t dare observe her too brazenly. But her cultivation is definitely no lower than Jin the Third’s, that much is true. Let’s get moving."

With that, Wen Qingye continued on his way.

The path ahead was narrow and winding, flanked by dense, lush thickets of shrubs.

Gradually, Noon arrived. The sun in the sky grew more intense, its vicious rays beating down upon the land. The earth felt like a Pill Furnace, scorching hot.

Wen Qingye’s speed was incredible. With a single step, his figure would vanish and reappear dozens of feet away.

In a single morning, he covered hundreds of miles. The landscape was dotted with villages, but cities were few and far between.

Suddenly, Wen Qingye stopped short, his gaze fixed on the space beneath a palm tree up ahead.

There, sitting cross-legged under the tree with her palms pressed together and eyes closed, was the female Daoist. When she sensed Wen Qingye’s arrival, her lips curved into a smile.

"Your pace is quite impressive, Sir. It seems we are fated to meet again," the female Daoist said with a smile. "As the saying goes, ’Fate can bring people together from a thousand miles away, but without it, even those face-to-face remain strangers.’ Would you care to sit and speak with this humble Daoist for a while?"

Wen Qingye nodded, walked over to her side, and said slowly, "I am still a far cry from you, Reverend."

"You are too modest, Sir," the Daoist said. "For someone of your cultivation to possess such speed... it is something this humble one has never even heard of."

Wen Qingye looked at her and asked, "May I ask for your Daoist name?"

"My name is Cao Qiyang, and my Daoist name is Shoujing," the woman said slowly, extending one hand in a Daoist salute.

’Shoujing?’

The name echoed in Wen Qingye’s mind. He racked his brain for a long time but couldn’t recall anything associated with it. Then again, he mused, the Eastern Profound Domain was vast and teeming with countless experts; it was only natural he wouldn’t know all of them. He decided to drop the matter.

Shoujing looked at Wen Qingye. "Sir, do you perhaps have some questions about me?"

"For a master of your cultivation level, it is indeed strange that I have never heard your name," Wen Qingye admitted, nodding and voicing his confusion directly.

Shoujing smiled. "This humble one has been focused solely on cultivation in the Ten Thousand Ridges Mountain of the Eastern Profound Domain, serving only the Three Pure Ones and paying no mind to the affairs of the mortal world. It is only natural that you have not heard of me, Sir."