Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 354 - 266 Golden Gourd Island_1

Chapter 354: 266 Golden Gourd Island_1

A month had swiftly passed by.

The door of the Alchemy Room opened, and Shen Long walked out. He had successfully refined the Three-Leaf Jade God Pills—twenty-four in total. After deducting those that needed to be delivered to Xu Mo, he was able to keep some for himself.

He took out a red Messaging Plate, inserted a spell into it, and said, "Taoist Friend Xu, the Three-Leaf Jade God Pills have been successfully refined."

"That’s wonderful, Taoist Friend Shen, where are you? I’ll come over to get them."

Xu Mo’s voice was filled with joy.

Shen Long informed him honestly, and Xu Mo immediately came over.

Shen Long disconnected the communication, then contacted Qian Dafu and instructed him briefly before putting away the Messaging Plate and walking out.

He sat down in the Stone Pavilion and took out the tea leaves and teaware to brew tea.

It wasn’t long before Qian Dafu arrived with Xu Mo.

"Taoist Friend Xu, please take a seat."

Shen Long invited Xu Mo to sit down and poured him a cup of tea.

Xu Mo sat down, his face full of expectation, and said, "Taoist Friend Shen, your efficiency is astonishing!"

Shen Long took out a cyan porcelain bottle and handed it to Xu Mo, saying, "Taoist Friend Xu, please examine the goods."

After verifying that everything was correct, Xu Mo’s face showed satisfaction as he took out a cyan jade box and handed it to Shen Long.

Shen Long opened the jade box and saw a thousand-year-old Qingfeng Grass inside.

"Taoist Friend Shen, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I won’t linger. If fate allows, we shall meet again. Farewell."

Xu Mo got up to leave.

"Master Nephew Qian, please escort Taoist Friend Xu for me," Shen Long instructed.

Qian Dafu agreed and personally saw Xu Mo off.

Lin Yutong came over, her face beaming with a smile.

"Senior Brother Shen, our parents want to hold a grand Dual Cultivation Ceremony on Golden Gourd Island. It’s about time; let’s go to Golden Gourd Island first!" Lin Yutong said.

"What about Master and Mistress?" Shen Long asked.

"They went to Golden Gourd Island ahead of time. You were refining pills earlier, so they didn’t disturb you. If you don’t have any pressing matters, let’s head to Golden Gourd Island now!" Lin Yutong suggested.

Shen Long nodded and followed Lin Yutong to leave.

After leaving the marketplace, Shen Long summoned a Seacrossing Boat, stepped onto it, followed by Lin Yutong and Qian Dafu.

With the casting of a spell, the Seacrossing Boat lit up with a dazzling blue light and soared into the sky.

Three days later, the Seacrossing Boat came to a halt. Ahead laid a vast island that, when viewed from above, looked strikingly like an enormous Gourd—this was Golden Gourd Island, the ancestral land of the Han Family.

Lin Yutong sent a Sound Transmission Talisman and quietly began to wait.

Soon, a white Escape Light flew out from Golden Gourd Island; it flickered and halted. The light was reined in, revealing a tall and fair young man in white robes, looking refined and clean-cut.

"I am Han Xuefeng. I greet Senior Shen," the young man in white robes said politely as he clasped his hands and bowed.

Shen Long nodded, "I am here to attend the Dual Cultivation Ceremony of my master and mistress."

"All accommodations have been prepared. This way, please, Senior Shen," Han Xuefeng gestured, personally leading the way into Golden Gourd Island.

Shen Long and his companions followed Han Xuefeng to a spacious estate adorned with pavilions, terraces, water mills, galleries, rockeries, and gardens.

"Senior Shen, do you find this place to your liking?" Han Xuefeng asked courteously.

"We’ll stay here. When does the Dual Cultivation Ceremony commence?" Shen Long inquired.

"It commences tomorrow. Please rest well, Senior; we will send someone to accompany you to the ceremony when it begins," Han Xuefeng said respectfully.

Shen Long nodded, and after dismissing Han Xuefeng, Lin Yutong also took her leave.

Shen Long entered a Practice Room, at center of which sat a cyan meditation cushion.

He seated himself upon the cushion and took out a cyan porcelain bottle, pouring out a golden pill. The pill was round and lustrous, reflecting a bright color—it was the Three-Leaf Jade God Pill.

Shen Long placed the Three-Leaf Jade God Pill into his mouth, and as the elixir melted upon entry, he swiftly began cultivating to refine and absorb its medicinal properties.

He could clearly feel a faint divine consciousness entering his sea of consciousness, which was faint compared to his own divine consciousness.

······

A resplendently golden hall was before him, with the name "Golden Gourd Hall" written in silver characters on a lacquered golden plaque.

The doors of the hall were wide open. A tall, thin elder in a golden robe sat in the main seat, with Han Xuefeng reporting the situation to him.

"Senior Shen has been settled in properly, and all the invited guests have arrived,"

said Han Xuefeng.

The elder in the golden robe nodded and replied, "That’s good. I didn’t expect him to have advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage and his disciple too. Their dual cultivation ceremony should be grand and glorious."

Both Ice Silkworm True Person and Shen Long were Nascent Soul Cultivators, and the Han Family was more than pleased to welcome them.

"Yes, Ancestor Yilong,"

Han Xuefeng said with full compliance, then took his leave.

······

A night passed quickly, and early the next morning, just as the sky began to brighten,

a Sound Transmission Talisman flew in, landing in front of Shen Long.

Shen Long opened his eyes, flicked his finger, and a red light shot out, striking the Sound Transmission Talisman. The talisman spontaneously ignited, turning into a ball of red flame, and Qian Dafu’s voice emerged: "Uncle Shen, Taoist Friend Han has come over, ready to take us to Reception Peak."

Shen Long got up and walked outside. He saw Qian Dafu and Han Xuefeng standing at the door.

"Senior Shen, the dual cultivation ceremony is about to start, please come with me,"

said Han Xuefeng politely.

"Lead the way,"

Shen Long instructed.

At Han Xuefeng’s assent, he stamped his right foot to the ground, transforming into a streak of escape light that shattered the void and flew into the high sky, with Shen Long and Qian Dafu closely following behind.

In less than half a quarter of an hour, they landed in a vast Azure Stone Plaza, where a large number of azure jade tables were set, with cultivators sitting behind each table, the higher the cultivation, the closer they were to the front.

Shen Long followed Han Xuefeng to a seat towards the front. Two Nascent Soul Cultivators whom Shen Long did not recognize had already arrived.

"I am Lu Tianhai, and you must be Disciple Lin, correct?"

A ruddy-faced elder in a blue robe said, his voice booming.

"I am Shen Long; it is a pleasure to meet you, Taoist Friend Lu."

Shen Long said, clasping his fists.

"Taoist Friend Lin mentioned that Taoist Friend Shen is an alchemist, adept at the art of alchemy. I am Yu Ke,"

a kind-faced elderly woman in a golden robe chimed in, her aura noticeably stronger than Shen Long’s, holding a golden serpent-headed cane.

"Madam Yu flatters me. I would not call myself adept; I’ve only learned some basics,"

Shen Long replied modestly.

Shen Long chatted idly with Lu Tianhai and Yu Ke until a resounding bell rang out. Someone shouted loudly, "Please welcome Senior Lin and Ancestor Yuwei!"

The cultivators all stopped their conversations, looking up to the sky as a white escape light appeared on the distant horizon, halting above Azure Stone Plaza in a flash.

As the light receded, a sparkling white Flying Boat was revealed, with Ice Silkworm True Person and Han Yuwei standing atop it.

Shen Long and the other guests all stood up as a sign of respect.

Ice Silkworm True Person and Han Yuwei descended onto the main platform and took their seats.

"Disciples congratulate Master and Madam on this joyous occasion and offer two Dharma Treasures, a bottle of fourth-grade elixirs, and some fourth-grade Artifact Refining materials,"

Shen Long stood up, took out a blue Storage Bag, and handed it to Han Xuefeng.

The guests presented their congratulatory gifts one by one, attending the Han Family’s function out of respect. Ice Silkworm True Person did not have many old acquaintances in the Northern Sea’s Cultivation Realm. The gifts from the guests were not particularly valuable; the better ones gave two Dharma Treasures while the modest ones offered some fourth-grade materials, and that was all.

After the guests had presented their gifts, Ice Silkworm True Person and Han Yuwei stood up, raising their cups.

"We thank you all for coming to attend our dual cultivation ceremony. Let’s toast to everyone."

After saying this, Ice Silkworm True Person drank up the wine in his cup, while Han Yuwei raised her cup and drained it.

Shen Long and the others also stood, toasting in response.

Ice Silkworm True Person and Han Yuwei took their seats again, followed by everyone else, indulging in wine and conversation.

More than an hour later, the dual cultivation ceremony concluded, and the guests gradually left. Shen Long, Lu Tianhai, Yu Ke, and Ice Silkworm True Person arrived at a secluded manor. Han Yilong was sitting in a pavilion made of azure stones, with a set of exquisite tea ware placed on the stone table in front of him.

"Taoist Friend Han, it’s been many years since we last met, and you have advanced to the Middle Stage! Congratulations!"

Lu Tianhai said, his face showing envy.

Han Yilong invited them to sit down and said with a slight smile, "It has indeed been over a hundred years since our last meeting. How have you been, Taoist Friend Lu?"