Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Among their conversation, there was nothing but admiration for Uncle He, deeply feeling that their uncle could dominate the current era, just as Ancestor Master Biyou did many years ago, his sword bringing silence to all directions.

Yet Uncle He, the subject of their discussion, did not respond; he simply walked in silence at the forefront of the group.

Gazing at the bustling streets before her, He Yinglian found herself reminiscing about the time she and Big Brother Lu had roamed the city together. Since their parting that day, she had heard nothing from Lu Yu, who was rumored to have traveled overseas with a strange monkey in search of immortality and the Taoist Way.

Sometimes, she wondered if Big Brother Lu had already passed away, but in her heart, she harbored a wish, hoping that one day she could still see Big Brother Lu's radiant smile.

"Qingyun, do you think this mask suits me?" a familiar voice reached her ears.

He Yinglian's usually still heart suddenly surged with emotion. With trepidation, she followed the direction of the voice and soon saw a familiar silhouette.

He was just as tall and reassuring as he had been more than a decade ago. He Yinglian stared blankly at the figure before her, wanting to speak but not knowing where to begin. She fumbled with her clothes in a fluster, hoping to present her most beautiful self to the person before her.

Over the years, she had made a name for herself wielding the Qingyou Sword, and people had begun to call her the second Ancestor Master Biyou. Who would have thought that this Frost Fairy, famous in the cultivation realm of Great Chen, could be so utterly at a loss?

After a moment, she composed herself and said to the person before her, "Big Brother Lu!"

Lu Yu was discussing with Liu Qingyun whether to buy a mask for fun. Upon arriving in Fengjing, he had isolated his senses, admiring the ancient city with its long history like an ordinary person, as if he could already see the majestic city's eventual decline in flames, perhaps witnessing its final glory.

A familiar voice came, and turning his head, he saw a face beaming with smiles. He Yinglian had shed her former naivety and, with her cultivation achievements, exuded confidence and a heroic spirit. Standing on the bustling street, she was like a fairy descended from the Nine Heavens, her beauty indescribable.

"Little Yinglian! Haha, it's been so long, and you've grown into a fine young woman!" Lu Yu was overjoyed to see an old acquaintance.

"By the way, where's your brother? Why didn't he come with you?" Lu Yu looked around but did not see He Yingchao anywhere.

He Yinglian looked at Lu Yu before her, privately resenting; wasn't she pretty enough? Why did it seem that Big Brother Lu felt nothing at all?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Brother is preparing for a breakthrough in his realm, so he did not come down the mountain this time. By the way, Big Brother Lu, where have you been all these years? I had people search everywhere for you but found nothing.

I even thought you had died!" said He Yinglian, her eyes reddening slightly, which left her fellow disciples following behind quite perplexed, having never seen their uncle with such an expression, almost like a little girl.

"I traveled over the ocean with that monkey and, after much hardship, managed to become the disciple of an old ancestor and cultivate until recently, when I returned to Great Chen. I forgot to mention it to you all!" Lu Yu said, scratching his head with an embarrassed smile.

"So, does that mean Big Brother Lu is also a cultivator now?" He Yinglian asked with a face full of surprise.

"I suppose that's one way to put it, although there's still a difference between what I do and what other cultivators like you do."

Hearing Lu Yu's words, He Yinglian's eyes became exceptionally bright, and she said joyfully, "Big Brother Lu, are you also here in Fengjing for the Debate Conference?"

Lu Yu nodded, "I also heard that the State Preceptor of the Great Chen Dynasty is holding a Debate Conference here, inviting all cultivators from around the world, so I came to join the excitement."

"That's great! Big Brother Lu can join us."

Lu Yu looked at He Yinglian, who was full of anticipation, and said, "I'm afraid that won't be possible, I still have some matters to attend to in Fengjing. Once I've finished them, I'll come and find you, how does that sound?"

He Yinglian nodded happily and said, "It's a deal then! Big Brother Lu, you can't go back on your word!"

At this moment, the members of the Green Lotus Sect didn't know what to say; this was their famously cold Frost Fairy, and now she was behaving like a girl in the throes of springtime, something they didn't even dare to imagine. They couldn't help but admire the man before them, wondering what charm he possessed to have bewitched their Auntie He.

"Eh! This person looks so familiar. I remember now, he's the Scholar who entered the sect with Auntie He, isn't he? And he's still alive! I heard the Sect Leader say he had damaged his foundation using forbidden arts and was likely to be short-lived, but now he doesn't seem weak at all!" someone recognized Lu Yu and exclaimed.

Suddenly, several people began discussing Lu Yu excitedly, and at that moment, a Taoist appeared in the distance. He was dressed in the same Taoist Robe as He Yinglian and her comrades, holding a horsetail whisk, with a hairpin made of jet black jade stuck in his bun, his demeanor casual and carefree, the very picture of an immortal.

"Junior Sister He, aren't you coming to our sect's residence with your Senior Brother? You all are a bit late!" the Taoist said with a smile.

"Got it, Senior Brother Xu!" He Yinglian turned around and saluted the Taoist.

"Big Brother Lu, we've made a promise, you must come! When the time comes, just ask around for the Green Lotus Sect's residence to find me!" He Yinglian didn't forget to remind Lu Yu before leaving.

Only then did Xu Ming notice that He Yinglian had been talking to a man all this time. His junior sister was famously cold as frost and kept men at bay, but now she was close with a man in such a changed manner, a curious event indeed.

Upon close examination, he found the man in front of him strangely familiar. A flash of insight reminded him that this was the Scholar his unfilial son had sent people to kill. Good heavens, the man had damaged his foundation and after so much time was still lively and thriving in the world, which likely meant he had come across some fortune overseas.

Xu Ming speculated in his heart but showed no change in his expression.

Watching He Yinglian and the others leave, Lu Yu smiled and shook his head. He truly hadn't expected to encounter He Yinglian here. He had long known that He Yinglian liked him, but his heart was set on the Way, with no time to dwell on romantic affections. To avoid hurting this kind girl, he had always played dumb, hoping that time would dilute these emotions.

Holding the mask he had bought, Lu Yu, accompanied by Liu Qingyun, walked into an inn with a light step. He ordered some of the inn's signature dishes and, while dining with Liu Qingyun, gazed into the distance towards the location of the Imperial Palace.

In the Imperial Palace stood a towering edifice known as Zhaixing.

At that moment, two people stood on a high platform there: one with a pale face, bloodshot eyes, clad in a Dragon Robe — the current King of the Great Chen.