Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

North of Tianque Mountain, on Emerald Cloud Peak, stood the Qian Yuan Hall.

Inside the spacious back hall, a flash of light appeared as a middle-aged cultivator emerged from the teleportation array. It was Zhou Zhengming, who had rushed back to the mountain gate upon hearing the news.

After hearing from Xu Jin and Gu You that Liu Yuanqing was to become the new sect leader, he immediately set off for Xuan Shui Immortal City. After purchasing some items in the city, he used the teleportation array to arrive directly at Tianque Mountain.

Over the years, his position had been awkward, and he was unwilling to stay at the mountain gate. He had found an excuse early on to travel around, and his cultivation had stagnated. After more than sixty years, he was still only in the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

He had been waiting for Xie Tianwei to give way to Liu Yuanqing, hoping that after Liu Yuanqing took office, he would, for the sake of Wu Yuankui, at least grant him the treatment of an elite disciple.

The guarding disciple was a very young cultivator with a cultivation level of only the sixth level of Qi Refining. Seeing that the visitor was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he immediately bowed and saluted, "Please show your waist badge, Senior Uncle!"

Zhou Zhengming nodded with a smile, took out a silver waist badge, and held it up in front of the disciple.

"Elephant Heaven Peak, Number One waist badge! You are, a Head Disciple?" The guarding disciple obviously did not recognize him, and perhaps no one had ever told him about Zhou Zhengming, so he looked puzzled.

Among the inner sect's thirty-six peaks, Elephant Heaven, Sun Gazing, and Moon Covering were where the elite disciples lived, with Elephant Heaven being the leader of the three peaks. This Elephant Heaven Number One waist badge was naturally the badge of the top elite disciple.

However, obtaining this badge did not depend on one's cultivation level but rather on one's status. Usually, only the head disciple of the sect leader could hold this waist badge.

Before Zhou Zhengming, the holder of this waist badge was Wu Yuankui. After Wu Yuankui became the sect leader, this waist badge had been vacant for a long time.

After Zhou Zhengming entered Wu Yuankui's sect, because he did not obtain the status of an elite disciple, Wu Yuankui only treated him as a nominal disciple, so naturally he did not give him this waist badge.

It was only after Qi Tianxiang and Wu Yuankui entered the Void Demon World that Tong Tianfu, who was in charge of affairs in the sect, made a special decision.

Later, when Xie Tianwei became the sect leader, in order to show respect for Wu Yuankui, he never took back the waist badge.

Zhou Zhengming had neither the status of an elite disciple nor the Elephant Heaven Number One waist badge, which was naturally extremely awkward.

He had wanted to return the waist badge and exchange it for an ordinary disciple waist badge, but Xie Tianwei wanted to use him as a showpiece, so how could he agree?

Zhou Zhengming had no choice but to use the excuse of traveling to stay far away. In the blink of an eye, more than thirty years had passed!

"Head Disciple? I suppose so. But that was sixty or seventy years ago. My name is Zhou Zhengming, and the waist badge is genuine!" Zhou Zhengming had experienced decades of training, and he had long since let go of the events of that year. He sighed softly and explained to the young disciple.

The guarding disciple immediately recalled a legend, and his expression immediately became serious. He lowered his head respectfully and said, "So it's Senior Uncle Zhou. This disciple's eyes were blind. Please forgive me! The waist badge has been verified. Senior Uncle can leave at any time!"

Zhou Zhengming responded and turned to leave the back hall. He passed through a corridor, went around the right hall, and went out through the main gate.

Outside the Qian Yuan Hall was an empty square. There were only a few rows of short trees around, which did not provide any shade. The scorching sunlight shone down, as if a fire had been lit on his body.

The square was empty, and it was so quiet that you could hear a needle drop.

Zhou Zhengming stopped in the center of the square and suddenly felt a little lost—he didn't know where to go.

Elephant Heaven Peak did have a cave dwelling, but he had been away for many years and no one had taken care of it, so it was already deserted. Moreover, there were many senior elite disciples there, many of whom were of the 'Yuan' generation, and they simply looked down on him. Going there would only earn him contempt.

After thinking for a moment, he went to Lingxiao Peak instead.

Lingxiao Peak was where he had cultivated during the Qi Refining stage. After Wu Yuankui was trapped in the Mustard Seed Space, he had used Lingxiao Peak as his base for nearly twenty years, staying there for a period of time from time to time.

There were quite a few fellow disciples there who were familiar with him, but those who had entered Foundation Establishment like him had already gone to the inner sect, and those who had not entered Foundation Establishment naturally did not dare to associate with him, a Foundation Establishment "senior." Only Huo Xiaokai could he talk to.

However, he had left in a fit of anger back then, leaving Huo Xiaokai on Lingxiao Peak for more than thirty years without care. He didn't know if that sharp and aggressive young talent had now entered Foundation Establishment?

Zhou Zhengming flew on his sword, occasionally encountering outer sect disciples of the high level of Qi Refining. Most of them were in a hurry. Those who were far away flashed past, and those who were close came up to salute and greet him.

He nodded in response and did not put on the airs of a senior. Occasionally, he asked a few questions about the upcoming ascension of the new sect leader, but there was more worry than joy.

Obviously, even the Qi Refining disciples had noticed the abnormality in the sect and felt uneasy about the successive deaths of the two sect leaders.

Liu Yuanqing's ascension to the position of sect leader was scheduled for two months later. This arrangement was quite rushed. But considering the current situation, it really couldn't be delayed for too long, so it could only be handled simply.

Zhou Zhengming stood with his hands behind his back on the flying sword, looking out at the magnificent scenery of the mountain gate.

Towering peaks lined up like halberds, with layers upon layers of hills and valleys, mountains upon mountains, water winding around, lush and verdant. From time to time, he saw vines hanging from the cliffs, winding springs, deep streams, and rapids hitting rocks. He also heard the crane's cry in the light mist, the wild goose's cry in the light clouds, and the tiger's and leopard's snoring.

Passing over rugged mountain roads, exotic flowers, and blue lakes dotted like pearls among the mountains and fields, where aquatic plants thrived, deer roamed in pairs, and badgers and foxes were in twos. Occasionally, a few spiritual herbs attracted the fighting of demon beasts.

Countless scenes intertwined memory and reality, making him feel melancholy.

Zhou Zhengming flew sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly, and it took him several hours to fly to Lingxiao Peak.

At this time, it was already dusk, and the scorching sun had long hidden behind the evening clouds, dyeing a fiery red in the sky.

On the top of the peak, there was still unmelted snow, a pure white expanse.

He landed on the boulder, and a chill attacked him, making him feel a little cold. In an instant, he felt a sense of loneliness, alone and isolated.

Just as he was feeling sentimental, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him, coming without warning and completely beyond his perception.

He was slightly startled and quickly glanced at the person. He felt that the person's appearance was a little familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was for a moment. He didn't dare to look too much and quickly bowed and saluted, saying loudly, "Zhou Zhengming, a disciple of Elephant Heaven Peak, greets Elder."

The person stopped five zhang away and sighed softly, "It really is you. You must have heard the news that the new sect leader is about to take office and came back specially."

As soon as this voice came out, Zhou Zhengming felt as if he had been struck by lightning. After hesitating for a few breaths, he stammered and asked, "Elder, is, is your surname Zhang, Zhang?"

At the same time, he lowered his head to look at the eyes below and also glanced upwards, wanting to see the face of the person opposite him more clearly.

The person nodded and said, "My surname is Zhang. It seems that you have recognized me!"

Countless thoughts flashed through Zhou Zhengming's mind, and countless guesses arose, but his body shook, and he knelt on the ground, knocking hard on the boulder, crying out with joy, "Disciple Zhou Zhengming greets Uncle Zhang."