Chapter 249

Chapter 249: Qing Yan of the Five Elements Dao Sect Pays a Visit
Su Ming nervously swallowed and secretly hated himself for not being able to control his mouth.

He was already less liked by his Master than his other Senior Brothers. Now he had gone too far and actually cursed right over his Master’s head. Master would definitely like him even less.

He lowered his head sadly and did not notice the flash of complicated emotion in Master Qing Yan’s eyes.

The stone that had tripped Su Ming was called Earthstone. It absorbed the world’s Spiritual Energy and gathered the essence of the earth element, making it an excellent material for Artifact Forging.

Because of its special traits, it could blend perfectly into any environment and was extremely hard to mine, so its price was always high.

If Su Ming had discovered the Earthstone after carefully searching the area, Master Qing Yan could have accepted it. But Su Ming had only dragged himself past here, weak and tired, and been tripped by the Earthstone hidden in the ground, discovering it by accident.

How was that any different from picking it up for free?

Master Qing Yan began to believe that the soul from another world had not been speaking without reason. Su Ming really seemed to have a strange talent for finding treasures.

Master Qing Yan handed the Earthstone back to him and said: “This is an Artifact Forging material called Earthstone. Since you found it, keep it safe.”

He was not the kind of person who would covet something that belonged to his own disciple.

Su Ming held the Earthstone in both hands, the corner of his eye twitching, unsure whether to be happy or worried.

Luckily, Master Qing Yan did not give him time to think. Like a willow leaf carried by the wind, he drifted away, though his speed clearly slowed down.

Su Ming took a deep breath and ran after Master Qing Yan’s figure.

Ten days passed in a flash.

They finally reached the destination of this trip.

Spirit Mountain.

Legend said it had once been the home of the phoenix before its Feathered Ascension to Immortality.

In this age when phoenixes and azure dragons had disappeared without a trace, Spirit Mountain had become the home of the White Peacock Clan.

The Chieftain of the White Peacock Clan was one of the rare Grand Adepts of the Demon Race in the Divine Transformation Stage, and among the Beast Clan, they were also the race most friendly to the Human Race.

After learning that he needed a Demon Race Grand Adept to guard Quan Ye’s bloodline awakening, the first people Master Qing Yan thought of were the White Peacock Clan of Spirit Mountain.

Su Ming was still standing by the roadside, gasping for breath, when he suddenly heard a long, clear cry.

He followed the sound with his eyes and saw a white peacock flapping its wings as it dove down from the top of the mountain.

Its white tail feathers shone with five-colored light, drawing a path in the air like a rainbow.

Su Ming’s eyes suddenly grew even wider. “A White Peacock?” he thought. Could this be Spirit Mountain, known as the Sacred Land of the Demon Race?

[Why did Master bring me here? Does he think I am too useless and plan to offer me as fertilizer to the Demonic Beasts of Spirit Mountain?]

Master Qing Yan had not said a single word yet, but Su Ming was already shaking with fear.

As the white peacock was about to land, its wings faded away and it turned into a young woman in white robes.

She walked up to Master Qing Yan and bowed respectfully as she said: “I did not know Honored One had arrived. I failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me.”

The young woman in white had a voice that was clear and pleasant, like a yellow warbler flying out of a valley, lingering in the air.

Master Qing Yan introduced himself in a calm voice: “Qing Yan of the Five Elements Dao Sect, here to pay a visit.”

The young woman in white became even more respectful as she said: “So it is Lord Qing Yan of the Five Elements Dao Sect. Please wait a moment. This junior will inform the Chieftain at once.”

A clear, distant voice drifted over: “Bai Mei, invite Master Qing Yan up the mountain for a talk.”

Bai Mei answered at once, then turned to Master Qing Yan and said: “Lord, please follow me.”

Master Qing Yan gave a slight nod.

Bai Mei stepped forward to lead the way, and Master Qing Yan walked after her.

While Su Ming was still in a daze, Bai Mei and Master Qing Yan had already almost walked out of the range of his Divine Sense.

He jumped in alarm and quickly hurried a few steps to catch up.

After he caught up with their pace, he slowed down and looked curiously at the scenery along the path.

Their arrival also drew the attention of the White Peacocks.

Every so often, a White Peacock would land on the crown of a tall tree, tilt its head to look at them, its round eyes moving nimbly as it glanced all around.

The scenery was as beautiful as a painting and soothed the restlessness in Su Ming’s heart.

Even so, he still could not understand why his Master had brought him along when visiting friends on Spirit Mountain.

With this doubt in his heart, the journey seemed much shorter.

Before long, they reached the top of the mountain.

There they saw a man in a splendid white robe, a jade crown on his head, standing with his hands behind his back, facing away from them.

Bai Mei stepped forward to salute as she said: “Chieftain, Lord Qing Yan has arrived.”

The man in white turned around, revealing a face as bright as spring flowers and as clear as the autumn moon.

Su Ming only took one look, and his ears turned red.

People always said the peacock clan produced many beauties. Seeing it today, it was truly not an empty claim.

Bai Mei was already a rare beauty, pure and elegant, but beside the Clan Chief of the White Peacock Clan, she seemed dim.

Bai Ling looked at Master Qing Yan, the corners of his lips curving into a small smile as he greeted him: “Qing Yan, it has been many years. I hope you have been well.”

With that smile, his whole face shone even more.

Su Ming’s face burned hotter, his heart pounding faster and faster, his mind turning into a blank.

Master Qing Yan glanced at Bai Ling and said calmly: “Bai Ling, stop using these little tricks in front of me.”

His tone hardly rose or fell, but no one dared to take it lightly.

Bai Ling’s expression froze for a moment, then he quickly returned to normal and said with ease: “I was only joking. Do not take it seriously.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Ming suddenly woke from his muddled state. Realizing what had just happened, he felt a wave of fear in his heart and no longer dared to openly look straight at Bai Ling.

Bai Ling waved his hand to send Bai Mei away. Once there was no fourth person around them, he spoke directly: “Qing Yan, you never come here without a reason. Tell me, why have you come?”

Master Qing Yan did not waste words. He drew his right hand across the air, and the sleeping Quan Ye appeared, laid flat in front of Bai Ling, as he said: “Save him.”

Bai Ling laughed and shook his head with a sigh as he said: “Qing Yan, if you are asking for help, you should at least show the attitude of someone asking.”

It was only thanks to his good temper. If it had been any of those hot-tempered fellows, today would not have ended without a big fight.

Master Qing Yan’s face remained expressionless as he said: “Check his condition first.”

Seeing that he was serious, Bai Ling smiled gently again and sent his Divine Sense into Quan Ye’s body.

The next moment, the careless look on his face disappeared at once.

“This is…” he murmured.

As if he could not believe it, he placed his hand on Quan Ye’s wrist and examined him from inside out, from head to toe.

Su Ming was not a stupid person.

Seeing Bai Ling’s expression change with his own eyes, he formed a vague guess in his heart.

The shock made his scalp tingle, and he could not calm down for a long time.

After who knew how long, Bai Ling pulled his gaze away from Quan Ye and looked at Master Qing Yan’s cold face.

He asked: “Who is he?”

Master Qing Yan answered lightly: “Quan Ye, fifth among my Personal Disciples.”

In his heart, Bai Ling thought to himself that it was just as he had guessed.

Other than his own disciples, there was probably no one else worth Qing Yan coming in person.

Bai Ling asked: “When did you learn his identity, and why did you not bring him earlier?”

Master Qing Yan’s brows drew together slightly, but he still answered with patience: “Fourteen years ago.”

After a pause, he added: “Quan Ye has only been cultivating for twenty years.”

At first glance, the second answer Master Qing Yan gave seemed to have nothing to do with the question, but in fact it was a gentle reply.

It was not that he had been careless. It was that Quan Ye’s cultivation speed in recent years had broken all common rules.

According to his calculations, Quan Ye should have needed at least three more years before awakening.

Quan Ye awakening early had caught him completely off guard.