"Can the Sect Leader see the large stone in the distance?"
Xu Qing looked into the distance and indeed saw a protruding natural stone halfway down where a waterfall hung.
The stone split the rushing waterfall into two, only to reunite beneath it, creating a truly remarkable sight.
"There's a small cave beneath that stone, which is where I learned the Qitian Staff Technique back then."
Xu Qing's expression was indescribable; the sense of déjà vu that this small cave brought him was overwhelming.
Xuan Yu glanced at the waterfall, feeling somewhat 'wary' in his heart.
In normal circumstances, he would definitely choose to go around it and would never rush headfirst into the waterfall.
It's the cat's nature, even when possessing considerable magical power and having received the Water-Repelling Pearl from the Xu Immortal Family, Xuan Yu was still reluctant to dive into the water.
But upon hearing that there was also a Celestial Scripture inside, Xuan Yu instantly felt he had lost his instinctive fear of water.
At this point, just as Xuan Yu took out the Water-Repelling Pearl and was about to follow Xu Immortal's footsteps through the waterfall, he noticed that Xu Immortal was emanating a strong wave of water technique.
The next moment, the thousand-foot-high waterfall parted like a curtain, clearing a path for Xuan Yu to enter last with ease.
White Qiuyu, who had entered the cave first, looked on silently, implying that if you had such divine techniques to part water, why didn't you use them earlier before I came in?
Xu Qing ignored White Qiuyu's gaze. He looked up inside the cave, where he saw a different world, with green pine bridges, stone tables, stone chairs, and even a swing made of live vines. Though the cave was not large, it was remarkably well-arranged, resembling a home!
Xu Qing's expression became increasingly strange. He walked to the central green stone chair, only to find a stone tablet standing behind it, with large, cheeky characters inscribed: "Little Monkey Mountain Blessed Land, Little Water Curtain Cave Heaven."
"..."
After the Red-Tailed Monkey entered the cave, it was as if it had returned home; it knew the location of every object in the cave by heart.
"Sect Leader, try these wild fruits. They ripen once every three years, and it's just in time for autumn maturation—it's fate."
Xu Qing watched the Red-Tailed Monkey picking fruits and pouring tea with a smile on his face.
This monkey was indeed loyal and true, and the cave residence was fit for quiet cultivation, as an immortal's abode. Yet after learning the Qitian Staff Technique, the Red-Tailed Monkey resolutely left Central State and returned to Monkey Mountain.
The heart that remembers old friendships even after embarking on cultivation is truly rare and precious.
"Sect Leader, the Celestial Scripture is in the quiet chamber, but be wary—the scripture's owner has a rather eccentric personality. When I first dreamed of the place, I was scolded harshly by the scripture's owner..."
Xu Qing curiously asked, "How did he scold you?"
The Red-Tailed Monkey blushed and said with a hint of annoyance, "The scripture's owner called me as dumb as a pig, said it took me three days just to learn a staff technique, and that my Five Elements were incomplete and too honest—if I ever ascended, I'd be played with like a monkey..."
"..."
Xu Qing patted the Red-Tailed Monkey on the shoulder, comforting him, "Perhaps the scripture's owner was once played with like a monkey and wanted to share some advice—don't take it to heart. Besides, the Heaven-Reaching Road is broken now; even if the celestial beings wanted to play with you, they can't come down, can they?"
"True, even if I become immortal in the future, I'd rather be an unfettered Loose Immortal than a silly Heavenly Official in the sky."
Xu Qing quickly distanced himself, saying, "I don't think that way! Also, keep these words to yourself under any circumstances—don't share them outside!"
The Red-Tailed Monkey looked up in confusion—what did the Sect Leader mean? Why couldn't he speak the truth?
...
In the quiet chamber, Xu Qing burned incense and offered his respects.
Once he had performed the rites correctly without error, he focused on the irregularly flowing tadpole-like characters on the cave wall.
Having previous experience with the Celestial Scripture's reading, he took little time this time to decipher the runes' operating rules. When they were all guided by his mind and returned to their rightful place, Xu Qing only felt dizzy, and the scene suddenly changed!
When he opened his eyes again, he had arrived in a dilapidated Taoist temple.
The temple was shrouded in cobwebs and dust accumulated everywhere. Xu Qing concentrated his mind and focused on the plaque, only to see a twisted, shifting snake-like script, unable to make out the temple's true name no matter what.
Continuing inside, Xu Qing saw a thin figure in a gray robe, sitting cross-legged with his back to him on a meditation cushion in the grand hall. Facing him, enveloped in spider webs and obscuring the true face, was the statue of a Taoist immortal.
After pondering for a moment, Xu Qing suddenly bowed with his hands in greeting:
"Junior Xu Qing, sorry for disturbing senior's peace, I merely seek immortality and Dao. I've come to pay my respects with sincere heart, hoping for senior's guidance..."
After Xu Qing finished speaking, the thin figure, who sat motionless in deep meditation with all five hearts facing the sky, finally moved slightly.
"Seeking immortality and Dao?"
The person murmured, suddenly speaking, "Let me ask you, where are you from, and how did you find this place? Wait until you have explained that clearly before you pay your respects."
Xu Qing blinked, and the incense for blood reservoir worship spontaneously overflowed from his body, revealing a glimpse of the immense merit incense of the Cat Immortal Hall.
He replied, "I am a naturally born and raised scholar with no relatives, establishing an Immortal Hall and a small temple twenty years ago, loving cultivation and rescuing people all my life. Initially, it was to sow good karmic connections within mortal society and achieve some merit as a foundation for survival."
"..."
The gray-robed Taoist finally couldn't resist turning to look at Xu Qing, and upon seeing the 'little light person' submerged in merit incense, fell into deep silence.