Qingshui Bay.
It is also the nearest gathering place for cultivators to the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, under the jurisdiction of the Li Huo Palace.
And Master Lu lived here.
Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu set off for Qingshui Bay mainly because of the little Commandery Princess, who was part of their original group of four who joined Li Huo Palace.
Due to sect missions outside, she could not return in time to offer her respects.
This time, the little Commandery Princess returned to the market to pay tribute to Elder Lu and also invited them for a gathering.
"Brother Lin, we're almost at Qingshui Bay."
The two rode on spiritual steeds, which are demon beasts tamed, and as a son-in-law of the Zhou Family proficient in Beast Taming, Erniu borrowing two steeds was not difficult.
However, because of his son-in-law status, Li Erniu still needed to report his departure to the family.
...
Several days later.
In the early morning, when the sky was still gray, the crisp sound of horse hooves appeared on the street.
"Brother Lin, we're here."
The two dismounted and saw the Qingshui Bay Market, built by the bay.
Unlike Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, Qingshui Bay was a bit quieter and less bustling.
Before entering the market, they first took out their Identity Jade Tokens, also known as travel permits, and entered through the array.
Seeing the familiar scenes, the two felt nostalgic, remembering when they were eliminated twenty years ago and brought here by Master Lu, who taught them for two months before introducing them to the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market.
The two arrived at Master Lu's former residence.
After Elder Lu passed away half a year ago, the place became even quieter, but today, for some reason, many people were present.
Entering the main hall, they saw Elder Lu's memorial tablet.
Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu, solemnly offered incense with a grave expression.
Twenty years, gone in the blink of an eye.
Elder Lu practiced the Chang Chun Skill, living to the age of one hundred and twenty-eight, a rare longevity in the Immortal Cultivation Realm.
"Brother Lin, Brother Li."
"Brother Shen."
Seeing the newcomer, Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu's eyes lit up, and they immediately stepped forward to greet him with cupped hands.
After the three met, Shen Lie, the once Young Marquis, showed no airs but instead nostalgically pulled the two aside to reminisce.
"Brother Shen, why are there so many people today?"
There weren't this many people at Elder Lu's funeral, but today it seemed like they were attending a funeral, which made Lin Chang'an show a strange expression.
Erniu, not yet understanding, looked at Shen Lie puzzledly.
Hearing this, Shen Lie couldn't help but sneer and secretly transmitted to them:
"What else? They heard the little Commandery Princess was coming to pay tribute to Elder Lu, so they all showed up."
Suddenly Li Erniu understood, while Lin Chang'an remained serene.
"I see."
Hearing this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but recall the little Commandery Princess who used to pretend to be an adult but was actually just a delicate little girl.
Yun Yao, an inner disciple of the Li Huo Palace.
With top-grade spirit root and high water attribute affinity, it was rumored she was just a step away from reaching Earth Spirit Root qualifications.
In a major sect like Li Huo Palace, it might not count as an unparalleled genius, but for cultivators like them, she was beyond reach.
The original four were the Commandery Princess Yun Yao, the Young Marquis Shen Lie, the Prince Mansion's swordsmanship expert Lin Chang'an, and the peasant boy Li Erniu.
"Now the little Commandery Princess is inside with Little Junior Sister, and these people are using the tribute as an excuse."
At this time, Shen Lie couldn't help but curl his lips in disdain. The way they acted was somewhat unsightly, but there was nothing to be done about it.
The so-called Little Junior Sister was actually Elder Lu's granddaughter.
"Never imagined, Brother Lin and Brother Li both broke through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation."
The Young Marquis Shen Lie sighed deeply, showing no disdain at all, while Lin Chang'an shook his head and respectfully said:
"We can't compare to Brother Shen."
Shen Lie's cultivation was already at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
Among the three, Lin Chang'an was the eldest, followed by Erniu, and Shen Lie was the youngest, but in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, strength was what mattered.
Thus, they called him Brother Shen out of respect.
"Can't believe twenty years have passed since then."
Back then, all three had low-grade spirit roots and were all rejected; the difference was Shen Lie had connections, and access to cultivation resources was far beyond their reach.
After all, behind the mortal realms' dynasties were the major sects.
While the three of them were quietly discussing stories from these past years, the once quiet courtyard became visibly crowded.
One might think Elder Lu had just passed.
"Brother Shen, Elder Lu he…"
One cultivator after another entered, building connections.
Some nostalgically mentioned past benefits received from Master Lu, while others shamelessly claimed they were also led onto the Immortal Path by him.
They were classmates, in a way.
The disdainful look on Young Marquis Shen Lie had vanished, replaced by a smooth charm in conversing with the crowd.
"It's said Yun Commandery Princess is already a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator, preparing for Foundation Establishment, with a high chance to become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."
Secluded Lin Chang'an spoke to Erniu, who, after listening, couldn't help but show envy.
It made sense why so many came today.
Their peers in crossing into the Immortal Path, now one is preparing for Foundation Establishment while they just broke into the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.
That's the difference in spirit root quality.
"The Commandery Princess and Little Junior Sister are coming out."
As the inner room opened, the gathered crowd outside halted their private conversations for connecting.
Lu Qingqing appeared as a delicate and refined maiden, but the figure next to her caught everyone's attention.
"Thank you all for coming."
The voice was cold yet carried an innate nobility.
Commandery Princess Yun Yao, clad in simple attire, had eyebrows like sharp peaks, a pure and beautiful face, her majestic presence revealing an underlying sadness.
The once dainty girl had transformed dramatically.
Seeing this scene, Lin Chang'an had a wave of emotion.
"Fairy, you're too polite."
"Mr. Yun, you're too polite."
The titles for the little Commandery Princess varied among the crowd.
Many shamelessly called her Junior Sister Yun, thanks to Elder Lu's guiding grace.
Others who shared gratitude for Elder Lu, called her Fairy or a friend.
They each had their excuses; some claimed they didn't know because of demon hunting, others because of closed-door cultivation.
Yun Yao and the rest couldn't say much since she too couldn't come due to sect missions.
However, Yun Yao's profound cultivation and youthfulness from practicing a water attribute cultivation technique meant no one called her senior sister, rather choosing friend or fairy often.
Those present were not young, and the title of Commandery Princess was merely one used among their original group of four.
Under the guise of paying tribute to Elder Lu, how much was genuine or false remained unknown.
With Yun Yao, a late-stage Qi Refining Li Huo Palace Inner Disciple presiding, what was supposed to be a simple tribute turned lively.
It once again showed Lin Chang'an the reality of the Immortal Cultivation Realm.
Until the exchanges for building connections concluded, the place returned to the former tranquility.
Finally, it was the Young Marquis Shen Lie who secretly called to them.
"Brother Lin, Brother Erniu, the Commandery Princess invites us for a gathering at the Gathering Immortals Tower."
"Alright."
Initially, their trip to pay tribute to Elder Lu was due to Shen Lie's letter saying the little Commandery Princess invited them.
They intended to establish contact.
After all, sect cultivators, especially a late-stage Qi Refining one, would be beneficial for them to connect with.
Though already aware, Erniu was visibly uneasy.
Back then, he had the lowest status, and now facing the Commandery Princess planning for Foundation Establishment.
The positional disparity not only remained but grew larger.
Seeming to notice Erniu's unease, the Young Marquis Shen Lie said with a smile:
"The little Commandery Princess seems cold, but she's very nice. We agreed to meet once every five years, yet you two were far at Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market.
And I traveled with the royal lineage's cultivators, and Yun Commandery Princess was within the sect, so none had time, and this time is a rare reunion."
With the Young Marquis Shen Lie's explanation, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but recall the scene after failing the assessment.
Entering the Immortal Cultivation Realm, four young ones from different status levels seemed to cast aside mortal identities, reluctantly parting with a five-year reunion promise.
But later, the four walked hard paths in cultivation, mostly exchanging letters, and the reunions were just youthful ignorance.
The Immortal Cultivation Realm forces one's hand, especially separated by vast distances.