Chapter 476: Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land

At this moment, Ji Yuan, Ju Yuanzi, and others, who were perceived as masters by onlookers, found their own mindsets to be quite complex and nuanced.

Ji Yuan felt the Immortal Ascension Assembly was finally drawing near. While aboard the Xuanyinfu's flying vessel, he remained calm, but once disembarked, a growing sense of anticipation and excitement began to surge within him. After all, it was a renowned cultivation assembly. Would he meet genuine immortal masters? Would he encounter the author of *A Journey Through Dreams in the Clouds*? How many profound and mystical arts would he witness? He hoped to experience everything he anticipated.

For the disciples of Mount Yuhuai, their feelings were equally complex. They had not attended the Immortal Ascension Assembly in several previous iterations, and cultivators from their sect had previously caused disturbances during the Dao discussion segments. True Sages like Yangming and Qiufeng from Mount Yuhuai were considered juniors in the presence of Ju Yuanzi and had never participated in the Immortal Ascension Assembly. As for the disciples, it went without saying they were brimming with excitement, though also feeling a degree of apprehension stemming from past events and the unfamiliarity of the occasion. As for Ju Yuanzi, having lived for many years and with his cultivation at the pinnacle of Mount Yuhuai, his state of mind was vastly different. Past incidents and the uncertainties of the Immortal Ascension Assembly were trivial matters to him; his heart remained undisturbed. While Ji Yuan appeared calm, Ju Yuanzi was genuinely serene.

"Mr. Ji, let us first call upon Nine Peaks Mountain. They will arrange our accommodations. Of course, should we find them unsatisfactory, we are free to seek lodging elsewhere."

Ji Yuan readily agreed to Ju Yuanzi's suggestion, nodding his assent.

Their gazes lingered on the market at Ruanshan Ferry as they made their way towards a highly prominent building on the pier. A red banner floated above it, emblazoned with radiant characters: "Ascension Pavilion." Onlookers, seeing Ji Yuan and his group approach the building and be greeted by Nine Peaks Mountain cultivators at the entrance, immediately recognized them as true orthodox cultivators — those who held invitations to the Immortal Ascension Assembly.

A moment later, a blue-robed cultivator from Nine Peaks Mountain led Ji Yuan and the Mount Yuhuai group out of the Ascension Pavilion. With a flick of his sleeve, he conjured a colossal willow leaf that expanded before their eyes, taking on the size of a small boat.

"Fellow Daoists, please board the Green Leaf Boat. While my Nine Peaks Mountain spiritual domain lies within Ruanshan, it is also beyond it. As you may not be familiar with the path, allow me to escort you to the mountain for rest."

"Indeed, we appreciate your efforts!"

Ju Yuanzi offered a polite acknowledgment and was the first to step onto the green leaf, with Ji Yuan and the others following closely behind.

The Nine Peaks Mountain cultivators had mistaken Ji Yuan for a member of Mount Yuhuai. Ji Yuan chose not to correct them, as it saved him the trouble of being individually asked for an invitation, which he did not possess and would then have to obtain from the flying vessel attendant who had invited him years ago. It was simply more convenient this way.

However, just as Ji Yuan's front foot landed on the Green Leaf Boat and before his other foot had fully boarded, he heard someone calling his name from a distance.

"Mr. Ji... Mr. Ji... Is that truly Mr. Ji?"

The voice sounded familiar, yet also somewhat foreign, which was perplexing. Ji Yuan's hearing was exceptionally acute; he rarely forgot a sound he had heard. Not only human voices, but he could even identify every dog he'd ever heard by its bark. He had never before encountered a voice that felt both familiar and utterly strange.

Ji Yuan frowned and turned his head toward the source of the voice. His eyes widened slightly as he saw a man, whose every detail seemed to exude spiritual essence, hurrying towards him. The man wore a pale yellow robe, a small coronet adorned with a golden hairpin, and his face was alight with pleasant surprise.

Attracted by the calls, the Nine Peaks Mountain cultivator and the Mount Yuhuai group naturally paused their actions and turned to look at the newcomer.

Soon, the man reached Ji Yuan, extended his arms in a gesture of deference, and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, performing a grand salutation.

"Greetings, Mr. Ji! I never imagined it would truly be you. My master even said you surely wouldn't come here, hahaha, he'll be overjoyed to see you!"

Ji Yuan's heart stirred at the words, though his expression remained neutral. He nodded subtly at the speaker but said nothing. The man smiled, and only after straightening from his bow did he speak.

"Sir, you likely do not recognize me, do you?"

Ji Yuan chuckled lightly. He recalled someone — in the entire world, there was perhaps only one individual whose voice he might not recognize after hearing it, provided they hadn't used any divine transformations. The person before him clearly wasn't employing any such power.

"Your Majesty has certainly acquired a splendid new form!"

The middle-aged man paused for a moment, then his smile broadened.

"As expected of Mr. Ji, you recognized me without any hint! Yang Zong is utterly impressed! However, sir, please refrain from using that title; you may dare to utter it, but I would not dare to accept it!"

Seeing Yang Zong in a middle-aged form, Ji Yuan inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. He had genuinely feared that a small child in a bellyband might appear; that, he admitted, would have been a bit much for him to handle.

Dispelling the amusing thought, Ji Yuan glanced around. Since Yang Zong was present, the old beggar shouldn't be far off, yet he didn't spot him. The beggar likely hadn't seen him either, or he would have approached.

"Where is your master?"

"Master is at Nine Peaks Mountain. My senior brother and I came to wander the market here at Ruanshan Ferry. I never expected to encounter you, sir. Yang Zong would never forget your great benevolence. Without you and my esteemed master, I would not be where I am today!"

The old emperor had indeed undergone a complete rebirth, achieving great enlightenment in the face of life and death. His personality was now vastly different from before. Coupled with his new body, fashioned from lotus roots, it was no wonder Ji Yuan's exceptionally acute hearing failed to recognize his voice. Recalling that the man's physical body had been recreated from lotus roots, Ji Yuan couldn't help but scan Yang Zong's joints, a mischievous thought crossing his mind: would he frequently break his limbs?

"Pardon me, Mr. Ji, but who is this gentleman?"

Ju Yuanzi was unsure of the man's identity and why Mr. Ji had addressed him as "Your Majesty."

Ji Yuan smiled, gesturing towards Yang Zong, whose spiritual countenance had profoundly changed.

"Fellow Daoist Ju, this is the former Emperor of Dazhen, Emperor Yuande, Yang Zong."

"Hm? Emperor Yuande?"

"Emperor Yuande!"

"What?!"

"Didn't Emperor Yuande pass away?"

Ju Yuanzi and the entire Mount Yuhuai group exclaimed in astonishment, while the Nine Peaks Mountain cultivator standing by remained unperturbed, observing the scene intently without urging them on.

Yang Zong promptly bowed to everyone present.

"Yang Zong greets all immortal elders and seniors. You are correct; Emperor Yuande has indeed passed away. Now, I am merely Yang Zong!"

After his initial astonishment, Ju Yuanzi's eyes suddenly flickered, and a possibility dawned on him: the reshaping of a physical body, a complete re-creation of one's being.

'What an extraordinary feat!'

"Junior brother... junior brother... why are you running so fast? I can barely keep up!"

From behind, another voice familiar to Ji Yuan emerged. A boy, appearing to be roughly the same age as Wei Yuansheng, hurried over, clutching a steaming packet wrapped in a lotus leaf. Though he had grown taller and his clothes were clean, Ji Yuan, upon seeing him, still recognized the little beggar from years past.

"Junior brother, if you keep running off like that, next time I won't bring..." The boy abruptly halted mid-sentence, swallowed the food in his mouth with a gulp, and stared at Ji Yuan with wide eyes.

"Xiao You, do you not recognize me?"

"Mr. Ji! You've come to the Immortal Ascension Assembly too? How wonderful! Now my junior brother and I have another familiar face!" With that, Lu Xiaoyou offered the lotus leaf packet in his hand to Ji Yuan.

"Sir, please try these hawthorn glutinous rice dumplings, fresh from the pot!"

Ji Yuan accepted without hesitation, smiling as he plucked one and put it in his mouth to chew.

"Fellow Daoists, I suggest we first settle down at Nine Peaks Mountain. How about we then catch up on old times?"

The Nine Peaks Mountain cultivator finally spoke. Encounters with old acquaintances were common during the Immortal Ascension Assembly; many cultivators possessed long lifespans, and it was not unusual for old friends to reunite after decades or even centuries.

"Mr. Ji, please go ahead. My senior brother and I will return to find Master and inform him of your arrival."

Ji Yuan nodded and stepped onto the green leaf boat. The Nine Peaks Mountain cultivator then cast a spell, ascending the vessel into the sky. While it moved forward, its altitude continuously increased. Ji Yuan turned his head to observe the direction the flying vessel was heading. With his Dharma Eyes fully open, he could vaguely discern nine colossal mountain peaks suspended high in the deep mists and clouds.

Below, at Ruanshan Ferry, Lu Xiaoyou and Yang Zong maintained their respectful bowing posture until Ji Yuan was out of sight before straightening up.

"Master will certainly be pleased when he learns... right?"

"Hmm, or perhaps, rather complicated..."

"Sigh!"

Having spent years together, the two brothers understood each other quite well and couldn't help but sigh. Of course, overall, their master would undoubtedly be more pleased.

The Green Leaf Boat traveled swiftly, moving far from Ruanshan Ferry in mere moments. After piercing through the hazy, mist-like clouds, Ji Yuan and the others beheld the true entrance to Nine Peaks Mountain.

Nine colossal mountain peaks stood in a row, varying slightly in height but largely similar. They boasted green hills and clear waters, yet hung suspended in the clouds, already standing above them. Still, faint white clouds accompanied the peaks above, and some summits shimmered with rainbows. Flying birds glided and immortals moved through, clearly indicating a divine abode.

"Fellow Daoists, that is the entrance to my Nine Peaks Mountain. The nine peaks stand united, revealed in the clouds—both here and not here. Upon arrival, each of you will receive a token. Without this token, entry to the mountain gate is impossible, so please ensure you do not misplace it."

The cultivator's demeanor had consistently been polite, but now, he could scarcely conceal the pride he felt as a disciple of Nine Peaks Mountain. The Nine Peaks Holy Land, with its infinite profound methods and ability to host the Immortal Ascension Assembly, commanded immense prestige. While cultivators generally harbored few worldly desires and were unmoved by mortal wealth, such hard-won prestige was a source of pride for anyone.

This was Ju Yuanzi's first visit to Nine Peaks Mountain, and it was also the mountain's inaugural hosting of the Immortal Ascension Assembly.

*Swish! Swish! Swish!* Streaks of light flashed by as several young and youthful cultivators rode their swords, their joyous laughter echoing into the distance.

"Hahahahaha... I'm the fastest!"

"You fly your swords as slow as turtles!"

"Watch me catch you!"

"Don't run!"

The voices faded into the distance. The sword lights, sometimes moving straight and other times spiraling, left behind intricate, intertwined trails, fully showcasing the mystical mastery of sword riding. Merely observing the agile techniques, Ji Yuan felt a pang of self-reproach, realizing his own inferiority.

'These are truly miraculous and sacred sights; this journey was well worth it!'