Chapter 1

Mountains are famed not for their height, but for the immortals that dwell within.

Lequan Mountain, renowned within a five-hundred-mile radius, isn't the most precipitous or magnificent of peaks. Its fame stems from being the location of the immortal cultivation sect, the Green Mountain Sect.

In particular, the presence of the Green Mountain Daoist makes this place the focus of attention from all directions.

The Green Mountain Daoist is the founding patriarch of the Green Mountain Sect, having lived for five hundred autumns. He is regarded by villagers and common folk as a living immortal on Lequan Mountain. Many children are sent to the Green Mountain Sect from a young age, hoping to receive guidance from the Green Mountain Daoist and cultivate a sliver of the art of immortality.

However, the Green Mountain Daoist is extremely strict in accepting disciples, and has only taken in a few over the years. The Green Mountain Sect still has a sparse number of disciples, numbering only a few hundred, but its reputation continues to attract attention, and all disciples are proud to be members of the Green Mountain Sect.

It was early morning when Zhang Ji returned.

The dew on the tips of the grass had not yet dried, and the morning sun cast a golden light, coating Lequan Mountain with a layer of shimmering divine light, making it appear particularly sacred.

On the winding path up the mountain to the Green Mountain Sect, a disciple spotted Zhang Ji from afar and joyfully shouted, "Senior Brother Zhang, the sect leader, is back! Senior Brother Zhang, the sect leader, is back!"

It was a female disciple, and her voice was particularly piercing, spreading in all directions.

Instantly.

Figures flickered on Lequan Mountain, and many disciples surged down the mountain, their faces filled with joy and excitement.

Some of them were already old men in their twilight years, others were middle-aged women, and still others were young people with youthful faces, curiously watching Zhang Ji. Clearly, they had only recently joined the sect and did not yet recognize Zhang Ji.

A woman resembling a mature beauty emerged from the crowd, gazing at Zhang Ji with fervent eyes and a radiant expression, her gaze carrying a hint of shyness, as well as joy, and said:

"Senior Brother, if you hadn't come back, we would have had to go to Evil Wind Sea to find you. You've been gone for three months, and everyone is very worried about you."

Her tone was scolding, but in reality it was full of concern, and even a bit of coquetry.

Zhang Ji recognized her as the Green Mountain Sect's senior sister, his junior sister, named Liu Qingzhu.

Her face wasn't as beautiful as the Red-Clothed Holy Maiden, nor was her skin as fair as the Blood Demoness, but she had a pair of extremely sexy long legs.

These were long legs that even the Blood Demoness admired.

Round, slender, sexy, and enchanting, without the slightest bit of excess fat, accentuating her curvaceous buttocks and waist even more, forcefully making her the number one beauty and visual focus of the Green Mountain Sect.

At this moment, standing in front of the Blood Demoness, she vaguely had an aura of vying with the sun and moon for radiance, causing the Blood Demoness to be secretly astonished that in this remote little sect, there was actually such a beauty, enough to be listed on the Yunshan Beauty Roll.

And she was also Zhang Ji's most ardent pursuer.

During the days when Zhang Ji went to the Evil Wind Sea, she would come to the mountain path every day to take a look, to see if Zhang Ji had returned. That’s why she saw Zhang Ji as soon as he came back today.

Zhang Ji met her gaze, and suddenly had a feeling of seeing the Green Lotus Snake Woman. He couldn't help but reach out a gentle hand to touch her head, and smiled, "I'm back, so you don't have to worry anymore."

She rolled her cute big eyes and looked up at Zhang Ji's large hand touching her head, seemingly unable to believe that Zhang Ji would actually make such an intimate gesture towards her, and felt both happy and joyful in her heart.

But when she noticed the teasing gazes of the surrounding senior brothers and sisters, she suddenly blushed with shyness, pinched the corner of her clothes and stamped her foot, saying, "Senior Brother, there are so many people watching..."

All around, the other senior brothers and sisters of the Green Mountain Sect burst into laughter. She couldn't help it any longer, covered her red face and ran up the mountain.

Zhang Ji couldn't help but smile.

All along, he had been drinking blood and eating flesh, killing people like cutting grass. Anyone he didn't like, he would swallow in one bite. All creatures, including humans, were evolution points on his path forward. He had not felt such a warm and harmonious atmosphere as today for a long time.

His heart was actually filled with a rare sense of peace and serenity, and even that strand of the Tiger Aspect Spiritual Platform's mental power had actually grown stronger by a trace.

Zhang Ji was slightly surprised.

"Senior Brother, the sect leader, you're finally back. The old man has been waiting for you for a long time, saying he has something to tell you."

The third junior brother said. This was a middle-aged man, named Chen Haishan, with a slightly dull expression, an honest and straightforward personality, self-disciplined and serious, and never smiled.

When everyone was laughing just now, he was the only one who didn't laugh.

Zhang Ji nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go over now."

He raised his foot and walked towards the mountain, and the disciples quickly made way. Seeing the Blood Demoness and the Tibetan Mastiff following closely beside him, they were all curious.

Especially the Blood Demoness, with her innate charm and allure, every frown and smile moved people's hearts. At this moment, she only gave a polite smile to the disciples of the Green Mountain Sect, but many male disciples still had nosebleeds on the spot and retreated while covering their noses.

The third junior brother, Chen Haishan, reprimanded these embarrassing junior brothers. He treated the Blood Demoness as Zhang Ji's guest and invited her to rest in the guest hall on the mountain.

"Senior Brother, what about this dog?" Chen Haishan was a little unsure.

Niu Dazhi also looked at Zhang Ji anxiously and nervously. He was afraid that Zhang Ji would abandon him. Being by Zhang Ji's side in this dangerous world was safer.

Zhang Ji said without stopping his steps, "It's my pet, named Xiao Hei. Just leave it here at the mountain gate, build a kennel for it, and let it guard the house."

Niu Dazhi was stunned when he heard this, and prostrated on the ground with a face full of grievance.

Snake Lord really thinks of me as a dog!

He couldn't help but think of the white-haired husky raised by Commander Hu San. He seemed to be the same as it at this moment.

The mountain road was narrow, and weeds sprouted from the cracks in the stone steps.

On both sides were gardens and pavilions, and the fruits and vegetables planted by the disciples grew lushly. When Zhang Ji passed by, a female disciple was picking cucumbers while carrying a vegetable basket. When she saw Zhang Ji, she quickly handed him one with a smile.

"Please try it, Senior Brother!"

The buildings were all relatively old, and green sandalwood grew on the eaves. The only thing that looked relatively new was a large hall in the mountainside square, which seemed to have just been renovated, with new roof tiles and a lingering woody fragrance.

Behind the side of the hall was a mountainside waterfall spring, with the sound of rushing water.

An old Daoist in green robes was sitting cross-legged by the spring, fishing. He had his back to Zhang Ji, wearing a bamboo hat, and his aura was as plain as that of an ordinary person. Moreover, he was full of decay and death, and his lifespan was indeed exhausted, and his days were numbered.

Zhang Ji saw him and recognized that this old Daoist was his master, the Green Mountain Daoist.

Many years ago, he had accepted him and the Red-Clothed Holy Maiden as disciples. Later, the Red-Clothed Holy Maiden had entered the more powerful Moon Yao Ancient Land, and Zhang Ji was still cultivating in the Green Mountain Sect because of his ordinary physique.

Now, he was highly respected and had become the sect leader of the Green Mountain Sect.

In the Green Mountain Sect, besides the Green Mountain Daoist, he was the number one, and was highly respected and loved by the disciples.

"You're back?..." A hoarse and vicissitudinous voice came over.

"I'm back!..." A young and steady voice replied.

"Sit down! Keep me company to fish!"

"Okay!"

Zhang Ji sat down beside the Green Mountain Daoist. He didn't have much emotion for this old Daoist. The previous owner of the body might have, but this ferocious and cold-blooded king cobra was very indifferent.

After sitting down, there was nothing to say.

The mountain cliff waterfall cascaded down, splashing white water and stirring, wetting the corners of the Green Mountain Daoist's clothes, and the steaming mist fell on his white beard, dropping strands of mist beads.

His cheekbones were very high, his face was full of wrinkles like elm bark, and there were many age spots. He was a very thin old man, fishing with his eyes closed, and the blood vessels on the back of his hand holding the fishing rod were as thick and black as earthworms.

The wind blew, and the mist drifted. He remained motionless, his breathing calm and peaceful, as if he had completely integrated into this world.

Zhang Ji looked at him, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart. It seemed that the old Daoist existed, and yet he didn't.

He used the mental power of the Tiger Aspect Spiritual Platform to sense him, but there was nothing in front of him.

Zhang Ji couldn't help but feel horrified in his heart. A scarlet light flashed in his eyes. This old Daoist's cultivation was definitely as powerful as the heavens. He was clearly right in front of him, but he seemed to be in another world. Even the Tiger Aspect Spiritual Platform's perception couldn't sense his existence.

~

Chapter 2

"Usually, eat more vegetables and less meat. Eating too much meat is not good for the body!"

The old Daoist suddenly said something inexplicable.

Zhang Ji was stunned for a moment, and replied: "My teeth are good, and my appetite is also okay, eating meat doesn't affect me."

The old Daoist sighed when he heard this: "Young people are still stubborn. This old man was just as stubborn as you back then, but in the end, he ran into a bloody mess. Only then did he understand what my master meant by this sentence back then."

Zhang Ji said: "People are different, and the roads are different. Until the end, no one knows what the scenery on the other side of the road is like."

The old Daoist was silent, shook the fishing rod, and continued to fish.

Zhang Ji sat cross-legged next to him, keeping him company to fish.

The sun set and the moon rose, and the bright moonlight sprinkled on the waterfall spring, and the sparkling water was like broken silver beads. Two figures were reflected in it, one old and one young, shaking with the waves.

The third senior brother, Chen Haishan, and the second senior sister, Liu Qingzhu, came several times behind them, prepared meals, but quietly retreated when they saw this scene, not daring to disturb them.

The Blood Demoness wanted to slip away quietly, but every time she walked to the mountain gate, she felt a surge of fear in her heart, as if there were invisible eyes staring at her on the mountain.

She was so scared that she obediently came back.

A spacious kennel was built next to the stone tablet at the foot of the mountain. Niu Dazhi was lying in the kennel with his chin resting on his paws, sleeping and drooling, and he was still muttering "Little sister, give grandpa another one" in his mouth. A passing disciple heard it. Could this dog actually speak human language?

He was so scared that he ran up the mountain.

With the return of Zhang Ji, the sect leader, the Green Mountain Sect became more harmonious and peaceful, and the disciples practiced in an orderly manner.

The Blood Demoness was bored and casually gave some pointers to several disciples who were practicing. Her cultivation and knowledge as a Heavenly Human Realm half-saint benefited everyone a lot, and many bottlenecks in cultivation suddenly became clear, and their cultivation improved.

Even Chen Haishan was given guidance and broke through a small realm, and his respect for her grew even more.

The Blood Demoness was outstanding in appearance, and her appearance was like a fairy. After restraining her arrogance and charm, the rest of the disciples liked her, and they were all guessing whether she was the little lover of the sect leader, and the two of them might have already practiced dual cultivation. Some people even called her the sect leader's wife.

When Liu Qingzhu heard this, she was depressed and sulked for several days and couldn't eat.

"Crash~"

The silver line shook, and a golden dragon fish was pulled out of the spring. The fish tail fell into the fish basket with a splash of water, but it was still restless, jumping up and down trying to escape.

"Mischievous!"

The Green Mountain Daoist spat out a word, and with a flick of his finger, the golden dragon fish immediately rolled its eyes and died instantly.

"After I die, steam this fish at my grave, add more green onions, ginger, and garlic, less salt, and set up a preservation formation to keep it fresh for a thousand years, so that I can smell the aroma even a thousand years underground."

"Okay, I'll remember it."

"I love listening to the songs of the Thousand Sounds Holy Maiden. After I die, use the best recording stone to record her songs, put them in my coffin, and play them in a loop. I want to listen to them underground for ten thousand years."

"Okay, as long as the world doesn't perish in ten thousand years, you can listen as much as you want."

Zhang Ji nodded in agreement, and the Green Mountain Daoist showed a kind smile, dropped the fishing rod, closed his eyes and said, "The time has come, I'm leaving."

"Remember to dig me out and dry me in the sun after ten thousand years, I might be resurrected!"

He suddenly said this, his eyes became deep and terrifying, and the light of the sun, moon, and stars faintly circulated. He stared at Zhang Ji's eyes, and seemed to see that ray of red snake shadow, but he didn't show any surprise at all, as if he had known all this for a long time.

"Calling you back is to pass on my strongest technique to you."

"What technique?"

"《Nine Deaths Profound Art》, also called 《Undying Art》, don't ask how strong it is, just look at me and you'll know. Okay, this time I'm really leaving..."

After saying that, his head drooped and he immediately died.

Zhang Ji was about to ask where the Nine Deaths Profound Art was, but he saw two yin-yang fish-like profound lights flying out from the old Daoist's chest, one cyan and one black.

Cyan represents vitality, and black represents death.

The two energies of life and death converged to form a yin-yang fish shape, which fell on Zhang Ji's chest. In an instant, a mysterious light rose from Zhang Ji's body.

A light flashed in his eyes, and he hurriedly sat down to comprehend it.

Unconsciously, his aura became somewhat similar to that of the old Daoist. He seemed to be in this world, but in perception, this place was empty.

The night passed, and dawn arrived.

There was an extra grave next to the waterfall spring, with a stele inscribed "Tomb of the Green Mountain Daoist". There were no flowers or fruits on the grave, only a plate of steamed fish, with more green onions, ginger, and garlic, less salt, and a dense preservation formation to maintain the fragrance of the food for a thousand years.

The Thousand Sounds Holy Maiden had not yet been found, and there was no chance to record the songs for the time being. Zhang Ji could only hum a song "Wolf Falls in Love with Sheep" and record it before starting the loop playback mode and burying it in the old Daoist's grave.

"I don't sing well, so please bear with it for the time being. When I find the Thousand Sounds Holy Maiden in the future, I will record her songs for you." Zhang Ji whispered in front of the grave.

The 《Nine Deaths Profound Art》 that the old Daoist passed on to him was unexpectedly profound, and its origin must be extraordinary. It could actually activate his Tiger Aspect Spiritual Platform's mental power.

Zhang Ji was very surprised and benefited a lot from cultivating all night.

Moreover, after this technique enters the first realm, he can perform location marking, which will help him send a location to the main body of Snake King City, allowing him to come to this world to hunt as soon as possible.

The Earth can no longer meet his evolutionary needs.

"Master, may you have a good journey!"

"Ancestor, we miss you, we kowtow to you!"

The third senior brother, Chen Haishan, the second senior sister, Liu Qingzhu, and the other disciples of the Green Mountain Sect came to see the old Daoist off, kowtowing, crying, and scattering paper money that flew in the wind.

The Blood Demoness was versatile and personally played a sorrowful tune on the suona horn to send off the departed soul. The loud music resounded through Lequan Mountain, reaching the surrounding towns and villages, and many people couldn't help but shed tears.

The old immortal of the Green Mountain Sect has finally passed away!

Many people came spontaneously to see him off, and Lequan Mountain was unusually lively for a few days. After the seven-day mourning period, it gradually returned to its former calm.

The newly renovated hall became Zhang Ji's Ancestor Hall.

"Ancestor Green Mountain is immortal, Ancestor's magic power is boundless!"

Zhang Ji sat upright above, wearing a green robe, and became the second-generation Green Mountain Ancestor of the Green Mountain Sect, receiving the worship of the disciples.

The Green Mountain Sect cannot be without an ancestor, this is a spiritual symbol.

"Chen Haishan will serve as the sect leader to handle all matters. From today onwards, this ancestor will retreat to practice. Do not disturb me unless there is a matter of life or death." Zhang Ji announced, wrote Chen Haishan's name in the sect leader's appointment book, and stamped his ancestor's seal.

Chen Haishan's face was full of solemnity and excitement, and he promised that he would work hard to develop the Green Mountain Sect and strengthen the Green Mountain Sect.

Zhang Ji smiled and encouraged him a few words, then took the Blood Demoness into seclusion. The second senior sister, Liu Qingzhu, hesitated for a moment, and followed in with a blushing face.

Taking a maid into seclusion is an unwritten rule in the Yunshan cultivation world. Whenever great powers cultivate in seclusion, it often takes decades or hundreds of years. It is inevitable that it will be boring and may lead to cultivation deviation, which is a big taboo.

Therefore, it is very necessary to take a maid with you into seclusion, and occasionally adjust the yin and yang.