The Grandeur of Azure Feather

”What are your thoughts on this matter?”

Aboard the immortal vessel soaring towards the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, within the confines of Xia Yi and his companions’ private chamber.

Xia Yi, Pei Yunxiang, and Fei Miaoyun wore solemn expressions, while Bing Yingying’s face remained utterly bewildered.

”The individual seeking you out, Yi’er, must possess an extraordinary background.”

”Indeed, anyone capable of unilaterally assigning the status of an inner disciple is undoubtedly a figure of considerable influence.”

”Eh? Didn’t my husband already know some prominent figure from the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, leading to this?”

Having only recently joined Xia Yi, Bing Yingying still assumed their preferential treatment stemmed from an encounter Xia Yi had with a high-ranking individual from the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

She simply couldn’t recall who this influential person might be.

”Yingying, my senior sister and I previously resided in a remote, minor sect; we’ve had absolutely no contact with the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.”

”Precisely. Yi’er has been by my side since childhood. I can affirm with certainty that he has never interacted with anyone from the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.”

”Eh?! Then why would that person be looking for my husband?”

”That, precisely, is the crux of the matter.”

With a sigh, Xia Yi’s brows furrowed deeply. Even after mentally replaying the original novel’s plot time and again, he remained utterly at a loss as to who within the Azure Feather Immortal Sect would be seeking him.

In the original narrative, the Azure Feather Immortal Sect served solely as the backdrop for Zhen Aoyu’s elaborate displays of arrogance in his pursuit of Bing Yingying, and his machinations to acquire a particular item.

There were absolutely no clues pointing towards his own involvement.

”One thing is certain: that person harbors no ill will towards us, at least for now.”

Reluctantly, Xia Yi abandoned his attempts to glean clues from the original story, opting instead to hear the three women’s opinions.

After a brief silence, Pei Yunxiang was the first to speak. ”Yi’er, is it absolutely imperative that we join the Azure Feather Immortal Sect?”

”Mm.”

Xia Yi nodded firmly, offering no explanation, and the three women did not press him for one.

”Then there’s no issue. Since we must enter the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, and that person bears us no ill will.”

”Then let’s simply proceed according to their arrangements for now. After all, what harm could come to us, right?”

Fei Miaoyun added, ”Indeed.”

Bing Yingying concurred, ”That makes sense.”

All three women voiced their agreement, and Xia Yi had, in fact, harbored the same thoughts.

”Very well, let’s proceed with this for now. However, we should also prepare some contingencies.”

The only thing Xia Yi could currently conceive of that might allow him to contend with a high-ranking figure from the Azure Feather Immortal Sect was the ‘Star’ token Xinghuo had entrusted to him, which Pei Yunxiang now wore to conceal her aura.

In the original plot, there was also an item, initially belonging to Zhen Aoyu, capable of resisting a Nascent Soul Venerable’s power.

However, Xia Yi currently had no means of acquiring it, as the treasure lay hidden within a secret realm managed by the Azure Feather Immortal Sect, accessible only upon fulfilling specific conditions.

He was frowning, contemplating what else might provide them with an added layer of security.

Just then, Pei Yunxiang’s alluring voice drifted to Xia Yi’s ear, and he found himself enveloped in a soft embrace, his head resting against two substantial ‘lamps’.

”Now, Yi’er, don’t overthink things. If all else fails, your master is still here. Won’t you trust your master?”

”Master, I…”

”Shhh~ Yi’er, listen to me.”

A slender, jade-like finger gently pressed against Xia Yi’s lips.

”We all know you’re looking out for us. But Yi’er, you don’t need to put so much pressure on yourself. Whatever challenges arise, we are willing to face them with you. So, try to relax a little more, and trust us, alright?”

As she spoke, Pei Yunxiang cast a knowing glance at Bing Yingying and Fei Miaoyun, and the two women immediately understood.

”Husband~ Yingying actually made a kind of chest binder too. The very kind you’re imagining, husband, and I even made a set for Senior Sister Miaoyun and Senior Sister Yunxiang, complete with ears and tails~”

Xia Yi: ‘!’

‘Yi’er, I’ve also recently learned a new dual cultivation technique. Would you like to try it~’

Xia Yi: ‘!!!’

As for the subsequent events, I’ll simply summarize them, as I doubt you’d be interested in the details.

As the saying goes:

Jade censer, icy mat, mandarin duck brocade,

Powder melts, fragrant sweat flows to mountain pillow.

The sound of a well-pulley beyond the curtain,

Brows furrow, a smile conceals surprise.

Willow shade, misty and vast,

Low-hanging hair, cicada hairpin falls.

Mustering a lifetime’s resolve,

To exhaust your joy this very day.

—’Pusa Man’ (Bodhisattva Barbarian), Five Dynasties, Niu Qiao

It was, more or less, precisely as described.

Half a month—neither too long nor too short—seemed to flash by for Xia Yi in the companionship of the three women.

With eyes open, he saw pure white; with eyes closed, only emptiness.

Despite this, his cultivation did not falter; on the contrary, it advanced far more rapidly than through normal practice!

This remarkable progress was entirely thanks to Fei Miaoyun, who had learned a ‘new dual cultivation technique.’ The speed of their combined cultivation was now more than twice as fast as their previous peak.

He couldn’t fathom where Fei Miaoyun had acquired such a potent ‘dual cultivation method’.

Moreover, the two women also benefited from the nourishment of Xia Yi’s immortal spirit root. After numerous sessions of ‘harvesting Yang to supplement Yin’ (TL Note: A cultivation concept where one partner absorbs the vital essence of another to strengthen their own, often with sexual connotations), their spirit roots subtly yet noticeably improved!

Though Xia Yi didn’t understand the underlying principle, he mused that it truly might be the effect of ‘harvesting Yang to supplement Yin’.

Naturally, the four of them couldn’t continue such wanton indulgence indefinitely; they maintained a degree of restraint, lest Xia Yi be utterly overwhelmed.

During this half-month, Xia Yi had also repeatedly sought out Li Junying, attempting to subtly extract information, but the results were always the same.

Left with no alternative, Xia Yi abandoned that avenue of inquiry.

In this same period, Xia Yi also found time to learn the art of sword-riding from Fei Miaoyun, Pei Yunxiang, and Bing Yingying.

His gains were considerable, and he felt confident that, provided he could acquire the core materials, his ideal ‘flying sword’ could soon be forged!

It was also worth noting that, over these two weeks, he had assimilated more content from the Phoenix Fire Art, leading to a significant enhancement in his fire manipulation skills.

Many of the fire control techniques were beyond what even he, a transmigrator, could have conceived.

He even handily resolved a monster attack by a foolish beast, earning Li Junying’s admiration while simultaneously gaining valuable combat experience.

One day, as Xia Yi watched the three women playing ‘Fight the Landlord’ in their room, he noticed the immortal vessel’s flight speed beginning to decrease.

The four of them ascended to the deck, where Li Junying, standing nearby, greeted them.

Around their immortal vessel, more than a dozen identical ships had now appeared.

Each of them flew banners emblazoned with the character ‘Azure Feather,’ clearly indicating they were also immortal vessels recruiting disciples.

Subsequently, these dozen-plus immortal vessels, each carrying thousands, followed the guidance of a Golden Core Realm expert who walked through the air, passing one or two towering peaks before entering the heart of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

Only then did Xia Yi truly comprehend what constituted a genuine ‘Immortal Sect.’

Above the vast sea of clouds, majestic peaks hung suspended, cradled by spiritual mist that swirled with iridescent light. The main peak, like a colossal pillar supporting the heavens, pierced straight into the highest firmament, disappearing into a canopy of kaleidoscopic aurora.

The peak itself was shrouded by a grand sect-protecting formation composed of flowing runes, reflecting billions of dazzling rays of light, resembling a divine palace wrought of glazed jade.

On the mountainside lay the Welcome Immortal Terrace, its ground paved with warm, spiritual jade, where ambient spiritual energy cleansed the mortal dust. A soaring jade staircase wound its way into the clouds, each step like congealed moonlight, flanked by spiritual springs and waterfalls that splashed into being and then vanished, forming lotus flowers of spiritual crystals.

The spiritual energy was so dense it was almost liquid, purifying the soul with every breath. Rare beasts and exotic creatures could be seen everywhere.

Magnificent palace complexes, built into the mountainside, boasted eaves that seemed to pierce the heavens. The roof of the main hall bore a golden lotus, cradling the illusory image of a colossal sword forged from Dao principles, its might intimidating through the ages. The very structures were naturally inscribed with chaotic cloud patterns and stellar trajectories, seemingly deciphering the profound mysteries of the Great Dao.

Furthermore, a towering pagoda pierced the clouds, as if attempting to bore a hole through the heavens themselves.

Sword lights streaked across the sky, immortal vessels patrolled; atop the cloud platforms, disciples meditated, comprehending the Dao as auspicious light converged; within the training grounds, spells collided, igniting a flurry of runes across the air. The wind carried immortal melodies, light purified all impurities, and time itself seemed to stand still.