In a cave dwelling atop an immortal mountain, Xuan Tian Dao Zun was tending to his injuries alone.
"Those beasts were truly vicious, they almost beat me to death!"
"You brats of the human race, you must show some spirit. Don't let my suffering be in vain. Your future depends on you now."
Xuan Tian Dao Zun felt that he had silently endured too much grievance for the human race.
But this grievance was something he couldn't speak of.
He couldn't possibly tell his juniors that he had been beaten like a mangy dog!
He could only hide in his cave dwelling, licking his wounds in solitude, while maintaining his dignified image in front of others.
Xuan Tian Dao Zun's mind couldn't help but conjure the image of Xiao Fei.
Due to the severe decline in immortal energy concentration in the Immortal Realm, the number of immortals that could be cultivated was limited.
Especially high-level experts, they were even harder to cultivate, and each one required a massive consumption of resources.
Therefore, the number of experts above Immortal Lord in the major factions was extremely scarce.
Beyond Immortal Lords, at the level of Golden Immortals like the Master of Jade Void Palace, there were only a little over twenty in the entire human race.
As for Taiyi Golden Immortals, who were above Golden Immortals, there were only three in the entire Immortal Realm.
They were Xuan Tian Dao Zun of the human race, Lei Peng Yao Zun of the demon race, and San Yang Mo Zun of the demonic race.
Because these three races were the strongest in the Immortal Realm, they could only cultivate one Taiyi Golden Immortal even with the full strength of their entire race.
If Xuan Tian Dao Zun wanted to regain his dignity after being beaten today, his hope could only be placed on Xiao Fei.
He only hoped that Xiao Fei could one day also become a Taiyi Golden Immortal.
Just then, Xuan Tian Dao Zun's expression changed slightly.
"Heh! They really came!"
Xuan Tian Dao Zun quickly transformed, and all his disheveled injuries vanished.
He resumed the appearance of an old man with white hair and a youthful complexion, exuding an ethereal immortal aura, and sat on a white jade cushion.
A moment later, Zhang Yi, holding the token of the Master of Jade Void Palace, arrived at the entrance of the cave dwelling.
"Junior Zhang Yi pays respects to Dao Zun!"
The protective formation at the cave dwelling entrance automatically opened, and Xuan Tian Dao Zun's steady voice echoed from within.
"Come in yourself!"
Zhang Yi bowed and quickly walked inside.
This time, he did not resume Xiao Fei's appearance, but still used Zhang Yi's identity to pay respects to Xuan Tian Dao Zun.
In his heart, there was a trace of testing.
Xiao Fei really wanted to know if, as Zhang Yi, he could be distinguished by Xuan Tian Dao Zun, who was at this level.
Testing an elder like this was somewhat courting death.
But he really wanted to know the result, so he would have a better understanding in the future.
Zhang Yi cautiously walked into the depths of the cave dwelling.
He saw Xuan Tian Dao Zun sitting upright on a jade cushion, his demeanor solemn and majestic, yet exuding an otherworldly immortal aura.
Every time Zhang Yi saw Xuan Tian Dao Zun in this manner, he felt a sense of longing.
He felt a sense of pride, thinking that a true man should be like this!
"Xiao Fei, your recent cultivation progress is still a bit slow!"
Great.
He still wanted to test him, but Xuan Tian Dao Zun directly revealed his true name.
His meager cultivation was like a child's game in front of an expert like Xuan Tian Dao Zun.
Since that was the case, there was no need for him to continue impersonating Zhang Yi.
Soon, he revealed his true form and resumed Xiao Fei's appearance.
"Reporting to Dao Zun, junior has cultivated to the peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm and has come to seek the Nine Extremes Profound Origin Fruit from Dao Zun."
This time, he was here as the Moral Peak Master Zhang Yi, recommended by the Master of Jade Void Palace, to seek the Nine Extremes Profound Origin Fruit from Xuan Tian Dao Zun.
The Nine Extremes Profound Origin Fruit was a crucial treasure for assisting Heavenly Immortals in advancing to Immortal Lords. There was only one such plant in the entire Immortal Realm, making it a supreme treasure of the human race.
Due to the importance of this fruit, to prevent its loss, its plant was entrusted to Xuan Tian Dao Zun for personal guardianship.
Therefore, every time there was a quota for a Heavenly Immortal to break through to Immortal Lord, a Human Race Golden Immortal had to recommend them to have the qualification to seek the Nine Extremes Profound Origin Fruit from Xuan Tian Dao Zun.
Xuan Tian Dao Zun was the final hurdle, and he held the ultimate veto power.
"Hahaha... I said your cultivation was too slow, and you still disagree!
You have the Jade Disc of Creation in your possession, and this cultivation speed is indeed not fast. Someone was much faster than you before."
"Are you referring to the last person who obtained the Jade Disc of Creation?" Xiao Fei's heart stirred upon hearing this. He had heard Xuan Tian Dao Zun mention it last time.
Before encountering him, the Jade Disc of Creation had been obtained by many, many people.
However, although these people obtained such a supreme treasure as the Jade Disc of Creation, most of them did not achieve much in their cultivation.
Either they were killed by others who sought to steal their treasures, or they were too lazy, and their lifespans were exhausted without advancing in cultivation.
After so many years, countless people had obtained the Jade Disc of Creation, but only two had managed to cultivate to the Heavenly Immortal realm or above while remaining alive.
One was Xiao Fei, and the other was unknown.
Judging by this, Xuan Tian Dao Zun should know some inside information.
The "last person" Xiao Fei was referring to naturally meant the other person who had cultivated to the Heavenly Immortal realm or above.
As for the others, those who held a golden rice bowl but still starved themselves, he automatically ignored them.
"Indeed, it was the last person who obtained the Jade Disc of Creation. His talent in all aspects was better than yours, and his cultivation speed was much faster than yours."
"Never mind, I won't discourage you anymore. You have finally cultivated to the Heavenly Immortal realm, and I am very pleased."
"There happens to be one ripe Nine Extremes Profound Origin Fruit. I need to meditate and continue to comprehend the Great Dao today, so you can go and pick it yourself."
"Leave through this door, climb the mountain peak from the left side. There is a small tree there, with only one fruit hanging on it. That is the Nine Extremes Profound Origin Fruit you are looking for."
"When picking the Nine Extremes Profound Origin Fruit, be sure not to damage the fruit tree. It is the only one in the entire Immortal Realm."
"Alright, you can go now! I won't accompany you further."
After Xuan Tian Dao Zun finished giving instructions, he eagerly waved Xiao Fei away.
"Thank you, Dao Zun. Junior takes his leave!"
Xiao Fei cupped his hands in a salute again before turning and leaving the cave dwelling.
Seeing Xiao Fei finally depart, Xuan Tian Dao Zun collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
The immortal demeanor and solemnity of moments ago were gone, and he reverted to his injured and disheveled state.
"Hiss!"
"It hurts!"
He had endured the beatings of two experts of the same rank, and many of his injuries were caused by the Great Dao, which could not be recovered in a short time.
On the other side, Xiao Fei had already climbed to the mountain peak. There were not many plants here.
Only on the rocks ahead grew an immortal plant about three feet tall, with dense branches and leaves, and a red fruit at the top, the size of a fist, looking very vibrant.
Xiao Fei feared he might mistake the tree, so he took out a jade slip, which recorded the habits and characteristics of the Nine Extremes Profound Origin Fruit.
He carefully examined it to confirm before daring to reach for the fruit at the top.
He carefully placed the picked fruit into a jade box, sealed it with several layers of talismans, and then cautiously stored it in his spatial dimension.
At this moment, Xiao Fei's gaze remained fixed on the tree, looking it up and down.
In his mind, he was contemplating ways to plant one in his own spatial dimension.