"Fellow Daoist, are you heading to Water Country? Why not travel with us?"

He stood a dozen li away, his pale green leaf boat floating on the clear water, moving with the current.

Just then, a voice drifted over. Lu Qing looked to see a Cultivator in brocade robes inviting him.

It was one of the Cultivators from that group.

"Thank you for Your Excellency's kind offer, but I have matters to attend to and won't be joining the festivities," Lu Qing shook his head slightly, declining.

The Water Country's marriage recruitment had absolutely nothing to do with Lu Qing.

"I see. Then, Fellow Daoist, we shall meet again if fate allows."

The Cultivator in the jade robe did not press the invitation.

A small, pale green boat then left the sight of the group of Cultivators at a speed that was both slow and swift.

"Brothers, why were you so polite to that rogue cultivator?"

A young Cultivator nearby asked, puzzled.

The others also looked over. They had wanted to interject earlier, but because Zhu Longxiang had spoken first and been so polite to the rogue cultivator, they had been momentarily taken aback.

Zhu Longxiang's face was handsome. He gazed deeply in the direction Lu Qing had departed and said, "That person is not simple."

"Someone even Brother Longxiang finds not simple? Is he from Jade Mountain? Or the Sword Sect? I've met the famous Geniuses of Shui Province, but I've never seen anyone like him."

"Brother Zhu is in the Purple Mansion Third Stage, could that person be in the same Realm as Brother Zhu?"

"But I clearly saw that he should be around the Purple Mansion Third Stage. How could he compare to Brother Zhu?"

A young-looking Cultivator immediately retorted, unconvinced.

As those around him slowly began to speak, Zhu Longxiang finally spoke softly. He held the highest position among the group, possessed the highest cultivation, and came from the best background, having apprenticed at the Heavenly Mountain Sect, a famous immortal Sect in Shui Province.

With his Aptitude, he could naturally have gone to the Xuantian Dao Academy, but powerful Families, aristocratic families, and large Sects all harbored ambitions.

These complex considerations, hidden beneath the surface, were not widely known, but in recent years, the disciples accepted by some major immortal Sects were indeed often outstanding Geniuses and Prodigies with exceptional Aptitude.

In this situation, as a figure destined to be the future Young Lord of the Heavenly Mountain Sect, one of Shui Province's three great Sects, Zhu Longxiang was absolutely a renowned Genius here.

"He should be someone from the Xuantian Dao Academy."

"Xuantian Dao Academy?" At the mention of this name, the others exchanged glances, all showing a hint of astonishment, while some others felt complicated emotions.

"But why would a disciple of the Dao Academy come here?"

One person asked with a rather cold tone.

"Who cares if he's a Dao Academy disciple or not? Even if he is, we have no reason to fear him."

The young-looking Cultivator snorted coldly.

"There was a battle here last time, and they came here to clear the residual Baleful Qi."

A Cultivator with a somewhat refined appearance explained the reason from the side.

Zhu Longxiang listened to the conversations around him, a hint of deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

This might have been due to some intuition, but he had extended an invitation once, and that person had refused. Given his temperament, he naturally wouldn't invite him a second time.

"So, it's for clearing Baleful Qi. No wonder we've frequently encountered people from the Xuantian Dao Academy recently."

"I don't think it's necessary to hold the Xuantian Dao Academy in such high regard. Times have changed. The Xuantian Dao Academy is so slow even in eradicating a demonic Cultivator's lair, perhaps there are already internal problems." A Cultivator spoke bluntly, not bothering to hide his dissatisfaction with the Xuantian Dao Academy.

"Never mind him. Whether he's a Dao Academy disciple or not, as long as he doesn't go to the Water Country's marriage recruitment, we won't bother with him."

Someone snorted coldly, interrupting the group's discussion.

Only Zhu Longxiang, after uttering those initial two sentences, had remained a cold observer of the entire commotion.

A hint of deep meaning flashed in his eyes, "Xuantian Dao Academy."

The name once again drifted through his mind.

From birth to embarking on Cultivation, and then to taking an apprenticeship, almost every Cultivator, unless deaf and blind, had heard of the Xuantian Dao Academy's formidable deeds. How vast and boundless was the Profound Heaven Domain, yet wherever there were people, one could see twelve provinces with guards every ten steps, and Purple Mansions everywhere.

From a young age, Zhu Longxiang had heard many praises for his Aptitude, yet in the eyes of every Cultivator, there would be a hint of regret.

Regret that he gave up the opportunity to join the Xuantian Dao Academy and instead joined the Heavenly Mountain Sect.

But Zhu Longxiang would not regret it. A prodigy is a prodigy anywhere; even in shallow water, a True Dragon can emerge!

His ambition, confidence, and determination were absolutely no less than that of any prodigy.

Over there.

Lu Qing, who had departed, slowed the speed of his small boat.

The surging waves gradually calmed as he neared Phoenix Tail Prefecture, the water flowing peacefully, allowing one's heart to also settle.

"That person is not to be approached."

It wasn't something indicated by a divination, but rather, the moment Lu Qing saw Zhu Longxiang, he understood that people like him would not treat a stranger with such courtesy.

The other party wanted to test him.

And the people around him revealed Zhu Longxiang's central position within the group.

"Ambitious, a person surrounded by flatterers." After Lu Qing's Cultivation advanced, his perception of others became more subtle and acute.

"As long as they don't bother me, it's fine." He was completely uninterested in what those people intended to do. Even if they were ambitious, it had nothing to do with him. After all, Cultivators were mortals who had Cultivated, so having emotions and desires was perfectly normal.

"This area of Phoenix Tail Prefecture is quite prominent."

No longer thinking about the jade-robed Cultivator, Lu Qing and his small boat surged along with the Great Marsh's currents.

At the end of his vision, he vaguely saw several tall buildings emerging from the clouds. Along the shore, numerous boats of various sizes were moored at the fishing port. In the sky, rows of flying Magical Artifacts streaked like spiritual light, and occasionally, people could be seen flying high in the sky, either riding the wind or wielding swords.

"Phoenix Tail Prefecture."

As he drew closer, an extremely tall city gate tower appeared before Lu Qing, standing majestically and exuding an ancient aura.

Lu Qing put away his flying boat and entered the city gate tower with the flow of people.

He had come here specifically to clear Baleful Qi, so upon arriving, he naturally needed to find the Baleful Qi points.

Perhaps for convenience, Shui Province had established several Baleful Qi mission points here, specifically for disciples who accepted this task.

"Fellow Daoist, this is the Xuantian Dao Academy's station, entry is not permitted without an invitation."

Lu Qing circled around and soon discovered a palace, prominently located in Phoenix Tail Prefecture.

Occasionally, some Cultivators would pass by and glance at it.

At the entrance, Cultivators were acting as gatekeepers.

"I'm here to accept a mission." Lu Qing directly produced his token.

A wisp of Purple Mansion Qi seemed to be faintly visible on it.

Upon sensing it, the disciple's expression immediately changed, and a smile appeared. "So it's a Senior Brother from within the Sect. Senior Brother, the missions to clear Baleful Qi here have mostly been taken by teams. As you can see, these ones are temporarily unclaimed, but they are closer to the central battlefield, south of the Great Marsh."

"I'll take those." Lu Qing heard this and thought that being far from the conflict that would occur at the Water Country's gathering was a good place.

He also wanted to use this opportunity, where the divination indicated safety, to visit that battlefield.

"Alright, alright, Senior Brother, please wait a moment."

The disciple held a jade tablet, and as its precious light flickered, another disciple emerged from the palace, holding an identical jade tablet.

"Senior Brother, they are all on this."

A stack of glowing jade slips was held by the disciple who had emerged.

Lu Qing scanned them, "I'll take these few."

"Very well, Senior Brother, take care."

Lu Qing accepted the missions and no longer intended to remain in Phoenix Tail Prefecture.

During the brief exchange, some Cultivators secretly watched Lu Qing, especially noting his young appearance and youthful aura, with a hint of envy in their eyes...