# Chapter 1725: Qi Refiners
The mountain was not tall, and the small Daoist temple was also very dilapidated, with green bricks, gray tiles, and rotten wooden rafters. An old grapevine grew beside it, accompanied by a sickly tree. No matter how one looked at it, it was a scene of desolation.
Behind the small Daoist temple was a vegetable patch, lush green, and there was also a well, exuding an ancient charm.
This place was very ordinary, without any remarkable features. Just like that Daoist priest, if one did not look carefully, he would appear to be just an old mountain Daoist, without divine abilities or immortal roots.
Ye Fan cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Daoist Master."
The old Daoist returned the greeting, very polite and without any airs. At this moment, Ye Fan realized that the other party was at the Quasi-Emperor Sixth Heaven, similar to himself, a powerful Daoist expert.
What was most peculiar was this person's ability to conceal his aura. If one did not approach closely, even Ye Fan might not necessarily detect him from afar—truly remarkable.
However, this was mainly because he had not opened his Source Heaven Immortal Pupils and was too embarrassed to stare directly.
"Daoist Master, why did you address me like that earlier?"
"Please do not take offense, benefactor. I was being presumptuous." The old Daoist claimed that there had once been an ancient venerable in the Daoist sect who had performed deductions, predicting that a similar flower would appear, perhaps in this very era, one that would be like the Emperor Venerable.
"Although I live in seclusion in the mountains, I have heard of some of Benefactor Ye's achievements and past events. I mistakenly thought you were that flower. But now that I see you and examine you carefully, I feel it should not be so."
"A similar flower might appear?" Ye Fan was quite astonished.
"The future is ethereal. Even the deductions of ancient venerables may not necessarily come true," the old Daoist explained.
"May I ask the Daoist Master's name?"
"I once had a name—Ge Xuan," the old Daoist said.
Ye Fan was startled. Even with mental preparation, his emotions still surged. He had finally met a cultivator from ancient China, and one who was extremely powerful with an extraordinary background.
Who was Ge Xuan? He was one of the most important figures in the Daoist sect, revered by later generations of Lingbao Sect Daoists as the founder of the Gezao Sect, known as Immortal Elder Ge.
The Lingbao Sect honored Shangqing, which was the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable, one of the most important sects in Daoism. Ge Xuan was the dharma-transmitting patriarch of that sect in a certain era, and his status could be imagined.
Furthermore, he was revered as one of the Four Heavenly Masters of Daoism, holding an exalted position. This could also be seen from his title of Immortal Elder Ge.
"Greetings, Senior!"
Ye Fan performed a salute, his mood somewhat complicated. In the past, he had only known of such figures through ancient texts and had not really believed they could fly through the heavens and escape the earth. Later, he had unexpectedly embarked on the path of cultivation. Now, truly seeing a real person, he felt endless emotions.
"Benefactor, please sit." Ge Xuan invited him to sit on a meditation cushion.
Ge Xuan was not only extraordinary himself, but he also had a grandnephew named Ge Hong, who had written a book and was even more remarkable, once becoming the leader of Daoism during the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
During their conversation, Ye Fan naturally could not avoid mentioning Ge Hong. This person had mentioned the Nine Secrets in his writings, stating that constantly reciting the nine characters could ward off evil and protect the body.
Ge Xuan admitted frankly that his grandnephew's cultivation surpassed his own—the disciple had surpassed the master—and was truly remarkable.
"May I ask why the Immortal Elder is hiding here?" Ye Fan naturally had to inquire. All the Qi Refiners from ancient China had run to this place, which was truly a fog of mystery.
"Swallowing clouds and drinking dew, dedicating one's life to the Dao—what is the goal? It is all for immortality," Ge Xuan said, then shook his head and sighed. "But in the end, everyone is buried in the yellow earth, unable to attain creation."
Ye Fan was moved. These people had come seeking immortality. Back then, they had not chosen the Big Dipper but this place instead?!
He sought confirmation and indeed received an affirmative answer. The Qi Refiners all believed that this place had an immortal path.
It was not that all Imperial Dao experts believed the Big Dipper was the place to become an immortal, the correct location. Some also believed it was on the Flying Immortal Star, right here.
"The universe can be divided into yin and yang. Perhaps the Big Dipper and the Flying Immortal Star are symmetrical yin and yang locations, both able to connect to the Immortal Domain. But after the battle over three hundred years ago, it was proven that path was impassable. Therefore, the Qi Refiners became even more convinced that the path lies on the Flying Immortal Star."
They searched only for the sake of becoming immortals.
Ye Fan sighed. In the ancient history of cultivators, all disputes and large-scale bloody battles were mostly caused by immortality.
Longevity was an eternal topic, the Dao fruit that all cultivators dreamed of. Yet so many years had passed, and everyone was still seeking immortality without being able to attain it.
"Is there really an immortal path in this place?" Ye Fan sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, having a long talk with Ge Xuan.
"According to the deductions of some ancient venerables, within the sealed land of the Flying Immortal Star, that is, within the forbidden zone of the mythological era, an immortal path will appear," the old Daoist answered. Everyone was waiting for the opportunity, but they dared not break the seal.
Ye Fan fell silent. How many people had been trapped by the pursuit of immortality? All cultivators throughout history had been striving for it. Those so-called "immortals" in historical records and anecdotes were still only on this path.
Not only them, but others like Shakyamuni had also arrived at this star, establishing mountain gates. However, their traces were now hidden, suspected to be searching in outer domains and other places.
"Where is the Little Immortal Elder?" He asked about Ge Hong.
Although the number of Qi Refiners was not extremely large, it was certainly not too small. Many of them should be well-known names, with great reputations in ancient China.
Ge Xuan said frankly that others were in seclusion on this star, while more were traveling outside, visiting one immortal relic after another, seeking the method of longevity.
Among those still alive, the strongest in cultivation were naturally Laozi and Shakyamuni.
Everyone was waiting. They believed that the failure of the Big Dipper's immortal path did not mean this place would also come to nothing. Sooner or later, the fate of flying immortality would reappear.
"The sealed land of the Flying Immortal Star is certainly strange. If it is opened and one charges inside, there will inevitably be a great calamity," Ge Xuan said.
If living things were truly sealed inside and had not perished to this day, then the immortal path would certainly be occupied by them first, and they would charge through.
According to people's speculations, there might be a great crack in the Immortal Domain here. In ancient times, creatures from the Immortal Domain had fought great battles, even exchanging blows with ancient venerables. This place had been suppressed and sealed.
"Is the Flying Immortal Star truly worthy of its name?"
Later, Ye Fan discussed many aspects with the old Daoist, naturally also mentioning the Kunlun Remnant Clan, which matched his speculations.
The Kunlun Remnant Clan also knew the secrets of the Flying Immortal Star. They needed to retrieve the Immortal Bell and even wanted to move the Kunlun Immortal Mountain here to suppress this place, using it to achieve flying immortality.
"The Immortal Bell, the Desolate Tower—they are too ancient. Some say they were created by the transformation of all things, born from heaven and earth. Others say they involve an immortal dynasty, even that there was once a true Heavenly Emperor."
These were all old matters. Only those from the era of the Kunlun Ancestor and the Emperor Venerable could understand some of it. In the current era, one could only speculate without evidence.
The two talked quite congenially, discussing everything from anecdotes to cultivation, engaging in many explorations.
The old Daoist was regarded by the Lingbao Sect as a generation's dharma-transmitting patriarch, recreating the inheritance of the ancient Heavenly Venerable. Naturally, he had extraordinary qualities. It was his guidance that had paved the way for Ge Hong's later path.
"I have had some opportunities, obtaining some dharma scriptures and inheritances."
Ge Xuan discussed the Dao with Ye Fan, mentioning the principles within. The two agreed that among the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable's scriptures, the Salvation Scripture was the most mysterious and unfathomable.
Ge Xuan recited one part—a secret copy unseen in the world—while Ye Fan took out that human-faced ghost lamp and also recited a part. The two were similar, mutually corroborating, becoming increasingly mysterious and unfathomable.
"Having read the orthodox scripture and then comprehending the ghost lamp's imprint, this scripture can be considered complete," Ge Xuan said.
Ye Fan nodded in agreement.
This discussion was very fruitful. The old Daoist passed on an ancient formula called the Divine Immortal Pill Scripture, said to have been left behind by the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Venerable.
Ye Fan was surprised. He had long heard of this Daoist alchemy scripture. What was seen in the world was meant for ordinary people, but he had never obtained the cultivator's version. Now he had seen the true scripture.
They sat for seven days, talking freely, exchanging many insights and touching upon many secrets.
Finally, Ye Fan rose and took his leave. Walking on the Flying Immortal Star, he felt a sense of confusion. Having walked this path and grown to this day, he could be considered a peerless expert. Looking back, many things had changed. The Qi Refiners—in the past, he had thought them so powerful, like figures from mythology. But now that he had approached them, he found they were only travelers on the path of longevity.
Unconsciously, Ye Fan walked through many areas and met another old man. The man introduced himself, saying, "I am Jiang Ziya."
Ye Fan was startled, then sighed again. Figures from ancient China were truly appearing one after another. Although not many, it still stirred a hundred emotions in him.
"Is the God-Slaying Whip what you left behind, Senior?"
"Yes. Back then, I encountered some trouble on the Big Dipper. I left the whip behind, waiting for a destined person," the old man said. That wooden whip should not be underestimated. It was a segment that had fallen from the Emperor Venerable's immortal tree, with endless divine effects.
Ye Fan bid farewell and set off again, feeling somewhat melancholy. If not for the immense pressure from the Underworld and other forces, forcing him to raise his realm to protect his family and friends, he would feel that the end of the cultivation path was truly empty and ethereal, unwilling to continue.
"What is this? After coming to the Flying Immortal Star, why do I feel somewhat empty? I have met the Qi Refiners from ancient China, yet I feel no great excitement, only this state."
Ye Fan was silent for a long time, then suddenly raised his head. This was not his nature. He seemed to be under the influence of some power.
"Source Heaven Immortal Pupils, see through all illusions!" he shouted loudly.
The next moment, the magnificent mountains and rivers disappeared. Before his eyes, white bones lay like snow, a vast expanse, weathered dry bones everywhere.
There were no plants, no divine waterfalls, no immortal mountains. The scenery had all vanished. Only death remained here.
Truly strange!
Unknowingly, he had arrived near the sealed land, greatly affected, almost losing himself.
"Could the Ge Xuan and Jiang Ziya I just saw also be fake?"
He looked back and traveled far away, indeed seeing large tracts of ruins. Most of the Qi Refiners' dwellings had been destroyed, rubble everywhere.
However, fortunately, that low mountain still remained, and the small Daoist temple still stood on the mountain.
But Ge Xuan was no longer there.
Ye Fan kept his immortal pupils open, his gaze shining brightly. As he walked and entered another area where Qi Refiners lived, he saw some Daoists and asked them.
"At least half of the Qi Refiners have died. It was very strange and terrifying back then. Some people's physical bodies perished, but their obsessions did not dissipate. They could still manifest, thinking they were still alive, and others found it hard to detect them. It is said that immortals and demons sealed underground were causing mischief, truly recreating everything about those people."
A young Daoist said, drawing a range, claiming that those areas could not be entered, having long become ghost domains.
Ye Fan's body turned cold. The Ge Xuan and Jiang Ziya he had just seen were in those areas. Had he been conversing with spirits, talking to their obsessions?
"Immortal Elder Ge Xuan and others indeed perished physically many years ago. Master Ge Hong is still alive, traveling in the outer domains."
He got his answer. The terrifying creatures sealed underground were orchestrating all this, trying to take his soul as well. He had exchanged moves with the creatures from the mythological era's forbidden zone!
If not for the sealing power, there would be great trouble.
Ye Fan sighed. He believed that what the spirits of Ge Hong and Jiang Ziya had said was true, but they were only manipulated obsessions, not their true selves.
Cultivation was truly cruel. For the sake of longevity, many people ended up with nothing—bloody, empty, and hollow.
Ye Fan walked through most of the area, seeing many dead lands. Many Qi Refiners had passed away, leaving only a minority, and most of the strong ones were traveling abroad.
"In the future, there will inevitably be a battle here!" Ye Fan murmured softly. The time should be when he achieved great accomplishment, or on the day he attained the Dao.