Li Yi and the other two arrived at the mountain gate and saw that it was indeed Tai Yi and his group.
Upon seeing Yuan Shi, Tai Yi excitedly shouted:
"Master! Master! I've come to learn from you!"
Duo Bao turned his head and saw Li Yi, Yuan Shi, and Tong Tian. He had been somewhat skeptical when Tai Yi said he was Yuan Shi's disciple. Now, seeing his second martial uncle's reaction, he believed Tai Yi was indeed Yuan Shi's disciple.
Emperor Jun and Fusang, upon seeing Li Yi and the other two arrive, immediately performed a courtesy greeting:
"Greetings to you three fellow Daoists!"
Li Yi and the other two returned the greeting. Yuan Shi then asked Tai Yi:
"Tai Yi, why have you come to Kunlun?"
Before Tai Yi could answer Yuan Shi's question, Emperor Jun spoke:
"Daoist Yuan Shi, perhaps Daoist Tong Tian could first let us in? Are we to speak through this protective shield?"
Yuan Shi realized he had been too hasty and immediately replied:
"My apologies, I was negligent!"
Upon hearing Emperor Jun's remark, Tong Tian immediately opened the mountain protection formation and let Tai Yi and his group in.
Once inside, Emperor Jun immediately said to Li Yi and the other two:
"We sincerely apologize for disturbing your cultivation! We hope you will forgive us!"
Li Yi quickly replied:
"What are you saying, fellow Daoist? You have traveled great distances to Kunlun, and we are overjoyed. How could we possibly blame you!"
He then invited the three into Tai Qing Palace and instructed Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao to fetch some spirit fruits.
After Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao brought the spirit fruits, Li Yi smiled and said:
"This humble abode on a desolate mountain has little to offer you. Please do not be displeased!"
Tai Yi took a bite of a fruit and immediately said to Li Yi:
"Eldest Martial Uncle, are these the spirit fruits you grew for our senior martial brothers? They are delicious!"
He then took another large bite, eating several in succession!
Tong Tian chuckled and said:
"It is good that Tai Yi likes them. If you don't have enough, Martial Uncle will pick more for you, or even take some back with you!"
Tai Yi smiled and said:
"Thank you, Martial Uncle. But no need, now that we are here, we are not leaving!"
Li Yi, Yuan Shi, and Tong Tian were all surprised. Li Yi thought Tai Yi was joking and quickly looked at Emperor Jun.
Seeing Li Yi looking at him, Emperor Jun knew he had to explain. He felt somewhat embarrassed. Tai Yi was Yuan Shi's disciple, so his presence was somewhat understandable.
However, he and the San Qing had no prior connection, and coming here to freeload seemed inappropriate. He had originally planned to find an opportunity to speak to Li Yi privately, but he hadn't expected Tai Yi, with his big mouth, to announce it so publicly!
Emperor Jun smiled awkwardly and said:
"Tai Yi insisted on coming to Kunlun to learn the art of artifact refining from Daoist Yuan Shi. Fusang and I were worried about him, so we accompanied him. We hope the three of you will not mind!"
Li Yi's heart sank. It was already a headache having Tai Yi involved with him and his two brothers. Now Emperor Jun had also arrived. Was this an attempt to bring the Wu-Yao Calamity to Kunlun Mountain?
But what could he do? They were already here, and he couldn't very well turn them away!
Li Yi forced a bitter smile and said:
"How could we dare! How could we dare!"
Yuan Shi, unaware of what his beloved disciple would experience in the future, happily said upon hearing that Tai Yi was staying:
"You are most welcome! In the future, if Tai Yi has any questions, he can ask me directly. Furthermore, there is ample space on my Yu Qing Peak, and you three may stay as long as you wish!"
Tong Tian also said happily:
"What are you saying, fellow Daoist! Tai Yi is our second brother's disciple, our martial nephew. Coming to Kunlun is like coming home. We are overjoyed, how could we possibly mind!"
Emperor Jun saw that Li Yi and the other two were indeed as Fusang had said, and finally relaxed. He had been worried that Li Yi and the other two would not agree to him and Fusang staying, which would have been a great embarrassment.
Seeing that the three had decided to stay, Li Yi said:
"Since you have decided to stay, my second brother's Tai Qing Peak has just been renovated. I believe you three would be quite satisfied there. Perhaps you could reside on my second brother's Yu Qing Peak instead?"
Emperor Jun thought to himself that this was not his Solar Star, and wherever he stayed would be the same, so he didn't pay much attention.
After Li Yi suggested it, he and Yuan Shi took the three to Yu Qing Peak to find suitable lodgings.
Yuan Shi also happily led Tai Yi and the others to Yu Qing Peak.
When Tai Yi and his group arrived at Yu Qing Peak with Yuan Shi, Yuan Shi knew they were accustomed to living on the Solar Star.
Therefore, he directly led them to the mineral veins. Upon arriving, Emperor Jun was shocked.
He never expected Li Yi and his brothers to have made these mineral veins flourish in such a short time. While the fire attribute spiritual energy here was not yet comparable to that of the Solar Star,
after being converted by Tong Tian's formations and contained within these mineral vein areas, the spiritual energy would become increasingly dense. One day, it might even surpass that of the Solar Star.
Fusang was also drawn to the place upon arrival. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was continuously converted by Tong Tian's formations and did not dissipate. It was only absorbed by the underground mineral veins, which in turn emitted spiritual energy to nourish the surrounding space. It was indeed Fusang's ideal cultivation sanctuary.
Therefore, Fusang immediately planted his main body in the area with the densest spiritual energy. Emperor Jun also reacted and immediately built his living quarters elsewhere.
Tai Yi was the last to react, but the good spots had already been taken by Emperor Jun and Fusang. He could only look at them with a mournful gaze.
The two touched their noses as if they hadn't seen Tai Yi's expression.
After Yuan Shi left with Tai Yi and the others, Li Yi suddenly remembered a claw he had cut off from Zulong. He had not had the heart to process it after Qi Yi's demise, but now it would be perfect for entertaining Emperor Jun and his group.
Therefore, Li Yi began to process Zulong's claw, intending to treat everyone to something different. He also instructed Jin Jiao and Yin Jiao to fetch more spirit fruits.
After processing Zulong's claw, Li Yi found some rock salt on Tai Qing Peak. Tong Tian saw Li Yi preparing some white particles and asked:
"Big Brother, what is this?"
Li Yi smiled without answering, took a pinch in his hand, and said to Tong Tian:
"Taste it!"
Tong Tian took a pinch and put it in his mouth. He immediately spat it out and said to Li Yi:
"Big Brother, what is this stuff? It's so salty!"
Li Yi smiled mysteriously and said, "You'll know tonight!"
Li Yi ignored Tong Tian and found a Sichuan pepper tree on Tai Qing Peak, picking a lot of peppercorns!
He then found chilies, garlic...
With all the necessary ingredients ready, Li Yi found a large stone and ground it into a pot-like shape.
Li Yi clapped his hands and said:
"It's ready!"
Tong Tian had been following Li Yi, seeing him preparing all sorts of strange things. When he asked Li Yi, Li Yi wouldn't say, making Tong Tian incredibly curious.