"That old immortal is too stingy!"

On the golden road, Feng Bingwen carried two "wild grasses" still covered in fresh, damp soil, his face full of disgust. It wasn't that he didn't know what was good for him; these things were no different from the wild grasses he had seen in Fengjia Village, except that they were a bit more spiritually potent.

"Don't talk nonsense. If you obtain these two herbs from the Heavenly Sword Path, you might be able to exchange them for many good things!"

Seeing Feng Bingwen belittling the garrison elder, Zhao Junxian couldn't stand it anymore and offered a word of advice.

"Um?"

Feng Bingwen realized what was happening, but he was still very confused.

"Would a sword cultivator be interested in these two blades of grass?"

"Try plucking a leaf off!"

"Huh!"

Feng Bingwen did as he was told and tried it. He immediately discovered something strange: under his pulling, the so-called weeds showed no signs of breaking. Even when he increased the force, they still did not break.

"No wonder it's a weed growing next to the Ancestral Hall!"

Despite his best efforts, Feng Bingwen was unable to tear off even a single leaf. He immediately realized the significance of the two wild grasses in his hands. Although they did not contain abundant spiritual energy, their resilience, which made them unbreakable, was enough to qualify them as celestial materials.

"Keep it safe. If you need more supplies, you can exchange it outside. Of course, you can also find your own way."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"If you have free time, take a stroll through the Taoist Canon Hall in the mountain gate."

"yes."

Feng Bingwen answered respectfully, then, looking at the golden road stretching into the distance beneath his feet, he curiously pressed for more information.

"Master, where are you taking me?"

"I will take you to the Heaven-Mending Pavilion. We need a place for cultivation. Once you enter the sect, you will naturally have a cave to settle down and make a living!"

Zhao Junxian replied.

Upon hearing this, Feng Bingwen was overjoyed and thanked him again. He had to admit that it was truly worthwhile to have such a master.

Before long, golden light pierced the sky and landed on a majestic spiritual peak. There, one could see palaces, pavilions, and towers rising and falling with the mountain's contours. Temples and monasteries sprang up everywhere. A ten-zhang-wide white jade staircase led all the way from the bottom of the mountain to the top. On the eaves of the corridors and buildings, one could see rare birds and animals pecking at their feathers.

The plaque with the three characters "Butian Pavilion" hangs horizontally at the front of the main hall. The calligraphy is magnificent and grand, and just one glance can make you feel as if you are floating on air like an immortal.

Zhao Junxian, leading Feng Bingwen, landed in front of the main hall and saw a middle-aged Taoist priest with an ethereal appearance and refined features. The priest hurried out from within, and upon seeing Zhao Junxian's face, immediately showed respect and bowed deeply.

"I am Zhang Zhen, and I have met you, Daoist Master. May I ask what important matter you have brought to this place?"

“This is my new disciple. He has already entered the Taiqing Hall and left his name. He is not very familiar with the things in the mountain gate. I brought him here to find a cave for him to cultivate. You must find a good place for my disciple.”

Zhao Junxian turned around and pointed to Feng Bingwen, who looked to be about the same age as him, and introduced him.

"So it's Daozi's newly accepted disciple."

Zhang Zhen was startled, and once again bowed respectfully to Feng Bingwen, who immediately returned the bow.

"Zhang Zhen greets Senior Brother!"

"Senior brother, are you perhaps addressing me incorrectly? I have only just entered the sect today; how can I possibly be worthy of the title of senior brother?"

Later, he would have to ask this Taoist priest to choose a cultivation cave for him. At this moment, Feng Bingwen could not be arrogant in front of him. Although his master was watching over him, what if the priest had any doubts?

“Senior brother has entered the Taiqing Hall and left his name there. He is now a true disciple of the Supreme Dao. Even if he entered the sect later than me, he is still my senior brother!”

"A true disciple?"

Feng Bingwen looked at his master with some surprise.

The Supreme Dao is recognized as the number one Dao sect of the human race. In the eyes of outside cultivators, the quality of its true disciples is half a level higher than that of the other twelve Dao sects of the Xuanmen.

He had only just been brought back by his master, and in less than half a day, he had become a true disciple. The process was exceptionally simple, with no obstacles along the way, and there wasn't even a proper test.

"You have defeated both the Heavenly Sword Daoist and the Netherworld Daoist. If you cannot obtain a seat as a true disciple of my Supreme Dao, where will the Heavenly Sword Dao and the Netherworld Dao put their faces?"

Zhao Junxian glanced at this disciple who had absolutely no sense of self-awareness and said in an annoyed tone.

The prodigy who defeated two Daoist disciples entered the Supreme Dao, but he wasn't even a true disciple. Whose face is this slapping?

"But if I remember correctly, Master, you were also a true disciple!"

Feng Bingwen's expression was strange. After hesitating for a moment, he finally pointed out what he found odd.

"You don't need to worry about that. I'm about to undergo tribulation and become an immortal. You can observe from the side and learn from my experience."

"Ah, Master, are you about to become an immortal?"

“I’ve been suppressing it for ten years, and I’m about to lose control.”

At this point, Zhao Junxian couldn't help but frown, her face showing considerable distress.

"After I become an immortal, I will take charge of a blessed land within the sect and serve as the immortal master. The position of Daoist disciple will then be vacant. You will then succeed to the position of Daoist disciple and represent the Supreme Dao when you travel outside."

"No, Master, isn't the position of Daozi decided by you? Shouldn't it be that I compete with the other true disciples to determine the strongest one, and then that one takes the position?"

Feng Bingwen was a little curious. Why did his master speak as if the Supreme Dao was his own business? Even if his father was a Celestial Immortal, the Supreme Dao clearly had more than one Celestial Immortal; there were thirty-six grotto-heavens.

"Does Master think I am the strongest of my generation?"

When he said this, Feng Bingwen didn't feel too guilty. Having beaten up so many of his peers, he had a clear understanding of his own strength.

"What nonsense are you spouting? The reason you were able to succeed as the Dao Child is because no one of your generation's true disciples would dare to compete with you!"

Upon hearing Feng Bingwen's words, Zhao Junxian retorted angrily.

"Nobody's competing with me?"

Feng Bingwen was somewhat puzzled and confused. Why was no one competing with him?

"Before me, the position of Daoist Master had been vacant for two generations, with no one willing to take it."

What's going on?

Feng Bingwen blinked. The number one sect of Taoism has dwindled to this extent? Impossible.

"It's not because there's no one available, it's because none of those guys want to be in charge!"

Zhao Junxian's tone was full of helplessness.

"I don't want to be one, why don't I want to?"

Feng Bingwen couldn't understand it. As far as he knew, the resources and power that a disciple of a sect could enjoy were unimaginable to his peers.

In ordinary sects, positions that are fought for with one's life are like hot potatoes in the Supreme Dao Sect, something no one wants.

The position of Daozi has been vacant for two terms. What does that mean? Judging from his master's words, if he weren't here, the position would remain vacant after his master stepped down.

"My fellow disciples, you cherish the Great Dao and do not wish to waste your time on the mundane affairs of this sect. Therefore, you are unwilling to vie for the position of Dao Child!"

Zhang Zhen, who was listening to the master and disciple's conversation, became increasingly respectful. After hearing Feng Bingwen's question, he answered cautiously.

You'll find out about this later!

Zhao Junxian didn't explain much, but simply stated the firm requirements.

"After I step down, you must take over the position of the Dao Child, unless someone else competes with you for it, in which case you may not give it up."

"good!"

Although he didn't understand why others would refuse such a good thing, Feng Bingwen agreed immediately. It couldn't hurt him at all, so why would he refuse?

"Remember what you said today!"

Zhao Junxian gave a few instructions, and then instructed Zhang Zhen, who was standing to the side,

"Let's go, take my disciple to choose a cave dwelling!"

"yes."

Zhao Zhen accepted the order, rose, and called out towards the hall.

"Plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum!"

"master!"

Four clear and melodious voices mingled together, and four elegantly crafted Taoist boys and girls, seemingly born from the essence of heaven and earth, emerged. As they walked, a faint fragrance wafted out, and their spirits seemed to be bursting forth.

"Unfold the map so that the senior disciple can choose a cave dwelling!"

"yes!"

Four charming and lovely, or lively and agile, Taoist children entered the hall, and immediately divine light shone brightly within, as if the scenery of mountains and rivers was unfolding within it.

"The spirit of plants and trees?"

Outside the hall, Feng Bingwen looked at the four Daoist boys with some surprise. He was very familiar with the aura they exuded, as he had raised quite a few of them himself.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, senior brother. This was all something I came up with on my own when I was bored."

Zhang Zhen's expression was slightly smug, clearly not because he was bored as he claimed.

"Are you alone here, fellow Daoist?"

It was only then that Feng Bingwen suddenly realized something was wrong. Although the place was filled with palaces and buildings, with phoenixes singing and white deer bleating, it was bustling with activity, but there was hardly any human presence.

Including him and his master, there were only three people on this beautiful and precipitous mountain peak, while those busy in the palaces and pavilions were clearly plant and animal spirits that had transformed into human form.

“A few years ago there was a junior brother Song, but one day he suddenly had a whim and went to travel around the world. So I was left alone. There was someone to arrange things here, so I could only stay here and enlighten these little guys. It was a way to find joy in hardship.”

Zhang Zhen gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"Are there really so few disciples in the sect?"

Feng Bingwen felt it was absurd. This Butian Pavilion was where cave dwellings were assigned. In other sects, managing this place would be a very lucrative position, but in this Supreme Dao, there was only one person, and he was forced to stay behind due to his duty.

I Have a Scroll of Ghost and Deity Illustrations

"There's no way around it. The threshold for joining the Supreme Dao is extremely high. Back then, I only cultivated to the third grade of the pulse stage. It was only by chance that I was able to join the sect. I had some luck!"

As he spoke, Zhang Zhen's face showed a look of relief. Feng Bingwen was stunned. A third-grade pulse was something that even the Twelve Dao Sects could choose freely. With a little more effort, obtaining a true disciple's seat would be a natural outcome.

However, in the Supreme Path, there is even a possibility that one cannot even enter the mountain gate! With such a high threshold, it is no wonder that the mountain gate of the Supreme Path is so deserted.

"Go inside. After I've chosen a cave for you, I still have things to do!"

Zhao Junxian interrupted Feng Bingwen's casual conversation with his fellow disciple. At this moment, the three of them had already entered the main hall of the Butian Pavilion. Within the palace, one could see a vast and expansive world, with mountains and rivers stretching endlessly and the ocean surging with waves.

"This is?"

Feng Bingwen looked at the world before him, which had shrunk considerably, with some doubt in his eyes, wondering which part of it was the gate of the Supreme Dao.

"Senior brother, what you see before you is the territory under the jurisdiction of my Supreme Dao Sect!"

Zhang Zhen enthusiastically explained that after many years, he was able to talk to people again. Usually, he could only communicate with the spirits he had enlightened. Although it wasn't boring, he always felt that something was missing.

"All of these?"

Feng Bingwen was somewhat shocked.

Not entirely.

Zhang Zhen answered honestly.

"The map isn't fully unfolded, and some parts won't be displayed. You should understand, senior brother, right?"

"Yes, I understand!"

Feng Bingwen nodded. Some secret places would naturally not be so easily revealed to the disciples and followers, but were the mountain gates that could be shown a bit too vast?

"Senior brother, I will now show you an empty cave dwelling. Come and choose one!"

It is unknown what exactly this map has moved, but large patches of blue and red light have appeared on the map, in clusters and patches, stretching endlessly.

“These are all cave dwellings that are suitable for your status as a true disciple, Senior Brother. The cave dwellings covered by red light are already occupied, while those with green light are vacant. You may choose any of them, Senior Brother.”

Zhang Zhen diligently explained things to Feng Bingwen, and even pointed out a few cave locations. Feng Bingwen gave a vivid introduction, describing their characteristics and the resources available in their surrounding areas.

Feng Bingwen watched silently, unable to utter a word, because he realized that the Supreme Dao's definition of a cave dwelling seemed to differ from his own understanding.

False cave dwellings: They are small in size, with some only able to accommodate a dozen or so people, and others only a few hundred or a thousand. They are built in a mountain or a lake.

A true cave dwelling: Centered around a mountain range or a large lake, encompassing hundreds or even thousands of miles, the cave dwelling is full of spiritual energy, more than enough to establish a sect.

"Brother Dao, aren't these cave dwellings all too large?"

Feng Bingwen interrupted Zhang Zhen, who was enthusiastically and eloquently introducing the various cave dwellings.

"Um, is it big?"

Zhang Zhen was taken aback. He didn't think there was anything wrong with it; in fact, after a moment's thought, he wondered if his senior brother, who was about to become the next Dao Child, was being sarcastic.

"If you're not satisfied with these, I recommend..."

"Let's take this one!"

Before Zhang Zhen could finish speaking, Zhao Junxian, who had been silent all along, pointed to a spot on the map, which was not on land, but in the middle of the ocean.

"Daozi, no! Things have changed here!"

Zhang Zhen looked in the direction Zhao Junxian was pointing and his expression immediately changed. He rushed to stop them.

What changes have occurred?

“There are demons who have established themselves as kings there, creating demon kingdoms, and there is more than one. That place is already…”