Chapter 3: Dogs fighting, a mouthful of fur
Having cultivated for so long, the Purple Cloud Immortal Venerable has experienced too many things. Even though he had the idea of finding a Daoist partner, it never came to fruition for various reasons, and he gradually gave up on this idea.
He wouldn't have agreed if the Tang family head hadn't brought up the favors he owed him and led the entire clan to kneel before him.
Besides, there was another reason: the Tang family was one of the few families he still had contact with. As he went further and further on the path of cultivation, familiar people and things were disappearing, and he couldn't help but feel sad and wanted to hold on to some old memories.
However, what cannot be kept will eventually be kept, and there is no point in forcing it to stay. The Tang family now is no longer the Tang family that once showed him kindness.
Tang Xueyao noticed the change in Zixiao's expression. He seemed to have let go of something, and she realized that he would no longer protect the Tang family. She immediately panicked: "You can't do this! The Tang family has been kind to you!"
With a flick of his sleeve, the Purple Cloud Immortal Venerable swiftly and decisively moved her outside the Wendao Sect. He felt that actions spoke louder than words.
He wasn't as angry as everyone thought, because he and Tang Xueyao weren't a proper Daoist couple, and he had no romantic feelings for her; everything he did was to repay a debt of gratitude.
However, the fact that Tang Xueyao dared to use his title as his Daoist partner to get involved with his future disciple instantly disgusted him.
If you want a divorce, just say so. There's no need to resort to such shady tactics.
They just wanted to take advantage of the situation.
[Handsome. You can't give this kind of person a chance to explain, otherwise they'll stick to you like glue.]
Although I don't know why the gossip in the system changed, it's definitely more exciting now. I'm so full!
Lou Yuqing touched her belly, guessing that the future melon might not be fixed, after all, nothing in this world is absolute, and external forces can change things.
Qingxuzi: I'm full too.
At this moment, Zeng Xuangan seized the opportunity and stepped forward: "Uncle-Master, I'm taking Zeng Changfeng with me."
Immortal Venerable Zixiao waved his hand.
Zeng Xuangan breathed a sigh of relief; it was finally over. He grabbed Zeng Changfeng, who was standing there like a quail, and with a flash, disappeared from the main hall.
Outside the protective array, Tang Xueyao wanted to rush into the thick fog, but found that the token had expired. Seeing that the array was about to launch an attack, she had no choice but to retreat to a safe position.
“I can’t get in…” Tang Xueyao murmured, a smile mixed with tears on her face, followed by an overwhelming surge of resentment.
Zixiao, you are too heartless!
She had been swaggering around in the Tang family for a long time, relying on his power, and had made enemies with many people. Now that she had been brought back to her original state, the Tang family would definitely not let her off the hook.
"Xueyao." A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came.
Tang Xueyao turned her head and saw someone she had never imagined.
Zeng Changfeng looked at her with a complex expression, his eyes showing both reluctance and, more than anything, a sense of satisfaction.
He was turned away by the Purple Cloud Immortal, and Tang Xueyao was also kicked out by the Purple Cloud Immortal. This gave him a strange sense of resonance. Look, he wasn't the only one who was in such a miserable situation. There were others who were just like him.
"What kind of look is that, Zeng Changfeng? Don't think you can boss me around just because you know me. Who do you think you are? You're nothing!"
Tang Xueyao was at an extremely sensitive moment, and Zeng Changfeng's gaze undoubtedly provoked her.
"Tang Xueyao, how did you become so mean?" Although Zeng Changfeng hated her for abandoning him and returning to her family, he still had the filter of first love for her. Now that she was suddenly like this, he found it hard to believe.
Tang Xueyao sneered: "What I become is none of your business. Back then, the Tang family sent people to find me and wanted me to marry someone. I said we should elope. What did you do, you coward? You just ran away!"
"Oh, I remember now, there was someone kneeling in the main hall just now, with their head almost touching the ground. It was you. After all these years, your character hasn't changed. Should I praise you for being consistent?"
Zeng Changfeng's face was grim: "Back then, it was clearly the Tang family who forced me to leave you. If I had eloped with you and we had been caught, you might have survived, but I would have lost my life. How could you be so selfish and not understand my suffering!"
"I understand you, but who understands me! My life is completely ruined now!" Tang Xueyao's eyes turned red, and spiritual power surged in her hands as she struck Zeng Changfeng with a palm.
Caught off guard, Zeng Changfeng was struck squarely, spitting out a mouthful of blood. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes: "You are no longer the Xueyao you once were. She would never hit me."
As he finished speaking, thunder rumbled from his body, and countless tiny arcs of electricity coursed around him, making him feel as if he were surrounded by a net of lightning. He pointed forward, and the arcs of electricity flowed across his arm and shot out.
Lightning was incredibly fast, and Tang Xueyao couldn't dodge it. She was hit head-on by the attack, her body trembled uncontrollably, and her hair stood on end.
This couple, who would normally be inseparable from Zixiao Immortal Venerable, now acted like mortal enemies, frantically exposing each other's shortcomings and even coming to blows.
The two have their own advantages. Although Zeng Changfeng is not a good person, he is diligent in his cultivation, has a solid foundation, and is adept at using magic. Tang Xueyao, on the other hand, has not focused on cultivation in recent years and has relied entirely on pills to improve her cultivation level. However, she is a small realm higher than Zeng Changfeng and has the cultivation level of the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Zeng Xuangan watched this scene with great interest from the sky: Not bad, there's still more to come. I'll step in and stop them when they've fought enough.
At the same time, the disciples guarding the mountain heard the commotion and went out to see what was going on. They found people arguing and fighting, and one of them was even the Daoist partner of the Purple Cloud Immortal Venerable.
Just as he was at a loss, Zeng Xuangan transmitted his voice and said, "Tang Xueyao is no longer my master's Daoist partner, nor is she a member of the Wendao Sect."
Upon hearing this, the disciples guarding the mountain were overjoyed and quickly spread the news to others. The word spread like wildfire, and soon a large group of people had gathered.
The reason why Tang Xueyao is so unpopular is because she acts like an elder in front of the sect disciples, with an arrogant attitude and a lot of criticism.
Because of her status, the disciple dared not speak out against her anger.
Now that there's something interesting to see, I naturally have to come and check it out.
“I went to the Inner Affairs Hall to collect my monthly allowance and happened to run into her. She deducted some of my spirit stones because I didn’t bow properly. I was furious.”
“We are in the same boat. I was also detained last month. She has the support of a celestial being, and the disciples of the Internal Affairs Hall who distribute monthly allowances dare not utter a word.”
"What exactly did Immortal Venerable Zixiao see in her?"
"Putting everything else aside, I'm certain this has absolutely nothing to do with feelings."
How did you know?
“I have a friend who was lucky enough to become a disciple of Cangtian Peak. He told me that the Immortal Venerable and she had always lived separately, and they didn’t seem like a proper married couple at all.”
"Oh, how come I've never heard of this before?"
"Who would dare to spread rumors about the Immortal Venerable? Only now that they've broken up can I tell you this."
"Who is that man? Do you know him?"
"I don't know him, but he should be related to her."
"They were fighting so fiercely, I understand now, this man came to her door seeking revenge."
“You’re wrong. I arrived the earliest. Their relationship wasn’t just ordinary; they almost got married.”
"Could the Immortal Venerable's dissolution of their Daoist partnership be related to this man?"
"That makes sense."
The crowd started discussing it amongst themselves, piecing together parts of the truth.
At this moment, Zeng Xuangan appeared before everyone, waved his hand to repel Tang Xueyao and Zeng Changfeng, and warned, "You two must not act presumptuously in front of the Wendao Sect!"
Elder Zeng.
Tang Xueyao got up from the ground, wanting Zeng Xuangan to plead with Zixiao on her behalf. When she looked up, she saw a large group of disciples pointing and whispering at her.
They all know!
Tang Xueyao felt dizzy and fainted. Her body was covered in burn marks from the lightning, making her look particularly disheveled.
Zeng Changfeng forced himself to say, "Ancestor, I..."
“I cannot bear the title of ‘ancestor’ from you. Your name will be removed from the family genealogy. If you ever use the Zeng family’s name outside, you’ll be hunted down by the Zeng family,” Zeng Xuangan said expressionlessly.
Zeng Changfeng's body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground. It was all over.
Xuantian Peak.
Lou Yuqing flipped through the system panel.
[Oh, there's still some juicy gossip to come. I was curious before about why the Tang family chose Tang Xueyao as the Daoist partner of the Purple Cloud Immortal Venerable. The truth is actually like this. The Tang family is even more shameless than I thought.]
[One reason is that Tang Xueyao has good aptitude and can keep up with cultivation; the other is that she is young. If she and Zixiao Immortal Venerable were to have a child, she might be able to completely bind him to the Tang family.]
Qingxuzi blushed, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the bold and risqué words of his inner thoughts. He quickly walked away, otherwise he could have shared the awkwardness with his junior brother.
Immortal Venerable Zixiao coughed and said, "Cough cough."
He felt a little embarrassed to have his secret exposed by a junior.
"My decision to accept a disciple today is not solely due to Zeng Changfeng's aptitude for the Thunder Spirit Root, but also because Daoist Tianji said I would surely receive a satisfactory disciple today," said Zixiao Immortal Venerable, changing the subject.
Lou Yuqing's attention was indeed drawn.
Unseen by her, the gossip system displayed a scrolling message: "This major gossip delivery is complete. Three people were involved: Qingxuzi, Zeng Xuangan, and Zixiao Immortal Venerable."
Qingxuzi said, "My master actually went to see the head of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the Heavenly Mystery Daoist. It is said that he is infallible, but now it seems that he has made a mistake."
No, he didn't.
After denying it, Immortal Venerable Zixiao looked at Lou Yuqing and asked with a smile, "Would you be willing to become my disciple?"
Lou Yuqing asked in bewilderment, "Me?"
Qingxuzi suddenly realized: That's right, besides Zeng Changfeng, Yuqing also came to the sect today.
"Reporting to Uncle-Master, her spiritual root aptitude hasn't been tested yet. Should we wait until after the test?" To prevent Immortal Venerable Zixiao from changing his mind, Qingxuzi brought up the matter first.
Immortal Venerable Zixiao smiled gently: "It's alright. I accept disciples based on fate. Today I have a connection with this girl. As long as she has spiritual roots, I will accept her as my disciple."
Qingxuzi sighed, "Yuqing is really lucky. So many people want to become my master's disciple, but she won his favor through fate."
However, her heartfelt words helped her martial uncle avoid a great calamity; what else could this be but fate?
"Yuqing, come with me."
Qingxuzi led her to the side hall on the left. The hall was simply furnished, with four tall load-bearing pillars supporting the upper and lower parts, enclosing a square area. A huge mirror hung from the ceiling.
Following his instructions, Lou Yuqing stood in the center.
Qingxuzi made a hand seal and pointed upwards, a ball of white light hitting the mirror. The mirror shone brightly, enveloping Lou Yuqing.
Soon, a purple light appeared on the girl's body, with arcs of electricity flashing and thunder rumbling, which was a characteristic of her possessing a lightning spiritual root.
Qingxuzi's face lit up with joy. "That's wonderful!"
Although my master promised to take Yuqing as his disciple if she had spiritual roots, it's always better to have high talent and aptitude than low talent and aptitude.
Just as he was about to stop, Immortal Venerable Zixiao spoke up: "Continue to activate the Spirit Testing Mirror. This is not a normal lightning spiritual root, but a hidden lightning spiritual root. It seems to be covered by some kind of physique, which is why her aura is not strong enough."
He was increasingly convinced that the disciple the Taoist Tianji was referring to was not Zeng Changfeng at all, but Lou Yuqing.
Hidden Thunder Spirit Root?
Startled, Qingxuzi didn't stop. He cast spells into the Spirit Mirror, causing it to shine brightly and seep into Lou Yuqing's body.
Hidden Lightning Spiritual Root is a special kind of spiritual root. When a cultivator's physique is too strong, it will cover up their original spiritual root, which cannot be detected by ordinary means.
If Lou Yuqing had been tested in a different place, her spiritual talent might have been buried.
"uh-huh……"
Lou Yuqing let out a muffled groan, her body becoming increasingly transparent under the white light, eventually disappearing into the air. Only her entire skeleton was reflected in the golden light, forming a peculiar golden portrait of exposed bones.
"The Immaculate Body!" A look of shock flashed in the eyes of the Purple Cloud Immortal Venerable. Among the known physiques in the cultivation world, the Immaculate Body is one of the most renowned.
Because cultivators with this physique have absolutely no bottlenecks in their cultivation!
Zixiao Immortal Venerable looked at Lou Yuqing with excitement. He would go to Tianji Pavilion another day to prepare a generous gift for Tianji Daoist, so that he could receive such a talented disciple.
He is confident that he can help her ascend to immortality within fifty years!
Lou Yuqing had just opened her eyes when she saw the Purple Cloud Immortal Venerable looking at her with a gratified expression, and she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy: "Senior, you..."
"Don't call me senior, you should call me master." Immortal Venerable Zixiao interrupted her, his gentle voice like a spring breeze, making people feel extremely comfortable.
Lou Yuqing knelt down on both knees and performed the formal apprenticeship ceremony: "Disciple Lou Yuqing greets Master. Master, please accept my three bows."
She respectfully kowtowed three times.
Zixiao Immortal Venerable nodded in satisfaction: "Get up. From now on, you will be my last disciple. You possess the Immaculate Body and the Hidden Thunder Spiritual Root, and your aptitude is even higher than mine. As long as you cultivate diligently, even if you entered the sect a little late, you can still catch up with the other disciples in the sect."
Lou Yuqing replied loudly, "Yes, disciple understands."
Having become an apprentice, she now had another powerful backer, and a carefree life seemed to beckon her. Thinking this, a happy smile appeared on the girl's face.
At this moment, Qingxuzi hesitated and said, "Yuqing has become your disciple, so we are of the same generation. We can't be careless about how we address each other. But, asking me to call her junior sister... that's..."
Since Qingxuzi became the sect leader, he has never encountered such a thorny problem.
Lou Yuqing was startled; she couldn't even imagine herself calling the other person "senior brother."
Immortal Venerable Zixiao waved his hand and said, "No need for trouble. Let's each do our own thing. You call her by her name, and she'll call you... Sect Leader. You can't use the title 'Grandmaster' anymore."
If his disciples called Qingxuzi "Grandmaster," then his seniority as the master would be lower than Qingxuzi's, which would cause confusion.
Qingxuzi quickly replied, "Okay."
"Oh, right, remember to erase Tang Xueyao's spiritual energy aura from the mountain-protecting array. Also, record my disciple's aura on it," Zixiao Immortal Venerable instructed.
Qingxuzi smiled and said, "It will be ready soon."
After saying that, he sent a telepathic message to the sect's internal affairs hall, ordering them to immediately send over the new disciple's exclusive equipment.
One token, one flying magic weapon, one attack magic weapon, one defense magic weapon, one basic storage bag, and one set of sky-blue robes.
"The token is a symbol of identity for disciples of the Wendao Sect. It records our spiritual energy and ensures that we are not attacked by the mountain-protecting formation when entering and leaving the sect. After you draw in your Qi, you will inject your spiritual energy into it to activate the token."
"Also, there are certain places within the sect that cannot be visited; certain permissions are required. Otherwise, entering rashly will result in being attacked by the great formation," Qingxuzi explained in detail.
"The others are not very important. The three magic artifacts are only low-grade magic artifacts. With your master here, we will naturally not have to worry about higher-grade magic artifacts. As for this storage bag, it only has one cubic meter and cannot hold much."
Qingxuzi pointed to the sky-blue robe and said, "This is the sect's uniform. It has the ability to clean and remove dust. Unless it is damaged, it can stay clean. Of course, if it is damaged, you will need to pay to buy a new one from the sect."
Lou Yuqing inquired about the price: "How much is one piece?"
"Ten spirit stones. Every year, many disciples' clothes are destroyed in battles, which generates a lot of income for the sect." Qingxuzi revealed a shrewd businessman's smile.
Lou Yuqing: "..." That's fine.
She secretly vowed that her robes must not be torn.
"Disciple, come here. This is a gift from your master." Immortal Venerable Zixiao searched for a long time before finding the unused magic artifact in his storage ring. Mainly because his cultivation level was too high, the items inside were all used by high-level cultivators.
Lou Yuqing accepted the ring from her master and quickly put it on the middle finger of her right hand. The ring was pure silver and engraved with a circle of leaf patterns, giving it a very fresh and delicate feel.
"Thank you, Master. How do I use this?"
Immortal Venerable Zixiao patiently explained, "This is a storage ring, with about a thousand cubic meters. You can put anything you need in it for easy carrying. My gift for you is also inside. Once you cultivate spiritual power, I can imprint it on you for storage and retrieval."
"Okay." Lou Yuqing made a gesture.
Lou Yuqing bid farewell to the sect leader and went to her master's Cangtian Peak, where she opened up a cave dwelling, settled down, and began to cultivate the techniques taught by her master.
The next day, when she appeared before the Purple Cloud Immortal Venerable, she had successfully broken through to the first level of Qi Refining.
Immortal Venerable Zixiao did not hold back his praise: "Well done. Your talent is even more outstanding than I thought. Ordinary cultivators need pills to improve their cultivation, but you don't need them. Once your cultivation reaches a certain level, you can break through the bottleneck naturally."
"Therefore, I suggest that you do not take pills during your cultivation process. Instead, focus on building a solid foundation. Your strength can surpass most cultivators of the same realm. In addition, with the unique destructive power of lightning attribute spells, you will be able to fight even if you face three or four cultivators of the same realm at the same time."
In just a few words, the Purple Cloud Immortal Venerable explained Lou Yuqing's future path and achievements.
Lou Yuqing shrank back guiltily: Master, are you just making empty promises? I just decided to be a lazy bum.
Immortal Venerable Zixiao did not yet realize that his little disciple was a person without ambition. After giving her a pep talk, he told her to go down and cultivate, and to come to him if she had any questions.
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