"What a fat pig! Who raised you? It looks so delicious!"
The Golden Ape, whose path was blocked, asked a question. Before leaving, he had already taken off his Taoist robe and changed out of his original imposing attire, just as Feng Bingwen had instructed. He was quite majestic, and his demeanor was unrestrained, arrogant, and tyrannical.
"Where did this monkey come from? You've got eyes for nothing. I am Dang Kang, the auspicious beast Dang Kang."
The wild boar that rushed out of the forest was not to be trifled with. Seeing the golden-armored monkey's contemptuous attitude, it immediately retorted with insults.
"Dang Kang? You look exactly like a pig! So what if you use fancy names?"
Sun Yuansheng scrutinized Zhonglu from head to toe, then chuckled mockingly. He was naturally mischievous, and this Dang Kang had offended him first, so he naturally wouldn't be polite in the slightest.
"You monkey, how dare you insult me?"
When Kang Zhonglu was enraged, his small but strong body leaped into the air and crashed headfirst into Sun Yuansheng.
"It really is a wild boar!"
Sun Yuansheng laughed heartily, but with the iron rod that Ruyi could transform into, he swung it down with a single blow.
clang!
With a sharp crack, Kang Zhonglu fell straight down from the sky, creating a shallow crater on the ground.
However, being an auspicious omen, it quickly got up from the ground despite being hit hard. But this blow only fueled Zhonglu's anger.
He stayed quietly in his own mansion, doing nothing, but he never expected that a monkey would inexplicably break in and beat him up. How could he tolerate this?
"You monkey, do you even know where you are? How dare you run wild here? You have some nerve!"
"Of course I know."
Sun Yuansheng replied disdainfully. He had investigated many true masters, so how could he not know the origin of this pig in front of him? But even if he knew, so what? This pig had offended him first, so should he tolerate it?
That doesn't make sense. His status is no worse than this wild boar's. If we ignore his background and just talk about strength, this boar is no match for him at all. Why should he swallow his pride?
"You still dare to act arrogantly here? Be careful, or I'll report to my master and have you sent to the execution platform!"
Kang was stunned. As soon as he made contact with the monkey, he knew he was no match for it. But it didn't matter. As a mythical beast revered by humans as an auspicious creature, he was not known for his killing prowess, but he had powerful backers.
"Hmph, you pig, do you know why I'm here? How dare you block my way and delay my master's business? You can't bear such a crime. Be careful your master doesn't steam, braise, or stew you!"
Sun Yuansheng was unyielding. He was never one to be trifled with, and swallowing his pride was never an option for him. If he hadn't been born into the Taishangdao sect and had nowhere else to go, he wouldn't have so easily submitted to Feng Bingwen.
"Your husband?"
The auspicious beast Dang Kang twitched its large, pink nostrils twice. That familiar aura finally stirred memories from several years ago. Nothing much had happened within the mountain gate to begin with, so there wasn't much he could recall.
“I remember now. Who is it? It turns out you are that rude boy’s pet monkey! That rude boy was brought back by Daozi. On his first day at the mountain gate, I bumped into him in Xuanqing Cave.”
"Is that so?"
Sun Yuansheng was quite surprised. He had never heard of this before. He figured it was a dark chapter in his master's history that he was ashamed to discuss with others.
However, this was not the time to concern himself with such things. "A subject dies for his lord's dishonor." Although he had never heard such a saying before, he still understood the similar principle.
"How dare you! My master's name is already recorded in the Imperial Register, and he has now ascended to the position of Supreme True Disciple. How dare you, a mere pig, insult him?"
"That rude brat managed to become a true disciple? Hmph! He must have gotten involved through connections!"
"presumptuous!"
At this moment, Sun Yuansheng no longer needed to think. He picked up the iron rod in his hand and slammed it down on the blue boar below once again. He didn't care what kind of auspicious beast it was. If he didn't react to such an insult to his master, he wouldn't be able to stay in the Taishangdao sect.
Awoo!
Zhonglu roared and spat out a divine light, trying to put up a last-ditch resistance. However, his resistance was like snowflakes falling under the scorching sun, fleeting and powerless against the iron rod.
Its small body was once again sent flying from the ground by the iron rod. After tracing a pleasing blue arc in the air, it plowed a deep furrow in the ground, crashing into countless rocks and trees.
"You pig, with your meager cultivation, how dare you insult my master! Take this beating!"
The Golden Ape was naturally unwilling to give up. In an instant, the iron rod in its hand multiplied into hundreds and thousands, raining down on Dang Kang, whose small eyes showed fear.
A shrill scream echoed through the valley, but this one-sided beating did not last long. Accompanied by a loud phoenix cry, blue flames spread in the air, and with a flash of golden light, Sun Yuansheng vanished from his original spot without being touched by the flames.
A monkey clad in golden armor and wielding an iron rod stood atop auspicious clouds, its eyes shining brightly as it swept its gaze toward the source of the azure flames—a magnificent blue phoenix.
At this moment, the phoenix with its wings folded stood on a branch of a paulownia tree, its phoenix eyes, which were burning with spiritual fire, staring coldly at Sun Yuansheng.
"Who are you? Why are you humiliating Zhonglu?"
The blue phoenix opened its mouth, its voice melodious and pleasant to the ear.
"I am a disciple of the newly appointed True Disciple Feng Bingwen, and I am here on my master's orders to deliver a formal letter of greeting to Luo Zhen!"
Sun Yuansheng began his introduction,
"As for humiliating this Dang Kang, he brought it on himself. He was the one who spoke rudely first, and I was just teaching him a lesson!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Zhong Lu was furious and wanted to retort, but then he heard a phoenix cry in his ear.
Where is the visiting card?
"Here!"
Sun Yuansheng took out a jade book.
"You wait here!"
The phoenix looked itself up and down, then spread its wings, transformed into a streak of fire, and disappeared from its spot.
"Hmph, you wait. When my master arrives, I'll definitely tell her and have you arrested!"
Lying in the ravine, Kang Zhonglu groaned, feeling pain all over his body.
But Sun Yuansheng was too lazy to pay attention to him at this point. The monkey didn't care about this threat at all, because in his opinion, if he hadn't been born as a monkey fetus, but as a human, he should have a place in the position of the true successor of the Supreme Dao.
"Is your master's master Senior Brother Zhao?"
As the phoenix took flight, a young woman of about sixteen years old could be seen sitting on its back. Her features were exquisite, her demeanor dignified and virtuous, and her graceful bearing was impeccable. Her colorful skirt and sleeves fluttered in the wind, making her appear like a celestial maiden descending to earth.
"Exactly!"
Upon seeing this girl who could ride a blue phoenix, Sun Yuansheng knew he had met the right person. Without saying a word, he presented the jade slip with both hands and let her take it away.
"Yes, I understand!"
Luo Lingxiao took the jade slip; its contents were readily apparent upon reading, consisting of rather formal greetings that required no further explanation.
If it were an ordinary fellow disciple visiting, even a true disciple of the sect, she would find an excuse to decline. However, this true disciple had some connection with her, so she couldn't refuse to see him.
"I will stay in the cave for the next three days, waiting for this junior brother to come and visit!"
"I will report to the master immediately!"
Sun Yuansheng didn't waste any words, and after finishing his business, he rode away on a colorful auspicious cloud, which made Dang Kang below, who wanted his master to help him uphold justice, furious.
"You monkey, if you've got the guts, don't run away."
Unfortunately, Zhonglu could only see a streak of clouds cutting across the sky; he couldn't even see the shadow of the monkey's head anymore.
"Zhonglu!"
Luo Lingxiao frowned slightly, and after she scolded the auspicious beast that could greatly increase soil fertility, it obediently shut its mouth.
"What trouble have you gotten me into now?"
“You must be clear, I did nothing. I just stopped that monkey and asked him what he was doing here. But that monkey was unruly and didn’t say a word before hitting me on the head with that big iron rod. When I mentioned your name, he hit me even harder.”
"Um!"
Luo Lingxiao responded lightly, completely disregarding what this workaholic pig said. Seeing that the girl had no reaction, Kang became even more enthusiastic.
"Master, as the saying goes, like master, like monkey. That monkey is so unruly and tyrannical, it's clear that its master is no better. He sent a visiting card to the master for no reason, he must have some ulterior motive. Master, you must be very careful!"
"Zhonglu, tidy yourself up first, and then get busy with compiling the sect's true teachings!"
Even Qingluan couldn't stand it anymore. She had never thought much of this auspicious beast that looked like a pig. However, as a member of the phoenix family, they were proud by nature and would not show their disgust even if they disliked it.
"Hmph, Master, you're going to suffer a great loss if you don't listen to me. That kid will definitely take advantage of you."
Dang Kang continued to whine and grumble, but neither Luo Lingxiao nor her Qingluan paid any attention to it, because they knew this Dang Kang well enough.
This is a mythical beast that Luo Lingxiao specially captured from outside in order to study alchemy and cultivate medicinal herbs. However, although it is a mythical beast, it has grown up in the wild land since childhood and has been tainted with bad habits, making it untamable.
"No, that monkey hit so hard. It must have been ordered by that rude brat. He must be holding a grudge. I bumped into him the first time we met. That vindictive scoundrel is definitely plotting against my master. We have to be careful of him."
Siluke
Although he was disliked and even his master's mount disliked him, Kang Zhonglu was loyal and plotted how to guard against the newly promoted disciple's mischief.
With this thought in mind, the auspicious creature resembling a wild boar refused to go anywhere and stayed by its master's side. It was getting really bored, but fortunately, it didn't have to wait long before the familiar figure that it had bumped into once before appeared before it.
However, this time was different from the first time. The rude boy didn't even glance at him before being led into the cave by his master with his entourage.
He wanted to go in too, but Qingluan stopped him outside the cave and wouldn't let him in.
"Zhonglu, the young lady has instructed you to stay here and not disturb her."
"Why should I? If you can go in, why can't I?"
"You're such a troublemaker."
"Hmph! Lige, rather than staying here, I'd rather stay by the master's side. I think that brat is up to no good. Didn't you see how many followers he brought? He's definitely going to harm the master. You should go inside!"
Zhong Lu snorted twice. Although he was somewhat unwilling, there was nothing he could do. He could only find a mountain stream in the cave, half of his body was submerged in the water, but his eyes were fixed on the entrance of the cave, waiting for the change to happen.
However, inside the cave, the atmosphere was completely different from the tense and confrontational one that Kang Zhonglu had imagined; instead, the guests were enjoying themselves.
When Feng Bingwen came to pay his respects to his senior sister, he naturally performed all the proper courtesies. Regardless of whether his senior sister needed them or not, he picked all the spiritual materials and precious medicines produced on the Zhanmeng Islands, as long as they were of suitable age, and presented them as a gift.
"Junior Brother Feng, you've come to our door with such a generous gift without any apparent reason. I'm afraid you have some ulterior motive. Please explain your purpose first, otherwise I dare not accept this gift!"
Luo Lingxiao looked at the hundreds of jade boxes laid out in front of her. Some of them even had their roots dug up and were still alive. As long as they were planted in the herb garden, they would survive. This was definitely a great gift for an alchemist, but she was able to treat it with indifference.
Because she was a true disciple of the Supreme Dao, the cave she received was a vast mountain range spanning a thousand miles, rich in resources and full of spiritual energy.
But that's not all. Her exceptional talent in alchemy even caught the attention of the immortals in the sect, who granted her permission to freely enter and exit the various blessed lands of the Supreme Dao, but only those places guarded and managed by immortals.
"Senior sister, what are you saying? When I first met you after entering the mountain sect with Master, you gave me a magic pill. I still remember that kindness. What are these small gifts compared to that?"
Feng Bingwen immediately responded with a smile. He also wanted to get straight to the point, but some things required thorough preparation, otherwise it would seem too hasty.
"My pill is nothing more than a third-grade immortal pill, not worth as much as your medicinal herbs. Junior brother, if you continue to be so secretive and unwilling to speak, then you may leave now!"
Luo Lingxiao also has a straightforward personality, and Feng Bingwen wanted to kick him out directly after trying to be tactful.
Upon hearing this, Feng Bingwen immediately understood his senior sister's temperament and stopped being coy.
"Senior Sister, I have spoken to my master three times about wanting to succeed him as the Dao Child, but he has refused each time. I have no other choice but to come to you, Senior Sister, and ask for your help!"
"Daoist? Oh, I almost forgot, Senior Brother Zhao has already transcended tribulation and become a Human Immortal!"
Luo Lingxiao reached out and clenched his fist, then tapped his brow, looking as if he had only just realized what was happening.
When Zhao Junxian underwent her tribulation to become a human immortal, most of her sect members came to observe, but she was not among them. At that time, she was refining a batch of immortal pills.
"Since Senior Brother Zhao has already transcended the tribulation and become an immortal, the position of Daoist disciple in the sect is vacant. If you want to be one, then go ahead and be one!"
"But my master doesn't agree!"
Feng Bingwen sighed, feeling that the way cultivators addressed each other was truly a chaotic mess.
However, there's nothing we can do about it. The most direct solution is for everyone to call their own number so as not to interfere with each other. Although it might sound a bit strange, it's the only way.
"If your master disagrees, then he doesn't agree. Why do you care about his opinion? Your senior sister will teach you: go directly to the Dao Master. If a true disciple of the sect is willing to succeed as the Dao Child, the Dao Master will be overjoyed and will absolutely not refuse."
Luo Lingxiao offered Feng Bingwen a suggestion. However, after listening and pondering for a moment, Feng Bingwen still said...
“My master once said that I am not strong enough to succeed as the Dao Child. I want to prove to my master that he was wrong.”
"So, junior brother, you've come to pay your respects to your senior sister not to bring her gifts, but to challenge her to a duel?"
The girl, who appeared quiet and virtuous, and whose appearance was almost identical to Feng Bingwen's, suddenly smiled. The spiritual light of the magical treasures in the cave dimmed instantly, unable to compete with her brilliance.
"Although I disagree with my master's evaluation of me, I do agree with some of what he said. The position of Daoist disciple should be held by the most outstanding talent, not by the mutual deference among fellow disciples."
"Your awareness is commendable!"
Luo Lingxiao nodded in approval. As she spoke, she stood up from her seat and walked out of the cave.
"Senior sister, what's wrong?"
"You wanted to spar with me to prove your skills to your master, so naturally I, your senior sister, wouldn't refuse your request. However, there's one thing to make clear beforehand: I won't hold back during the spar. If you get hurt or scratched, don't go crying to your master!"
"That's definitely not the case!"
Feng Bingwen was surprised to find that this senior sister was quick-witted and decisive, a stark contrast to the impression she had left on him when they first met. He immediately smiled and agreed without hesitation.
"Let's hope so!"
By the time her words reached Feng Bingwen's ears, his senior sister was already gone, but the traces she left behind were all too obvious. Feng Bingwen transformed into a sword light and chased after her.
Rumble!
When Feng Bingwen flew out of the cave, he saw that the world before him had changed completely. It was no exaggeration to describe it as a complete upheaval. What should have been an endless land had turned into a raging ocean. Scorching hot currents gushed out from the deep sea, and thick smoke formed dark clouds that covered the sky and blocked out the sun.
Crackling sounds!
Wherever his divine sense swept, the feedback was as real as could be. Without hesitation, Feng Bingwen formed a hand seal and immediately unleashed a thunder technique, causing thunder to roll like a heavenly tribulation descending upon the world.
Even before the two true disciples had officially clashed, the aftershocks of their duel had already spread far and wide, not to mention Kang Zhonglu, who was guarding the cave.
"As expected, I was right. That brat had no good intentions when he came to visit the master. The master has now seen through this scoundrel's true colors. However, since this scoundrel dared to come to visit, he must have something to rely on. I need to find Zhao Daozi and have him teach his disciple a lesson, so that he can see his disciple's true colors!"
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