Tongtian Cult Master immediately waved his sleeve, lifting the seal on Kui Niu's six senses. Then he had Kui Niu turn around and return to Golden Ao Island.
On Golden Ao Island, Daoist Duobao was methodically assigning the sect's duties.
The disciples of the Jie Sect revered their First Senior Brother greatly. Some disciples even knew only Duobao, not Tongtian Cult Master.
Just then, Tongtian Cult Master returned atop Kui Niu, accompanied by Yunxiao.
Tongtian Cult Master saw this scene, and towering fury surged within him, though he forcefully suppressed it.
When Daoist Duobao saw Tongtian Cult Master suddenly return after leaving, he froze for a moment before hurriedly stepping forward and cupping his hands. "This disciple, Duobao, pays respects to Master!"
Tongtian Cult Master nodded expressionlessly.
Daoist Duobao looked up at Tongtian Cult Master in confusion and asked, "Master, weren't you going to Wuzhuang Temple? Why have you returned?"
Light flickered in Tongtian Cult Master's eyes as he looked at Daoist Duobao. "This humble Taoist suddenly gained insight into the Heavenly Dao and was eager to cultivate, so I returned."
Daoist Duobao grinned and cupped his hands. "Congratulations, Master!"
Amid the crowd, Li Xiao's eyes rolled, and he turned to leave.
"Li Xiao!"
Just then, Tongtian Cult Master's voice rang out.
Li Xiao rolled his eyes and could only turn back toward Tongtian Cult Master. Grinning, he said, "Master, what do you need this disciple for?"
Tongtian Cult Master looked at Li Xiao. "This humble Taoist is about to enter seclusion to cultivate and cannot go to Wuzhuang Temple. Hmm, you shall go in my place."
Everyone was startled and turned to look at Li Xiao with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
After all, a trip to Wuzhuang Temple meant not only eating the legendary Ginseng Fruit, but also listening to many great figures expound the Dao. Who would have thought Tongtian Cult Master would send Li Xiao?
He was plainly giving Li Xiao an opportunity!
"Uh? Me? Th-that wouldn't be appropriate, would it? Besides, didn't Master previously say that this disciple was not allowed to leave Golden Ao Island?"
Under everyone's dumbfounded gazes, Li Xiao spoke somewhat unwillingly.
What was going on?
Damn it!
You could eat the legendary Ginseng Fruit and listen to many great figures expound the Dao, yet you were unwilling to go?
Was there something wrong with your brain?
The immortals stared at Li Xiao in disbelief, wondering whether water had gotten into his head.
In truth, they simply did not know the situation.
Although Ginseng Fruit was precious, Li Xiao had the Yellow Middle Plum, known as the king of all fruits. And how could those great figures' teachings compare to Great God Pangu's cultivation art, the Nine Revolutions Arcane Arts?
With that time, Li Xiao might as well work hard at cultivating the Nine Revolutions Arcane Arts!
Besides, Li Xiao also had the Lazy Fish System!
What if he slacked off for a while and received some treasure as a reward? Wouldn't that be even better?
There was no need to go to Wuzhuang Temple and compete with those people for Ginseng Fruit!
Daoist Duobao was the first to recover. He stepped forward, cupped his hands toward Tongtian Cult Master, and said, "Master, since Junior Brother Li Xiao is unwilling to go, why not let this disciple go? This disciple will certainly not disgrace Master..."
Damn it!
You want to go?
You'll eat Ginseng Fruit, listen to great figures expound the Dao, and your cultivation will rise!
Then you'll betray the sect afterward?
Do you think I'm that stupid?
Tongtian Cult Master grumbled inwardly. Looking at Daoist Duobao, he said, "Duobao, this humble Taoist still needs to rely on you for the sect's affairs. You should not go."
Daoist Duobao's old face twitched violently, and he could only cup his hands. "Yes, Master!"
"Master, can this disciple not go?"
After hesitating for a moment, Li Xiao cupped his hands toward Tongtian Cult Master.
When Tongtian Cult Master heard this, he was nearly enraged enough for his hair to stand on end. He glared at Li Xiao and said in a deep voice, "Hmph, you insolent fool! You dare defy this humble Taoist's decree? If you refuse to go, this humble Taoist will throw you into the North Sea's Abyssal Eye!"
Damn it!
He was treating me like Duke Shen!
Li Xiao shuddered in fright and hurriedly cupped his hands. "Master, this disciple will go, all right?"
Yet judging from his tone, the Jie Sect disciples wished they could rush forward and beat him up.
We don't even have the chance to go, but you keep making excuses and refusing! You really don't know how fortunate you are. It's infuriating!
Tongtian Cult Master nodded, then looked at Yunxiao. "Yunxiao, Li Xiao's cultivation is low, and he cannot protect himself. You shall accompany him to Wuzhuang Temple."
Tongtian Cult Master had two reasons for having Yunxiao accompany Li Xiao to Wuzhuang Temple!
First, it was to protect Li Xiao. Second, it would make it easier for Yunxiao to overhear Li Xiao's inner thoughts and learn useful information!
Just like today's crucial news: Duobao would betray the sect, and the Jie Sect would be destroyed...
"Yes, Master!"
Yunxiao naturally understood Tongtian Cult Master's meaning and hurriedly cupped her hands.
At the side, Li Xiao was naturally pleased as well.
After all, with a beautiful girl accompanying him, the journey would not be so lonely!
At the very least, she was pleasing to the eye!
As for whether anything else might happen... well, that would depend on his methods! Pah, I'm an upright man. What am I thinking?
Still, I seem to be lacking a Dao companion. Yunxiao is quite lovely, and her cultivation is extremely high...
The Blind Maitreya Buddha
Recently, Daoist Duobao had been rather depressed!
Ever since Tongtian Cult Master had returned to Golden Ao Island after leaving that time, Daoist Duobao felt as though Tongtian Cult Master had deliberately begun distancing himself from him.
Not only had he allowed Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Holy Mother Wudang, and Turtle Spirit Holy Mother to divide up Daoist Duobao's authority, but even when expounding the Dao, he seemed to be subtly withholding things from Daoist Duobao.
"What exactly is going on?"
On Duobao Peak, Daoist Duobao's expression was so gloomy it nearly dripped with water as he muttered to himself.
"Yunxiao was the one who brought Master back last time. Could Yunxiao have spoken ill of this humble Taoist before Master? But that's impossible. Yunxiao and this humble Taoist have always gotten along quite well. She has no reason to speak ill of this humble Taoist..."
Daoist Duobao was rather baffled as well.
Elsewhere, Li Xiao and Yunxiao hurried along on clouds.
They finally arrived at Longevity Mountain!
Longevity Mountain stretched endlessly for hundreds of millions of li. It was filled with spiritual beauty, towering ancient trees, Divine Peaks piercing the heavens, and faintly visible rosy clouds. Countless auspicious beasts ran and played among the mountains, making one unable to help but praise it as a blessed immortal land.
The two continued riding the clouds and finally arrived outside Wuzhuang Temple.
At this time, Qingfeng had long been waiting outside the temple gates. Yet Tongtian Cult Master had not arrived; instead, Li Xiao and Yunxiao had come.
Qingfeng could not help frowning slightly as he looked at them. "Where is Sage Tongtian?"
"Master suddenly had something to attend to and could not come, so he sent the two of us instead!"
Li Xiao looked at Qingfeng and replied.
"Follow me!"
Displeasure appeared on Qingfeng's face as he turned and headed toward Wuzhuang Temple. As he walked, he muttered, "Two more freeloaders..."
Yunxiao's delicate brows furrowed tightly upon hearing this.
Although Tongtian Cult Master could not come, he had sent his personal disciple Li Xiao and her, an elite disciple. Yet they had been called freeloaders.
How could that not anger her?
But this was, after all, Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi's sacred ground. Yunxiao knew the rules and did not wish to cause trouble for Tongtian Cult Master, so she forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart.
Yunxiao could suppress herself, but Li Xiao was not someone who feared trouble!
The moment he heard Qingfeng the daoist boy's words, Li Xiao flew into a rage. With a loud roar, he kicked Qingfeng in the backside, sending him sprawling forward. Qingfeng's face scraped across the ground for several zhang, carving a deep trench into the earth.
"What the hell are you? How dare you insult us?"
Li Xiao pointed at Qingfeng and cursed furiously.
This was during the Witch-Demon Tribulation, and Qingfeng had already been following Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi by this time!
From the Witch-Demon Tribulation to the Journey to the West Tribulation was an immeasurable span of time. Even a pig following Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi should have attained the Dao by then, yet Qingfeng and Mingyue had been beaten up by Monkey during the Journey to the West Tribulation!
It was clear that the two had truly mediocre talent!
Yet such a daoist boy dared to look down on Li Xiao. No wonder Li Xiao was enraged!
Qingfeng had not expected Li Xiao to dare make a move at Wuzhuang Temple. He sprang to his feet and looked at Li Xiao with shock and fury. "Y-you actually dare attack someone at my Wuzhuang Temple?"
Just then, another daoist boy flew over and asked, "Qingfeng, what happened?"
"Mingyue, this man actually dared to attack someone at Wuzhuang Temple!"
Qingfeng pointed at Li Xiao and shouted.
"How presumptuous! You dare cause trouble at Wuzhuang Temple? You're courting death!"
Mingyue immediately flew into a rage and pointed at Li Xiao.
As he spoke, he flipped his hand, producing a whip, and lashed it toward Li Xiao.
"You insolent fool!"
Li Xiao was furious. He shook both arms, and the roar of towering waves rose behind him. Thirty-six pale-blue pearls howled forth, radiating boundless light as they smashed toward Qingfeng and Mingyue.
"Ah..."
Before you continue