The Crowd Leaves Maoshan, True Immortal Qianyuan Bestows Spirit Treasures

Hearing his master recount these past events, Zhong Bai's brows furrowed deeply.

It seemed that, for now, Tengteng Town was not a place he, a Qi Condensation cultivator, could enter.

However, Zhong Bai was a bit confused.

"Master, according to you, that Golden Armored Corpse King was already severely injured. Why didn't other sects send Foundation Establishment Peak or Golden Core True Monarch cultivators to preemptively eliminate it?"

Zhong Bai didn't understand this point.

"Heh, you're dreaming big, kid. To be honest, as for Golden Core True Monarchs, I don't know about other sects, but Maoshan definitely has them. Oh, and your Martial Great-Uncle Ming is a proper Golden Core True Monarch!

But...

Slaying a Half-Step Flying Zombie, even a Golden Core True Monarch isn't entirely confident. Spiritual energy in heaven and earth is becoming scarcer, and the amount of spiritual energy a Golden Core True Monarch can harness has also decreased, making it difficult to unleash their true power.

Forcibly slaying a Half-Step Flying Zombie could very well result in severe injury or even mutual destruction.

Do you think... a cultivator who has reached that realm would take such a risk?"

This question stumped Zhong Bai. Indeed, people are selfish. The purpose of cultivation is to become an immortal ancestor, to live forever. Choosing to fight to the death with a Half-Step Flying Zombie is, truly, very foolish.

"Understood now?

Heh heh, that's why the Buddhist Golden Core expert only launched a sneak attack to severely injure the opponent, then took the opportunity to seal it away, and that was that.

As for the future, whether this Half-Step Flying Zombie will break the seal and reappear, or even become a true Flying Zombie, who cares?

When the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. Who knows how many old geezers are still hidden in the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Lands of the various Daoist and Buddhist sects..."

As he spoke, True Immortal Qianyuan clearly felt a bit guilty. After all, Maoshan was very secretive. True Immortal Qianyuan vaguely knew some things, but regarding the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land, only successive sect leaders truly knew the secrets.

"Master, this disciple understands your thoughts. Don't worry, this disciple won't be foolish enough to charge into Tengteng Town with my current strength.

Master, after this disciple descends the mountain, please take care of yourself. This disciple will certainly prioritize my own safety!

Master, take care..."

Zhong Bai wanted to descend the mountain. The longer he delayed, the more reluctant he felt.

True Immortal Qianyuan treated him like his own son, trying every possible way to keep him safe in Maoshan.

And he himself...

"Tsk tsk tsk, you're quite carefree. Don't worry, I won't hold back an ungrateful brat like you. But...

What truly needs attention down the mountain is never demons, but human hearts!

Remember, in Maoshan's precepts, it says not to kill the innocent indiscriminately. As for those who are not innocent, heh heh, my disciple, you must never be soft-hearted!"

Uh...

Zhong Bai was a little startled to hear this. His master seemed to have extensive experience, even managing to remind him of this point. Well, it was a shame that Zhong Bai was not, in fact, a soft-hearted person.

"Master, this disciple understands!"

"Sigh, it's good that you understand, it's good. Finally, I'll give you something good..."

With that, True Immortal Qianyuan reached into his bosom, and a delicate, small ring appeared in his palm.

"Hmph hmph, this is a rare treasure, a Cosmic Ring. It has internal space and can store magical artifacts and other items. Only Golden Core True Monarchs are capable of refining it.

Now, it's yours."

With that, the Cosmic Ring landed in Zhong Bai's palm, and True Immortal Qianyuan, like a gust of wind, vanished from the spot.

He didn't want to see Zhong Bai leave. Sometimes, avoidance was also good.

And Zhong Bai looked at the Cosmic Ring in his hand, his eyes filled with complexity.

"Master, this disciple thanks you for your great kindness. This disciple is descending the mountain. Within ten years, this disciple will make Master proud!"

Taking a deep breath, Zhong Bai took resolute steps, walking step by step down Maoshan.

Corpse Herding Hall.

Four-Eyes was currently clutching his master's leg tightly, refusing to let go.

"Master, this disciple is about to descend the mountain to establish a dojo, but Master, you know that this disciple doesn't have powerful divine abilities for protection. Can Master bear to see this disciple, all alone and helpless, encounter demons in those deep mountains without any power to resist?"

As he spoke, Four-Eyes squeezed out a few tears.

Despite his pitiful appearance, True Immortal Changsheng remained completely unmoved. Instead, his face was as dark as ink, and he gritted his teeth.

"Four-Eyes, let go!"

"No! Master, this disciple is truly scared..."

After hearing that, True Immortal Changsheng could no longer hold back.

"What are you scared of?!

I told you to take anything you wanted from the Corpse Herding Hall and pack it up to take down the mountain. But you, you damn well went and cleaned out all my talismans and copper swords, and you even tried to secretly take your ancestor's statue down the mountain.

What, when you encounter trouble, you want to directly invite your ancestor to possess you?

All that aside, you even tried to scheme against me, asking me to give you a Bronze Armored Corpse for protection. Do you, you motherf***er, even have the ability to control a Bronze Armored Corpse?"

"Having a disciple like you is truly a curse!"

True Immortal Changsheng couldn't hold back, cursing non-stop for a while, but Four-Eyes acted as if he hadn't heard a thing.

"Master, the Bronze Armored Corpse won't work, but I should be able to manage the Hopping Zombie. I'll just take the Hopping Zombie with me...

As for the Bronze Armored Corpse, once I reach Qi Condensation Level Six, you can send it down the mountain for me.

See how considerate I am? I'm not even asking for that Silver Armored Corpse King, yet you're still so stingy."

"Heh, my temper! So you've been eyeing my Silver Armored Corpse King all along, kid?

You're really something, Four-Eyes. Ugh, never mind, never mind. I'm truly afraid of you. You're only at Qi Condensation Level Three right now, so controlling a Bronze Armored Corpse is impossible. And the Hopping Zombie could easily backfire.

With your Martial Great-Uncle's statue here, it's easy to use the Spirit Invocation technique to invite him to possess you. I don't need to worry about safety at all.

How about this: when you reach Qi Condensation Level Six, I'll personally send the Hopping Zombie down the mountain to you.

That way, you can finally let me go, right?"

Upon hearing this, Four-Eyes beamed with joy, completely unbothered by his master's resentful look. He chuckled to himself, quickly tidied his clothes, and hastily began packing.

After Four-Eyes left, True Immortal Changsheng looked towards the tree in the distance.

"I've certainly given Senior Brother Qianyuan something to laugh at."

Indeed, True Immortal Qianyuan had come to the Corpse Herding Hall after leaving the Law Enforcement Hall. He couldn't stand the sorrow of master-disciple partings himself, but watching others reluctant to part was quite amusing.

"No matter, Junior Brother Changsheng has always had a carefree personality, and while Martial Nephew Four-Eyes is a bit wild, he's also sincere.

If there's one flaw, it's that he dreams too big, hahaha. He's actually eyeing your personal Silver Armored Corpse King, Junior Brother. What filial piety."

Hearing this, True Immortal Changsheng's face instantly darkened, but he soon broke into a smile.

"A little playful mischief is good. Cultivation is inherently dull and boring. With Four-Eyes these past few years, I truly haven't felt bored."

"That's true as well."

True Immortal Qianyuan's gaze was calm. Indeed, while Four-Eyes was boisterous, he was also interesting.

"Has Martial Nephew Zhong Bai already gone down the mountain?"

True Immortal Changsheng asked, wondering otherwise why his usually reclusive senior brother would be wandering around his Corpse Herding Hall.

"That's right. I gave him a Cosmic Ring and sent him on his way."

True Immortal Changsheng's mouth twitched upon hearing this.

"Tsk, Senior Brother truly dotes on Martial Nephew Zhong Bai. A Cosmic Ring can only be refined by a Golden Core True Monarch, and its value is immense. Even I only possess one, and it was left by Master..."

"You're not so bad yourself, Junior Brother. Martial Nephew Four-Eyes has almost emptied the main hall, yet you're not distressed."

The two exchanged glances, smiles gracing their faces.

To put it simply, they were both the same kind of person.