Those who had always walked the path of sole supremacy were all masters of major forces renowned throughout the prehistoric world: Beast Kings, Ancestral Dragon, and Demon Emperors.
Compared to them, Duobao was still as immature as a child. The gap was not merely one of strength, but also of cultivation and comprehension.
Ancestral Dragon and the Demon Emperor's sole supremacy meant commanding immortals and gods, ruling over all living beings. Duobao, however, was still stuck at the most basic level of aloof pride. He had not even stepped through the gates of the Great Dao. As he came into contact with and led these Outer Sect Disciples, perhaps Duobao would undergo a transformation!
Over the next two days, the Outer Sect Disciples clearly split into two factions. One was the ascetic faction following Bai Jin, while the other was the free faction following Duobao. A few days later, only three to five people, including Shi Ji, remained in Bai Jin's ascetic faction.
Beneath the gray, hazy sky, Bai Jin lay by a cliff, listening to the clear sounds of scripture chanting carried by the wind. With one leg crossed over the other, he hummed a little tune: "
"With Taiji Boxing in my left hand, and a sword in my right that strikes ahead, a sweeping kick called Clear Snow Breaks, lightness skill like a flying swallow, strange meridians and extraordinary channels, strength that shatters the heavens, righteous energy sweeping the world, suppressing evil and helping the good is my wish. Farewell, old master, farewell, old master, farewell, old master, fare-farewell..." The song sounded lovely, but if Master heard it, he would probably want to beat someone." A soft laugh rang out as a figure slowly approached from beside him.
Bai Jin immediately stopped singing and hurriedly sat up. He cried out in surprise, "Senior Sister~"
Holy Mother Wudang walked over and sat beside Bai Jin. "Junior Brother, what were you singing just now?"
Bai Jin said sheepishly, "I was just humming a few lines. Senior Sister, why are you here?"
"I came to see you!" Holy Mother Wudang asked, "How are your injuries?"
Bai Jin grinned foolishly. "I'm fine now. Senior Disciple Brother showed mercy."
Holy Mother Wudang looked at the few figures chanting scriptures by the lakeshore below and said with a smile, "You did very well."
"Thank you for the praise, Senior Sister. It was what I should have done."
The two sat quietly for a while. Bai Jin hesitated before asking, "Senior Sister, why does Senior Disciple Brother keep targeting me? I've never had any conflict with him."
Holy Mother Wudang hesitated for a moment. "I can't say for sure either. It should be related to Senior Disciple Brother's Dao, though there may be other reasons as well."
Bai Jin asked curiously, "What reasons?"
Holy Mother Wudang said tactfully, "Before you came, Senior Disciple Brother was Master's favorite disciple."
"You mean I stole Senior Disciple Brother's spotlight? He can't be that petty, can he?" Bai Jin said helplessly.
Holy Mother Wudang said with a smile, "Then I don't know."
Bai Jin lay back on the mountain rock and gazed up at the misty sky. Sigh... Being a person is hard! Being an immortal is even harder. Am I going to start cultivating through palace intrigue in the future? Competing for Master's favor?!
A moment later, the morning sun rose in the east. A ray of dawn fell upon Bai Jin and Holy Mother Wudang, plating them both with a golden edge.
Bai Jin sat up, watching the rising sun, and said firmly, "Senior Sister, I don't want to compete with Senior Disciple Brother for anything. But if he deliberately targets me, I won't back down either."
Holy Mother Wudang said with a smile, "Junior Brother, the path of the Great Dao is meant to be contested inch by inch, with courage as its blade."
Then she added, "But you must not act rashly. You are no match for Senior Disciple Brother."
Bai Jin nodded. "I know. So if Senior Disciple Brother bullies me again, I'll bravely go tell Master."
Holy Mother Wudang was instantly dumbfounded. Tell... tell Master? This was what he meant by not backing down? A ridiculous feeling rose in her heart, as if a herd of divine beasts had trampled through it.
Pfft—Holy Mother Wudang burst out laughing. Throwing an arm around Bai Jin's shoulders, she giggled, "Junior Brother, you're really interesting."
Bai Jin said helplessly, "Senior Sister, is it that funny? I'm serious. Knowing you can't win and charging in anyway is the behavior of a fool, not a wise man."
Holy Mother Wudang beamed. "A wise man tells Master?"
"This is called borrowing strength to fight Senior Disciple Brother."
Holy Mother Wudang pictured Duobao bullying Bai Jin, only for Bai Jin to immediately run to Master and cry about it, leaving Duobao looking bewildered and helpless. She found it hilarious. The days ahead suddenly seemed as though they might become very interesting.
Bai Jin reached out and patted Holy Mother Wudang's arm. "Senior Sister, stop laughing. Look, doesn't that sun seem to be getting bigger?"
The sun? Holy Mother Wudang looked eastward and saw the fiery red sun rapidly growing larger, scorching heat rushing toward them.
Holy Mother Wudang abruptly rose to her feet and shouted with a frown, "What honored guest has come to Mount Kunlun?"
The many disciples of Shangqing Peak all rose into the air and stared toward the east.
The fiery red sun drew closer and closer, gradually transforming into a magnificent imperial carriage. Nine flood dragons pulled the carriage, which blazed with crimson flames from end to end. Gold and jade adorned it in extravagant splendor, while two squads of powerful Demon Race guards followed on either side.
The imperial carriage stopped in the eastern skies above Mount Kunlun. Its curtains parted, revealing a young man seated within. He wore a dark golden robe, his posture straight and imposing, his features handsome and resolute. A sun divine mark rested upon his brow, and he possessed an extraordinary bearing, like a divine king above the nine heavens passing judgment upon all living beings.
The young man stood and stepped out of the carriage. With cupped hands, he bowed and said, "Eastern Emperor Taiyi requests an audience with the three senior brothers." His mighty voice echoed over Mount Kunlun.
"It's Eastern Emperor Taiyi!"
"Why has the Demon Emperor come?"
The disciples immediately erupted in commotion.
On the cliff, Bai Jin quietly shrank back a little, muttering anxiously to himself. The Demon Emperor isn't here to settle accounts, is he? Second Martial Uncle said he'd take on this karma. Does that still count? It seems Second Martial Uncle is still in seclusion and hasn't emerged yet!
The gates of Taiqing Palace, Yuqing Palace, and Shangqing Palace opened simultaneously, and three figures emerged from within.
Tongtian said, "Eastern Emperor Taiyi, why have you come to Mount Kunlun with such great fanfare?"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi straightened and smiled gently. "Some time ago, a youth in the East Sea used the Taiji Diagram to injure Bifang Demon God and seize my Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage. Do the three senior brothers know anything about this?"
The many disciples of Shangqing Peak all wore strange expressions. Wasn't the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage the one Senior Disciple Brother had given to Second Martial Uncle?
On the cliff, Holy Mother Wudang asked, "Was he talking about you?"
Bai Jin nodded.
Holy Mother Wudang reassured him, "Don't worry! This is Mount Kunlun. With Master and Martial Uncles here, it isn't his place to act arrogantly."
Bai Jin said, "I know, but it seems I've caused trouble for Master and Martial Uncles again."
Atop Yuqing Peak, Yuanshi stood with one hand behind his back, staring directly at Eastern Emperor Taiyi. He said majestically, "Have you come to demand an explanation?"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi said, "I would not dare! This junior merely wishes to recover the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage."
Yuanshi said, "As far as I know, the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage does not belong to your Demon Court. It was given by the Dragon Race to my martial nephew. What does it have to do with your Demon Court? To come demanding it back is utterly unreasonable."
Eastern Emperor Taiyi smiled. "The Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage is merely a mount and serves no purpose. How about I exchange two Innate Spiritual Treasures for it? I ask Senior Brother to grant me this convenience."
Yuanshi shook his head. "I do not lack Innate Spiritual Treasures. The Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage represents my martial nephew's heartfelt intentions, and it will not be exchanged."
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