Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears advised, "The Head Outer Sect Disciple is naturally nothing before Senior Disciple Brother, but for us, it is better not to provoke him."
Ling Ya Xian suddenly rose to his feet and shouted, "What is there to fear? We are both Golden Immortals. Even if we come to blows, I would not fear him in the slightest. It would be a perfect chance to teach him a lesson for Senior Disciple Brother."
Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears hurriedly said, "Junior Brother Ling Ya, do not act rashly. What you do not know is that this Head Outer Sect Disciple has a special skill called tattling. Once we stir up trouble first, he will immediately go to Shangqing Palace to complain."
Ling Ya Xian froze, then said disdainfully, "He is actually that shameless?"
Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears nodded in agreement. "He really is that shameless!"
Qiu Shou Xian spoke in a deep voice, with a faint trace of smugness, "Then we will not cause trouble. Senior Brother Duobao has passed by, and Mirror Lake belongs to all of us. We can change places to drink, can we not?"
Ling Ya Xian stood up and laughed heartily. "Right! Right! Come, let us find another place to drink. Drinking and admiring flowers are the perfect match."
Everyone rose in succession, carrying wine, meat, and delicacies as they flew ahead amid laughter and chatter.
Before Mirror Lake, Shi Ji and the others were quietly chanting scriptures when a burst of noisy voices suddenly came from afar. A group of people flew over laughing and talking, sat beside Mirror Lake, lit a bonfire, and began gulping down wine and meat. Their laughter rang through the area, while some disciples flew out and sat cross-legged atop the calm lake, splashing the water with their hands until the sound of rushing water echoed from within Mirror Lake.
Shi Ji and the others immediately stopped chanting. Each of them glared angrily at those wanton Outer Sect Disciples. They actually dared to come again!
"Insolence!" A majestic roar rang out above Mirror Lake. Every noisy sound instantly vanished, and heaven and earth fell silent.
A figure stepped out of the night, his expression stern.
Shi Ji and the others all rose and respectfully cupped their hands in salute. "Greetings, Senior Disciple Brother!"
Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears, Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, and the other Outer Sect Disciples also casually cupped their hands and said with smiles, "Greetings, Senior Brother!"
"Senior Brother, would you like some wine?"
"Senior Brother, do not be so fierce! We are all brothers of the same sect."
Bai Jin looked at the few people seated atop Mirror Lake and angrily shouted, "Get down here!"
The expressions of those atop the lake changed several times. He was actually berating them before so many people?
A young man stood up, his face dark as he said, "I respectfully call you Senior Brother, but this is a place shared by us all. I can stay wherever I wish!"
Bai Jin could not be bothered to waste words. He slapped the air, making it tremble. With a dull boom, several impacts sounded from their bodies at once. They were all sent flying backward, crashing one after another onto the ground beside the pond, where they rolled about screaming in agony.
With a whoosh, all the Outer Sect Disciples rose to their feet and glared furiously at Bai Jin. He actually dared to attack? A grave atmosphere filled heaven and earth.
On Taiqing Peak, Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian, who had been discussing the Dao, all turned their gazes over.
Yuanshi said in dissatisfaction, "Tongtian, you should properly discipline these disciples you have taken in. They have no rules or restraint, acting recklessly and wildly. How can they seek the Dao like this? During the years Bai Jin was gone, your Shangqing Peak nearly turned upside down."
Tongtian said without concern, "Rules or freedom, they are both their own choices. They walk their own paths. Why can doing as one pleases not also be a Dao?"
A hint of displeasure flashed covertly through Yuanshi's eyes.
By the pond, Ling Ya Xian shouted angrily, "Senior Brother, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to seize Mirror Lake for yourself?"
Bai Jin stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at them coldly. "Mirror Lake has never belonged to you."
Suppressing his anger, Ling Ya Xian said, "Could it be yours, Senior Brother? Shangqing Peak is a place we all share. What right do you have to drive us away?"
Bai Jin cupped his hands toward Shangqing Palace and bowed. Then he lowered his hands and sternly shouted, "Absurd! Every blade of grass, every speck of ash, every grain of dust on Shangqing Peak belongs to Master. Since when did it become something we all share? What are you trying to do? Are you trying to occupy Master's cultivation ground?!"
The Outer Sect Disciples of Shangqing Peak all went pale. Occupying Master's cultivation ground? None of them could bear such a charge!
Qiu Shou Xian widened his eyes and stammered, "S-Senior Brother, do not spout nonsense. Who wants to occupy Master's cultivation ground? It is clearly you who have occupied this place."
Bai Jin said coldly, "Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears, come out here!"
Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears stepped forward a few paces and cupped his hands in salute. "Greetings, Senior Brother."
Bai Jin asked sternly, "I once established the Outer Sect rules. Did they know of them?"
Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears inwardly sighed and nodded. "They did."
"Does anyone attend the daily morning lessons?"
Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears shook his head. "No."
Bai Jin asked coldly, "Why not?"
Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears said tactfully, "We have been listening to Senior Disciple Brother explain the Dao, so we have had no time to come."
Bai Jin sneered. "Do not use Senior Disciple Brother to brush me off. As long as you remain Outer Sect Disciples of Shangqing Peak, I am your Senior Disciple Brother."
His tone suddenly rose as he sternly shouted, "You have violated sect rules and shown no respect for your elders. All of you will enter seclusion for thirty years to cultivate your character. You are not permitted to leave."
"What?" All the Outer Sect Disciples lifted their heads and stared at Bai Jin in disbelief. Forced seclusion for thirty years?
If one entered seclusion in a state of enlightenment, let alone thirty years, even three hundred years would pass in the blink of an eye. But being forced to remain in seclusion for thirty years while fully awake was unbearable.
Ling Ya Xian said angrily, "I refuse to accept this!"
Bai Jin said calmly, "If you refuse, then go find Master and see what he says."
Ling Ya Xian immediately hesitated. A resolute gleam flashed through his eyes as he looked firmly at Bai Jin. "Senior Brother, I challenge you. The weak are not qualified to make rules. I ask Senior Brother to accept."
Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears opened his mouth, then closed it again. Letting him probe Bai Jin's true strength would not be a bad thing.
Bai Jin immediately laughed, shaking his head helplessly. "Very well. This time, I will properly educate you on Master's behalf. Shangqing Peak is a place to cultivate and seek the Dao, not somewhere for you to act as you please." He sighed. "Being a disciple is truly exhausting!"
On Taiqing Peak, Tongtian's mouth twitched twice. You are exhausted? You ran away for years at a time, and you still dare claim you are exhausted?!
Ling Ya Xian shot into the sky and shouted, "Senior Brother, forgive my offense!" A pair of male and female swords appeared in his hands. Standing amid the clouds, he roared, "Senior Brother, please instruct me!"
Bai Jin flicked his finger. A streak of green light shot from his fingertips, cutting across the sky and transforming into a green immortal sword that flew straight toward Ling Ya Xian.
Ling Ya Xian shouted angrily, "Senior Brother, you underestimate me too much." He swept his twin swords, forming a vortex of sword qi.
Tongtian had once bestowed four Qing Tian Swords upon Bai Jin: Qingming, Qingyu, Qingxiao, and Qingyun.
Qingming was a soul-slaying sword, shattering souls and extinguishing spirits. Qingyu was an offensive killing sword, meant to break through formidable treasures and destroy the fleshly body. Qingxiao was a sword of momentum, capable of drawing upon the power of heaven and earth. Qingyun was a swift sword, as fast as a streak of light, possessing ultimate speed.
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