Expansion I

Ding ding ding ding.

The crisp white bells swayed faintly in the wind, giving off clear chimes.

Jade Red Mountain Hermit watched slowly as the two Wolf Rats he had raised fought each other.

He had bred many Wolf Rats, all to find the strongest and finest among them to serve as a vessel for his life in the future.

"Alas." Watching the victorious Wolf Rat preen smugly, Jade Red Mountain Hermit touched the pointed ears atop his head.

"After so many attempts, I still cannot find one of my own kind who resembles me? All my kin can only be used as substitute bodies to die in my stead."

This was not his original wish.

Among the daoist sects, there were countless arts that could be used as substitutes to die in one's stead, but the most renowned of them was Thousand Mountains Divine Dao Lord of the Unfixed Church.

Jade Red Mountain Hermit had once been fortunate enough to attend a sermon by Thousand Mountains Divine Dao Lord. From that day onward, his dormant wisdom awakened, and he gained incomparably profound cultivation knowledge from that sermon.

In the blink of an eye, several thousand years had passed. He had finally grown from a tiny mountain Wolf Rat into an idle cloud and wild crane who could claim a territory of his own and live in peace.

He had always searched for his kind, but sadly, no Wolf Rat resembled him. Thousand Mountains Divine Dao Lord had long since vanished into seclusion as well. There would never again be such a dazzling sermon in this world.

Bang bang bang.

Suddenly, knocking came from the courtyard gate outside.

"Master, a guest has come calling," the old Wolf Demon servant reminded him in a deep voice.

Jade Red Mountain Hermit was