Arriving One After Another, Part 1

"Alas, these are troubled times. Yes, it really is autumn now. The Grand Master and Ze Province are both busy, but compared to each other, Great Capital is more dangerous. Especially after you, Daozi, returned, it's even more dangerous."

Ding Zhong's words were pointed.

"What do you mean? What happened to me? I'm just an ordinary Daoist priest working in Citong. What danger could I possibly be in?" Zhang Rongfang asked in surprise.

"Junior Brother, most of the things you did over there by using others to cause trouble were obvious to Great Capital here. After all, you managed to remain standing for several years, and that kind of composure and ability is something the Grand Master values highly," Ding Zhong explained.

"To be able to navigate the complex situation in Citong, amidst the Thousand Sect Alliance, local forces, pirate forces, the Western Sect, the Sensing Gate, and other powerful groups, and ultimately develop to such a scale with only the strength of External Medicine practitioners, is undoubtedly a remarkable achievement. Therefore..."

"So what?" Zhang Rongfang was made to sound like he was very capable. But he knew very well what was going on in his heart.

Only he knows how much of that is genuine.

"So, in the past, the Grand Master would occasionally give your Senior Brother Zhang a hard time because he was disappointed in you. But now, he tells everyone he meets that he, Lao Yue, only has this one disciple." Ding Zhong pointed out the key point.

"Master, you flatter me." Zhang Rongfang sighed. "I have only done what I should have done in my duty."

"No flattery. In fact, you are the future hope of my Heavenly Treasure Palace." Ding Zhong patted Zhang Rongfang on the shoulder. "Look at your height, you've developed quite well. It seems you're doing very well in Citong. It looks like you haven't neglected your Civilian Skill either. Not bad, not bad."

He carefully examined Zhang Rongfang's physique.

"If we go to Ze Province and make the most of our abilities, we might actually reap some benefits from that trip."

Zhang Rongfang felt a little uneasy under his gaze. What did "play a role" mean?

He immediately inquired about the situation at the Jade Void Palace.

Ding Zhong quickly changed the subject. Although he seemed like a nice guy, he kept his mouth shut and didn't reveal a single detail.

They only say that Jade Void Palace is a secret of the Great Dao Sect, and it's not something that can be mentioned outside. You'll know once you go there yourself.

The two then continued eating.

Seeing that he couldn't get any information out of him, Zhang Rongfang became even more curious.

When he served as Spirit Envoy in the Golden Wing Tower, he did not make any secret discoveries about the Great Dao Sect.

Besides discovering that the full name of the Great Dao Sect is the True Great Dao Sect, there is another force that may be using the name of the False Great Dao Sect.

I know nothing else.

Could it be related to that place in Ze Province? He began to ponder this as he ate his meal.

He had just returned to Great Capital when Lao Yue hurriedly sent him out.

Clearly, he was planning something big in Great Capital, and his precious 'only' disciple was someone he valued, so to avoid any risks, he sent him away immediately.

That's understandable.

If everything Ding Zhong said is true, then the Great Dao Sect may be undergoing a period of transformation.

After lying low and hiding, they are now about to unleash their full power and confront True One Western Sect head-on.

Success would make it the first national religion and the second Eastern Sect; failure would severely damage its vitality, forcing it to retreat and lie low once more.

It's uncertain how many years it will take to recover.

Therefore, these are all part of the general trend of the Great Dao Sect.

And what about himself? Zhang Rongfang's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the entrance of the Inn, where the sunlight was like blood, Hong Yan.

"When I returned this time and met with Ling Emperor, I felt a great deal of threat and danger. Just Esteem Virtue Hall, I could feel seventy or eighty gazes that possessed the power to threaten me."

Moreover, those gazes seemed utterly devoid of human emotion or feeling.

At that time, he felt very strange.

Those gazes hidden in the shadows seemed to have no emotional reaction, but rather a passive response.

'The fact that they can trigger a threat warning in me doesn't necessarily mean they possess the strength of a grandmaster or higher. It's also possible they wield powerful weapons that could pose a fatal threat to me.'

Zhang Rongfang analyzed in his mind.

'And then there's Zhou Yan, General Zhou. As a high-ranking member of the Snow Rainbow Pavilion, his strength is unfathomable. We don't know his exact level yet, but he's likely stronger than me.'

When Zhou Yan is in front of him, one cannot sense his breath, heartbeat, or blood flow.

He was like a rock, nothing at all.

It should be noted that even among those who Worship God and martial artists, Zhang Rongfang could sense their vital energy and the Silver Thread beneath their skin.

But when facing Zhou Yan, he couldn't sense anything.

'Forget it, now that I'm in Ze Province, I'll lie low and wait a while, maybe a few years. Anyway, as time goes by, I'll definitely get stronger and stronger until no one can beat me.'

Therefore, ensuring one's personal safety should be the top priority.

Zhang Rongfang ultimately set the tone.

No matter how the outside world fluctuates or how the general trend changes, as long as he keeps moving forward, sooner or later everything in front of him will be nothing.

He also needed time to study the Blood God Statue, clarify the difference between Grandmasters and Great Grandmaster, and uncover the secrets of Spirit General, Gods and Buddhas, and so on.

He had not forgotten that Yue Dewen of the Heavenly Treasure Palace the Great Dao Sect had taken him as a disciple for a very real purpose—to make him Worship God and become Spirit General.

This is something he absolutely cannot accept.

Although this matter is still a long, long way off, before that happens, one of Zhang Rongfang's goals is to grow to the point where his master, Yue Dewen, can no longer force him to do so.

With this in mind, Zhang Rongfang's thoughts became clear. After making some connections, he decided to go to Ze Province to scout the way first.

Unlike Citong, this time he intends to truly build an absolutely secure headquarters that belongs entirely to him.

He didn't want to follow the crowd anymore.

After all, although Heavenly Treasure Palace was safe from beginning to end, it was still ultimately a force that Worship God.

No Worship God sect would accept the secrets hidden in the Eastern Sect Secret Treasure.

This is a huge hidden danger.

With a loud crash, the water basin by the door of the Inn's lobby was suddenly kicked over, and the half-closed door was kicked open hard.

First Squad strong, burly monks dressed in black, with menacing faces, strode in.

The leader was about the same height as Zhang Rongfang, with a large set of buck teeth, cloudy eyes, and a fierce appearance.

The man scanned the entire room, his gaze quickly locking onto several martial artists present, including Zhang Rongfang and another person.

There are neither many nor few martial artists in Great Ling. Most of them are highly skilled in martial arts and can reach a height of over two meters.

Therefore, Zhang Rongfang other two can only be considered ordinary among them.

The fierce-looking monk was the first to walk to the nearest table of martial artists.

Knock knock knock.

He tapped on the table.

"You all, move to another table. This place is Buddha!"

The martial artists at this table happen to be from one sect.

They were all dressed in light blue outfits, with black belts, their long hair tied up in a high bun with peach wood hairpins, and they all wore short metal sticks around their waists.

The leader, a man with a three-foot-long beard and a burly build, was about to squint and lash out when he saw the mark embroidered on the monk's robe and his heart skipped a beat.

He immediately stood up and stopped his companion who was about to lose his temper.

"Since this Buddha wants it, we'll give it to him!" he said in a deep voice.

"Hurry up!" the fierce-looking monk said impatiently, glancing around the table.

Suddenly his eyes lit up.

"Oh, there's a nice young lady here?"

His gaze immediately fell on three women in the group.

The three were all dressed in light blue outfits. Two of them had ordinary appearances, but the third had fair and delicate skin, willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, a high nose, cherry lips, a curvaceous figure, and long, eye-catching legs.

Although a thin veil covered part of her face.

But that thing can only block ordinary people; it has little effect on martial arts masters with keen senses.

"You, come out and drink with the Buddha. Don't worry, it's just one drink, just to save face." The fierce monk laughed, pointing at the most beautiful woman.

"You!!?" The woman's chest heaved, and her face turned pale.

The other members of the same sect around her could no longer stand still and quickly stepped in front of the woman.

"This Buddha from the Western Sect, let's talk this out. We are from the Qingyu Road Kuning Sect. Our Sect Leader, Shadowless Staff Elder Xiao Dingchen, is a renowned figure in Ze Province. Please give us some face!" the leader quickly said.

"Absolute Shadow Cudgel? Never heard of him. Kong Ming, and I have come from the Great Capital True Buddha Temple to track down a fugitive traitor! Now I suspect that one of you is harboring a fugitive!"

He chuckled twice, his gaze lingering on the woman.

Those who can enter the Western Sect are all people who indulge in lust.

Putting aside everything else, just look at Sea Dragon alone. Every year, he openly and secretly robbed and plundered countless beautiful women, sending them to the three capitals. Wasn't all of this the work of the Western Sect?

Not to mention that the entire set of martial arts of the Western Sect is also largely combined with lust. The annual expenses of Ming Consort alone amount to an enormous sum.

In other words, the Great Ling Realm is vast and rich in resources, with a large population. It also constantly wages wars abroad, plundering women and children. Otherwise, how could it support the existence of a lustful force like the Western Sect?

"Alright, enough nonsense, come here. Otherwise, your Kun Ning Sect will be wiped out!"

Kong Ming, too lazy to waste words, directly threatened him.

Several monks behind him quickly stepped forward and immediately began fighting with the Kun Ning Sect.

"You've gone too far!!"

Two hot-blooded young men from the Kun Ning Sect tried to fight back, but were quickly knocked to the ground in a few moves.

The leader of the Kun Ning Sect smiled obsequiously, sweating profusely as he spoke kind words, but Kong Ming simply ignored him, grabbed the woman, and pulled her close to him.

"Spend a few days with Buddha!" He reached out and grabbed at the woman's chest.

Suddenly, a phantom image pierced through the air and struck his hand, knocking it aside.

"Is this the kind of behavior the 'Kong 'Kong Generation experts of the Western Sect are?" a displeased voice rang out from the side.

It was Ding Zhong sitting opposite Zhang Rongfang.

This kind-hearted man, now looking displeased, stood up from his seat and walked out without any regard for the large number of people opposite him.

Kong Ming shook his hand, paused upon hearing the sound, and looked at him.

"Who are you...?" He was a little unsure of the other person's approach.

Knowing full well that he was a master of the Western Sect, he still dared to get up. The force of his strike just now was also considerable, clearly showing that he was very confident.

"What? Don't worry about who I am. Anyone with a sense of justice would do what I do when they see injustice and uphold justice!" Ding Zhong.

"..." Kong Ming blinked, paused for a moment, and then burst into laughter along with the evil monks behind him.

"Have a sense of righteousness?! Are you trying to make me laugh to death? Are there still such foolish chivalrous people these days?"

"Has this guy been watching too many traditional Zaju? Does he really think he's some kind of ancient hero?"

"Look at his age, maybe he just saw that the girl is pretty and wants a piece of the pie too!"

"Should we all join in? He's pretty skilled, let's give him a break."

The wicked monks talked amongst themselves, making Ding Zhong's face turn even redder, and his eyes blazed with anger.

Immediately, he pulled a Waist Token out from his waist.

"I am a True One Sect, Zhen Xu! You bunch of people!" He trembled with anger, but didn't know how to retort.

The True One Sect's identity was a disguise they had prepared in advance, and revealing it now would make things easier for them.

" From the True One Sect?" The group of people were taken aback.