"Greetings, Sect Leader!" The orderly, thunderous voices startled not only Zhang Hupan but also the two little Daoists. Usually, the old Daoists spoke gently and amiably, so neither of them had expected their voices to be so booming. Even more puzzling to the two little Daoists was why they addressed the person before them as Sect Leader. Could Senior Brother Qingmu have stepped down? Even if the person before them really was the Sect Leader, they had never seen these senior predecessors bow so deeply to Senior Brother Qingmu! Just as the two little Daoists were completely bewildered, they suddenly felt a gentle force lift them up. Then they heard the ordinary-looking Daoist before them say calmly, "There is no need for such ceremony. I am Yunming, and I have come down the mountain to cultivate at the command of my master, True Man Zhang Sanfeng." Only then did Qingteng and the others finally understand why their master and grandmasters had offered such a grand salute to this Daoist. Who was Zhang Sanfeng? He was the founding ancestor of the Wudang Sect, a figure as exalted as an immortal. The person before them was his disciple! But then they became confused again. If he was the disciple of the Zhang immortal, then he belonged to the Yun Generation. How were they supposed to address him? Qingteng began counting on his fingers, but halfway through, the two suddenly remembered their attitude just now. They broke into a cold sweat, and their faces went deathly white. They crawled and rolled over to Zhang Hupan, then knocked their heads against the ground several times in succession. "Grand Ancestor, this insignificant one failed to recognize your greatness just now. Please don't take offense!"
Another gentle force lightly lifted them up, and that same gentle voice rang in their ears. "Those who cultivate must use a calm heart to treat everyone. Do not become arrogant or impatient. You must not rely on your talents and act conceitedly, and even less may you look down on anyone!"
"Yes, yes! This disciple will always remember Grand Ancestor's teachings!" The two little Daoists nodded like chicks pecking at grain.
Seeing that the two little Daoists were still trembling and standing there in fear, Zhang Hupan smiled and selected two of the lowest-grade immortal pills from his Universe Ring. It was not that Zhang Hupan did not want to give them better immortal pills, but the strength of the two before him was simply too low. Even these lowest-grade immortal pills would take them eight or ten years to absorb.
When Zhang Hupan took out what he considered the lowest-grade immortal pills, a rich, spirit-filled fragrance instantly spread throughout the entire space. Every gaze, young and old alike, locked tightly onto the immortal pills in Zhang Hupan's hand, and the clear sound of saliva dripping onto the ground could be heard. Although the temple possessed quite a few precious medicinal herbs, those were precious only by worldly standards. After all, the Wudang Sect had existed for barely seven hundred years. No matter how good or valuable a medicinal herb was, if it had not grown for long enough, its effects would still be worlds apart. That was completely different from the immortal valley where Zhang Hupan had grown his herbs. It was a place where Senior Xuanwu had once lived millions of years ago, so even a casual handful of herbs would be over a thousand years old. The immortal pills in his hand, for example, had been refined primarily from the most ordinary ginseng in the valley, along with some immortal herbs. Yet every one of those ginseng roots and immortal herbs was at least a thousand years old. Compared to the best pills in Kuye's hands, which had been refined from materials only around three hundred years old, their luster, fragrance, and spiritual energy were naturally incomparable. Of course, immortal pills refined by cultivation experts such as Zhang Sanfeng and Zhang Hupan would be several grades superior even if they used the same materials as Ku Xin.
The old fellows had long since stopped concerning themselves with worldly affairs. The only thing they cared about now was cultivating without pause, hoping to glimpse the Heavenly Dao during their lifetimes. Immortal pills were undoubtedly excellent for improving one's realm and accelerating cultivation. Thus, when Zhang Hupan took out two immortal pills, everyone's eyes shone as they all hoped Zhang Hupan would smile and say to them, "Hey, this immortal pill is for you!" Of course, they also knew in their hearts that good things always went to elders before juniors, so Kuye undoubtedly had the greatest hope. Some of the old Daoists were already looking at Kuye with envy, and even jealousy. Kuye himself was staring at the immortal pills nervously. He had remained at the mid-stage of Pill Formation for far too long. He was certain that as long as he consumed the two immortal pills before him—even just one—he would definitely reach the late stage of Pill Formation and begin advancing toward the Core Formation Stage. However, Zhang Hupan's next words nearly made all of them collapse and spit blood.
"You two little Daoists, there is no need to be afraid. As the saying goes, the ignorant are not guilty. Just be more careful next time. Each of you can have one of these two immortal pills as a meeting gift. After taking them, go into seclusion for ten years, and make sure to cultivate your Dao Hearts properly as well!" The two immortal pills then flew into the centers of Qingteng and Qingzhu's palms. The two little Daoists stared at their palms in disbelief, then suddenly pinched each other. When they discovered that it really hurt, they knew they were not dreaming. They hurriedly knelt before Zhang Hupan, tears of gratitude streaming down their faces, and knocked their heads against the ground several more times. This time, however, they did so with hearts full of joy.
If looks could kill, Qingteng and Qingzhu would already have died dozens of times. Every old Daoist, as well as the seemingly younger Kuye, Ku Xin, and Ku Ku, was glaring fiercely at them. Some of the old Daoists secretly regretted it. If I had known sweeping the floor could earn me an immortal pill, I should have fought for that glorious duty back then. And now? Those two pitiful little fellows, whose cultivation is as weak as ants, got the immortal pills instead. What a waste! Where is justice? Many Daoists wanted to throw back their heads and howl at the sky to vent their resentment, but the person standing before them had an identity far too exalted. Even Kuye and the others did not dare fart in front of him.
Knowing that the two immortal pills already had their owners, everyone could only reluctantly move their gazes away from them. They could not shamelessly snatch them from two juniors, after all! So everyone's eyes shifted, and they turned their gazes toward Zhang Hupan again, hoping that a few more immortal pills would float out of his Universe Ring.
Seeing everyone looking at him with blazing eyes, the simple and honest Zhang Hupan assumed they felt the gifts he had given were too meager. It was no wonder he thought so. After all, they called him Grand Ancestor and had knocked their heads so many times, yet he had only given them the lowest-grade immortal pills from his Universe Ring—of which he had at least several thousand. It did seem a little stingy. Thinking this, the inexperienced Zhang Hupan blushed and took out two more immortal pills, stuffing them into Qingteng and Qingzhu's hands. Then, somewhat embarrassed, he explained to Kuye and the others, "It's not that I don't want to give you more, nor that I don't want to give you better immortal pills. It's just that their cultivation is too weak!" Just like that, Qingteng and Qingzhu inexplicably obtained another legendary immortal pill, and once again enjoyed the focused attention of all their seniors.
After this, the old Daoists finally understood that the senior before them still possessed many immortal pills. Thus, they fixed green-eyed stares on Zhang Hupan—or, more precisely, on the supreme token of the Wudang Sect, the Universe Ring. Just as Zhang Hupan began to feel like a sheep among wolves, flattery came surging toward his ears from every direction. If someone had happened to pass by the temple at that moment, they would have been stunned by the bizarre sight before them. Qingteng and Qingzhu were already gaping in astonishment. A group of Daoists with snow-white beards and hair, who should have possessed an immortal, transcendent bearing, were now behaving extremely obscenely as they showered a plain, ordinary young Daoist with fawning words. (To be continued.)
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