Shangqing Great Dao Lord eyed the foremost of the Four Emperors suspiciously. Then, instead of answering directly, he drawled lazily:
"Who was his master?"
"I don't know, and I don't care."
"Either way, in the end, he'll be my disciple!"
The Northern Emperor stood with his hands behind his back and said mildly, "Oh? So confident."
A proud, aloof look shone in Shangqing Great Dao Lord's eyes. He said coolly, "If that doesn't work, then we'll just have to compete and see whether my Sword techniques can 'snatch' this disciple away from his Teacher! Hmph, naturally, not by using a killing sword to seize him by force, but by discussing the Dao through the Dao Sword."
"Carrying the Dao with the sword, expounding the Dao through the sword."
"If his Teacher has any discernment, or even the slightest earnest wish for his disciple's well-being,"
"then he should let him become my disciple!"
Shangqing Great Dao Lord had practically written across his face: "Take a good look at your own cultivation. Stop misleading your disciple," and "Be sensible and don't force me to act. Send this fine disciple over at once so I can teach him properly."
He was brimming with confidence!
The Northern Emperor paused, thinking of how Shangqing had spoken earlier about his own past. He did not reveal the young Daoist's background, but his mild tone held a faint trace of interest as he said, "I see..."
"Discuss the Dao?"
"If that happens, how about I serve as the judge?"
Shangqing Great Dao Lord was greatly surprised, then clapped his hands and laughed. "The origin of the innate stars, a wisp of the primordial qi of the First Kalpa, and once nearly the Fourth Purity. You, now the foremost of the Four Emperors, would make a perfectly suitable