Within the killing formation, countless acres of lightning were about to fall with Yang Jian's short staff and end Manjushri's life.
But a furious roar stopped Yang Jian.
Hearing that voice, Yang Jian paused for the moment and turned his head for a glance. With a smile at the corner of his lips, he still stomped Manjushri Bodhisattva's physical body to pieces.
Manjushri Bodhisattva's primordial spirit fled rapidly to one side.
Though his physical body had been destroyed, his primordial spirit had narrowly escaped disaster. Manjushri Bodhisattva panted heavily, cold sweat streaming down his primordial spirit's forehead, his face still filled with terror.
Yang Jian was simply too terrifying!
This former third-generation disciple of the Chan Teachings had actually grown to such heights. He showed every sign of surpassing his predecessors entirely.
And the magic treasure in his hand, the Dog Beating Stick, was even more terrifying.
With a single strike, it hit directly at the primordial spirit. It was even more powerful than the God Beating Whip bestowed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
Who knew where he had obtained such a terrifying supreme treasure?
"Are you all right?"
A figure flashed into the killing formation and placed a hand against Manjushri Bodhisattva's primordial spirit's back, sending spiritual power into him to calm his churning, terrified vital energy.
The newcomer was True Lord Yuding, once one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Teachings and Yang Jian's master.
"Thank you, Senior Brother." Manjushri Bodhisattva suppressed his fear, bowed, and wore a grateful expression.
True Lord Yuding had arrived just in time.
Had he come even a little later, Manjushri's primordial spirit would have been annihilated, leaving only a corpse for him to collect.
What was a bow compared to that?
"We were once fellow disciples. Naturally, I would not stand by and watch you die."
True Lord Yuding waved his hand, then looked at Yang Jian. "Disciple, why haven't you greeted your master?"
Yang Jian said with a grin, "Master, weren't you in a life-and-death seclusion? Didn't you say you wouldn't emerge until you became a Quasi-Saint? Looks like you've reached the Quasi-Saint realm too."
True Lord Yuding's old face reddened. A Quasi-Saint? Quasi-Saint, my ass!
After a hundred thousand years of secluded cultivation, he had not even touched the threshold of the Quasi-Saint realm. Yet his disciple Yang Jian, whose cultivation had once been lower than his, had become a Quasi-Saint!
Wasn't that infuriating?
True Lord Yuding said angrily, "Are you mocking me for being inferior to you?"
"I've been wronged, Master. I never said that." Yang Jian still grinned, feeling rather pleased with himself.
"Your wings have really hardened. Release Samantabhadra first." True Lord Yuding sighed inwardly, then asked Yang Jian to release Samantabhadra Bodhisattva as well, giving him a meaningful look.
"Fine. For Master's sake, I'll spare his dog life for now. Next time, I'll kill him without mercy." Yang Jian did not refuse. He kicked the unconscious Samantabhadra's physical body apart as well, leaving only his grievously wounded primordial spirit to fly away.
True Lord Yuding hurriedly raised a hand and caught it with a stream of spiritual power.
Looking at the enormous bloody lump on Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's primordial spirit's head, like a nine-story tower, True Lord Yuding could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth.
Yang Jian had been far too ruthless.
Both of them had been beaten by Yang Jian until their primordial energy was gravely damaged. Not only had their physical bodies been destroyed, they had also lost tens of millions of years of spiritual power.
Their lives were basically ruined.
With a strand of spiritual power, True Lord Yuding woke Samantabhadra. Samantabhadra also bowed gratefully to him.
"You two may leave for now." True Lord Yuding waved his hand and withdrew Yang Jian's grand formation, allowing them to depart first.
"We will certainly visit Senior Brother another day."
Samantabhadra and Manjushri were overjoyed. They hurriedly bowed, then fled in a flash, not daring to linger for even a moment.
After the two left, True Lord Yuding no longer kept a stern face. Instead, he grinned as he flashed to Yang Jian's side, intending to give him a hard knock on the head.
But Yang Jian laughed and dodged aside.
True Lord Yuding laughed and scolded, "You brat, can't you give your master a little face in front of outsiders? I told you to release them, yet you still kicked apart their physical bodies."
"I let their primordial spirits go. How is that not giving you face? Besides, wasn't it you who sent me a voice transmission and gave me a look, telling me to kick apart their physical bodies?" Yang Jian rolled his eyes. He had already given Master Jade Cauldron plenty of face.
"All right, all right." True Lord Yuding smiled and praised, "The grand formation I taught you long ago is now arranged even better than mine. Not bad at all."
"Not too bad, hehe." Yang Jian chuckled.
After a hundred thousand years apart, master and disciple were both delighted to reunite.
True Lord Yuding had always treated Yang Jian exceptionally well. Not only had he taken Yang Jian as his disciple when no one else would take him in, he had taught him everything he knew and cared for him deeply.
Yang Jian had always respected and cherished this master.
"You brat, always so full of yourself!"
True Lord Yuding, with his immortal bearing, laughed as he scolded Yang Jian. Then, like an old buddy, he threw an arm around Yang Jian's shoulders. "Quick, tell your master—how did you break through to the Quasi-Saint realm?"
"You should tell me first. Why did you suddenly emerge from seclusion?" Yang Jian asked instead of answering.
"Master told me to come out. He calculated that you would counterkill Manjushri and Samantabhadra, so he sent me here."
True Lord Yuding said with emotion, "At first, I didn't believe it. How could you possibly defeat Manjushri and Samantabhadra? Only after seeing this scene did I realize that you brat had grown to such a terrifying level! You've even become a Quasi-Saint."
"The Sect Master Saint? He still remembers old ties." Yang Jian raised a brow, not expecting this to have been Primeval Lord of Heaven's arrangement.
"Old ties? For traitors, what old ties are there to remember?"
True Lord Yuding sneered. "The Primordial Era is stirring again. The Sect Master Saint simply does not wish to defy Dao Ancestor Hongjun's decree and immediately clash with the Western Teachings."
Otherwise, True Lord Yuding would not only have refrained from stopping Yang Jian—he would have joined him in killing Manjushri and Samantabhadra.
"Dao Ancestor Hongjun's decree?"
"Yes. Junti and Saint Jieyin brought Duobao Tathagata to Zixiao Palace to lodge a complaint. Dao Ancestor Hongjun even issued a decree specifically ordering the Saints to support the Western Teachings and not obstruct the Journey to the West Tribulation."
Yang Jian pondered inwardly. For the sixth step of the Heaven Sealing Plan, the Journey to the West Tribulation, Dao Ancestor Hongjun seemed to be personally stepping in.
"All right, tell me already. How did you break through to the Quasi-Saint realm?" True Lord Yuding again pulled Yang Jian over and asked about his method of breakthrough.
Seeing the expectant look on True Lord Yuding's face, Yang Jian's thoughts raced.
The existence of his grandfather Zhang Yifan definitely could not be revealed yet. He needed to find an excuse to fool his master.
But what excuse could he use?
Suddenly, Yang Jian thought of the two buckets of Pig Feed he had gotten from his grandfather Zhang Yifan. He had an idea.
Well, Master, I'll have to wrong you for now.
Yang Jian scratched his head and said awkwardly, "Master, actually, I only broke through because I happened to obtain some supreme treasure."
"Supreme treasure? What treasure? Can you let your master see it?"
True Lord Yuding was shocked. There was actually a treasure that could allow a peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal to break through into the Quasi-Saint realm?
He had never even heard of such a treasure.
There had been no rumors of anything like it on the Primordial Continent.
True Lord Yuding's eyes lit up.
"It's this, but there isn't much left."
Yang Jian waved his hand and took out a bucket of Pig Feed he had gotten from Zhang Yifan, placing it before True Lord Yuding.
That bucket of Pig Feed contained fish bones, leftovers, chopped pig grass, rice bran, chopped sweet potato vines, and other ingredients, all boiled into a porridge-like slop.
"This?"
True Lord Yuding's eyes widened, and he became furious. "You brat, are you messing with me? Isn't this just Pig Feed that mortals use to feed pigs?"
This was the treasure that could help someone break through to the Quasi-Saint realm?
Pig Feed?
A supreme treasure?
Who would believe that?
Only a ghost would believe it.
No, not even ghosts would believe it!
True Lord Yuding was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged. Yang Jian was about to anger him to death.
"Master, why would I lie to you?"
Yang Jian wore a serious expression. "Dip a finger in it and have a taste first."
"You're not lying to me?"
"I'm not."
Was he serious?
True Lord Yuding was full of suspicion, but looking at Yang Jian's expression, his instincts told him that Yang Jian was not lying.
Having watched Yang Jian grow up, True Lord Yuding understood him very well.
Thus, True Lord Yuding pulled Yang Jian down from the clouds, then waved a hand to set up a grand formation that concealed their auras. He also told Yang Jian to do the same.
"You set up another grand formation too, to conceal your aura."
Yang Jian could not help laughing, but he did as instructed.
True Lord Yuding swallowed. Looking embarrassed and nervous, he turned his head to look around. Only after confirming that no one was nearby did he dip a finger into the Pig Feed in the wooden bucket and put it into his mouth.
"Mm?"
The instant the Pig Feed entered his mouth, it transformed into a stream of pure energy that swept through his entire body. True Lord Yuding's eyes slowly widened, then slowly began to shine, while his face gradually revealed a mixture of shock and excitement.
"This... this is Fragments of Great Dao Laws?!"
True Lord Yuding cried out. Excited, his entire face flushed bright red.
Fragments of Great Dao Laws!
So delicious!
Fucking delicious!
If this Pig Feed were placed in the Primordial Era, it would surely be a supreme treasure that countless mighty beings would smash their heads open to fight over.
"That's right, Master." Yang Jian nodded heavily.
"This truly is a good treasure! Hahaha, with this, why should I worry about failing to break through to the Quasi-Saint realm?" True Lord Yuding was beside himself with excitement. Drool poured from the corner of his mouth like a waterfall.
Who cared whether it was Pig Feed or not? It contained Fragments of Great Dao Laws!
This was a supreme treasure, the ultimate treasure capable of helping one break through and advance!
Even Dao Ancestor Hongjun would come to snatch it!
How could this still be Pig Feed? Whoever dared call it Pig Feed, he would fight them to the death!
Besides, if it were made to look like delicacies from the mountains and seas, then it would be delicacies from the mountains and seas. Where would the appearance of Pig Feed remain?
True Lord Yuding panted excitedly and involuntarily reached out to eat more, looking as if he wanted to swallow the whole bucket in one mouthful.
Seeing this, Yang Jian waved his hand and took away the bucket of Pig Feed.
"Ah, why did you put it away?" True Lord Yuding was frantic with impatience.
Yang Jian said helplessly, "Master, you know this is an incomparably precious treasure. I only have this one bucket left. Look at you, like a starving ghost. If I didn't put it away, wouldn't you swallow it all in one bite?"
"Uh. You're right. I was too excited."
True Lord Yuding's old face reddened. He hurriedly wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. "Disciple, my good disciple, can you give this bucket of treasure to your master?"
"Master, aren't you being too overbearing? I only have this one bucket. If you take it all, what am I supposed to eat?"
Yang Jian glared, hugged the wooden bucket, and ran to one side, pretending to be extremely pained and to treasure the Pig Feed dearly. It could not be helped—he still had to keep up the act.
"You're right."
True Lord Yuding laughed to hide his embarrassment, then said, "Then how about sharing some with your master?"
"You have such a large bucket. I don't want much, just half a bucket."
True Lord Yuding wore a serious and proper expression, as though he were someone refusing a gift during the holidays.
Yang Jian was amused by him. "Master, your skin is truly thick. You want half a bucket? At most, I'll give you one bowl."
"This?" True Lord Yuding puffed up angrily. "A small half-bucket!"
"Half a bowl!"
True Lord Yuding: "..."
"Do you want it or not?" Yang Jian's face darkened.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes."
True Lord Yuding knew that such a thing was impossible to come by and incomparably precious. Even Saints would turn green with envy and fight over it; it was a treasure even Dao Ancestor Hongjun would snatch. Obtaining even one bowl was already an enormous fortuitous opportunity.
Thus, Yang Jian gave True Lord Yuding two bowls.
"What a good disciple you are!"
One bowl had turned into two, leaving True Lord Yuding so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.
Excitedly, True Lord Yuding held the two bowls of Pig Feed in his palms as though he were holding supreme treasures. His entire body trembled with excitement.
He was happy as a child!
Yang Jian could not help laughing inwardly. Master, next time I get the chance, I'll bring you some more meals. I'll also get some of Grandpa's wine and bring you a couple pounds of Enlightenment Tea.
But on second thought, it made sense.
For the many Primordial Era Mighty Beings, the Primordial Continent had only the Heavenly Dao. Where could the Great Dao be found?
When they suddenly encountered a treasure containing Fragments of Great Dao Laws, who would not be thrilled? Who would not be excited?
Forget Pig Feed—even if it were a pile of dog shit, as long as it contained Fragments of Great Dao Laws, not only True Lord Yuding, but even someone like Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi of Wuzhuang Temple, or even Junti and Saint Jieyin, would take it back and worship it.
Grandpa was truly awesome!
And this entire scene was clearly witnessed by Primeval Lord of Heaven's Saint-level divine sense.
Pig Feed?
Fragments of Great Dao Laws?
Primeval Lord of Heaven was shocked beyond measure! He also grew excited and tempted!
Before you continue