Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace.
As the Chan Sect's headquarters, the Jade Void Palace rang with the tolling of golden bells and the chime of jade chimes.
Yuanshi Tianzun sat upright atop the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage, his sacred aura filling the palace.
His dignified gaze swept over the Twelve Golden Immortals and the many registered disciples below.
"I summoned you all here today to inspect your cultivation."
"The Witch-Demon Tribulation is approaching, and you are Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect."
"You must cultivate diligently. Do not tarnish the reputation of my Jade Void Palace."
"Next, pair off and spar. Let your master see how much you've improved."
As Yuanshi Tianzun's decree rang out, the disciples all accepted his command.
Guang Chengzi faced Chi Jingzi, while Taiyi Zhenren faced Yu Ding Zhenren.
One spectacular battle after another unfolded.
Amid the crowd, Daoist Ci Hang clutched the Divine King Magic Immortal Stick hidden in his sleeve, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Finally... I've finally waited for this chance!"
"As long as I, today, in front of Master and my fellow disciples..."
"Summon that ancient Great Expert who once shook the Primordial Era..."
"And reveal an unparalleled, domineering aspect!"
"Let's see who dares call me Little Nanliang after that!"
Cihang drew a deep breath, doing his best to look tall and proud.
Yet the sidelong glances and whispered gossip from his fellow disciples...
Crawled into his ears like flies.
"Look, Senior Brother Cihang's stepping into the ring."
"Tsk, tsk. Look at his knees. Aren't they still a little bruised?"
"I heard he knelt in front of Bixiao for half a day."
"Shh, keep your voice down. That was a family reunion."
"I heard Zhao Gongming and Bixiao made a magic treasure to throw people off the scent."
"But actually, Cihang's their illegitimate child!"
"No wonder Cihang's so pretty. He must've taken after Bixiao..."
Hearing these outrageous rumors, Cihang was so furious he nearly spat blood. He even staggered.
Even Yuanshi Tianzun, seated high on the cloud dais, looked at Cihang...
And a trace of barely perceptible oddness flickered in his eyes.
As a Saint, he naturally knew that the magic treasure was responsible.
But...
"Are Zhao Gongming and Bixiao really that close?"
"Close enough for a magic treasure to form a bond like this?"
Even Yuanshi Tianzun couldn't help feeling a ripple of gossip stir in his heart.
"Next match: Daoist Ci Hang versus Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun."
At White Crane Boy's loud announcement...
Cihang and Manjushri walked to the center of the hall.
Manjushri looked at Cihang, whose face was flushed and eyes were fierce, and sighed.
With a righteous expression, he brought out his magic treasure, the flat staff.
"After you, Junior Brother Cihang."
"Even though everyone outside says you're the child of Zhao Gongming and Bixiao..."
"Some even say you're a pawn of our Chan Sect."
Manjushri spoke with an utterly serious expression.
"Even if you really were their child and a generation junior to me, I still wouldn't go easy on you."
Cihang's composure completely shattered.
"Manjushri! I'm not! I'm not! Shut up!"
He let out a hysterical roar.
But with those teary eyes, there was no way to shake off his image as a doormat, a crybaby.
"Today, I'll wipe away my shame and show you what a real man looks like!"
Cihang whipped his sleeve, and a fairy wand emitting pink light appeared in his hand.
The entire Jade Void Palace fell silent in an instant.
Everyone's gaze focused on the fairy wand.
"What the hell is that thing?"
"Has Cihang given up and decided to go all the way down the Nanliang route?"
"Can't say I blame him..."
Even Yuanshi Tianzun raised an eyebrow.
His hand froze in midair as he lifted his teacup, and a trace of curiosity appeared in his eyes.
"It looks strange, but I can sense the laws fluctuating around it. Could it be some divine treasure?"
Under everyone's puzzled gaze, Cihang took a deep breath, his eyes turning resolute.
For his tough-guy image!
To escape being Little Nanliang!
He'd go all in!
Cihang gripped the Magic Fairy Stick with both hands.
He struck an extremely embarrassing pose, standing on one leg and making a heart shape with his hands.
Then he gathered his strength and shouted with all his might.
"Let me sprinkle some magic on you!!"
"Balala Energy, Uka Laka, little magic fairy, transform completely!!"
Pfft—!!!
On the dais, Yuanshi Tianzun had just taken a sip of Enlightenment Tea to soothe his throat.
He spat it out in a single spray, and the tea fell like a rain of spiritual dew.
The Chan Sect Golden Immortals around him were utterly dumbfounded, their jaws practically on the floor.
"Holy shit?!"
"My eyes! Can someone give me a pair that hasn't seen that?!"
"Cihang's gone mad! Get the word out—Cihang's completely lost it!"
Yet before the disciples could finish their outbursts...
Rumble!
An incomparably domineering pressure surged in all directions!
An unrivaled might that commanded the heavens and suppressed the ages descended!
Scorching True Sun Fire appeared between heaven and earth.
A tall, imposing figure slowly took shape!
"This aura..."
Yuanshi Tianzun didn't even bother wiping the tea from his mouth. His pupils contracted.
"This is Demon Emperor Dijun's aura. How is this possible?"
"It looks unremarkable, but the treasure's power is terrifying?!"
"Could Junior Brother Cihang really be about to show off?"
The disciples cried out in astonishment, their eyes turning from scorn to awe in an instant.
Feeling the domineering, world-destroying power behind him, Cihang was ecstatic.
It worked!
It really was the Demon Emperor!
That supremely fierce and blazing aura, that domineering air of absolute supremacy!
"Ha ha ha ha! Do you see? This is my manifestation!"
Cihang exclaimed excitedly in his heart.
Come on!
Let the storm rage even harder!
I'll show everyone the manliest side of me, Cihang!
"Demon Emperor, lend me your power!"
Cihang shouted and spun around.
He wanted to behold the bearing of this ancient overlord.
But the moment the golden flames dissipated and the manifestation fully took shape...
The smile froze on Cihang's face.
Yuanshi Tianzun's expression froze, too.
The entire Jade Void Palace sank into deathly silence once more.
Standing in the flames was indeed a figure clad in imperial robes.
Only... those robes had been altered into a super-short-skirt version.
The Demon Emperor Dijun had golden twin tails and skin as fair as snow.
Her big eyes blinked, and in her hands she held a shrunken River Diagram and Luo Script.
She faced the crowd and gave them a cute wink.
"Ciallo~ (∠・ω＜)⌒☆ I'm Dijun-chan☆"
A sweet voice, sweet enough to make one's bones melt...
Came from the mouth of this gender-swapped Dijun.
At the same time, as the spell's full-transformation effect took hold...
Cihang's Daoist robes burst apart with a bang.
Amid a cloud of pink smoke...
They were automatically replaced with a magical fairy outfit: a frilly dress, white stockings, and a bow.
He held the Magic Fairy Stick, with a twin-tailed loli Dijun standing behind him.
The two of them made for an exceptionally dazzling sight.
Cihang: "..."
Yuanshi Tianzun: "..."
Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun looked at Cihang in his little dress.
The flat staff in his hand clattered to the ground.
"Pfft... hahahahahaha!"
Someone finally cracked.
A deafening burst of delighted laughter erupted throughout the Jade Void Palace.
"Ha ha ha ha! Dijun-chan, with twin tails?"
"So this is the fearsome, mighty figure Senior Brother Cihang was talking about?"
"Man, that's hard. It's so hard I want to give it a squeeze!"
"Little Magic Fairy Cihang! Ha ha ha! I can't take it—I'm laughing myself sick!"
Cihang looked down at the frilly dress he was wearing...
Then turned to look at Dijun-chan, who was striking cute poses.
All he could think of was Zhao Gongming's utterly confident face.
"Senior Brother, this magic treasure is definitely mighty, definitely domineering!"
"Zhao! Gong! Ming!!!"
"You lied to me!!!"
A shrill scream rang across the Jade Void Palace, now filled with laughter and merriment.
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