Your Face Is Red, Senior Brother-Did You Swallow a Teapot? Jin Ling: Is Your Dao Heart Steady?

Below the arena, in the Chan Sect's ranks.

Zhao Gongming looked at Daoist Ci Hang, whose face was flushed with excitement.

Unable to resist, he sidled over with a mischievous grin and asked,

"Senior Brother Ci Hang, why are you so excited?"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the one kneeling up there and shouting 'Unfilial Son.'"

Ci Hang's body stiffened, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

He turned around, and his fair, delicate face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato.

He avoided Zhao Gongming's gaze and stammered,

"Ahem, well, Junior Brother, don't talk nonsense."

"I, I was merely a little excited for a moment. That's all."

"After all, seeing the Western Teachings take a hit..."

"As Eastern cultivators, we have every reason to be proud. Yes, that's it—we have every reason to be proud!"

Ci Hang tried hard to maintain the aloof image of a Chan Sect Golden Immortal.

But his trembling eyelashes and hands gripping the hem of his robe betrayed him completely.

That perverse thrill of finally having someone else suffer a Social Death alongside him was impossible to hide!

The Three Teachings disciples around them who had once witnessed Ci Hang's legendary family reunion scene firsthand...

All struggled to hold it in, their faces red and shoulders shaking violently.

They wanted to laugh, but didn't dare make a sound.

At that moment, on the arena.

Bixiao's acting had reached perfection.

One hand pressed to her chest, the other pointing at Dizang, who was still kneeling. She looked utterly heartbroken.

"Unfilial Son, why aren't you saying anything?"

"Are you ashamed of your father because my cultivation is weak?"

"Heavens above! How did I end up giving birth to such an ungrateful son?"

Dizang knelt on the ground, both hands clamped tightly around the blade. He felt like he was about to shatter.

His resilient Dao Heart was crumbling inch by inch.

"What the hell is going on?!"

Dizang roared inwardly.

He tried to stand, but couldn't. Tried to let go, but couldn't. Tried to speak, but couldn't even open his mouth!

All he could do was listen as Bixiao assigned him one outrageous crime after another.

Only then did he suddenly realize what was going on.

He recalled the question Bixiao had asked him before the fight.

"Is your Dao Heart... steady?"

Dizang was on the verge of tears.

"So that's what the hell she meant!"

This wasn't a battle of magic at all. It was psychological torment—worse than killing him!

Below the arena, the Western Teachings' ranks had descended into chaos.

Medicine Master and Maitreya paced anxiously, shouting up at the arena.

"Junior Brother Dizang, what are you doing?!"

"Get up! Why are you kneeling to that female immortal from the Interception Sect?"

"Junior Brother, are you under some kind of illusion? Wake up!"

Hearing his senior brothers call to him, Dizang felt bitter as gall.

Shout, shout, what good would that do?!

You can talk all you like from down there. Why don't you come up and try it yourselves?

I want to get up too! I don't want to call my enemy my father either!

On the high platform, the Two Sages of the West were just as baffled.

Daoist Zhunti furrowed his brow and calculated for a long while before asking in confusion,

"Senior Brother, something's not right."

"Dizang was born from innate spiritual energy. He has neither father nor mother. Where would he get a father?"

Daoist Jieyin also wore a pained expression and shook his head.

"Indeed, it's strange."

"Bixiao keeps calling herself his father. Could she be trying to disturb my disciple's Dao Heart?"

Not far away, Zhao Gongming heard this and twitched at the corner of his mouth.

"Neither father nor mother..."

"Why does that sound so much like an insult?"

Seeing the situation grow more and more awkward...

If this went on, the Western Teachings would lose every last bit of face.

Riding on the Green Ox's back, Laozi gave a light cough, breaking the stalemate.

"Ahem, the outcome of this battle is clear."

"Martial Nephew Bixiao's methods are... well, rather unique. Dizang can no longer fight back."

"Bixiao wins this round."

Upon hearing the Taiqing Saint's verdict,

the Two Sages of the West were embarrassed,

but could only accept it through gritted teeth.

Dizang had been kneeling there for ages. If they didn't concede now,

who knew what even more outrageous family drama Bixiao might invent?

"Hmph. You were outmatched. Come back!"

Daoist Zhunti swept his sleeve, sending out a burst of saintly power that released Dizang from his restraints.

"Wuwu..."

Dizang felt as though he'd been pardoned. He scrambled back to the Western Teachings' ranks.

He didn't dare lift his head. A deeply withdrawn air seemed to radiate from him.

Bixiao, meanwhile, smugly put away her sword.

She skipped over to Laozi

and collected the mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Taiji Talisman Seal.

Bixiao ran straight over to Zhao Gongming's side and slapped him hard on the shoulder.

"Big Brother, you're amazing at crafting artifacts!"

At that, Zhao Gongming hunched his shoulders and hurriedly said,

"Easy, easy."

Not far away, the Bull Demon King stared at them in surprise.

"There's something even more amazing than that?"

On the Western Teachings' side, Maitreya leaned toward Dizang and asked in a low voice,

"Junior Brother, what exactly happened just now?"

"Why did you suddenly kneel?"

"Was there something strange about that sword?"

Dizang raised his head. His eyes, once filled with compassion and wisdom,

were now full of weariness and sorrow.

He looked at Maitreya, then at Medicine Master.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, only managed to say,

"Don't ask."

"Go up there and experience it yourselves. Then you'll understand."

"There are no words for this kind of pain."

Maitreya and Medicine Master exchanged glances, even more uncertain than before.

At that moment, Laozi's voice rang out again.

"The first round is over."

"Next, who is willing to face Medicine Master of the Western Teachings?"

As soon as the words fell,

"I'll go!"

A voice brimming with commanding, mature confidence rang out.

Golden Spirit Holy Mother stepped out from the crowd, eagerly carrying the flashy Dragon Slaying Sword.

"Your disciple Jin Ling requests a few exchanges with Senior Brother Medicine Master!"

When Sect Master Tongtian saw that Jin Ling was stepping forward,

his expression instantly turned interesting.

"Very well, Jin Ling. Go on. Make sure to give our guest from afar a proper welcome!"

Seeing the strange look on Tongtian's face, Zhunti and Jieyin's hearts skipped a beat.

Zhunti sent him a voice transmission.

"Senior Brother, why does Senior Brother Tongtian's smile seem a little... sinister?"

"Don't worry," Jieyin replied gravely.

"Medicine Master is our direct disciple and senior disciple."

"His cultivation has reached the late Golden Immortal stage, and his Dao Heart is steady."

"He has many methods at his disposal. He should be fine."

Below the arena, Duo Bao watched Golden Spirit Holy Mother step onto the platform.

Unable to resist, he hooked an arm over Zhao Gongming's shoulder and said with a grin,

"Junior Brother Gongming, you really are a genius at artifact crafting."

"That last round with Bixiao made my scalp tingle, but somehow left me feeling refreshed all over."

"Now it's Junior Sister Jin Ling's turn."

"Heh, just thinking about what's going to happen to Medicine Master makes me want to laugh."

Zhao Gongming waved a hand modestly.

"Senior Disciple Brother, you flatter me. They're just little tricks—not worth mentioning."

Duo Bao, however, looked completely serious, his eyes burning with excitement.

"These aren't little tricks!"

"Junior Brother, we have a deal."

"After this debate, you have to craft one for me too!"

"I want one of those magic treasures that can make people question their whole existence!"

Zhao Gongming readily agreed.

"No problem. Leave it to your Junior Brother!"

At that moment, on the arena.

Golden Spirit Holy Mother stood facing Medicine Master, the Dragon Slaying Sword in hand, poised and valiant.

Pharmacist Daoist pressed his palms together, his expression solemn.

Glazed light flowed around him, giving him a magnificent appearance.

"Junior Sister Jin Ling, please."

Golden Spirit Holy Mother didn't rush to attack.

Instead, she imitated Bixiao's earlier manner.

With a meaningful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, she asked,

"Senior Brother Medicine Master."

"Before we begin, Junior Sister has a question too."

"Is your Dao Heart... steady?"

At these words, Dizang's body jerked below the arena.

As if struck by lightning, he looked up at the platform, eyes full of terror.

"She asked!"

"She asked him too!"

"It's over! Senior Brother Medicine Master, run! It's a trap!"

But Medicine Master, unaware of what was going on, smiled faintly and replied with complete confidence,

"Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister."

"I am always by the saints' side, listening to the Great Dao."

"My Dao Heart is perfectly clear and unobstructed. It is naturally very steady."

Hearing his answer, a brilliant light flashed in Golden Spirit Holy Mother's eyes.

The Dragon Slaying Sword in her hand began to shimmer with neon lights of every color.

"Steady is good. Very steady indeed!"

"In that case, forgive me!"