Traveling Together

At the summit of Qingting Peak, lightning flashed and a menacing aura surged.

Song Dayou, holding an umbrella, looked at the chaotic lightning rolling around, then at the faintly visible morning sun, his brows furrowed, calculating incessantly.

It's been dragging on for quite a while now, it's already past 5 AM...

On the first day of Moon Worship, Abyss-Gazing a dream and didn't wake up for a long time. Could it be that this child, Ze Tian, has turned into a Devil Embryo...?

Although we have always reminded people not to stay overnight Moon Worship, otherwise it is easy for their Dao heart to be corrupted by demons, such cases are relatively rare in Ink Bamboo Mountain. Most people either do not have enough aptitude to enter the dream, or their Dao heart is inferior and they are corrupted by the moon. The kind of situation where they can fly to the Void Abyss to cultivate, forget themselves and not return, and when they return, they are already other things in human skin, is mostly common among the Dao disciples of the Xuanmen.

Although unwilling to believe it, dawn was approaching, and Song Dayou had no choice but to prepare. With a grim face, he put away his umbrella, took out his flying sword Thunder Seal, and prepared to exorcise the demon. With the rising sun, he climbed step by step to the altar at the mountain peak.

Undoubtedly, something was taking shape within the formation, so much so that even Thor's Celestial Devil Statue was absorbed by the evil energy and collapsed into stones and dust.

The further you go, the denser the aura becomes. Eventually, the malevolent energy covering the mountain seems to come alive, opening and closing rhythmically with the rhythm of its breath, like a closed flower bud, with a human figure vaguely visible sitting cross-legged in the center.

"Ze Tian! Wake up!"

He should have been wielding his sword to vanquish the demons, but Song Dayou his teeth, flicked the tip of his sword, and tucked it to his side. Lightning cleared a path for him, and he forced his way into the malevolent aura to try and save people.

However, when Lei Jian crashed into the petal-like barrier of malevolent energy, he was deflected and slid away. Song Dayou's escape technique was also ineffective. He rushed in for a while, but his power was not enough to break through the barrier. He was bounced out by the petals and fell down the mountain path.

At this moment, the sunlight shone on the peak, and the petals that seemed to be formed from malevolent energy unfolded layer by layer, like a lotus flower blooming. The Daoist sitting cross-legged within opened his eyes, slowly withdrew his energy, and gathered the layers of malevolent energy petals back like a Daoist robe, wrapping them around his body. A black Daoist seal, resembling a lotus seed, appeared between his brows.

"Master, I'm back."

"Ze Tian! You... you actually achieved Core Formation!"

Song Dayou was so shocked he couldn't speak. Although he knew the Grandmaster had chosen him as the Dao Child, this was just too outrageous! He formed his core on his very first day of Moon Worship!!

Zheng Zetian hadn't expected this turn of events, but after his time-travel, he discovered that his awakened Divine Sense wouldn't be sealed, and the knowledge he had learned wouldn't be forgotten. Naturally, his Dao heart remained at the previous level. So, as soon as he returned to the Empty Star, Zheng Zetian sensed that he could break through directly.

After all, to some extent, he had indeed gone through many trials and tribulations, and the aptitude and constitution of this body were sufficient to support him. Moreover, because he had listened to the Grand Master's lectures on the Great Learning and had specially learned the true teachings of the Black Lotus Technique of the Void Star, Zheng Zetian had some insights after the time rewind. Under the protection of the Grand Master of the Empty Star, he directly broke through to the Golden Core realm. It was a natural and easy breakthrough.

"Oh, I saw the Grand Master last night. He said he had obtained the Tai Su New Method and offered it to me to try. So I'll give it a shot."

Zheng Zetian tapped his palm against his brow, then took out a black lotus bud from between his brows and showed it to Song Dayou.

"This is a Divine Court Golden Core, which is quite rare. You'll have to figure out the subsequent Cultivation Method yourself. I think I should continue cultivating the Thunder Department's Qi Storage Golden Core."

Upon hearing that it was another bigwig stirring up trouble, Song Dayou immediately accepted this assumption.

"So it was a Grandmaster transmitting the Dharma! That startled me. But speaking of which, I have seen someone in our sect use a similar lotus-shaped Dao technique before. The Tai Su Dao is truly wondrous. However, Ze Tian, the Tai Su method is too new, and there are bound to be hidden dangers. Our Qingting Peak lineage must not be left behind..."

"By the way, Master, I heard from the Grand Master that Grandmaster Qingtingzi suffered a cultivation mishap and was sealed inside the carriage. I wonder what that means?"

"What? Is that so! If the Grand Master said it himself, it can't be false. Well, I'll pay my respects to your master later. The Grand Master has already taught you the true teachings, so he wouldn't mind teaching you a few more thunder techniques."

The Giant is so useful...

"And Master, the Grand Master said that Nangong's demonic disciple is secretly following you, probably plotting something. He warned you to be careful these next few days and not to stay on Qingting Peak for too long."

"Isn't Nangong always plotting something? Why is the Grand Master so talkative? No wonder you, Moon Worship, haven't woken up yet..."

"Fine, anyway, we'll need to update your Dao Certificate when you reach the Golden Core stage, and we'll need to replace your entire set of cultivation pills. In any case, we'll just go to Lou Guan City again. This advancement is too fast, we don't have enough money..."

So, just like before, Song Dayou passed on the Supreme Thirty-Six Divine Thunder Fire Banner Gods and the Divine Azure Haze Smoke Net Zheng Zetian for protection. However, since he received the teachings from the Grand Master in his dream this time, Song Dayou simply gave Zheng Zetian his own set of Tai Su teachings, including the <Introduction>, <Advanced>, and <University> books.

Song Dayou lost all interest in his morning prayers, so he set up a thundercloud, took Zheng Zetian and Tu Lou with him, and went to Lou Guan Tower to renew his Daoist certificate. He then collected his monthly salary of two hundred taels.

Upon leaving, Zheng Zetian saw the Heavenly Clothes across the street and tugged at Song Dayou.

"Master, I've received my monthly salary and would like to go and see those robes."

"The things in the Heavenly Clothes are far beyond what your salary can afford. Fine, go ahead and look if you want. I'll go collect your allocated cultivation pills and see if there are any assignments I can take on. I'll come find you later."

So Zheng Zetian entered the Heavenly Clothes and said to the waiter...

"Shopkeeper, give me a Gui Xu Dao Yi."

The waiter glanced up at Zheng Zetian, seeing he was a poor disciple from Ink Bamboo Mountain, and initially ignored him. Then, realizing something was amiss, he looked up again, then peered at the sheep, and finally recognized him.

"Hey! It's you, kid! Didn't you just Foundation Establishment stage yesterday?! Are you leading a sheep to poop in front of my shop again?!"

Zheng Zetian didn't waste any words with him, rolled up his sleeves, and revealed the scriptures on his arm.

"I'm also a member of the Luo Sect, I'd like a Daoist robe."

"Whoa! What are you doing?!"

Upon suddenly seeing the book, the waiter's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He quickly closed his eyes and lifted the silk cloth beside him, trying to cover Zheng Zetian's arm. At the same time, he subconsciously reached out to pull him into the shop.

But caught off guard, Zheng Zetian suddenly seized the opportunity to strike. His left arm erupted with lightning, instantly sending the waiter flying. An electric net enveloped the waiter, subduing him on the spot. Simultaneously, before the waiter could react, Zheng Zetian extended his right palm, revealing incantation runes. With a flick of his index and middle fingers towards the waiter's pupils, he immobilized the waiter's Divine Sense, using illusion magic to bewilder him.

"Where is the Gui Xu Dao Yi?"

"The last item was taken by Teacher Qian."

"Where's Teacher Qian?"

"They went to Changsi City yesterday."

"Where are the people from the Luo Sect?"

"They've caught up."

"What's your name? What do you look like?"

"He was a long-faced, bald man, dressed as a monk. He had a mole on his cheek."

"Sleep until noon. Oh, and lend me some Banknotes."

With his cultivation level advancing by one level, Zheng Zetian gained a whole host of new abilities. After seizing the Heavenly Clothes, he went straight out and found the telegraph office near Lou Guan Tower. He pieced together the two long strings of cheat codes from the Giant and sent them. Then, after thinking for a moment, he decided to go all the way and cause trouble.

So he first sent a telegram to Teacher Qian, then to Lu Qi, named Li Wenrao, and finally to Lu Xing, named Lu Qi.

After this series of actions, Zheng Zetian confronted Song Dayou, deciding to lay his cards on the table.

Whether he believed it or not, they would pin the blame on the Grand Master, saying that they had discovered that Nangong was planning an assassination, and that Song Dayou should stay at Lou Guan Tower for a few days.

Since Lu Qi isn't a company employee, he should be able to help check and balance things out with the company for a while. Keeping a backup plan on Lu Xing's side might bring unexpected surprises. A few days should be enough to handle it.

As long as we don't stay in that dangerous place, Qingting Peak, and wait for Qin Jiu and the Giant's clone to arrive, and survive these few days of company testing, we should be fine.

But when Zheng Zetian found Song Dayou, he saw him at the entrance of Lou Guan Tower, talking to a group of women, children, and monks.

The woman in the lead was a gentle, dignified, and kind beauty who inspired admiration and closeness in all who beheld her. She wore a deep blue gauze dress, with ethereal drapes draped around her body, and her dark hair was covered with a square scarf. She spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

Behind her followed a boy and two girls, all of whom appeared to be at the Perfected Realm of the Foundation Establishment stage, about the same age as Zheng Zetian. They were also spiritual children of immortals, Daoist disciples of the Xuanmen, exquisitely beautiful, and very lively and adorable.

"Ze Tian, this is Real Person from the Sanyuan Jizhenzong. She is sending her juniors to study at Tianyu Mountain. However, since it is their first time entering our sect, according to the rules, they must be accompanied by one of our sect's instructors to guide them into the mountain. But right now, the sect is short-handed. Since we are also going to Tianyu Mountain anyway, let's set off together."

"It is Master. Disciple Zheng Zetian greets True Lord and meets his fellow disciples."

Zheng Zetian nodded expressionlessly, thinking there was no need to bring up the story of Real Person three times and cut six holes, tearing out his heart and flesh, and upset everyone.

"I will have to trouble Fellow Daoist Song on this trip," Real Person said, bowing in thanks.

"You are too kind, Master. Our sect is very busy and short-staffed. We have troubled you to wait for us in Lou Guan City for many days. We are the ones who should apologize."

Song Dayou waved a flag to summon a machine-made ship and invited everyone to board.

Zheng Zetian, Divine Transformation had just reached the Nascent Soul stage, did not see him. However, since the other party had brought the spirit child he was going to use for reincarnation into the mountains, his true self must not have gone far either. He might even be secretly plotting to get the Heavenly Book from Qingting Peak.

However, let them take it if they want. Zheng Zetian deliberately didn't take the scroll of heavenly book this time because he knew that this adulterous couple from the Xuanmen sect were highly skilled and ruthless, making them difficult to deal with. Right now, the company is chasing Song Dayou so closely that he doesn't have time to drag them into the scheme. He just didn't expect that in such a short time, they would come knocking on his door again in a different way. It seems that Song Dayou's calamity is really not going to be easy.

"Senior Brother Zheng, are you cultivating?"

Zheng Zetian was lost in thought at the stern when he turned his head and saw a little girl approaching him to talk. He recalled that when he greeted her earlier, Real Person had casually mentioned that she was probably Ling Chan, Ling Juan, or Ling Bao, so he nodded in return.

"Ling Juan, I'm spacing out."

"Hehehe, Senior Brother, don't tease me," Ling Juan chuckled, sitting down beside him. "This is my first time coming out of the mountains. Senior Brother, you don't look much older than me, yet you've already reached the Golden Core realm. That's truly amazing. I wonder what kind of Cultivation Method you usually practice? Do you have any secrets?"

Seeing the girl's wide eyes, seemingly unaware that prying into others' backgrounds was taboo, Zheng Zetian guessed she was also a potential vessel, probably lacking proper upbringing. He then readily extended his hand.

"Want to give it a try?"

Ling Juan, curious, stretched out her jade-like, soft hand and placed it in Zheng Zetian's palm. Feeling the energy in his meridians, she gently placed her own Dao power on his spiritual veins. Startled by the intense pulsation of the boy's pulse, she blushed and chuckled softly.

"So you're from the Purple Haze, Senior Brother. Your hands are so warm."

Zheng Zetian smiled slightly and gently took the girl's fingers in his hand.

"You smell so good."

"Hey, Master, Senior Brother, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Ling Juan was a little angry, but her fingers were being held by Zheng Zetian and she couldn't pull them back. She bit her lip and felt a little flustered.

Zheng Zetian smiled and leaned closer to her,

"Actually, besides the Purple Haze, I also have a secret manual to accelerate cultivation. Do you want to know what it is?"

As the boy drew closer, Ling Juan felt a ticklish sensation on her earlobes from his breath, and a sudden panic gripped her. Yet, she also felt a sense of restraint and couldn't bear to escape. She couldn't help but ask,

"What... is it...?"

Zheng Zetian then intertwined his fingers with the girl's, gently emitting electric current to stimulate the acupoints and meridians on her fingertips, causing her to feel a tingling sensation. She let out a soft moan and lay back in his arms.

"How is it, Junior Sister? Do you feel your Dao Breath circulating faster?"

Ling Juan blushed and, barely audible, mumbled a soft "Mmm."

Zheng Zetian touched her arm and helped straighten her slightly disheveled clothes.

"Did you feel a slight warmth in your Inner Landscape, and a warm current in your dantian?"

Ling Juan lowered her head, bit her lip, and let out a soft "ooh".

Zheng Zetian leaned close to her earlobe,

"Bear with it for a moment, feel your senior brother's aura flowing through your meridians, and remember this route. When you think of your senior brother, you can try it yourself. This is a top-tier secret Spirit Control from my Ink Bamboo Mountain. If you want to learn the rest..."

Hey! What are you doing?!

The boy Ling Bao suddenly appeared out of nowhere. When he saw his fellow disciple almost lying in another 'senior brother's' arms, he nearly exploded with rage. He clenched his fists, his face turning red, and he wanted nothing more than to start a fight.

Ling Juan screamed in surprise, covered her face, and ran into the cabin.

Zheng Zetian looked at the boy Ling Bao with a smile.

"What, Junior Brother, you also want to learn the wondrous techniques of Ink Bamboo Mountain? Alright, since you're all here to study abroad anyway, come here, your senior brother will teach you."

"You, you! Shameless! Humph! If you bully Juan'er, I'll teach you a lesson! Humph!"

Ling Bao glared at him for a while, but ultimately, fearing the other's Golden Core realm, he realized he couldn't win and angrily ran off to chase after his Juan'er.

Zheng Zetian wasn't in a hurry. After sitting for a while, the woman named Ling Chan came over to chat with him.

"Hey, senior brother. What secret technique did you teach Juan'er just now? Could you give me some pointers too?"

Zheng Zetian wasn't surprised at all; the competition among Xuanmen disciples was the fiercest. That Ling Bao had better aptitude and innate talent, and the previous Divine Transformation cultivator wouldn't last until the sixth tribulation; he would eventually disintegrate. Perhaps Ling Bao was being pampered.

However, Shuxinzi is a highly accomplished Daoist master who can live for at least several hundred years. The probability of Ling Chan and Ling Juan being possessed is not high, so the competition will definitely be more intense as they vie to become his disciples. Even divine skills, magic treasures, and Dao Companion will have to be fought for. Now they are seizing the opportunity to flirt with Zheng Zetian. After all, seeking the Dao and destiny is also a kind of competition in front of their master.

Now that Ling Juan has easily obtained the secret techniques of Ink Bamboo Mountain, Ling Chan naturally extremely anxious. Perhaps she was the one who instigated the acquisition of that Ling Bao? Of course, that Ling Bao is probably in a rather pitiful state, probably feeling that the candy that has always belonged to it has been stolen by someone else...

"Junior sister is also here to study abroad and wants to learn our sect's secret techniques. Of course, it's no problem for me to give her some pointers. Come sit next to me."

Zheng Zetian smiled and stepped aside to make room for her. Ling Chan happily joined in, reaching out to lend Zheng Zetian her hand to practice her luck.

But Zheng Zetian suddenly flicked his palm, and a rune flashed between his fingers, captivating Ling Chan's beautiful eyes. The girl immediately lost her senses, let out a soft moan, and turned her head to fall into Zheng Zetian's arms, where he gently pulled her down onto his lap.

Zheng Zetian then pressed down on Ling Chan's groin and probed and stroked her Inner Landscape dantian. Although it was hidden very deep, he still managed to find it.

He said that Shuxinzi loved her husband so much that she was heartbroken and wanted to die for him, so how could she be so generous as to give him two concubines?

These two are not furnace cauldrons, but sword sheaths.

The Northern Star Secret Technique, the Sword-Serving Spirit Child.