Several days later, the vast East Sea came into view.
Waves stretched as far as the eye could see, and mist hung in the air.
The unique Innate Dao Rhyme and soaring Sword Qi of Golden Ao Island could already be sensed from afar.
Xuandu led Kong Xuan through the waves and maze formations surrounding the island with practiced ease, then descended toward the magnificent Immortal Island.
Before they had even reached the island, several powerful Spiritual Senses swept over them.
Upon recognizing Xuandu and sensing an unfamiliar presence beside him, those Spiritual Senses lingered briefly before withdrawing.
They were clearly disciples stationed on the island.
As they landed at the edge of the island, an Outer Disciple in charge of welcoming guests immediately came forward.
The disciple recognized Xuandu.
This was the new Junior Brother whom their master had personally accepted and Senior Brother Long-Eared Immortal had assigned a residence.
Though he was merely a member of the Human Race, he was already somewhat famous among the lower-ranking disciples because of what had happened at Biyou Palace.
But when he sensed the aura Xuandu was giving off, the disciple froze.
He'd broken through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm in just one day?
What a guy. His origin was extraordinary!
"Junior Brother Xuandu."
The Outer Disciple cupped his hands in greeting, his gaze sweeping over Xuandu with curiosity.
Xuandu returned the greeting and got straight to the point:
"I'd like to recommend a Fellow Daoist to join our sect."
The disciple froze at this.
Junior Brother Xuandu... had only joined the Interception Sect a day ago, and he was already recommending another being to join?
That was something he'd never expected.
He opened his mouth, about to ask about the recommended person's origins and background as the rules required.
A sharp, openly mocking snort came from nearby.
"Hmph!"
"Our Interception Sect is a Sage's Dao Field, where Myriad Immortals Come to Court. Do you think just any stray cat or dog can join?"
Before the words had even faded, a streak of immortal light descended, revealing Long-Eared Immortal.
With his hands behind his back, he gave his long ears a slight twitch, lifted his chin, and looked sidelong at Xuandu and Kong Xuan.
The arrogance and contempt on his face were almost tangible.
His gaze swept over Xuandu first. When he sensed the aura of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, the scorn in his eyes only deepened.
A Heavenly Immortal in one day?
In his view, Xuandu had merely gotten lucky and come across some opportunity, or perhaps he'd had some prior cultivation.
With a Human Race origin, his potential was limited. Nothing worth mentioning.
Then his gaze shifted to Kong Xuan.
Kong Xuan had concealed most of his aura, revealing only the fluctuations of an early-stage Golden Immortal, and deliberately obscured his origins.
To Long-Eared Immortal's senses, his aura was not weak, but it was ordinary enough, even somewhat muddled. He clearly didn't have any remarkable origins.
"Junior Brother Xuandu."
Long-Eared Immortal drew out the words, adopting a lecturing tone.
"You've only just joined the Interception Sect. You should focus on solidifying your cultivation and familiarizing yourself with the Sect Rules."
"Recommending another being to join the sect is no trivial matter."
"You must know their background, investigate their fortune, and observe their temperament before making a report. Then our master or one of the Personal Disciples can make the decision."
He raised a hand and pointed at Kong Xuan, his tone growing even more disdainful.
"This Fellow Daoist is a stranger, and his aura is... hmph, quite ordinary."
"Where did you meet him? Do you know his background? Have you judged his temperament?"
"Don't let a moment's impulse bring a wolf into the house and defile the purity of our sect's Dao Field. Could you bear the responsibility?"
His string of questions came raining down on Xuandu.
Every word revealed his displeasure at Xuandu overstepping his bounds, as well as his contempt for Kong Xuan.
He acted as if he, Long-Eared Immortal, were the only true guardian of the Interception Sect's gates.
The Outer Disciple in charge of welcoming guests saw what was happening and fell silent with fear, quietly retreating a couple of steps so as not to get involved.
Xuandu's expression remained calm, but inwardly he sneered.
Long-Eared Immortal had indeed come out to cause trouble.
And he was just as disgusting as ever.
Before Xuandu could speak, Kong Xuan, standing beside him, furrowed his brow almost imperceptibly.
Who was he?
The Phoenix Clan Crown Prince, born of the Innate Five Elements. His origins were among the finest in the Great Wilderness.
And now some hollow, shallow-rooted nobody was pointing at him and calling him a stray cat or dog?
The pride that ran deep in his blood flared to life in an instant.
Five-Colored Radiance flashed briefly in his eyes, and the aura around him began to seethe.
Xuandu made no move to stop him. Instead, a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
He was happy to let Kong Xuan teach Long-Eared Immortal a lesson.
It would be just the thing to curb that man's arrogance.
But before Kong Xuan could release his pressure, Long-Eared Immortal saw that his target remained silent and grew even more brazen.
Feeling that he had the upper hand, he raised his chin higher. His long ears quivered with excitement.
"What? Did I hit a nerve?"
He gave a mocking laugh, his gaze sweeping over Kong Xuan again and again with utter contempt.
"Hiding your face and failing to conceal your aura properly. Are your origins so tainted that you're ashamed to show yourself?"
"Junior Brother Xuandu, what corner of the world did you dig this creature up from?"
He didn't dare insult Xuandu outright, since he had already joined the Interception Sect, so he poured all his contempt onto Kong Xuan instead.
"Our Interception Sect is a Sage's lineage, where Myriad Immortals Come to Court in all their splendor!"
"Someone like you, with unknown origins and a muddled aura, isn't even fit to guard the gates of our sect!"
His words were vicious, every one of them like a knife.
He was certain this unfamiliar face was a nobody, and that his cultivation must be low.
Even with his own late-stage Taiyi cultivation, he couldn't sense the other man's realm?
Then the fellow was probably like Xuandu at first: an ordinary mortal with no cultivation whatsoever!
Xuandu had probably brought him along just to make himself look important.
As one of the Seven Attendant Immortals, what was wrong with teaching some nameless nobody a lesson?
Kong Xuan's expression turned completely cold.
His eyes gleamed with a chilling light, and the restrained Qi of the Five Elements stirred around him.
When had the Phoenix Clan Crown Prince ever endured such humiliation?
If not for the fact that this was the Interception Sect's Dao Field, and Xuandu had warned him to keep a low profile for now, he would have already turned this loudmouth to ash.
He was about to stop holding back and release a hint of Daluo pressure, so the stinking rabbit could learn what despair felt like.
"Long-Eared!"
A crisp, indignant shout suddenly rang out nearby.
"Who gave you the nerve to act so outrageously here?"
A clear voice rang out, carrying to every person present.
Immortal light swirled as a graceful figure in green descended.
It was Bi Xiao.
Her brows were furrowed, her beautiful eyes flashing with anger as she glared coldly at Long-Eared Immortal.
She had gone to look for Xuandu to ask whether his cultivation of the technique was going smoothly, only to discover that he wasn't in his cave.
After sweeping the area with her Spiritual Sense, she found him here.
Curious, she had followed.
She hadn't expected to arrive just in time to hear Long-Eared Immortal's appalling remarks.
Long-Eared Immortal stiffened at the sound of her voice.
The arrogance on his face froze, replaced by a trace of panic.
He quickly turned and bowed to Bi Xiao, his tone turning ingratiating.
"O-Oh, it's Senior Sister Bi Xiao."
Bi Xiao didn't even look at him. Her gaze first fell on Xuandu, and she gave him a slight nod before looking at Kong Xuan with curiosity.
At just one glance, her heart stirred.
This person's aura gave her an unfathomable feeling.
There was a Five-Colored Radiance hidden in his eyes, and his Dao Charm seemed naturally formed. He was clearly no ordinary person.
Where had Junior Brother Xuandu found such a remarkable figure?
"Senior Sister Bi Xiao."
Xuandu cupped his hands in greeting, his expression calm.
"This is Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan. I met him while traveling. I saw that his origins were extraordinary and his Dao Heart steadfast, and that he was a perfect fit for the Interception Sect's Teachings. So I specially recommended him, hoping he might join our master's tutelage."
Kong Xuan also gave Bi Xiao a slight nod in greeting, neither servile nor arrogant.
Bi Xiao's admiration for him grew.
To remain so composed before a Sage's Personal Disciple showed that he truly had an extraordinary temperament.
She turned to Long-Eared Immortal, her expression cold once more.
"Long-Eared, I heard everything you just said."
"Junior Brother Xuandu recommended a Fellow Daoist to join the sect out of sincere goodwill. What's wrong with that?"
"You didn't bother to learn the facts before hurling insults and humiliating someone he recommended. Is that how one of the Seven Attendant Immortals is supposed to conduct himself?"
Each word cut to the heart, leaving no room for mercy.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Long-Eared Immortal's forehead as he stammered,
"Senior Sister, please understand. I... I was only thinking of keeping the sect pure. I was worried some ignorant fool might—"
"Ignorant fool?"
Bi Xiao cut him off with a cold laugh.
"I think you're the ignorant fool here!"
"Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan has an extraordinary bearing. How could you presume to judge his origins?"
"Besides, even if someone's origins are ordinary, so long as they're devoted to the Interception Sect and seek the Dao, our sect's doors remain wide open!"
"Have you forgotten our master's teaching to Teach Without Discrimination?"
Long-Eared Immortal flushed under her rebuke, mumbling but daring not to say another word.
But inwardly, he hated Xuandu to the core.
That brat must have badmouthed him to Senior Sister Bi Xiao!
And this Kong Xuan, who had come out of nowhere!
Bi Xiao couldn't be bothered with him any longer. She spoke gently to Xuandu and Kong Xuan.
"Junior Brother Xuandu, Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan, pay no heed to idle talk like that."
"I'll take you to meet our eldest senior brother right away. He can decide whether to accept your recommendation."
Xuandu cupped his hands. "Thank you, Senior Sister."
Kong Xuan also said, "Thank you."
Bi Xiao nodded and didn't even glance at Long-Eared Immortal, who stood frozen in place. With a sweep of her sleeve, she said,
"Come with me."
With that, she mounted her immortal light, ready to take the two of them to Duobao's Cave.
Long-Eared Immortal watched the three depart, especially Kong Xuan's calm bearing, and felt a surge of fury shoot straight to his head.
He'd made a complete fool of himself today!
He'd been rebuked in front of Senior Sister Bi Xiao, all because of Xuandu and that Kong Xuan of unknown origin!
He clenched his fists, his eyes filled with hatred.
"Xuandu... Kong Xuan... Hmph!"
At that moment, Kong Xuan paused. He had naturally sensed the rabbit's resentment.
"Hmph!"
The pressure of a Daluo Golden Immortal surged out and enveloped Long-Eared Immortal!
Long-Eared Immortal instantly collapsed to the ground, like a dead dog.
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