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Azure Cloud Master led Zhang Yang to Zhang Yang's villa.

"Eldest Senior Brother!" Baiyun Zi hurriedly stood up. "Senior Tian Xuan has been waiting for a long time. You've finally arrived."

Heavenly Profound Daoist and Zi Yan also hurriedly stood up. Heavenly Profound Daoist performed the junior's greeting and paid his respects to Azure Cloud Master. Then he said with emotion, "It has been many years since I last saw you, Senior. You still look the same as before, while I have grown old! Your Daoist arts are so profound that I can hardly hope to reach your level."

He was indeed very surprised; he hadn't seen Azure Cloud Master for hundreds of years, yet Azure Cloud Master was still exactly the same as before.

What level has this reached exactly?

Tribulation Transcendence Realm?

I haven't heard any signs of him Tribulation Transcendence Realm!

When a great cultivator Tribulation Transcendence Realm, their power is enough to destroy the heavens and the earth; it cannot be concealed at all.

Azure Cloud Master glanced at Heavenly Profound Daoist and said, "You've grown quite a bit... When I first met you, you were only at the Nascent Soul stage, but now you've already cultivated to the Mid Dao Integration Realm. As for your outward appearance, you're just Nascent Soul Realm a skeleton; why be so fixated on appearances?"

Zhang Yang, standing nearby, secretly pursed his lips; he held his master in utter disdain.

You're young, of course you don't care about anything?

Look how old they look, and you're telling them not to care?

How is this any different from someone who says, "I'm not interested in money"?

Everyone took their seats according to their status as host and guest. Heavenly Profound Daoist didn't mince words and immediately took the initiative to say, "This junior has come to pay my respects to you, senior, because a few of my rebellious disciples have been disloyal. These fellows were blinded by desire and committed acts of offense against you. I must thank you for your leniency in letting them go."

Azure Cloud Master said rather bluntly, "They are indeed very lucky to have met me as I am now."

"If you had met me three hundred years earlier, you would probably have had to take on several new disciples!"

Heavenly Profound Daoist said with a wry smile, "Those beasts didn't know your illustrious reputation, senior, and thus committed such a grave mistake. I've taught them a severe lesson; they shouldn't dare to offend you again."

Although Azure Cloud Master spoke very rudely, Heavenly Profound Daoist had dealt with Azure Cloud Master hundreds of years ago and had witnessed Azure Cloud Master's style of doing things.

From Su Mingyang and the others, Heavenly Profound Daoist had already learned about some of Zhang Yang's behavior.

However, Azure Cloud Master from hundreds of years ago was even more flamboyant than Zhang Yang. In fact, because Azure Cloud Master was of a higher realm and stronger, he was even more ruthless in his methods.

Azure Cloud Master sighed and said, "Passing on the teachings is not easy! Starting a business is even more difficult! It's already quite an achievement that you've managed to establish a foundation for the Heavenly Profound Sect, but maintaining it is even harder! Your disciples really need to be properly instructed!"

At this moment, Heavenly Profound Daoist is the one who started the business, Azure Cloud Master is the one who maintains it.

Heavenly Profound Daoist sighed deeply. He knew best how much suffering he had endured in founding the Heavenly Profound Sect.

"Senior is right!" Heavenly Profound Daoist nodded. "These beasts are ignorant Dao Tian... Although you spared them this time, I must express my gratitude. This is just a small gift, please do not refuse."

As he spoke, he handed over several jade boxes and placed them on the table.

Azure Cloud Master shook his head and said, "There's no need! I know very well that this matter was simply handled privately by your disciples. Since you've come in person, let's just let it go."

"Senior can let it go like this, but I would feel bad if I didn't express my gratitude," Heavenly Profound Daoist insisted.

He paused, smiled, gestured to Zi Yan beside him, and said to Azure Cloud Master, "This is my grand-disciple Zi Yan. What do you think of her talent, senior?"

Azure Cloud Master glanced at Zi Yan and nodded in praise, "A top choice!"

"Thank you very much, senior!" Zi Yan said.

Heavenly Profound Daoist smiled and said, "Zi Yan has been cultivating for seven or eight years and has already broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm. Our sect is very satisfied with her. The misunderstanding between our two sects is mainly because we are all rather unfamiliar with each other. If we were closer, the previous problems wouldn't have occurred. Bringing her to meet you, senior, is also to try to bring our two sects closer together."

"Hmm?" Azure Cloud Master looked at Heavenly Profound Daoist.

Zhang Yang looked at Heavenly Profound Daoist, a bad feeling rising in his heart. Could this old fellow be...?

"I've heard that you have a disciple, senior, and I imagine this is the young man. I see that he has extraordinary talent and is quite remarkable. I'd like to betroth Zi Yan to him to strengthen our relationship. What do you think, senior?" Heavenly Profound Daoist glanced at Zhang Yang, and then looked at Azure Cloud Master.

Zhang Yang was speechless. Upon hearing Heavenly Profound Daoist's meaning, he guessed that it might be this.

Azure Cloud Master looked at Zhang Yang with a strange expression and asked, "What do you think?"

Baiyun Zi also smiled as she looked at Zhang Yang, waiting to see what Zhang Yang would say.

Zhang Yang looked at Zi Yan and found that Zi Yan was also stunned.

Zi Yan never expected that her grandmaster would take her out to visit a senior, only to end up selling her out!

Seeing Zhang Yang looking over, Zi Yan blushed deeply and didn't know what to say.

Reject?

This doesn't seem good.

Promise?

She didn't seem that willing, especially given her exceptional talent, to marry a Golden Core Realm...

Zhang Yang smiled and said to Heavenly Profound Daoist, "Senior, there's no need for marriage between the two sects to strengthen their relationship. If their interests and goals align, they can cooperate even without a marriage alliance; conversely, if their interests and goals are not aligned, what's the point of a marriage alliance?"

"You're unwilling?" Heavenly Profound Daoist asked.

Zhang Yang said seriously, "This is not a question of whether anyone is willing or not, but a matter of the relationship between the two sects. If it is just a matter of marriage, then it is a joke. Moreover, I think that even elders should respect the wishes of the younger generation."

My master did this very well.

I respect my master, and my master respects my opinions. Only in this way can communication between superiors and subordinates be effective, and only then can the sect develop healthily.

On the other hand, the senior's decision to arrange a marriage without the disciple's permission can only have the opposite effect.

Heavenly Profound Daoist turned to look at Zi Yan: "Zi Yan, are you willing?"

Zi Yan's face flushed even more. A dignified Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, she dared not look at anyone, and lowered her head, whispering, "I leave everything to Grandmaster's decision!"

"Look, she's agreed!" Heavenly Profound Daoist looked at Zhang Yang. "What do you say?"

Zhang Yang was speechless and could only nod and say, "Fine, I don't want to!"

He's already at the Blank Golden Core; if he doesn't spend more time cultivating, he'll be ruined!

Where do I find the time to be all lovey-dovey with women?

This answer left everyone puzzled.

Even Zi Yan couldn't help but look at Zhang Yang, her shy expression mixed with confusion and annoyance.

I am a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator with exceptional talent, and you Golden Core Realm cultivator, are you still unwilling to marry me?

Ungrateful!

"Why?" Heavenly Profound Daoist asked curiously.

Even Azure Cloud Master and Baiyun Zi looked at Zhang Yang with curiosity.

Zhang Yang stated bluntly, "I'm Blank Golden Core; I need to focus on cultivation!"

Azure Cloud Master and Baiyun Zi were speechless, especially Baiyun Zi, who gave Azure Cloud Master a reproachful look. If Azure Cloud Master hadn't tricked Zhang Yang into Zhang Yang a Blank Golden Core, Zhang Yang probably wouldn't have been so anxious about cultivation.

This answer was also completely unexpected by Heavenly Profound Daoist.

He truly hadn't expected that Azure Cloud Master would actually accept a disciple with Blank Golden Core stage!

He said slowly, "If you are Blank Golden Core, then you should agree even more. I have a general understanding of the situation of the Azure Cloud Sect and I understand its predicament. When the time comes, I will have Zi Yan bring over a portion of the Cultivation Resources of the Heavenly Profound Sect as part of her dowry. Wouldn't that make your cultivation much more convenient?"

Why is this old man still so shameless and insists on sending his female grand-apprentice to his door?

He no longer lacks Spirit Stone; what he lacks are genuine heavenly materials and earthly treasures, which the Heavenly Profound Sect certainly wouldn't offer.

Moreover, Devil Qi is already yielding good results for him, so why should he seek anything else?

Zhang Yang looked at Heavenly Profound Daoist with a helpless expression. "Senior, I have another question I haven't mentioned. Soon, my Azure Cloud Sect will experience a major upheaval, which may attract pressure from many top sects. Therefore, we really don't need to get so close. That wouldn't be good for your Heavenly Profound Sect!"

Azure Cloud Master was surprised that Zhang Yang had said that, and his expression turned somewhat strange.

Heavenly Profound Daoist's expression changed.