He could not help smiling as he stepped forward to offer a greeting. "Might you be Senior Brother Wang Peng?"
Danyangzi had once transmitted a great deal of information to him through divine sense.
Taiyi had naturally long since committed his senior brothers' appearances to memory.
The man before him was none other than Danyangzi's fifth disciple, his fifth senior brother.
He had reportedly been a candidate Holy Son of the Yaoguang Holy Land in an earlier generation, with a boundless future ahead of him. But several hundred years ago, he had suffered an unprecedented defeat while contending with someone, who had also humiliated him, damaging his Dao heart.
He had stalled in the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm, unable to advance another inch.
Even Danyangzi had sounded regretful when mentioning this fifth disciple.
"My name is indeed Wang Peng..."
The middle-aged man frowned, scrutinizing the person before him.
He had happened to be in the area, handling some affairs for the Holy Land.
Upon hearing that something sinister might have been unearthed in the Silver Mine Mountain Range, causing a bloody upheaval, he had rushed straight over.
But before he could enter the mine, he had sensed astonishing fluctuations of divine power nearby and followed them here to investigate.
He had never expected to encounter this young man holding a divine bow.
This Blazing Sun Bow was a magical artifact his revered master, Danyangzi, had used in his youth.
Back then, he had swallowed his pride and begged for it, yet his master had been unwilling to part with it.
To think it was now in the hands of a mysterious young man.
"Taiyi greets Fifth Senior Brother..." Taiyi bowed and said with a smile, "I was originally an unaffiliated cultivator. By chance, I passed the place where Master Danyangzi was cultivating in seclusion and had the good fortune to be accepted as his Personal Disciple!"
"What?"
At those words.
Even though Wang Peng possessed profound cultivation, he had already reached the Dragon Transformation Ninth Heaven.
He was still stunned beyond words, staring blankly at Taiyi. "You're Master's Personal Disciple?"
"The genuine article!"
Taiyi nodded earnestly.
He circulated the Primordial Origin Scripture, and his entire body shone.
At the same time, he undid his transformation, returning directly to the appearance of an eleven- or twelve-year-old.
Although he did not reveal the aura of his Sun Sacred Body, he let a small portion of his vitality show.
"This is... the Primordial Origin Scripture?" Sensing its aura, Wang Peng looked at this unbelievably young junior brother, whose surging vitality resembled that of a True Dragon hatchling, and found it difficult to believe.
Besides, if the boy were not his revered master's Personal Disciple.
An ordinary Yaoguang disciple would have no right to cultivate the Yaoguang Holy Land's supreme cultivation method, the Primordial Origin Scripture.
He probably was not lying.
"So you're Junior Brother Taiyi..."
All of Wang Peng's doubts vanished.
He accepted Taiyi's identity.
As he looked at Taiyi, his eyes filled with wonder.
Although this junior brother's cultivation was not high.
To possess the strength of the Dao Palace Third Heaven at such a young age, with vitality this vigorous, was truly inconceivable. He could only be called extraordinarily brilliant.
With such astonishing talent and limitless prospects, it was no wonder their revered master had accepted this young prodigy as his Personal Disciple.
"To think Master took another disciple of such dazzling talent. This is truly cause for celebration!"
For a moment.
This cultivator at the Dragon Transformation Ninth Heaven was both astonished and delighted.
Warmth filled his gaze as he hurriedly took Taiyi by the arm and asked, "Is he well?"
He had received no news of his revered master for many years.
He had even thought that his master had already passed away in meditation.
Yet he had no idea where his master had gone and could not find him.
Never had he imagined that his master had quietly accepted such an exceptionally gifted Personal Disciple.
"Master asked me to give this to you, Senior Brother Wang Peng!"
Taiyi fell silent for a moment.
Wang Peng's expression changed, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.
Taiyi took out the letter Danyangzi had left before his death and handed it to Senior Brother Wang Peng.
Chapter 30: Wang Peng's Shock and Fury, Stepping Forward
"Master-"
He excitedly took the letter, opened it, and finished reading it.
Wang Peng stood there shedding tears of grief, overcome with sorrow. "Four hundred years ago, I met Master while he was traveling. Never did I imagine that our meeting would be our final farewell!"
"Senior Brother, please accept my condolences!"
He once again used the Heaven-Stealing Sun-Swapping Art.
Having returned to his youthful adult appearance, Taiyi gently offered words of comfort.
"Alas, the rest of us had already sensed this might happen..."
Wang Peng sighed softly.
Wiping away his tears, he looked at Taiyi with wistful sorrow. "After all, unless one can climb another step beyond the hundred-foot pole, sever the Dao, and become a king, even a supreme mighty cultivator at the peak of the second heaven of the Immortal Platform can only live a little over two thousand years at most, barring divine treasures or precious medicines to prolong their life!"
If one could sever the Dao and become a king, their lifespan would indeed be extended.
But the Great Dao had withdrawn from the world, making enlightenment difficult to begin with. How arduous was severing the Dao? Few had managed it in several thousand years.
And their revered master Danyangzi had already been at least three thousand years old. That he had lived until now could be called a miracle.
"Still, before Master passed away in meditation, he accepted a prodigy of your exceptional talent as his Personal Disciple, Junior Brother Taiyi. That fulfilled one of his wishes!"
As Danyangzi's disciple.
He naturally knew that Master Danyangzi had once competed for the position of Holy Lord against the master of Li Daoqing, the current Yaoguang Holy Lord. His opponent had been several hundred years older and in his prime, with his Primordial Origin Holy Light Technique already honed to the perfection of a blazing furnace.
The two powerful cultivators had fought for three days and three nights, their tempers flaring in earnest, before the victor was finally decided by the narrowest margin.
His master Danyangzi had ultimately lost by a single move, missing his chance at the position of Holy Lord.
This had become an enduring knot in his heart and a lifelong regret.
As for his disciples, though they considered themselves formidable, and some had even been Yaoguang Holy Sons of earlier generations, none had ultimately ascended to the position of Holy Lord.
By nurturing Taiyi as his disciple, he had clearly hoped the boy could fulfill that wish.
But the current Yaoguang Holy Son was truly extraordinary. His vitality was as vast as an ocean, and he had cultivated the Holy Light Technique to an astonishing degree, making his strength unfathomable.
If Junior Brother Taiyi wanted to claim the position of Holy Son and eventually compete for the throne of Holy Lord of the Yaoguang Holy Land.
He would likely shoulder a heavy burden on a long road. It would not be easy.
"The world outside is too perilous. Though your talent is exceptional, Junior Brother, your cultivation is still shallow. Why don't I escort you back to the Yaoguang Holy Land to cultivate..."
Wang Peng looked at Taiyi and said solemnly, "Your other senior brothers can look after you there and offer you some guidance, helping you grow stronger sooner!"
Danyangzi had taken six disciples in succession.
Anyone who caught his eye naturally possessed considerable talent, and all had now attained significant accomplishments.
The others had already become supreme elders of the Yaoguang Holy Land.
Apart from their eldest senior brother, Li Xuan, who had become a Great Power, the others had all reached the first heaven of the Immortal Platform.
Even their exceptionally gifted sixth junior brother had come from behind and surpassed him, the fifth senior brother, becoming a Half-Step Great Power at the peak of the first heaven of the Immortal Platform.
Only he, the fifth disciple, had reached the Dragon Transformation Ninth Heaven.
Had remained stuck there for hundreds of years without advancing an inch, his damaged Dao heart leaving him unable to untie the knot within.
It was rather embarrassing.
"It's all right. A precious sword gains its keen edge through grinding. Hiding away to cultivate all the time won't let me scale the highest peak..."
Taiyi declined his kind offer and said with a smile, "Before Master passed away, he also left me a Guardian Forbidden Weapon to protect my path. You needn't worry, Senior Brother!"
With his current meager strength, he had no desire to go to the Yaoguang Holy Land.
Heaven only knew how many powerful cultivators there belonged to the Ruthless One's Lineage.
If he went straight there, he would likely be delivering a super-deluxe gift package of his origin essence directly to the Yaoguang Holy Son.
"Is that so?"
Wang Peng nodded lightly. "Since you have your own plans, Little Junior Brother, I won't say any more as your senior brother..."
He knew this junior brother bore their revered master's final wish and instructions.
One day, Taiyi would inevitably have to contend with the Yaoguang Holy Son, but that road would indeed be difficult and fraught with hardship.
Since Master Danyangzi had already prepared forbidden weapons to protect his path, he had presumably left plenty of other safeguards.
There was indeed no need for Wang Peng to meddle or intervene excessively.
"If you run into any trouble in the future, feel free to come to me, or go straight to your other senior brothers..."
Wang Peng patted Taiyi's shoulder and said, "Here in the Eastern Wasteland, our Yaoguang Holy Land isn't some meek herbivore. We can't let anyone bully you!"
In the letter their revered master Danyangzi had left him.
He had explicitly stated that their little junior brother possessed extraordinarily dazzling talent.
He had hoped that all these senior brothers would look after and support their little junior brother.
Before you continue