"I've heard of Fellow Daoist Bo's illustrious reputation even back in the Wu Country... He's gone to so much trouble for an old man like me."
Gongye Chun shook his head with a sigh, feeling a little more at ease.
Most sects and factions share a tacit understanding: the Nascent Soul should not be disturbed lightly.
Unless it's a war between good and evil, or they've stormed someone's mountain gate.
Because Nascent Soul cultivator attacks, the destructive power is simply too great.
At best, it could destroy cities and annihilate the land; at worst, it could cause the earth's veins to crack. Once it makes a move, it will surely result in widespread suffering and destruction.
Therefore, Nascent Soul True Lord mostly cultivate in seclusion within their own sects, and rarely appear in the world unless the sect is on the verge of collapse or an extraordinary fortuitous opportunity.
The fact that the Jade Spring Sect sent a Late Golden Core Stage cultivator is already a great honor and demonstrates their determination.
One day later.
Outside Spring-Returning Mountain, a vast and magnificent black light descended from the sky and landed silently outside the Spring-Returning Mountain. When the light dissipated, a middle-aged Daoist priest wearing a black Daoist robe appeared, with gentle and warm eyes that were as deep as the sea.
His aura was calm, and his body was surrounded by endless dark water light, which seemed to converge into a bottomless ocean that stretched across the sky and earth, and seemed to merge with the surrounding world.
He was none other than Bo Zhenren, one of the three Golden Core True Person of the Jade Spring Sect, renowned for his water magic and whose cultivation had reached the Late Golden Core Stage True Person Bo.
True Person Bo did not force his way into Spring-Returning Mountain, but instead announced loudly, " Bo Chengyun the Jade Spring Sect has come to offer birthday greetings to Gongye True Person of Spring-Returning Mountain!"
The roaring sound instantly pierced through the great formation and echoed throughout this mountainous region, becoming known to everyone.
A crimson streak of light shot out from the main peak of Spring-Returning Mountain.
Zhang Jing was both shocked and furious. Seeing the enormous phenomenon created by True Person Bo, he instantly understood everything.
Cave abode somewhere in the mountains.
The restrictions and formations suddenly burst open, and a crimson light shot into the sky, followed by several other lights that crossed the formation and landed in front of True Person Bo. It was Gongye Chun and Chen Shuangbai and the others.
Gongye Chun looked at the younger, yet profoundly unfathomable, Grand True Person before him, a broad smile on his face. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist Bo, you must have had a long journey!"
"Old True Person, how have you been?"
True Person Bo smiled gently, his gaze sweeping over Gongye Chun as he nodded slightly. "Brother Dao, your complexion is even better than before, which shows that your State of Mind has improved considerably. I didn't have time to come, and I didn't bring anything particularly valuable, except for a pot of Jade Spring Heart-Cleansing Dew, which is acceptable. I'll use this to Old True Person He 500th birthday!"
"I hope the old True Person will not blame me!"
Gongye Chun quickly took the pot of Dew and said with a smile, "How could you blame me!"
As the two were talking, three beams of light rose up from various parts of the mountain.
Qing Yizi, True Person Zhao of the Painstaking Heart Sect, and True Person Qian of the Setting Sun Sect were all awakened from their meditation by this enormous commotion. They all rushed out of their residences, and their expressions were quite interesting when they saw True Person Bo appear.
Zhang Jing flew into a rage and said, "Fine! You old geezer! So that's why it took three days, you've brought in outside help?!"
Fellow Daoist Zhang, you are mistaken.
Before Gongye Chun could even speak in response to Zhang Jing's furious questioning, True Person Bo interrupted him.
A faint, dark aura rippled around him, dissolving Zhang Jing's hidden, thunderous rage. He then looked at Zhang Jing with an unwavering calm and said slowly:
"Leaving aside the fact that my Jade Spring Sect ancestors were on good terms with the Old True Person, and that it was a brotherly bond, let's just say that... hehe, the Old True Person already announced on the day of his birthday banquet that he had separated from you and Spring-Returning Mountain. Now he has agreed to join the Jade Spring Sect and obtain the position of a retainer. How could I, Bo, be an outsider?"
Zhang Jing was about to curse again, but suddenly heard a key word and said, slowly and deliberately, "What did you say?"
Seeing his appearance, Gongye Chun felt a surge of satisfaction. He stood beside True Person Bo and announced to the several Golden Core True Person, "I have decided to join the Jade Spring Sect, be offered sacrifices by the Jade Spring Sect, and serve as a guest elder of the Jade Spring Sect Jade Dew Hall the Jade Spring Sect."
"All of you fellow practitioners can bear witness."
His words made Zhang Jing's eyes almost spit fire, his face flushed red, and he laughed angrily, "Good! Good! Good Gongye Chun! Good Jade Spring Sect! So that's how it is! So that's how it is! The birthday banquet and the division of the family were a pretense, the real purpose was to join forces with the Jade Spring Sect! You had planned this all along, hadn't you?!"
Looking at Zhang Jing, who was almost driven mad, Gongye Chun felt a sense of unfamiliarity, and even more so, a chill in his heart.
Before Zhang Jing achieved the Golden Core stage, his cultivation methods, spiritual materials, and various elixirs... weren't all handled by this old man?
Originally, it was thought that with another Golden Core cultivator, Spring-Returning Mountain would be able to stand taller when its disciples went out in the future!
But the truth is...
After successfully reaching the Golden Core realm, this promising junior abandoned his former respect and humility, and began to manipulate power in the mountains, forming cliques, suppressing dissent, and ultimately sowing discord among the descendants of his old friends, effectively sidelining him...
To be honest, Gongye Chun had wanted to hand over this mess of troubles for a long time...
But... Zhang Jing wouldn't even let him live out his old age in peace.
Having considered this, Gongye Chun's last shred of pity vanished completely. He looked coldly at Zhang Jing and said in a chilling voice, "You've gone mad!"
Zhang Jing was stunned!
He roared, "I'm crazy?! What right do you have to say that to me? What right do you have to say that to me?"
"Shut up!"
True Person Bo gave a soft rebuke, and the vast ocean formed by the dark water behind him trembled slightly. A powerful aura rushed towards him, making Zhang Jing feel as if he had been pushed by a huge force, and he flew back several feet.
He was both shocked and furious, pointing at True Person Bo, but he didn't dare to utter a single curse.
The reason is simple: True Person Bo is a Late Golden Core Stage cultivator, while he is only at the Early Golden Core Stage.
Master Bo's gaze shifted, landing on Master Zhao of the Bitter Heart Sect, Master Qian of the Falling Sun Sect, and the conspicuous demonic Golden Core cultivator, Qing Yizi, who were all watching the show. He slowly said:
"Fellow Daoists, as for the past... I will not delve into it, but..."
He paused, his voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable weight. "Now that the old True Person is a member of my Jade Spring Sect, he cannot be bullied at will."
"If there's still any lingering conflict... hehe, then come at me, Bo."
His last words weren't spoken heavily, but to True Person Zhao and True Person Qian, they seemed to carry immense weight.
True Person Qian, who was already "improper in conduct" and had long wanted to leave, quickly cupped his hands and said upon hearing this, " True Person Bo, you flatter me. I have always been on good terms with you, Master True Person, and have never questioned True Person."
True Person Bo nodded slightly, then turned to look at True Person Zhao the Painstaking Heart Sect.
When True Person Zhao was stared at by those clear black and white pupils, he felt a jolt run through his body, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him from head to toe. He paused for a moment, said nothing, simply cupped his hands in greeting, and turned to gather the disciples he had brought with him.
He actually left on the spot.
[PS: This is the third update today! Please give it a 5-star rating to improve the score! And please support me with gifts!]