Casting the Bait
The Yedie River Holy Land's performance at the centennial event was poor.
A defeat in a normal battle is one thing, but Cai Ma's life-saving technique has a very low margin for error. The Dharma Master Hongyi, who opened the back door for Zhang Xuezhou to enter the Sacred Land, lost his life.
Although we were prepared to finish last, the fact that the contestant died was still somewhat unexpected.
The contestants' final results were too poor, and team leader Hongku also bears responsibility.
When Zhang Xuezhou met Venerable Hongku, Hongku's face still looked somewhat rustic, suggesting that he would face reprimand and criticism upon returning to the Sacred Land.
"Is this really Wu Jin?"
When Hongku met Zhang Xuezhou, he still found it hard to believe.
"I wish to go out and investigate some matters. I'll have Wu Jin stay with you for a while!"
Daojun didn't explain much, but emphasized Zhang Xuezhou's identity again when making arrangements before leaving gracefully.
Hongku accepted the order, his expression extremely complex.
He had previously suspected that the Kunlun Holy Son was Zhang Xuezhou, but he never expected that Zhang Xuezhou would turn into this disproportionate appearance, looking completely unrelated to the Kunlun Holy Son.
Moreover, Zhang Xuezhou was doing the job of guiding the poor ghost, and he even fell off the flying Law Treasure, getting completely disoriented.
All these things made it Hongku to believe.
He and Zhang Xuezhou didn't meet regularly for very long. They had even agreed to work together on alchemy and medicine making. Back then Zhang Xuezhou hadn't grown into the person he is now.
If Daojun hadn't confirmed his identity, Hongku would have truly thought the person before him was just a random passerby.
He would rather believe that the Kunlun Holy Son in the golden robe and mask was Zhang Xuezhou than believe that the person in front of him was Zhang Xuezhou.
"Wu Jin?"
Hongku called out in a rather strange tone, and Zhang Xuezhou responded with a cupped-hand salute.
"Teacher, it's been a long time!"
When the unfamiliar voices and familiar tones reached his ears, Hongku finally found a trace of his former self.
He agreed to Daojun's request to take care of Zhang Xuezhou and welcomed Zhang Xuezhou into the sacred Sacred Mountain of the Yedie River Holy Land.
Daojun did not publicize it, and the conversation was a private meeting with Zhang Xuezhou. Hongku led Zhang Xuezhou into the Sacred Land with few people noticing.
For most people, it's normal for venerable ones to have one or two companions. However, quite a few people are discussing the strange appearance of the "ghost of poverty" and its flying Law Treasure.
"Do you... do you still remember our collaboration?"
Hongku walked ahead, pondering for a moment before speaking.
"We'll refine as many pills as we have," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Once the materials arrive, we'll begin. You bear all the risks, and we'll split the profits fifty-fifty!"
"It seems you really are Wu Jin," Hongku said with a complicated expression. "How did you get into this state?"
"Do I look alright?"
Zhang Xuezhou glanced at his disproportionate body; he was in a state of Technique Method imbalance, with the body of a twenty- or thirty-year-old man having the head of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old.
Without restoring his Law Power and Technique Method cultivation, Zhang Xuezhou was helpless.
Or perhaps his body will only revert to its natural state after he returns to reality.
The Technique Method are not the main point. With Zhang Xuezhou's memory, he only needs to go through all the Technique Method he has learned before, and he can quickly master many of them. His physical form will definitely be able to adjust and recover. The real point is that Zhang Xuezhou needs to restore his Law Power.
Zhang Xuezhou could only be thankful that he had a good doctor like Zheng Wukong to help him, so unsealing his Law Power in the future would not be a problem.
However, without using Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon as scapegoats, Zhang Xuezhou would inevitably cause some trouble. He could only try to avoid seeing it and try to use the Four Gates Locking Movement Method to fix his body form.
Despite the circumstances, things hadn't reached a dead end. Zhang Xuezhou remained relatively relaxed and even optimistic about collaborating on alchemy.
"Don't you understand your own body? Why don't you look in the mirror?" Hongku reminded him.
"I just took the wrong medicine, it's nothing serious," Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand and said, "How can Alchemist never have an accident? Can Alchemist who never has accidents be a good Alchemist?"
"Did you really get this bad from taking medication?"
"Absolutely!"
Zhang Xuezhou appeared embarrassed but relaxed, showing no signs of trouble, which relieved Hongku.
"Weren't you in Kunlun before? How did you end up in the Sacred Land?" Hongku asked casually.
"What Kunlun? I was just passing through Mount Tai when this clueless god grabbed me and made me his guide!"
It was extremely difficult for Zhang Xuezhou to lie to Daojun, but it was very easy for him to lie to Hongku.
He guessed that this might be related to the domain factor of the True Self Realm. As long as he was within the Dao Lord's domain, the Dao Lord could observe every part of him and thus make accurate identifications.
Hongku, on the other hand, lacks the corresponding ability. Even if he possesses some kind of control, he still needs to release Technique Method to make it effective. Zhang Xuezhou, Hongku, is completely at ease with the other party, laughing and joking around.
If Zhang Xuezhou wanted to stand before Daojun and spout nonsense, he would need to possess at least Law Treasure or some kind of technique to counter the domain, let alone have the cultivation level of the True Self Realm.
Of course, his need for this kind of thing isn't particularly urgent. He'll learn and use it if he has it, but it won't have a big impact if he doesn't, since Zhang Xuezhou doesn't need to talk nonsense very often.
"You really didn't go to Kunlun?" Hongku.
"What would I do in Kunlun?" Zhang Xuezhou asked with a smile.
"It won't be difficult for you to ride your flying boat to Kunlun," Hongku said.
"Those belong to the Great Han Dynasty, not my personal property to be used at will," Zhang Xuezhou shook his head and said, "The key question is, what am I going to Kunlun for?"
"You're saying that because you don't trust me at all," Hongku sighed bitterly.
"Then I'm going to Kunlun," Zhang Xuezhou said, spreading his hands.
That kind of talk is meaningless!
Hongku couldn't find anything to say about Zhang Xuezhou; he just felt it was a bit unfair that the other party wouldn't admit it, but admitting it didn't seem to make him feel any better.
Does Venerable Lei still preach the Dharma?
After a few seconds of silence, they continued up the mountain path before Zhang Xuezhou changed the subject.
"He's been in a bad temper lately and hasn't been preaching to outsiders," Hongku said, shaking his head.
"Even someone with such a good personality Venerable Lei has a temper?" Zhang Xuezhou asked in surprise.
"Elderly cultivators in the Sacred Land rely on blood essence to nourish their bodies and prolong their lives. This method not only has an end, but it also constantly impacts their minds, easily leading to emotional fragility and fluctuations," Hongku said. "If someone can see their own time limit but has no way to resolve it, no one's temper will be good. In recent years, he has repeatedly failed to extend his lifespan, and his State of Mind has become somewhat unbalanced!"
"What's wrong with having a bad attitude about this?" Zhang Xuezhou complained.
"You're too young to understand this mentality," Hongku said. "When you reach the age of fifty, when you're already seeking to prolong your life, you'll understand his actions!"
"Even when I'm older, I won't have that kind of mentality," Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand and said, "Now I'm involved in refining hundreds of pills. Not only am I collaborating with you to refine the Creation Pill, but I'm also collaborating with others to refine the Longevity Pill. As long as all the ingredients are gathered, I'll refine a batch. My temperament won't be bad in the future!"
"Oh? Who are you collaborating with to refine the longevity elixir?"
"Li Shaojun!"
Zhang Xuezhou's casual remark caused Hongku's eyes to widen in surprise.
Meanwhile, the spy lantern that had risen from the Vermilion Clouds Palace quickly changed direction, and as it watched Hongku and Zhang Xuezhou, it swiftly descended, and a figure radiating jade-like light appeared near the two.