Chapter 42: Yang Mei the Great Immortal

  As soon as he thought of using Zhuang Xiong's cultivation to slaughter the Western creatures, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. After careful consideration, he realized that neither he nor the West had any conflicting interests with those three Qing people at present, so agreeing was harmless. He estimated that Zhuang Xiong was only worried about his good friends and feared that he would suffer in his hands or launch a sneak attack or join forces with his senior brother to attack his friends, but he didn't have such thoughts. Agreeing was harmless, so he hurriedly opened his mouth and made another Heavenly Dao oath, only then did he wipe away the cold sweat and say: "This time, Brother Xiong should be satisfied, right?"

  "Zhuang Xiong coldly snorted and said: 'I am not a person who speaks without keeping his promises. Remember, the East is not for you, remember your oath well, and now return to the West, do not linger.'"

  Where would Zhunti dare to stay? He solemnly thanked Yang Mei again and invited him to visit the Western Paradise, then hastily followed with a courtesy to Zhuang Xiong, and hurried away. That figure, although his external injuries had mostly healed, still had disheveled hair and tattered clothes, and the cloud he rode on was crooked and twisted. Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but think maliciously: I wonder if that Bodhi is actually Zhunti? If so, perhaps that筋斗cloud was created by him at this time.

  Zhun Ti promised not to set foot in the East again and would not plot against the San Qing disciples. Zhuang Xiong felt that at least the matter of sealing the gods had improved a bit, and he couldn't help but say quietly: "Tong Tian, I've already done enough, what to do about sealing the gods is ultimately up to you." The greatest benefit of this matter for himself was that it could be basically confirmed that Kong Xuan was his own. If Zhun Ti hadn't appeared on the scene, who else could have captured Kong Xuan? Apart from being escorted away, even if he were captured by others, no big deal, he would just shamelessly ask to return. Would he let little Kong Xuan participate in the sealing of the gods? Not a chance.

  Yang Mei saw that Ti had safely left and was about to leave, so he bowed to Zhuang Xiong with a smile: "Thank you, young friend, for giving me this thin face. I have no long objects on my body, but it's also thanks to nothing. Now I'm going to say goodbye, and I hope you take care of yourself."

  Zhuang Xiong's eyes rolled around and he hastily smiled: "Great Immortal, please stay a while."

  Yang Mei stopped in her tracks and asked in puzzlement: "Little friend, is there something else?"

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said: "Just now I heard the Great Immortal mention the chaos of the Hong Huang era, and I also have a deep feeling about it. I'd like to discuss it with you in depth. Is that possible?"

  Yang Mei couldn't help but smile and said, "I'm just an old man who only cares about himself. Seeing the chaos of this world, I have some feelings, but what can I do? It's just a casual remark, young friend, don't take it seriously."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, saying: "Great Immortal, don't try to deceive me. I know that you are the same Yang Mei Great Immortal who once fought against the Dao Ancestor and even gained the upper hand. With your great immortal powers, how could you possibly utter such helpless words?"

  Yang Mei's eyebrows rose, and he smiled: "So that's what you meant! You know a lot, but you only know one side of the story, not two. What I said to Hong Jun after our battle was just boastful words, I didn't want anyone disturbing me. Today, I'll tell you about it, even if Hong Jun knew, he wouldn't come to settle scores with an old man like me now that he's a saint." Yang Mei lightly swept the ground with a willow branch, and suddenly a wooden stake sprouted from the earth. He sat down, looked up at Zhuang Xiong, and smiled slightly. Zhuang Xiong didn't dare ask for a seat, so he spread his legs apart and sat down. Just as he did, a mound of earth grew from the ground, providing him with a stable place to sit. Zhuang Xiong just smiled silently, waiting for Yang Mei to speak.

  Yang Mei let out a soft sigh and said, "Actually, back when I fought with Hong Jun, he hadn't become a saint yet. Who would have thought that now he's a revered saint, while I'm still just an aspiring saint, growing old in vain." Yang Mei merely uttered a sigh of regret, then seemed to sink into deep contemplation, slowly saying, "Actually, the Daoist methods I cultivate are vastly different from Hong Jun's. He walks the path of enlightening all living beings, whereas I only cultivate myself. Although my magical powers as an aspiring saint are considerable, I only have a single innate divine ability to protect myself, with no other means at my disposal. On the other hand, when Hong Jun hadn't become a saint yet, he happened to be someone I could defeat. Or rather, as long as they haven't become saints, most people would fall before me. I am an undefeated existence below the level of saints, but that's all - merely an undefeated existence."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but feel suspicious and asked, "What do you mean by this? If it's not a defeat, then there's a chance to counterattack, which means victory is in sight. How can it be just 'not defeated'?"

  Yang Mei's eyes narrowed as he let out a bitter laugh, saying: "This is what I wanted to tell you. My innate divine ability originates from my being an Empty Heart Yang Liu, allowing me to collect all things under the heavens. Regardless of whether it's a high-grade artifact or any attribute of magical energy, I can take them in one by one. Moreover, my own defense is strong; even if I fail to collect something once, I can try multiple times. In the vast expanse of the Hong Huang, only Hong Jun has mastered this ability, and I can defeat him. That means no saint can withstand me. However, that's all there is to it - everything I've learned has not a single shred of attacking power. Even my physical body's divine ability is purely defensive; as you see, my aged body may look frail, but its defense is extremely high, while its strength is minimal. So, no matter what kind of attack comes my way, I'm not afraid. But at the same time, I have no way to attack anyone else either. If others don't attack me, I'll just stand by idly. I'm destined to be a mere spectator, wandering on the fringes of the Hong Huang.

  Zhuang Xiong was left staring blankly, never expecting that there would be so many underlying reasons. His extraordinary innate abilities, which defied the heavens, had already predetermined his path at birth. Blessing or calamity?

  Yang Mei didn't care what Zhuang Xiong was thinking and continued, "I was born with this divine ability, I felt that the world is so big, where can't I go? In fact, it's true, but gradually I understood the bitterness in it. However, after many years have passed, I thought again, actually, it's good like this, I'm not a person who likes to fight, no matter who provokes me, I just use this one move, and that's enough to scare off Hong Jun before he became a saint. I only refined this one move, but it's enough to counter the countless moves of the world. Sometimes, having many divine abilities isn't necessarily good, refining one aspect can bring even greater gains. This one move of mine contains several rules such as space, time, chaos, yin and yang, after refining for countless years, didn't I also reach the peak of saintliness? Cultivation is not just about fighting, fighting is only a part of cultivation, or even an unimportant detail. My purpose this time is to go to Chaos, preparing to attain enlightenment in Chaos, in this vast wilderness, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to attain enlightenment in this lifetime."

  Zhuang Xiong listened to these words and nodded repeatedly, solemnly saying: "I know that what you said is reasonable, but in this vast and chaotic world, if one doesn't understand the way of contention, how can they seek a thread of life? Daozhang has such powerful protective divine abilities, so naturally he wouldn't worry about these problems. But for us cultivators struggling in this chaotic world, perhaps the method of contention is also an integral part of our cultivation. After all, contention can also be said to be a kind of dao."

  Yang Mei nodded and smiled, "What you said makes sense. Since I'm safe myself, my considerations might be different from yours. Just like back then, I didn't understand the struggle between the three tribes until someone else told me that their cultivation was also a kind of Tao. Now it seems that the demon tribe is also cultivating this Tao, but I don't know if they have any connection with those three tribes. Back then, Hong Jun must have killed everyone who knew about this Tao to prevent it from spreading. After all, once this Tao is revealed, it will be a catastrophic war and the Primordial Chaos will never know peace. Sometimes I really admire Hong Jun's selfless love."

  Zhuang Xiong's eyebrows furrowed involuntarily. A certain Dao? Someone from the demon tribe knew about it and was cultivating a certain Dao? A certain Dao that all three tribes knew about, which would lead to a great war? Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but flash back to the faces of Emperor Jun and Taiyi in his mind. If there were any suspicions, it should be one of these two people. As for where the news came from, he still needed to investigate carefully. It turned out that at this time, there was actually such a Dao? No wonder Tian Dao Yixin wanted to exterminate the witch and demon tribes; this Dao could indeed make the Primordial Chaos restless.

  Yang Mei saw that Zhuang Xiong was deep in thought, and couldn't help but smile: "Little friend doesn't need to worry too much, I think Hong Jun has already made arrangements in his heart." Seeing Zhuang Xiong's expression of sudden realization, he also smiled and said: "Little friend is also a thoughtful person. As for me, due to my own limitations, I won't be able to help. Originally, I wanted to pass on some Taoist techniques to you, but your learning is not shallow, and it differs greatly from the Great Way that I cultivate. I fear that if I were to transmit them to you, it would mislead your cultivation, so I dare not do so rashly. You should focus on cultivating your own spiritual powers, and as for the Great Way, it's better to go learn from Hong Jun."

  Zhuang Xiong now knew almost everything and also knew that Hong Huang had gone to manage bigger things, so he didn't worry about his own small thoughts. He opened up his heart and chatted with Yang Mei. Yang Mei was also a person who had been born not long after the creation of the world, so she naturally knew a lot. In this conversation, Zhuang Xiong gained quite a bit. Yang Mei knew he wanted to go to the East Sea to find a place to settle down and gave him several directions, all of which were places he had encountered on the sea before. However, one of them sounded like a rumor from later generations - Nanhai Putuo Luojia Mountain. It seemed that Yang Mei was also a bit of a road fool, and her directions might not be very reliable. However, since Zhuang Xiong hadn't been there himself and didn't know the truth, he couldn't express his opinion. He just listened carefully and remembered everything.

  Two people, one old and one young, one speaking with enthusiasm, the other listening intently, just like a pair of close friends who have forgotten their ages. As they chatted, they suddenly realized that the sun had set behind the western mountains. Yang Mei reluctantly stopped talking and sighed: "I didn't expect it to be this late already. Today's conversation with my young friend was truly delightful. Today we part ways, and I'm afraid we won't meet again in the future. Hehe, never mind, as cultivators, why bother being attached to these fleeting moments? Let's just leave now."

  Zhuang Xiong saw Yang Mei get up, and he also knew that it was impossible to stop her. He could only say: "Talking with Dao Zhang, I have gained a lot, thank you Dao Zhang for your kindness. Please take care of yourself, and I wish you a smooth journey and early attainment of the true fruit."

  Yang Mei stood up, but hesitated for a moment, thought for a while, and took out a necklace from her body. The purple gold chain was pendant with a small wooden sign engraved with mysterious symbols. Yang Mei's expression was serious, and she handed it to Zhuang Xiong: "This is formed by using part of my own body with secret techniques, although there are some tricks, but in fact most of it is still natural. It has an incredible effect, specifically what I don't know either, should be related to self-defense, you also know that I have divine powers, but I don't need this thing. However, little friend is seeking a thread of life in the vast wilderness, and may encounter danger at any time. This thing may help you once, so I'll give it to little friend. Little friend, don't decline, we are friends regardless of age, and this thing is useless to me. If you need it, don't be polite."

  Zhuang Xiong saw that Yang Mei had said so, and he also thanked him and put it away, carefully hanging it around his neck. Although he didn't know what it was, since Yang Mei was being so cautious at this time, it must be something good without a doubt. As for its function, he would slowly research it later.

  This time, both of them didn't say a word, they looked at each other and nodded seriously, then the Taoist priest turned around and left.

  Zhuang Xiong knew that he had seen off Yang Mei's figure disappearing on the horizon, and only then did he let out a slight sigh. He raised his hand to look at the wooden sign, shook his head and put it down again. At this time, Yang Mei was at the peak of the quasi-saint realm, and even if Zhuang Xiong hadn't studied it carefully, it wasn't something that a great Luojin immortal like himself could figure out in a short time. He might as well continue his journey to the East Sea.

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  Zhuang Xiong and Yang Mei had a heart-to-heart conversation, and at this moment, he didn't worry or feel anxious anymore. He seemed to have just realized that no matter what happened, Hong Jun should be the one who was worried first. And as for him, with just a little thought, as long as he thought it through, he could intervene at the right time, so what's there to be annoyed about? So Zhuang Xiong became even more carefree, driving his cloud chariot slowly and leisurely towards the East Sea.

  This journey, old rules, Lingbao can't be bothered, but the Linggen Yiguo must be collected. Today, Zhuang Xiong found a pre-heavenly Linggen Yinyang fruit, which is of the same level as the Star Fruit in his hand, second only to the pre-heavenly Linggen Yiguo. Most importantly, it can be eaten and brewed into wine. Zhuang Xiong carefully collected it with the Qiankun fan, then poured himself a few cups of wine, feeling content and satisfied. He was about to continue on his journey when he suddenly heard a commotion coming from the east, causing him to frown and feel annoyed: "Why is it that every time I get something good and my heart is feeling great, someone always comes to disturb me? This damn fortune and misfortune are intertwined."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but look in the direction of the fight, and his eyes widened instantly as he muttered to himself: "My goodness!" In front of him, countless small demons were holding weapons, some riding on black smoke, others stirring up a fierce wind, and some simply running with their two legs, not willing to fall behind. They were chasing and killing an alien beast, while many witches from the Wu tribe were also holding weapons, and some were even drawing bows and arrows, climbing mountains and trees to chase after the alien beast. Zhuang Xiong was bewildered - was this a collaboration between the Wu and Yao tribes? Did they really cooperate? What kind of alien beast could provoke both tribes to work together to hunt it down?