Chapter 29: The Western Regions Begin to Move

  After returning to Qingqiu Mountain, Zhou Cheng saw Bai Meng couple right in front of him. The two were sitting cross-legged at the cliff where he lectured, cultivating their energy. Seeing him return, they stood up and paid their respects: "Welcome back, Master!"

  "Ah, don't talk nonsense, get up." Zhou Cheng took a look at Bai Lu and calculated the date with his fingers. He found that there were less than 100 years left before Bai Lu's thousand-year pregnancy would give birth, and Qingqiu Mountain was about to have an addition. Although he didn't seek talent or background for his disciples, he had already acknowledged this disciple who had spoken out early on.

  "You're carrying a thousand-year-old fetus, but it's likely to be born in less than a hundred years. For these hundred years, don't wander around anymore, cultivate the Tao of Heaven, cultivate your body and nurture your nature, to nourish the fetal energy." Zhou Cheng said calmly, although his expression was emotionless, it also moved Bai Meng deeply.

  "Thank you, Master, for your concern. After a hundred years, the child will be born and I hope Master won't abandon me, put into practice your golden words, accept me as a disciple, serve you day and night, to repay your kindness." Bai Meng and the others still remembered what Zhou Cheng said earlier, "If fate permits", and they hastily begged again.

  "No problem, I had already made it clear earlier that I would take them in as my disciples. As for the three of you, I will definitely keep my promise." Zhou Cheng had taken in two disciples a thousand years ago and had always been diligent and conscientious towards his fellow sect members, especially his two senior siblings. He remembered everything they did for him. "You respect me one foot, I'll repay you ten feet," this was indeed Zhou Cheng's character. "As for you three, you must carefully comprehend the techniques of our sect, there will be a time when it will come in handy."

  "Teacher, thank you." Bai Meng and the other person had completely put down the stone in their hearts. The previous Kong Xuan incident had caused a stir on Qingqiu Mountain, making everyone anxious, creating discord between masters and disciples, and the two almost thought that their disciple's reputation was gone. This time, Zhou Chengjin's promise made them thoroughly at ease.

  Recently, I had an epiphany as a teacher. The next day, I will lecture on the great way, and all who are destined can come to listen." Zhou Cheng didn't say much more, he went down the mountain and spread the word with one shout, then returned straight back to his thatched cottage.

  The next day, Zhou Cheng came out early in the morning. The stone steps were already crowded with people. Several Golden Immortals had also arrived, except for one who was missing. There were many people sitting on the empty ground at the foot of the mountain. After climbing up to the rocky cliff and sitting down on a meditation mat, he glanced at the few people in front of him. The five disciples sat on separate mats: Shi Zhong and Zhu Yu were in front, followed by Bai Meng and his wife, and Kong Xuan.

  Kong Xuan was listening to Zhou Cheng's lecture for the first time, with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. He was expecting to hear some profound truths, but also worried that Zhou Cheng's words would be nothing but nonsense. However, seeing the crowded stone steps leading up the mountain, he felt more hopeful. The teacher was indeed an impressive figure! Although he had refused to accept Kong Xuan as a student initially, it seemed that Kong Xuan was at least luckier than those who were only able to listen in, even if they had achieved golden immortal cultivation and could only stand by and listen.

  "Hello, teacher!"

  "From today on, apart from explaining the Great Way, I will also teach you some techniques, including the methods of alchemy and artifact refinement. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me just like my disciples do." Zhou Cheng continued slowly, "My lectures are a cause-and-effect relationship for you to listen in on. This kindness is also a way to make up for your regret at not being able to join our sect. However, I must say this beforehand: if anyone betrays my kindness and uses the techniques I teach against my disciples in the future, they will be severely punished without mercy."

  Zhou Cheng's last words were imbued with boundless magical power. Although they couldn't shake the heavens and earth, they frightened the crowd listening to the Tao into stunned silence.

  "The students dare not! The teacher's kindness is boundless, never to be forgotten!" Everyone knocked their heads again.

  "The Great Way is without name or form! The great tone has a sound, heaven and earth have not yet opened, the Way already exists! The Way is mysterious and again mysterious, it is unknowable. The Way can be hidden in heaven, it can be contained in a mustard seed. Under the Great Way, heaven and earth are unkind, they treat all things as straw dogs. Therefore, those who govern for the people, follow the natural order and are at ease, those who go against the natural order labor. The Great Way has form, everyone has it; the Great Way is without form, there is no door to enter..."

  Kong Xuan listened to Zhou Cheng's words, although he was a bit bewildered and didn't understand, but he also gained some insight. Some things that he hadn't understood before gradually became clear. What he had heard from Zhu Yu earlier seemed to be the teachings of his master, but it was only the foundation of the school, not yet entering the door. He wondered what kind of wonderful Taoist principles were inside the school. This master had never been heard of before, and his background was somewhat suspicious.

  "May I ask something?" Kong Xuan was dazed for a moment, and Zhou Cheng had already finished his lecture, making him suddenly regret not paying attention and missing some parts, which he could only make up for next time.

  "Teacher, we have something to report!" The nine-tailed fox stood up and bowed down.

  "What's wrong?"

  "In the meantime, a mysterious Taoist has been lurking outside the gate of Qingqiu Mountain, repeatedly sneaking in to steal away those who have cultivated to become powerful. Several of our mountain's disciples have already fallen victim to his poisonous hands." The old nine-tailed fox spoke with a hoarse voice, lowering her head: "Yesterday, several of us Golden Immortals discussed and decided to exit the mountain gate, hiding in secret and waiting for an opportunity to act!" As she spoke, the old fox seemed somewhat indignant: "Not long after, one of my mountain's disciples returned from outside, just as we were about to welcome him back into the mountain. But unexpectedly, a Taoist suddenly appeared beside him, short and small in stature, with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, laughing loudly and saying 'Another fine material!' Then he used his magic to immobilize our mountain's people and was about to take them away." The old fox stopped speaking here, looking at Zhou Cheng.

  Zhou Cheng suddenly felt that the person Lao Hu mentioned was somewhat familiar. He snapped his fingers and suddenly came to a realization. You're really bold, actually daring to come to my mountain gate and cause trouble! Although he had said before that those who leave the mountain gate are on their own when it comes to life and death, and normally wouldn't care about such trivial matters outside the mountain gate. But this doesn't mean he can tolerate others guarding the gate and causing trouble, snatching away his disciples to take them west.

  "What you said, I already know. Although I have something to say, those who come out of the mountain gate are on their own in terms of life and death. But this time, I must intervene, so go down now, it's enough for Master to come. " Zhou Cheng sighed, this Zhun Ti is really bullying the weak with his strength, teaching the master to come out and fight, robbing the younger brother, isn't he afraid of being ridiculed?! Poor several Golden Immortals, if not for the last one who fought desperately, Zhun Ti only wanted to rob people, but didn't want to hurt them. One person fought desperately, and it was actually letting the crowd of Golden Immortals be taken in by Bai Meng's couple who had been waiting at the mountain gate early."

  "Teacher, we know about this matter. You once said that those who leave the mountain gate are on their own in life and death, so we didn't dare report it to you," Bai Meng and the others knelt down and said.

  "Well, be more careful in the future!" Zhou Cheng didn't blame the two disciples and directly dispersed the crowd to prepare for a meeting with that Quan Tiandao person. Just as he was about to leave, it seemed like he remembered something, so he went back to his own hut on the cliff, took something out, and left the mountain gate.

  But this Zhunti, after all, is not a good killer. Earlier, Hongjun said that the two of them would establish great merit and virtue to become the supreme saints of the chaotic yuan. When Hongjun said this, others might be excited, but Zhunti was not even half excited. Thinking about the Western Land, it's all barren and sparsely populated. Not to mention those with high cultivation, even ordinary spirits are rarely encountered. A great teaching requires people to establish a teaching, otherwise, he and his master would just be two lone commanders, how could they establish a teaching? So he set his mind on the Eastern Land.

  Last time during the Witch and Demon War, Zhunti did not get involved, but it wasn't that he didn't want to take advantage of the situation. Last time, he was hit by Zhou Cheng's brick, which severely injured his vital energy, and after a long period of bitter cultivation, he only partially recovered. For a short while, he had indeed been lying low. Think about it, Zhunti wasn't a saint at this time either. In this chaotic world, for him, survival was the most important thing. During the Witch and Demon War, when the great gods were attacking each other, he didn't participate. After the war, when all parties were severely injured, he began to capture high-level experts everywhere and bring them back to replenish the Western Sect. He would first try to entice them, and if they refused, he would directly take action and capture people. Not long ago, he discovered that there were often high-level experts entering and leaving this place, and this mountain was not where any of the great gods he knew resided. So, he started doing that unscrupulous business, specializing in guarding the tree stump and waiting for rabbits.

  Zhun Ti was hiding in the same old place, with a smile on his face and some expectation in his heart. Yesterday was a pity, several Golden Immortals came to block and disturb him, but he only caught one person. This time, he had to wait carefully, if they came again, he would not let them off. Suddenly, Zhun Ti's eyes lit up, a late-stage Daoist cultivation demon was about to pass by, entering the unnamed mountain. He immediately hid himself, preparing to rush forward and cast a spell to capture it.

  "How dare you!!!" A loud shout came over!!!

  Today's update was a bit late, one reason is that I got out of class late and the other is that an editor found me to sign a contract, discussing the contract took up a lot of time.

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