Chapter 2: The Pathogenesis of "Phlegm" (Part 1)

  "You'd better not mention those ugly things you did back then. The flying sword that Eldest Brother treasures the most was polluted by your urine, and he used his Samadhi True Fire to refine it for a whole year before it recovered. Even now, whenever he mentions you, he'll say, 'That Urine Pants Little Eleven is really unlucky for me.' " As he spoke, Lingzhi Zi also imitated Eldest Brother's helpless expression, causing the other three people to burst out laughing.

  After a while, the laughter stopped. Ling Tongzi recited the magic spell, "The universe has no bounds, the Tao of Heaven and Earth, the clear heart mantra, follow my heart's rise." A ball of green light appeared on his right hand index finger, and with two taps in mid-air, two green lights shot out, entering the brow centers of Hailong and Zhanghao respectively.

  Their whole body shook, and Hai Long and Zhang Huan let out a long sigh, slowly waking up from their daze. Everything that had happened earlier seemed like a dream to the two of them, and as they looked at the four Ling Tongzi in front of them, they made the same movement, pinching their thighs hard. "Ah, ah!" Two cries of pain rang out, and under the intense pain stimulating their thighs, they knew they weren't dreaming. The two men's comical performance immediately made the four Ling Tongzi laugh again.

  Zhang Huai and Hai Long both knelt down together and said in unison: "Disciple Zhang Huai (Hai Long) pays respects to the four masters."

  Ling Tongzi made a casual stroke with his hand and smiled: "You don't have to rush to pay homage to your master, I have something to ask you."

  A surge of great power lifted him up, and the expressions of Hailong and Zhanghao became even more respectful. Zhanghao said: "Master, you ask."

  Ling Tongzi smiled and said: "First of all, I want to tell you that we are not gods, but just cultivators. Where did you come from, and why do you want to worship us as your masters?"

  Zhang Hao said: "My brother and I are from a small village a hundred miles away from Lianyun Mountain. A few years ago, we heard that one could worship the gods as masters to learn skills here, so we wanted to come and try our luck. As for why we want to worship the master...". He scratched his head and looked at Hailong for help. Hailong smiled bitterly: "Don't look at me, I just want to eat sweet potatoes three meals a day. You have great ambitions, don't you? Now that you see the godly master, hurry up and speak."

  Zhang Hao sighed and said: "My great ambition was just to learn from a master, but I don't know what the point of learning is."

  "Alright, you don't have to be embarrassed anymore. This kind of effortless cultivation isn't bad either. I can accept you as my disciples, but there are a few things I need to tell you first. Our Lianyun Sect is one of the seven major cultivation sects in the world, and we cultivate the most orthodox Daoist methods passed down by our ancestor, Lianyun Zushi. Once you enter our sect, you will cut off all worldly ties. In the mountains, there are no family relationships; I'm afraid you won't be able to see your loved ones again. Can you do that?"

  Hailong nodded and said, "I've been an orphan since I was a child. As long as the immortal master is in charge of food, it's fine if I'm full and my family isn't hungry." He paused for a moment, then turned to Zhang Hua beside him and asked, "But, Douyae, what about your parents?"

  Zhang Hao was just a kid, and this time he brought Hai Long here, it was just a momentary impulse, and he didn't think about so much. At this time, after listening to Ling Tongzi's words, he suddenly became hesitant. He is the only son of his family, if he doesn't go back, who will take care of his parents in the future? He pouted and said: "Immortal Master, can't I finish learning your skills even after a few years?"

  Lingzhi smiled and said: "Of course, it's impossible to learn everything. To achieve success in cultivating the truth, it will take at least a thousand years or more! Cultivating the truth is not a simple matter."

  "Thousands of years? This... this is too long. Can people really live that long?" Zhang Hua's eyes were filled with incredulity.

  Lingzhi Zi let out a soft sigh and said, "As one's cultivation increases and the impurities in the body are eliminated, a person's lifespan will continue to lengthen. Child, since you have family ties, why not wait until after your parents' hundredth birthday before coming? Only then can you calm down and focus on cultivating."

  Zhang Hui's face was filled with a sense of despair, and he nodded silently, saying: "I... I want to go home. Immortal Master, can you give me some dry rations for the road? Although I'm usually lazy, I also can't bear the thought of my dad and mom being sad because they've lost me!" His gaze turned to Hai Long, and he said gloomily: "Dragon Brother, why don't you stay here and cultivate with these Immortal Masters? You don't have a family, only this one friend of mine. After my dad and mom pass away in a hundred years, I'll definitely come back here to find you."

  Hailong looked at Zhang Hua's distressed face, shook his head and said: "No, Douyao, I'll go back with you. We can come again another time when we have the chance."

  Zhang Hao forced a smile and said, "No need to. Long Ge, you go learn from the immortal masters first, when I come later, you can help me too! Besides, in the village, even eating is a problem for you. Here is your best home."

  Ling Yanzi's words made Ling Tongzi's eyes light up, and he immediately understood. He turned to Zhang Heng and said, "In just a few decades, it will all be over in the blink of an eye. Haichong, you should follow Zhang Heng's advice. And Zhang Heng, don't be too sad. This time, we won't let you come in vain. This is the most basic cultivation method of our Lianyun Sect. You can practice it on your own after you return, and when your parents pass away, you can come back to our sect again. At that time, Haichong will personally guide you to continue your cultivation." As he spoke, he handed a small booklet to Zhang Heng. How could they let both Haichong and Zhang Heng leave now? Although it was against the rules of their sect, in a situation like Zhang Heng's, it was absolutely impossible to accept him as a disciple. However, in order to have one more fifth-generation disciple, they would naturally try their best to persuade Haichong to stay.

  The dragon king hesitated, although following the gods in front of him might make himself full in the future, but since he grew up with Zhang Huan, how could he bear to part with him?

  Ling Yu Zi's eyes rolled, and she walked to Zhang Hua's side with an air of elegance, saying: "Little brother, you don't need any dry rations anymore. This way, I'll personally send you back now. With my flying sword, it will take at most an hour to get you home." After speaking, without waiting for Hai Long and Zhang Hua to object, she scooped up Zhang Hua in one motion, urged on her magic sword, and transformed into a flowing light that departed.

  Ling Tongzi couldn't help but shake his head, thinking to himself: This disciple of mine is really impatient. He hastily transmitted a message, reminding him: "Ling Yuzi, hurry back quickly, the immortal array won't be open for much longer."

  "Douya!" - "Hailong" shouted in a loud voice. In mid-air, Zhang Hua's voice came through, "Big brother, wait for me, I'll definitely come find you."

  Tears had moistened the dragon's eyes, and his vision was blurry. He muttered to himself: "Douya, Douya, you should have come earlier!"

  Ling Tongzi walked to the side of Hailong, pressed his shoulder and said: "Hailong, you don't have to be too sad. In our eyes as cultivators, several decades are just a snap of the fingers. For the sake of helping your brother in the future, from now on you must also cultivate well and strive for early attainment of the Great Way."

  Hai Long looked at Ling Tongzi for a moment and nodded silently.

  "Alright, after Ling Yu Zi returns, we'll head back to Moyun Peak to pay respects to your Master Ancestor and formally accept you into the sect. Only the third generation disciples of our Lianyun Sect, that is, your Master Ancestor's generation, have the authority to accept new disciples. Since I'm free at the moment, let me tell you about our Lianyun Sect's situation. Our Lianyun Sect is one of the seven major sects in the world, with a strong foundation. The seventy-two peaks of the Lianyun Mountains are our base, and normally, due to the protection of the ancient immortal array left behind by Lianyun Ancestor, outsiders can't even enter the seventy-two peaks, so outsiders only know about the existence of Lianyun Mountain but don't know that there are seventy-two peaks within."

  Hai Long was still a child at heart, and when he heard Ling Tongzi say this, he couldn't help but ask: "Isn't this Lianyun Mountain? Why are there seventy-two peaks?"

  Ling Tongzi smiled and said, "This is Di Ling Peak, one of the outermost twelve peaks of Lian Yun's 72 peaks. Normally, we wouldn't come here, so don't be surprised, you'll understand later. The seven major sects in the world are Fan Xin Sect, Lian Hua Sect, Wen Tian Flow, Yuan Yue Flow, Qian Hui Valley, Wu Zhao Xian, and our Lian Yun Sect. Among them, Fan Xin Sect and Lian Hua Sect practice Buddhism, while the remaining five sects, including ours, practice Taoism. Our Lian Yun Sect has at most only five generations of disciples. To be exact, it should be four generations, but to commemorate our founder, we include the sect leader as a second-generation disciple. The lowest generation is the fifth-generation disciple. As for you, once you enter our sect, you are already a fifth-generation disciple, but when your cultivation reaches a certain level, you can be promoted to a fourth-generation disciple, which is our current realm. With further improvement, you may even rise to the position of a second-generation disciple. Strength represents status. Our founder made this rule to encourage low-ranking disciples to work hard and cultivate."

  The dragon's mind had been drawn away by Lingtongzi, and he asked in doubt: "If I directly worship the second-generation disciple as my master, wouldn't I become the uncle of several divine masters?"

  Ling Yanzi smiled and said: "You're quite perceptive, but do you think the second-generation ancestors are so easy to take on as disciples? Without 500 years of cultivation, it's hard to meet the nine ancestors. We currently have a total of nine second-generation ancestors, remember that clearly. They are Jie Tian Peak's peak master and also our sect's leader, whom we address by their peak name, respectfully calling him Jie Tian Dao Zun; Zhi Yun Peak's peak master, Zhi Yun Dao Zun; Piao Miao Peak's peak master, Piao Miao Dao Zun; Deng Xian Peak's peak master, Deng Xian Dao Zun; Tian Shi Peak's peak master, Tian Shi Dao Zun - he is also our Master Ancestor and your great-great-grandmaster; Wu Ji Peak's peak master, Wu Ji Dao Zun; Shu Ni Peak's peak master, Shu Ni Dao Zun; Mie Yan Peak's peak master, Mie Yan Dao Zun; and Zhi Shui Peak's peak master, Zhi Shui Dao Zun. You are a fifth-generation disciple, so you should be of the Tanzi generation. My Dharma name is Ling Tongzi, and you can address me as Sixth Master. This is your Eighth Master, Ling Zhi Zi, and Ninth Master, Ling Yanzi. All disciples under our Master Ancestor Dao Ming Zhen Ren's seat can be addressed as 'Master'."

  Listening to Lingtongzi's words, Hailong was like listening to heavenly scriptures. How could a ordinary child who had never seen the world understand so much?

  "Well, then I should call you Master Lingtong or Sixth Master. Douyao'er, he..."

  Ling Tongzi cultivated for many years, and naturally couldn't speak nonsense. He let out a light sigh and said: "All things are causal, don't think too much about it either. As long as your brother is not confused by the worldly affairs, he will naturally come to meet you. The ranking of my disciples mainly depends on what realm they have reached. There are 21 realms in total. They are: Entering the Path, Initial Glimpse, Subduing the Tiger, Riding the Clouds, Dao Solidification, Fetal Formation, Clear Understanding, Penetrating Through, Ascending to the Peak, Unparalleled, Bearing the Burden, Dao Prosperity, Shedding the Shell, Rising with the Mists, Not Falling, Great Dao, Unfathomable, Turning the Dipper, Completing the Cycle, Ascending to Immortality, and Heavenly Unity.

  Hailong rubbed his head and said, "Sixth Master, you're speaking too fast, I don't understand anything!" Although he had followed Zhang Hua to read books for several years, most of his mind was on other things like chopping firewood. He recognized many characters but his ability to comprehend written text was still quite average.

  Ling Tongzi's words were not shallow, and he had always been very patient with others. The child in front of him looked ordinary, but somehow gave him a sense of familiarity. He explained tirelessly: "If I explain it carefully, you will understand. Each realm has only two characters, but it contains the meaning of four characters. For example, the first realm 'entering the path' refers to the initial entry into the Taoist path. Once you formally become an apprentice and start practicing our sect's Taoist methods, you will belong to this realm. And 'initial glimpse' means 'initial glimpse of the doorway', referring to the state of entering the inner sanctum after achieving some success in your practice. Similarly, 'subduing the tiger' refers to 'subduing the dragon and the tiger', 'soaring through the clouds' refers to 'soaring through the clouds and riding the mist', 'stable foundation' refers to 'a stable and firm Taoist heart', 'fetus formation' refers to 'the formation of the Taoist fetus'..."

  Hearing this, Hailong hastily interrupted: "Wait a minute, Sixth Master, after cultivating to a certain extent, do you still have to give birth to children?"

  Ling Tongzi's three people all fell, Ling Zhizi barely squeezed out a wry smile and said: "The Dao fetus and the ordinary fetus are different. To say that, it should be our own cultivation of a mysterious power."

  At this moment, the clouds and mist at the peak waist suddenly rose in a large area, constantly changing various colors of haze. An invisible pressure made Hai Long, who was about to speak, stunned with surprise.

  "It's not good, the Sealing Heaven Array is about to be activated, where is Little Eleven? If the array closes, unless we ask Master Lianyun and a few other second-generation masters to join forces to open it again, Lingyu will not be able to return for five years. The three of them have always had deep feelings for each other as master and disciples, and now they are anxious with the array about to activate."

  "Thousand-mile eye listens to the order, opens heavenly vision." A blue light suddenly flashed brightly, Ling Tongzi urged all his magical powers, and the Heavenly Vision Technique was unfolded to the limit that he could bear. On his blue eyes, a hint of golden light gazed in the direction where Ling Yu Zi left. Ling Zhi Zi and Ling Yan Zi's hearts were connected, and they floated down behind Ling Tongzi, pinched their fingers together, and input their magical powers into his body, helping him to continuously enhance the effect of the Heavenly Vision Technique.