Chapter 6: The Iron Rod Strikes (Part 2)

  Tian Shi's heart stirred, and he thought to himself, "What's wrong with me? After over 2,000 years of cultivation, how can I still be so reckless and murderous?" Especially since the other person was his own disciple. As soon as he had this thought, he tried to withdraw the divine power that was only less than a meter away from Hai Long. But just then, something unexpected happened. A black light suddenly emerged from Hai Long's chest and clashed with Tian Shi's divine power. In an instant, the black light transformed into countless rays of light, causing the surrounding people to become dizzy and disoriented. A powerful and pure divine power burst forth, giving off an aura that made people feel like they couldn't resist it. A low, ancient voice rang out, "Do not harm him."

  "Boom——" All the low-ranking disciples were shocked to the edge of the Heavenly Square by the intense impact, and the entire square began to shake violently, as if the Heavenly Peak was about to collapse. If it weren't for the fact that this place was the hub of the Lianyun Mountain Range's forbidden immortal array, such a strong collision would have brought unforeseen disasters. However, even so, several long cracks appeared on the jade-like green stone ground. Tian Shi Dao Zun floated out dozens of meters away, and his most treasured milky white Heavenly Stone actually had an additional crack on it. Piao Yu Dao Zun and Wu Ji Dao Zun also retreated over a dozen steps each. In the center of the storm, only Hai Long was left standing there stupidly. A small black iron rod floated quietly in front of him.

  Tian Shi Dao Zun's eyes watched as his magic tool was damaged, and he suddenly became furious, shouting: "Who dares to come to my Lian Yun Sect and cause trouble?" His massive magical power swirled up like a whirlpool, and he was about to go berserk.

  The figure of Dao Zun suddenly appeared, his slender jade hand pressed on the shoulder of Tian Shi Dao Zun, "Old Five, calm down, there's no one there, it's just an attached divine consciousness. Can't you even tell that?"

  Listening to the advice of Tiāo Dào Zūn, Tiān Shí Dào Zūn gradually calmed down. Their eyes all fell on the small black iron rod in front of Hǎi Lóng. For a long time, no one could say anything.

  Wujidao Zun floated down beside the two, exclaiming in shock: "Is it possible that merely relying on attached divine sense can bring out the power to block Tian Shi? Could this be the ultimate treasure of the Demon Emperor?"

  Dao Zun shook his head and said, "No. The spiritual power just now was extremely pure and carried a hint of Buddhist energy, it's absolutely not a demonic artifact. Child, where did you get this artifact from?"

  The dazed Sea Dragon looked at the three Taoist masters in front of him, then glanced at the small iron rod, and muttered: "Golden eyes with fiery pupils." After saying these four words, his body went limp, and he suddenly collapsed to the ground, while the small iron rod floated back into his arms.

  Six beams of light shot in from six directions, converging on the Heavenly Square. One of them came from the Heavenly Palace at the far end of the square, where a seven-colored glow was shining brightly. As the light faded, four men and two women floated gently down to the center of the square. The leader, with a deep blue halo behind him, was none other than the Sect Master of the Lianyun Sect, Tianyi Daozun. Tianyi Daozun's face was pale and gaunt, his eyes blazing with anger. As soon as he arrived at the Heavenly Square, two stern gazes fell upon the three people from the Xuanmiao Sect. In a cold voice, he said: "Who dares to defy the ancestral edict and engage in combat here? Do you want to bring about a heavenly calamity and overturn my Lianyun Sect?"

  Including the five Taoist masters who came later, all eight of them bowed and said in unison: "Greetings, Sect Master."

  "Tiān Dào Zūn's eyes shot out a cold, electric glare. 'Floating Void Shī Jiě, what is the meaning of this?'"

  Piao Yu Dao Zun let out a light sigh and recounted everything that had happened earlier in detail. After listening to her words, Jie Tian Dao Zun revealed a hint of surprise and with a wave of his hand, Hai Long's body suddenly floated before him. His hands transformed like a ghostly shadow, and with a single gesture, the small iron rod flew out from Hai Long's chest. As soon as it appeared, Jie Tian Dao Zun's expression changed, and the blue light halo behind him brightened slightly. The small iron rod in mid-air was exceptionally heavy, and even he found it somewhat difficult to control. Such a small object produced an unimaginable weight, leaving Jie Tian Dao Zun secretly astonished. But what was most strange was that this didn't seem like a magical artifact; there wasn't a hint of spiritual energy within it. Apart from its weight, it seemed like an ordinary iron rod.

  "Everyone, this iron rod must have an extraordinary origin. Who among you knows what 'Golden Eyes and Fiery Vision' refers to?"

  The eight Taoist masters shook their heads almost simultaneously, and none of them knew what the four words "Jin Jing Huo Yan" represented.

  "Ancestor, Ancestor Master. I know." A voice attracted the attention of these top-notch cultivators in the realm of cultivation, and the speaker was none other than Hai Long's master ancestor, Dao Ming True Person.

  "Speak."

  Dao Ming's face revealed an unnatural expression, his lips moved slightly as he spoke to Jie Tian Dao in a transmitting sound. The other eight Daoists had already proven their great way and could naturally intercept the transmission with their magical powers. The faces of the nine people became solemn at the same time, and Dao Ming's narrative lasted for half an hour before ending.

  "How could you keep such a big thing from me for so long?" Tian Shi Zhen Ren asked in anger.

  Daming Zhenren let out a wry smile and said, "It's not that I didn't want to say it, but he wouldn't let me! If something this big hadn't happened, I also wouldn't have spoken up. Please forgive me, esteemed ancestors. Although Tangyu is a bit mischievous, his nature isn't bad, so please forgive him as well."

  Dao Yun Zhen Ren's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Dao Ming Zhen Ren with a hint of surprise. Earlier, Dao Ming Zhen Ren had wanted to punish Tang Yu, but now he was suddenly pleading for mercy, clearly due to the effect of the four words "Golden Eyes Blazing Fire".

  He nodded and sighed, "I didn't expect him to be watching from the side. It seems our cultivation is still not up to par. Since he doesn't want us to disturb him, let's just forget it. All of you in the Tianyun Sect, use the Forgetting Technique to erase your memories of what happened today on the Jietian Square. From now on, no one is allowed to mention it casually. Tian Shi, let things take their natural course. Who knows, maybe that child Hanyu will become a pride of our Tianyun Sect in the future. Dao Ming, after you return, take good care of Hanyu and explain everything clearly to him. Don't use the Forgetting Technique on him, or he might not be pleased."

  "Yes, Master. Dao Ming will definitely handle this matter properly."

  He looked deeply at the small iron rod in his hand, put it back into Teng Yu's arms, examined his current state, and then handed it over to Dao Ming Zhen Ren.

  "Each peak's leader, take your disciples back. Today's gathering is cancelled. Fellow junior brothers and sisters, stay for a moment."

  "Yes, Patriarch." Under the lead of the three generations of disciples, hundreds of green lights rose from the Jie Tian Square and in an instant, the empty square was left with only Jie Tian and the other nine Dao Venerables.

  Zhi Yun Dao Zun was one of the three women, although her appearance was far inferior to Piao Xiao Dao Zun, but her cultivation had already approached the realm of Mochi, second only to the Sect Master Jie Tian Dao Zun among the crowd. She let out a light sigh and said: "He has appeared on Mo Yun Peak, I wonder if it's good or bad luck for our Lian Yun Sect!"

  "It should be a blessing, not a disaster. He originally had no heavenly tribulation, and coming here was just to receive punishment. Didn't Dao Ming say so earlier? Five years later, he will leave. Let's wait and see."

  Tianshi Daozun took a look at the Tianshi in his hand and sighed, "Today I was too impulsive. It seems that my anger has not been eliminated yet. After returning, I must close up for some time to cultivate."

  Piao Yu Dao Zun smiled slightly, and until this moment, she still hadn't forgotten what Hai Long said. "The Sect Master is right, this matter should be a blessing in disguise for us. Who knows, that child Tang Yu might even gain some benefits from it."

  "About a month ago, I received a spiritual summons from the Mantra Sect. The Master of the Wuyun Sect said that now in various places on the Divine State Continent, demons and evil creatures are stirring, seemingly with the intention of rivaling us orthodox sects. He invited us to attend the Seven Sects Grand Assembly three years later and come to the Mantra Sect to discuss countermeasures together."

  Zhuan Dao said, "Although the Mantra Sect is the orthodox sect of Buddhism, the relationship between the Lord of the Cloud Sect and us is not bad either. However, those five old guys from the Wu Zhao Immortal have always looked down on us. Now that the Orthodox Way is flourishing, with many powerful experts emerging from the six major sects of the Central Plains, why must we go and get involved in this muddy water? It's better to focus our minds and cultivate in the mountains."

  Deng Xian Dao Zun Dao said, "Shu Wei Shi Di's words make sense. Sect Master, we still have a long way to go before the Tribulation, why bother getting entangled with those arrogant Six Sects? As they say, evil cannot overcome righteousness, and the Six Sects' strength is enough to deal with those demonic cultivators."

  Jie Tian Dao Zun let out a soft sigh and said, "After all, we are of the same righteous path, so we can't be too inhumane. How about this? I'll return a spiritual binding to Wu Yun Sect Master, and use our Lian Yun Sect's weak influence as an excuse to temporarily not take action. Once the evil demons and external devils really become rampant, it won't be late for us to make a move."

  Dao Zun said: "The sect master, it's not suitable. If we do this, the six sects' opinions about us will be even greater. How about I represent our sect to go there in three years?"

  "Very well then," said Tian Dao Zun with a smile. "I'll trouble the Third Sister instead. With your cultivation, you should be able to handle any unexpected changes."

  Piao Yu Dao Zun sighed, "In the mountains, there is no Jiazi, after coming to Lianyun Mountain Range, I have only left the mountain three times, and I don't know what the world has become now. Leaving the world is entering the world, hopefully, there will be some gains."

  "Alright then, it's settled. Is there anyone else who'd like to go with Third Sister?"

  Zhi Shui Dao Zun was also one of the three women, ranking last. She had always been taken care of by her senior brothers and sisters, and her beauty was not inferior to that of Piao Yu Dao Zun. Three hundred years ago, she had just broken through the Bu Dian boundary. Hearing Jie Tian Dao Zun's question, she smiled and said: "Anyway, my cultivation is shallow, so it doesn't matter if I cultivate for a few less days in heaven. Let me go with San Shu Jie together."

  Piaoyu Daozun laughed and said: "I knew you couldn't bear the loneliness, it's good that we sisters go together, we can take care of each other."

  "Inorganic Taoist murmured: 'You two are almost 5,000 years old combined, do you still need to take care of each other?'"

  Piaoyu Daozun glared at him with a bad temper and said, "Or are you going? If you don't want to help the Sect Master's brother out of trouble, then shut up."

  Wu Ji Dao Zun bumped into a nail, helplessly shook his head and said: "I'm not unwilling to share the worries of the sect master, but I'll be entering the middle stage of the Great Dao soon, I can't afford to be distracted! Moreover, Shifu's cultivation is much deeper than mine, if you go, it will also reveal our sect's strength in front of the six sects of Zhongyuan."

  "Alright, it's settled then. Fellow junior brothers and sisters should also return to their quiet meditation."

  "My Heavenly Stone was also cracked by that thing, I don't know what kind of artifact it is, but its power is incredibly strong. If it's truly controlled, who knows what will happen."

  "That artifact seems to have merged with Tang Yu's body. Judging from the situation when I drew out its power just now, it weighs at least 10,000 jin. If it weren't for its fusion with Tang Yu's body, with his current cultivation level, it would be absolutely impossible for him to carry it around. Although the artifact is extremely powerful, Tang Yu's cultivation is still shallow after all. I'm afraid he won't be able to truly utilize it until at least a thousand years later."

  Back at Moyun Peak, including Daoxiu, all the fourth-generation disciples didn't dare to make a sound. Daoming Zhenren's face was gloomy, as if water could drip from it. Today, in the Lianyun Sect's Sacred Grounds' Tiangong Square, he suffered such great humiliation in front of many fellow sect members and was even spat out blood by Hailong Qi. Now, Daoming Zhenren was like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.

  A pale light floated over, and everyone had arrived above Moyun Peak. Dao Ming Zhenren said coldly: "All of you return to Moyun Ping. From today on, Tan Yu will follow me in cultivation."

  Ling Tong's heart was anxious, and he tentatively pleaded: "Master, Tang Yu is still just a child after all. Today he really went too far, but please spare him this once." Under his lead, the four generations of disciples all knelt down together to beg for mercy from Dao Mingzi.

  The crowd was surrounded by a circle, and Dao Mingzi scolded: "Do you all want to rebel? When did I say I wanted to punish Tang Yu? Hmph, you've taught your disciples well. You can forget about the Ling technique, it will affect your cultivation, but from now on, never mention today's events again, everyone get back." After finishing speaking, he rode his flying sword and suddenly disappeared in front of the crowd.

  Dao Xiuzi let out a light sigh and said: "Everyone doesn't need to worry, at the Heavenly Square, didn't Master plead for Tang Yu? I think, he definitely won't be in trouble. I'll head back to Fengyu Mountain first, and when Tang Yu returns, you can hand over the Seven Repair Sword to him then." After finishing speaking, he handed the Seven Repair Sword to Ling Zhizi, and with a wave of his hand, he floated away into the distance.

  Dao Ming brought Hailong back to his Moyun Cave, and today's events had a huge impact on him. Earlier, he was almost suffocated by Hailong, but when he learned that Hailong was related to his most respected senior in his heart, all his anger disappeared instantly. How lucky it is to get the blessing of that senior! Carefully placing Hailong on his bed, Dao Ming murmured: "This kid doesn't know what kind of luck he has encountered." He stretched out three fingers and pressed them on Hailong's pulse, carefully examining Hailong's current condition.