Chapter 554 (3): Arriving as a Guest to Feast On Fists

A brilliant thought suddenly occurred to Yuan Lingdian, and he said in a quiet voice, "Master, I promised Shanfeng that we would find some time to leave the mountains together, so that I could help him fulfill a wish."

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon didn't try to maintain his stern expression any longer, smiling faintly and replying with a kindly expression, "Mhm, even though it's your own mistake, you're not fixated on achieving victory against yourself. You won't show any carelessness when it comes to helping your seniors and juniors, and even though you concede that the small world of the human body is inferior to the outside heaven and earth on the surface, it's actually the case that the human heart rivals the heavenly heart. This embodies the limpid heart expected of cultivators.

"Very well. Since this is the case, there's no need for you to enter seclusion at Peach Mountain's stone cave, Lingdian. You can accompany Shanfeng and diligently act as his Dao guardian for a while. Remember, don't reveal your identity or status. The two of you should only travel around the foot of the mountain."

"Rest assured, Master," Yuan Lingdian said with a bow.

Heh, it was now his seniors at White Cloud Peak and Peach Mountain who should feel envious of him.

Afraid that his master would go back on his word and retract his instructions, Yuan Lingdian immediately transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distance.

"Yuan Zhixuan has already thought things through," Li Liu said. "He'll most likely enter seclusion and achieve a breakthrough when he returns from this trip."

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon nodded and concurred, "So it doesn't matter at all that he's not going to Peach Mountain's stone cave to repent in seclusion."

The old spiritual master was using the principles and reasons that Yuan Lingdian was most open to accepting to slowly guide him and impart Dao upon him, helping to resolve his confusions.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be wrong for Spiritual Master Fire Dragon to guide Yuan Lingdian like an ordinary master guiding their disciple and an Ascension Tier cultivator guiding an Unpolished Jade Tier cultivator, but the effectiveness of this wouldn't be great. Moreover, there would also be many hidden dangers.

Principles and reasons weren't as simple as a few words or sentences. Rather, the listener needed to truly open their minds after listening, thinking beyond just the measly few words or sentences of the speaker, and ultimately obtaining an answer that had affinity with their Great Dao.

"Yuan Zhixuan possesses incredibly high comprehension ability, and if it weren't for you suppressing his nature, he could have potentially advanced to the Ascension Tier even earlier," Li Liu said with a smile.

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon sighed with emotion and explained, "There's no way around this. This young lad is naturally lively and adventurous, so it's necessary to keep him in check. Otherwise, Ground Lying Peak will naturally face trouble with its lofty standing. This is a small matter, and what's more undesirable is Yuan Lingdian advancing too quickly. Not only will his own cultivation base be lacking, but his seniors and juniors will inevitably have their Dao Hearts detrimentally affected as well. This is a major matter.

"One Spiritual Master Fire Dragon is already like a huge mountain weighing on their hearts, so with the addition of Yuan Lingdian, it's only natural that they'll feel even more stifled. In addition, there's no need for Ground Lying Peak to be hasty and push Yuan Lingdian to advance simply for the sake of gaining an extra Ascension Tier cultivator. What belongs to him won't run away.

"Otherwise, if I'm no longer at Ground Lying Peak one day, Yuan Lingdian's personality will definitely see him take on all responsibility by himself. However, his cultivation of the heart is lacking, so the principles and reasons of his seniors and juniors from the other mountains will appear less lofty. The speakers and listeners will subconsciously think the same way. This is inescapable human nature.

"This will be equivalent to an immortal force becoming foul and polluted, with the abodes decaying away and the deep pool holding nothing but still water. The rules and regulations will be written on paper but left to collect dust in the ancestral hall, failing to enter the hearts and minds of the cultivators."

"The establishment of rules and regulations by the founding ancestor of a mountain is of utmost importance," Li Liu said in agreement.

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon nodded and continued, "Naturally. For example, Sword Immortal Bai Shang and the likes all have their own fundamental foundations, so they'll recruit disciples and spread their teachings according to their own methods. Indeed, looking at those capable of establishing sect-level immortal forces, which of them doesn't have a complete set of rules and regulations? The most important thing is who can maintain and grow their immortal force and prevent it from decaying. When it comes to the master pointing out the path and the disciples walking it, Ground Lying Peak can be regarded as a rarely seen immortal force in this world. What's missing now is someone who can elevate Ground Lying Peak to an even greater height."

"Zhang Shanfeng?" Li Liu asked with a smile.

"It can only be said that Shanfeng has the greatest hope," Spiritual Master Fire Dragon replied. "However, I hope Yuan Lingdian or some of Shanfeng's other senior brothers or senior sisters can also achieve this. Of course, when I cast my gaze over the disciples and grand-disciples both inside and outside Ground Lying Peak, I give each person a varying chance of achieving this. I won't look down on the other disciples simply because Shanfeng has the greatest chance of success."

Li Liu shook her head and remarked, "It's easy for you to stand here and say this, but will an earth immortal cultivator and an Unpolished Jade Tier sect leader be willing to think the same way?"

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon smiled and retorted, "Have I ever forced other immortal forces to think this way?"

In the end, Spiritual Master Fire Dragon said in a solemn voice, "In any case, you need to be aware that the world will be in a dire state if all of the cultivators who reach the same level as me are unwilling to think like this."

"A dire state?" Li Liu asked with an amused smile.

"What does it matter if I lose to you on this small Go board, even if it's hundreds upon thousands of games?" Spiritual Master Fire Dragon replied. "However, when it comes to the vast Go board of the world, I'm not standing here and boasting, but you and the others genuinely can't achieve victory."

"We don't mind," Li Liu said with a faint smile.

"What a coincidence. We don't mind either," Spiritual Master Fire Dragon said.

Li Liu prepared to leave the Dragon Palace Small World.

The Northern Complete Reed Continent had already reached the endgame, with Lion Peak, the Yang Clan of the Great Origin Empire's Esteemed Mystery Department, and the Water Dragon Sect all being Go pieces. In reality, more of her pieces were random and unreasonable moves that had already been quashed. In the end, only a small number of reasonable pieces remained on the Go board.

She could only pick one of the Plenty River's Spirit Origin Lord or Dragon Pavilion Lord.

Simply looking at the statuses of the Southern Fragrance Water Palace's Shen Lin and the middle shrine's Water Official Li Yuan, either of them initially possessed the chance to become the lofty water god. In fact, there was a stronger case for Li Yuan to become the water god.

However, it was one matter for Li Liu to not mind, but it was another matter altogether for the measly water official to not mind for hundreds upon thousands of years. What was the deal with that? If it weren't for Spiritual Master Fire Dragon being willing to say a few words to Li Yuan at the beginning of the Go game, she would have launched a palm strike and shattered Li Yuan's godly body during her recent trip to the Dragon Palace Small World, letting him transform into water fortune that returned to the Plenty River. Afterward, she would appoint a new water official who was more willing to earnestly protect the Water Dragon Sect. At that time, the Water Dragon Sect would only feel increasing gratitude.

"Li Liu, let's start a new game, and you can surrender half of the game. What do you say?" Spiritual Master Fire Dragon suddenly suggested.

Li Liu was naturally unwilling to partake in another game.

After all, Spiritual Master Fire Dragon had been purposely waiting for Yuan Lingdian here and had nothing better to do, so he had dragged her over to play a game of Go. The cultivation of someone at the peak stage of the Ascension Tier no longer pertained to their heart, much less absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Many of Spiritual Master Fire Dragon's seemingly casual actions and words actually had deeper intentions, providing guidance to Yuan Lingdian in one respect and also acting as a friend and making things clear to Li Liu in another respect, explaining the big and small threads at Ground Lying Peak and helping Li Liu observe the human heart. However, this was the first time Spiritual Master Fire Dragon had spoken bluntly and made clear the half-friend, half-enemy relationship between them.

And thus, Li Liu had made another trip to the Dragon Palace Small World.

Li Yuan had obtained the "Three Feet Sweet Rain" jade tablet, and Shen Lin would most likely be promoted to the position of the Plenty River's Spirit Origin Lord in the future.

Shen Lin didn't dare to believe this, and Li Yuan thumped his chest and stomped his feet in regret.

As for whether Li Yuan was aware that he had initially been facing certain death, with another person set to assume his position at the Plenty River's middle shrine in the future? And that he was saved by Spiritual Master Fire Dragon, and he had only obtained the hornless dragon jade tablet because of Chen Ping'an? It was very possible that Li Yuan was still muddleheaded and oblivious to these matters.

To say that this wasn't good? Li Yuan was ultimately enjoying good fortune without having done much at all. He had only completed a few minor tasks, yet he was rewarded with a jade tablet that contained abundant incense offerings. To say that this was good? His inaction and lack of fight for hundreds of thousands of years had resulted in him losing the future position of Spirit Origin Lord, the chief water god of the Northern Complete Reed Continent.

————

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon remained at the mountain peak by himself, feeling quite terrible as he recalled some trivial matters from the past.

There were matters pertaining to Ground Lying Peak, matters pertaining to the Northern Complete Reed Continent, and also matters pertaining to the entire Majestic World.

The old spiritual master felt sleepy whenever he thought about these matters. He had arrived here from Ground Lying Peak with a single stomp before, and he now returned to the mountaintop of Ground Lying Peak with another stomp.

Snow would fall at Ground Lying Peak when he nodded off, allowing those young disciples to have snowball fights and amuse themselves.

Zhang Shanfeng was squatting down on the plaza with a large circle of little Daoist priests surrounding him, with most of them being new faces. However, Zhang Shanfeng had always been adept at dealing with children, and the young Daoist priest was currently describing to them the great difficulty of leaving the mountains to slay demons and vanquish fiends.

The little Daoist priests cheered and exclaimed as they listened, with their ears pricked up, their eyes wide open, and their small hands clenched into fists. They were all engrossed in the story and feeling as anxious as could be. Why was their junior uncle only talking about the formidable strength and impressive abilities of those demons and fiends? When was he going to talk about the whooshing peach wood swords swooping down and beheading those monsters, bringing delight and satisfaction to everyone?

Zhang Shanfeng stopped his storytelling and looked up, saying with a smile, "Master, you're back?"

The little Daoist priests were filled with energy and spirit as they bowed in respect to their old ancestor. One of the more daring children secretly tugged the sleeve of their junior uncle's Daoist robe, causing Zhang Shanfeng to look around. The children all nodded earnestly and gestured to him with their eyes.

Seeing this, Zhang Shanfeng said, "Master, it's almost New Year outside the mountains, yet it's not snowing despite the fact that it's winter. This isn't right."

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon walked over and patted the head of a little Daoist priest, saying with a smile, "Then your grandpa old ancestor will put in more effort and take a nap? And I'll ask the heavens for heavy snowfall in my dreams?"

The playful little Daoist priests immediately nodded in unison, appearing like little chicks pecking rice.

It would only snow in the mountains when their grandpa old ancestor took a nap.

This was a long-standing rule passed down by word of mouth at Ground Lying Peak, with the masters and senior brothers of the little Daoist priests making them aware.

"Your Senior Brother Yuan will leave the mountains with you to express gratitude for the answered prayers after he returns," Spiritual Master Fire Dragon said to Zhang Shanfeng with a smile.

Zhang Shanfeng faltered upon hearing this, saying, "I asked Senior Brother Baiyun to help with this matter, and he's already agreed to help me. It has nothing to do with Senior Brother Yuan."

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon smiled and scolded, "Little bastard, you even dare to trick your master now."

The jaws of the little Daoist priests dropped in shock.

Their grandpa old ancestor would also scold people now?

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon felt slightly exasperated, so he decided to leave and find somewhere to sleep.

Zhang Shanfeng started to clean up the mess for his master, saying to the little Daoist priests in a meaningful and heartfelt manner, "Don't be like your grandpa old ancestor and scold people for no reason."

A little Daoist priest crossed his arms and huffed, "Grandpa old ancestor is the most senior person in the mountain, so what does it matter if he scolds someone?"

Zhang Shanfeng grabbed the little Daoist priest by the ear and lightly pulled upward, causing the little child to yelp in pain as he hurriedly stood on his tippy-toes and pleaded, "Don't hit people for no reason, Junior Uncle. I understand my mistake."

Zhang Shanfeng smiled and let go, following which the little Daoist priest said with an angry huff, "My master said that disrespecting our elders will lead to a beating and a bruised backside, so you need to be careful, Junior Uncle."

Zhang Shanfeng squatted down and continued to tell stories about matters outside the mountains.

The little Daoist priest who had been punished by Zhang Shanfeng just then listened very carefully, and he suddenly grumbled, "Junior Uncle, is there not a single good demon or ghost outside the mountains? If that's the case, then why are grandpa old ancestor and the other uncle masters allowing them to do bad things?"

Zhang Shanfeng smiled and replied, "There's naturally an explanation for this, and I'll let my friend explain it to you and the others when he comes over to visit. He has a plethora of interesting stories about the mountains and waters."

One of the little Daoist priests furiously shook his head and exclaimed, "I feel like his stories definitely won't be as good as Junior Uncle's!"

Zhang Shanfeng shook his hand and said with a beaming smile, "Enough with the nonsensical truth. When it snows in a moment, I'll team up with you for the snowball fight."

"No way!" the little Daoist priest cried straight away, turning down Zhang Shanfeng's offer.

He had heard from his seniors that Junior Uncle Zhang Shanfeng would always be struck the most when they had snowball fights. However, he was taller and quicker, so he wouldn't get angry even when he was struck.

Zhang Shanfeng reached up and adjusted his collar, asking with a serious expression, "You dare to disrespect your junior uncle? Are you not afraid of your master beating your backside black and blue?"

The little Daoist priest scrunched his face and replied in a quiet voice, "Master passed away last year."

Zhang Shanfeng faltered for a moment before sighing and pointing at the little Daoist priest, smiling and saying in a gentle voice, "He hasn't left yet. He still lives in your memory, doesn't he?"

The little Daoist priest lowered his head, with the rims of his eyes red as he nodded and said, "Master said the same thing before passing away, telling me not to cry. Master said that he'll still be with me as long as I remember him. There's no need to think of him all the time, and just thinking of him occasionally is enough. Master also said that I'll grow up when I don't feel so sad when I think about him. At that time, I can also leave the mountains to slay demons and vanquish fiends. Junior Uncle, more than a year has already passed, so why do I still feel so sad when I think about Master?"

Zhang Shanfeng thought for a moment, but he ultimately didn't say anything to comfort the little Daoist priest.

When he was little, time would pass day by day, and he would count on his fingers as they passed.

As he grew older, time would pass month by month, and it wouldn't be long before an entire year passed.

If he became a cultivator in the mountains and advanced his cultivation base to a higher level, then ten years or even one hundred years would seemingly pass in the blink of an eye. That being the case, how many of his companions could he remember? In fact, how many people could be regarded as his companions?

Zhang Shanfeng had once asked his master many questions, yet there were many times when Spiritual Master Fire Dragon had replied that his questions didn't have any answers. Rather, the questions themselves were an answer, and these fuzzy answers themselves were the next question.

Zhang Shanfeng hadn't felt like his master was giving him a perfunctory answer, so he had ended up feeling even more confused and at a loss.

Was his master's Dao power lofty?

Of course not.

This was because his master's Dao power wasn't atop the mountains and wasn't in the heavens, but rather, in the mortal world at the foot of the mountain.

"What are you thinking about, Junior Uncle?" a little Daoist priest asked in curiosity.

Zhang Shanfeng was just about to reply.

However, before he could say anything, another little child chirped quietly, "He's definitely thinking about a beautiful girl from outside the mountains in secret."

"Enough with the nonsensical truth," another little Daoist priest added.

"And this brings a close to today's story about slaying demons and vanquishing fiends. Do come again next time, and your junior uncle will tell an even more enthralling story," Zhang Shanfeng said with a chuckle.

A little Daoist priest unexpectedly turned to his companions and said, "Don't be scared. Junior Uncle is definitely trying to scare us with a ghost story."

Zhang Shanfeng looked at the circle of little bastards around him, each of whom was more clever and quick-witted than the other. They were seemingly harder to satisfy than the group of young juniors from before he had left the mountains to train in the outside world.

Zhang Shanfeng had no option but to use his trump card, shouting loudly, "Master, why isn't it snowing yet?"

The old spiritual master was sitting atop a distant cliff and nodding off, and upon hearing this, he chuckled and replied, "One needs to eat before they can go to the toilet, right? The same concept applies to sleeping and snowing."

The little Daoist priests all looked at their junior uncle with pitiful expressions, feeling like he wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.

Zhang Shanfeng stood up and said, "So be it. I'll teach you some fist techniques first."

There was a chorus of boos as the little Daoist priests all ran away.

There was no snow, there were no stories, there wouldn't be any wild fruits in the mountain during winter, and their masters wouldn't beat their backsides black and blue either. That being the case, there was no point staying with their junior uncle anymore.

Zhang Shanfeng suddenly saw a little child stop in his tracks, not running away with the others.

This was already enough to satisfy him, and he beckoned the little child over and chuckled. "Very well. Your junior uncle will teach you a fist technique."

The little Daoist priest chuckled and made a series of grunting noises as he unleashed a Bastard Fist Technique. He then ran away, not forgetting to ask, "Have you mastered it yet, Junior Uncle?"

Zhang Shanfeng scratched his head.

This group of little Daoist priests was extremely cunning and mischievous, so much so that he struggled to keep them under control.