Unsheathed

Two Daoist priests, one old and one young, walked along the bank of a large lake in the Middle Earth Divine Continent. The autumn wind rustled the trees and plants, and the old Daoist priest said to his disciple that he was going to visit an old friend.

The young disciple didn’t ask about who it was, nor did he ask about the cultivation base of this old friend. There was no need to ask these questions.

Back then, they had been turned back by a scholar at that solitary island in the sea.

Afterward, the young Daoist priest had sighed with emotion regarding his master’s cultivation, especially after his master revealed that the scholar wasn’t a terrestrial immortal, nor was he at the Unpolished Jade Tier, the Immortal Tier, or the Ascension Tier. The young Daoist priest had initially wanted to console his master, but upon seeing his master’s indifferent demeanor, he had ultimately decided against saying anything. This was also good. His master was poor at slaying demons and vanquishing fiends, while his Dao power was also a pathetic mess. This was seemingly a very good match?

His master had brought him to the Middle Earth Divine Continent afterward, visiting their upper sect, Mount Longhu. However, Zhang Shanfeng’s master had left him at the foot of the mountain, causing him to feel slightly disappointed. He felt like his master wasn’t high-ranking and influential enough, leaving him unable to bring an extra person into the mountain. As such, Zhang Shanfeng hadn’t said anything about this.

His master had simply said that he wanted to ask those esteemed Daoist priests for a favor. If he succeeded, then Zhang Shanfeng could enter the mountain as well. Hearing this, Zhang Shanfeng had asked his master to put in some more effort and be more friendly with those esteemed Daoist priests, and not to be as indifferent as he was back home. After all, it was completely up to his master’s performance whether he could visit the Heavenly Master Residence or not.

Zhang Shanfeng’s master had replied that there was nothing to worry about, and that he could trust his master.

A look of grief had appeared in Zhang Shanfeng’s eyes. He had cultivated at Ground Lying Peak for so many years, yet what had his master achieved there? Daoist priests from the other branches would occasionally visit to discuss matters with his master, yet he would either be sound asleep or he would ask Zhang Shanfeng or his elderly senior brothers to help him avoid the meetings.

As time went on, the Daoist priests from the Profound Dawn Branch, the White Cloud Branch, and the Secret Profound Branch would immediately sigh when they came to discuss matters but were greeted by Zhang Shanfeng. They would turn around and leave without any hesitation. Even though it was completely reasonable for disciples to help alleviate troubles for their masters, it was taking things too far to have them face the troubles head-on every single time by themselves, no?

The old Daoist priest had descended the mountain soon after ascending, saying that he had no luck in his discussions with the esteemed Daoist priests. His disciple would most likely have no opportunity to visit the Heavenly Master Residence to broaden his horizons.

Zhang Shanfeng had replied that this was okay, and he even said a few words to console his master.

The old Daoist priest was extremely grateful, and he had remarked with emotion that his disciple was truly caring and considerate toward his master.

Zhang Shanfeng had gazed up at the distant Mount Longhu, feeling slightly disappointed as he looked at the wisps of immortal energy, the flocks of soaring cranes, and the shimmering treasured light. However, he hadn’t felt disappointed in his master, and he had instead been disappointed in himself. He had heeded his master’s instructions and left Ground Lying Peak back then, traveling far away to experience the scenery of the distant lands.

Zhang Shanfeng had taken an intercontinental ship and directly visited another continent, yet he had ended up feeling despondent after traveling around for a while. Unwilling to return home like this, he had gritted his teeth and spent almost all of his immortal coins to take Ceremony Mountain’s intercontinental ship to the Eastern Treasured Vial Continent. He had made a new friend, and some time afterward, he had made another friend. The three of them had eventually parted ways before reuniting and parting ways again.

The young Daoist priest had gained a better understanding of many things following his trip around the outside world.

Thus, Zhang Shanfeng felt increasing gratitude toward his master.

The old Daoist priest stopped at some place on the bank of the large lake, saying that they would wait here for a while.

Zhang Shanfeng stood beside his master with a bamboo bookcase on his back, and he asked in a quiet voice, “Master, you didn’t bring any presents for this visit?”

The old Daoist priest who had two fire dragons embroidered on the sleeves of his Daoist robe frowned in worry and replied, “I was in a rush to get here, so I completely forgot about that.”

Zhang Shanfeng sighed and said, “Even if the present only costs a few snowflake coins, a small gift can still be a token of profound friendship. Master, are we being too casual about this? How about you tell me in advance before you visit a friend next time? That way, I can help Master prepare the presents.”

The old Daoist priest thought about this for a moment before nodding and accepting Zhang Shanfeng’s proposal, resisting the urge to tell his disciple the truth. If they visited with gifts, the water god of this large lake would mistakenly think that they were showing respect before using force. He would most likely feel weak at the knees, convinced that he was going to be skinned and have his tendons cut.

Even though he was the number one water god in the third largest empire in the Majestic World, he had truly been lacking as a person… as a god back then. Zhang Shanfeng’s master had also been someone with a bad temper, so he had directly channeled a mystical ability to boil the large lake. When the water level of the large lake fell by three meters, the powerful water god had finally fallen to his knees and kowtowed, begging Zhang Shanfeng’s master to show mercy.

The old spiritual master, who was using an illusion technique, released a wisp of his aura.

An old man wearing a golden robe quickly rose from the water, remaining silent as he walked ashore. He didn’t dare to speak, and a million warning bells were ringing loudly in his mind. He stood there in fear and trepidation, and his expression was as tense as could be. He was afraid that he would give in to the urge to fall to his knees and tearfully talk about how pitiful he was, uttering some cringeworthy praise for the old Daoist priest at the same time. But what if he accidentally caused the old immortal to feel displeased instead? Wouldn’t that be an absolute disaster?

He was a water god with a relatively lofty status and cultivation base in this mortal empire and in the surrounding regions, and he was also renowned as a very difficult and unyielding individual. Indeed, he had engaged in many intense battles with powerful cultivators from other continents in the past. However, Spiritual Master Fire Dragon was a very clear exception.

Generally speaking, the powerful immortals could only rely on their immortal techniques and immortal treasures to fracture his godly body and give him severe wounds. However, he could recover from these wounds and repair his godly body relying on the incense offerings as well as the water fortune.

However, Spiritual Master Fire Dragon was powerful enough to pulverize him and give him absolutely no chance to fight back.

As for why Spiritual Master Fire Dragon was able to casually target a water god, yet the Confucian academies in the Middle Earth Divine Continent almost didn’t restrict him with any of their rules and regulations, there was naturally something quite strange about this.

Zhang Shanfeng glanced at the water god who looked like a lofty immortal cultivating in seclusion here, and looking at his cold and unspeaking expression, he couldn’t help but grumble in his mind about his master. Just look at this! Did this look like a happy reunion between old friends? Perhaps his master had felt embarrassed about being rejected at Mount Longhu, so he wanted to come to Mirage Lake and look for some random friend to show off in front of his disciple, bragging about his extensive network of friends in the Middle Earth Divine Continent? In reality, there was genuinely no need for his master to do this. In fact, Zhang Shanfeng was starting to feel a bit sorry for his master.

Zhang Shanfeng coughed and said, “Master?”

The adrift Spiritual Master Fire Dragon came to his senses and smiled faintly, saying, “It’s been a long time.”

The old man wearing a golden robe gulped and forced a smile, replying, “Yes, it’s been a long time.”

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon couldn’t be bothered speaking any nonsense with the water god of Mirage Lake, so he directly said, “I’m here to ask for a bottle of water elixir.”

The old man wearing golden robes almost shed tears on the spot.

It was only a single bottle of bonded water elixir from Mirage Lake’s water god palace, so just a simple message from Spiritual Master Fire Dragon would have been enough to get this minor matter done. As such, was there any need for the spiritual master to personally travel here? Wouldn’t traveling these few extra steps be a waste of the old immortal’s time? Didn’t Spiritual Master Fire Dragon know that his appearance had almost scared the water god to death?

The old man in golden robes felt like he had just survived a brush with death, so he decided that he would hold a banquet at the water god palace when he returned in a moment. He had felt worried and apprehensive for the past one thousand years, after all, fearful that he would be severely punished if not killed the next time he came across Spiritual Master Fire Dragon. To his surprise, however, a single bottle of water elixir was the only thing required to resolve the situation.

Of course, this was a small price to pay only in the context of the other person being Spiritual Master Fire Dragon, an old immortal at the peak stage of the Ascension Tier. If it were any other Ascension Tier cultivator who was skilled at fire element mystical techniques, they wouldn’t dare to come here and ask for a bottle of water elixir from Mirage Lake.

He was an extremely high-ranking water god in the Middle Earth Divine Continent, so he could at least flee even if he couldn’t defeat his opponent. After he returned to the water, what could his opponent possibly do? In any case, even if his opponents relied on their superior strength to bully him and cause a huge commotion, the empire and the Confucian academies definitely wouldn’t stand by and do nothing.

And thus, the old man wearing a golden robe immediately retrieved a bottle of water elixir, asking carefully, “Is one bottle enough?”

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon smiled and asked, “What do you think?”

The old man wearing golden robes didn’t say anything, and he was just about to retrieve another bottle of water elixir that contained the condensed water fortune essence of Mirage Lake.

In reality, Spiritual Master Fire Dragon genuinely only needed a single bottle, but he suddenly remembered that some of the disciples and grand-disciples from his sect’s White Clouds Branch might need this water elixir to help them break through to the next cultivation tier. As such, he didn’t plan to turn down any extra bottles of water elixir that he was offered.

Zhang Shanfeng lightly tugged his master’s sleeve.

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon smiled and said, “Your friend gave you such a huge present, and he’s also treated you in such a sincere manner. Even though your master gave him some small benefits afterward, according to the seniority of your master, what we gave him was truly not enough. So, I plan to give him a bottle of water elixir as well, both helping you return the favor and also severing some strands of karmic fate. As for the other bottle, it’s for one of your senior brothers from the White Cloud Branch.”

Zhang Shanfeng didn’t really understand what his master meant by small benefits and karmic fate.

However, it was ultimately a brilliant outcome for Chen Ping’an to receive a bottle of water elixir.

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon didn’t mind his disciple walking the path of the Great Dao together with Chen Ping’an, but there were still some minor matters pertaining to karmic fate that he needed to clean up.

Spiritual Master Fire Dragon accepted the two bottles of water elixir. At the same time, he silently left a fire flood dragon that was as thin as a thread on the palm of Mirage Lake’s water god, helping him temper his godly body.

It was important to reciprocate when receiving benefits from other people.

Moreover, Spiritual Master Fire Dragon hadn’t been willing to prematurely accelerate Chen Ping’an’s growth back then, so in reality, his disciple — or more accurately, Spiritual Master Fire Dragon himself — owed Chen Ping’an two favors.

One was for the seal personally engraved by the previous Heavenly Master. This seal wasn’t very valuable, but it held great significance for Zhang Shanfeng. This was a karmic Dao opportunity.

To Daoist priests, karmic Dao opportunities were the biggest opportunities in the world. They were even more important than immortal treasures and celestial tools.

The second was for the sword, and this counted as another karmic Dao opportunity.

This was also an important reason why Spiritual Master Fire Dragon had been willing to not get angry at the Heavenly Master Residence after having his request turned down this time.

After ascending the mountain as per their agreement this time, Spiritual Master Fire Dragon had hoped that his disciple, Zhang Shanfeng, could be acknowledged by the Great Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Residence, allowing him to become a “hereditary” external Heavenly Master.

Even though the Heavenly Master Residence agreed that Zhang Shanfeng could achieve great heights on the path of the Great Dao in the future, it also felt like signs of a hugely chaotic time had already arrived. Because of this, a mighty figure of the future would be unable to solve the troubles of today, especially since they were sure that Zhang Shanfeng couldn’t become a critical pillar of Mount Longhu within one hundred years.

In addition, the Heavenly Master Residence had also recruited two External Heavenly Masters in-waiting during the past one thousand years, so it didn’t accept Spiritual Master Fire Dragon’s proposal. In other words, once Spiritual Master Fire Dragon genuinely ascended from the Northern Complete Reed Continent, the Heavenly Master Residence in the Middle Earth Divine Continent would promote a new External Heavenly Master. Even though they would be far inferior to Spiritual Master Fire Dragon, they would still be far better than Zhang Shanfeng.

Apart from the calm and composed Great Heavenly Master, almost all of the esteemed Daoist priests in the ancestral hall of the Heavenly Master Residence had felt uneasy and apprehensive at the time.

They were afraid of Spiritual Master Fire Dragon lashing out in anger.

Thankfully, the old spiritual master had silently descended the mountain and left Mount Longhu with his disciple.