Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

"Sir, Feng'er has always been naive and incredibly filial since he was a child. You certainly won't go wrong by taking him as your disciple. If nothing else, allowing him to serve you before and after saddle would also be permissible."

Before the counter.

A middle-aged woman begged time and time again, her eyes full of hope as she looked at Zhang Jing.

And beside her.

A handsome young man stood silently on the spot.

His face was exceptionally calm.

He could not remember how many times his mother had come to this Zhang's Clay Sculpture Shop, hoping the owner would take him as an apprentice.

But every time they returned empty-handed.

Over time.

He gradually lost any expectations.

Of course.

If he said that he did not want to be a disciple of the other party, then it would certainly be a lie.

After all, this Zhang's Clay Sculpture Shop has been revered as something extraordinary in their Changle Market, and even in several surrounding ones, over the past few years.

Especially those clay sculptures sold inside.

Every single one was said to be incredibly miraculous, greatly beneficial to the cultivation, and a rare treasure that was hard to come by.

It was incredibly precious!

It's just a pity that this shop has odd rules.

Therefore, the number of magical clay sculptures that have spread to the outside world is extremely small.

Thinking of this.

The young man first sneakily took a look at the various lifelike clay sculptures on the counter, and then carefully glanced at the shopkeeper who was resting with his eyes closed.

A hint of faint desire surfaced on his face.

However, the next moment.

It was as if he realized something, and his eyes immediately dimmed.

On the other side.

Her gaze unconsciously swept across the various clay sculptures on the counter.

The middle-aged woman's eyes flickered.

"With so many precious clay sculptures, there hasn't even been a single cultivator tempted to take a risk over these many years. Rumor has it that the shopkeeper is a person with a sky-reaching background. It seems to be true."

"Besides, even if the shopkeeper doesn't have any background, just the legacy crafting skill of making clay sculptures alone is worth Feng'er becoming his apprentice."

Just as the woman was pondering.

"My dear lady," Zhang Jing behind the counter suddenly opened his eyes and said calmly: "I have already made it very clear. Your son and I are not meant to be. He cannot be my disciple."

"No matter how many times you come, the result will be the same."

"If it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be!"

There was a hint of indifference and resolution in his gentle voice.

Zhang Jing's heart did not waver.

However, when his gaze fell on the young man, he could not help but soften.

Apart from anything else.

Zhang Jing quite liked this young man.

Understanding, clear about progress and retreat, and knows etiquette.

Furthermore, he had seen the young man's persistence over the years. The grit bottled up in his bones reminded Zhang Jing of himself when he was striving hard at Yong'an Academy in order to step into the Immortal Way.

However, as much as he likes him.

As for taking disciples, just forget it.

Opposite.

"Sir!"

The middle-aged woman suddenly raised her voice, and shouted unwillingly:

"How do you know that Feng'er is not suitable for you without giving him a try? What if you are mistaken? Could it be that—"

She wanted to say something else.

However, when she met Zhang Jing's indifferent gaze, she suddenly shut up.

The words ended abruptly.

After a long time.

In the corner of an alley not far from Zhang's Clay Sculpture Shop.

"Hmph, if he won't take him, he won't take him. We really won't look for him in the future! How bustling is the Ling Pivot Immortal City, there are countless large forces of the Immortal Way gathered. Which one of them is not stronger than a mere clay sculptor/store owner?"

The middle-aged woman muttered in dissatisfaction.

Immediately, she stared intently at the young man in front of her and said word by word:

"Feng'er, your mother will definitely let you become a disciple of the real great forces in Ling Pivot City. We will fight for our pride, and we must make that clay sculptor named Zhang regret!"

At the same time.

"Miss, this is that clay sculpture shop in Changle Market. They say every clay sculpture sold here has a miraculous effect of greatly improving the efficiency of cultivation."

A flattering voice suddenly sounded outside the shop door.

The next moment.

A man dressed like a servant, nodding and bowing, led a lively, charming woman in her prime and slowly walked into Zhang's Clay Sculpture Shop.

The woman was clad in a green dress, highlighting her lovely figure.

She walked lively, just like a deer bouncing around the forest.

The moment she entered the door.

She immediately turned her gaze to a clay crane sculpture on the counter, unable to take her eyes off of it.

Without any hesitation.

"Shopkeeper, may I ask, how much is this crane of yours?"

She asked cautiously, her voice clear and melodious.

However.

Zhang Jing behind the counter, upon hearing her, didn't even lift his eyelids and replied indifferently:

"Miss, you and my shop have no affinity, and this crane is not for sale!"

As his words fell.

"How dare you! Do you know who my lady is? She is a member of Jun's family in Nine'an Domain, dare you refuse to sell to her?"

Before the woman could speak.

The man who looked fully the part of a servant instantly cleared his throat, raising his voice with confidence and arrogance.

For a fleeting moment.

"Scram!" came a single word lingering softly from Zhang Jing's lips.

The moment the word landed in the man's ears, it turned into a horrifying thunderbolt, shocking him to the point where his divine sense almost fell apart.

His consciousness ended up utterly blank.

Three or five moments later.

The man's mind finally began to recover bit by bit.

At this moment, he was utterly pale, not a hint of color left on his face, and deep fear had seeped into the way he looked at Zhang Jing.

Off to one side.

A hint of unexpected color flashed through a woman's eyes at this sight.

"A mere shop owner possessing such power? The Ling Pivot Immortal City, famous for its backing by the true teachings of the Tao sect, truly lives up to its name as maybe resting dragons and tigers. Perhaps our lineage's chance will lie right here."

She snapped back to reality.

The woman in the green robe warmed her tone, and said softly:

"If uncle here does not plan to sell today, Qiong'er will simply come back another day."

"Go ahead."

Having heard this.

The woman did not say anything more but quietly left the shop with the man who had been utterly terrified by what had occurred.

After a little while,

"Don't just stand in front of the door like a fool. If you have something to say, come in."

Zhang Jing said with a mysterious smile.

Swoosh——

An instant later, accompanied by light footsteps, a familiar figure entered his line of sight.

It was the previous young man.

As soon as the youth saw Zhang Jing.

The young man bowed and apologized at the same time, saying:

"Shopkeeper, my mother's attitude was problematic and offended you, Tang Xiaofeng is here to apologize on her behalf. Please do not blame her, if there has to be punishment, I will take full responsibility."

"And I promise we will stop bothering you."

Seated upon the chair.

Zhang Jing gave a faint smile.

"So, your mother has given up?"

The young man got up, nodded in confirmation, and said honestly:

"My mother said I should try some other major powers inside the immortal city."

"It should have been your approach from the beginning, considering your talents, there is still hope to enter those major powers. By the way, are you interested in that lady from earlier?" Zhang Jing asked, showing a keen interest.

Upon his words.

The young man instantly blushed.

"Sir, I just...I..."

The boy in front of him could not utter a full sentence, feeling as if his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

Upon seeing this,

A profound smile surfaced on Zhang Jing's face.

Indeed, it was the age when one starts to fall in love, it was normal to suddenly become interested when faced with such a beauty.

However, the young man before him...

He shook his head.

The gap between them was simply too wide, not only in terms of status but also wisdom. After all, in Zhang Jing's perception, the pretty girl didn't seem as simple as she appeared on the surface.

Thinking for a moment,

Then, as if thinking of something, he pointed his finger.

Power from the earth veins beneath him surged forth, golden immortal light quietly wrapped around his fingertip, and an extremely stifling and oppressive aura flashed before vanishing.

In merely an instant,

The immortal light condensed into a small mud statue of a spiritual lion about an inch high, and then turned into a stream of light, gently falling into the young man's arms.

"We do share a certain bond after all. I am giving you this little trinket as a gift."

Zhang Jing said with a laugh.

...

...

Slowly, time passed.

One day.

A rainbow-colored escape light suddenly appeared in the skyline before gently landing in front of the massive gate on Ling Pivot Mountain.

"This is the cultivation ground of Senior Brother Zhang? It is indeed grand and full of boundless immortality."

"I wonder when I will be able to create such a ground."

His gaze flickered over a grand cultivation ground that stretched out for countless miles, intermittently shrouded in hazy black and white immortal light.

A hint of awe and slight envy crept into Qu Junhou's eyes.

At this time,

A broken silhouette surfaced once again in his sea of consciousness,

"My disciple, there's no need for envy. After we return from this place brimming with opportunities, these things can also be yours. Even... better than what this boy has."

"Understood, Master."

Hearing these words, Qu Junhou's eyes flashed determination.

Whoo——

Letting out a long breath.

He involuntarily glanced at two Ice Crystal Immortal Spirits standing guard at the gate, his gaze suddenly turned grave.

"Natural immortal spirits of Dharma Phase realm acting as gatekeepers?!"

Qu Junhou was taken aback.

A short while after.

"You two, could you kindly inform Senior Brother Zhang Jing, that Junior Brother Qu Junhou has come to visit."

Qu Junhou cupped his hands respectfully, then spoke to the two Ice Crystal Immortal Spirits guarding the entrance with a smile.