Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

Moreover, he didn't feel at all that the attitude of these three "uncles" matched that of someone asking for help.

With this thought,

a trace of an indescribable smile suddenly appeared on Zhang Jing's face.

"I'm afraid I've disappointed the three uncles. I do not possess any Dao fruits. You might as well look elsewhere."

As soon as these words were spoken,

the three overwhelming presences that filled the hall suddenly came to a halt.

"The uncles are advanced in years and cannot take a joke," Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, said with an embarrassed smile. "If my nephew is unsatisfied with the terms I offered earlier, you may suggest your own, as long as the Dao fruit is relinquished, everything is negotiable."

"Sorry, uncle,"

There was a hint of apology in Zhang Jing's tone.

"Really don't have it?"

"Really don't have it!"

"Nephew, do not treat us as fools and expect us to be deceived. Today this Dao fruit must be sold, whether willingly or not. Otherwise, the world outside is fraught with crisis, and you must be very careful."

It seemed they could sense Zhang Jing's determination.

A chilling smile appeared on the face of the elderly man in the red robe, openly breaking the facade.

"I've made a wasted trip, it seems."

Facing the blatant threat from the elder, Zhang Jing's expression remained unchanged, his voice suddenly turning colder.

"Good, very good! Such audacity for a youth with merely a whiff of talent,"

the elder in the red robe said, flinging his sleeves and departing.

Seeing this,

a flicker of displeasure crossed the eyes of the elder in the grey robe, who harrumphed coldly and also made his way out.

"I hope my nephew will consider it more. This uncle is willing to pay any price," Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, said with a defeated look, still unwilling to give up.

"I truly don't have it,"

Zhang Jing said, shaking his head helplessly.

...

...

Outside the mountain gate,

within the layered void,

"We humbled ourselves and treated him cordially, yet this boy dared to lie straight to our faces. Impervious to both carrot and stick, he truly does not know what is good for him! Fellow daoists, what should we do now?"

the elder in the red robe said with a resentful tone, grinding his teeth.

"We all have acquaintances among the True Monarchs. If they are willing to intervene, our young nephew might feel compelled to comply."

Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, spoke with a grave voice.

"But what of the True Monarch behind this boy?"

"Pretend we do not know! Moreover, we are proposing a fair trade. Even if the True Monarch blames us, it will merely result in a punishment at most."

"If we fail to acquire the Dao fruit, heh, we're on the brink of extinction anyway, what do we care about punishment? But if we succeed and one of us becomes a Heavenly True Monarch, attaining immortality, such a minor punishment..."

"An excellent plan, I shall visit True Monarch Huang Qiu's dojo immediately. Fellow daoists, when the time comes, it will depend on who can make the higher offer, ha ha!"

the elder in the grey robe said with a hearty laugh, as his figure slowly faded away.

...

...

With the departure of the three Earth Immortals, the Shu Mountain Dojo returned to its tranquil state.

Half a year passed in a blink.

That day,

a strand of razor-sharp green immortal light suddenly rose from the main peak, piercing through the barriers to soar skyward, casting the entire dojo in a shade of emerald green.

However, just as this streak of green light was about to break free from the dojo,

a black and white formation spanning thousands of miles quietly appeared. The formation spun, with the immortal lights of Yin and Yang pervading and intertwining ceaselessly, directly neutralizing the green immortal light into nothing.

Inside Qingjing Palace,

a cyan light suddenly leapt from the vast halo behind Zhang Jing, twirled in midair, and then gently landed on the ground, transforming into a handsome young man wearing a longsword and the Jade Crown.

"With form gathered and dispersed, I forge my Daoist identity; supreme is my sword qi's might.

"If asked where to trace my step, it's the innate azure sky, a solitary cloud engraved deep.

"I, Immortal Qingyun, have the honour of meeting you, fellow daoist!"

The young man stepped forward, bowed formally, and declared with a clear voice.