Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

However—

He couldn't help but soften his heart as he thought of the Dao Institute's care for his parents and younger siblings during his last projection to the Lower Realm, and the final requests of the Academy Principal and the various Pavilion Masters.

"In the end, I can't stand up to their kindness! Fine, I'll help Nong Xingzhou this one time. As for his future fortunes, that's out of my hands."

With that thought—

Zhang Jing's gaze then shifted to the young woman sitting upright at the very bottom and the baby girl in her arms.

"Are you the Junior Brother Nong's Tao Monk? What is your name? And is this child also his?"

As his words fell—

The woman's body trembled abruptly, then she quickly rose from her seat and respectfully answered, "I dare not deceive Senior Brother, my name is Chu Yan, indeed the Tao Monk of Xinzhou, and Bao'er is his bloodline."

"Is her nickname Bao'er?"

Zhang Jing murmured softly, a tinge of a smile unconsciously appearing at the corner of his eyes.

He thought of his little sister in the Lower Realm.

Meanwhile—

Outside the mountain gate—

Void space suddenly rippled in waves.

An aged figure quietly emerged from the ripples, his face covered with gloom.

"Damn it! Why can't I contact any True Monarchs, it's as if they've all disappeared collectively. What should I do now? That Heavenly Immortal Fruit—"

...

...

"Well, after all, we are fellow disciples, I can make a move to save his life this time."

Zhang Jing's calm voice suddenly echoed inside the hall.

At these words—

You Yuanming and Qiu Han immediately rose to their feet, excitedly saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Below their seats—

The young woman holding the baby girl had tears brimming in her eyes. She knew that with the status of this Senior Brother, once these words were spoken, it meant that there was a high probability Nong Xingzhou could survive.

"Chu Yan thanks Senior Brother for his mercy!" she said through sobs.

Tap tap—

A series of footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall and then abruptly stopped.

"Master, that Earth Immortal Dong Ming who came last time is here again," Han Sheng's voice suddenly rang in Zhang Jing's ear.

Is this never going to end?

Zhang Jing's brows unconsciously furrowed.

"Let him in," he instructed calmly.

Afterwards—

Zhang Jing turned to the others, smiling as he said, "The three of you, please go to the side hall for a moment—"

However, before he could finish—

A hoary voice interrupted.

"Haha, my dear nephew, you sure put on quite a show. Your uncle is at the doorstep and you are still comfortably seated? But no matter, your uncle is a senior after all, so I won't blame you for it."

The voice turned into a surging tide, rapidly spreading in all directions, causing the entire Qingjing Hall to shake incessantly.

On one side of the hall—

The bodies of You Yuanming and the others stiffened, then involuntarily turned to look outside the door.

The next moment—

An aging figure shrouded in a thick decayed aura slowly walked into the hall.

Boom!

The moment this figure caught the eyes of the three, it began to expand dramatically, in a flash turning into a colossal deity that touched heaven and earth.

And around this deity, endless Dao and reason boiled tumultuously, interweaving resplendent immortal light that seemed to evolve into an expansive Blessed Land.

An instinctive impulse to kneel surged unwittingly into the hearts of the three.

All of a sudden—

"I don't know what brings Uncle Dong Ming here this time. If it's concerning that Heavenly Immortal Fruit from before, then please return," said Zhang Jing indifferently.

The overwhelming aura dissipated into nothingness.

And the illusions before the eyes of You Yuanming and the others vanished without a trace.

Hu hu—

The three of them greedily gasped for air, their faces filled with the relief of having survived a catastrophe.

Wait a minute! Dong Ming!

You Yuanming seemed to suddenly realize something, his pupils constricting sharply.

...

...

"Nephew, your uncle's time is running short, and I urgently need the Heavenly Immortal Fruit in your hands for one more attempt. Ask for anything you desire, just promise to part with the fruit with a heavy heart, and your uncle will be eternally grateful," Earth Immortal Dong Ming pleaded with a look that swept across the three people standing in the corner of the hall, before finally resting on Zhang Jing, who was seated at the chief position.

He kept himself in a very low posture.

Without considering the presence of You Yuanming and the other two, as if they were transparent.

Dong Ming knew that with the experience they had just had, these three insignificant Golden Core Realm youngsters would dare not leak a word.

Of course, even if it did get out, he wouldn't care. After all, he was on the brink of destruction. Who would care about mere face at that point?

"Elder Uncle, I am very sorry, but this Dao Fruit has already been used by your nephew."

Facing the other's pleading gaze.

Zhang Jing could only give a bitter smile and shake his head. He immediately began to explain patiently.

However.

Upon hearing Zhang Jing's response, Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, had his expression suddenly turn cold, and beneath his eyes, a trace of madness imperceptible to ordinary people slowly crept in unbeknownst to anyone.

"A mere Golden Core Realm cultivator, how can you use the Heavenly Immortal Fruit? Could it be that nephew really thinks your elder uncle has gone senile?"

Having said that, he didn't wait for Zhang Jing to explain.

Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, once again spoke with a cold voice:

"Well then, it seems that my nephew really wants me dead. Heh, if you show no kindness, then don't blame me for being merciless. Taking advantage of the fact that all the Heavenly True Monarchs are currently unreachable—"

Before he could finish his sentence.

Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, seemed to have no concern whatsoever as he reached out with a withered hand that looked like a decaying branch, grabbing straight toward Zhang Jing not far away.

The terrifying Dao threads intertwined between his fingers, pushing horizontally like several Sea Dragons, aggressively driving away all other Dao threads.

With that grab.

A profound and mysterious force suddenly enveloped the entire grand hall, and then fiercely began to contract.

Creak~

Cries of distress emanated from all directions in an instant.

In a flash.

Everything in the grand hall, including Zhang Jing, began to shrink rapidly, while the hand that reached out from the other side suddenly grew as large as a mountain.

"Nephew, don't blame your elder uncle for being ruthless. If there is anyone to blame, it's only that you took something you shouldn't have. Rest assured, your elder uncle won't kill you this time, just taking back what rightfully belongs to me."

Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, stared at Zhang Jing with eyes burning fiercely, the corners of his mouth curling up into an excited curve.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the grand hall.

You Yuanming and the other two exchanged looks, the same thought flashing through their minds:

"It's over, we're definitely doomed now!"

They genuinely didn't know how they could survive the Divine Skills of such a terrifying existence.

As for expecting Senior Brother Zhang Jing to make a move…

You Yuanming shook his head.

Even though his senior brother was extremely talented, his cultivation time was still short. At present, he was merely at the Golden Core Realm. How could he stop Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, an ancestor?

"To think that I, a disciple of Dong Ming's Blessed Land, would actually die at the hands of Ancestor Dong Ming?"

You Yuanming twisted the corner of his mouth, feeling absurd beyond measure.

Between the two of them.

The woman gently caressed the chubby cheeks of the baby girl in her arms, her mind entirely occupied by a deep sense of regret.

If only she had known, she would not have brought Bao'er here.

"Xinzhou, it seems we mother and daughter might have to take the lead and leave first."

She said with a wry smile.

At the critical moment.

Zhang Jing, who was sitting cross-legged on the cushion, suddenly lifted his head. The look he gave Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, had turned chillingly cold.

"Dong Ming, do you realize what you are doing? How dare a mere Earth Immortal act within the Lingshu Mountain Dojo, who gave you the audacity?"

He rebuked loudly.

Meanwhile.

Zhang Jing's mind stirred.

The entire Lingshu Mountain Dojo instantly raised a black and white formation diagram, with powerful geomantic forces, and the essence of the Ancient Stars' power quickly channeled into the diagram.

The Yin Yang Dust Formation!

Endless black and white immortal lights suddenly surged from every corner of heaven and earth, filling the whole world.

As the formation diagram slowly turned.

A terrifying aura that seemed to return all things to chaos began to brew. It locked onto Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, without any hesitation.

At the same time.

A resplendent Dao ring rose gently behind Zhang Jing. Layers of dazzling immortal light framed him as if he were an eminent immortal deity high above the ninth heaven.

His aura surged tumultuously.

Zhang Jing's eyes flashed, and an ancient Jade Ruyi appeared in his hand. The boundless power of the world inside him flooded the Jade Ruyi recklessly.

Boom—

Tricolor divine light soared into the sky.

The Jade Ruyi slipped from Zhang Jing's hand, flying upwards on its own, and an incredibly formidable presence slowly awoke within.

Under the influence of this presence.

The hand of Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, that had grasped space began to disintegrate inch by inch.

The high-grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure—the Heavenly Three Treasures Ruyi, powered by the world force of the Qingyun realm, finally revealed its domineering and fierce side in front of Zhang Jing.

Opposite.

Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, stood frozen in place, the madness in his eyes long vanished, replaced by thick fear and disbelief.

The Heavenly Immortal Formation!

A high-order Acquired Spiritual Treasure!

What had he just been doing?