Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

"Cultivator Su."

Zhang Jing nodded with a smile, seemingly oblivious to the dullness on the other's face.

"I have seen Brother Daoist Zhang Jing."

The First Hammer and Chang Zizai scrambled up from the ground, chanting in unison.

Their voices were filled with awe.

As they spoke, Chang Zizai couldn't help but recall the scene where he had previously "troubled" this Daoist Brother, and his heart immediately tightened.

"I am Ji Xiaoyun from the Ji Clan, and I have seen the True Teaching."

Ji Xiaoyun elegantly performed a curtsy, displaying the dignified grace of her royal lineage to its fullest extent.

"Fellow Daoists, there is no need for such formalities."

Zhang Jing replied warmly, then, as if something had come to mind, he looked straight at Ji Xiaoyun:

"This feeling... Who are Ji Changyu and Ji Jiulin to you?"

"You know the two Princes, True Teaching?" Ji Xiaoyun looked at Zhang Jing in amazement.

Then, without waiting for Zhang Jing's reply, she heard him chuckle bitterly and then say:

"I'll not hide it from you, True Teaching, those two are the offspring of the Sacred Sovereign of Zhendan, of exalted status. Although there is some Emperarin's blood in me as well, I dare not claim relations with the two Princes carelessly."

"The Sacred Sovereign of Zhendan?"

Zhang Jing's eyes flickered barely perceptibly, as he refrained from uttering that venerable title.

Although he didn't know much about the Emperarin's Way, the title of Sacred Sovereign was one that resonated like thunder to him.

For such a title belonged to none other than the great existences at the level of an immortal Daoist Monarch.

Since it involved such beings, Zhang Jing decided not to inquire further.

He slowly scanned over the four individuals before him and said softly, "Due to me, Zhang Jing, you four have been frightened. I truly apologize."

Upon hearing this,

The First Hammer respectfully replied, "Brother Daoist speaks too seriously."

As the voice faded,

"Brother Daoist, I and Ji Clan's young miss have been offensive before, to our utter shame. I sincerely hope for your forgiveness."

Chang Zizai approached Zhang Jing cautiously, bowed deeply, his tone full of apology.

"I also hope for your understanding, Brother Daoist."

Ji Xiaoyun opened her red lips slightly and said in a similar tone of apology.

"Haha, what offense? You two worry too much,"

Zhang Jing replied indifferently, his face showing no concern at all. Or perhaps, whatever their initial reactions had been, he had never taken them to heart.

"By the way, what are your plans going forward?"

He turned his head to The First Hammer.

"Not to hide from Brother Daoist, we have already discussed it; we will not stay in the Extreme River of Time Secret Realm any longer."

A hint of fright couldn't help but emerge in The First Hammer's voice.

For the four of them, this expedition in the Secret Realm had been a bit too harrowing, warranting a need to take a break.

"Going back? That's also a good choice. Then I wish you all a smooth journey."

Zhang Jing said with a gentle voice.

"Thank you, Brother Daoist."

The First Hammer bowed once more in gratitude, then turned to look at the other three.

As their gazes met,

the four of them nodded at the same time.

The next moment.

"Brother Daoist."

The First Hammer took out the River of Time Gold Crystal from his Sumeru Ring that he had obtained before, and carefully handed it to Zhang Jing, his voice full of gratitude.

"There's no way to repay the life-saving grace, please Brother Daoist, you must accept this River of Time Gold Crystal."

"This..."

Zhang Jing looked at the River of Time Gold Crystal before him, shook his head, and couldn't help but say with a mix of laughter and helplessness, "I appreciate the kind gesture, but please take back the River of Time Gold Crystal."

"Besides, that Wuyin came about because of me in the first place, how can we speak of owing a life-saving grace?"

However,

The First Hammer still stubbornly held the River of Time Gold Crystal up high.

"Without Brother Daoist, we would probably have died at the hands of those four black-robed cultivators earlier. Although this River of Time Gold Crystal may not be of much value to Brother Daoist, it still represents our heartfelt thanks."

After speaking, he took a deep breath and said loudly,

"Please, True Teaching, accept it."

"Please, True Teaching, accept it!" the other three promptly followed, calling out in unison.

After a few moments of silence,

seeing that he really couldn't dissuade the four of them, Zhang Jing could only helplessly accept the River of Time Gold Crystal in their hands.

"So be it."

Seeing Zhang Jing accept it, The First Hammer's eyes suddenly flickered with joy.

Their insistence on offering the River of Time Gold Crystal to Zhang Jing was partly to express gratitude for saving their lives, and partly for other considerations.

They would certainly not have the opportunity to fight side by side like this again in the future with an obviously promising immortal Daoist successor, considering the difference in their standings.

Not taking the opportunity to leave a good impression in his mind and to establish a good relationship now would truly be an injustice to their family's upbringing.

Indeed.

In the eyes of these clan descendants, the chance to get to know a true heir of the Taiyi Sect was far more precious than a mere River of Time Gold Crystal.

Before long,

"Brother Daoist, we shall take our leave first." The First Hammer bowed to Zhang Jing, announcing their departure.

"Take care, everyone."

Zhang Jing said with a slight smile.

But at this moment, Su Lingling suddenly turned around and clumsily ran in front of Zhang Jing, holding her breath, her eyes filled with hope as she asked:

"Brother Qingyun, will we...will we be able to meet again in the future?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

"Perhaps."

Zhang Jing answered with an ambiguous smile.

"Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps..."

Su Lingling muttered the vague word over and over again, already understanding Brother Daoist's meaning in her heart.

"Thank you, Brother Daoist. Ling Ling understands. Please take care of yourself too."

She bowed deeply, trying to maintain her composure as she spoke.

The moment she turned around, her eyes, bright as the full moon, were involuntarily filled with mist.

"Sigh——"

A faint sigh, seemingly lamenting the fickleness of fate, drifted from afar.

...

...

Zhang Jing stood silently on the spot, his gaze as tranquil as the abyss, as if waiting for something.

At a certain moment.

Faint ripples appeared in the void, and an old figure covered in blood walked out slowly.

This person was none other than Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal.

However, at that moment, his aura was so faint that it was nearly imperceptible.

The fierceness of the recent battle was self-evident.

Without waiting for Zhang Jing to ask, Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, said resentfully:

"Damn, that Wuyin fellow really knows how to hide. He even managed to escape like this."

"Escaped?"

Zhang Jing's expression became rigid.

Just now, Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, had launched a surprise attack while the other party was unprepared. And still, that Wuyin had managed to escape?

"Nephew, there is no need for concern. Although Wuyin saved his life, the price he paid was extremely heavy. He won't be able to trouble you again for a while."

Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, forced a weak smile on his pale face, signaling Zhang Jing to be at ease.

"Thank you, Uncle-Master."

Zhang Jing bowed his hands in gratitude and immediately asked a question that had perplexed him for a long time.

"By the way, may I ask how you knew where your nephew was?"

This question had bothered him for some time. Without resolving it, with the shadowy hand behind the Beast Territory present, Zhang Jing couldn't possibly explore the Secret Realm of the River of Cosmos with peace of mind.

"Well..."

Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal, hesitated for a moment and then spoke slowly:

"Since my nephew has asked, your Uncle-Master shall hide nothing. Actually, all the information was provided by the Mysterious Pavilion."

"Mysterious Pavilion... May I ask, Uncle-Master, what background do they have?"

"I'm not sure, but there are rumors that the Mysterious Pavilion has extremely complicated connections."

Having said that, Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal seemed to realize something and laughed involuntarily: "Haha, are you worried that the Mysterious Pavilion will sell your information to others again?"

Zhang Jing nodded.

"You need not worry about that, nephew. When your Uncle-Master arrived, we had already agreed that they would not disclose your information to any existence, at least during your venture to the Secret Realm of the River of Cosmos."

...

...

At the same time.

Inside Qingjing Palace on Lingshu Mountain.

As if a critical node had been broken through.

Zhang Jing suddenly opened his eyes, and a tricolor radiance of black, ghostly green, and crimson flickered within his obsidian pupils.

Agile and sharp, mystical and cyclical, with the burning brilliancy of the great sun, three terrifying Dao and principles intertwined into chains of divinity, rampantly spreading within the palace.

Humming!

The void resonated with vibrations.

Accompanied by Zhang Jing's will, an apparition of a thousand-zhang tall supreme emperor, seated high upon thirty-six heavens, began to appear behind him, exuding a faint breath that seemed nearly enough to crush the skies.

The lowest three heavens had already turned into the real Original Realm, resonating with each other and beginning to expand rapidly.

Three thousand li!

Four thousand li!

Five thousand li!

...

Only when it reached nine thousand li did the pace of expansion slow down.

Zhang Jing's aura surged following this.

With the help of the Dharma Phase, he was amazed to find that the world in front of him became clearer and clearer, so clear that he could even vaguely see the intertwining Dao and principles within heaven and earth.

An unprecedented transformation quietly took place within his body, as if a heavy shackle had been shed.

The vast sea wide enough for fish to leap, the high sky allowing birds to soar.

A sense of indescribable freedom welled up in Zhang Jing's heart.

"The Dharma Phase Realm, I've finally achieved it!"

He sighed long and contentedly.