Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

Where did this demon come from?

Senior Brother Luo was slightly taken aback, tension welling up in his heart.

"Everyone, retreat immediately!"

His gaze swept swiftly over the watching cultivators. Gathering spiritual power in his throat, Senior Brother Luo's booming voice echoed in all directions.

Simultaneously, a talisman emerged unbidden from his hand, poised to be activated.

But then...

"Senior Brother, this is a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding."

A figure in a green robe suddenly appeared above the demon deer's head, with a wry smile on his face.

Upon seeing the green robe.

A ghost-like expression appeared on Senior Brother Luo's face, and his spiritual power fluctuated chaotically.

In the next moment...

The talisman in his hand silently disappeared.

...

Thirty-Eight, grinning with fear, looked at the nearly shattered blue light in front of him. His four legs went soft, and he almost knelt down.

That was close!

He was just one step away from meeting his ancestors.

"M...Master, you humans are so aggressive."

Swallowing nervously, Thirty-Eight glanced fearfully at Zhang Jing atop his head.

"I... I told you to fly slower. I was planning to explain everything first."

Zhang Jing had a wry smile on his face.

"But weren't you the one who told me to fly higher? I get scared when I'm high. I was so scared that I forgot everything and lost control of my body," Thirty-Eight whispered in retort.

As the man and the deer were talking...

"Junior Brother, why doesn't your mount have a Spiritual Beast Ring? You nearly gave me a misunderstanding,"

Senior Brother Luo drifted down from the city tower, landing slowly in front of Zhang Jing. He sounded a little annoyed.

He waved the hand behind his back lightly.

The large hammer on the ground instantly vanished, leaving only a print three or four inches deep, from which spiderweb-like cracks spread in all directions.

Upon hearing this...

Thirty-Eight could not help but stare wide-eyed, an incredulous look in his eyes as he stared at the human man in front of him.

Are you sure you almost had a misunderstanding?

In this moment, it seemed like a new world had opened up in front of him.

"Senior Brother, I'm really sorry. This white deer is a new mount that I just acquired. I haven't had the time to get a Spiritual Beast Ring for it yet. I apologize for any inconvenience caused to you," Zhang Jing explained apologetically, jumping straight down from Thirty-Eight.

This was indeed his fault.

On the other side...

At first, Senior Brother Luo looked rather angry. But when he got a good look at Zhang Jing, his expression suddenly changed.

"So, it's Junior Brother Zhang," his voice had softened, "Just be careful next time."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Eh, you recognize me?"

Zhang Jing looked at him in surprise.

He knew quite a few cultivators at the late stages of Qi Refinement, but this man should not be one of them.

"Haha, at the trade meeting before, I saw you talking with Senior Sister Liu from afar. I had wanted to get to know you, but time was tight, so it didn't come to pass."

"Speaking of which, are you still trading talismans for demon cores at a low price? I still have some demon cores..." Senior Brother Luo asked tentatively.

"I've been doing that all along," Zhang Jing replied with a smile.

"That's good. I'll visit your shop later."

Having said that...

Senior Brother Luo turned his head to take a good look at the white deer in front of him, which was about a meter tall. He exclaimed enviously:

"Junior Brother, you've got yourself a great mount. It's already so powerful now. Just wait until it reaches the seventh level of Qi Refinement. It'll be incredible."

"Luodu squad really values you! But considering your talent and skills, it's worth it for the Luodu squad to treat you this way."

"Senior Brother, you're joking. Since there's nothing to deal with now, I'll take my leave."

Zhang Jing remained noncommittal.

The other person seemed to have misunderstood something, but he didn't feel the need to waste energy explaining.

"Take care, Junior Brother. Remember to keep this creature under control in the city."

Senior Brother Luo made a path, instructing him to do so.

"Junior Brother understands."

Zhang Jing again mounted on Lu 38, directing it to move towards the city.

...

"What a good mount~"

Behind him, Senior Brother Luo stared at the back of Lu 38, his eyes unconsciously revealing a gaze of extreme envy.

Meanwhile.

Many cultivators gathered at the city gate also consciously made a wide path, looking with awe at Zhang Jing sitting on this terribly intimidating beast.

In the crowd.

The two men who were previously on the city tower felt shockwaves stirring in their hearts.

Isn't this the disciple... brother from that talisman shop on Double Phoenix Street?

How did he suddenly get a powerful mount that's in the late stages of Qi Refinement?

Yes.

In their eyes, the gigantic Lu 38, with its deep spiritual energy and ability to counterattack against Senior Brother Luo, who is in the late stages of Qi Refinement, must also be in the late stages of Qi Refinement.

They are also in the middle stages of Qi Refinement.

Look at him, not only can he stir up the local marketplace, but he also has a powerful mount in the late stages of Qi Refinement.

Then look at themselves.

The two looked at each other, suddenly doubting their life choices.

They are all disciples of the Dao Institute, but their gap with him is probably bigger than that between mortals and themselves.

...

Inside Langya city.

Wherever Lu 38 went, it attracted numerous looks of curiosity, awe and even envy.

After being stared at by these gazes.

It unconsciously raised its huge head, quietly asking Zhang Jing:

"Master, what is this spiritual beast ring you were talking about? If I wear it, will people stop attacking me like that guy before?"

"That's one way to understand it."

Hearing this, Lu 38 shook its body and anxiously shouted:

"Master, then hurry and put it on me. It was really dangerous just now. I, from the revered Lu family, cannot afford to die. I haven't even..."

Lu 38 began to mutter in Zhang Jing's ears again.

The same few lines over and over, the core idea is to urge him to buy that 'Life-Saving Ring' as fast as possible.

Otherwise, it always feels that someone has bad intentions towards him!

In the end, for the sake of his peace.

Zhang Jing had to promise to arrange the 'Life-Saving Ring' for it as soon as possible.

Only then did Lu 38 quiet down.

...

Zhang Jing slowly walked ahead.

Lu 38 followed closely behind him, curiously looking at the busy sights of the city, its mouth wide open in astonishment the whole time.

The moment they turned the street corner.

Zhang Jing could see from a distance, a guy and a girl standing anxiously in front of his small shop, waiting.

Just one look.

He recognized the guy as Senior Brother Ding.

His tall and thin body was very distinctive.

So, the girl standing beside him must be Senior Sister Tong Yao.

"Thirty-Eight, I will go ahead first, remember to catch up. Be careful when you walk, do not step on people or any stalls. If anyone messes with you, do not be scared, just say that you are the mount of the talisman shop owner on Double Phoenix Street."

"Master, I understand."

Lu 38 obediently replied.

Zhang Jing gave a slight smile, spiritual power surged through his body, and he instantly turned into a shadow.

However, as he approached.

The smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by ice-cold sternness.

In his sight.

Tong Yao's robe was torn and ragged, her face was extremely pale, and her aura was very weak.

Senior Brother Ding looked even worse, his right arm was gone, and the robe covering his body was stained with dark red blood.