Don't let Yu Ding take on any more disciples.

Chapter 185 My dearest Chi, don't think about me! And don't look for me!
"Little fairy?"

Qingyun looked up at the young man in front of him.

The man was dressed in ordinary gray clothes, with a bundle on his back, a sword hanging from his waist, and a gourd at his waist.

At this moment, his clothes were somewhat tattered and disheveled.

What kind of look is this? A lone swordsman wandering the world... Qingyun's expression completed a perfect transition from astonishment to indifference.

After thinking for a moment, he cleared his throat and coughed, then sat down cross-legged and looked at the young man. He smiled mysteriously and said, "The word 'immortal'? Hehe, I dare not claim that title, but I am a cultivator. Judging from your travel-worn and anxious appearance, you must have been on a long journey for something important."

No matter what, he is a person who came down from Yuquan Mountain, and the image of Yuquan Mountain cannot be tarnished by him.

"Wow, little fairy, your predictions are so accurate!"

The young man exclaimed in surprise, "That's right, little deity, please save them quickly!"

According to local legend, a true immortal, known as the Jade Cauldron Immortal, lives in this mountain.

Could this young man be...? The young man's eyes flickered with joy.

But regardless of whether it is true or not, this young Taoist priest speaks profoundly and looks extraordinary, so he must be no ordinary person.

"Help?" Qingyun's lips twitched inexplicably. Those two short words instantly transported him back to an indescribable experience from half a month ago.

"No rush, sit down and catch your breath. Tell me your name, where you live, and what happened," Qingyun said casually, waving his hand.

At the same time, he had an idea in his mind: didn't he have no reason to go back to see the master?
Well, let's hear what trouble this young man is in first. If we can resolve it, then we'll have a reason to go home, right?

Alas, but the master is knowledgeable about the secrets of heaven and can predict the future. Can I really fool him...? Qingyun had no idea.

The young man glanced at Qingyun, sighed, and sat down, saying:
"Next week, Zhou Shan will be a swordsman who travels the world, taking it upon himself to slay demons and exorcise monsters, and protect the human race... a demon slayer!"

"You are... someone who exorcises demons?"

Qingyun looked at him seriously, which made the boy's expression become somewhat unnatural, and in the end, he felt a little guilty.

"Then let me ask you, how many demons have you caught?" Qingyun said speechlessly.

This kid looks no more than eighteen or nineteen years old. He's so young, and there's only a faint fluctuation of magical power in his body. He's just barely about to enter the Qi Refining Realm.

From this perspective, it shows that he does have some skills, but... not many.

Because the world is not peaceful. Even though the human race has risen to power, evil spirits still occasionally appear in the countryside.

Therefore, whether it's a demon hunter or an exorcist, according to his master Yu Ding, it's actually a profession that gradually emerged out of necessity.

He had heard Yu Ding say that most people in this industry were disciples of immortal sects who had no hope of achieving immortality but knew some Taoist arts.

They've cultivated for most of their lives and they don't know how to do anything else. They're too lazy to farm, so they can just use what they've learned on the mountain to make a living.

Many disciples of Jade Void Palace who have no hope of achieving immortality will take this path after descending the mountain.

“Three!” Zhou Yishan said.

"Hmm?" Qingyun raised an eyebrow.

"Two...two!"

Zhou Yishan immediately changed his tune with a forced laugh.

Qingyun glared at him: "Don't talk nonsense. How was your first exorcism?"

"It's so difficult, so incredibly difficult..."

Zhou Yishan answered subconsciously, then chuckled awkwardly and began to recount what had happened.

The story goes that there was a village with a custom of the mountain god taking a bride, and each time a young girl had to be sacrificed, but in reality, the girl would be eaten.

He planned to travel, yearning for the path of immortality and seeking out immortal sects to learn their arts, while also vanquishing demons and monsters to protect the peace of humanity, and naturally drawing his sword to help those in need whenever he saw injustice...

"You tried to subdue demons and monsters for the first time, but ended up being subdued by the monsters yourself?" Qingyun said.

Zhou Yishan nodded sheepishly.

"This matter is a bit difficult!"

Qingyun frowned after hearing this.

“Little Immortal, you…” Zhou Yishan was taken aback: “This is a matter of life and death, you can’t just not help!”

Qingyun sighed: "To be honest, the place I'm in..."

He blushed slightly as he spoke, finding it difficult to continue.

It's fair to say that everyone who came from or came down from his master's Jade Spring Mountain was stronger than him.

In other words... he really is the weakest one in Yuquan Mountain.

Needless to say, his master is a legendary being of immense power, with an astonishingly high seniority in the primordial world. Everyone who sees him must bow and scrape before him.

As for Yang Jian, that kid, needless to say, he wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace. And Old Yuan... oh right, he should pretend he didn't remember this, anyway, he did the same thing as Yang Jian.

Later, when Sister Longji came, he was quite happy because she was the master's true disciple.

A true disciple who hasn't entered the path of immortality is on the same level as a nominal disciple... Just thinking about it fills me with a sense of accomplishment.

Not long ago, he saw this woman fighting Yang Jian to a standstill.

Honestly, everyone was stunned when they saw that scene.

Currently, the only ones who haven't entered the path of immortality are Senior Sister Yang Chan, Xiao Fei, and him; they are the three nominal disciples.

The title of the weakest of Yuquan Mountain will be awarded to one of these three.

He was also asked to exorcise demons and ward off evil spirits. Thinking back to the big-breasted woman he had encountered half a month ago—oops, I mean, a very ominous one—he felt a wave of fear.

But looking at Zhou Yishan's pleading eyes...

It's already good enough that he doesn't boast that Yuquan Mountain is the strongest; how could he possibly say that it's the weakest?
Besides, if we don't go through this ordeal, we won't be able to explain it to the master!

"Fine, as the master often says, Heaven has a benevolent heart, so I'll risk it all..." Qingyun sighed inwardly and stood up abruptly: "Lead the way."

"Okay, okay!"

Zhou Yishan was overjoyed and eagerly led the way.

"By the way, I haven't yet asked how to address you, little immortal?"

"This humble Taoist is Qingyunzi!"

"Oh, so it's Master Qingyun!"

"Have you heard of me?"

Qingyun was puzzled, but the addition of "True Person" at the end still made him beam with joy.

Finally... someone else called him that.

Zhou Yishan laughed and said, "I've never heard of it, but it sounds extraordinary."

The two traveled together, and Zhou Yishan was very attentive along the way, because wasn't this... a predestined fate?

Qingyun, on the other hand, felt uncertain and was in a bad mood, while also thinking about how to escape if he couldn't win.

After walking for half a day, Qingyun learned from a question that it would take another half a month to travel. He then directly stuck two talismans on Zhou Yishan's legs, and his legs immediately felt as if they had grown wings.

Heavenly Court, Tongming Hall.

"Yu Ding Zhenren is indeed Yu Ding Zhenren."

On the imperial throne, Haotian laughed heartily: "I knew entrusting it to him would be the right decision!"

There were three reasons why he hadn't reincarnated yet: first, his daughter; second, the restless nature of the demon court's remnants. But now he knew the details of Longji's attack…

Now he can set off with peace of mind... Hmm, that sounds a bit strange, but he can leave without worry.

"Anything is possible during a great calamity. Although Yaochi is watching over things, we still need to prepare some contingency plans in case something goes wrong in Heaven."

Haotian's eyes flickered. After thinking for a moment, he took out a jade book and quickly drafted an imperial edict for an emergency.

Without hesitation, Yu Ding's name was added to the emergency contact section at the very end, and it was written on the outside: "To Venus, the Supreme Being! Respectfully Your Majesty!"

He had considered things very clearly. You see, he couldn't persuade the three Yuanshi Tianzuns no matter what, and summoning those weaker than Yu Ding wouldn't have made a difference either.

Once Yu Ding arrives, several of the other twelve Golden Immortals will also have to come. It'll be quite a spectacle then, won't it?

If the situation gets even worse, and even Yu Ding and the others can't control it, then why would Yuanshi Tianzun not take action?
He's had enough, anyway.

Is that an imperial robe he's wearing, or a chair he's sitting on?
No, they are shackles!

It is a shackle that imprisons his freedom and limits his strength and ability to perform!

Before he acquired that imperial robe, Haotian never held grudges, because anyone who dared to anger him would be slapped to death.

Even the former ruler of the Demon Court had to give him some face when he met him. As for giving him three points of face... that was a privilege reserved for the Seven Sages.

But what happens after he puts on those clothes and sits in that chair?

What did he lose?
He lost his freedom, happiness, and smiles. If it weren't for his ability to steal moments of leisure from his busy schedule, he would have almost been deprived of even his only hobby.

So what did he gain?
Um... it seems like there's nothing there.

Not only that, but you also have to control your temper and behave yourself properly. You have to sit there, listening to those gods ramble on, and you can't even lift a finger.

In the past, if anyone dared to delay him like this, he would have slapped them long ago, and then relaxed after finishing the matter.

"Dao Ancestor, to be honest, the Heavenly Court is quite good. I'm quite happy with the tasks you've given me. Don't misunderstand, I really have no reluctance whatsoever."

But... I really can't do anything about it. My tribulation is about to begin, and although I've done my best, I simply cannot postpone it.

Haotian muttered, "You see, you also said before that it would be bad for the prehistoric world if the position of Heavenly Emperor was vacant, so you made me temporarily serve as the head of the Three Councils, and that I would be replaced by a more suitable one."

As a result, after three meetings, there were still three meetings, and I still hadn't met a more suitable person. Of course, please don't misunderstand me, I'm not complaining to you.

"But so much time has passed in the blink of an eye, and now that I'm going through this tribulation, there's nothing I can do. By the way, didn't you want to take advantage of this great tribulation to bestow titles upon the Heavenly Gods? It would be a good opportunity to choose an even more capable Heavenly Emperor, wouldn't it?"

Then, he stood up, ripped off his imperial robe and threw it on the throne, raised his hand in a farewell gesture, and turned to leave.

His expression was filled with indescribable joy and happiness at regaining his freedom.

Goodbye... broken chair!

No, it's goodbye forever!
Screw your broken chairs, imperial robes, palaces! Just looking at you gives me a headache. Finally, I don't have to see you anymore.

With a wave of his sleeve, Haotian revealed a jade book intended for Yaochi on the table.

To be honest, this was the most time-consuming one; he racked his brains to write it, and he was very satisfied with it.
Dear Chi...

I will leave you gently; by the time you read this letter, I will probably have already passed away.

Please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye, although it might be a bit difficult for you given your temperament.

Don't look for me, and don't blame me for avoiding you, because after the passion fades, I really don't know how to face you.

As time went by, I felt that we had switched roles in many ways. I was no longer a god in your eyes, but in my eyes... cough cough, I am still the goddess I was back then.

Yu Ding once told me that the most beautiful thing in life is when we meet for the first time. If that's not possible, then separation is better than reunion. Maybe it would be better for both of us to be apart for a while.

In the days without you, I will cherish myself even more; in the days without me, please take care of yourself...

Finally! Don't think about me! And don't look for me!

Hehe, you might not be able to find it even if you look!
Don't ask me when I'll return home, because I've asked myself the same question, but I don't know when either...

"I... am free..."

Haotian breathed a sigh of relief and disappeared into the Tongming Palace with a relaxed smile.

After a long time, at Yaochi.

"The passion has faded? You don't know how to face me?"

The Queen Mother of the West nearly crushed the jade book in her hand, then sneered and saw another name on it: "Someone, summon the Jade Cauldron Immortal to me!"

……

Yuquan Mountain.

"That brat Qingyun, I think he's asking for a beating."

Yu Ding raised his hand, ready to calculate Qingyun's location, but just as he was about to do so, his expression suddenly changed: "What, heavens..."

"Master, what's wrong?"

Longji, who was meditating on the profound technique, looked over.

"It's alright, just keep thinking about it."

Yu Ding smiled and waved his hand, then turned around and his expression became serious.

His avatar in Heaven learned some big news.

The Heavenly Emperor... has disappeared.

Venus was the first to notice this situation. After searching for a while and finding nothing, he became extremely anxious and lost his composure.

"What's going on?! I'm dumbfounded. Brother, you should at least consider the timing of your vacation. The Great Tribulation of the Gods is about to begin and you're just disappearing. What good is it for me to befriend you?!" Yu Ding felt a chill run down his spine.

It is absolutely crucial that no one find out that this was the idea that Yu Ding gave to the Heavenly Emperor.

Wait, what do you mean he came up with the idea? Wasn't it the Heavenly Emperor himself who came up with it?

Thinking of this, Yu Ding calmed down again.

This matter has absolutely nothing to do with him!

……

"On that mountain?"

Qingyun frowned as he looked at a large mountain path ahead. He saw that the mountain was lush with vegetation, but there was a faint black mist swirling around it.

“That’s right, what mountain god? He’s actually a monster,” Zhou Yishan said.

Qingyun nodded: "It is indeed a monster!"

For Qi cultivators, this turbid, foul-smelling demonic energy was as distinct as a clear dividing line between themselves and their own spiritual energy; it couldn't be more obvious.

"Correct!"

Zhou Yishan said in a deep voice, "They not only eat the sacrificed animals, but they also eat people who pass by here."

Qingyun nodded, stepped into the mountain, and drifted away, each step covering more than ten zhang.

Don't be fooled by his seemingly profound and unfathomable appearance; he's just imitating the master's mannerisms.

Only he knew how nervous he was at that moment...

At the same time, he clutched a jade talisman tightly in his sleeve. He had picked it up from the Golden Cloud Cave, and he remembered it was called... Teleportation Talisman!

If things go wrong, there's still time to run away. This is his biggest trump card, one he hadn't even used when he was being chased by that big-breasted woman.

(End of this chapter)