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

Chapter 188: Taking sides
After a private conversation, Yu Ding escorted the Queen Mother of the West out of the Golden Cloud Cave.

Longji was sitting cross-legged by a mountain stream in the distance, his figure hidden in the crimson sunset, with water swirling around him as he practiced some kind of magic.

“This humble Taoist priest asked her to come and see the Empress off!” Yu Ding said.

"No need. Seeing her progress, I am truly relieved."

The Queen Mother of the West glanced in that direction, her eyes filled with relief, and said, "From now on, I'll entrust Longji to you, Master."

"Your Majesty is too kind. This is simply my duty as a teacher."

Yu Ding nodded slightly and said softly, "Since Your Majesty has already gone to undergo the tribulation, it means that the time for the tribulation has arrived, and this matter cannot be changed."

In that case, Your Majesty need not worry too much. A mortal's lifetime is a hundred years; this amount of time is only a little over three months in the Heavenly Realm.

Ha, what do you mean his tribulation period has arrived? His tribulation period is clearly still some days away. He has been with me for countless years. Others may not know this, but I don't know this either.
The Queen Mother of the West sneered inwardly, but she couldn't tell Yu Dingming these things, so she whispered:

“Under normal circumstances, I would not care, but the timing is not right. His Majesty’s tribulation happens to coincide with the approaching Great Tribulation of the Immortals. Tell me, how can I not be worried?”

After speaking, he looked at the jade cauldron.

Yu Ding, with his eyes downcast and his mind focused, slowly nodded and said, "It is only natural for a god to be so!"

The Queen Mother of the West nodded in satisfaction: "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Immortal. Farewell!"

Yu Ding cupped his hands in greeting, watching as the figure of the Queen Mother of the West transformed into celestial light and vanished before his eyes.

“Sigh…” Yu Ding shook his head sadly. This Heavenly Emperor really knows how to cause trouble for people and even betrayed him.

He strongly suspected that the guy didn't do it on purpose.
It's intentional!

"Master!" Longji floated over.

"I knew you were just putting on an act all along. You weren't even willing to come and see me off?" Yu Ding said.

Longji asked with a complicated expression, "Then will Master advise me not to do this?"

"No, even I can't interfere in family matters. This is your own business, and I, an outsider, have no right to meddle."

Yu Ding shook his head and said, "How is it? The Eight-Nine Arcane Technique... have you comprehended anything?"

"I still... have a slight understanding," Longji said thoughtfully, nodding.

A little? You've figured it out too... Yu Ding's face gradually darkened, then turned sour, and he nodded slightly as he gazed into the distance: "Then you should go back!"

Longji was taken aback: "Where does Master want me to go back to?"

“Go back to where you came from!” Yu Ding said.

He restored Longji's Daoist heart and passed on all the thirty-six supernatural powers and seventy-two Daoist arts that he had written.

It can be said that he has taught him almost everything he could, and now Longji has undergone a complete transformation.

With the great calamity of the immortals imminent, he needed to think it over again. He should send this disciple away. Besides, Longji still had a private palace in the mortal realm!
Longji's eyes flashed: "Master, are you sending... me out?"

“Who’s kicking you out? Your master wants you to return to Phoenix Mountain to avoid this calamity,” Yu Ding said.

"Avoiding the calamity?" Longji was taken aback.

"There is something you may not know. Because your senior uncles and aunts failed to sever their three corpses, they are facing a calamity. Therefore, your grandmaster has already closed the palace and stopped teaching."

Yu Ding continued, "Later, your father said that there was no one in the Heavenly Court who could be used, so he sent someone to order the twelve immortals, including your master, to go to Heaven and submit to him. That's why many years ago, the three religions gathered at Biyou Palace to discuss and agree on the positions of three hundred and sixty-five righteous gods."

"Ah, how could my father..." Longji lowered his head somewhat embarrassed.

"Don't worry, these are trivial matters, I won't take them to heart."

Yu Ding smiled, then his expression turned serious. He said, "It just so happens that the immortals have broken the rules at this time, so Heaven has sent down calamities to test the depth of their character."

Those with profound roots and good fortune will surely be able to overcome this obstacle and then enjoy the carefree path of immortality; those with slightly less profound roots will be granted divine titles and become ministers in heaven; and those with poor roots and fortune will have to return to the human realm…

As the saying goes: The cicadas sense the autumn wind before it even blows!
Those with higher magical power and cultivation can perceive the workings of the Heavenly Dao and calamities earlier and more clearly, and can make arrangements and preparations in advance to deal with them.

Yu Ding knew that apart from Yang Jian, his other disciples, such as Yuan Hong and Long Ji, had met with bad ends, even though they had both been listed on the Investiture of the Gods.

Therefore, he had no choice but to issue a warning.

As for the situation during the great calamity...

Only after the crisis begins can one adapt to the changing circumstances. Right now, he's just doing preparatory work, laying the groundwork...

Fine, he doesn't deserve it.

"A great calamity?" Longji's expression turned solemn.

This was indeed the first time she had ever heard of such a thing.

"This calamity not only involves the disciples of our three religions, but also others who are in danger of being afflicted."

Yu Ding solemnly warned, "You are the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, and your status is immeasurably high, but your fortune is weak, so you must be careful."

Actually, besides luck, there's another equally important factor in surviving the Investiture of the Gods: whether your background and connections are strong enough and whether they're willing to help you.

Look at Jiang Ziya, he suffered seven deaths and three calamities, wasn't that miserable?

Anyone else would have needed ten lives to survive, but Jiang Ziya managed to live thanks to the help of his master and several senior brothers.

Is it just good luck? No, it's because you have powerful connections!

"Disciple...remembers."

Longji nodded earnestly.

Yu Ding said, "Any other questions? If not, then let's go back!"

Longji pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Master just said that my senior uncles and aunts are facing a calamity because they failed to sever their three corpses?"

"Is there a problem?" Yu Ding asked.

"The senior and junior masters among the Twelve Immortals?"

"Correct!"

"How many of those eleven were killed?" Longji continued.

That's a very pointed question!

Isn't this revealing the secrets of the other fellow disciples?
Those fellow disciples were all his own... fellow disciples!
Then Yu Ding said, "All of them!" "And what about Master?"

Longji looked at the jade cauldron with some worry and asked, "Master... will you also face a calamity?"

"Ah...you don't need to worry about that. I, your master, will certainly not attempt to kill you." Yu Ding chuckled dryly, raised his hand, coughed, and turned his back to Long Ji.

The next step after reaching the Golden Immortal Realm is to sever the three corpses, and only Golden Immortals who have reached the stage of severing the three corpses can be called great beings.

He is now close to the perfection of the Celestial Immortal Realm, and it is only a matter of time before he is promoted to Golden Immortal. However, the problem of the killing tribulation will never befall him.

The only problem is that he had already mastered the first six stages of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique created by the Jade Cauldron Immortal, and he had to complete the rest of the technique himself.

The Western Sect was most active during the Investiture of the Gods, so perhaps... the opportunity lies here.

“Disciple…understands,” Longji said calmly.

Eleven of my senior uncles and aunts have all encountered calamities, yet my master is the exception among the twelve immortals. Is that even possible?

Longji's feelings were complicated. When she looked back at her master's answer to her question, his expression was somewhat unnatural, his gaze was somewhat evasive, and he even turned his back to her later...

All of this can only mean one thing...

With his back to his disciple, Yu Ding was pondering how to deal with the Western Religion, completely unaware that his disciple behind him was analyzing him with a glint in his eye.

Master is lying!
Longji's eyes flickered. Just now, her master told her not to worry, so was he lying to avoid making her worry?
It seems I need to focus more on my cultivation; I can't delay any longer... Looking at Yu Ding's back, Long Ji's eyes gradually hardened.

"Any other questions?" Yu Ding asked.

Longji shook his head, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "That's all, then this disciple will take his leave!"

"Go!"

Yu Ding nodded slightly: "Remember, do not venture out of the mountain without the permission of your master or your father and mother. If you do venture out, come to me immediately and we will act together. Do you understand?"

It turns out that Longji went to Xiqi to help as soon as he left the mountain; this kind of thing is unacceptable.

"Disciple remembers it."

Watching Long Ji's departing figure, Yu Ding paused for a moment before sighing inwardly. A clone of him emerged from his body and quietly followed.

After what happened last time,

He was really worried about his apprentice going back like that.

Yu Ding turned and walked towards the Golden Cloud Cave, while pondering a question.

With a great calamity imminent, staying in the dojo, while comfortable, is certainly not a viable option and would be too passive.

The second issue is taking sides.

Originally, in the Investiture of the Gods, the Chan Sect sided with Xiqi, while the Jie Sect sided with Yin Shang, thus starting the conflict. Now, how he should choose sides is indeed a question.

Yu Ding looked up at the Southern Continent, his eyes flashing.

"Brother!"

At this moment, Yun Zhongzi emerged from the Golden Cloud Cave, his expression somewhat surprised and uncertain: "I just sensed..."

"The Queen Mother of the West!" Yu Ding laughed. Yun Zhongzi had been recuperating in his cave, and it seemed he had been disturbed.

Yun Zhongzi nodded: "Senior brother, my injuries are almost healed now, it's time to go back. By the way, would you like to visit me?"

"Want to come over to your place... for a visit?"

Yu Ding's eyes flashed. Come to think of it, he had been wanting to take a trip to the Southern Continent!
Yun Zhongzi's dojo happened to be located in Zhongnan Mountain in the Southern Continent, which could be considered the center of this calamity.

The two set off immediately. Yu Ding separated a wisp of himself and rode on a cloud, heading towards the Southern Continent with Yun Zhongzi.

Although the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods was imminent, it would still take several decades, so Yu Ding was not in a hurry to travel. He talked with Yun Zhongzi as they walked, and they did not fly very high.

"Hey, that's..."

Suddenly, Yun Zhongzi's eyes flashed.

A red-clad boy was seen lying on a cloud lower up ahead, looking at the ground with great interest.

"That kid has slipped out of Qianyuan Mountain again."

Yun Zhongzi and Yun Yuding smiled and shook their heads.

Lingzhuzi was lying on the cloud, watching intently, when suddenly, "slap!" someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"Who?" This startled Lingzhuzi.

Turning around, I saw two Taoist priests standing to the side with a smile on their faces, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance and purity.

"Uncle-Master Yu Ding?" Ling Zhu Zi exclaimed, her surprise turning to delight, "It's you!"

Why can't it be me?

Yu Ding smiled and introduced, "This is your Uncle Yun Zhongzi."

Lingzhuzi looked Yun Zhongzi up and down, then quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Uncle-Master Yun Zhongzi."

"Is this Senior Brother Taiyi's precious disciple?"

Yun Zhongzi looked him over, nodded and smiled, "He certainly looks extraordinary. Alright, get up!"

"Hehe, you flatter me, Uncle-Master." Lingzhuzi couldn't help but smile.

"What are you looking at so intently?" Yu Ding glanced down.

Then they saw a seventeen or eighteen-year-old swordsman wielding a long sword fighting a wolf demon in the forest.

"Ouch!"

As they were talking, the wolf demon suddenly let out a roar, and then a surge of demonic energy rose from the forest and swept towards the boy.

"Oh no, there's no time to tell you, Uncle-Master. I'll tell you later."

Just as Ling Zhuzi was about to explain, he hurriedly took off the Qiankun Ring from his wrist and unleashed it towards the surging demonic energy. At the same time, he moved and flew downwards.

(End of this chapter)