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

Chapter 348 Let Yang Jian look after things for a while.
It's unreasonable to chop it up, but you're unwilling to abandon it, right...?

As the thunderclouds lingered in the sky, Yu Ding shook his head. In the end, it was still a matter of saving face.

He bowed deeply towards Mount Kunlun without saying a word.

Zhang Youren leaned closer and asked curiously, "Immortal Master, what's going on here...?"

"Nonsense, of course he's asking for help..." Yu Ding glanced at him speechlessly.

This time, it all comes down to who has the stronger backing, him or Zhang Youren.

He had great confidence in his master, otherwise, would the title of Heavenly Venerable be given for nothing?

Soon, a beam of clear light, accompanied by a sound, shot up from the Jade Void Palace of Kunlun Mountain and disappeared into the sky.

"When the Heavenly Emperor was undergoing his tribulation, the Three Realms were in chaos. The Jade Cauldron enlightened the reincarnated child, helping him to awaken and complete his tribulation, thus upholding the Heavenly Dao. Even if this is not a great contribution to the world, shouldn't it be worthy of your respect, fellow Daoist?"

Soon, the roaring thunderclouds dissipated, and the world brightened and returned to clarity.

Yu Ding was overjoyed and bowed three more times toward Kunlun Mountain before leisurely getting up.

"Huh, why did the weather change so suddenly?"

Zhang Youren shook his head speechlessly and said, "It's like a woman's temper, sometimes cloudy and sometimes sunny."

A muffled clap of thunder sounded from the sky.

Yu Ding didn't dare to feign innocence after gaining an advantage and delve too deeply into the topic. Instead, he smiled and pointed at Zhang Youren, saying:
"It is truly fate that we meet today. I have a treasure here that is destined for you, and I would like to give it to you as a gift."

"This... I can't possibly accept this."

Zhang Youren rubbed his hands together, barely suppressing his excitement: "Immortal Master, what gift is it?"

Yu Ding smiled mysteriously, reached into his left sleeve with his right hand and took out a palm-sized ancient metal palace whose brilliance had been suppressed by talismans.

He raised his hand and unveiled the talisman. The treasure trove immediately shone brightly, flew out from Yu Ding's hand, and stopped in front of Zhang Youren.

"This is……"

When Zhang Youren first saw the metal treasure vault, he was stunned, and then excitedly grabbed the palm-sized vault in his hand.

After looking at it over and over again, Zhang Youren pressed the treasure vault to his face as if he had obtained a precious treasure, and two lines of clear tears streamed down his face.

"Why are you crying?" Yu Ding raised an eyebrow.

Zhang Youren exclaimed excitedly, "Immortal Master, you're right! This treasure truly seems to be destined for me. The moment I saw it, I felt as if it was meant to be mine. But it's so strange..."

He examined the treasure vault and muttered, "This is clearly the first time I've seen this, but why do I feel this excited feeling of something lost and found again?"

Yu Ding coughed nervously and quickly said, "That's why I said you were destined to have this treasure and gave it to you."

"Thank you..." Zhang Youren was overjoyed and was about to bow to Yu Ding in gratitude.

However, when he looked up, he saw Yu Ding's sharp gaze, so he had no choice but to awkwardly withdraw his hand, but his heart was warmed.

This immortal gave me a treasure and wouldn't even let me thank him. He's such a kind person!
"Remember, no matter what I teach you or what I give you, you must not be polite to me."

Yu Ding admonished, "From now on, you should no longer address me as Immortal Master. My title is... Yu Ding Zhenren. Just treat me as your friend, understand?"

Zhang Youren: "I've got it."

Yu Ding grabbed Zhang Youren's shoulder and said, "Alright, we should get going."

"go……"

Before Zhang's friend could even ask a question, he saw his body rise into the air, flying higher and higher, while the scenery on the ground became smaller and smaller.

After a long while, above the clouds.

Zhang Youren sat on the cloud, his face pale, tightly hugging Yu Ding's legs, not daring to stand up or look down.

"stand up!"

"I do not!"

"Are you even a man...?" Yu Ding's face darkened.

"Men are only mortals. What mortal would dare to stand up after flying that high?"

Zhang Youren, his face pale, said with a righteous indignation despite his cowardice: "I was made to fall from a big tree by a brat before and had to lie in bed for several days. If I fell from here, wouldn't I be smashed into a pulp?"

Jade tripod: ヽ(`Д)┻━┻
How could the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor be afraid of heights?

Yu Ding rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. He understood the situation, but he still couldn't quite accept it.

Judging from his current state, it's not a good idea to take this kid out anymore. We need to find a place to settle him down and let him get used to flying.

Since we're going to Guanjiangkou anyway, I'll leave it to Yang Jian to train for a while when we get there!

only……

Yu Ding felt it was inappropriate to hand it over to Yang Jian, given the relationship between Yang Jian and his uncle, right?

If Yang Jian found out that this kid was the reincarnation of his uncle, wouldn't that be like sending a lamb to the slaughter?
"By the way, why are you cultivating Taoism? Do you want to become an immortal?" Yu Ding glanced at Zhang Youren.

Zhang Youren quickly shook his head: "Becoming an immortal isn't that easy. I don't want to."

Yu Ding was slightly taken aback: "Hmm?"

"I've been away from home for quite some time now. At first, I was wholeheartedly devoted to the Tao, wanting to find a master and seek immortality and a carefree life, but... how should I put it."

Zhang Youren quietly recounted, "I gradually discovered that cultivating immortality is not as easy as I imagined, and becoming an immortal is not as good as I had imagined."

First of all, cultivating immortality is extremely arduous. Not only must one abandon everything in the mortal world, but the path to immortality is also accompanied by all sorts of calamities. Perhaps only one or two out of thousands, or even tens of thousands, of cultivators will succeed.

Yu Ding looked at Zhang Youren in surprise.

"Okay, let's assume you've become an immortal by sheer luck. But then, are you really free and unrestrained? No, you still have to be registered as an immortal and be subject to their control."

As Zhang Youren spoke, he forgot his fear of heights, let go of Yu Ding's legs, sat cross-legged on the cloud, and complained, "Master, I heard that if you have a powerful backer or connections in Heaven, you can stay in Heaven and become a top-ranking celestial being. Is that true?"

Yu Ding coughed lightly and then said, "Yes!"

This involves the issue of classifying deities. In the past, only those of orthodox esoteric schools could be called celestial immortals.

Later, when the Demon Court disappeared and the Immortal Path flourished and the Heavenly Court appeared, the immortals in the heavens were gradually called Heavenly Immortals, and those on earth were called Earthly Immortals.

As for the issue of connections within Heavenly Court...

As a Jade Void Immortal, he naturally didn't understand the intricacies of this matter.

However, with no one in the Heavenly Court and the Heavenly Emperor inactive, he was not surprised that various problems arose under such extremely loose internal management.

"Just as I thought, but if you stay in heaven, you have to listen to some guy called the Heavenly Emperor, who bosses you around and tells you to go west, not east." Zhang Youren sighed and said, "And there are all sorts of gods fighting openly and secretly for power and profit, while I'm just an ordinary person with no background or connections. If I go to work in a place where gods fight, I'll definitely be the first to suffer. This kind of life is simply... simply a pile of dog shit!"

In the end, Zhang Youren was somewhat indignant.

Yu Ding: (-_^)
That's well said.

Then why did you once send us twelve immortals to do your bidding?

“Aside from not having the divine power of immortals, I don’t think there’s much difference between becoming an immortal and being a human,” Zhang Youren said.

Yu Ding smiled and said, "Do you know that in the eyes of immortals, mortals are like ants on the ground?"

"Although small fish eat shrimp, aren't they also food for big fish?"

Zhang Youren laughed and said, "Everyone has their own ambitions. Some people want to grow from shrimp to small fish and then to big fish. I admire them."

However, I'm someone who hates hard work and doesn't like being bossed around. Since I'm already a shrimp, why should I suffer the hardship of growing into a small fish to fatten up a big fish? Wouldn't it be better to live a happy life?

"Brilliant!"

Yu Ding paused for a moment, then smiled: "Truly, the greatest truths are the simplest. How did you come up with these ideas?"

"I figured this out while fishing," Zhang Youren said proudly.

Fishing... Yu Ding looked at Zhang Youren's silly grin and his lips twitched. You've been reincarnated and you still haven't forgotten about fishing?
Yu Ding said, "So, what do you want to achieve by studying the Dao...?"

"Firstly, I have a mortal enemy from my hometown who has bullied me since I was a child and is particularly powerful. I must learn her skills to take her down."

After gritting his teeth and finishing his accusation, Zhang Youren said with a righteous and stern expression, "In addition, I have discovered that many waters have been occupied by demons and monsters in recent years. So I wanted to learn some Taoist arts to slay demons and monsters and go fishing, cough cough, to rid the people of this scourge."

Could this guy's purpose in learning Taoism be to go fishing...? Putting aside that enemy, Yu Ding looked at Zhang Youren's righteous and awe-inspiring appearance and felt that his second purpose was not so pure either.

After all, the waters occupied by monsters must have good water quality, and places with good water quality must have many, fat, and large fish.

"Really, you have to believe me. Don't let my negative and pessimistic attitude fool you."

Zhang Youren hurriedly said, "But this is only the surface of me that you see. In fact, I am a very righteous person and I really want to do my part for the people."

Your explanation is worse than no explanation at all... Yu Ding coughed lightly: "Alright, this humble Taoist believes you."

Cultivating Taoism for fishing... To be honest, Yu Ding has seen quite a few Qi cultivators, some for revenge, some for power, and some for immortality.

The reason I heard this time was really outrageous.

As they were talking, Yu Ding suddenly looked down and smiled, "We've arrived."

Below, there stood a magnificent temple, its incense burning brightly and smoke curling upwards.

Then, he grabbed Zhang Youren by the shoulder as he tried to hug his leg, and transformed into a golden light, landing in the front yard.

"Master, where is this?" Zhang Youren, whose face was still a little pale, looked around.

Yu Ding smiled slightly: "My disciple's home."

"Disciple?"

Zhang Youren was taken aback, and then saw a handsome young man in his early twenties carrying a fishing rod leading several burly men out.

Upon seeing the fishing rod in the young man's hand, Zhang Youren's eyes lit up.

Looking at the young man again, I couldn't help but feel much more at ease.

"Master?"

Upon recognizing the visitor, Yang Jian was overjoyed. He tossed his fishing rod to the Meishan brothers and quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply: "Disciple greets Master. What brings you here today, Master?"

"Of course I have tasks to assign you..." Yu Ding raised his hand and helped Yang Jian up with a smile: "What, did your master come at an inopportune time?"

Speaking of after sending these disciples down the mountain,

He visited these apprentices' homes very few times.

Yu Ding sighed inwardly, secretly glancing in the direction of Meishan, wondering whether he should go to Meishan again after leaving Guanjiangkou.

"Master, what are you saying? Please come into the main hall, Master."

Yang Jian led Yu Ding to the main hall: "The gate of Guanjiang Estuary will always be open for Master. In fact, I would love for Master to stay here."

Yu Ding laughed and said, "Haha, there's no need to stay here. I'm more comfortable living on Jade Spring Mountain."

"By the way, Master, who is this...?"

Yang Jian glanced at Zhang Youren standing next to the jade cauldron, a look of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Logically speaking, the person beside him should not be an ordinary immortal, but he couldn't sense any immortal aura from them.

He looks like... an ordinary person!
Yu Ding's eyes flashed and he smiled, "Haha, I forgot to introduce you. This is a young friend of mine, named Zhang Youren..."

He transmitted his voice to Yang Jian, saying, "Disciple, do not underestimate this person just because he is a mortal. He is actually the reincarnation of an old friend of your grandmaster. Remember not to treat him recklessly."

Grandmaster's old friend... Yang Jian's expression turned serious as he remembered Yu Ding's words.

Yu Ding laughed again, "Young friend, this lad is called Yang Jian, and he is my disciple."

"Yang Jian?"

Zhang Youren ran up to Yang Jian and looked him up and down with surprise, saying, "The legendary Erlang Shen Yang Jian, who split the mountain to save his mother, moved heaven and earth with his filial piety, and made a great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace?"

Yang Jian forced a smile, his whole body stiff with embarrassment: "It's me!"

"My God, I saw the living Erlang Shen instead of the statue in the temple. Of all the gods in the world, I only worship you."

Zhang Youren exclaimed excitedly, "You're really amazing! You're incredible! By the way, legend has it you have three eyes, where are they?"

"Where's my Three-Pointed Knife...?" Yang Jian's facial muscles twitched.

To be honest, he wasn't used to strangers getting so close to him. If his master hadn't told him beforehand, he would have slapped them away long ago.

What an outrageous, massive fan gathering... Yu Ding coughed and transmitted his voice, "Disciple, bear with it. Killing him will only bring him down. Even if we combine our strength, we still won't be able to defeat him."

Even with his master joining forces, they couldn't defeat him... Yang Jian looked at Zhang Youren in surprise. Just which legendary old monster was this reincarnation?

"Young friend, be a little more polite to my disciple," Yu Ding scolded.

Zhang Youren quickly came to his senses and explained, "Well, please forgive me, gentlemen, I was just too excited to see the legendary Erlang Ye..."

Second Master… Yu Ding raised an eyebrow and his expression turned strange: “It’s alright, I understand.”

My disciple, just for calling me "Master," you've already gotten a huge advantage.

(End of this chapter)