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

Chapter 353 The Secret of the Three Immortals (Happy National Day)

As Wen Zhong entered the valley, he saw an old man standing at the entrance of the thatched hut with a smile on his face.

The old man was tall and slender, with an extraordinary bearing. He wore a long robe with the words "Guigu" on it, and at this moment he stroked his beard with one hand and put the other behind his back.

"Great, Mr. Guigu is at home."

Upon recognizing the person above, Wen Zhong clasped his hands in delight and said, "Master Guigu, it's been a long time."

"Grand Tutor Wen, it's been a long time."

Guiguzi smiled and invited Wen Zhong into the thatched cottage.

Upon entering, Wen Zhong saw that the shelves in the hut were piled high with books, and pine and bamboo trees were planted outside the window, exuding a refreshing atmosphere. He admired in his heart that this was indeed an extraordinary recluse.

The two took their seats, one as host and one as guest.

Guiguzi laughed and said, "Grand Tutor, you are a pillar of the Yin Shang Dynasty and are very busy. May I ask what brings you here today?"

Wen Zhong replied without batting an eye, "I happened to be passing by this place and remembered Master Guigu, so I came to pay my respects."

Guiguzi smiled meaningfully and said, "Is that really so?"

Wen Zhong nodded firmly and said, "That's really true."

I never expected that you, Wen Zhong, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, would lie so easily... Guiguzi laughed and said, "Grand Tutor, don't try to hide it from me. You must have come here today to discuss the matter of suppressing the rebellion in Beihai."

Seeing that his words had been exposed, Wen Zhong could only smile politely but awkwardly and said, "Indeed, all the affairs of the world are already in your mind, sir."

"The situation in Beihai is chaotic. It is a desolate place with many evil spirits. There are also seventy-two feudal lords. In the entire Yin Shang Dynasty, there is no one else who can conquer Beihai except you, Wen Zhong."

Guiguzi felt that having a feather fan in his hand at this moment would be more appropriate: "Of course, you, Wenzhong, also have the ability to break the deadlock, but you are hesitant. The reason must lie in the court, not in Beihai."

Wen Zhong clasped his hands in surprise and said, "Sir, you are truly a divine being. Indeed, my hesitation lay in the court."

A divine being? I am a true man… Guiguzi laughed, “Tell me about it.”

Wen Zhong pondered for a moment and asked, "What is your opinion of the current Yin Shang dynasty, sir?"

"Since the current King of Shang ascended the throne, the dynasty's fortunes have turned from decline to prosperity. With you, Wen Zhong and Huang Feihu, in the court, you are capable of both governing the country and securing peace."

Guiguzi smiled and said, "The weather below is favorable, the country is prosperous and the people are at peace. All people are happy and working, the four barbarians are respectful and the eight directions are submissive. The world is a picture of peace and prosperity."

Wen Zhong looked at Gui Gu with surprise.

Then Guiguzi sighed, "Unfortunately, all the current prosperity is just an illusion, like the dying man's last burst of energy, or the last rays of the setting sun..."

No, I need to find a feather fan.

Otherwise, no matter how eloquent your words are, you'll never feel like you're in complete control.

Wen Zhong's expression changed, but he still clung to a sliver of hope and asked, "What do you mean by that, sir?"

Guiguzi said, "As the saying goes, when things reach their peak, they decline; when things decline, they rise again; and when things reach their peak, they come to an end."

Wen Zhong said bitterly, "The fate of the Yin Shang dynasty is truly sealed..."

Guiguzi paused for a moment, then instead of answering, asked, "Grand Tutor, have you ever seen a building in the human world that has stood for five hundred years without collapsing?"

From Qi, the son of Yu the Great, who seized the throne and established the first dynasty, Xia, to the tyrannical Xia king Jie more than four hundred years later, and then to Cheng Tang, the ancestor of Shang, who overthrew the Xia dynasty and established the Shang dynasty, there were only two dynasties in total.

But now the Shang Dynasty has had thirty-one kings and has been established for more than five hundred years.

Although this is a mythical world, the Shang Dynasty also suffered from the common problems that plagued the end of every dynasty.

Class stratification, factionalism, unstable royal power, and corrupt officialdom...

The Shang Dynasty of today is like a tall building that has stood for five hundred years. After five hundred years of trials and tribulations, it has encountered various problems and is on the verge of collapse.

In reality, even if an ordinary family had such an old building, they certainly wouldn't go to great lengths to repair it; instead, they would choose to demolish and rebuild it.

After all, demolishing and rebuilding is much more time-saving and labor-saving than repairing a building that is about to collapse.

After a long silence, Wen Zhong stood up and said, "I can still keep the people in the court in check, but it seems that I have no choice but to stay by His Majesty's side this time."

"The Heavenly Eye... Guiguzi nodded slightly. Wen Zhong really has no choice but to leave."

This situation in Beihai can be said to have been arranged to transfer Wen Zhong away, since no one but Wen Zhong could make a difference given the circumstances there.

Once Wen Zhong leaves, the 'Investiture of the Gods' story will begin.

If he helps Wen Zhong with this matter, there will definitely be new things to entangle Wen Zhong with.

Therefore, the key to breaking the deadlock lies not with Wen Zhong, but in the imperial court.

Wen Zhong rose and bowed to Gui Gu, saying, "I have troubled you this time, sir. I have already found my answer, so I will take my leave now."

Guigu nodded slightly and said, "Grand Tutor, you are too kind. You may go on this journey without any problem, and you will surely return in triumph."

"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Guigu."

Wen Zhong turned and strode outside, but paused just before leaving: "May I ask, sir, is there any hope for the Great Shang Dynasty?"

Guiguzi pondered for a moment and said, "I have also been thinking about this matter."

Wen Zhong chuckled, strode out of the thatched hut, and rode away from Ghost Valley on his black Qilin.

Guiguzi arrived at the entrance of the thatched hut, gazed into the distance, and murmured, "Fate..."

He remembered that many gods in the original novel of Investiture of the Gods said that the fortune of the Shang Dynasty had run out and a wise ruler of Xiqi would emerge; this was the will of Heaven.

He didn't quite understand before, but now... he seems to understand.

This time, the immortals used the change of dynasties to complete the calamity, but in reality, the immortals did not interfere much; they were just henchmen for both sides.

On the Xiqi side, there was Jiang Ziya, while on the Yin Shang side, there were Shen Gongbao and Wen Zhong, two big scoundrels who were recruiting people everywhere.

While there are various reasons for dynastic changes, he believes that the main reason is that after social classes become completely solidified and the lower classes have no hope of rising, they no longer choose to remain silent but instead rebel to reshuffle and redistribute resources.

Of course, this happened later. While the Shang dynasty did have some problems in this regard, as the second dynasty, it had more issues in other areas.

"Is it destiny? Or is it the will of Heaven?

Guiguzi's eyes slowly brightened, and he glanced in the direction of Chaoge, his expression somewhat strange.

His former disciples caused too much of a stir after leaving the mountain, repeatedly putting his blood pressure and heart rate to the test.

This time, the two disciples from the Ghost Valley lineage left the mountain quietly without making a sound, which made him feel a little uneasy.

"Should we go down the mountain to take a look...?" Guigu pondered.

After all, it wouldn't be easy to handle the Nuwa Palace matter soon if he wasn't around.

After Wen Zhong returned to Chaoge, he immediately went to the palace to see the King of Shang and volunteered to go to the North Sea to quell the rebellion.

Wang Yun issued an edict to reorganize the three armies and set a date for the expedition.

……

Yuquan Mountain.

Rumble!
A small mountain weighing hundreds of thousands of kilograms slowly rose and then gradually fell back down, while a tiny figure was doing push-ups on the ground at the foot of the mountain.

"Eighty-eight, eighty-nine..."

Xiao Bai was sweating profusely and muttering to himself.

Not far away, Yang Chan, Qingyun, Longgui, and Chitian, who was wrapped in bandages, were all stunned and speechless.

The Jade Cauldron clone nodded slightly beside the crowd.

After the battle that day, Xiaobai threw himself back into training the very next day, proving himself to be a hard-working genius.

"Really? Is this how he trains every day?"

Chi Tianzheng couldn't help but say that since he woke up, his attitude towards Yu Ding had become quite respectful.

To be able to train a useless person with impure blood to the level of a rigorously trained witch warrior in three years, is truly remarkable.

No doubt about it, he's convinced.

"Hmm?" Yu Ding glanced at him.

Chi Tianzheng was stunned for a moment, then quickly corrected himself, saying, "Master!"

Yu Ding gave a soft "hmm". He was too lazy to teach this kind of disciple who came halfway through his training. There was no bond of raising and nurturing him. He could just train with him.

"You are a genius, but sometimes you rely too much on your genius status and everything goes too smoothly, so you look down on hard work. Compared to you, Xiaobai, you are the real genius in my eyes."

The Jade Cauldron clone said, "A hardworking genius has achieved today's results through three years of diligent and tireless cultivation, regardless of wind or rain. You cannot endure this kind of hardship."

Chi Tianzheng gritted his teeth: "I can."

The Jade Cauldron clone said calmly, "Being reckless won't make you stronger."

Chi Tianzheng clasped his hands in a thoughtful gesture and said, "Please teach me, Master."

Yu Ding's clone pointed at Xiao Bai and said, "Go, practice with him."

Chi Tianzheng: (_)

Isn't it the same?
Chi Tianzheng leaped down and, after Xiao Bai did a hundred push-ups, caught Xiao Shan.

"Do you two want to give it a try?"

Yu Ding looked at Yang Chan and Qing Yun.

"I?"

Thinking of Xiao Bai and Chi Tian's bulging muscles and mountain-like figures, Yang Chan shook her head vigorously: "No, no, no, Master, I'll pass."

She felt that girls didn't need such strong bodies.

Qingyun glanced at Xiaoshan, swallowed, and said, "Master, you said we need to find a method that suits us, but I feel that this method is not suitable for me."

"You kid..."

Yu Ding shook his head and looked at Yang Chan, saying, "By the way, Chan'er, how's the lotus pond on the back mountain? Has it bloomed yet?"

The Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods was too dangerous; he wanted to use the Lotus Lantern for protection!
Yang Chan pondered for a moment and said, "The lotus flowers in the pond have all bloomed, it should be soon."

I hate it, it's almost here... Jade Cauldron clone was speechless.

After a long while, the two appeared beside Yu Ding. The pale-faced man was neither red nor out of breath, while Chi Tian was bent over, sweating profusely and panting heavily.

"I told you not to be stubborn, but you wouldn't listen."

The Jade Cauldron clone shook its head: "Everything has an adaptation process; you can't force yourself to achieve it all at once."

Chi Tianzheng glanced at Xiaobai and said with a thousand complaints, "Master... don't worry, your disciple is... fine!"

Alright, I've found the right path for you, kid... Yu Ding shook his head inwardly. This proud and arrogant genius just needs a worthy opponent.

An opponent he looked down on who was always a little bit better than him, but he just couldn't catch up with.

"You two train hard. In a while, I'll send you somewhere to gain experience," the Jade Cauldron clone said, turning around.

It turns out that Wen Zhong spent more than ten years suppressing the rebellion in Beihai.

I wonder how many years this will take?

……

Dongsheng Shenzhou.

On some unnamed mountain.

Bixiao waved her hand helplessly in front of the stunned Yu Ding and said, "Yu Ding, what kind of expression is that?"

Yu Ding shook his head, came to his senses, glanced around, and said, "This is not the place to talk. Let's speak in private."

"I agree."

Bixiao glanced around and nodded in agreement.

The two of them immediately left furtively.

Soon after, the two appeared in a brothel, where a beautiful young woman was playing the pipa.

The room was filled with 'literary figures' who were swaying their heads to the music.

Bixiao pulled Yuding to sit down in a corner and ordered a few side dishes, then took out the Three Immortals Brew she had brought with her.

"No, Fairy Bixiao, how could you bring me to this filthy and disgusting place?"

Yu Ding said helplessly, "I came here just now to find you, out of necessity, you..."

As she spoke, she glanced at the young woman singing a few more times. Well, to be honest, Bixiao is a professional at picking places; the places she comes to have beautiful people and beautiful songs.

He truly is a seasoned connoisseur of listening to music in brothels when he has nothing else to do.

Bixiao scoffed, "Nonsense, this is a refined place. Besides, let me tell you, no one can find you in a place like this, not even Master and the others. I have experience with this."

Master can't be found... Yu Ding suddenly froze, glanced around and his eyes lit up.

It's not that we can't find it, but the world is inherently turbid, and at night this place is filled with joyful noises and sounds.

Even their master probably wouldn't give them a second glance.

Okay, from now on we'll hold meetings here.

Bixiao laughed and said, "Well, do you understand now?"

"This kind of place is better... cough cough, don't come here."

Yu Ding coughed lightly and changed the subject, saying, "By the way, what you just said about the secret of Fairy Qiongxiao... is it really true?"

He couldn't help but recall the squinty-eyed fairy he had seen many years ago when he visited Yuquan Mountain.

Bixiao, who was chewing on peanuts and staring at the singing courtesan, nodded upon hearing this: "Of course it's true. We're business partners, why would I lie to you?"

Yu Ding frowned and said, "But Fairy Qiongxiao seems quite gentle and kind. When she came to me, she also said that she had some knowledge of medicine..."

"She's skilled in both medicine and poison, and you can't even figure that out?"

Bixiao glanced at Yuding speechlessly: "Don't let my temper fool you, I'm actually most afraid of my second sister. You and your apprentice should avoid provoking her. You know Lü Yue, right?"

Yu Ding paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "The Plague Immortal Lü Yue?"

"That's right, Lü Yue is the Plague Immortal and she is the Poison Lady. Just like Lü Yue, everyone is afraid of them and avoids them when they meet."

Bixiao said, "Later, she accidentally poisoned me and was reprimanded by her master. So she abandoned the path of poison and devoted herself to the path of medicine. Later, after settling on the Three Immortal Islands, I found out that she had secretly started tinkering with medicine again."

"The Poisonous Lady is as famous as Lü Yue..."

Yu Ding's lips twitched, and he seemed somewhat lost in thought.

Bixiao took a sip of her wine and continued, "And I've noticed that she now enjoys challenging herself."

"What do you mean?" Yu Ding asked.

Bixiao said with lingering fear, "She first made a poison, and then developed an antidote. The spirit beasts on the Three Immortal Islands are the most qualified to say about this. Do you think I would still dare to stay at home?"

Yu Ding's lips twitched.

Oh no, another fairy-like persona has collapsed.

"I'm telling you this, but please don't tell anyone else."

Bixiao looked at Yuding and teased, "Wait, what's with that expression? You don't happen to have feelings for my second sister, do you? Do you need me to help you set her up?"

Yu Ding said righteously and sternly, "What are you saying, Fairy Bixiao? I treat you as a friend, and you actually want me to be your brother-in-law?"

Am I, Yu Ding, that kind of person? In my heart, there is only…

Bixiao pouted and waved her hand to interrupt, saying, "Alright, alright, you sword immortals are so boring. You only have swords in your heart, and no emotions."

All I want are a few older sisters I can get along with... Yu Ding coughed and said, "The thing a sword should stay away from most is emotion."

Alas, since his rebirth, he has been primarily cultivating the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique.

The Immortal-Slaying Sword is almost rusty; what kind of sword immortal is he?
Another day, I'll randomly pick a lucky evil immortal and slay him.

"That's why I said you're boring, but you're a bit better than before. Okay, now it's your turn to tell me Yang Jian's secret."

Bixiao raised an eyebrow and filled a cup of her gourd with her Three Immortals Brew, saying, "Come and try it. How does my second sister's Three Immortals Brew taste?"

"Your second sister can brew wine? It won't be poisonous, will it?"

Yu Ding glanced at the contents of his cup and muttered, "No wonder it's so strong."

“Brother Yuding, look at what you’re saying. Would I ever harm you? Didn’t I drink quite a bit myself?” Bixiao said.

"You met my disciple when he was a child. After I brought him up the mountain, I trained him carefully. That kid is very talented and also lived up to expectations."

After finishing his drink, Yu Ding laughed and said, "Hey, that little guy is just as handsome as I was when I was young. He achieved the Perfection of Returning to Emptiness and descended the mountain to comprehend the Dao in less than three years."

"Three years to return to the Void? Isn't it eight years before you descend the mountain? Brother Yuding, are you drunk and bragging? Come, come, let's talk and drink."

Bixiao laughed heartily and said, "On such a fine day, with a cup of Three Immortals Brew and a song in this brothel, I wouldn't even want to be an immortal."

She toasted Yu Ding again and again.

Soon, Yu Ding's face showed signs of drunkenness: "Bragging? Who do you take me for? Let me tell you, I'm not bragging, but my disciple has already mastered the Eighth and Ninth Arcane Arts in just three years and is ready to leave the mountain."

But he was too young and impetuous, and full of hatred. I was worried that he would act recklessly and cause a terrible disaster, so I tempered him for another five years. Even then, that kid still wielded a mountain-splitting axe and hacked his way from the South Heavenly Gate to the East Road of Penglai without blinking an eye..."

"That kid is that strong..." Bi Xiao's eyes flashed. She was secretly delighted to hear Yang Jian's secrets and sighed that she hadn't misjudged him. She was also very proud to see the drunk Yu Ding.

She smiled and poured Yu Ding another cup: "As expected of Brother Yu Ding, your actions are so meticulous. Come, let's drink another cup to Yang Jian for having such a good master like you."

After another round of toasts and drinks, Bixiao saw the legendary sword immortal Yu Ding talking non-stop like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, and thought to herself that it was about time.

"Brother Yuding, what do you think Yang Jian cares about most?" she asked the question she had been planning to ask for a long time.

The fox's tail is showing... Yu Ding slurred, "Are you trying to ask... how to win over my disciple?"

Bixiao quickly nodded: "Brother Yuding knows?"

Yu Ding laughed and put his arm around Bi Xiao's neck: "Then let me tell you, Fellow Daoist Bi Xiao, you've come to the right person."

No one in this world knows Yang Jian better than me. I practically raised that kid from infancy, cough. And let me tell you, the people he cares about most are definitely his sister and his mother.

Bixiao wasn't angry when she was embraced, but she pondered, "His sister and his mother?"

Yu Ding chuckled, his face flushed, "That's right, once we get them on our side... we'll be more than halfway there."

Bixiao's eyes lit up.

Yu Ding laughed heartily and said, "By the way, Fellow Daoist Bixiao, does Sister Yunxiao have any, hiccup... secrets?"

“Huh!” Bixiao pushed Yu Ding aside and pondered, “My eldest sister… she stays on the island all year round and doesn’t have many secrets. Oh, right, she stutters.”

Stuttering... A glint flashed in Yu Ding's eyes. No wonder Yunxiao was a mute bride every time he saw her. She looked calm, composed, and spoke very little.

No wonder Qiongxiao came to inquire about how he cured Shen Gongbao's stutter.

But even a Great Immortal can stutter... Yu Ding doesn't believe it.

There's definitely something fishy going on here.

"Brother Yu Ding? Brother Yu Ding?"

Looking at Yu Ding Bi Xiao lying on the table, he said smugly, "Tch, I've long heard that you, Yu Ding Zhenren, only have eyes for swords and nothing else. I knew you had a low alcohol tolerance, but I didn't expect it to be this low."

Even if you're a renowned swordsman, in the end, didn't I, Bixiao, get you so drunk that you blurted out everything? Hahaha!

My disciple, I was tricked by Bixiao. You can't blame me later... Yu Ding slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.

I feel at peace with myself and have a clear conscience!
Don't underestimate the power of this Three Immortals Brew; it really makes you feel refreshed and comfortable after drinking it.

He was drunk, but his mind was unusually clear; he wasn't confused at all.

The information exchanged this time was extremely useful. Next time, when he really had no choice but to challenge the Three Immortals to a duel, his chances of winning would increase by at least 20%.

what?
Ask him what percentage he can expect after the increase?

A total of 20%!

Without Yunxiao, it's a 100% success rate!
P.S.: September is over and I've reached my goal of 90,000 words. I'll update the typos first and correct them after I wake up tomorrow. Happy National Day everyone!

(End of this chapter)