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

Chapter 503 Having you all is truly a blessing for Yu Ding
Yu Ding didn't say much, but with a thought, a three-legged, two-eared round cauldron emitted innate divine light, enveloping him, Yuan Hong, and Taotie.

In the blink of an eye, they vanished, as if erased from thin air.

"Gone?"

The white-robed elder in Seven Monsters City, who was watching this scene, couldn't help but change his expression. Yuan Hong and Taotie seemed to have vanished into thin air.

"here it is……"

Yuan Hong felt a blur before his eyes and found himself on a mountaintop.

This is a strange world, with blue skies and white clouds, mountains and trees, and a vast expanse of sky and earth, but without the sun, moon, stars, or living creatures.

"This is the world inside that cauldron."

Yu Ding looked around and said, "This is the inner world that the former 'him' created. Speaking of which, this is his first time here."

As he cleaved the Heavenly Origin Universe Cauldron and reshaped his physical body, the world inside the cauldron was also separated out, much like the Landscape Painting.

Conversations within this supreme innate spiritual treasure are like having super encryption enabled; the level of privacy is off the charts.

"The world inside the cauldron?"

Yuan Hong looked around this world with surprise, then suddenly looked at the back of the jade cauldron with a strange expression: "Cauldron?"

What was my master's Taoist name again?

Jade Cauldron Immortal!
So, could that cauldron just now be the true form of my master, and now it has entered my master's body?

Once the thought arose, it wouldn't go away. Even Yuan Hong couldn't help but blush, and he felt a very strange feeling as he looked at Yu Ding's back.

"Come back!" Yu Ding pulled open his sleeve.

The ferocious beast Taotie, which was surveying the space behind him, let out a low roar, its body glowed, shrank, and flew into Yu Ding's sleeve.

"hiss!"

Yu Ding's sleeve was like a vast universe, and Taotie gasped as soon as it entered. However, it was a bit drafty because its teeth had been knocked out. It covered its swollen cheek with one paw and rubbed its bottom with the other.

The ferocious beast always relied on its powerful physique and supernatural abilities to fight, but he did not expect that the kid who was covered in golden light also had such a powerful physique.

However, it is far inferior to the Jade Cauldron.

Yu Ding's punch almost knocked it out of its wits, and it nearly couldn't catch its breath. If it had been hit a few more times, it would have definitely killed it. It still feels a dull ache.

Just then, four eerie eyes suddenly appeared on both sides, and Taotie immediately pretended to be serious.

Taotie and Qiongqi came out, staring at it as they circled around, making 'tsk tsk tsk' sounds, and shaking their heads repeatedly.

"Roar, are you two trying to die?" Taotie grinned and growled.

Qiongqi said, "Even your teeth were knocked out? Tsk tsk, how pitiful!"

Taotie shook its head and said, "In the end, you were knocked down by Yu Ding with one punch. We originally gave you this chance to show your face so that you could regain some dignity, but you did the opposite, and you even ruined our reputations."

"I...I'll settle this with you guys and see who's the better one, hoo!"

The Taotie could no longer restrain itself and pounced on the two beasts, igniting another fierce battle among the three.

Thus, only Yu Ding and Yuan Hong remained on the mountain outside.

Yu Ding stood on the mountaintop with his back to Yuan Hong, gazing into the distance. Yuan Hong, seeing this, dared not move and could only stand respectfully behind Yu Ding to continue his wandering thoughts.

Yu Ding suddenly turned around and looked at him, saying, "Let's... have a talk!"

As the saying goes, a disciple can grow up without the master's guidance. After mastering their skills, the disciples will spread their wings and fly high, forging their own path.

Logically speaking, he, as the master, had no reason to interfere with his disciples' individual development.

But after all, Yuan Hong was his eldest disciple, but without any official title, and he was all alone, venturing out and developing his career, unlike Yang Jian who could come to him anytime, anywhere.

Yuan Hong was taken aback, then quickly replied, "Ah, okay!"

At this moment, he was still unsure whether Yu Ding would hold him accountable.

But he was certain that he had done something that had really angered his master.

Yu Ding turned back to look into the distance, put his hands behind his back, and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

"Plans?" Yuan Hong was taken aback, then fell into deep thought.

Yu Ding ignored his silence and said, "Previously, the immortals of Heaven were leaderless. However, as the saying goes, Heaven cannot be without a ruler for a day. Therefore, some immortals descended to the mortal realm to search for a candidate for Heavenly Emperor. Just before I came to find you, a new Heavenly Emperor appeared in Heaven."

Yuan Hong glanced at Yu Ding's retreating figure and asked, "Who became the Heavenly Emperor?"

Now that his master had come here, he understood that his conspiracy with Li Jing and his brother had failed.

Yu Ding recalled the Jade Emperor's frustrated and stomping face, and a mocking smile appeared on his face: "A poor fellow named Zhang Youren, whose title is the High Heavenly Saint, Great Compassionate and Benevolent Jade Emperor, the Supreme Heavenly Venerable, the Mysterious Vault High God, or simply the Jade Emperor."

Yuan Hong's pupils contracted in surprise as he asked, "Friend Zhang?"

He remembered that there seemed to be such a person in the Erlang Zhenjun Temple of Yang Jian back then.

But he never expected that it would be Zhang Youren who would ascend to the throne of the Heavenly Emperor this time.

Yu Ding didn't say much about what happened during the election for Heavenly Emperor. He only said, "What puzzles me is that some immortals actually recommended me for the position. In front of so many immortals, I almost suffered a lot."

As he spoke, he took out a recommendation plaque and handed it out, saying, "This is the recommendation plaque. Take a look, is there any progress?"

So this is what they came for... Yuan Hong took the sign in surprise, looked at it with a puzzled expression, and said, "No, it's not here!"

Although he told Li Jing that he would bear the consequences if his master suffered, he was now hesitant and unsure how to admit it.

Because he made all the decisions on his own.

Yu Ding glanced at his disciple, who was pretending to be stupid, and said, "You have no clue, but your master does. The handwriting on this is from Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King."

Yuan Hong's pupils contracted sharply, and he asked in surprise, "How did Master know?"

Yu Ding said jokingly, "Aren't you quick-witted? Why don't you try to guess?"

Yuan Hong met Yu Ding's teasing smile, his heart skipped a beat, and his expression changed, but he still shook his head and said, "This disciple is dull-witted and cannot guess."

He vaguely had a very bold guess.

It was so bold that even he found it too unbelievable, so he dared not say it.

Yu Ding chuckled: "Dull-witted? Hehehe, you're not dull-witted at all. You've been getting along very well with Yang Jian, Long Ji, and Xiao Fei behind my back. You even found out about the disciple I casually trained."

Yuan Hong exclaimed in surprise, "Li Jing was really taught by a master? But Li Jing's master is clearly the Immortal Taixu!"

Then he saw Yu Ding looking at him with a half-smile.

Upon seeing this expression, Yuan Hong's pupils dilated in shock, and he pointed at the jade cauldron in astonishment: "Is the Grandmaster Taixu the same person as my master?"

Yu Ding looked at him, neither admitting nor denying.

But everything was left unsaid. Yuan Hong could only smile bitterly. Although he was incredibly powerful and skilled, he also preferred to use his wisdom in addition to his martial prowess.

This is also why he likes the image of the white-robed scholar, and because of his wisdom and strength, he has gained a foothold and grown stronger in the prehistoric world.

But it was only just now that he realized his skills were as naive as a greenhorn in front of his master.

"Is it alright for my disciple to know this enormous secret?" Yuan Hong asked with a wry smile.

Yu Ding said unhappily, "What are you saying? You, Yuan Hong, are the founding disciple of my Jade Spring Mountain, and also my most valued disciple. What problem could there be in letting you know?"

Anyway, he has many avatars and even more clones, so it doesn't matter if he exposes one more.

Besides, even Xiaobai knows that Yu Ding is Taixu.

Li Jing was taught by him after he transformed and took the name of Taixu. Xiaobai was entrusted to him when he befriended Changqin. He knew from beginning to end that Taixu was actually Yuding.

It wasn't until later, when he obtained the Primordial Pure Qi, that he was able to refine the incarnation of Taixu.

Yuan Hong felt the importance and trust Yu Ding placed in him, and his body trembled, his eyes reddening uncontrollably.

"Heh, you're already a powerful demon saint ruling over a region, yet you still act like this. Wouldn't you be laughed at if someone saw you like this?" Yu Ding laughed.

Yuan Hong sneered, "What business is it of theirs if we, master and disciple, reminisce?"

Yu Ding smiled and said, "I came to see you not because I blame you for making your own decisions, but firstly because I have no interest in the position of Heavenly Emperor, and secondly because this matter is preordained by Heaven. However, I still want to hear your and Li Jing's reasons for recommending me to compete for the position of Heavenly Emperor."

Yuan Hong was startled: "The reason?"

He genuinely thought his master had come to reprimand them, but he never expected Yu Ding to say such a thing.

Yu Ding laughed and said, "That's right. I believe that whatever my disciples do, they have their reasons and are never acting out of selfishness."

Yuan Hong was deeply moved and pondered, "Master, do you still remember what you said to me when I went down the mountain?"

When you went down the mountain, I gave you so many instructions, but who knows which ones I said... Yu Ding said, "Of course I remember."

“My master once said that reason can prevail anywhere in the world. At that time, I didn’t quite understand why it meant ‘everywhere’ until I went to heaven and I finally understood the philosophy behind my master’s words.”

Yuan Hong looked into the distance and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Because the gods in heaven aren't very reasonable. They kill innocent people to claim credit, they disregard human life, they don't abide by heavenly rules but expect us to..."

Yu Ding listened in silence; the Heavenly Court of the past indeed had too many problems.

Firstly, there is a shortage of manpower. Haotian is already overwhelmed with the affairs of the prehistoric world and the three thousand great worlds, so how can he have time to deal with his own problems?

Yuan Hong gazed into the distance and said, "Back then, I thought that with Master's talent, if he could become the Heavenly Emperor, it would be a blessing for the primordial world and all living beings, and it would also be a good way to repay Master's kindness..."

Having you all is truly a blessing for me, Yu Ding… Yu Ding’s lips twitched as he muttered, “What are you talking about repaying kindness for?”

Yuan Hong said with a wry smile, "But now I understand that I was wrong, very wrong."

Yu Ding said, "Oh?"

Yuan Hong said, "My first mistake was acting behind my master's back, without consulting his wishes. My second mistake was oversimplifying and idealizing the matter. I will not do it again in the future."

Yu Ding laughed and said, "That's right. Everything is preordained. The waters of the primordial world are very deep. You need to be like your master to navigate it."

Yuan Hong said, "This disciple will humbly follow your teachings!"

"And one more thing!"

Yu Ding said, “From now on, you must not make decisions on your own regarding matters involving me, such as the Seven Immortals of the Jie Sect being beaten and the private recommendation of me as the Heavenly Emperor.”

The seven attendant immortals were no less capable than the twelve Jade Void Immortals in terms of seniority, cultivation level, and magical power.

He had considered taking revenge with his disciples in the future, but he never expected that his disciples would take it upon themselves to do so without his knowledge!
If these guys can take down the Seven Immortals who were serving as attendants, doesn't that mean the Twelve Golden Immortals can also be defeated?

Yuan Hong gave a guilty "hmm".

Yu Ding sensed something was wrong and glanced at him: "Wait a minute, you're not hiding something from your master, are you?"

Yuan Hong coughed lightly, mimicking Yu Ding's manner, neither admitting nor denying.

No, is there anything else?
Yu Ding understood, and slapped his forehead.

"Master?" Yuan Hong asked cautiously.

Yu Ding said quietly, "Don't make a fuss, I want some peace and quiet!"

……

While Yu Ding was having a heart-to-heart talk with his disciple, a beam of light rushed to the foot of Qilin Cliff and landed, transforming into an old man in a Taoist robe.

It was Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya looked around at the scenery and sighed, "It has been ten years since I left Kunlun. Now I have returned, it feels like only yesterday!"

The reason he wanted to return to Yuxu Palace stemmed from the story of Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, dreaming of a flying bear and inviting him to Xiqi.

After he descended the mountain, nothing he did went smoothly. Later, he set up a fortune-telling stall and accidentally subdued a demon. He then entered the Shang Dynasty as an official, but was framed by the demon concubine Daji. He fled to Xiqi, and his experiences were quite poignant.

After entering Xiqi, he was appointed as prime minister. Under his rule, taking advantage of the wars elsewhere, Xiqi's national strength flourished.

Later, the Shang king sent the Marquis of the North, Chong Houhu, to lead troops to attack a group of feudal lords. The feudal lords could not withstand the attack and sent people to Xiqi for help.

At this time, he realized that the world was in chaos and there was no safe haven. So he ordered his son Ji Fa to oversee the country, and he and Ji Chang led troops to rescue the country, defeated the Marquis of the North and beheaded him.

King Shang was furious and immediately ordered Zhang Guifang, the general guarding Qinglong Pass, to lead an army of 100,000 to attack Xiqi.

Although Zhang Guifang was a general of the human race, he was proficient in military strategy, had high martial prowess, and possessed an extremely evil unorthodox technique that could make people fall from their horses by calling their names and be captured in a daze.

Before he arrived at Kunlun, Xiqi had suffered several defeats and lost several generals, and they were helpless against this unorthodox and heretical method.

Left with no other choice, he made a bold decision: to seek help from the Jade Void Palace.

He walked past Qilin Cliff to Yuxu Palace, where he saw a Taoist priest standing in front of the palace.

"Jiang Shang, your master has been waiting for you for a long time."

Jiang Ziya recognized Kongxu and was overjoyed, so he stepped forward and said, "Senior Brother Kongxu."

The Taoist priest glanced at him, closed the palace gate, and said, "Go in quickly!"

Jiang Ziya nodded and hurried off.

As soon as Jiang Ziya arrived at Kunlun... his empty eyes flashed, indicating that the Shang Dynasty had already taken action against Xiqi.

In the early stages, it was the Shang Dynasty's conquest of the Zhou Dynasty, which consumed countless fierce generals, soldiers, and immortals. Later, the roles of offense and defense shifted, and it became King Wu's conquest of King Zhou.

These two stages are undoubtedly meat grinders; whether you're a god or a monster, anyone who gets caught up in them is unlikely to have a good ending.

Jiang Ziya arrived at the Bagua Platform in the hall, prostrated himself, and said, "Disciple Jiang Ziya pays respects to Master, and wishes Master a long and prosperous life!"

The Primordial One, surrounded by chaotic energy, slowly spoke: "It is the perfect time for you to come up the mountain today. I will order the Antarctic Immortal to fetch the 'Investiture of the Gods' for you. You can take it to Qishan and build an Investiture Platform, where the 'Investiture of the Gods' will be displayed, thus fulfilling your life's mission!"