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

Chapter 524 Hahaha, finally they've taken the bait!
Taixu shook his head, ignoring the commotion in Lu Ya's courtyard, and turned his attention back to the river.

He has more important things to do now.

The stream is fed by melting snow from the summit of Kunlun Mountain. It meanders down to form a waterfall. Although the water is icy cold, this unique environment allowed him to discover a type of fish that cannot be found anywhere else.

Its fish-like body with bird-like wings, its crimson and gold-tinged body, its blue-green wings, and its supernatural ability to control water and fire filled him with wonder.

As for the fish basket next to him... it was completely empty at the moment.

Of course, although he appeared to be fishing, he was actually fishing for fish. Since Lu Ya had left, he would catch this strange fish and then go explore the old lair that Lu Ya had burned down.

Mysterious... That was his assessment of Lu Ya. Even though he had been staking out this place for a long time, his understanding of Lu Ya was still about the same as the information he had on the Jade Cauldron.

Lu Ya is extremely low-key. He usually stays in his small courtyard or goes out for a while, and seems very busy.

Because he often waited there for that kind of fish, he would only occasionally run into him and exchange greetings with him, just like before, and the other person would nod. Therefore, they could be considered nodding acquaintances.

Although there were no barriers or magic arrays set up outside Lu Ya's courtyard, he did not risk going into Lu Ya's den to check it out or follow him, so as not to alert him.

Because he discovered that even with his powerful cultivation level, he couldn't see through this guy's true strength, which meant that Lu Ya's realm was far beyond his own.

However, this guy's record in the Investiture of the Gods is indeed terrifying. In addition to the two great weapons, the Seven Arrows Book and the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife, his escape technique is also superb. He was able to escape on his own when captured by the Hunyuan Golden Bucket. Although he suffered some losses when fighting Kong Xuan, he was able to transform into a rainbow and escape from the Five-Colored Divine Light.

This suggests that Lu Ya was at least a Great Luo Golden Immortal, or even a Quasi-Saint who had severed his three corpses.

Only the old Jade Cauldron himself can fight this guy now; he's definitely no match for him!
In short, if no useful information can be found, then let Lao Yuding rack his brains and figure it out himself.

……

Lingjiu Mountain!
On the cloud bed deep inside the Yuanjue Cave, Ran Deng made a hand seal, closed his eyes, and meditated in concentration. A glass lamp in front of him illuminated the entire cave.

Suddenly, the glass lamp began to flicker, and Ran Deng opened his eyes abruptly to see a crimson-blue flame fly into the cave.

Ran Deng shouted, "Playing tricks!"

Just as he was about to make his move, a flash of fire appeared, transforming into a smiling Taoist priest.

"This fire..."

Ran Deng suppressed his surprise and asked, "Who goes there?"

The Taoist bowed and smiled, saying, "This humble Taoist, Lu Ya, the Hermit of Kunlun, greets you."

"Kunlun Mountain? Lu Ya?"

Ran Deng stared straight at the Taoist priest: "Never heard of it!"

Lu Ya smiled and said, "I am but a rogue immortal from the primordial world, an unknown figure. It is normal that Vice Sect Leader Randeng has not heard of me."

"How could someone who has silently and stealthily entered this Yuanjue Cave of my humble abode be an unknown person?"

Ran Deng said indifferently, "As the saying goes, no one visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. May I ask what brings you here today?"

Lu Ya laughed and said, "Nothing much. I have heard that the Investiture of the Gods has begun. I predict that there will be a battle between the Chan and Jie sects. The Jie sect is powerful and has many people, while the Yuxu sect has few. Therefore, I am a friend, not an enemy, to your Yuxu sect. So you do not need to be so wary."

"Friend or foe?"

Ran Deng sneered, "Then what are your conditions?"

“No conditions!”

Lu Ya laughed and said, "If there is anything wrong, it is that Biyou Palace is a mixed bag of people, and its disciples act recklessly, abusing their status and doing whatever they want. The people of the prehistoric world dare not speak out against it. What I am doing is in accordance with the way of heaven and acting on behalf of heaven."

"No conditions? Such a reason is untenable to me."

Randeng gave Lu Ya a deep look: "Fellow Daoist, you might as well speak frankly. Otherwise, I can't even be sure if you have ulterior motives towards the Chan Sect. If you keep beating around the bush like this, then I'll have to see you out."

Lu Ya sighed, "Fellow Daoist, you really are... I have a deep grudge against the Jie Sect. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Is that reason enough?"

"What grudge?" asked Ran Deng.

"Please forgive me for not being able to tell you that."

Lu Ya shook his head and said, "Furthermore, I have heard that your esteemed sect's Jade Cauldron Immortal has obtained a Xihe Divine Pearl, which has been of great help to my cultivation..."

Ran Deng nodded: "Deal!"

"readily!"

A strange look appeared in Lu Ya's eyes: "However, fellow Daoist has not yet asked Jade Cauldron True Person whether he agrees or not."

"I believe... he will agree."

Randeng pondered and said, "The number and cultivation of the disciples of the Chan Sect are far inferior to those of the Jie Sect. This is a fact. Apart from the fact that your help can reduce the casualties and losses of the Chan Sect, it is also better to have an enemy like you."

"Fellow Daoist Ran Deng is so considerate of the Chan Sect, he truly deserves the title of Vice Leader of the Chan Sect."

Lu Ya shook his head meaningfully and said regretfully, "It's a pity that they only gave him the name, not the substance. The Chan Sect really did a bad job in this matter."

Ran Deng stared at him: "Have you finished speaking?"

Seeing that Ran Deng's face darkened and he was about to lose his temper, Lu Ya quickly said, "Alright, it's a deal then. I will come to your aid when you encounter any danger. Farewell!"

He transformed into a streak of fire and flew out of Yuanjue Cave.

Only after Lu Ya left did the lamp wick, which had been pressed down, straighten itself.

“Lu Ya… Huo?” Ran Deng’s gaze fell on the wick, and he murmured softly, “Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious. This person must have ulterior motives and we must be wary.”

……

Kunlun Mountains.

A figure strolled leisurely by with his hands behind his back. It was Lu Ya, who walked past him with his usual sullen face along the path.

Just as he passed through the Taixu Passage, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. It seemed as if something was missing today.

He turned his head and saw Taixu holding his breath and staring intently at the river. With his cultivation, he could see at a glance a huge creature, about ten feet long, lurking at the bottom of the river, staring at an ice-blue bead on the fishing hook.

"road……"

Lu Ya spoke softly, but before he could finish, Tai Xu turned around and waved to him, signaling him to leave quickly.

Another fisherman... Lu Ya's forehead veins throbbed, he snorted and turned to leave, returning to the ruins of the thatched hut and courtyard he had burned down. He closed his eyes, his right hand forming a hand seal, and fragments of time lit up on the ground.

He had been carefully observing this "neighbor" these days.

Furthermore, the thatched hut and courtyard were not equipped with any magic arrays or barriers, and the burning of them was also a deliberate test to see if the other party was after him.

but……

Lu Ya suddenly opened his eyes, turned around in astonishment to look towards the river, and twitched his lips in a speechless manner.

No, you actually came here to fish?

That guy would sit by the river for half a year just for a fish?

Things that could be easily captured with Taoist magic take so much effort to catch, and sometimes you catch them only to put them back...

Sometimes he really couldn't understand what was going on in the minds of these fishermen.

Okay, even if immortals live forever and have long lifespans, is it really okay to squander and waste resources like this?

Wouldn't it be better to use the remaining time after capturing him with supernatural powers to do something else meaningful?
As he unleashed his supernatural powers, the courtyard, which had been burned to ashes, seemed to turn back time and instantly returned to its original state.

Lu Ya was about to push open the door and enter the courtyard, but suddenly stopped and turned back to look at the direction of the river, his eyes flashing: "His cultivation is not weak. Making friends with him can be useful for the later plans and actions, and even..."

Thinking of this, Lu Ya's lips twitched involuntarily. This calamity was getting more and more interesting, and he needed to prepare more backup plans.

Lu Ya withdrew his hand from the courtyard gate, turned around and returned to Tai Xu by the river to wait quietly.

However, at this moment he noticed that there was another fiery red bead on Taixu's fishing hook.

Ice Soul Pearl, Crimson Flame Pearl... Lu Ya's eyes flickered. These were precious pearls condensed from the Thousand-Year Profound Ice Heart and the Volcanic Source, respectively.

At that moment, Taixu's eyes gleamed, and with a sudden jerk of his right hand, though it was not clear how much force he used, a divine fish, three zhang long, resembling both a fish and a bird, with wide, frightened eyes, flew out of the water as water splashed everywhere.

"Hahaha, they've finally taken the bait!" Taixu laughed loudly.

Lu Ya couldn't help but frown. If he hadn't realized that the guy in front of him was just a fisherman, he would have turned around and left immediately after hearing this.

That's a very bad omen!

But then Taixu gently flicked the fish basket with his left hand, and the basket glowed and flew up, radiating divine light. The enormous divine fish shrank and landed in the basket.

Even after being caught and put in the basket, the fish was still restless, thrashing its tail and struggling. Its terrifying strength almost overturned the basket, startling Taixu, who quickly hugged it to his chest to steady it before finally breathing a sigh of relief.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Du'e, on acquiring the Ice Flame Divine Fish, which is unique to this place!"

Lu Ya congratulated, "It is said that this fish can not only control water and fire, but also bathe in lava, making it extremely rare."

Taixu laughed heartily and said, "Indeed, this is great news. Oh, didn't Fellow Daoist Lu Ya burn down the thatched hut and leave?"

When he discovered that this bastard had turned around and launched a surprise attack, he knew that this guy was digging a pit to test him.

Lu Ya coughed lightly and said, "This humble Daoist has encountered some problems in his cultivation. His internal fire was too excessive, which is why he accidentally burned down the thatched hut. Eh, what are you doing, fellow Daoist..."

He suddenly saw Taixu turn the fish basket upside down, and the fish he had painstakingly caught fell back into the river with a splash, quickly sinking to the bottom of the sea.

This scene made Lu Ya's eyes twitch, and he couldn't help but clench his fists behind his back, revealing the veins on his arms and wrists.

Taixu laughed and said, "When I have nothing to do and the mood strikes, I fish for fun. It's also a way to cultivate my mind and character. What's wrong, fellow Daoist?"

"fine!"

Lu Ya took a deep breath and shook his head, saying, "Fellow Daoist, we have known each other for quite some time now, but I was busy with other matters and did not have the time. I wonder if you would be willing to come to my humble abode for a chat today?"

Taixu said with some surprise, "Then this humble Taoist will respectfully comply."

After enduring so much cold treatment, he never expected to have such an unexpected catch while fishing today.

"please!"

Lu Ya stepped aside and said, while Taixu was about to leave with his fishing rod and basket on his back. Suddenly, a column of water shot up from the river, and the Ice Flame Fish burst out of the water, letting out a clear, low cry. It flew to Taixu with water swirling around its body, its eyes very gentle and clear.

Taixu and Lu Ya exchanged a glance and chuckled.

"Hey, this guy isn't stupid!"

Taixu pointed at the fish and laughed, raising the fish basket: "Originally, I was just playing around, but since you're willing, then come and be my mount. You'll get plenty of benefits in the future."

The Ice Flame Fish cried out and transformed into a beam of light, disappearing into the fish basket.