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

Chapter 561 I didn't! Impossible! It wasn't me!
"Senior Brother Martial King, you must be careful!"

"Uncle-Master, please be careful!"

Jiang Ziya and Lei Zhenzi looked worried and offered their reminders, but Nezha and Ao Bing exchanged a knowing glance and smiled, seemingly not taking it to heart at all.

Nezha transmitted his voice and laughed, "This Uncle Yuding is really good at hiding his skills. Look how scared Uncle Ziya and Lei Zhenzi are. It seems that Uncle Yuding wants to show everyone his skills this time."

Ao Bing glanced at the elders around him, suppressed his smile, and solemnly reminded them, "No joking around."

Hearing the sound, everyone looked over. Nezha's smile froze. He glared at Ao Bing and obediently lowered his head, muttering curses silently.

Taiyi and Huanglong exchanged a glance, but neither of them were as optimistic as the other.

The Red Sand Formation is the last of the Ten Deadly Formations. According to Zhang Shao, the formation's master, this formation is extremely strange and unpredictable. There are three bushels of red sand inside the formation. If even a deity gets into the formation, he will be turned to dust and unable to escape.

Even though they knew that Yu Ding's cultivation had been restored, they couldn't help but be a little worried.

Huanglong transmitted his voice, "You said we've clearly made it to the very last stage, and once this stage is broken, everything will be over. What's wrong with Yu Ding that suddenly wants to protect King Wu and break the formation?"

Taiyi pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps he is worried that something might happen to King Wu!"

He had to admit that Huang Long was right; he had been hiding until the very end before finally jumping out. After thinking it over, his gaze fell on Ji Fa's back.

Ji Fa is the chosen one they must protect, and cannot be lost. This formation is dangerous, and Yu Ding has always been a person with a great sense of the big picture... Taiyi Zhenren thought silently.

Huang Long curled his lips: "Forget it, the method of letting King Wu enter the formation was devised by Randeng. Nobody else cares. What business is it of his? Why did he jump out? Is that kid his son or his grandson? Is he that precious to him?"

Taiyi Zhenren glared at him: "You're talking nonsense again. How could someone who cultivates the Dao in the Jade Cauldron have sons and grandsons? If they do have any, they don't..."

As he spoke, he seemed to realize something, and his eyes lit up: "Could it be..."

Yes, that's right. Yu Ding has a criminal record. Besides Long Ji and Yang Jian, he also has a little-known illegitimate disciple named Yuan Hong.

Once there's a first one, it's not surprising that there's a second one, right?
Ji Fa appears refined and scholarly, but in their eyes, his physical body contains explosive power, surpassing that of many immortals. You can't believe that a mortal could cultivate to this level without some immortal guiding him from behind.

That's a joke!
Taiyi revealed a wise and composed smile.

That makes sense!

It all makes sense!

No wonder Old Yu Ding was able to back down as much as he wanted before, but he's so enthusiastic this time. Turns out it's another disciple, or even the future Human King. This guy can't sit still, huh...

Huang Long looked on curiously: "Could it be something else?"

Taiyi smiled confidently and said, "Do you think there's a possibility... that this Prince Wu is his disciple?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Long looked at Yu Ding and Ji Fa's backs in shock, then frowned and said, "No, the timing doesn't match up. This King Wu is only in his thirties. In recent years, Yu Ding has been teaching my grandnephew, unsealing the Four Seas Demon-Sealing Cave, and dealing with Nezha's family causing trouble in the heavens... Where does he have so much time to do these things? Does he even continue cultivating himself?"

Taiyi's confident smile froze, and a look of doubt appeared in his eyes. Could it be that he had miscalculated?
At this moment, Yu Ding and Ji Fa had arrived at the front of the Red Sand Formation.

Yu Ding glanced at Ji Fa with his whisk and was about to tell Ji Fa to challenge him, but Ji Fa had already stepped forward skillfully after seeing his gaze. However, after taking only two steps, he realized that he had already taken a step and was stunned. He turned around to look at himself.

For a moment, the two looked at each other.

Yu Ding nodded: "Let's challenge them!"

Ji Fa withdrew his gaze and announced loudly, "The Jade Cauldron Immortal of the Chan Sect has come to meet the Master of the Red Sand Formation."

But then a bell rang from within the formation, and the massive, crimson formation, which appeared to be filled with flying sand and stones, opened, and a voice came from within:
"Few understand the teachings of the Jie Sect; its profound mysteries contain heavenly secrets."

First, the gold powder in the furnace is formed, then endless white powder is refined.

Red sands fall, hearts tremble; black fog hangs, courage soars.
If we meet at the Dragon and Tiger Land today…

As the sound rang out, Zhang Shao rode his sika deer out of the formation and stared at Yu Ding, saying, "Even if you are a god... Yu Ding, I heard that you have suffered a calamity and lost your cultivation, yet you dare to come and challenge my formation?"

As Yu Ding walked to the front of the formation and faced the formation master, he suddenly realized why his fellow disciples had all tried to persuade the Jie Sect members to return before breaking the formation.

If we don't try to persuade them and they just kill someone, it'll be hard to explain to Biyou Palace if they hold us accountable!
If they still don't leave after we've tried to persuade them, then it means they're not listening to our advice, and we've had no other choice.

Having understood this, Yu Ding smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, Xiqi is not a safe place. Please return as soon as possible to avoid being afflicted by calamity and regretting it later."

Zhang Shao sneered: "Don't say that you have lost your Jade Cauldron Dao cultivation. Even if you hadn't, it would still be the same: you painstakingly cultivated to the body of an immortal, but if you encounter the Red Sand, you will perish in an instant. Enough with the nonsense. If you have the ability, come in and break the formation. Let's see who is truly superior."

After saying this, he urged his sika deer to turn around and charge into the formation.

Just as Ji Fa was about to leap into the air and fly in, he caught a glimpse of Yu Ding walking step by step into the formation. He had no choice but to give up and obediently follow Yu Ding into the formation.

"Immortal, I see that all the other immortals fly in, why do we have to... walk?" Ji Fa asked, puzzled.

Yu Ding said, "If we all fly in, then we won't be the same as everyone else. We need to have our own style."

Ji Fa was stunned. It made perfect sense, and he couldn't refute it.

"It's impossible to dissuade these people from becoming enemies of Xiqi, so why do you immortals still try to persuade them before setting up the battle?"

"Reason must not be lost!"

"present?"

Ji Fa paused for a moment, then secretly glanced at the 'unique' Jade Cauldron Immortal before him.

"Don't look down on me, watch the road! Get ready to enter the battle!"

Yu Ding didn't turn his head, but the reminder came. Ji Fa quickly composed himself, but a look of doubt flashed in his eyes.

For some reason, this immortal gave him a sense of familiarity, especially since his body reacted on its own just from a glance.

These two sentences intensified his feeling...

As they stepped into the red sand formation, the formation behind them closed in, revealing a desert world within.

The sky is red, the sand on the ground is red, and dark red clouds drift by, creating an eerie crimson world where no one is in sight.

As the jade whisk lit up and emitted a radiant glow, a cloud of auspiciousness appeared above Ji Fa's head, emanating a peaceful aura that protected him.

"Shangxian..."

"Don't speak, just follow behind me."

As Yu Ding was speaking, the sky tore open, revealing a Dharma platform. On the platform, Zhang Shao scattered a handful of red sand, and instantly the area was filled with flying sand and stones, sweeping in all directions, plunging everything into darkness.

呲呲呲!
Ji Fa's expression changed drastically. As he drew his sword and prepared for battle, the flying sand invaded his body and met the holy light emanating from the auspicious cloud. The red sand turned into black smoke and dissipated before it could even get close, unable to get any closer.

Seeing this, Ji Fa breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that it was fortunate that he had the protection of Qingyun, otherwise, with his cultivation level, he would have been in grave danger if he had encountered this red sand.

He looked up and saw Yu Ding standing there motionless, his body radiating a clear light, letting the red sand blow over him. He was startled and whispered, "Immortal?"

"I'm fine!"

Yu Ding looked up and smiled, "Brother Zhang, use up all the red sand you have left, so you won't have any regrets."

Zhang Shao was taken aback, so he grabbed the treasure cup on his table, picked up a piece of red sand and threw it at the jade cauldron. Although it was small in his hand, it covered the sky and the sun when he threw it. Each small grain seemed to carry a great weight and a magical power that eroded the soul, spirit and immortal body.

The red sand struck the jade cauldron, yet it could not penetrate the clear light. The jade cauldron stood firm as if standing in the wind and rain.

Upon realizing that he could not be harmed, Yu Ding was relieved, and the clear light around him dissipated.

"court death!"

Seeing Yu Ding's arrogance, Zhang Shao was even more enraged. He raised the treasure cup with both hands and poured out the cup of red sand.

The jade cauldron stood still, letting the red sand fall on its body, sparks flying everywhere, and a loud noise like a meteorite hitting the ground erupting. However, unlike the meteorite, the jade cauldron was completely unharmed and did not leave any crater.

"You..." Zhang Shao was shocked and speechless, his face filled with disbelief.

His red sand was something even immortals with divine bones and celestial bodies would find difficult to withstand, yet this jade cauldron didn't need anything, relying solely on its physical body...

Facts speak louder than words. Originally, Yu Ding couldn't persuade him no matter what he tried, but now that he saw that his methods couldn't harm the other party, he simply dodged backward, and the crimson world in the sky closed in.

“I told you to leave before, but you didn’t. Now it’s too late to leave.”

Yu Ding gave a soft shout, and with a gentle wave of his whisk towards the distance, a single strand of the whisk unleashed a snow-white sword light, like a sword that cleaved through the crimson heavens and earth.

Then, Zhang Shao was seen fleeing in panic, riding a deer towards the distant merchant camp.

"Damn it, the rumors have misled me!"

"Which bastard said that Yu Ding's cultivation was damaged in the robbery?"

Zhang Shao cursed inwardly, wishing the source of the rumor could be their ancestors for eighteen generations.

This was hardly a calamity; based solely on those two seemingly casual moves, he could tell that Yu Ding had definitely reached the Great Luo realm.

It should be known that even a powerful immortal would have to flee when faced with his red sand formation. His red sand array has killed powerful beings before; its record is documented. "Fellow Daoist, you cannot escape this calamity today!"

Yu Ding made a sword incantation with his hand, pointed a finger at Ji Fa's sword, glanced back at Ji Fa, and gently patted him on the back.

Ji Fa was startled and suddenly felt the long sword in his hand glowing. He also felt some incredible power within his body. The moment he met Yu Ding's gaze, his body moved spontaneously again. He raised his sword, squatted down, and the ground exploded in the next instant. He lifted his sword and flew up, gripping the sword with both hands and slashing it down into the distance.

The sword light was incredibly fast; the world seemed to dim, leaving only this one sword strike.

As the sword light descended, Zhang Shao formed hand seals and used his magic to create a light barrier. However, as the sword light fell, it sliced ​​through him like tofu. The immortal light fell from his body, and the next moment, he and the deer were torn to pieces and exploded, leaving only a cloud of blood mist. One of his souls went to the Conferred God Platform.

The red sand formation crumbled under this sword strike, and the eerie red sand world slowly shattered and dissipated, with red sand scattering everywhere.

The moment Ji Fa landed, it was as if all his strength had been drained. His body went limp, and he used his sword to support himself as he half-squatted on the ground.

At this moment, the sword in his hand had lost its luster, his face was pale and covered in sweat, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath, his expression filled with shock that he could not recover from for a long time.

Just now, he seemed to have reached an incredible height, or rather... a realm!
But in that instant, he saw something incredible.

At that moment, nothing else seemed to matter; he was like a mayfly gazing at the blue sky.

"Is this... the world as seen through the eyes of Immortal Jade Cauldron?"

Ji Fa calmed down a bit, turned around and saw Yu Ding bending down to pat the Taoist robe that had fallen on his robe and head. He fell silent.

He knew that in that brief moment, he had received an incredible opportunity that he would never have again in his lifetime.

He had seen too much, and at that moment he didn't want to do anything but find a place to digest and contemplate what he had just learned.

He approached Yu Ding, unsure how to begin, when Yu Ding, bending down and patting his clothes, said, "You're back?"

Ji Fa murmured, "Hmm!"

Yu Ding said, "Then let's go back?"

"it is good!"

One immortal and one person walked towards the reed hut.

Yu Ding remained silent throughout the journey, not mentioning that Ji Fa had just survived a life-or-death ordeal.

It turns out that Ji Fa died after being trapped in the Red Sand Formation for a hundred days. Although he was brought back to life, his luck and lifespan were reduced, and he passed away only a few years after gaining control of the world.

Ji Fa was also savoring what he had just learned, without mentioning that he found himself in great sync with this immortal, feeling incredibly familiar and at ease when he was beside him, just like when he walked alongside that teacher in Guigu Valley many years ago.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them.

Soon, the two arrived at the reed hut.

Yu Ding cupped his hands and said, "I have not failed in my mission!"

Ran Deng and most of the immortals stared at the two in astonishment, seemingly not expecting that the two had actually broken the Red Sand Formation.

As Ran Deng frowned, about to ask something, Huang Long stepped forward and said with a smile, "I knew you could do it, Yu Ding."

Nezha pouted and said, "My master just told me to have my master prepare to save people."

Huanglong's smile froze as he grabbed Nezha, who was trying to escape, and said with a stern face, "You little brat, how dare you sow discord between me and Uncle Yuding at such a young age? What will you be like when you grow up? You deserve a beating!"

"This way of fighting won't work."

Yu Ding snatched Nezha from Huang Long's hands and said with a smile, "He's still a child, he needs to be beaten hard."

Taiyi stepped forward, gave Yu Ding and Ji Fa a meaningful look, and smiled, "Not bad!"

Yu Ding noticed that Taiyi's gaze was a bit off, lingering on Ji Fa. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be that this old man Taiyi had discovered something again?
Seeing that Ji Fa looked unwell and seemed to have lost his vitality, Ran Deng told him to go back and rest, while he himself held a meeting with the Twelve Immortals.

"You bastard Yu Ding, you actually kept it a secret from me that you've taken on another disciple." Taiyi sneered as he transmitted his voice.

"Oh no, I've been discovered by that old Taiyi again..." Yu Ding panicked. Yuan Hong had also been discovered by Taiyi. At this moment, he asked in surprise, "Who?"

Taiyi sneered: "King Wu, Ji Fa."

"I didn't! Impossible! It wasn't me!"

Yu Ding responded with a series of three denials: "Besides, King Wu Ji Fa had a teacher."

He would have accepted any other disciple, but now, in the midst of the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, the karma between the two kings is too great and the implications too far-reaching. He would never accept them even if he were beaten to death. (Unless the disciple is to die.)

Taiyi laughed and said, "Do you think I believe you or not?"

Yu Ding said calmly, "Junior Brother Ziya can testify. If you don't believe me, go ask him later."

Randeng, facing the expectant gazes of the Taoists, said, "Although the danger of the Ten Deadly Formations has been initially resolved, Zhao Gongming's threat remains. We must not return to the mountain yet, nor should we let our guard down."

The group had come to break the Ten Deadly Formations, and now that they had succeeded, they were somewhat disappointed that they couldn't return.

Jiang Ziya was overjoyed, but dared not show it on his face. He said he had to go back to reorganize the military affairs in order to prevent the Yin Shang from attacking again.

Once they reached the city and returned to their room, Jiang Ziya excitedly punched the door shut, exclaiming, "Awesome..."

The experts Wen Zhong brought over were far beyond his ability to handle. With these senior brothers around, his burden was greatly reduced, and he couldn't have lived a more comfortable life.

In the courtyard, the four-legged creature lying down snorted and grinned when it heard the sound: "Dying again, that was awesome!"

Jiang Ziya had just finished venting his anger and was heading towards the study when, as soon as he passed the side curtain, his smile froze, and he stammered, "Senior... Senior Brother?"

Huanglong and Taiyi pressed the helpless-looking Yuding into a chair.

Taiyi laughed and said, "Ziya, don't be nervous. Your senior brother has a question for you. Do you know the lineage of His Highness King Wu?"

Yu Ding said, "Of course he knows..."

Taiyi gave Huanglong a look, and Huanglong immediately covered Yu Ding's mouth, saying, "Don't speak."

Jiang Ziya stared in astonishment at the scene, but still nodded obediently.

Huang Long asked impatiently, "Who?"

Jiang Ziya said, "King Wu once said that he once studied military strategy and martial arts under Master Guigu."

"Why not...?"

Taiyi frowned, released the jade cauldron, took out a jade bottle of elixir and handed it to Huanglong, who smoothly accepted it.

Yu Ding: "...You guys?"

Huang Long smiled slightly: "We made a small bet. He said that King Wu was your disciple, but I said no. Sorry, I won."

Taiyi scanned the jade cauldron, his face showing a thoughtful expression: "This is not right. All the conditions match, so why isn't it?"

"I said……"

Yu Ding said with a dark face, "Are you two just bored?"

Huanglong was sprayed so hard he closed his eyes and leaned back. Taiyi coughed awkwardly and said, "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"

Yu Ding breathed a sigh of relief. What a close call! He almost got discovered by Taiyi Laodeng. Luckily, Huanglong Laotie was there.

No wonder he's such a good friend he made before.

Then Taiyi pondered and said, "Yunmeng Ghost Valley, what kind of place is this? I've never heard of it before."

Jiang Ziya said, "King Wu said that this Master Guigu was the founder of the Guigu lineage. He was extremely mysterious and unfathomable, and his rules for accepting disciples were also very strange. He only accepted two disciples per generation."

These two disciples studied together, ate and lived together, but they were sworn enemies. From the moment they left the mountain, they had to fight each other with the world as their backdrop. The victor would be the new master of Ghost Valley, and this time they were also bringing fame to the Ghost Valley School..."

Taiyi was taken aback: "Nemesis... If one is King Wu, then the other is..."

Jiang Ziya nodded silently: "It is King Di Xin of Shang!"

Yu Ding: "..."

Stop talking! Stop talking!
Taiyi: "Hiss..."

Huang Long: "Heh, these rules are a bit strange, huh? What are you two doing?"

Yu Ding said, "This vast world is full of wonders, let alone the primordial wilderness. We must learn to accept it."

Taiyi's eyes flashed: "Emperor Xin is the current human king, and King Wu is the future ruler of destiny. Now these two generations of human kings have come from this man's school. It seems... we should have time to visit this Master Guigu and see who he is."

Taiyi Laodeng, I hate you… Yu Ding nodded: “Alright!”

P.S.: The quadruple therapy has some serious side effects, including diarrhea, drowsiness, and fatigue, but the treatment is quite effective. I used to get pain when I was hungry after writing late at night, but I haven't had any pain lately. I finished the medication on the 1st. It's just a pity that this month disrupted the completion schedule. I'll try to speed things up next month and finish it if I can.