Wet viviparity

Chapter 784 Becoming a Disciple, Lu Pengren
Ji Ming stood barefoot on the lotus platform, holding the porcelain bottle containing the relics.

The eldest disciple, Ding Ruyi, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, stood in the open space, eyes lowered and breathless, with a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead.

The assembled Daoists fell silent, all turning their gazes to the Lingxu Master, who proclaimed the salutation in a clear, resonant voice, "The heavens are profound and mysterious, the Great Dao is silent. Now, we welcome Ruyi into our fold. May your hearts be as clear as water, your will as firm as a rock. Let us cleanse ourselves of worldly dust and together comprehend the mysteries!"

On the open ground, Ding Ruyi performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows, with beads of sweat dripping onto the ground.

At this moment, Ding Ruyi could not help but be nervous. On the one hand, it was the ceremony of becoming a disciple, from which she would inherit her master's mantle and bear a heavy responsibility. On the other hand, she had not yet invited Leng Cuishan from the Fushui Cave on Feixing Island in the South China Sea.

Thinking back to his repeated visits to the Overturned Water Cave, and even his final attempt to break through the island formation, only to be sent hundreds of miles away by the powerful demonic magic, he knew that someone must have interfered, preventing Senior Leng from accepting his master's summons.

Given Senior Leng's unparalleled loyalty, only the two elders of Shenshan could force him not to respond.

Thinking back to the earth-shaking roar that Senior Leng had emitted from the island when she returned from outside the Overturned Water Cave, Ding Ruyi sighed inwardly. Fortunately, Senior Leng had secretly sent her his prized magic weapon—the Blood Tide Demon Shuttle.

"As one wishes."

A call from his master pulled Ding Ruyi out of his daze. A precious pearl floated in front of him, emitting rays of colorful light.

"This is the Ning Shu Pearl. Your magical skills are more suited to physical strength. This pearl was refined from the two shells of a thousand-year-old mirage. It is best at dispelling illusions and has a miraculous effect on inner demons. It can protect you on your path to enlightenment. This pearl is also a token of our master-disciple relationship."

Ding Ruyi took the pearl and felt deeply grateful for her teacher's kindness. Considering her long-term plans, she repeatedly bowed with tears in her eyes.

Then Wen Daoyu solemnly stepped from the side platform onto the ground, holding a pagoda in his hand. His style was exactly the same as Ji Ming holding a porcelain vase on a lotus and the master holding a golden vase on a platform, showing that his thoughts were extremely ingenious.

Wen Daoyu solemnly read out the rules and regulations of Taiping Mountain to Ding Ruyi, who listened respectfully and kowtowed to show her obedience.

Sitting in the center of the platform, Baiqin felt rather uncomfortable.

Hearing these strict rules and regulations made Bai Qin Shang feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. However, he could not back down now. He kept glancing at the Golden Lion Ape and thought to himself, "The Golden Lion Ape is the son of my fellow disciple. Although he is not a true disciple, he has already married my senior brother's daughter, Wu Xiuluo."

Since my reincarnation, although I have had little contact with my senior brother, our affection for each other has not diminished in the slightest.

If it weren't for my senior brother's foresight and numerous guidance, even with my mastery of the Hundred Birds' Spiritual Inspiration Divination, which allows me to meditate and foresee heavenly secrets, I would still have been unable to escape calamity.

My heartache at the place of my oath on Hundred Birds Mountain had long been seen through by the demons and monsters in the Cloud and Rain Temple. Among them was one with a silver tongue who flattered and won me over in every way, almost stirring up my six senses and afflictions.

"The Golden Lion Ape's arrival today, could it be an omen foretold by my senior brother?"

"Fellow."

Old Ancestor Kuma noticed that Baiqin's heart was slightly disturbed and promptly reminded him, "My junior brother Leng has been ordered to stay at home. At most, he can lend out the Demon Shuttle and the Water Cauldron. Without junior brother Leng's personal instruction, it will be difficult to control him properly in a short time."

Forced control may become a hindrance.

"Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist!"

Baiqin Shangzhen bowed slightly and said.

"You're too kind. We are of the same lineage and are both pillars of the Demon Village. Now that our master and mistress are about to be born, the Five-Colored Demon Village will surely reunite."

Even if you express your stance to Ling Xuzi after this incident, explaining your unavoidable predicament, what can that change? You are destined to be unable to relinquish control of Hundred Birds Mountain, and Ling Xuzi is destined to take action against it.

"Haste makes waste; there is always a glimmer of hope."

"Brother Dao has a grand undertaking and lofty ambitions, while I am but a shallow and powerless person. I can only offer my limited assistance and lend you a little support."

Upon hearing the words of the Hundred Birds Immortal, the Crying Ancestor remained silent. He saw a young Taoist boy bring a plate and present it to him. He frowned, pondered for a moment, picked up the cloth on the plate, and gently unfolded it. On the cloth was only a line of small characters: "Refining treasures at Cuihuan Palace in Wuli Mountain, testing the magic at Hanming Mansion in Xiaoci Gorge."

"Brother Dao, what is this?"

The Supreme Being of the Hundred Birds possesses such keen perception that it sensed the fleeting moment of astonishment in the Old Ancestor of Crying Hemp.

"hehe!"

The Old Ancestor of Crying Hemp displayed the cloth before the Hundred Birds Immortal and chuckled, saying, "Is Lingxuzi trying to intimidate me?"

"He certainly has a lot of tricks up his sleeve."

Although Baiqin Shangzhen did not understand the meaning of the silk scroll, seeing the Crying Ancestor calmly displaying it, he felt somewhat relieved and said with a smile. At this moment, the ceremony on the platform was completed, and they were offering incense and bowing to the ancestral altar to inform the patriarchs of the cave heaven that Ding Ruyi had officially entered the sect. Suddenly, Baiqin Shangzhen's gaze sharpened, his eyes blazing with divine light, and he looked at a figure at the courtyard gate, murmuring, "This is... Senior Brother!"

The figure was turned away, with only half of it visible.

Seeing that the Hundred Birds Immortal was looking over, the figure walked out, as if signaling the Hundred Birds Immortal to follow.

Baiqin Shangzhen scanned the entire scene and saw that all the Daoists were focused on Ding Ruyi's ancestral proclamation on the platform. After much deliberation, he realized that no one could control him. So he gave a few instructions to Kuma and Ma Wang Xiaoshen, saying that he would temporarily leave the courtyard and that if he did not return within half an hour, the two of them should come to meet him.

Then he quietly recited an incantation, leaving an avatar behind while his true body vanished.

After Baiqin Shangzhen left, the expression of the Crying Ancestor changed drastically, and he unfolded the cloth again to look at it.

“Big and small Qinggu, I clearly asked a master to cover up the secrets of the two women, so how could he still calculate it, and calculate it so thoroughly and meticulously?”

"Brother Dao, are you alright?"

Horse King Little God asked.

The old ancestor of crying didn't look at him. Sensing a gaze, he turned his head and met Ji Ming's eyes.

That gaze was filled with infinite depth, like a deep starry sky obscured by heavy leaden clouds. As the ancestor stared into it for a long time, it felt as if the temperature in his body was being drained away.

Ji Ming opened his mouth slightly, speaking silently. Even though the Old Ancestor of Crying Ma didn't understand lip reading, he instantly understood the meaning of his words—if you chase after them, the two women will surely die.

An unusual flush rose on the old ancestor's pale face. The extreme emotions in his heart gave rise to a demon in his heart. This demon was then nurtured into a demon head by the demonic power in his "Myriad Transformations Return to the Origin Demonic Treasury". It was taken from his primordial spirit and chewed up and swallowed.

Seeing the old ancestor chewing something with a slurping sound, Ma Wang Xiaoshen picked up a small fruit from the plate and put it in his mouth to taste it, thinking to himself, "Brother Dao is chewing so enthusiastically, but I don't taste anything."

Suddenly, the Crying Ancestor turned to look at the Horse King Little God and asked with a strange expression, "What do you think of my disciple?"

Ma Wang Xiaoshen was puzzled, but still replied, "Brother Dao has always been very protective of his disciples, but unfortunately, the heavens are jealous of talent, and they have all perished one after another, leaving only the two Qing Gu. However, if you ask me, these two girls who were left out and were the least concerned about by Li are actually the most accomplished."

"Yes, those kept by my side are useless, while those sent far away have potential. Anyone can see who I truly care for."

On a solitary cliff, the mountain monster dug through the earth and rocks to get some air.

How strange! How strange!

"How come there are formations within formations on Crane Mountain? In the first round, I crawled from the earth into fire, and from the fire into rotten wood. The next round was even more absurd; the five elements were completely disrupted. What I dug into a hole in the earth turned into a nest of grass."

At this moment, two figures, one in front of the other, arrived at the small hut on the cliff.
"Senior brother, please wait. You are on Mount Yunfu, guarding the Heavenly Book and Divine Register, and you hold an important position in the Great Luo Purple Palace. It is extremely difficult for you to find time to meet me."

"Junior brother really missed him terribly. If senior brother hadn't pointed out that there was a hidden danger lurking in the Great Cloud Floating Mountain, and that entering the mountain could easily cloud one's mind and cause one to be driven by emotions, junior brother would have gone to pay his respects long ago. Today, I am fortunate to have met him. Senior brother, do you have any profound secrets to reveal to me?"

As soon as Bai Qin finished speaking the truth, he saw the other party stop in front of the reed hut without saying a word, and secretly crushed a talisman in his hand.

“How domineering Lingxuzi is! Just because I didn’t meet his expectations, he wants to trick me into killing me here. He’s a demonic thief in the Dao.”

His methods are quite remarkable. Even with my discerning eyes, I can't see any flaws in you for the time being. If I'm not mistaken, you must be a puppet demon in disguise."

"Hehe, you demon master are quite knowledgeable, you revealed the truth in just a few words."

The figure turned around, revealing a face identical to that of the Martial Ape Master, exuding an air of otherworldly grace, and laughed, "Unfortunately, you are wrong about one thing. I am human, just like everyone else who has cultivated the path of humanity."

"Leng Cuishan isn't here, so you're nothing but a nobody."

"Who said I wasn't here?"

A figure descended from outside the cliff, riding a blood-red shuttle. Midway, the person and the shuttle separated, the shuttle weaving through the cliff, creating a realm of crimson light, while the person walked step by step toward the Hundred Birds Immortal.

Baiqin Shangzhen took a step back in astonishment. Seeing Leng Cuishan approaching step by step with overwhelming momentum, he was terrified. This panic and helplessness caused his primordial spirit to relax its defenses a little.

"Aren't you Leng Cuishan?"

(End of this chapter)