The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 551: Lack of Mind

After paying his respects to Yuanshi Tianzun, Li Jingxiao bowed respectfully and took his leave under the old celestial being's caring gaze.

Together with the Antarctic Immortal, they took Yang Jian and Tu Xingsun and flew to Ju Liusun's Jialong Mountain and Feiyun Cave.

On the way, the Old Man of the South Pole wanted to ask Li Jingxiao several times how he could win the favor of the Three Pure Ones.

However, he couldn't bring himself to say it, since he, the Antarctic Immortal, was not only a disciple of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, but also the de facto deputy leader of the Chan Sect.

Despite being the head of the Twelve Golden Immortals and the most direct descendant of the direct descendants, Guang Chengzi may not be a hero.

He, the Antarctic Immortal, was in charge of almost all the internal affairs of the Chan Sect.

In other words, Guang Chengzi is nominally the future leader of the Chan Sect.

In reality, however, his power was not even half that of the Old Man of the South Pole.

He could only manage the other eleven junior brothers among the Twelve Golden Immortals.

Despite his status and position, the Antarctic Immortal could not possibly earn a smile from the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

Even receiving a few words of praise from the Celestial Venerable is difficult.

If Li Jingxiao knew what the old Taoist was thinking, he would definitely laugh at him for being so 'obsessed'.

In ancient times, fathers and teachers were expected to maintain a strict image, so they rarely praised their own children.

Praising outsiders is merely a matter of self-interest and politeness.

The reason why Yuanshi Tianzun valued Li Jingxiao was simply because he needed the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir and the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Elixir.

Incidentally, it was also a way to get closer to his fellow disciples under the Taiqing Sect and to Laozi.

Therefore, Li Jingxiao would not truly believe that Yuanshi Tianzun valued him highly just because Yuanshi Tianzun praised him a few times.

If this kid truly values ​​something, then he should preach to him more often.

That's the real benefit.

Everything else is just empty talk and polite words.

However, the several attempts by Yuanshi Tianzun to win him over and the benefits he offered did indeed increase Li Jingxiao's goodwill towards the Chan Sect.

In his mind, the entire Chan sect was hypocritical from top to bottom.

Now that the benefits are in hand, it is foreseeable that as long as the relationship with Yuanshi Tianzun is maintained, there will be even more benefits in the future.

In Li Jingxiao's eyes, the Primordial Celestial Venerable was a respectable and good senior uncle.

However, in Journey to the West, Yuanshi Tianzun is the eldest of the Three Pure Ones.

Li Jingxiao always called him and Lingbao Daozun "Master Uncle," but in this world of Investiture of the Gods, the two of them became his "Uncle Uncle."

I'm still getting used to it.

Just now, in the Jade Void Palace, I formally paid homage to the Primordial Heavenly Venerable as the second disciple of the Taiqing Sect.

Li Jingxiao almost instinctively called him "Master Uncle".

Fortunately, he changed his address in time, and when Yuanshi Tianzun saw him call out "Shishu" (a term of respect for a senior martial arts master), he paused for a moment.

He mistakenly thought that this was the first time he had officially met the young man, and he was a little nervous, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
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Along the way, Li Jingxiao could naturally see the predicament of the Antarctic Immortal, who wanted to speak several times but ultimately didn't.

To avoid getting into trouble, Li Jingxiao thought about it and ultimately decided not to say anything more.

Then, with a glint in his eye, he smiled and said to the Antarctic Immortal, "Senior Brother, this journey has been rather boring."

Why don't you, me, and the two brothers, Brother Yang and his junior brother, have a race to see who has the best footwork?

"Let's use this as the boundary and see who reaches Jialong Mountain and Feiyun Cave first!"

Yang Jian became interested immediately upon hearing this, but Tu Xingsun shook his head without even thinking.

Although he was skilled in earth-movement techniques, his speed was inferior to that of flying techniques.

Running underground and flying in the sky are completely incomparable.

Li Jingxiao naturally understood this principle and ignored the Old Man of the South Pole for the time being.

Smiling, he said to Tu Xingsun, "Let you go first for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, then your senior uncle, senior brother, and I will set off again, shall we?"

Tu Xingsun became interested and, after thinking it over, realized that this bet was worth trying.

Moreover, this kid has never been a proper person; he greeted Li Jingxiao with a smile and a respectful bow.

"If my master gives the order, I will naturally obey."

After saying that, he descended from the clouds, laughed heartily, and said, "Uncle-Master, then this disciple will take his leave first."

The kid darted underground in a flash, rapidly heading towards Jialong Mountain and Feiyun Cave.

However, Li Jingxiao didn't even consider this speed impressive.

Even if he could travel ten thousand miles a day using earth-walking techniques, it would still be far slower than all the superhuman speed techniques that Li Jingxiao knew.

It's fair to say that anyone who uses earth-movement techniques to travel is mentally unstable.

After Tu Xingsun left, Li Jingxiao looked at the Antarctic Immortal and Yang Jian.

Yang Jian quickly took out an incense stick from his sleeve and blew on it.

The incense stick ignited without a flame, clearly indicating that Yang Jian had accepted the bet.

The Old Man of the South Pole rolled his eyes at Yang Jian, thinking to himself that this kid was still too young.

How could one possibly comprehend the sheer power of a Great Luo Golden Immortal who has severed the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance?

Moreover, according to Master Yuanshi Tianzun, if Junior Brother Li were to sever any one of the three corpses—'good and evil, self'—we would...

That is undoubtedly the number one person among the three religions.

If the three corpses of 'good, evil, and self' are all slain, then the strength is comparable to that of the Three Pure Ones before they became saints.

He is truly the number one person below the sage.

So when Li Jingxiao suggested a test of footwork, the first reaction of the Old Man of the South Pole was that Li Jingxiao was digging a hole for himself.

Little did they know that Tu Xingsun was the most foolish, thinking that by leaving before an incense stick could secure victory.

Yang Jian, on the other hand, possessed great ambition and courage, and wanted to rightfully defeat Li Jingxiao in terms of speed.

Of course, the Old Man of the South Pole only found a reason to support Yang Jian because he liked him.

If you don't like Tu Xingsun, you can curse him as an idiot in your heart.

Now, pressured by Yang Jian and Tu Xingsun, the Antarctic Immortal had no choice but to agree to a contest.

But the Old Man of the South Pole ultimately favored Yang Jian, so it didn't matter whether he lost or not.

But he hoped that Yang Jian would win.

So he smiled and said, "Junior brother, given our statuses, why don't we let Junior Nephew Yang go first, so he doesn't lose before it even starts!"

Li Jingxiao chuckled; the old man's thoughts were practically written all over his face.

The reason they set up this betting scheme was simply because they thought they could gain experience from the three of them with just a few words.

Incidentally, this also prevents the Old Man of the South Pole from having the opportunity to ask questions, even if he is too embarrassed to.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded, but Li Jingxiao couldn't let Yang Jian set off now.

Even if this kid's flight speed is slow, it should still reach tens of thousands of miles per hour.

Give him the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and by the time I set off, that kid might already be at Jialong Mountain and Feiyun Cave.

Looking at the long incense stick in Yang Jian's hand, he smiled and said, "Then let him burn half an incense stick."

However, Li Jingxiao was unwilling to foolishly wait in the same place with the Antarctic Immortal.

After saying that, he took the long incense from Yang Jian's hand.

He smiled and said to him and the Antarctic Immortal, "I will go ahead first. If this incense stick has burned halfway when my nephew arrives at Jialong Mountain and Feiyun Cave, then I will lose."

If the senior brother is faster than the junior brother, then naturally the junior brother loses.

Yang Jian and the Old Man of the South Pole were taken aback at first, but after thinking about it carefully, they understood what Li Jingxiao meant.

So this guy complained from the start that his uncle and nephew were flying too slowly.

That's why he wanted to use the gambling game as an excuse to get ahead of everyone else and arrive at Feiyun Cave in Jialong Mountain.

The Old Man of the South Pole and Yang Jian exchanged a helpless glance, both seeing the displeasure in each other's eyes. However, they noticed that the long incense stick in Li Jingxiao's hand had already burned down to almost a tenth of its length.

The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for Yang Jian.

The uncle and nephew quickly nodded to each other, ready to begin as Li Jingxiao's lips curled into a slight smile.

Just as Li Jingxiao shouted "Start," the uncle and nephew flew out at lightning speed.

Li Jingxiao chuckled, and in a flash, he traversed tens of thousands of miles, arriving at Jialong Mountain and Feiyun Cave.

He casually flung the long incense stick in his hand, and it stuck into the stone table and chessboard used to welcome guests outside the cave.

Li Jingxiao arrived first, so the Antarctic Immortal naturally lost.

Immediately, a notification popped into my mind: +69 experience points.

Half an incense stick later, or fifteen minutes later, Yang Jian still hadn't arrived.

In Li Jingxiao's mind, another notification of +55 experience points appeared.

It wasn't that the Old Man of the South Pole flew slower than Yang Jian, but rather that the old man watched as Li Jingxiao vanished in a flash.

He knew he couldn't beat Lee Kyung-hyo in terms of speed.

We decided not to rush on our way.

Instead, he stayed by Yang Jian's side, offering occasional pointers and placing his hopes for victory on the young man.

Unfortunately, no matter how powerful Yang Jian was, he could not reach a speed of 4 miles per hour.

It was indeed a bit difficult for Yang Jian to travel thousands of miles in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

In their minds, and the Old Man of the South Pole's, no matter how fast Li Jingxiao was, he couldn't possibly be several times or even ten times faster than Yang Jian.

Therefore, it will take Li Jingxiao some time to travel tens of thousands of miles.

The three uncles and nephews lost completely and utterly, without any chance to retaliate.

They subconsciously communicated with their eyes, reaching a tacit understanding to keep the gambling a secret.

Of course, while the gambling matter is not mentioned, it doesn't mean that the fact that Li Jingxiao is incredibly fast cannot be told to the other members of the Chan Sect.

After the incense had burned out, there was still no sign of Tu Xingsun. Li Jingxiao received another notification in his mind: +22 experience points.

Li Jingxiao then smiled and addressed the Antarctic Immortal and Yang Jian, who had already arrived.

"It seems I have won."

The Old Man of the South Pole and Yang Jian nodded helplessly, their frustration impossible to hide.

Li Jingxiao wasn't after any magical artifacts or anything else from the two of them.

Gaining experience is enough.

When Li Jingxiao's gaze fell on the chessboard on the stone table beside him, his eyes suddenly lit up.

Pointing to the chessboard on the stone table, he said, "Before Tu Xingsun arrives, why don't we play a game of chess?"

As expected, Yang Jian immediately shook his head and conceded defeat when he heard that they were going to play chess.

The notification of +55 experience points came to my mind again.

The Old Man of the South Pole's eyes lit up.

He's not afraid of anyone when it comes to playing chess.

As for his actual skill level, no immortal like him, who has cultivated for countless years, would think that his chess skills are lacking.

Li Jingxiao has always been unwilling to play chess with others because of the world of Dream of the Red Chamber.

In the chess-playing competition with Hu Xian'er to gain experience, he initially won more and gained more experience, and his efficiency was also very high.

However, as Hu Xian'er's chess skills improved rapidly, each game took too long, which was not worthwhile for Li Jingxiao.

That's when I never thought of gaining experience through playing chess again.

So when Li Jingxiao said he was going to play chess, he was actually prepared to lose to the Old Man of the South Pole.

The purpose, of course, was to relieve the old man's frustration.

To avoid losing so badly that you develop resentment in your heart.

But Li Jingxiao didn't want to waste too much time, so they agreed that they had to make a move within five breaths.

The old man from the South Pole immediately knew that this was a fast-paced game of chess, and his interest grew even stronger.

Sure enough, these cultivators were usually quite idle, and each of them was an excellent chess player.

As expected, Lee Kyung-hyo lost, and lost quite badly.

The Old Man of the South Pole, having finally won against Li Jingxiao, was overjoyed and naturally unwilling to accept defeat only once.

After Li Jingxiao lost three games in a row, the old man couldn't hide the smile on his face.

The frustration that had been building up in my heart from the past few debates, where I had lost more than I had won, dissipated almost entirely.

The way they looked at Li Jingxiao became three times more amiable.

My mood suddenly became very cheerful.

When the fourth discussion began, as expected, some members of the Chan sect deliberately steered the conversation toward the 'Way of Chess'.

Li Jingxiao struggled a few times at first, but then he realized that he was no match for the Chan Sect when it came to playing chess.

He immediately made a strategic concession, but unlike in the past, he did not concede defeat outright.

Instead, they deliberately displayed expressions of struggle and defiance.

To put it bluntly, it was all an act for the Chan Sect to see.

If you drive someone crazy, you might end up turning against them, but you should at least let them vent their anger in some ways.

Therefore, the more unwilling Li Jingxiao looked, the happier the members of the Chan Sect were.

Lee Kyung-hyo then launched into a full-scale attack on other topics.

Therefore, in this debate, Li Jingxiao and the people of the Chan Sect were basically evenly matched.

In fact, the experience I gained this time was no less than what I gained during past discussions.

But the members of the Chan Sect were all smiling, naturally because they had won the game.

To put it bluntly, the members of the Chan Sect no longer care about where they lost.

As long as they can beat Li Jingxiao in some aspects and ultimately maintain a tie in win rate, they won't feel like they've lost.

They were all thinking to themselves that it seemed Junior Brother Li was only good at Taoist magic and supernatural powers and his understanding of the Great Dao.

In other aspects, his cultivation time was short, and he lacked foundational knowledge.

Moreover, with his focus solely on improving his strength and combat power, he naturally didn't have much time or energy to delve into other aspects.

Some members of the Chan Sect even began to think about competing with Li Jingxiao in topics such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, unorthodox practices, divination, fortune telling, and feng shui.

As for whether it is extreme or has lost the orthodox style of a prestigious school.

In any case, among the Twelve Golden Immortals, each one was stuck at the Taiyi Golden Immortal level, or even at the Golden Immortal level for countless years.

These guys had long tried every possible way to improve their cultivation, but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and none of them could successfully break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

If it weren't for the fact that he was secretly practicing evil arts and demonic techniques, he would have been killed by Yuanshi Tianzun with a single palm strike.

It's possible that some people might follow the example of the Jie Sect and take unorthodox paths.

Within the Jie Sect, there was no such thing as unorthodox cultivation.

There are many people who follow the path of blood demons, the art of plague, and the way of exorcising ghosts and demons.

Ma Yuan, the "One Qi Immortal" who was killed by Li Jingxiao back then, was a true practitioner of the demonic path.

He had no resemblance to an immortal; he enjoyed digging out human hearts to chew and eat, so Li Jingxiao wanted to kill him whenever he saw him.

People like Ma Yuan are numerous within the Jie Sect.

However, despite being easily defeated by Li Jingxiao, Ma Yuan is actually quite strong.

(End of this chapter)