I'm already a Great Luo Golden Immortal, how come you're only Martial Saints?

Ning Chen looked at the Divine Realm Walker's small group chat.

Tang Hao, Qian Quan, and others excitedly described the profound mysteries of the Nine-Turn Elixir Method and their admiration for Lao Tzu's Daoist tradition and the legendary Tao Te Ching, their lips twitching slightly involuntarily.

"The rubbing of the Tao Te Ching is illegible? Is the entire sect's fundamental cultivation method based on the patriarch's understanding of only a portion of the Tao Te Ching?"

"Can't we just read the Tao Te Ching directly?"

Then he realized that not everyone has more than a thousand points of enlightenment to understand the Tao Te Ching.

Currently, only Bodhi Patriarch can use this cheat.

He completed his foundation building by resonating with the Great Dao through the Tao Te Ching, and later even used the Tao Te Ching to frighten away the Black and White Impermanence in the Netherworld.

While I wouldn't claim to be unparalleled in my understanding of the Tao Te Ching, I certainly possess a basic grasp of its depth.

If you really calculate it that way, he could be considered a fellow disciple of the founder of the Zhengyi sect.

"This Zhengyi sect doesn't seem to be doing so well!"

Ning Chen shook his head inwardly.

Unfortunately, to avoid losing the original Tao Te Ching during his trials in the mortal world, he left it on Fangcun Mountain.

Otherwise, you might as well take it out and let your friends see what it's like.

Let them know what it means to say, "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao."

What truly deserves to be called the voice of the Great Dao, pointing directly to the origin!

As my thoughts wandered, the majestic city walls of Luoyang came into view in the distance.

Because of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the city gates were heavily guarded, and the soldiers carefully checked the travel permits and searched the bodies of everyone entering the city.

During times of war, such caution is understandable, but when these soldiers search, they often make unwanted advances towards young women.

Upon seeing this, Sun Rongrong's slender, willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows immediately furrowed.

Ning Chen reined in his horse and was about to go forward to negotiate when a young man dressed in military attire squeezed through the crowd and quickly came to greet him. It was Zhou Tao, who worked in the Ministry of War.

"Ning-ge! Rongrong! You've finally arrived!"

Zhou Tao's face showed the joy of meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

"Luoyang has been quite unsettled lately. Entry and exit are strictly controlled; those without a travel permit are prohibited from entering. Fortunately, I have connections in my office. Please follow me!"

He had clearly made preparations in advance, showing a document stamped with the official seal, and successfully led the two into the city.

The scene inside the city was slightly better than outside, but the desolation was still palpable, and the people were all dressed in tattered clothes with worried expressions.

The three of them walked through the streets and alleys, heading straight for the pancake stall that Wu Da had set up in a corner of the market.

From a distance, Ning Chen could smell the aroma of scallions, and saw Wu Dajin deftly flipping and baking pancakes.

Behind them, Tang Hao, Qian Quan, Zhao Zhenyuan, and others were sitting around a breakfast stall.

Amidst the throng of people, an elderly Taoist priest with white hair and beard, dressed in a dark blue robe, sat in the center of the room. He was still quite vigorous, but his brows showed signs of fatigue and deep weariness.

"Master, Master! Our companions are all here!"

"Rongrong, over here!"

Tang Hao, with his sharp eyes, was the first to spot Sun Rongrong approaching and immediately stood up to greet her.

The old Taoist priest looked up at the sound and his gaze fell on Sun Rongrong. His old eyes lit up immediately.

He stood up, carefully examined Sun Rongrong, and his face was full of smiles.

"Wonderful! Wonderful indeed! Jade-like bones and icy skin, a clear and pure mind—though not an innate Dao body, you are a rare and pure Dao seed! Rare indeed! Young friend, you have profound blessings; you will surely achieve great things on your path to Dao in the future!"

The old Taoist priest stroked his beard, showering Sun Rongrong with praise, clearly extremely satisfied with her.

Sun Rongrong felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and nodded slightly in greeting.

"Rongrong greets the Daoist Master!"

"Sit down, sit down. You must be tired from your journey. Let's rest for a while. We'll set off for Zhongnan Mountain tomorrow!"

The old Taoist priest quickly pulled her aside and greeted her warmly, then spoke to Wu Dajin.

"Da Jin, ten more steamed buns, please!"

"Alright, Taoist Priest..."

Wu Da wiped the sweat from his brow and became even more diligent.

When the old Taoist priest first met him, he said that his aptitude was too low and he did not meet the entry requirements. However, after tasting the pancakes he made, he praised him highly and said that he would take him back to Zhongnan Mountain because of his cooking skills.

The old Taoist priest saw Sun Rongrong taking a big bite of the steamed bun and tentatively asked...

"Didn't you have a companion? Where is he?"

"Oh, he went to tie up the horse, he'll be here soon, oh, he's here..."

Sun Rongrong was also hungry, and she vaguely pointed behind the old Taoist priest.

At this moment, Ning Chen also arrived at the pancake stall.

He and the old Taoist priest locked eyes. The moment their gazes met, the old Taoist priest felt a jolt in his heart and immediately stood up from his stool.

Ning Chen did not deliberately conceal his aura. His physical attributes, which had been tempered by the Daoist charm of Fangcun Mountain and refined by the Zixiao Xuanzhen Wuyuan Gong, and were close to a thousand points, were on full display.

Even in the bustling markets of Luoyang, it naturally exudes a sense of tranquility, profundity, and transcendence.

"This child... is indeed extraordinary!"

The old Taoist priest had initially thought that Tang Hao's companion was an ignorant child who didn't know his place and was spouting nonsense. But upon seeing him now, he realized that he was clearly a highly accomplished Taoist master who had achieved great things and was about to complete his divine palace!

He subconsciously activated his spiritual sense, trying to probe the depth of Ning Chen's cultivation.

However, the moment his spiritual sense approached Ning Chen within three feet, it was like spring snow encountering the midday sun!

A vast and pure divine consciousness, like a galaxy falling from the heavens, instantly crushed his wisp of spiritual consciousness to dust!

The old Taoist priest felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, his primordial spirit trembled violently, as if he were facing the majestic Heavenly Dao directly. Awe and fear from the depths of his soul instantly seized him.

Pfft!

Under the astonished gazes of Tang Hao, Qian Quan, Wu Dajin, Zhou Tao, Zhao Zhenyuan, Sun Rongrong, and others, the old Taoist priest, who had just been so dignified and otherworldly, suddenly collapsed to his knees and knelt before Ning Chen!

"This humble Taoist, Zhang Qingxuan, pays his respects to the Immortal! The Immortal has graced us with his presence, and I, being blind, failed to greet you properly. Furthermore, I dared to use my spiritual vision to spy on you. I beg, I humbly beg the Immortal's forgiveness!"

The old Taoist priest bowed his head deeply, his white hair trembling slightly, and his forehead was covered with a fine layer of cold sweat.

The divine sense that Ning Chen spontaneously used to counterattack during the clash of their divine senses was many times more vast and pure than his spiritual sense!

This young man—no, this immortal—is absolutely a terrifying being who has truly received the true teachings of the Great Dao!

My spiritual probe just now was like an ant trying to peek at the heavens—utterly disrespectful!

If the other party really wanted to settle things, they could kill him on the spot, and no one could say anything about it.

For a moment, the pancake stall was completely silent.

Wu Da clenched the pancake shovel in his hand, and it clattered to the side of the stove.

Tang Hao opened his mouth wide enough to fit an egg.

Qian Quan rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating.

Zhou Tao looked bewildered, glancing at the kneeling old Taoist priest and then at the calm-looking Ning Chen.

Although Sun Rongrong was mentally prepared, seeing a sect leader kneel and bow to Ning Chen still sent shockwaves through her.

Everyone had only one thought in their minds.

They all knew that Brother Ning was very strong, but surely the leader of a cultivation sect could be compared to him?

When the old Taoist priest saw Brother Ning, he actually knelt down.

What exactly is Ning Ge's cultivation level?

Ning Chen frowned slightly. He intended to keep a low profile and not disturb ordinary people.

Although the old Taoist priest's spiritual exploration was presumptuous, it did not warrant kneeling.

He raised his right hand and extended his divine sense; an invisible, gentle force slowly lifted the old Taoist priest up.

"Master, there's no need for this. Please stand up and speak. What exactly is the origin of your Zhengyi Sect?"

Zhang Qingxuan felt an overwhelming yet gentle force lift him up, leaving him powerless to resist, and he was horrified.

He dared not look Ning Chen in the eye, bowed his head, and his voice became increasingly respectful.

"Thank you for your grace, Immortal. This is not the place to talk. May I ask if you would allow me to move to another place so I can inform you?"

Ning Chen glanced at the stunned crowd around him and the curious gazes that were beginning to gather from the surrounding people.

After all, it's easy for people to have wild thoughts when an elderly man kneels down in the street to a young man.

He nodded.

"Can!"

Zhang Qingxuan felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly led Ning Chen to a simple tiled house next to the pancake stall, which was Wu Dajin's residence.

Tang Hao and the others looked at each other, remaining where they were with trepidation.

This old Taoist priest is no good. He boasted so much about himself, claiming to be the seventh-generation leader of the Zhengyi Sect and one of only two Taoist lineages in the human world, yet he knelt down as soon as he saw Brother Ning.

Is it really possible to become his disciple?

Why don't you just become Brother Ning's apprentice? It seems that Brother Ning's school is very particular about opportunities, and not just anyone can easily join.