Zhenyu Pass.
The Dragon-like stone gate was tightly shut, and outside, it was a vast expanse of darkness, with black lightning crisscrossing, producing deafening thunder.
On One Pillar Peak.
“Where is your Disciple?”
A figure drifted down, looking at Niu Dali, who was sitting on the cliff.
The newcomer was a young woman, tall and slender, with a high cloud bun, and her face veiled, revealing skin as white as jade. Behind her, a crescent moon floated.
Her figure was graceful, and her clear eyes were like a pool of autumn water, her voice as crisp as a wind chime.
“He died.”
Niu Dali looked at the cliff.
“He died?”
The woman was startled and quickly looked down, “Did he fall to his death?”
Niu Dali hummed, “The child was pitiful; he fell so badly his parents wouldn’t recognize him. He was in pieces, scattered everywhere. I spent many days trying to piece together even one leg. Later, there was nothing else to do, so I chopped him up and fed him to the wild dogs.”
The woman’s expression changed abruptly, “You’re not joking, are you?”
Niu Dali sighed, “He’s just a good-for-nothing. What exactly are you all so interested in him for?”
The woman’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly, “How could your Disciple be a good-for-nothing?”
Niu Dali sighed lowly, “Old age blurs one’s vision; it’s normal to misjudge.”
The woman took a deep breath, “Senior, why do you make such jokes? That Disciple of yours must have something unique about him. You’ve been suppressing him all these years. You’re nurturing a sword, aren’t you? A killing sword, a killing sword that can change the world’s pattern once it truly unsheathes.”
Niu Dali pointed to a hill, “Do you see them? Those wild dogs running around so happily, my Disciple is in their bellies.”
The woman’s Right Hand was flat, and a jade token floated towards Niu Dali.
“I trust Senior won’t forget this item.”
Niu Dali took it in his hand, his expression becoming incredibly complex.
The woman spoke again, “My master finds it inconvenient to move, so she specifically instructed this Junior to come and see you.”
Niu Dali turned around, putting on a smiling face, “Is Xi Xi doing well? Does she miss me?”
The woman softly said, “She often thinks of you, knowing that your Town Guardian of this place is not easy, so this Junior came to visit you on her behalf.”
Niu Dali’s eyes lit up, “Oh my goodness, she finally knows to miss me! Missing is a sickness; my heart aches for her.”
The woman looked helpless, “So now, can we have a proper chat? This Disciple of yours, if he marries the most outstanding Disciple of our Moon Emperor Sect and becomes an honorary Sect Master of our Moon Emperor Sect, what do you think, Old Man?”
Hearing this, Niu Dali sighed heavily, “Why don’t you believe me, girl? He really died; I fed him to the wild dogs.”
The woman was silent.
Niu Dali’s eyes turned red, “I knew you wouldn’t believe me. This child was pitiful. He was a bit slow, but he was obedient. Look, this scratch is still here.”
Niu Dali pointed to the cliff, “He was standing here peeing at the time, and then he accidentally fell down with a splash. Alas, it’s all my fault. If only I had taught him some flying techniques, he wouldn’t have shattered into pieces, right?”
As he spoke, he raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corners of his mouth.
“Child, if you know in the belly of the dog, you must forgive your master.”
Niu Dali shouted down at the cliff.
The woman’s silver teeth gnashed, “Senior!”
Niu Dali, with tearful eyes, “I know you have something to say, but don’t say it yet. Let me cry for a while first.”
The woman said in a deep voice, “Our Moon Emperor Sect wants to become the first Sect.”
Niu Dali choked, “Then you all work hard. This Old Man’s grave dirt is already up to his head; I can’t help you.”
The woman took a step forward, “We need him. This Junior just said we will match him with the Moon Emperor Sect’s most outstanding and beautiful female Disciple! And he will become the honorary Sect Master of the Moon Emperor Sect. This is our promise to you!”
Niu Dali cried even louder, “My Disciple, if only you had died a few days later, you would have been able to receive this immense Fu Gui! No good fortune, a short life for a beauty.”
The woman’s tone involuntarily grew colder, “Must Senior be like this?”
Niu Dali sobbed, “Sorry, it’s just that thinking of my Disciple’s tragic death, I am overcome with grief and cannot control myself.”
The woman sneered repeatedly, “Then I’ll give you some good news.”
Niu Dali looked up, “Could it be that Xi Xi is willing to spend the rest of her life with me?”
The woman said coldly, “Your eldest Disciple, it is said, has come out of seclusion.”
Niu Dali’s eyes flickered; he said no more.
The woman spoke again, “You know full well who he is involved with. Moreover, our Moon Emperor Sect has received intelligence that some evil entities have recently entered the Hua Xia Dynasty. They seem to be looking for someone. I wonder if the person they are looking for is your last Disciple?”
Niu Dali again burst into tears, “What a sin! My eldest Disciple is useless, and my youngest Disciple has a short life. Could it be that I, this Old Man, am a lone star of misfortune, destined to bring harm to my Disciples?”
The woman took a deep breath, her eyes showing anger, “My master also asked me to bring you a message: as long as you agree to give your youngest Disciple to our Moon Emperor Sect, she, the Old Man, is willing to have a meal with you every year.”
Niu Dali cried so hard he was choked up, “My Disciple, my son, my little rascal!”
The woman angrily flicked her sleeve, turned, and soared into the air.
Immediately, a figure climbed onto the peak, “I say, Old Man, a meal every year, what great benefits!”
Niu Dali stopped crying, “My heart is as calm as the cold pond below the mountain.”
The newcomer was a middle-aged man, who, upon hearing this, chuckled and sat cross-legged beside Niu Dali, “His emergence from seclusion, this is not a good thing.”
Niu Dali spat, “I only teach; whether he does bad things, can I control that?”
The middle-aged man laughed, “Cleaning up the Sect, such a thing is still necessary, isn’t it?”
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the air was filled with disemboweled wild dogs.
Niu Dali rolled his eyes.
The middle-aged man chuckled, “Old Man, whatever you say, I believe. You said the wild dogs ate the little fellow, so I cut them all open and searched. The facts prove there was nothing inside.”
Niu Dali casually said, “That means they had a good appetite and digested him long ago.”
The middle-aged man smiled, and all the wild dogs were enveloped in flames, turning into ashes. “You, you have five Disciples in total. We won’t talk about the youngest. Which of the first four wasn’t a stunning Genius? It’s only reasonable for the Moon Emperor Sect to want someone based on this relationship.”
Niu Dali glanced at him, “I say, why are you people always holding grudges?”
The middle-aged man laughed, “I just want to remind you, Old Man, the youngest is full of vigor and hasn’t experienced the world on the mountain. Do you believe that if the Moon Emperor Sect just sends any female Disciple, he’ll eagerly run over? Before she even unties her belt, he’ll pounce on her himself.”
Niu Dali said coldly, “Impossible. This child has dull Aptitude and reacts slower than anyone. He doesn’t understand those things between men and women.”
The middle-aged man laughed, “He doesn’t understand, but others can’t teach him? What is a honey trap? Get a thousand incredibly beautiful girls, and there’s bound to be one he likes. Once you know what he likes, it’s like putting a leash on a dog; he won’t have anywhere to run even if he wants to.”
Niu Dali’s expression was cold, “I told you, he fell to his death while peeing.”
The middle-aged man chuckled, “As long as you, Old Man, nod, in at most three years, I will give my position to him, and he will be the Sect Master of Tianyang Sect.”
Niu Dali was surprised, “Playing that big?”
The middle-aged man nodded, “Worth the gamble.”
Niu Dali mysteriously beckoned, and the middle-aged man leaned in to listen, “Actually, I was just playing with you all, tricking you out of your Cultivate resources. In reality, he’s just a pure good-for-nothing, so don’t waste your time on him.”