Zeng Shan opened the lunchbox impatiently, and the aroma of food wafted into his nose. He took a deep breath and said,""It smells so good--" He didn't even pick up his chopsticks. Instead, he picked up a pastry and put it into his mouth."Delicious, delicious. Are you also Dan Yan's disciple? What's your name?”
Although Ah Niu still did not know who this old man was, he saw his beard and respectfully replied,""My name is Ah Niu, old uncle."
"Good name!"
Ah Niu didn't ask why like Ding Yuan, but just smiled honestly. Seeing Zeng Shan eating happily, he asked Ding Yuan in a low voice,""Who is this old man?"
"You can call him Oldman Zeng," replied Ding Yuan.”
"Oldman Zeng?" Ah Niu found it familiar and suddenly shouted at Zeng Shan,""Could it be that you're the only surviving great-martial granduncle of our sect?”
Zeng Shan stuffed the pastries into his mouth and mumbled,""Don't you think I look like one?"
Ah Niu bowed and said respectfully,""Disciple Luo Niu greets Great Martial Granduncle!”
Zeng Shan was shocked by Ah Niu, he waved his hands and said,""Get up quickly, where are all these stinky rules?”
Ah Niu suddenly felt a gentle and vigorous force rise out of thin air, supporting his body steadily. "Ah Niu, don't stand on ceremony with Oldman Zeng." Ding Yuan smiled.”
"Yes, yes!" Zeng Shan finished Ah Niu's pastries and opened the second layer of the lunch box.""If you send me such delicious food every day, it would be better than calling me Martial Granduncle a hundred times.”His eyes were fixed on the lunchbox, not willing to move away at all. He called out in surprise,"Why are they all vegetarian dishes? There's nothing oily at all?”
"I've been eating vegetarian food at Black Bamboo Pavilion for three years, so you should just make do with it." Ding Yuan smiled bitterly.”
Zeng Shan huffed." Danyan, this blockhead is as stubborn as his master. If he doesn't eat meat, how can he have the strength to practice and fight?"”
Ah Niu scratched his head in confusion." Great-martial granduncle, I don't eat meat either, but I'm still very strong."”
Zeng Shan was rendered speechless by this silly boy. He was so angry that he ignored the two of them and only buried his head in eating.
In just a moment, the food and pastries in the lunchbox were all eaten by Zeng Shan. He licked his fingers as if he hadn't had enough. He slapped his belly that was as tall as a small mountain and said,"Not bad, not bad at all. I'm finally full today.”
As he spoke, he picked up the kettle on the table and gulped it down. He did not care that the clear spring water dripped down the corner of his mouth.
Ah Niu and Ding Yuan looked at Oldman Zeng in a daze, speechless.
"Awesome!" Zeng Shan finished the bottle in one gulp and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He shouted in satisfaction,""How satisfying!"
Ah Niu looked at the empty lunchbox and said with a frown,""Great-martial granduncle, you've finished Little Brother Ding's food for the day. What should we do?”
Zeng Shan was stunned and said apologetically,""That's true. I was so busy eating that I forgot about this. Why don't you go back and make another delicious meal?”
"No need. I have quite a bit of dry rations left from yesterday. It's enough." Ding Yuan shook his head.”
Zeng Shan blinked his eyes and said,"You two kids are really not bad. I can't take advantage of you and let you suffer."”He reached into his pocket and fumbled for a long time before taking out two vermillion fruits the size of a longan."I don't have much use for this thing, so I'll give each of you one.”
"What is this, Great Uncle-Master?" asked Ah Niu.”
"You'll know once you eat it. Could it be poison?" Zeng Shan asked.”Seeing that Ding Yuan and Ah Niu were still hesitating, Zeng Shan shouted unhappily,"I ate so much of your food and didn't say anything. Why are you putting on airs when I give you some food?”As he spoke, he sat down on the chair sullenly, looking angry.
"Oldman Zeng, are you angry?" Ding Yuan laughed. We'll just eat it." He reached out and took one. As soon as he brought it close to his mouth, he smelled a rich fragrance and his mind cleared.
Ding Yuan put the fruit into his mouth. As soon as the tip of his tongue touched it, a cool sensation rushed straight to the canopy, as if he had been enlightened. He was secretly amazed and was about to chew it with his teeth when the fruit melted in his mouth and turned into a sweet and mellow stream that flowed down his throat.
At this moment, Ah Niu had also taken it and asked curiously,""Great-martial granduncle, what is this thing? It's so delicious?”
Zeng Shan stroked his beard proudly and laughed,""It's not just delicious. You two kids enjoy it.”
Ding Yuan felt a warm stream of liquid immediately rise up the moment it fell into his stomach. It instantly spread throughout his entire body, and his internal organs and meridians were all relaxed and comfortable, as if he had been immersed in a hot spring. He felt as if he was floating on clouds.
Looking at Ah Niu, his face was also red, his eyes were shining, and he was happy. Zeng Shan laughed and said,"Hurry up and sit down. Don't let this thousand-year-old Vermilion Fruit down!"”
Ding Yuan couldn't help but be shocked. He didn't expect that the unremarkable fruit he had consumed was actually the legendary thousand-year red fruit! If an ordinary person obtained it, it would be equivalent to a half-immortal being added to his body, and his immortal age could be expected. If a cultivator consumed it, how could it be equivalent to increasing his cultivation by half a sixty-year cycle?
He didn't dare to be negligent and quickly sat down cross-legged. His mind was empty and he entered a state of forgetting himself and everything else.
After an unknown period of time, Ding Yuan suddenly felt a heat in his dantian. It was as if a copper furnace had exploded. The thick zhenqi contained in it surged out like a flood that had broken through a dam and surged through the meridians in his entire body.
His consciousness left his body in an instant, and a faint pink lotus-shaped light appeared above his head. A faint white light rose from the pink light and gradually transformed into a baby that was less than half a foot tall.
The baby was snow-white and cute. He sat cross-legged on the lotus throne with his small hands gathered in front of his chest. His eyes were closed as if he was sleeping soundly.
Zeng Shan couldn't help but chuckle and mutter,""Good boy, you actually managed to cultivate a Nascent Soul. It seems that this old man's contribution to this Vermilion Fruit is not small.”
He looked over at Ah Niu, but there was no movement. His face was red, and his entire body was surrounded by a layer of faintly discernible green qi. His body was floating three feet off the ground. Zeng Shan was startled and thought to himself,""This silly boy looks dumb and stupid, but I didn't expect his cultivation to have reached the Knowing State. When I was his age, I couldn't even compare to Little Ding. That young Taoist priest with a light voice actually taught these two disciples. It was really amazing.”
Zeng Shan stood up, shook his head, and smiled.""I didn't expect that for this meal, not only did I lose two Vermilion Fruits, I even became a guardian.”
He walked to the entrance of the cave and saw a red cloud slowly falling from the top of the Black Rock Cliff. It was Ji Xueyan.
Ji Xueyan didn't know Zeng Shan either. Yesterday, she heard from Ah Niu that Ding Yuan was punished to face the wall in the Enlightenment Cave. This morning, she secretly sneaked out with Cai. It was not easy for them to find the Enlightenment Cave in the mountains, but they did not expect a white-bearded old man to stand at the door.
Ji Xueyan landed on the ground and looked at the unfamiliar old man in front of her."Who are you? Why are you lingering in front of the Enlightenment Cave?”
Seeing Ji Xueyan's bright eyes and white teeth, Zeng Shan couldn't help but cheer in his heart,""What a beautiful girl. She probably came straight here to find Ding Yuan.”Recalling that he had once met her at the Blue Ripple Pond, he had no more doubts.
Zeng Shan could tell from Ji Xueyan's attire that she was from the Billow Jade Villa, so he chuckled and said,"Are you a disciple of Ji Bie Heaven Sect? Do you know that this Thought Comprehension Cave is the place where our sect's disciples face the wall? Without the sect master's permission, no one is allowed to enter.”
Cai, who was perched on Ji Xueyanyu's shoulder, shouted,""My young miss is here to look for Ding Yuan!”Ji Xueyan's expression changed slightly, but it was too late to seal Cai 'Er's mouth.
Zeng Shan laughed and said,"I guessed it right. She's here to meet her lover!"”
Ji Xueyan's cheeks flushed red as she said shyly and angrily,""Look at you, you're so old but you're not serious. Who's the tryst? Who are you? Why are you asking me?”
Zeng Shan walked to the stone tablet and sat down. He crossed his legs and said slowly,""Dao Master Dan Yi is in charge of the three views, two villages and one pavilion in the front mountain, so I am in charge of the three valleys, six streams and seventy-eight caves in the back mountain. Who do you think I am?"
Ji Xueyan suddenly remembered that her grandfather had once mentioned to her about an elder who had retired from the sect for many years. He was also the only surviving elder of the Kong generation of the Cuixia Sect. It seemed that he had been living in seclusion in the Pinnacle Valley behind the mountain of Zuowang Peak for the past eighty to ninety years. Could it be this short old man with a white beard in front of her?
Thinking of this, Ji Xueyan carefully examined Zeng Shan again, but she still couldn't see any trace of an expert. He had actually reached the extremely high realm of returning to simplicity and essence. She was afraid that Master Daoist Dan of her sect was no better than him. "Are you the Great Grandmaster of our sect?"”
"Now you know that I have the right to ask you what you're here for, right?" Zeng Shan said proudly.”
Ji Xueyan bit her cherry lips and whispered,"If I tell you, you must not tell anyone else.”
Zeng Shan thought to himself, Even if you don't tell me, the parrot will tell me anyway. "Are you looking for Ding Yuan?" he asked with a smile.”
Ji Xueyan's ears were red as she nodded lightly. "What's there to be shy about looking for Ding Yuan?" Zeng Shan asked. When I was your age, I often had trysts with girls, but I wasn't as shy as you.”
"You don't understand!" Ji Xueyan stomped her foot.”
"What do I not understand?" Zeng Shan asked.”
Ji Xueyan lowered her head, her toes subconsciously stepping on the mud. She hesitated for a while before speaking in an almost inaudible voice,"He is my Martial Uncle."
This question had always been an invisible haze that lingered in Ji Xueyan's heart. The love between an uncle and a nephew was already a taboo among the people, let alone the Emerald Cloud Sect, which had always been considered a famous sect. For the past three years, she had carefully kept this secret, afraid that a single mistake would cause a storm, but she also knew that one day it would be inevitable.
Today was the first time she told this secret to another person. For some reason, she suddenly felt relieved, as if she had obtained some relief.
Zeng Shan did not seem to realize this at all and said indifferently,""Uncle-Master, what's wrong with Uncle-Master? He's not my biological uncle."
Ji Xueyan shook her head and said," Why don't you understand? Even if he's not my uncle, the sect's rules forbid him from doing so. My parents and grandfather will definitely not agree to it."”
Zeng Shan scratched his head." This is a problem. What are you going to do?"”
"I don't know." Ji Xueyan said blankly.”
Zeng Shan couldn't help but feel sympathetic and asked,""Who is your grandfather? Why don't I go and talk to him?”
" It won't work." Ji Xueyan said," My grandfather is the master of the Billow Jade Villa, Ji Bietian. He has a straightforward and violent personality. He will never listen to you." If you didn't say it, it would have been fine. If you did, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to keep the moment of peace today.”
"So you're Ji Bietian's granddaughter, but you're much prettier than your grandfather. No wonder I couldn't tell for a moment."”
Ji Xueyan glanced into the Enlightenment Cave, wondering why Ding Yuan hadn't come out after standing here for so long. "Great Grandmaster Zeng, is Ding Yuan inside?"”
"Yes!"
"I want to go in and see him, okay?”
" Not now," Zeng Shan shook his head and rejected.
"Why?" Ji Xueyan asked. It was rare for her to plead with others like this. Firstly, she saw that the other party was the only elder of the Kong generation in her sect, and secondly, he was the guardian of the back mountain, which was why she politely begged him. Otherwise, with her personality, other than Ding Yuan, why would she ask him if he could or not? She would have barged in long ago.
"He and his Senior Brother Ah Niu ate the Vermilion Fruit that I've collected for more than ninety years. They're meditating in the cave now," Zeng Shan said leisurely.”
"You're not lying to me?" Ji Xueyan was surprised and delighted.”
Zeng Shan was unhappy. He pouted and said,"Why would I lie to you? You can ask him yourself later."
Ji Xueyan beamed with joy. She knew from her family's knowledge that the Vermilion Fruit was a treasure that could only be found by chance for cultivators. She did not expect Zeng Shan to be so generous as to give it to Ding Yuan. Thus, she said gratefully,"If that's the case, thank you so much!”
Zeng Shan glanced at Ji Xueyan's right sleeve, crossed his arms over his chest, and snorted,""What's the use of just saying thanks? I gave away both Vermilion Fruits.”
Ji Xueyan was smart and knew what was going on. She smiled and took out a packet of beef wrapped in oil paper from her sleeve and handed it to Zeng Shan."This was originally prepared for Ding Yuan. Since he has already eaten your Vermilion Fruit, he won't be hungry after waking up, so he won't need it for the time being. Why don't I show my filial piety to you?"
Zeng Shan immediately beamed with joy. He took the oilpaper bag with both hands and unwrapped it. When he saw that it was more than a catty of spiced beef, he could not help but swallow his saliva."Then I won't stand on ceremony." He picked up a piece of beef and put it into his mouth.
Seeing that even Cai 'Er couldn't bear to look at his gluttonous appearance, Huanhuan shouted,"Old glutton, old glutton!"
Zeng Shan wasn't angry. He buried his head in his work and said with a smile,"What do you know, you flat-haired beast? Delicacies are the greatest enjoyment in the world.”
The half a kilogram of beef was finished in no time. Zeng Shan patted his stomach and looked at the sky."It's almost noon. The two kids inside should stop cultivating.”
Sure enough, Zeng Shan's expression changed after he finished speaking. He shouted into the cave,""Ding brat, hurry up and come out. Your little wife is here.”
It was the first time Ji Xueyan heard someone call her that. She felt shy and sweet, but she liked it more. She stomped her foot and said angrily,"You're so old, so you're not serious!"”
Ding Yuan had finished his cultivation a moment earlier than Ah Niu. Just as he stood up and was wondering why Zeng Shan had disappeared, he heard the old man's cry outside the door, so he stepped out of the cave.
Looking up, it was indeed Ji Xueyan who was guarding beside Zeng Shan. Although she did not speak, her eyes were filled with endless affection and words.
Zeng Shan saw that Ding Yuan's face was bright and his eyes were reserved. His clear spirit was enough to tell that his cultivation had advanced another level. It was only a matter of time before he broke through to the realm of Zhizhe. Ji Xueyan saw this and said happily,"Ding Yuan, that day when I found out that you were accidentally injured by my Martial Uncle Wu, I was so worried that I almost died. Otherwise, I will never forgive him!”
"How long have you been here, Xue 'er?" Ding Yuan asked with a smile.”
"It's been a while. I was chatting with Great Granduncle Zeng just now.”
"You might as well play marbles with him and cook for him," said Ding Yuan with a smile.”
Zeng Shan actually nodded and said,"That's right."”
Ding Yuan held back his laughter and winked at Ji Xueyan with his back facing Zeng Shan. He continued,""So, you'd better bring more delicious food when you come here in the future. It would be even better if you can fish a few live fish from the Blue Ripple Pond.”
Zeng Shan's eyes lit up as he listened, as if the delicacies were already placed in front of him.
Ji Xueyan had already understood the meaning behind Ding Yuan's words and deliberately frowned slightly,"But this is the forbidden area of our sect. I have already violated the sect rules by sneaking here today. How can I come here often in the future?”
Ding Yuanxiang was reminded by Ji Xueyan and said in realization,""That's right, that's a problem.”
Ji Xueyan glanced at Zeng Shan and sighed,"Looks like I won't be able to visit you again in the future, and I won't be able to bring anything good to bring back to Great Granduncle.”
How could Ceng Shan not understand that these two people were playing tricks in front of him, but he could not help but say,"Come on, I'll just pretend I didn't see it.”
Ji Xueyan's face lit up, but she shook her head sadly and said,"I'm afraid it won't work."
"Why not?" Zeng Shanqi asked.”
"You don't care about me anymore, but my parents won't let me out easily." Ji Xueyan said. Once or twice was fine, but if he ran out too many times, it was inevitable that he would be discovered by them. At that time, he would inevitably be scolded.”
Zeng Shan thought for a moment and gritted his teeth. I'll be a good person to the end. I might as well fulfill your wish this time.”He fiddled with it for a while before taking out a three-inch square purple jade token and said,""I'll give this to you. If your parents ask, tell them that I asked you to come to the back mountain and I intend to teach you a few of my sect's ultimate skills.”
Ji Xueyan took the jade token and examined it carefully. She saw a lifelike divine beast carved in Yang characters on the front of the token. It looked 70% like a tiger but had a pair of wings. There was a sharp horn on the top of its head. Its four claws soared into the clouds and its body was covered in scales. It looked like a mighty divine beast.
Ji Xueyan vaguely remembered that she had seen this picture of a divine beast in the《The Mysterious Scripture of the Heavenly Continent》. It seemed to be a rare ancient creature called 'Golden Ying'. This beast often hides in the deep mountains and lakes, walks with the wind, roars thunder, is the nemesis of all kinds of demons and ghosts.
He flipped it over and saw a six-petal flower carved on the back, but he had never seen it before. "Great Grand Uncle-Master, what is this?" Ji Xueyan couldn't help but ask.”
Zeng Shan snorted and said," I'll let you broaden your horizons, girl. That six-petal flower is the Pearl Immortal Grass. It can resist the invasion of ten thousand demons. It's a first-class protective treasure." That divine beast was called Jin Ying. It could go up to the sky and enter the earth. It could roam the Seven Seas. It was an ancient treasure. With the protection of these two divine items, unless you encounter a top-notch expert, you can roam the ends of the world as you wish.”
Hearing Zeng Shan's words, Ji Xueyan was overjoyed and quickly said,"Thank you, Great Grand Uncle-Master! However, I still don't know what use it has to my parents.”
Zeng Shan sighed,"I said you were smart, but you're muddle-headed." This Purple Jade Immortal Token is my protective treasure from more than a hundred years ago. It is also one of the rare treasures of the Green Cloud Sect. Your parents will naturally know when they see it. With it speaking up for you, why would you be afraid that they wouldn't let you come to the back mountain?”
"So this Amethyst Jade Immortal Token is your protective treasure? How can I accept it?" Ji Xueyan asked in surprise. You should take it back."
Seeing that Ji Xueyan did not covet the treasure, Zeng Shan was delighted. He laughed and said,"Since I'm giving it to you, you can accept it. To put it bluntly, I don't need these messy things at all. There aren't many people in the entire Heavenly Continent who are worthy of my help.”
"Oldman Zeng, you're bullying us because we're young and ignorant." Ding Yuan chuckled.”
Zeng Shanhuzi fanned himself and said angrily,""You brat, you really should be kicked in the butt. It's fine if you conspired with the Ji girl to instigate me, but you're spouting nonsense. If I hadn't stayed on Zuowang Peak for so many years, you would have said that the Heavenly Continent was peaceful!”
Ding Yuan was stunned. He felt that Zeng Shan was implying something. He recalled that there was something fishy about Zeng Shan's hasty departure yesterday. However, he had something else to do at the top of Zeng Mountain, so he smiled and said,"Don't be angry even if I'm spouting nonsense. Just now, you wanted Xue 'er to go back and talk to Father and Mother about learning from you at the back of the mountain. If you don't really teach her a thing or two, how can she answer to Father and Mother? Xue 'er couldn't explain the small matter, but Xue' er's parents mistakenly thought that you didn't have real talent. How could they mislead the children? Wouldn't that ruin your reputation?”
Zeng Shan stared at Ding Yuan for a long time, then sighed and said,""It's too late to regret getting on your pirate ship. For the sake of some delicious food, I've really suffered a huge loss!”
###################################
Zeng Shan opened the lunchbox impatiently, and the aroma of food wafted into his nose. He took a deep breath and said,""It smells so good--" He didn't even pick up his chopsticks. Instead, he picked up a pastry and put it into his mouth."Delicious, delicious. Are you also Dan Yan's disciple? What's your name?”
Although Ah Niu still did not know who this old man was, he saw his beard and respectfully replied,""My name is Ah Niu, old uncle."
"Good name!"
Ah Niu didn't ask why like Ding Yuan, but just smiled honestly. Seeing Zeng Shan eating happily, he asked Ding Yuan in a low voice,""Who is this old man?"
"You can call him Oldman Zeng," replied Ding Yuan.”
"Oldman Zeng?" Ah Niu found it familiar and suddenly shouted at Zeng Shan,""Could it be that you're the only surviving great-martial granduncle of our sect?”
Zeng Shan stuffed the pastries into his mouth and mumbled,""Don't you think I look like one?"
Ah Niu bowed and said respectfully,""Disciple Luo Niu greets Great Martial Granduncle!”
Zeng Shan was shocked by Ah Niu, he waved his hands and said,""Get up quickly, where are all these stinky rules?”
Ah Niu suddenly felt a gentle and vigorous force rise out of thin air, supporting his body steadily. "Ah Niu, don't stand on ceremony with Oldman Zeng." Ding Yuan smiled.”
"Yes, yes!" Zeng Shan finished Ah Niu's pastries and opened the second layer of the lunch box.""If you send me such delicious food every day, it would be better than calling me Martial Granduncle a hundred times.”His eyes were fixed on the lunchbox, not willing to move away at all. He called out in surprise,"Why are they all vegetarian dishes? There's nothing oily at all?”
"I've been eating vegetarian food at Black Bamboo Pavilion for three years, so you should just make do with it." Ding Yuan smiled bitterly.”
Zeng Shan huffed." Danyan, this blockhead is as stubborn as his master. If he doesn't eat meat, how can he have the strength to practice and fight?"”
Ah Niu scratched his head in confusion." Great-martial granduncle, I don't eat meat either, but I'm still very strong."”
Zeng Shan was rendered speechless by this silly boy. He was so angry that he ignored the two of them and only buried his head in eating.
In just a moment, the food and pastries in the lunchbox were all eaten by Zeng Shan. He licked his fingers as if he hadn't had enough. He slapped his belly that was as tall as a small mountain and said,"Not bad, not bad at all. I'm finally full today.”
As he spoke, he picked up the kettle on the table and gulped it down. He did not care that the clear spring water dripped down the corner of his mouth.
Ah Niu and Ding Yuan looked at Oldman Zeng in a daze, speechless.
"Awesome!" Zeng Shan finished the bottle in one gulp and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He shouted in satisfaction,""How satisfying!"
Ah Niu looked at the empty lunchbox and said with a frown,""Great-martial granduncle, you've finished Little Brother Ding's food for the day. What should we do?”
Zeng Shan was stunned and said apologetically,""That's true. I was so busy eating that I forgot about this. Why don't you go back and make another delicious meal?”
"No need. I have quite a bit of dry rations left from yesterday. It's enough." Ding Yuan shook his head.”
Zeng Shan blinked his eyes and said,"You two kids are really not bad. I can't take advantage of you and let you suffer."”He reached into his pocket and fumbled for a long time before taking out two vermillion fruits the size of a longan."I don't have much use for this thing, so I'll give each of you one.”
"What is this, Great Uncle-Master?" asked Ah Niu.”
"You'll know once you eat it. Could it be poison?" Zeng Shan asked.”Seeing that Ding Yuan and Ah Niu were still hesitating, Zeng Shan shouted unhappily,"I ate so much of your food and didn't say anything. Why are you putting on airs when I give you some food?”As he spoke, he sat down on the chair sullenly, looking angry.
"Oldman Zeng, are you angry?" Ding Yuan laughed. We'll just eat it." He reached out and took one. As soon as he brought it close to his mouth, he smelled a rich fragrance and his mind cleared.
Ding Yuan put the fruit into his mouth. As soon as the tip of his tongue touched it, a cool sensation rushed straight to the canopy, as if he had been enlightened. He was secretly amazed and was about to chew it with his teeth when the fruit melted in his mouth and turned into a sweet and mellow stream that flowed down his throat.
At this moment, Ah Niu had also taken it and asked curiously,""Great-martial granduncle, what is this thing? It's so delicious?”
Zeng Shan stroked his beard proudly and laughed,""It's not just delicious. You two kids enjoy it.”
Ding Yuan felt a warm stream of liquid immediately rise up the moment it fell into his stomach. It instantly spread throughout his entire body, and his internal organs and meridians were all relaxed and comfortable, as if he had been immersed in a hot spring. He felt as if he was floating on clouds.
Looking at Ah Niu, his face was also red, his eyes were shining, and he was happy. Zeng Shan laughed and said,"Hurry up and sit down. Don't let this thousand-year-old Vermilion Fruit down!"”
Ding Yuan couldn't help but be shocked. He didn't expect that the unremarkable fruit he had consumed was actually the legendary thousand-year red fruit! If an ordinary person obtained it, it would be equivalent to a half-immortal being added to his body, and his immortal age could be expected. If a cultivator consumed it, how could it be equivalent to increasing his cultivation by half a sixty-year cycle?
He didn't dare to be negligent and quickly sat down cross-legged. His mind was empty and he entered a state of forgetting himself and everything else.
After an unknown period of time, Ding Yuan suddenly felt a heat in his dantian. It was as if a copper furnace had exploded. The thick zhenqi contained in it surged out like a flood that had broken through a dam and surged through the meridians in his entire body.
His consciousness left his body in an instant, and a faint pink lotus-shaped light appeared above his head. A faint white light rose from the pink light and gradually transformed into a baby that was less than half a foot tall.
The baby was snow-white and cute. He sat cross-legged on the lotus throne with his small hands gathered in front of his chest. His eyes were closed as if he was sleeping soundly.
Zeng Shan couldn't help but chuckle and mutter,""Good boy, you actually managed to cultivate a Nascent Soul. It seems that this old man's contribution to this Vermilion Fruit is not small.”
He looked over at Ah Niu, but there was no movement. His face was red, and his entire body was surrounded by a layer of faintly discernible green qi. His body was floating three feet off the ground. Zeng Shan was startled and thought to himself,""This silly boy looks dumb and stupid, but I didn't expect his cultivation to have reached the Knowing State. When I was his age, I couldn't even compare to Little Ding. That young Taoist priest with a light voice actually taught these two disciples. It was really amazing.”
Zeng Shan stood up, shook his head, and smiled.""I didn't expect that for this meal, not only did I lose two Vermilion Fruits, I even became a guardian.”
He walked to the entrance of the cave and saw a red cloud slowly falling from the top of the Black Rock Cliff. It was Ji Xueyan.
Ji Xueyan didn't know Zeng Shan either. Yesterday, she heard from Ah Niu that Ding Yuan was punished to face the wall in the Enlightenment Cave. This morning, she secretly sneaked out with Cai. It was not easy for them to find the Enlightenment Cave in the mountains, but they did not expect a white-bearded old man to stand at the door.
Ji Xueyan landed on the ground and looked at the unfamiliar old man in front of her."Who are you? Why are you lingering in front of the Enlightenment Cave?”
Seeing Ji Xueyan's bright eyes and white teeth, Zeng Shan couldn't help but cheer in his heart,""What a beautiful girl. She probably came straight here to find Ding Yuan.”Recalling that he had once met her at the Blue Ripple Pond, he had no more doubts.
Zeng Shan could tell from Ji Xueyan's attire that she was from the Billow Jade Villa, so he chuckled and said,"Are you a disciple of Ji Bie Heaven Sect? Do you know that this Thought Comprehension Cave is the place where our sect's disciples face the wall? Without the sect master's permission, no one is allowed to enter.”
Cai, who was perched on Ji Xueyanyu's shoulder, shouted,""My young miss is here to look for Ding Yuan!”Ji Xueyan's expression changed slightly, but it was too late to seal Cai 'Er's mouth.
Zeng Shan laughed and said,"I guessed it right. She's here to meet her lover!"”
Ji Xueyan's cheeks flushed red as she said shyly and angrily,""Look at you, you're so old but you're not serious. Who's the tryst? Who are you? Why are you asking me?”
Zeng Shan walked to the stone tablet and sat down. He crossed his legs and said slowly,""Dao Master Dan Yi is in charge of the three views, two villages and one pavilion in the front mountain, so I am in charge of the three valleys, six streams and seventy-eight caves in the back mountain. Who do you think I am?"
Ji Xueyan suddenly remembered that her grandfather had once mentioned to her about an elder who had retired from the sect for many years. He was also the only surviving elder of the Kong generation of the Cuixia Sect. It seemed that he had been living in seclusion in the Pinnacle Valley behind the mountain of Zuowang Peak for the past eighty to ninety years. Could it be this short old man with a white beard in front of her?
Thinking of this, Ji Xueyan carefully examined Zeng Shan again, but she still couldn't see any trace of an expert. He had actually reached the extremely high realm of returning to simplicity and essence. She was afraid that Master Daoist Dan of her sect was no better than him. "Are you the Great Grandmaster of our sect?"”
"Now you know that I have the right to ask you what you're here for, right?" Zeng Shan said proudly.”
Ji Xueyan bit her cherry lips and whispered,"If I tell you, you must not tell anyone else.”
Zeng Shan thought to himself, Even if you don't tell me, the parrot will tell me anyway. "Are you looking for Ding Yuan?" he asked with a smile.”
Ji Xueyan's ears were red as she nodded lightly. "What's there to be shy about looking for Ding Yuan?" Zeng Shan asked. When I was your age, I often had trysts with girls, but I wasn't as shy as you.”
"You don't understand!" Ji Xueyan stomped her foot.”
"What do I not understand?" Zeng Shan asked.”
Ji Xueyan lowered her head, her toes subconsciously stepping on the mud. She hesitated for a while before speaking in an almost inaudible voice,"He is my Martial Uncle."
This question had always been an invisible haze that lingered in Ji Xueyan's heart. The love between an uncle and a nephew was already a taboo among the people, let alone the Emerald Cloud Sect, which had always been considered a famous sect. For the past three years, she had carefully kept this secret, afraid that a single mistake would cause a storm, but she also knew that one day it would be inevitable.
Today was the first time she told this secret to another person. For some reason, she suddenly felt relieved, as if she had obtained some relief.
Zeng Shan did not seem to realize this at all and said indifferently,""Uncle-Master, what's wrong with Uncle-Master? He's not my biological uncle."
Ji Xueyan shook her head and said," Why don't you understand? Even if he's not my uncle, the sect's rules forbid him from doing so. My parents and grandfather will definitely not agree to it."”
Zeng Shan scratched his head." This is a problem. What are you going to do?"”
"I don't know." Ji Xueyan said blankly.”
Zeng Shan couldn't help but feel sympathetic and asked,""Who is your grandfather? Why don't I go and talk to him?”
" It won't work." Ji Xueyan said," My grandfather is the master of the Billow Jade Villa, Ji Bietian. He has a straightforward and violent personality. He will never listen to you." If you didn't say it, it would have been fine. If you did, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to keep the moment of peace today.”
"So you're Ji Bietian's granddaughter, but you're much prettier than your grandfather. No wonder I couldn't tell for a moment."”
Ji Xueyan glanced into the Enlightenment Cave, wondering why Ding Yuan hadn't come out after standing here for so long. "Great Grandmaster Zeng, is Ding Yuan inside?"”
"Yes!"
"I want to go in and see him, okay?”
" Not now," Zeng Shan shook his head and rejected.
"Why?" Ji Xueyan asked. It was rare for her to plead with others like this. Firstly, she saw that the other party was the only elder of the Kong generation in her sect, and secondly, he was the guardian of the back mountain, which was why she politely begged him. Otherwise, with her personality, other than Ding Yuan, why would she ask him if he could or not? She would have barged in long ago.
"He and his Senior Brother Ah Niu ate the Vermilion Fruit that I've collected for more than ninety years. They're meditating in the cave now," Zeng Shan said leisurely.”
"You're not lying to me?" Ji Xueyan was surprised and delighted.”
Zeng Shan was unhappy. He pouted and said,"Why would I lie to you? You can ask him yourself later."
Ji Xueyan beamed with joy. She knew from her family's knowledge that the Vermilion Fruit was a treasure that could only be found by chance for cultivators. She did not expect Zeng Shan to be so generous as to give it to Ding Yuan. Thus, she said gratefully,"If that's the case, thank you so much!”
Zeng Shan glanced at Ji Xueyan's right sleeve, crossed his arms over his chest, and snorted,""What's the use of just saying thanks? I gave away both Vermilion Fruits.”
Ji Xueyan was smart and knew what was going on. She smiled and took out a packet of beef wrapped in oil paper from her sleeve and handed it to Zeng Shan."This was originally prepared for Ding Yuan. Since he has already eaten your Vermilion Fruit, he won't be hungry after waking up, so he won't need it for the time being. Why don't I show my filial piety to you?"
Zeng Shan immediately beamed with joy. He took the oilpaper bag with both hands and unwrapped it. When he saw that it was more than a catty of spiced beef, he could not help but swallow his saliva."Then I won't stand on ceremony." He picked up a piece of beef and put it into his mouth.
Seeing that even Cai 'Er couldn't bear to look at his gluttonous appearance, Huanhuan shouted,"Old glutton, old glutton!"
Zeng Shan wasn't angry. He buried his head in his work and said with a smile,"What do you know, you flat-haired beast? Delicacies are the greatest enjoyment in the world.”
The half a kilogram of beef was finished in no time. Zeng Shan patted his stomach and looked at the sky."It's almost noon. The two kids inside should stop cultivating.”
Sure enough, Zeng Shan's expression changed after he finished speaking. He shouted into the cave,""Ding brat, hurry up and come out. Your little wife is here.”
It was the first time Ji Xueyan heard someone call her that. She felt shy and sweet, but she liked it more. She stomped her foot and said angrily,"You're so old, so you're not serious!"”
Ding Yuan had finished his cultivation a moment earlier than Ah Niu. Just as he stood up and was wondering why Zeng Shan had disappeared, he heard the old man's cry outside the door, so he stepped out of the cave.
Looking up, it was indeed Ji Xueyan who was guarding beside Zeng Shan. Although she did not speak, her eyes were filled with endless affection and words.
Zeng Shan saw that Ding Yuan's face was bright and his eyes were reserved. His clear spirit was enough to tell that his cultivation had advanced another level. It was only a matter of time before he broke through to the realm of Zhizhe. Ji Xueyan saw this and said happily,"Ding Yuan, that day when I found out that you were accidentally injured by my Martial Uncle Wu, I was so worried that I almost died. Otherwise, I will never forgive him!”
"How long have you been here, Xue 'er?" Ding Yuan asked with a smile.”
"It's been a while. I was chatting with Great Granduncle Zeng just now.”
"You might as well play marbles with him and cook for him," said Ding Yuan with a smile.”
Zeng Shan actually nodded and said,"That's right."”
Ding Yuan held back his laughter and winked at Ji Xueyan with his back facing Zeng Shan. He continued,""So, you'd better bring more delicious food when you come here in the future. It would be even better if you can fish a few live fish from the Blue Ripple Pond.”
Zeng Shan's eyes lit up as he listened, as if the delicacies were already placed in front of him.
Ji Xueyan had already understood the meaning behind Ding Yuan's words and deliberately frowned slightly,"But this is the forbidden area of our sect. I have already violated the sect rules by sneaking here today. How can I come here often in the future?”
Ding Yuanxiang was reminded by Ji Xueyan and said in realization,""That's right, that's a problem.”
Ji Xueyan glanced at Zeng Shan and sighed,"Looks like I won't be able to visit you again in the future, and I won't be able to bring anything good to bring back to Great Granduncle.”
How could Ceng Shan not understand that these two people were playing tricks in front of him, but he could not help but say,"Come on, I'll just pretend I didn't see it.”
Ji Xueyan's face lit up, but she shook her head sadly and said,"I'm afraid it won't work."
"Why not?" Zeng Shanqi asked.”
"You don't care about me anymore, but my parents won't let me out easily." Ji Xueyan said. Once or twice was fine, but if he ran out too many times, it was inevitable that he would be discovered by them. At that time, he would inevitably be scolded.”
Zeng Shan thought for a moment and gritted his teeth. I'll be a good person to the end. I might as well fulfill your wish this time.”He fiddled with it for a while before taking out a three-inch square purple jade token and said,""I'll give this to you. If your parents ask, tell them that I asked you to come to the back mountain and I intend to teach you a few of my sect's ultimate skills.”
Ji Xueyan took the jade token and examined it carefully. She saw a lifelike divine beast carved in Yang characters on the front of the token. It looked 70% like a tiger but had a pair of wings. There was a sharp horn on the top of its head. Its four claws soared into the clouds and its body was covered in scales. It looked like a mighty divine beast.
Ji Xueyan vaguely remembered that she had seen this picture of a divine beast in the《The Mysterious Scripture of the Heavenly Continent》. It seemed to be a rare ancient creature called 'Golden Ying'. This beast often hides in the deep mountains and lakes, walks with the wind, roars thunder, is the nemesis of all kinds of demons and ghosts.
He flipped it over and saw a six-petal flower carved on the back, but he had never seen it before. "Great Grand Uncle-Master, what is this?" Ji Xueyan couldn't help but ask.”
Zeng Shan snorted and said," I'll let you broaden your horizons, girl. That six-petal flower is the Pearl Immortal Grass. It can resist the invasion of ten thousand demons. It's a first-class protective treasure." That divine beast was called Jin Ying. It could go up to the sky and enter the earth. It could roam the Seven Seas. It was an ancient treasure. With the protection of these two divine items, unless you encounter a top-notch expert, you can roam the ends of the world as you wish.”
Hearing Zeng Shan's words, Ji Xueyan was overjoyed and quickly said,"Thank you, Great Grand Uncle-Master! However, I still don't know what use it has to my parents.”
Zeng Shan sighed,"I said you were smart, but you're muddle-headed." This Purple Jade Immortal Token is my protective treasure from more than a hundred years ago. It is also one of the rare treasures of the Green Cloud Sect. Your parents will naturally know when they see it. With it speaking up for you, why would you be afraid that they wouldn't let you come to the back mountain?”
"So this Amethyst Jade Immortal Token is your protective treasure? How can I accept it?" Ji Xueyan asked in surprise. You should take it back."
Seeing that Ji Xueyan did not covet the treasure, Zeng Shan was delighted. He laughed and said,"Since I'm giving it to you, you can accept it. To put it bluntly, I don't need these messy things at all. There aren't many people in the entire Heavenly Continent who are worthy of my help.”
"Oldman Zeng, you're bullying us because we're young and ignorant." Ding Yuan chuckled.”
Zeng Shanhuzi fanned himself and said angrily,""You brat, you really should be kicked in the butt. It's fine if you conspired with the Ji girl to instigate me, but you're spouting nonsense. If I hadn't stayed on Zuowang Peak for so many years, you would have said that the Heavenly Continent was peaceful!”
Ding Yuan was stunned. He felt that Zeng Shan was implying something. He recalled that there was something fishy about Zeng Shan's hasty departure yesterday. However, he had something else to do at the top of Zeng Mountain, so he smiled and said,"Don't be angry even if I'm spouting nonsense. Just now, you wanted Xue 'er to go back and talk to Father and Mother about learning from you at the back of the mountain. If you don't really teach her a thing or two, how can she answer to Father and Mother? Xue 'er couldn't explain the small matter, but Xue' er's parents mistakenly thought that you didn't have real talent. How could they mislead the children? Wouldn't that ruin your reputation?”
Zeng Shan stared at Ding Yuan for a long time, then sighed and said,""It's too late to regret getting on your pirate ship. For the sake of some delicious food, I've really suffered a huge loss!”
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