This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 164 An Old Acquaintance of the Ten Ancestors, A World Within His Sleeve

"Are you my ancestor of the Gu clan?"

Miao Yun's gaze was somewhat complicated. Putting himself in the shoes of the Gu clan, he was indeed upset to hear his ancestor make such a comment. But... given that their Gu clan had fallen to such a state, what choice did they have?

"Hmph! I have no Gu clan descendant like you!"

After speaking, the figure in the void looked at Zhong Bai again, his burning gaze filled with urgency.

"Boy, you actually dared to come to my Gu Clan's forbidden area, it's destined that you will be possessed by this ancestor!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, reaching the Foundation Establishment stage at less than forty years old—in this era, to achieve such a feat, I've truly struck gold!"

Upon hearing the words "possession," Miao Yun's expression instantly changed, and he hurriedly said to the Gu Clan ancestor in the void, "Ancestor, you mustn't! This is the current Daoist of Maoshan! Ancestor, you..."

"Shut up!"

The figure in the void was enraged when he heard Miao Yun dare to persuade him to give up. He slapped Miao Yun across the face, sending him flying a hundred meters away, his body covered in blood and gore.

Zhong Bai was somewhat alarmed by this behavior; clearly, the other party was no pushover.

"escape!"

This was Zhong Bai's first thought.

The moment the spirit sword behind him was drawn, Zhong Bai stepped onto it, intending to leave on the sword. Unfortunately, just as he stepped onto the spirit sword, he saw wisps of black smoke forming a huge ring in the void, enveloping the sky and blocking Zhong Bai's path away.

Somewhat unwilling, Zhong Bai raised his hand and unleashed a bolt of lightning at the black mist, but it was like mud sinking into the ocean, having no effect whatsoever.

"Want to leave? Heh, how could I let you go so easily? Don't resist, just obediently let me possess you!"

After he finished speaking, wisps of black smoke surged toward Zhong Bai from the void. In just a moment, Zhong Bai's limbs were bound by the black smoke in the void.

"Samadhi Fire, burn!"

Helpless, Zhong Bai's massive body energy transformed into streams of Samadhi True Fire, burning away the black smoke that trapped him completely.

"Tsk, interesting. He actually possesses a supernatural power like the Samadhi Fire. Such vital energy and such a physical body, he's practically perfect!"

With a wave of his hand, countless black smokes attacked again. Zhong Bai could only keep using the Samadhi True Fire to block the black smoke. As the Samadhi True Fire burned continuously, Zhong Bai finally saw that the so-called black smoke was actually formed by the gathering of Gu worms.

The air was thick with the smell of burning, and Zhong Bai's face grew paler and paler, while the figure hanging high in the void seemed to have already seen victory in sight.

Knowing he was no match for the old monster, Zhong Bai had no choice but to call for reinforcements.

Yes, call for reinforcements!
Zhong Bai took out the memorial tablets of the Ten Ancestors of Maoshan Underworld from the Qiankun Ring. Without any hesitation, Zhong Bai shouted at the memorial tablets, "Ten Ancestors, save me!"

With a loud shout from Zhong Bai, the memorial tablet of the Tenth Ancestor began to tremble slightly.

A pure ghostly aura surged from the memorial tablet and condensed into a human form—it was the Ten Ancestors!
In an instant, the black smoke formed by the surrounding Gu worms was unable to advance even an inch.

"Zhong Bai, you brat, I've already told you that the world isn't as simple as you think. Some old monsters are just waiting for a young, talented cultivator like you to come knocking on their door. Now you know?"

The tenth ancestor scolded Zhong Bai for a while, and was only satisfied after seeing Zhong Bai lower his head in shame.

Looking up at the figure in the void, the Tenth Ancestor couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.

Yes, I recognized him from his eyes; he was someone I knew before.

"Gu Batian? You old bastard, you're not completely dead?"

The moment Gu Batian, the ancestor of the Gu clan, saw the Ten Ancestors of Maoshan, he felt a sense of familiarity. It wasn't until the voice from his memory rang out that Gu Batian looked at the Ten Ancestors with an expression of utter dismay.

"It's you! Wang Yuanzhi of Maoshan!"

Upon hearing this, the Tenth Ancestor smiled brightly, "To be honest, you, Gu Batian, are the first person in a thousand years to call out my real secular name. However, rather than my secular name, I would prefer you to address me as the virtuous and benevolent Lord of Maoshan!"

Upon meeting an old friend, the Tenth Patriarch was clearly intrigued, and his words were full of teasing.

"you!"

Miao Batian, the ancestor of the Gu clan, was in great distress. Unfortunately, he was powerless in the face of the Ten Ancestors. Memories of his death flooded his mind. A thousand years ago, Miao Batian and the Ten Ancestors were both top-tier Nascent Soul Ancestors in the world. Unfortunately, Miao Batian was unlucky and angered the Buddhist sect, and was severely injured by a Nascent Soul Ancestor from Jinshan Temple.

After that, the Ten Ancestors heard that Miao Batian had died from his serious injuries upon returning to Miao territory. However, it seems that the old man had a trick up his sleeve.

"Me? Tsk tsk, Miao Batian, what I just mentioned was my title in the underworld. Alas, some people die too young, without even the chance to get an official position in the underworld. Now, clinging to a wisp of their soul, they actually want to possess my descendants?"

The Tenth Ancestor's smiling face suddenly changed, and his cold gaze made Miao Batian in the void feel a tightness in his heart. He said with some solemnity, "Fellow Daoist, this matter is my fault. I did not know that he was your junior. Could you please let this matter rest?"

Miao Batian chickened out; he had no choice but to!

The person before him was no match for him when he was alive, and now that only a wisp of his soul remains, he has even less of a chance.

Admitting defeat is the best solution...

"Miao Batian, do you think that's possible?"

The Tenth Ancestor's words were neither warm nor cold, but they sounded so harsh to Miao Batian's ears. He knew that the Tenth Ancestor was not going to let him go.

"Wang Yuanzhi, don't push your luck!"

"So what? Is this the first time you've met me? The first time you've known the Maoshan way of doing things?"

"you!"

"receive!"

With the Tenth Ancestor's single word, "Collect," a terrifying suction force emanated from his sleeves, startling even Miao Batian, a former Nascent Soul Ancestor. "A universe within a sleeve? No!"

A roar of unwillingness could not change the outcome. The powerful suction force left Miao Batian's last wisp of soul with no ability to resist before it was taken into the sleeve of the Ten Ancestors. The whole process was as easy as drinking water.

As the surrounding black smoke dissipated, the Tenth Patriarch quite satisfiedly weighed his sleeves.

"Miao Batian, why don't you come with me to the underworld to enjoy your life? It just so happens that I need a servant to massage my shoulders. You and I know each other well, so it's perfect!"

After muttering to himself, the Tenth Patriarch finally looked at Zhong Bai, who was already dumbfounded.

"Zhong Bai, you really brought me a big surprise. You're lucky. Miao Batian was a bit too anxious when he only had a wisp of his soul left and didn't set up an isolation array. Otherwise, even I wouldn't have been able to save you."

Zhong Bai listened attentively to the lessons of the Tenth Patriarch, for these were lessons learned from surviving.

"Tenth Ancestor, this disciple knows his mistake and will pay more attention in the future."

Rolling his eyes, the Tenth Ancestor shook his head and said, "It's not that I find you troublesome. I left my divine soul in the tablet to protect you. But next time, be smarter and take out my tablet in advance, understand? Don't be stubborn. These old monsters are all cunning. Never mind, figure it out yourself."

The Gold-Eating Insect on your head is a good thing. It's the transformed form of Miao Batian's original Gold-Eating Mother Insect. It's a mutated species, and it might even grow to a level comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator in the future. Just take good care of it.”

After saying this, the Tenth Ancestor disappeared from the memorial tablet, while Zhong Bai bowed and took the tablet back.

The area around the Gu Clan's forbidden ground was in ruins, with the corpses of Gu worms scattered everywhere. Only then did Zhong Bai have a chance to check on Miao Yun's life or death.

Upon arriving at Miao Yun's side and seeing Miao Yun's rather pitiful appearance, Zhong Bai sighed heavily, thinking that Miao Yun had suffered an undeserved misfortune.

Just then, several figures rushed over from a distance. Zhong Bai scanned them with his divine sense and immediately recognized them as Lin Junmen and the Gu Clan Chief Priest.

Whoosh whoosh!
Several figures quickly arrived beside Zhong Bai. Looking at the scene around them, the Gu Clan Chief was somewhat surprised. Upon seeing Miao Yun, who was covered in blood and unconscious, his brows furrowed.

"Zhong Daozi, what just happened?"

Zhong Bai took a deep breath and then briefly recounted how the Gu Clan's ancestor had tried to possess him. Upon hearing this, the Gu Clan Chief's gaze became somewhat complicated. He didn't know whether to be happy or sad after hearing that his Gu Clan's ancestor had been taken away by the Maoshan Underworld Ancestor.

However, he still looked at Miao Yun lying on the ground and said, "So that's how it is. It's not entirely Daozi's fault. My Gu clan actually has such an ancestor whose spirit remains in the world. It's just a pity that our ancestor was a bit confused..."

The Gu Clan Chief suddenly felt fortunate. Judging from Zhong Bai's words, the soul of their Gu Clan ancestor was probably at its last gasp. If Zhong Bai had not come to the Gu Clan, he might have chosen one of their Gu Clan members to possess!

Even if it were their ancestors, if they were to possess someone else's body, the Gu Clan Chief would feel that it was better to die for himself than for his friend. To put it bluntly, he felt no sadness.

After bending down to check Miao Yun's injuries, Mao Xiaofang breathed a sigh of relief and said to everyone, "The Second Priest is not in any serious danger, but he has dozens of broken bones and will need time to recover."

Upon hearing this, the Gu Clan Chief felt a great weight lifted from his heart. Their Gu Clan had just lost Miao Tianci, and now Miao Yun could not afford to have any more problems, otherwise they would truly be facing a generational gap.

"Let's take him back to recover first!"

The three priests carried Miao Yun, and the group then left the forbidden area and returned to the pavilion.

......................................................

On the two beds, Lin Fengjiao lay on one and Miao Yun on the other. Although Lin Fengjiao's face was still pale, she was awake. As for Miao Yun, well, perhaps it would take a few more days.

At this moment, the Gu clan chief was the most perceptive to notice the gold-devouring insects clinging to Zhong Bai's purple-gold crown, and he was quite surprised.

"Zhong Daozi, have the Gold-Eating Insects successfully hatched?"

Realizing that the other party was referring to the Gold-Eating Insect above his head, Zhong Bai simply stretched out his finger. After sensing Zhong Bai's thoughts, the Gold-Eating Insect flapped its wings and flew to Zhong Bai's finger.

"Indeed, this is the Gold-Eating Insect. Little Gold, pay your respects to all the True Immortals."

"Little Jin has met several real people!"

The moment the sweet voice rang out, the room fell silent. They had only heard rumors about the Gold-Eating Insect, but this was the first time they had actually seen one. And it could even speak human language, so how could they not be surprised?
"Hiss! That's terrifying. It can speak human language right after it was born and has strength comparable to the early stage of Foundation Establishment. It's truly destined to be a Dao Child!"

Lin Junmen and the others agreed with the Gu Clan Chief's words, since it required luck.

Ordinary people wouldn't have such an opportunity.

"You flatter me greatly, I am truly unworthy of such praise! It is truly unbearable to have Priest Miao Yun suffer such a severe injury for the sake of this Gold-Devouring Insect!"

"This is not Daozi's fault. It was all caused by our ancestors. Daozi's not blaming us is already a great kindness."

One flattering remark after another, the Gu clan chief was clearly going all the way to the black.

Seven days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Seven days later, Lin Fengjiao's injuries had almost fully recovered, and Miao Yun had also woken up, but was still unable to get out of bed.

Having been in the Miao region of the Gu tribe for seven or eight days, Zhong Bai and Lin Junmen could not stay any longer, which meant it was time to say goodbye.

Outside the Gu Clan's territory, watching Zhong Bai and the others about to leave, the Gu Clan Chief put on an incredibly convincing performance.

"Zhong Daozi, Elder Lin, and others, I don't know when we'll meet again. It's true that we became friends after a fight. It's a blessing for my Gu clan to have formed a good relationship with Maoshan!"

Zhong Bai smiled and nodded.

"Clan Chief Gu, there's no need to see me off. The misunderstanding has been cleared up, and the relationship between Maoshan and the Gu Clan will not be affected. On the contrary, I have gained an opportunity from the Gu Clan. If the Gu Clan needs me in the future, they are welcome to come to Maoshan to find me!"

This was a promise Zhong Bai made to the Miao Gu tribe: a slap followed by a sweet treat—Zhong Bai understood this principle.

"Haha, in that case, this old man will thank you, Daoist!"

Clearly, Zhong Bai's words struck a chord with the Gu Clan Chief. With Zhong Bai's promise, their Gu Clan would have no worries for decades. As for why decades, well, it's mainly because Zhong Bai eventually has to leave this world, isn't it?
(End of this chapter)