On a vast grassland, an elderly Taoist and a young Taoist, dressed in their robes, were strolling leisurely. The old Taoist was holding a floating pendant, while the young Taoist had a long sword strapped to his back.
“Master, is this really alright?” the young Taoist asked with some concern.
“What’s wrong with it?”
The old Taoist shook his pendant, then opened a gourd and took a hearty sip of wine. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned his head, glaring at the young Taoist and threatening, “Don’t you dare tell the Sect Leader about this, or I’ll take back the sword on your back!”
The young Taoist glanced at the long sword on his back and pouted, “It’s just a broken sword. How can you call it a treasure sword!”
The young Taoist had already reached the early stage of Spirit Condensation and should have received a better sword, but unfortunately, the small sect couldn’t provide anything better.
The old Taoist choked on his wine at the young Taoist’s words, then turned around, chuckling. He said to the young Taoist, “Don’t be like that. When we get back, I’ll talk to the Sect Leader and get you a new one. Just don’t tell anyone about today’s events!”
“Master, even though you are a peak expert in the Cloud Heaven realm, aren’t you afraid of retribution for stealing others’ wine like this?”
It turned out that the two were cultivators from a small sect called “Great Sealing Sect” on the Divine Martial Continent. The entire sect had only a few hundred members, and the old Taoist was a senior disciple of the sect leader. He had brought the young Taoist down the mountain for training.
When the old Taoist passed by an inn and smelled the aroma of wine, he suddenly craved it. Taking advantage of the distraction of the people inside, he used a shadow body technique to stealthily enter and fill a gourd with fine wine. However, given that he was a peak expert in the Cloud Heaven realm, using an ordinary gourd was beneath him.
As a result, the entire inn was thrown into chaos. Several large barrels of fine wine vanished, and the innkeeper was devastated, shouting for the thief. The wine was equivalent to the inn’s annual revenue, but the culprit had vanished without a trace, having come here to enjoy himself.
Hearing the young Taoist’s words, the old Taoist laughed heartily, “Retribution? Haha, kid, you’re really funny. Look at this vast plain; I can see everything within a hundred meters. Do you think there’s any retribution? Do you expect a meteor to fall from the sky and hit me? Haha…”
Bang!!!
Just as the old Taoist finished speaking, an unknown object came crashing through the air and knocked him to the ground.
“Eh? Why is it so soft?”
Tian Fan was now facing away from the young Taoist. In front of him was a vast plain. When he looked down, he was startled to see someone underneath him.
When Tian Fan entered the space, he had absorbed the dragon egg into his body. The surroundings were pitch black, and he dared not move. Entering the space passage was very dangerous; a slight mistake could tear him apart in the time-space turbulence. So he had to wait for the passage to open on its own. After an unknown amount of time, he finally saw sunlight again, and the space passage opened, ejecting him out.
“God! Am I seeing things? Is this really divine punishment!?”
Seeing Tian Fan fall from the sky and knock the old Taoist down, the young Taoist was stunned and muttered,
“It’s not my fault, it’s not my fault. Namo Amitabha, Namo Amitabha…”
“Not my mother’s fault! We’re Taoists, not monks!” The old Taoist lay on the grass, facing the ground, and was infuriated by the young Taoist’s words.
“Oh, right. Venerable Wuliang, it’s not my fault. Venerable Wuliang, it’s not my fault…”
Following the old Taoist’s “guidance,” the young Taoist had a moment of realization, changed his chant, and began to chant sincerely again.
Hearing his prayers, the old Taoist was nearly enraged: “Venerable Wuliang my foot, come and help me up!”
Then he looked at the two feet next to his head and yelled, “You up there, enjoying yourself? Get off from your Taoist master!”
Hearing the noise behind him and the old Taoist’s words, Tian Fan quickly jumped up. The young Taoist hurried over and helped the old Taoist to his feet.
“Senior, I’m sorry. It wasn’t intentional.” After learning what had happened, Tian Fan wanted to laugh but managed to suppress it, apologizing to the old Taoist.
“How, do you find it amusing to hit me?”
The old Taoist, ever so astute, could tell what Tian Fan was thinking just by looking at him.
The young Taoist beside him supported him and cast curious glances at Tian Fan, unable to understand how someone could fall from the sky.
“There’s nothing wrong,” Tian Fan quickly replied.
“Kid, tell me! How did you fall from the sky?” The old Taoist was extremely displeased with being knocked down by Tian Fan.
Damn it, he had just claimed that nothing would happen, and now he was facing retribution immediately.
“Well, it’s like this. An elder opened a space passage and transported me out,” Tian Fan thought for a moment and answered seriously, his expression tinged with sadness.
“Wahahahaha…”
“Wahahahaha…”
Two different bursts of laughter rang out.
The old Taoist and the young Taoist exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
“Good disciple, I didn’t expect there to be someone even funnier than you. Haha, you’ve made me laugh to death,” the old Taoist laughed heartily, holding his belly.
Even the young Taoist, who was initially frightened, now laughed uncontrollably.
“Kid, have you lived with me for so many years for nothing? Tearing open a space passage is something even the experts of the Immortal Realm can’t do. Only legendary deities have such abilities. Are you telling me you were sent by a god?”
Seeing their reactions, Tian Fan knew that if he claimed he encountered a divine dragon in the Enchanted Forest and was sent out by it, they would surely think he was crazy. So he decided to fabricate a story: “Hehe, elder, you’re truly perceptive. I can’t deceive you. Actually, I was swept up into the sky by a powerful tornado and then fell here. I’m really sorry for injuring you.”
“Hmm, that’s possible. Tornadoes on the vast grassland are indeed fierce. Your cultivation level is still low, so it’s not strange to be swept into the sky,” the old Taoist said, his hand removing from his waist, straightening his posture with a smile. “With your meager strength, it’s impossible for you to hurt me. Haha, it’s nothing, no harm done.”
Seeing the old Taoist’s comical appearance, Tian Fan really wanted to laugh. He said, “Thank you, elder!”
The old Taoist observed Tian Fan, noting that he was dressed quite well. Although he seemed somewhat lean, he was still a handsome young man. So he asked, “Young man, where are you from? Where is your home?”
The young Taoist also nodded and looked at Tian Fan.
Tian Fan turned around and gazed south, where the Soaring Dragon Dynasty was located, the place where he had grown up. However, he no longer wanted to return there. Although he could cultivate now and could have received praise and training from Long Aotian with the dragon egg he had, he truly did not wish to return. He felt very content and happy where he was now.
“Hmm? Young man? Boy? Fellow Taoist? … Hey, you little rascal, wake up!” The old Taoist repeatedly asked Tian Fan, eventually shouting angrily.
“Uh? Ah, oh, I’m just a wandering cultivator, with no fixed residence,” Tian Fan snapped back to his senses upon hearing the old Taoist’s shout and replied awkwardly.
“A wandering cultivator? I see! Hehe, then how about coming to visit my ‘Great Sealing Sect’? Let me show you some hospitality.”
Upon hearing that Tian Fan was a wandering cultivator, the old Taoist’s eyes gleamed with interest, and he smiled broadly. The young Taoist, upon hearing the old Taoist’s words, pursed his lips with a disdainful expression, remembering how he had been deceived by this old scoundrel years ago.
Seeing his expression, Tian Fan couldn’t help but think the old Taoist looked quite lecherous and crafty. However, from this brief interaction, he felt that despite the old Taoist’s unscrupulousness, he wasn’t a bad person.
“What is Great Sealing Sect?” Tian Fan glanced at the young Taoist and asked.
The young Taoist was about to answer but was interrupted by the old Taoist:
“Great Sealing Sect is a cultivation residence on the Divine Martial Continent. Have you heard of the Soaring Dragon Dynasty ?”
The old Taoist said solemnly, speaking to Tian Fan with an air of mystery. Tian Fan was of course aware of it—who knew better than him? But he still feigned surprise and exclaimed, “Of course I know! It’s one of the leading forces on the Divine Martial Continent, incredibly powerful. Are you saying, elder, that you have connections with the Soaring Dragon Dynasty ?”
“Hmm…”
The old Taoist was pleased with Tian Fan’s reaction and smiled, saying, “That’s right. The current Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Dynasty is my younger brother. I have no interest in court affairs, so I spend most of my time away. Once, I met someone by chance and established this ‘Great Sealing Sect,’ recruiting outstanding young cultivators. Once they become strong enough, they are sent to the Soaring Dragon Dynasty to become direct disciples of the royal family! You could say that our Great Sealing Sect is essentially a branch of the Soaring Dragon Dynasty !”
The old Taoist stroked his beard and said solemnly.
Hearing this, Tian Fan was amused. He was the seventh prince of the Soaring Dragon Dynasty, having been there for nearly twenty years. While many might not know, he knew very well that the current Emperor, Long Aotian, was the only son of the previous emperor. Where could another son come from? Now this old Taoist was claiming to be the Emperor’s elder brother!
Despite the amusement inside, he maintained a shocked expression and exclaimed, “So, elder, you have such a distinguished identity. Truly a recluse of the world! I am really disrespectful!”
Seeing Tian Fan’s “shock,” the old Taoist was very pleased and then said sternly, “Today, we are fated to meet, so I’ve told you this. Remember, you must not disclose it to anyone! If others find out, there will definitely be many troubles!”
“Yes, yes, I understand. I will never mention this to anyone! Please rest assured, elder!” Tian Fan could hardly contain his laughter and was on the verge of bursting out laughing.
“Hmm, then follow me. We’ll head to Great Sealing Sect,” the old Taoist said, carrying the floating pendant in his right hand and leading the way with his left hand behind his back.
The young Taoist shook his head “tragically,” thinking another pitiful “fool” had fallen into the old scammer’s trap.
Tian Fan immediately followed the two, heading towards Great Sealing Sect as mentioned by the old Taoist. Since he didn’t know where else to go, he decided to see what it was all about. Thus, the three of them set off towards Great Sealing Sect.