Chapter 687 Summoning the Disciples

As he spoke, the puppet ‘Two’s’ numb expression instantly shifted, becoming indistinguishable from that of an ordinary Cultivator.

Leng Kezhen and Qingjiang both lowered their heads, hiding the fleeting terror on their faces. Then they heard Wang Ping say, “Pick people who are tight-lipped. Alright, get to it.”

Hearing this, the two bowed as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders, then respectfully withdrew from the small courtyard.

After the two had left, Yu Lian opened her eyes. Looking at Wang Ping in the courtyard, she said, “You’re still so cautious. There’s no possibility they would betray you.”

“It’s never wrong to be careful. In this world, the human heart is the most difficult thing to fathom!”

Wang Ping took a step back to inspect the puppet’s assembled legs on the Stone Table. After confirming there were no issues, he began attaching them to its torso.

Yu Lian watched him and said, “I just don’t think it’s necessary. With your current cultivation level, so what if they betray you? You’re always so on edge. I’m afraid one day you won’t be able to take it anymore.”

Hearing this, Wang Ping glanced back at Yu Lian. “Don’t worry. Everyone in this world is on edge, even mortals. They don’t know when it started, but they carry on that way until death without ever saying they can’t take it.”

Since Wang Ping put it that way, Yu Lian simply closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

* * *

Time passed unknowingly. The boisterous Qianmu Temple Dharma Assembly finally came to a close, and disciples from the various sects began to depart in an orderly fashion. Yuan Zheng and Ruan Chunzi were personally at the Ascension Platform to see off the important figures from each sect, especially the three representatives from the south. For a time, the Ascension Platform was bustling with activity.

But the lively atmosphere faded as quickly as it had appeared. In less than Half an Hour, all the guests were gone.

Yuan Zheng walked to the edge of the Ascension Platform, gazing past the mist at the wide river and the bordering Zhonghui City. He then turned to look back toward the gates of Qianmu Temple and said to Ruan Chunzi, who stood beside him, “Looking back to when I first met Changqing, I never could have imagined I would experience something like this. In just over five hundred years, I’ve witnessed the birth of a Lord with my own eyes.”

Ruan Chunzi let out a laugh. “Do you know where I was when I first saw Changqing?” he asked.

“Where?”

“I’ve forgotten…”

Ruan Chunzi shook his head. As he spoke, his mind drifted back to the incident at Yongming Port. ‘Back then, I’d planned to use the chaos to swipe some valuable Magical Artifacts, but I never expected to run into such an interesting Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

‘Wang Ping left a deep impression on me back then. I’d mostly forgotten about it afterward, but then a prodigy suddenly appeared in the Southern Cultivation Realm—someone who reached the Third Realm in the *Taiyan Talisman* in just two hundred years. When I investigated secretly, I found it was none other than that same Foundation Establishment Cultivator I had encountered.

‘As a True Yang Sect Cultivator who had reached the Third Realm from a minor branch sect, I know all too well how arduous the path of cultivation is. I’ve always been curious about so-called geniuses. When I met Wang Ping again, I expected someone so young and accomplished to be arrogant, but instead, I found a young man who was cautious to an extreme.

‘It was then I realized that there really are no so-called geniuses in this world.’

Reaching this point in his recollection, Ruan Chunzi pushed the thoughts from his mind and said to Yuan Zheng, “We still haven’t formally paid our respects to the new Lord of our Southern Cultivation Realm.”

Yuan Zheng smiled. “No rush. Liu Shuang is gathering her junior brothers and sisters. It seems our Lord wishes to see his disciples first.”

Front Hall of the Inner Courtyard.

Beneath the Golden Body Divine Statues of Yuxiao and Wang Ping, Liu Shuang looked at the junior brothers and sisters gathered around her, along with their somewhat reserved martial-nephews and nieces. Her expression was a mixture of tension and urgency.

“Isn’t Wenyi ready yet?” As she spoke, she looked at Xia Wenyi’s disciple, Xia Yang. “Go see what’s holding up your master.”

“No need, I’m here!”

Xia Wenyi’s voice preceded him as he entered the hall. He strode over, met Liu Shuang’s gaze, and hurriedly explained, “I was seeing off a Fellow Daoist from the north and got delayed.”

“What friend is more important than Master’s summons? You’ve become so reckless ever since you stepped down as Dean!”

As she spoke, she turned to Hu Qianqian. “Junior Sister, you’re the reliable one, and Master has always been fondest of you. Go on ahead and announce our arrival.”

Hearing Liu Shuang’s words, a violet glimmer flashed through Hu Qianqian’s beautiful eyes, and her fluffy ears twitched. She cupped her fists and said, “Yes, Eldest Sister-Disciple.”

After agreeing, she pulled the Little White Fox, Hu Lin, and walked out of the hall. Upon reaching the entrance, Hu Lin transformed into a pure white fox and flew off with Hu Qianqian on a cloud toward Qianmu Mountain.

“This is the first time Master has summoned us since being named a Lord. You must all be on your best behavior, understand?”

STEP… STEP…

Just as Liu Shuang was giving instructions, Shen Xiaozhu entered the hall, looking travel-worn.

As her disciple, Mu Yun, bowed to her, Shen Xiaozhu said to Liu Shuang, “Junior Brother Xuanling’s Dao Field is sealed, and he himself is unconscious. The puppets outside have lost their vitality. He must be at a critical juncture in his seclusion, so I’m afraid he won’t be able to pay his respects to Master.”

“In that case, we’ll go on ahead. I’ll explain the situation to Master on Junior Brother Xuanling’s behalf.”

Liu Shuang said nothing more. She pinched her fingers together to calculate the time, then closed her eyes to rest her mind.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Liu Shuang opened her eyes and called out to everyone, “Let’s go pay our respects to Master.” With that, she led her junior brothers and sisters out of the hall, and they all rose into the air on clouds.

In the small courtyard of the Mountain Peak Dojo.

Wang Ping sat upright beside the Stone Table, dressed in a formal, wide-sleeved Daoist robe. Hu Qianqian stood respectfully at his side, her ears perked. In the garden outside, her disciple, Hu Lin, was playing with the Calico Cat. The cat was always bullying him, but he never seemed to tire of the game.