After Wu Qianfan left the mountain, Ye Qiu and the others waited inside the Undying Mountain for quite a while, but no disciples from the Azure Cloud Sword Sect appeared. Following their plan to exit in batches, Lin Da’niao was the first to step out.
Lin Da’niao swaggered through the spatial rift. The very next second, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
As far as he could see, the ground was covered with a dense mass of kneeling cultivators, every single one of them reverent and respectful.
“Whoa, so many people here to welcome me out of the mountain?”
Lin Da’niao completely failed to notice the several Saints hidden in the void. He genuinely believed they were greeting him. He immediately placed both hands behind his back, stuck out his big belly, assumed an imposing manner, and declared in a booming voice, “Everyone, there is no need for such courtesy. Rise!”
In that instant, every kneeling cultivator turned to stare at Lin Da’niao, their expressions turning extremely strange.
“Is this guy insane?”
“Rise? Does he think he’s the emperor?”
“Could he be Ye Changsheng?”
Seeing that the crowd remained kneeling and showed no sign of standing, Lin Da’niao actually felt a little embarrassed. “My friends, this welcoming ceremony is far too grand.”
“There really is no need.”
“We are all on the same side. Please get up!”
Hearing this, some of the cultivators almost laughed out loud.
Who the hell is on the same side as you?
Who do you think you are that we should welcome you?
We are kneeling to Saint-realm experts!
Have you seen the Saint-realm experts?
Lin Da’niao genuinely had not noticed the Saints in the void. He continued striding forward with chest puffed out while muttering to himself.
“These people are clearly stronger than me, yet why are they bowing to me?”
“Could my old man be here?”
“No, that can’t be right. My father doesn’t even know I came here.”
“Something feels seriously off…”
Just as Lin Da’niao realised something was wrong, a figure abruptly appeared in front of him.
It was a middle-aged man radiating terrifying pressure.
Lin Da’niao instantly felt as though an enormous mountain had planted itself before him, making it hard to breathe.
“Not good, a super expert!”
His nerves stretched taut. He wondered silently, “Is this guy from one of the three Holy Lands, or from the Heaven-Mending Sect?”
He did not suspect the Yin-Yang Cult less because their robes normally bore the cult’s emblem.
Steadying himself, Lin Da’niao cupped his fists and bowed to the middle-aged man. “Greetings, senior. How may this junior address you?”
The man replied coldly, “I am Wu Tian, sect leader of the Beast Emperor Sect, subordinate to the Wuji Heavenly Venerable of the Yin-Yang Cult!”
Holy crap, Yin-Yang Cult!
Lin Da’niao’s heart lurched. “Senior, may I ask the meaning of this?”
“Where is Ye Changsheng?” Wu Tian demanded icily.
“So senior is looking for Ye Changsheng. One moment, I’ll call him out for you right away.” Lin Da’niao spun around and bolted toward the rift.
Running for his life was the priority.
However, Wu Tian gave him no chance. His figure flashed, blocking the path, and struck toward Lin Da’niao’s forehead with a palm.
“Stop!”
A deep shout rang out.
Wu Tian immediately withdrew his hand and looked up into the void.
“Who’s helping me?” Lin Da’niao wondered curiously. He also glanced upward, and the very next second his soul nearly fled his body in terror.
“W-Wuji Heavenly Venerable?!”
At the same time, Lin Da’niao noticed that beside the Wuji Heavenly Venerable stood three men and one woman. Though they emitted no aura, they gave off an overwhelming sense of majesty that made one want to prostrate in worship.
Anyone who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Wuji Heavenly Venerable was obviously also a Saint.
“It’s over, it’s over…”
Lin Da’niao was so frightened that his rolls of fat trembled uncontrollably.
“Heavenly Venerable, this fat pig tried to flee. Why not kill him?” Wu Tian suggested.
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable ignored Wu Tian and looked at Lin Da’niao up and down with a beaming smile. “I remember you. You are Lin Da’niao, heir of the Beast Tamer Clan. You went into the Undying Mountain once, yet you haven’t changed a bit?”
Lin Da’niao forced a smile uglier than crying onto his chubby face. “I did change. I gained ten jin since entering the mountain.”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable was momentarily speechless. The other Saints could not help laughing.
“This fatty really is a rare treasure,” Nangong Jingyun chuckled. “Unfortunately he’s too fat. Not much fun.”
Lin Da’niao hurriedly added, “Senior, fat is good! You can kick me like a ball.”
Nangong Jingyun: “…”
“I almost forgot because you didn’t remind me. Last time I really should have used you as a ball,” the Wuji Heavenly Venerable said with a smile, but his smile was ice-cold.
Lin Da’niao involuntarily recalled the time they killed Xu Yourong. The Wuji Heavenly Venerable had nearly tortured him to death. Just thinking of those methods made his scalp tingle and his soul quiver.
“Senior, do you have any further business? If not, this junior will take his leave.”
Lin Da’niao said with a trembling voice, “After all, last time I promised you I would find five divine beasts for you.”
“Are you going to look for divine beasts, or are you planning to run away?” the Wuji Heavenly Venerable asked, narrowing his eyes with a smile.
Run away, of course!
Who in their right mind would stay here to be tortured?
Only an idiot would linger.
Naturally Lin Da’niao would never admit the truth. “Senior, I really am going to search for divine beasts. I promised you last time that within a hundred years I would find five for you. Time is tight. I must seize every second.”
“Not a bad attitude,” the Wuji Heavenly Venerable continued. “Then why were you running just now?”
“Running? When did I run?” Lin Da’niao turned to the kneeling cultivators. “Did I run just now? Did any of you see me run?”
“Senior, you must be mistaken.”
“This junior is upright and honest. I have done nothing to weigh on my conscience. I would never flee.”
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable gave a cold laugh. “So according to you, I am going senile?”
“No, senior, let me explain, ah…” Lin Da’niao suddenly screamed as his body was lifted into the air.
The Wuji Heavenly Venerable extended five fingers, seized Lin Da’niao by the shoulder, and hoisted the fatty right in front of his face.
At this moment Lin Da’niao was as weak as a chick.
Staring at the Wuji Heavenly Venerable inches away, Lin Da’niao asked in terror, “S-senior, what are you doing?”
The Venerable replied frostily, “You actually dare ask what I am doing? Are you unaware of what you have done?”
“I… I haven’t done anything…” Before Lin Da’niao could finish, his entire body was restrained.
Then the Wuji Heavenly Venerable reached out and plucked a spatial ring from him, crushing it with a light squeeze.
Crack!
The ring shattered, and a scroll appeared in the Venerable’s hand.
The Myriad Phenomena Diagram!
In an instant Lin Da’niao’s face turned the colour of pig liver.
“Now do you still dare claim you have done nothing?” The Wuji Heavenly Venerable flicked his right hand. Boundless power surged into the Myriad Phenomena Diagram, and in a flash Ling Menghan’s figure leapt out from within.
