People genuinely felt that the world had gone mad—even a little puppy had become an exalted, incomprehensible existence.
The Hong Clan was a powerful True Immortal family. Their ancestor had ascended to immortality during the Immortal Ancient Era, his strength unparalleled. After an entire epoch of cultivation, it was hard to imagine just how formidable he had become.
Yet today, an earth-shattering revelation emerged—he had once been a human pet? A dog had been his master!
This… was nothing short of a thunderbolt from the blue, striking everyone dumbfounded. It was too legendary, too unbelievable.
A mighty figure like Hong Fa actually had such a dark past!
It was hard to say whether this was a twist of fate or a stain on his reputation, but it was utterly mind-boggling, leaving many stunned.
In an instant, all eyes turned toward the little dog, even Shi Hao—who had earlier displayed his might—was temporarily forgotten. Everyone stared at the puppy, their gazes burning with awe.
Though its form wasn’t particularly majestic—neither a True Dragon nor a Divine Phoenix—it had once kept a True Immortal as a pet!
“May we ask how we should address you, Senior?” someone approached, kneeling and bowing deeply with utmost reverence.
Once someone took the lead, others followed suit, swarming over—men and women, young and old—staring at the black dog as if it were a rare creature, then bowing in respect.
And truth be told, it really was a rare creature!
“My name is Great Virtue. Virtue begets the Dao, and the Dao leads to immortality. As the saying goes, attaining the Dao leads to ascension,” the puppy declared with utmost solemnity, enunciating its name—Great Virtue.
Cao Yusheng pinched his nose, listening with disdain. While others revered the dog, he found it insufferable, wishing he could find a pot and stew it on the spot.
He knew this mutt was putting on an act, deliberately feigning solemnity.
“Senior, where do you cultivate in seclusion? Would you be willing to take disciples?”
Someone was too direct, unable to contain their eagerness, cutting straight to the point.
The others had also come to curry favor, but most had planned to ease into it. Yet here was someone charging ahead, openly making their intentions known.
“I reside atop Mount Shangcang, neighboring the Primordial Immortal King. Sensing a great calamity in the world, I descended to intervene!” the puppy declared gravely.
The crowd was stunned. Was it really that serious? But something about this felt like a charlatan’s spiel.
“Speak human language,” Cao Yusheng muttered.
“Human pet, don’t get cocky just because I favor you. Otherwise, I’ll cast you into the Netherworld for ten thousand years of reflection!” the puppy threatened.
“Esteemed Daoist, perhaps you shouldn’t speak out of turn.”
“Senior is imparting profound truths—do not interrupt!”
The others scolded Cao Yusheng in unison, rushing to defend the puppy.
Cao Yusheng cursed inwardly. These idiots—he was trying to save them from being scammed by the dog, yet they didn’t appreciate it!
Truthfully, none of them were fools. They all suspected the dog was exaggerating, but they also understood its origins were extraordinary. Right now, they were just playing along.
If even the Hong Clan’s ancestor had been its pet, how powerful must it be? Establishing good relations with this dog would bring countless benefits!
Many had ulterior motives, believing that winning the dog’s favor would secure a terrifying ally for their families—worth any price.
As for the Hong Clan members, they remained kneeling, seething in silence, not daring to utter a word.
“Senior, if there’s anything you need, we are willing to serve you with utmost loyalty!” someone flattered.
But the puppy immediately glared. “Serve me with loyalty”? Was that supposed to be praise or an insult?
The flatterer immediately regretted his words. What was the right way to compliment a dog, anyway?
The little black dog remained composed, suppressing its temper and putting on a dignified air. “This humble Daoist has secluded himself for a million years, detached from the mortal world. Now that I’ve emerged, I merely wish to experience the essence of mortal life.”
“Senior is truly transcendent!”
“The realm of Great Virtue Senior is beyond our comprehension!”
The crowd praised and flattered, though some of it was genuine—they truly couldn’t fathom the puppy’s level of cultivation.
“Senior, please enlighten us with your teachings. We yearn to hear your profound wisdom!” many pleaded.
They genuinely wanted to hear the master of Hong Fa, the True Immortal, expound the Great Dao.
“To me, emerging from seclusion is already a lower realm. Preaching scriptures is too superficial. All laws and truths are contained within every word and action, embedded in the myriad forms of mortal existence,” the puppy said with profound depth.
Cao Yusheng rolled his eyes but held his tongue this time, knowing he’d be bitten if he spoke out of turn.
“Senior, please resolve our doubts and further enlighten us!” someone entreated earnestly.
“Hmm, very well. Do any of you possess divine herbs?” the puppy asked.
The crowd hesitated, but eventually, someone stepped forward, placing a divine herb on the jade table—a scion from a prominent family in the Immortal Domain.
This was no small gesture—carrying a divine herb was a life-saving treasure!
Of course, the root remained in their family’s medicinal garden.
“Anyone else?” the puppy pressed.
“I do!”
Two more individuals reluctantly stepped forward, placing their divine herbs on the table under the puppy’s expectant gaze.
Nearby, Cao Yusheng’s eyes gleamed with greed. This time, he stayed quiet, no warnings needed. He waited in anticipation, knowing this dog was up to no good.
“Does anyone have a Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill?” the puppy asked.
This time, everyone shook their heads in unison. Was it joking? Such a treasure wasn’t something one carried around—it was a supreme elixir refined from longevity herbs!
In the Immortal Domain, such pills were exceedingly rare, nearly impossible to find.
A single pill could elevate one to immortality in broad daylight!
It was the most precious treasure across all ages!
“Never mind, then,” the puppy sighed in disappointment.
Then, it extended a tiny paw, picked up one of the divine herbs, and began munching on it like a carrot—crunch, crunch—devouring it right then and there.
“Senior!” The young scion who had offered the herb nearly jumped in shock. Even for a wealthy Immortal Domain family, gifting a divine herb only for it to be eaten like a snack was too much!
He had assumed the puppy would use the herb to demonstrate the Great Dao or reveal profound mysteries.
Instead, it just ate it!
The other two donors also panicked, reaching out to reclaim their herbs—but the puppy was faster. Two more “carrots” vanished into its mouth.
“Ah, this…” The three turned green with fury, wanting to curse but holding back out of fear.
“To me, these so-called divine herbs and immortal grasses are merely mundane sustenance—just fruits of the mortal world. Having been in seclusion for so long, I merely wished to reminisce by tasting them,” the puppy declared loftily.
The three nearly exploded with rage. This mutt had devoured their treasures for mere gluttony, yet spoke as if it were some grand gesture!
“Hmm, having absorbed some mortal essence, my heart has returned from the heavens to the mortal realm. Now, I shall demonstrate the trajectory of the supreme Great Dao for you,” the puppy announced.
With an air of solemnity, it slowly waved its paws in the air, as if fishing—an odd sight.
Yet the crowd watched intently, convinced there was profound meaning behind its movements.
Only Cao Yusheng, who knew its true nature, spat in disgust and walked away. He knew the dog was just putting on a show. Worse, it hadn’t even left him a single herb!
Shi Hao, equally speechless, beckoned Cao Yusheng over and began inscribing formation patterns onto him.
“Ah—!” A scream shattered the silence. Everyone turned to see Wang Da writhing in agony as Shi Hao forcibly extracted the formation from his body and engraved it onto Cao Yusheng.
This was no gentle replication—it was outright theft!
Shi Hao feared errors, so he took the formation directly to ensure Cao Yusheng’s benefit.
“Once all nine formations are gathered, your rise shall begin,” Shi Hao said with a smile.
Beside him, Wang Da spat blood, collapsing in pain—having the formation ripped out felt like having his bones extracted.
“Enough for today. We shall continue the lecture another time,” the puppy declared.
Shi Hao spared Wang Da’s life for now. “I’ll let you live… for the time being.”
He still needed the other Wang Clan formations. Killing Wang Da now would only provoke chaos.
*Thud!*
With a flick of his finger, Shi Hao knocked Wang Da unconscious and tossed him into a spatial artifact—alive. He intended to extract the *Pingluan Art* from him.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Three figures vanished from the scene.
“Why the rush?” Cao Yusheng panted, struggling to keep up until Shi Hao yanked him along.
“Idiot! If we don’t hurry, my old enemies will come for me!” the puppy snapped.
“You’ve got a True Immortal as a pet—what’s there to fear?!” Cao Yusheng retorted.
“If you became a True Immortal, would you still be my pet? If you knew my cultivation was gone, wouldn’t you try to stew me?” the puppy shot back.
“Absolutely!”
“Woof! I’ll eat you first!”
…
Shi Hao finally understood—this mutt had too many enemies. It was already nervous just showing its face, fleeing the moment it appeared.
With the Immortal Domain’s armies in this realm, it feared retaliation.
Just how much hatred had it incurred in the past? What sins had it committed?
“Where to now?” Cao Yusheng asked.
“To the Nine Heavens. We’ll pay a visit to Old Lady Jin and the Wind Clan’s ancestor,” Shi Hao replied.
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