Chapter 162: The Utterly Loyal Sect Master

Chapter 162: The Utterly Loyal Sect Leader

Hua Sangeng's failure in his Dao-seeding attempt caught Luo Feng completely off guard.

The internal struggles within the Xuanyuan Alliance, which had previously seemed somewhat thorny and troublesome, vanished into thin air in an instant.

Truly, human affairs are entirely unpredictable.

However, regarding Old Ancestor Huaqing's failure, Luo Feng did not feel an excess of schadenfreude. Instead, he felt a deeper sense of empathy and vigilance.

Today's Golden Immortal tribulation of Old Ancestor Huaqing might well be Luo Feng's own Daluo tribulation in the days to come!

"My chances of success right now are far too slim!"

Luo Feng muttered inwardly to himself.

He had essentially comprehended all the essential qualities required for the Daluo realm: his own Dao, an understanding of time and space, and a steadfast Dao heart.

An internal tribulation required at least a ninety-five percent certainty of overcoming, but external tribulations were a completely different matter!

External tribulations were perilous beyond measure. Even with the protection of Doumu Yuangun and the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Lord, Luo Feng did not dare claim a hundred percent success rate.

After all, supreme mighty figures embodied the Mandate of Heaven, and since ancient times, the Mandate of Heaven has been notoriously difficult to fathom. Luo Feng could not be certain what sacred figures might step out to obstruct his path when his future tribulation arrived.

Therefore, he still needed to play it safe and bide his time a little longer!

He didn't ask to have the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Linglong Pagoda hovering above his head, the Yin-Yang Taiji Diagram beneath his feet, twelve primordial lotus flowers for defense, the Pangu Banner in his left hand, the Immortality-Slaying Sword in his right hand, a Chaos Bell reversed in his backhand, and hundreds of millions of trillions of unimaginable layers of defensive armor!

At the very least, he needed a primordial spiritual treasure to protect his body before he could dare to take the risk and attempt a life-or-death Dao-seeding.

Yet, how precious were primordial spiritual treasures? How could minor characters ever hope to covet them?

A little white dragon protagonist lacking background, backing, and pedigree would naturally yearn for a primordial spiritual treasure to fall from the sky so he could become the protagonist of heaven and earth.

However, as a confidant of the Jade Emperor, originating from the Purple Qi Palace and serving as a disciple of Doumu, how could Luo Feng not know what a primordial spiritual treasure truly was?!

The standing of a primordial spiritual treasure is as lofty and supreme as that of a Daluo being.

In other words, every single primordial spiritual treasure is equivalent to a Daluo entity who cultivates the Dao of Artifacts!

If a Daluo entity bowed before you the moment they met you, would you dare accept it? You'd likely just be a disposable tool!

Whether a person controls the treasure or the treasure controls the person is something only those involved truly know.

Therefore, almost every single primordial spiritual treasure remains in the hands of Daluo beings, who treat them as fellow Daoists and Dao companions.

This creates a vicious cycle: if you do not attain the Daluo realm, you possess no primordial spiritual treasure; and without a primordial spiritual treasure, Luo Feng dared not risk seeking the Daluo Dao.

"Wait..."

Luo Feng pondered for a long while before a flash of brilliance suddenly sparked in his eyes, bringing sudden enlightenment.

Who says I don't have any primordial spiritual treasures?!

One must remember that a primordial spiritual treasure is equivalent to a Daluo being; in other words, a Daluo being is equivalent to a primordial spiritual treasure.

Without a primordial spiritual treasure, could I have ascended all the way from some low-magic lower realm to the vast primordial universe by continuously hacking and flying upward?!

Even if it is just one out of hundreds of millions of trillions of a primordial spiritual treasure, it is still a primordial spiritual treasure!

A complete primordial spiritual treasure is something I neither dare to use nor am qualified to use.

However, semi-finished products, defective goods, or those half-old and half-new varieties—those I can try to piece together and see if I can cobble something functional out of them.

Luo Feng revealed a knowing smile.

Immortals and cultivators at the side, the Immortal Tai'er, asked with curiosity: "Tianyi, what are you smiling about?"

Luo Feng paused. He certainly couldn't say, "I am laughing at the Lord God..."

With a quick shift of his thoughts, Luo Feng fabricated an excuse: "Watching Old Ancestor Huaqing attempt the Dao brought me some insight, and the Heavenly Immortal realm is now within reach."

Immortal Tai'er naturally didn't believe it, but still wore a gratified smile: "Tianyi is the qilin son of our sect, and he is soon going to surpass this old Daoist."

"What are you saying, Ancestor? You are still as vigorous as ever..."

Luo Feng chuckled and flattered him.

Another round of polite, insincere commercial mutual praise followed.

Inadvertently, the two of them exchanged a glance, both wearing bright smiles—the picture of a virtuous master and a filial disciple. Yet, at the very same time, deep down in their hearts, each utterly despised the other's hypocritical, veteran-freeloader behavior, and simultaneously spat inwardly.

"Old fox!"

"Little fox!"

Old Ancestor Huaqing's failure in his Dao-seeding had caused an uproar, but time always moves forward.

The people of the Huaqing Temple looked as desolate as mourners at a funeral, their expressions gloomy as they saw off batch after batch of departing immortals.

Of course, there were also immortals who owed favors. Since Old Ancestor Huaqing had demonstrated and expounded upon the Dao during his attempt, quite a few immortals had benefited immensely and promised to protect the Huaqing Temple for a period of time.

Perhaps this was precisely why Old Ancestor Huaqing had chosen the method of harmonizing with the Dao: first by scheming to eliminate the Huaqing Temple's mortal enemy, the Golden-Winged Phoenix, and then by expounding the Dao during his tribulation to weave a web of favorable connections.

Even though his own Dao-seeding failed, the Huaqing Temple would not fall into total ruin overnight.

As members of the same Xuanyuan Alliance, the seven sects were meant to watch over and assist one another, so Immortal Tai'er naturally needed to step forward and offer greetings.

With Old Ancestor Huaqing, Hua Sangeng, having transformed into the Dao, the only person left who could make decisions in the Huaqing Temple was none other than Old Ancestor Huaqing's son, Hua Ergeng.

He was at the Earth Immortal realm, extremely close to becoming a Heavenly Immortal.

Seeing Immortal Tai'er and Luo Feng approach, he hurriedly stepped forward to welcome them with a bow.

"Two fellow Daoists, our temple has suffered a major event, and our hospitality has been lacking. Please forgive us."

Hua Ergeng's expression was haggard, and his tone was humble.

Gone was his previous high-spirited and radiant demeanor; one could easily imagine how devastating Hua Sangeng's transformation into the Dao had been to him.

Immortal Tai'er let out a sigh: "Nephew need not be like this. Your father, Daoist Brother Sangeng, and I were close friends, and the Seven Sects of Xuanyuan have always watched over and helped one another."

"In the future, if there is anything you need, this old Daoist will certainly do his utmost to help."

Hua Ergeng nodded, a bit of color returning to his face as he said with overwhelming gratitude: "Thank you, Immortal, for your understanding. I am endlessly grateful, endlessly grateful..."

Previously, because Old Ancestor Huaqing was still around and on the verge of becoming a Golden Immortal, the Huaqing Temple had acted rather arrogant and overbearing.

For the Tai'er Sect to do its best to help rather than kick them while they were down was already something he was deeply satisfied with.

Then, Hua Ergeng deep-bowed respectfully to Luo Feng.

His expression was solemn, and his tone was full of shame: "I know our temple's disciples were unruly and arrogant, causing you, Fellow Daoist, a great deal of trouble!"

"From this day forth, the disciples of the Huaqing Temple in the Heavenly Court will take Fellow Daoist as their sole leader. Anyone who dares to show disobedience will be dealt with by me according to temple rules!"

Following that, Hua Ergeng solemnly added: "I can see that Fellow Daoist's cultivation is profound and not far from the Heavenly Immortal realm. There are a few bottles of pills in our sect's treasury which I wish to present to Fellow Daoist as a token of goodwill."

This was a heavy gift. For Luo Feng, who appeared outwardly to be merely at the Earth Immortal level, this was undoubtedly a weighty offering.

Hua Ergeng possessed great resolve and was willing to part with such a heavy gift.

If Luo Feng accepted it, it would mean that past grievances were wiped clean and completely written off.

Luo Feng could not help but nod inwardly. Able to bend and stretch, understanding what to give up and what to keep—Hua Ergeng was a capable figure.

If he himself let the matter rest lightly, perhaps the Huaqing Temple would truly weather this crisis.

However...

Just as Luo Feng was about to speak, Immortal Tai'er suddenly let out a sigh: "The deceased are the most important, and the Tai'er Sect can certainly understand."

Immortal Tai'er was actually pleading on behalf of the Huaqing Temple.

Could it be that he and Old Ancestor Huaqing were not just fair-weather friends, but genuinely shared a deep friendship?

Only to hear Immortal Tai'er say with a touch of emotion: "In past years, Daoist Brother Huaqing, as an accomplished Heavenly Immortal, never abandoned the Seven Sects of Xuanyuan. The Tai'er Sect benefited greatly from his protection."

Luo Feng nodded, understanding the situation: Ah, so he was merely a defensive shield.

Moreover, Old Ancestor Huaqing had indeed provided protection for many years, leaving behind certain favorable ties.

Coupled with the fact that he was now allied with Immortal Tai'er, Luo Feng thought for a moment and said: "There is still one thing required."

Hua Ergeng said with absolute decisiveness: "Name the item, and just ask."

"The Golden-Winged Phoenix," Luo Feng said calmly.

"Fellow Daoist may take it."

Hua Ergeng did not hesitate in the slightest and agreed immediately.

He truly was a capable person. Luo Feng then continued: "And there is one final condition: Fellow Daoist must accompany me to the Heavenly Court."

Hua Ergeng was startled, asking somewhat nervously: "What about the affairs of the Huaqing Temple?!"

Luo Feng leisurely replied: "Naturally, they will be handled by the Sect Leader of the Huaqing Temple."

Recalling how the Huaqing Temple's Sect Leader had previously gone all out to assist Old Ancestor Huaqing in battle, bleeding and sweating for the cause with utter devotion, Hua Ergeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Huaqing Temple's Sect Leader was close to the Xuanyuan Alliance and advocated for the total integration of the seven sects—a philosophy that did not align with his own—at least it wasn't outright annexation. The Huaqing Temple was still in the hands of one of their own, and he could slowly work to maneuver things later.

He cupped his fists and said: "Everything shall be as Fellow Daoist commands."

Luo Feng also revealed a faint smile. From this moment onward, the Seven Sects of Xuanyuan were firmly within his grasp.

It was well worth making the Huaqing Temple's Sect Leader put on such a display of absolute loyalty, fighting to the death without retreat earlier.

[Making up for yesterday's chapter, time to sleep.]