Chapter 36: Stealing the Dragon, Replacing the Phoenix

With a furious shout, a five-colored divine bull came charging; Huang Feihu glared, his spear thrust straight at Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun's back.

Sensing the killing intent behind him, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun merely gave a cold smile.

Immediately, he threw out a golden pillar from his hand—it was indeed the treasure Dunlong Pillar.

The golden pillar slammed hard into Huang Feihu's spear; the tremendous recoil instantly sent him stumbling backward.

At the same time, a golden lotus beneath the pillar spun, golden light blossomed, accompanied by a dragon's roar; the three golden rings on the pillar flashed and appeared above Huang Feihu's head.

The next moment, Huang Feihu felt his body tighten; he couldn't move, only able to watch as the golden rings above his head closed in on him.

"How bold, to dare act in my Chaoge City—do you think I'm just a figurehead as Human Emperor?"

Di Xin flew into a rage; with a roar, the national fortune of Chaoge City instantly began to gather around him.

Sensing the change in Di Xin's surrounding national fortune, even Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun couldn't help but change expression.

At that moment, a great seal appeared out of thin air above Huang Feihu's head.

With a resounding "clang," Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun felt his body shake; the three golden rings were instantly knocked back and flew away.

However, unlike Shen Gongbao before, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun now appeared completely at ease.

With his formidable cultivation, a slight circulation of his energy dispersed the might of the Kaitian Seal.

"Fusheng Wuliang Tianzun, why, fellow Daoist, do you attack me?"

Looking at Ao Yifan as he withdrew the Kaitian Seal, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun said lightly.

"Indeed, dealing with someone of the Twelve Golden Immortals' level is no easy feat; perhaps that fellow just now didn't use his full strength, so I don't know whether this Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun is a Taiyi Golden Immortal or an even more powerful Daluo Golden Immortal."

Ao Yifan thought to himself.

"Heh, Chan Sect immortal, you want to take this child as your disciple—don't you even plan to ask his father's opinion?"

Ao Yifan said with a smile.

Hearing this, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun couldn't help but frown.

He hadn't expected that his heaven‑fated disciple would have such a powerful father.

"Brother‑in‑law, no need to waste words on him—I'll seal him with the national fortune, you smash him with your treasure!"

Just then, Di Xin let out a furious roar.

The next moment, a strand of national fortune transformed into a Xuan Bird that swooped toward Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun.

At that moment, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun could no longer remain composed.

His expression changed, for he sensed that his own magical power was completely suppressed by the Xuan Bird of national fortune surrounding him.

"Your Majesty, do you really want to make Yuxu Palace your enemy? Don't forget who my master is!"

Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun said.

Hearing this, Di Xin's expression also changed.

The might of a sage is probably beyond even his ability as Human Emperor to suppress.

At the same time, Bi Qian and the other officials urged: "Your Majesty, stay calm—do not offend a sage!"

Faced with the officials' persuasion, Di Xin's expression flickered.

In his heart, Di Xin naturally did not want to offend a sage, after all, he hasn't lost his wits yet.

But now things have come to this—should he simply let the opponent go? Would that not ruin his dignity as Human Emperor?

"Your Majesty, why not hear a word from me, the father involved?"

At that moment, Ao Yifan spoke again.

Turning his gaze, Di Xin looked at Ao Yifan and said, "Speak!"

"Cough cough."

He gave a light cough and Ao Yifan said: "This matter isn't really a big deal; Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun merely feels a karmic link with my son and wishes to take him as a disciple."

"Hmph, my son Xiao Jin Taza can cultivate his abilities staying by my side—why would he need to apprentice elsewhere?"

Di Xin snorted coldly.

From Di Xin's words, one can see his fondness for Xiao Jin Taza and his desire to teach him personally.

Moreover, Di Xin also has this confidence.

After all, he is the Human Emperor; a single command from him would make countless immortals eager to serve the Yin‑Shang court, yet teaching Xiao Jin Taza his skills is still no easy task.

"No, no—now the orthodox Three Teachings, the Human Sect has few disciples and no plan to recruit widely; as for the Severed Sect, they are merely egg‑born, fur‑and‑horned riffraff!"

Although Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun's magical power was sealed, the bearing of a Chan Sect immortal remained undiminished.

"Only my Chan Sect is the true path of cultivation; only by following me can this child attain that supreme divine ability!"

Hearing Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun's words, Di Xin's face clouded over.

Although he didn't want to admit it, Di Xin also knew that the orthodox cultivation lineage now truly resides in Yuxu Palace.

However, Ao Yifan, on the other side, smirked inwardly.

"Supreme divine ability—this fellow's fine words are just a pretext to find someone to bear the calamity for him."

Ao Yifan naturally understood Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun's true motive.

The impending Fengshen calamity has all Three Teachings immortals entwined with calamitous energy.

Unlike the Severed Sect facing calamity head‑on, the Chan Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals—except for a certain straightforward, unfavored dragon—have all devised the plan of taking disciples to ward off the calamity.

In the original historical trajectory, Jin Taza indeed followed Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun to cultivate his abilities.

But frankly, a tool is a tool; his cultivation is merely average, at best achieving a Golden Immortal level, far inferior to the later Nezha.

Nevertheless, Ao Yifan still prepared to have Jin Taza take him as a master.

Why?

Or because Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun holds the roster of the Twelve Golden Immortals!

The Twelve Golden Immortals hold what exalted status within the Chan Sect!

The Chan Sect claims to have a hundred thousand immortals, but the very top are these Twelve Golden Immortals.

Yuanshi Tianzun is in closed-door cultivation and does not come out; the Twelve Golden Immortals can be said to be the true leaders of the entire Chan Sect!

What Ao Yifan has his eye on is precisely the establishment of the Twelve Golden Immortals under Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun.

He is well aware that after the Investiture of the Gods catastrophe, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun defected to the Western Sect and became Wenshu Pusa.

If Jinzha had not been lured to follow them, then it would go without saying who would finally hold the establishment of the Twelve Golden Immortals.

The Chan Sect is immensely powerful, and Ao Yifan naturally covets it greatly.

However, his background dooms him to never become the leader of the Chan Sect—at least, not before he can defeat Yuanshi Tianzun.

Perhaps, even if he could defeat Yuanshi Tianzun, it would still be hard to become the leader of the Chan Sect, for above the Three Pure Ones there is still a Heavenly Dao Saint.

So Ao Yifan plans to pull a dragon-and-phoenix switch.

Since I myself cannot become the leader of the Chan Sect in the short term, I will have my people first seize the positions of the Twelve Golden Immortals.

As long as half of the Twelve Golden Immortals are my people, then wouldn't the leader of the Chan Sect be me?

"However, wanting to seize the positions of the Twelve Golden Immortals is a heavy burden and a long road; one must strive hard!"

Ao Yifan silently thought to himself.