Chapter 19: Zhang Cheng is not a name you can just call—? Call him Junior Uncle!

Inside the righteous manor, Uncle Nine paid his respects to Real Person Jinbao and said, "Master, I have been in contact with this person, Zhang Cheng, for a period of time. While I cannot say I understand everything about him, I am certain that Zhang Cheng is a promising talent."

Real Person Jinbao nodded slightly and said, "Not bad. Compared to the third-generation disciples under your care, he far surpasses them; even among you second-generation disciples, he is an outstanding talent. It is a good thing to be able to recruit such a hero for the Taoist Sect."

"You also know that there will soon be a great change between heaven and earth. Within fifteen years, the underworld will close, leaving only the Naihe Bridge and the Six Paths of Reincarnation. At that time, someone will be needed to guard from above."

"Recently, news came from the underworld saying that the person who will walk in the world of the living has already been decided, and that person is in Guangdong Province. I came here today to find this person, and as it turns out, the effort was effortless. I believe Zhang Cheng is this person."

Uncle Nine was shocked. This matter was only known among a few personal disciples within the Taoist Sect, which was why the Lin family supported Lin Fengjiao in becoming the manager of the Heaven and Earth Bank. Through such operations, whether it was Daoist One-Eyebrow or Uncle Nine, they could serve as officials under the judges in the underworld after death, rather than being ordinary ghost runners.

However, before the underworld closes, if Uncle Nine has not yet died, he must perform self-dissolution of his physical body and return his soul to the underworld; otherwise, if he misses the time, he will never be able to enter again.

Uncle Nine said with a serious expression, "Master, I understand. I will find an opportunity to ask Zhang Cheng, though I noticed today that Zhang Cheng does not resist this matter."

Real Person Jinbao said with great satisfaction, "Hmm, if Zhang Cheng agrees, I will take him as my closing disciple."

Uncle Nine said happily, "Yes, Master!"

The next day, taking advantage of a procurement trip, Uncle Nine found Zhang Cheng.

Inside the hotel room, Uncle Nine wore a smile and asked softly, "Zhang Cheng, you have seen the situation of our Taoist Sect. Your ancestors were also lay practitioners of Taoism. Have you ever thought about becoming a disciple of Taoism?"

Zhang Cheng's heart stirred. Could it be that Real Person Jinbao wanted one of his disciples to take him as an apprentice? If this were arranged for Shi Jian, that would be a disaster.

Strike first to gain the advantage!

He nodded and said, "Uncle Nine, are you willing to take me as your apprentice?"

Uncle Nine hurriedly waved his hands and laughed, "With your strength, what virtue or ability do I have to be your master? If you wish to join the Taoist Sect, I can join Senior Brother One-Eyebrow and the others in persuading Master to take you as his apprentice."

Real Person Jinbao? Zhang Cheng was somewhat surprised. He knew that Real Person Jinbao had true ability, with a cultivation level a hundred times stronger than his own.

If he became a personal disciple of Real Person Jinbao, he would certainly be able to receive the register.

He hurriedly nodded and said, "That would be truly wonderful. I ask that Uncle Nine put in a good word for me before the Real Person."

Uncle Nine was overjoyed and laughed, "Why call me Uncle Nine? Just call me Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother!"

Uncle Nine immediately left Ren Family Town and returned to the righteous manor to tell Real Person Jinbao this good news.

Real Person Jinbao was also beaming with joy and said, "Notify Shi Jian and the others to all come to the righteous manor. I am going to take Zhang Cheng as my closing disciple."

Uncle Nine immediately called for Qiusheng and Wencai and said, "You two go to town immediately and invite all the junior and senior uncles."

Qiusheng asked suspiciously, "Master, isn't it not yet time to marry the mistress?"

Uncle Nine put on a stern face and said, "What nonsense are you spouting? His old master is going to take Zhang Cheng as his closing disciple. From now on, when you see Zhang Cheng, you must call him Junior Uncle."

The faces of Qiusheng and Wencai instantly crumpled. Qiusheng wailed, "Zhang Cheng is actually my Junior Uncle now?"

Uncle Nine immediately gave Qiusheng a swat and barked, "You talk too much, hurry up and go!"

Qiusheng had no choice but to take Wencai and go to notify Shi Jian and the others.

Soon, the Taoist disciples gathered at the righteous manor, and Zhang Cheng followed along.

Shi Shaojian looked at the uninvited Zhang Cheng with dissatisfaction and barked, "This is a gathering of our Taoist disciples. What are you, someone who isn't even a registered disciple, doing here?"

Shi Shaojian did not know that Real Person Jinbao was going to take Zhang Cheng as a disciple; Qiusheng and Wencai had not mentioned this.

Zhang Cheng was not annoyed.

He smiled and said, "Young man, don't be so arrogant."

Shi Shaojian said impatiently, "What business is it of yours? Get out!"

In the main hall, Shi Jian saw the situation outside and questioned, "Who invited an outsider here? Hmm!"

Uncle Nine hurriedly explained, "Senior Brother, today Master is going to take Zhang Cheng as his closing disciple."

Shi Jian's expression changed. He hurriedly stood up, walked out, gave Shi Shaojian a slap on the back of the head, and barked, "You scoundrel, from now on when you see Zhang Cheng, you must call him Junior Uncle!"

He then brought the astonished Shi Shaojian into the main hall.

Before long, the neatly dressed Real Person Jinbao walked into the hall, and all the disciples stood up to pay their respects.

Real Person Jinbao smiled and said, "This is a double blessing. Today, I am taking Zhang Cheng as my closing disciple. You senior brothers must not bully him."

Daoist Simu feigned dissatisfaction and said, "Master, that's not right. Zhang Cheng's strength is so great; if he doesn't bully me, I'll be burning incense in gratitude."

"Hahaha..."

The crowd laughed one after another.

Real Person Jinbao beckoned to Zhang Cheng and said, "Zhang Cheng, are you willing to join my sect?"

Zhang Cheng did not hesitate and immediately performed the apprenticeship ceremony.

Real Person Jinbao immediately took out a small Eight Trigrams mirror and said, "This is a gift for you. After A-Ying and Zhe Gu's wedding is over, you will return to Maoshan with me to receive the register."

Zhang Cheng was somewhat excited and said loudly, "Yes, Master!"

Outside the hall, Qiusheng said melancholily, "At first I called him Zhang Cheng, then I called him Brother Sheng, and now it's great—I have to call him Junior Uncle."

Jiale laughed, "I think Junior Uncle is pretty good. When there's trouble, he really steps up."

A-Hao immediately asked, "Is he very powerful?"

Jiale immediately said, "Of course. Before, at my master's dojo, Junior Uncle and Master and the others killed a hairy zombie that had been struck by lightning."

"Junior Uncle has a treasure gourd in his hand that can suck in zombies. I heard it takes forty-nine days to refine them."

"And this time going to Tengteng Town, Junior Uncle used a new magic treasure that can spit fire, directly burning that hairy zombie to death. That hairy zombie had broken through Junior Uncle Qianhe's five-element great array."

A-Fang said in surprise, "Wow, so sharp, so cool."

Shi Shaojian said with disdain, "It's all just relying on magic treasures. My master has the Lightning-Running Hand; can he do that? It was just a hairy zombie; my master could easily take it as a lackey."

Qiusheng laughed, "So what? The one who is powerful is your master, not you."

Wencai chimed in, "Exactly, so now you have to call him Junior Uncle."

The rest of the disciples, who were already unhappy with the arrogant Shi Shaojian, laughed out loud upon hearing this.

Shi Shaojian was furious but had nothing to say, so he could only keep a mental note of this grudge.

In the afternoon, Shi Shaojian followed Shi Jian back to the hotel. He said with great dissatisfaction, "What is so good about that Zhang Cheng? Is Grandmaster crazy..."

"Slap..."

Before Shi Shaojian could finish speaking, he was struck with a heavy slap across the face.

Shi Jian's expression changed, and he hurriedly bowed, saying, "Master, please forgive my transgression!"

He then pulled Shi Shaojian down to kowtow three times on the ground.

After a while, Shi Jian scolded, "I think you've lost your mind; is the old Master someone you can talk about?"

Shi Shaojian looked aggrieved, feeling extremely miserable inside.