Chapter 175

Zhāng Tiānzhèn chased after Hong Zun and left, the five Elders seeing this also wanted to quickly follow, but heading straight on they bumped into Zhao Zhengping, Liu Shuang, Xu Jie, and others.

Several people each held a big bowl, and inside the bowl still remained............... a pile of shrimp shells?

Originally the five Elders' eyes lit up, but upon seeing it was a pile of shrimp shells, their expressions instantly changed—who are they looking down on? After all, Hong Zun Peak Master at least left a whole big shrimp, and you lot bring a pile of shrimp shells—what's the meaning of this?

After three breaths, these five Elders squatted together, eating while letting out continual exclamations of surprise.

"Delicious, delicious, these shrimp shells are super delicious."

"It's simply amazing."

Watching the five completely captivated by the deliciousness, Zhao Zhengping and the others also exchanged smiles; to keep these shrimp shells, heaven knows what kind of ideological struggle they went through.

The shrimp shells peeled by hand—they didn't even dare to suck a mouthful of the flavor.

"Forget it, for the Dao Yi Sect, it's not unreasonable for disciples to make such a sacrifice; I only hope the sect will remember our brothers' merits in the future."

"Third Junior Brother, that's wrong—the sect is for me and I am for the sect; as a disciple of the Dao Yi Sect, giving even more for the sect is only natural; if there's still a need later, Shī xiōng I will unhesitatingly give up the shrimp shells."

"Senior Brother's noble righteousness."

Speaking, Xu Jie also shouted a sentence to those five Elders.

"Remember to wash the bowls, venerable Elders."

After finishing the meal, Zhāng Tiānzhèn and the five Elders of Wan Zhen Peak completely clung to Hong Zun.

Wherever Hong Zun went, they went too—like a plaster that sticks, impossible to shake off.

"I say, can you stop following me? Why don't you go look at the formations?"

"Hong junior brother, no, Hong brother, Hong big brother, if you don't agree to give me a bowl of rice, today I'll stick with you."

Who would have thought that the once-arrogant ninth-rank formation master, the Peak Master of Wan Zhen Peak, the renowned Zhāng Tiānzhèn, would actually play the rascal.

In his words, there was even more pleading.

In response, Hong Zun sighed, stared earnestly at Zhāng Tiānzhèn, and said.

"Peak Master Zhāng, it's not that I don't want to feed you, but you ultimately aren't from my Divine Sword Peak................"

"I, the old man, will join your Divine Sword Peak right now, even serving as a Steward is fine."

"How could that be acceptable? You are the Dao Yi Sect's sole ninth-rank formation master, and frankly, your relationship with the Dao Yi Sect is merely cooperation—how could you become a Steward? Saying that would be a laughingstock."

Back and forth, Hong Zun simply wouldn't agree, and Zhāng Tiānzhèn is no fool—he naturally picked up on Hong Zun's implied meaning early on.

At the bottom line, it's just because he isn't a direct-line disciple of the Dao Yi Sect.

Seeing Zhāng Tiānzhèn remain silent, Hong Zun decided to give him another push.

"Alright, Peak Master Zhāng, you'd better go check the formations quickly; Shī xiōng had you make a move, which certainly requires considerable resources—you can't just take the money and do nothing."

After saying that, Hong Zun turned and left, while Zhāng Tiānzhèn stood where he was, falling into silence.

Why did he choose the Dao Yi Sect? Firstly, for cultivation resources; secondly, also to find a backing for himself.

But just as the Dao Yi Sect wouldn't collapse without him, Zhāng Tiānzhèn likewise is the same.

Precisely for this reason, Zhāng Tiānzhèn has never considered truly becoming a person of the Dao Yi Sect, a direct-line lineage.

Because once becoming a direct-line disciple, although one can integrate into the sect more smoothly, the restrictions also increase.

Put bluntly, the Dao Yi Sect has no reason that would compel Zhāng Tiānzhèn to join.

But now, it seems, looks like, should be, that big shrimp—its aroma still lingers in his mouth at this very moment, leaving an endless aftertaste.

Watching Hong Zun walk farther and farther away, Zhāng Tiānzhèn gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Peak Master Hong Zun, wait."

Even his form of address changed; he took a few steps to catch up, clasped his hands in salute, and said.

"Zhāng Tiānzhèn intends to join the Dao Yi Sect; I hope Peak Master Hong Zun will recommend him."

Upon hearing this, Hong Zun's mouth curled into a smile, yet he still feigned ignorance and said.

"Peak Master Zhāng, you are................"

"To be frank, Zhāng Mou has long harbored the intention to join the Dao Yi Sect; he just never found a suitable opportunity."

"Peak Master Zhāng, you are a ninth-rank formation master—wherever you go, you're a honored guest of the major sects; there's no need................"

"No, the Dao Yi Sect is Zhāng Mou's true home."

"But if you were to join the Dao Yi Sect, then thereafter making a move would come without extra cultivation resources."

"Zhāng Mou regards money as dirt."

"But upon joining the sect, henceforth everything must prioritize the sect; one can no longer engage in underhanded dealings with outsiders. I've heard that Peak Master Zhāng and Su Luoxing seem to be on good terms—by then................"

"Nonsense, Zhāng Mou has never known any Su Luoxing; this is slander."

When the talk reached this point, Hong Zun finally showed a smile.

"I'll discuss the admission matter with the Senior Brother; Zhāng Shī xiōng, go check the formations first—I'll call you at dinner time."

"Many thanks, Junior Brother."

"Senior Brother, you're being polite—there's no need for brothers to stand on ceremony."

The form of address changed instantly; seeing Zhāng Tiānzhèn off, Hong Zun gave a faint smile, "Little rascal, you can't escape me now—this is practically a sure grip, isn't it?"

In high spirits, this also counts as removing a little worry for Qi Xiong.

On another note, at the East Sea Dragon Palace, after the Old Dragon King made his arrangements, inside the main hall he established bloodline ties with the myriad demon kings of the East Sea's various clans.

After all, with such a major change occurring in the East Sea, the demon race side certainly also needs to recalculate.

"What? Your East Sea Dragon Palace has been breached?"

Having heard that the Dao Yi Sect had already detected their demon race's plan, even Hong Zun and Qing Shi personally rushed to the Jinhai Yingdi.

Taking advantage of the aquatic clan's movement, he led people to slaughter their way into the East Sea, broke the dragon palace, and beheaded a water-clan demon king.

The Heihu Yaowang immediately shouted in anger.

Heihu Yaowang immediately shouted angrily.

What are these water clan even doing for a living? A bunch of useless trash? On their own turf, they got their old home breached by just a peak's worth of people from the Dao Yi Sect—absolutely ridiculous.

Facing Heihu Yaowang's angry shout, the Old Dragon King's expression remained normal; although his face was still somewhat gloomy, the confidence in his eyes returned.

He gave Heihu Yaowang a displeased glance and spoke calmly.

"Making a fuss over nothing—our water clan numbers in the hundreds of millions; what's a mere breach of the Dragon Palace and killing a few hundred thousand water clan?"

Upon hearing this, the demon kings of Huling, Yuan Mountain, and all the Demon Race fell silent, looking at the Old Dragon King within the blood curtain with strange expressions.

Especially the demon kings of Huling.

What kind of mindset must one have to say such a thing?

And, if I recall correctly, you previously said that the Divine Sword Peak had already slaughtered three hundred thousand of your water clan, right?

Three hundred thousand is trivial; now they've killed several hundred thousand, even reaching your home—what's that supposed to be?

Besides, your five sons were all wiped out by them, damn it.

With all this, what more does it take to count?

Facing the silent demon kings, the Old Dragon King paid no heed; on the contrary, he became even more confident.

"Rest assured, although the Dao Yi Sect has taken some advantage this time, I have long seen through everything; today I contact you all merely to make some adjustments to the subsequent plans—what happened before is no big deal, victory still belongs to our demon race."