Chapter 103: When Officials Oppress the People, Rebellion Becomes Inevitable

After seeing Ren Fei nod, Zhang Zhiwei continued: “This child is someone who deeply reveres the Dao, yet he still has many attachments to the mortal world—perhaps Itachi could start from this point. I believe, after investigating his past, Itachi clearly know this child will never become a Quanxing demon—unless…”

He paused slightly, smiled, but did not continue.

Ren Fei naturally understood what Zhang Zhiwei meant.

Luo Fu himself is someone who wholly reveres the Dao; though he has attachments to the mortal world, what truly matters to him is not the mortal world—thus, Luo Fu will never sink into the kind of uncontrollable Quanxing demon.

As for Zhang Zhiwei’s final words—the “unless” he mentioned, then abruptly fell silent—

Ren Fei didn’t need to think to guess what he meant: it was a warning to her and the company—Luo Fu would never actively violate the company’s bottom line, but if he were forced into it, the consequences were obvious.

Aside from those born evil, there is another phrase in this world: “When officials oppress the people, the people have no choice but to rebel!” Now, when it’s still possible to cultivate goodwill with Luo Fu—or even, through his mother, possibly bring him to the company’s side—forcing him to act would only result in mutual destruction.

After a moment of silence, Ren Fei said: “Grand Master Zhang, I need to contact the board of directors.”

Zhang Zhiwei nodded with a smile, then quickly departed under the guidance of a company employee.

After Zhang Zhiwei left, Ren Fei activated multiple anti-eavesdropping measures before directly dialing Zhao Fangxu’s number.

“Director Zhao, something’s gone wrong—Luo Fu’s situation is complicated. I must withdraw my earlier request to deploy the conventional Dongfeng.”

Ren Fei’s words stunned Zhao Fangxu over the phone.

Zhao Fangxu knew Ren Fei well—her background was deep, and though she hadn’t adopted the arrogance of the spoiled elite, she carried her own pride.

Based on his understanding of Ren Fei, once she made a decision, she wouldn’t easily change it unless faced with truly insurmountable circumstances.

“Akatsuki Fei, what exactly happened? The directors and I need the truth. Itachi know, I’ve already reported your application upward—changing course so abruptly, even I can’t explain it to them. I need to know what’s going on.”

Ren Fei rubbed her throbbing temples, hesitated a moment, then recounted her conversation with Zhang Zhiwei to Zhao Fangxu.

She revealed every nuance, every implied meaning, without concealment.

Upon hearing Ren Fei’s explanation, the Naidu Tong boardroom fell utterly silent.

After a long pause, Bi Youlong spoke in disbelief: “Ren Fei, Itachi’re not joking, are Itachi? Immortal? How could there possibly be an immortal in this world? And someone wielding such uncontrollable power, capable of causing massive threats and catastrophic losses to an entire city—this person absolutely cannot be left unchecked.”

Hearing Bi Youlong’s words, Ren Fei sighed: “I want to resolve this problem too. In fact, for a permanent solution, I just proposed to Director Zhao that we launch a conventional Dongfeng at the back of Longhu Mountain—but now the situation is different. Luo Fu has opened his own exclusive cave heaven. With such an isolated space, even a conventional Dongfeng won’t threaten him—let alone a peace bomb.”

“So we just let him do as he pleases?” Bi Youlong protested.

“Don’t be so hasty,” Zhao Fangxu smiled. “It seems we must send someone from headquarters to meet Luo Fu personally.”

As he spoke, Zhao Fangxu’s gaze swept slowly over each board member before him.

Though these directors understood adepts well, Luo Fu—whom even the old Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain claimed had become an immortal—

was precisely the one none of them wished to face.

Zhao Fangxu let out a wry smile and went along with the flow: “Then I’ll go myself. After all, we’ve already discussed making Luo Fu a temporary direct employee of headquarters. My personal visit will show Naidu Tong’s sincerity—and I’d like to see for myself what an immortal, as the old Heavenly Master called him, truly looks like.”

Having made his decision, Zhao Fangxu immediately contacted the airport and headed straight for Longhu Mountain.

At normal jet speed, the journey from Naidu Tong headquarters to Longhu Mountain would take six or seven hours—but Zhao Fangxu now boarded a military fighter jet.

Its speed far exceeded that of a commercial airliner. Fortunately, Zhao Fangxu himself was an adept; otherwise, at his age, riding such a fast military jet would have landed him in intensive care long before reaching Longhu Mountain.

When Zhao Fangxu arrived at Longhu Mountain,

the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Due to Luo Fu assimilating the abilities of Uchiha Luofu, Demon Luofu, Death Luofu, and Marvel Luofu, his powers had gone out of control.

The adepts participating in the Luotian Da Jiao had suffered a crushing defeat.

Nearly everyone was publicly humiliated; only a handful escaped unscathed.

Naturally, the second day of the Luotian Da Jiao could not proceed.

Among those affected by the Seven Emotions and Seven Sins were not only the competing adepts, but also many Longhu Mountain Daoists—countless others had shattered their spiritual cores.

After meeting Ren Fei, Zhang Zhiwei returned to Longhu Mountain to take charge.

The decision to postpone the Luotian Da Jiao by several days received unanimous approval from all adepts in the back mountains.

Meanwhile, Luo Fu remained inside the Luofu Cave Heaven with Lu Jin, Tian Jinzhong, Rong Shan, and others.

This special world, transformed from the Kamui space,

after local adaptation, had clearly become a miniature realm whose upper limits were unknown.

For Rong Shan, witnessing such a technique was a revelation—he became eager, even enthusiastic, and began asking Luo Fu questions.

Though Luo Fu had broken through the limits of adept cultivation by reversing the Three Lives, connecting them in reverse, and ascending instantly to a realm resembling a terrestrial immortal,

he had also practiced the Golden Light Spell.

The time spent was indeed short, but because Luo Fu shared aspects of his other selves, his Golden Light Spell had manifested the miraculous effects of cosmic transformation, reversing aging, and restoring broken forms.

Tian Jinzhong was living proof.

Having studied the Golden Light Spell, he could draw analogies, and since the Golden Light Spell and Reverse Life Three were fundamentally aligned,

even in the Golden Light Spell alone, Luo Fu’s mastery might surpass even Zhang Zhiwei, the supreme expert, in authority.

Luo Fu’s teachings were not merely Rong Shan’s fortune.

Even Tian Jinzhong and Lu Jin now sat in reverent silence, listening to his instruction.

Among adepts, many arrogantly regarded themselves as superior due to their extraordinary powers.

But in orthodox sects, the Dao was the foundation—for them, learning knows no order; the one who achieves mastery becomes the teacher.

Though not long ago, Lu Jin had been Luo Fu’s master, and Tian Jinzhong his teacher, both having bestowed upon him the gift of instruction,

now they still bowed to Luo Fu as disciples.

Tian Jinzhong was a Longhu Mountain disciple who hadn’t cultivated in decades; though his stillness was profound, in Golden Light Spell mastery, he certainly couldn’t match Zhang Zhiwei.

Lu Jin’s Reverse Life Three had only reached the second step—yet Luo Fu, by reconnecting the Dao, had given Reverse Life Three, once incapable of ascending to heaven, a genuine path to immortality.

The San Yi Men was Lu Jin’s eternal pain—indeed, it had become his inner demon, worse even than his hatred for his former brother, Zheng Zibu.

Luo Fu, building upon the past and pioneering the future, had given Reverse Life Three a true path to immortality. Lu Jin now longed to regard Luo Fu as an equal.

How could he harbor any resentment toward the guidance of one who had become an immortal?

As Luo Fu answered Rong Shan’s questions, and the questions grew deeper, Tian Jinzhong and Lu Jin also began asking Luo Fu. The former inquired about the cultivation of life and nature; the latter asked how Luo Fu had forged a new path after Reverse Life Three, when the third step had previously been impassable.

Though time flowed at the same rate inside the cave heaven as outside, the cave heaven now resembled the primordial elements of earth, fire, water, and wind in the process of formation—causing one to unconsciously lose track of time.

By the time Rong Shan could no longer understand the questions,

dawn was nearly upon them.

Deeply immersed in Luo Fu’s teachings on the unity of life and nature, Tian Jinzhong suddenly noticed Rong Shan’s furrowed brow and bewildered expression.

At that moment, he snapped back to awareness.

“Old Lu,” Tian Jinzhong sighed, “we’ve truly been blessed.”

Lu Jin’s mind was entirely consumed by the profound Dao of Reverse Life Three: reversing oneself into primordial qi, returning to the original source, reverting to infancy, reversing three lives.

Tian Jinzhong’s words abruptly shattered his state of enlightenment.

Lu Jin glared at Tian Jinzhong, displeased: “Old Tian, that was low of Itachi.”

“It’s getting late,” Tian Jinzhong said with double meaning. “Don’t forget—we old men may not be able to help Luo Fu directly, but if we express our stance, we can ease his burden.”

“Itachi…” Lu Jin nearly laughed in exasperation. “Old Tian, Itachi’re so pragmatic! One moment Itachi’re his disciple, the next Itachi’re calling him Luo Fu Immortal?”

Tian Jinzhong rolled his eyes: “Old Lu, I was merely Luo Fu Immortal’s teacher—though I imparted instruction, his recent exposition on life and nature was profound, each word a pearl. Learning knows no order; the one who achieves mastery becomes the teacher. Our master-disciple bond is now complete. From now on, we are fellow Daoists.”

Lu Jin froze.

After a moment’s thought, he nodded: “True. Though I did teach him Reverse Life Three, compared to my instruction, Luo Fu’s innovation—the profound Dao of reversing three lives after the third step—makes me unfit to be his master anymore. Very well.”

He thought a moment, then said: “Luo Fu Immortal has yet to formally join the San Yi Men’s lineage. Then I shall, on behalf of my master, accept him as a disciple. From now on, Luo Fu Immortal is the direct disciple of the Great Profound Immortal.”

“So Luo Fu is now on our level,” Tian Jinzhong laughed, glancing teasingly at Rong Shan. “Rong Shan, come pay your respects to Luo Fu Shu.”

Rong Shan blinked. Though he deeply admired Luo Fu’s achievement, even secretly regarding him as a figure like Lu Zu or Zhang Sanfeng,

the sudden, casual elevation of Luo Fu’s status by Master Tian and Old Lu left him utterly speechless.

Of course, Rong Shan knew adepts often followed the principle: learning knows no order; the one who achieves mastery becomes the teacher.

What left him speechless was not the shift in attitude—but how swiftly Tian Jinzhong and Lu Jin had made it.

In his view, shouldn’t there have been some transition?

But Tian Jinzhong and Lu Jin had skipped it entirely.

“Don’t worry,” Tian Jinzhong, sensing Rong Shan’s thoughts, dismissed it. “Your master won’t object to our decision.”

Even Zhang Zhiwei was invoked. Rong Shan could only bow respectfully to Luo Fu and address him as “Shu.”

Luo Fu made no comment on Tian Jinzhong and Lu Jin elevating his status.

With his current cultivation and power, if he founded his own sect, in a thousand years he would become a figure like Lu Zu, Zhang Sanfeng, or Wang Chongyang.

Whether Luo Fu joined Zhengyi or Quanzhen, both major lineages would grant him a status akin to a living ancestor.

Since Luo Fu now carried the banner of San Yi Men, Lu Jin naturally had to represent San Yi Men and bestow upon Luo Fu a corresponding status.

Making him the direct disciple of the Great Profound Immortal Zuo Ruotong—even if only nominal, effectively a distant disciple—meant no one in the adept world would ever rank above Luo Fu.

Yet there was also a personal motive behind this.

Don’t forget: Zuo Ruotong had been the first in San Yi Men’s history to reach the third step of Reverse Life Three. Back then, nearly the entire adept world believed Zuo Ruotong would be the next to ascend to immortality.

But the so-called Great Profound Immortal Zuo Ruotong, after a battle with Wu Gensheng, was rumored to have died of rage.

The once orthodox San Yi Men became a laughingstock; Zuo Ruotong, besides “Great Profound Immortal,” gained the mocking title “Overweening Master.”

This was Lu Jin’s eternal pain.

Luo Fu, cultivating Reverse Life Three, had followed its philosophy and forged a path beyond the third step—the Dao of reversing three lives.

If he bore the title of Zuo Ruotong’s disciple and carried the San Yi Men banner, future evaluations of Zuo Ruotong would inevitably change because of Luo Fu.

Whether Luo Fu, this immortal, would ultimately ascend to heaven was one thing—but his creation of a cave heaven, wielding miraculous powers like cosmic transformation, already secured his place in adept history.

Once Luo Fu held the title of Zuo Ruotong’s distant disciple, the higher his achievements, the fewer the negative judgments against Zuo Ruotong.

After all, Luo Fu was truly rooted in Reverse Life Three.

Unlike Lu Jin and Lu Lin.

Lu Jin and Lu Lin, though they have also mastered Nisheng Sanzhong, for them it is more a tool than a foundation.

In Lu Jin’s view, only Luo Fu can truly vindicate Nisheng Sanzhong, San Yi Men, and their master, the Great Profound Immortal Zuo Ruotong.

From the moment Luo Fu acknowledged Rong Shan’s address of him as “Master’s Uncle.”

In the world of yiren, Luo Fu is among the elder generation, akin to the ancestral figures.

Though San Yi Men was utterly destroyed in its time, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse.

Among the yiren, there remains some lingering sense of kinship.

Especially Great Profound Immortal Zuo Ruotong, who in his day had wide-ranging connections and was the first to truly cultivate Nisheng Sanzhong to its third level.

Now, countless ancient yiren still recall with deep emotion Zuo Ruotong’s cloud-riding, fairy-like bearing.

Even if only one ten-thousandth of that affection for Zuo Ruotong lingers in Luo Fu, it still increases, to some degree, the risk of Luo Fu being targeted by the company.

When Luo Fu and the others emerged from the Cave Heaven world.

Outside, the sky was already bright with daylight.

Longhu Mountain’s back mountain, which should have been bustling due to the Luotian Dajiao, now lay in an eerie silence.

Whether the contestants of the Luotian Dajiao or other yiren who came to watch, all now hid in their rooms as if too ashamed to show their faces.

Only after leaving the Cave Heaven did Rong Shan seem to suddenly realize something, quickly apologizing to Luo Fu, Tian Jinzhong, Lu Jin, and others, then briefly recounting what had occurred on Longhu Mountain.

Instantly, Lu Jin and Tian Jinzhong both looked at Luo Fu with strange expressions.

Indeed, before Luo Fu completed his own transformation, his ability to wildly spread and trigger all seven emotions and seven sins made him seem less like an immortal and more like a demon.

He was the ultimate trial on every yiren’s cultivation path.

Like Mara, the demon king who appeared before the Buddha before his enlightenment, he was the natural enemy of all cultivators.

Even Tu Junfang of the Three Demon Sects, in terms of terror, paled in comparison to Luo Fu.

Who else but Luo Fu could possess such a monstrous ability?

But before Rong Shan could take his leave.

Zhang Lingyu, clad in a white Daoist robe, his long white hair loosely tied at the nape rather than styled into a Daoist topknot, with a vermilion mole on his brow, handsome in appearance but now with furrowed brows, hurried forward.

From afar, upon seeing Rong Shan, Zhang Lingyu exclaimed urgently: “Greetings, Senior Brother Rong Shan.”

After swiftly bowing to Rong Shan, Zhang Lingyu rushed to Luo Fu’s side and said: “Brother Luo Fu, Master has sent me—Director Zhao Fangxu of Naidu Tong Company has arrived personally and wishes to meet Itachi.”

“Let him come,” Tian Jinzhong grumbled. “Lingyu, how have Itachi lost control of your own composure?”

Only then did Zhang Lingyu notice Tian Jinzhong beside him.

At the sight of Tian Jinzhong, Zhang Lingyu frowned—his first thought was that the young man looked strangely familiar, as if he had met him somewhere before.

But after mentally reviewing every person he knew, he could not match this man to anyone familiar.

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Lingyu bowed and said: “Zhang Lingyu of the Celestial Master’s Mansion on Longhu Mountain, greetings, fellow Daoist. Itachi wear Longhu Mountain’s robes—surely Itachi are one of our senior brothers? Forgive my poor memory, I do not…”

Before he could finish, Rong Shan cut him off hastily.

“Lingyu, don’t speak nonsense—this is Master Tian.”

CRACK!!

As if a thunderclap had split his mind, Zhang Lingyu stared wide-eyed at Tian Jinzhong, struggling to compose himself before stammering: “Itachi… Itachi… Master Tian? This…?”

Zhang Lingyu had too many questions; he didn’t even know where to begin.

He was curious how Tian Jinzhong had reversed aging, and astonished that he had somehow restored his ruined body.

Tian Jinzhong’s condition was unlike ordinary injury—he had lost all four limbs and had his meridians severed for decades.

Yet now, not only had he regained youth, but his limbs appeared to have regrown.

No.

More accurately, Tian Jinzhong’s condition resembled a leap across time—as if decades of injury had been erased, and the intact Tian Jinzhong of the past had stepped directly into the present.

“My affairs will be explained by your master later,” Tian Jinzhong waved his hand. “But first, correct how Itachi address Luo Fu. He is the distant disciple of San Yi Men’s Great Profound Immortal Zuo Ruotong, equal to a direct heir, and the current Sect Master of San Yi Men. Even I and your senior brother are his peers.”

Zhang Lingyu felt his mind spinning.

Wasn’t Luo Fu Lu Jin and Tian Jinzhong’s disciple? How had he suddenly become the distant disciple of San Yi Men’s former Sect Master, Great Profound Immortal Zuo Ruotong?

Zhang Lingyu was rigid, even dogmatic in his adherence to rules.

Once, a momentary lapse had cost him the chance to cultivate Yang Wulei, and this had made him believe his failure stemmed from breaking the rules.

He now valued rules more than ever—so much so that it had warped his mindset.

To Zhang Lingyu, Luo Fu’s sudden rise from peer to elder was a violation of order.

But the violator was Tian Jinzhong, his own master’s uncle, and Lu Jin, the last surviving heir of San Yi Men.

Even with a belly full of objections, Zhang Lingyu had no way to voice them.

Helplessly, he gritted his teeth and bowed to Luo Fu: “Zhang Lingyu… bows… bows… to Master Luo Fu.”

“Lingyu, Itachi…” Tian Jinzhong sighed in frustration.

As the strongest in stillness on Longhu Mountain, Tian Jinzhong knew well the root of Zhang Lingyu’s inner knot.

But such matters could only be gently guided by others—even elders like Zhang Zhiwei and Tian Jinzhong could not directly resolve it for him.

Everything depended on his own awakening! If he could let go, his talent would grant him limitless potential; if he could not, Zhang Lingyu would strangle himself in his own mental knot.

Eventually, that knot might even fester into a heart demon, severing him utterly from the Dao.

Tian Jinzhong told Zhang Lingyu not to overvalue Zhao Fangxu, director of Naidu Tong.

But he did not underestimate Zhao Fangxu either.

On the contrary, his true intent was to warn Zhang Lingyu to guard his inner heart.

Zhao Fangxu, director of Naidu Tong, wielded life-and-death authority over the yiren world and represented state power.

Even Zhang Zhiwei, a supreme master, would never dismiss him lightly.

After offering advice, Tian Jinzhong saw no expected result.

He could only reluctantly give up, accompanying Luo Fu and Lu Jin toward Zhang Zhiwei’s location.

Along the way,

the back mountain, once bustling with traffic, now exuded an eerie silence.

All yiren hid in their rooms like wounded beasts, licking their wounds.

In the Wang family’s quarters,

Wang Bing, with short golden hair and a bandage wrapped around his forehead,

lay on the bed in a bizarre posture, his buttocks raised high—clearly indicating his injury was in a deeply embarrassing location.

“Great-grandfather,” Wang Bing’s face twisted with venomous hatred. “Itachi must avenge me. Whoever inflicted this humiliation must die! And…”

His face darkened, Wang Bing hissed: “Those bastards too—they must die first. Then find the mastermind.”

Wang Ai’s expression was indescribable, his tone filled with tenderness: “Rest easy, my dear grandson. Grandfather will avenge Itachi.”

As he spoke, Wang Ai clapped his hands lightly.

Soon, several Wang family collateral branches dragged a chest into Wang Bing’s room.

As the chest opened, a pungent stench of blood filled the room.

Inside lay Wang Bing’s nightmare—the very ones who had branded him with eternal shame.

These men had been Wang Ai’s personal guards assigned to Wang Bing.

Who could have foreseen Luo Fu’s ability to trigger the seven emotions and seven sins was so devastating?

It instantly engulfed all of Longhu Mountain, its influence weakening only beyond five kilometers, vanishing entirely at eight kilometers.

Unlucky Wang Bing was assaulted by his own guards in a brutal gang rape.

Of course, Wang Bing was not alone in suffering—those guards, lacking firm moral resolve, could hardly satisfy themselves with just one victim.

More unspeakable scenes unfolded among the guards themselves.

But Wang Bing, raised believing the entire world existed for his birth, cared nothing for others’ suffering.

He could only dwell on his own humiliation.

Seeing those familiar heads, Wang Bing exhaled in relief—yet his hatred for the perpetrator burned even hotter.

“Great-grandfather, have Itachi found out who that bastard is? I want him dead—I must have him dead. Even if he dies, I’ll tear out his soul and torment him for eternity.”

Wang Ai nodded and said: “I only have suspicions so far. In the yiren world, few possess the ability to manipulate the seven emotions and six desires. The most famous are the Four Madmen of Quanxing—but Quanxing likely lacks the audacity to act so brazenly on Longhu Mountain. Aside from them, one other suspect stands out.”

“Then kill him!” Wang Bing didn’t care about suspicion—he only wanted revenge.

“My dear grandson, give Grandfather some time,” Wang Ai said. “I promise Itachi, this boy won’t live long.”

Wang Bing nodded, eyes red with rage: “Great-grandfather, who is this bastard behind all this?”

A deep gleam flashed in Wang Ai’s eyes. “That fellow has the backing of Longhu Mountain and Lu Jin. Don’t rush—I’ll find a way.”

Though arrogant, Wang Bing was more a spoiled child than a fool.

With Wang Ai’s words so clear, how could he not guess the mastermind was none other than Luo Fu, the one who bore the banner of San Yi Men?

“Him?” Instantly recalling Luo Fu’s face, Wang Bing gnashed his teeth: “Kill him. Kill him for sure.”

A sudden thought struck him: the uproar that had shaken the entire yiren world.

“Great-grandfather, does this fellow hold the secret to immortality?” Wang Bing blurted out.

“Correct,” Wang Ai nodded. “There are indeed such rumors in the yiren world. After all, since ancient times, only legendary immortals have surpassed emperors and generals in weight of fate.”

“Even if he’s an immortal, he must die,” Wang Bing hissed. “But if he willingly gives up the secret of immortality, I’ll let him die quickly.”

“My dear grandson, rest assured—I’ll handle everything,” Wang Ai soothed gently. “Your priority now is to heal.”

The moment Wang Ai finished speaking,

hurried footsteps approached.

Looking toward the sound, a middle-aged man—technically Wang Bing’s uncle, but merely a collateral branch of the Wang family—hurried to Wang Ai’s side and said: “Lord, we’ve just received word: Director Zhao of Naidu Tong has arrived on Longhu Mountain and is currently accompanied by the Old Celestial Master. He appears to be waiting for Luo Fu, the one who holds the secret of immortality.”

Wang Ai’s gaze sharpened instantly.

Even as arrogant as he was, Wang Ai knew full well that, whether he was head of the Wang family of the Four Great Clans or even the Master of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Daoist Temple, which had endured for two thousand years, he still had to obey the rules of the Nade Tong Corporation without question.

For nearly two thousand years, Dragon and Tiger Mountain had been the private domain of the Daoist Temple, yet now the tourism zone had effortlessly driven the temple’s direct disciples to the back mountain—this alone was enough to show how immeasurable state power was before the cultivators.

Although Nade Tong was nominally not a state-owned enterprise, who didn’t know it was the state’s direct agency for managing cultivators, merely kept off the official record due to the unique nature of cultivators?

After all, since ancient times, those who served the imperial court directly were always branded as hounds and falcons.

Even today, the state could not directly influence the cultivator world—it had to operate through two layers.

One layer was Nade Tong, which had power but no official name; the other was the Ten Elders.

The very existence of the Ten Elders was a state mechanism for interfering in the cultivator world.

Wang Ai dared to scheme against Dragon and Tiger Mountain, against the Old Daoist Master—but unless he was mad, he would never dare scheme against Zhao Fangxu or the Corporation.

(End of Chapter)