Don't let Yu Ding take on any more disciples.

Chapter 42: Standing Together
There was silence.

No one answered Master Huanglong, and the scene became awkward.

Yu Ding ignored him, because he was certain that he had never seen this person before.

Normally he might have helped defuse the awkward situation, but at this moment he was arguing with Manjushri, the Heavenly Venerable of Vast Dharma.

We cannot lose our momentum!
"Greetings, Senior Brother Huanglong!"

Fortunately, the commentary from the White-Haired Immortal was excellent.

It turned out to be Huanglong Zhenren... Yu Ding suddenly realized that he felt like he had heard that voice somewhere before.

I remember when he was injured, Huanglong and Yunzhongzi seemed to have come to Yuquan Mountain, but because he was crippled at the time, Taiyi stepped in to help send the two away.

When Taiyi Zhenren talked to him, he also noticed that the relationship between the Twelve Golden Immortals was not monolithic. It was probably like the relationship between classmates in his previous life, with some being close and some distant, and they had formed their own small groups.

Manjushri, Cihang, Samantabhadra and others had a good relationship and often visited each other.

Yu Ding's old friend is Huang Long, the Three No's True Man.

The two were very close friends.

Yu Ding and Tai Yi's relationship was originally quite ordinary, as indifferent as water. However, after Yu Ding was injured, Tai Yi's attentive care quickly brought them closer...

"Oh, Yu Ding, you're alright."

Huang Long caught sight of Yu Ding and his eyes lit up as he quickly stepped forward.

Firstly, I was so happy to see my old friend whom I hadn't seen in a long time; secondly...

Let's ease the awkwardness!
Yu Ding carefully examined Huang Long and bowed, saying, "Senior Brother Huang Long!"

I have a very deep memory of this legendary "three-no" real person, Yu Ding.

He has no disciples, no magic weapons, and has been very active since his debut in the Investiture of the Gods, but he has never won a single battle. Therefore, he was jokingly called the "Three-No True Man" by netizens in his previous life.

Even though his record wasn't great, he still managed to survive until the very end of the great calamity.

And last time we went out, both Yu Ding and Huang Long were in danger at the same time, but look at this guy, he's alive and kicking, while Yu Ding was completely destroyed...

To this, Yu Ding could only say: There's nothing to say.

Huanglong ranks third among the Twelve Golden Immortals of Jade Void, second only to Guangchengzi and Chijingzi.

The fourth was Julusun, the fifth was Taiyi, the sixth was the Grand Master Lingbao...

"Greetings, Senior Brother Huanglong!"

Manjushri and the other two also patiently bowed to Huanglong.

Huang Long nodded slightly and asked Yu Ding in a low voice, "What's going on...?"

Yu Ding then recounted what had happened again, and finally whispered his analysis: "I don't know what's wrong with that disciple in black. It seems like everyone is targeting him."

Huang Long glanced at the young man in black, his gaze shifted, and finally he said with a complicated expression, "That junior brother is of an unusual origin!"

“An anomaly…” Yu Ding fell silent for a moment.

In the primordial world, the most revered were the innate deities, followed by the innate beings, and lastly the beings born after birth.

Humans are the most intelligent of all living beings, while plants, birds, and beasts are born ignorant and cannot compare to humans among the living beings.

Yu Ding also remembered that in the Investiture of the Gods, the Chan Sect somewhat rejected those with fur and horns...

This young man in black was neither a born being nor a human, so his situation within the Chan Sect was likely not good.

Does Master really dislike and reject those who are different...?

Yu Ding felt a little conflicted; these words were somewhat affecting his master's image in his mind.

In his mind, the Celestial Venerable should be detached from worldly affairs, but all living beings are equal in his eyes, without any distinction of high or low. Even if he sees all living beings as ants, he treats them all the same.

“Junior Brother Manjushri, I think Yu Ding is right about this.”

At this moment, Master Huanglong pondered for a moment and then spoke: "Sparring is meant to test the cultivation and Taoist skills of our junior brothers. It is best to stop when the point is reached, as injuries are unavoidable."

There were no restrictions or rules, and the disciple on the ground wasn't in any danger. Punishing the winner was indeed inappropriate. If that were done, would the disciples dare to use their true skills in future sparring sessions?

Manjushri's face darkened; in his view, this was a trivial matter.

He did dislike those who were different, and this punishment might have been influenced by personal preferences, but he never expected that the taciturn Yu Ding in his memory would now demand that he stand up to him to the end for this.

Now that things have come to this, no one has a way out.

Now, if anyone takes a step back, their reputation will plummet in the eyes of the disciples.

That wretched jade cauldron...

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Yu Ding said softly.

With Huanglong, a true Golden Immortal, by his side, he finally felt much more confident.

"Thank you for what?"

Huang Long shook his head slightly and sighed inwardly.

To be honest, he didn't know whether saying these words and taking sides was right or wrong, but regardless, based on his friendship with Yu Ding, he would support him no matter what.

If his master disliked him before because of his background, then this time...

Huang Long shook his head. He had already said what he wanted to say, and there was nothing to regret.

"Please forgive me for disagreeing with your statement, senior brother..."

At this moment, a voice came from afar, and another long rainbow of light flew over, revealing a short and stout Taoist priest surrounded by pure energy.

“Ju Liusun…” Huang Long’s gaze sharpened.

"Brother Juliusun!"

The disciples looked at each other in bewilderment and quickly bowed.

They felt the atmosphere here suddenly become somewhat oppressive.

Seeing that he had caused this scene, the young man in black robes couldn't help but break out in a sweat.

However, looking at the tall figure behind the white crane, he was still filled with emotion.

Finally, there was someone in the entire Chan Sect who treated him like a human being.

The old immortal in white felt a chill run down his spine, and he kept smiling bitterly to himself.

Of the twelve immortals, six have arrived here, and a dispute has arisen because of a competition he was presiding over. How are we going to resolve this situation?
I should have known better than to make things difficult for that guy. "Senior Brother Huanglong, fellow junior brothers."

The short, stout Julusun arrived, and finally came to Yuding, smiling as he said, "Junior Brother Yuding!"

Yu Ding cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Ju Liusun."

When it comes to being cunning, no one can compare to him; he's the kind of person who holds back even when teaching his disciples.

Guang Chengzi and Chi Jingzi taught their disciples everything they knew, including their most treasured secrets. However, after their disciples betrayed them, they were thoroughly humiliated.

Unlike Liu Sun, whose disciple Tu Xingsun was sent to overthrow King Zhou and protect the Zhou dynasty, he also fell for a honey trap and betrayed the Zhou.

Unfortunately, Yang Jian, Nezha, and the others were helpless against Tu Xingsun's earth-walking technique. Then Ju Liusun appeared and easily broke the earth-walking technique by pointing at the ground and turning it into steel, thus subduing his disciple.

This seems like something we could learn from...

Yu Ding thought of it.

Meeting Ju Liusun's gaze, Yu Ding suddenly felt a sense of unease throughout his body; that gaze felt like a machine scanning him.

At the same time, the jade hairpin on his head shone brightly.

Yu Ding's expression turned somewhat unpleasant: "What advice do you have, Senior Brother?"

He felt a certain disgust towards Ju Liusun's gaze and his smiling, tiger-like smile.

Taiyi's jade hairpin was activated, which clearly indicated that Julusun had used some means to probe him.

Ju Liusun's magical powers are indeed profound...

Yu Ding's heart sank. He remembered that apart from the Nine Turns Yellow River Formation, this guy had never suffered a defeat in the Investiture of the Gods...

"Junior brother, how could you interfere in the disciples' sparring sessions?"

Ju Liusun clapped his hands: "Tell me, how are we going to clean this up now!"

Yu Ding remained silent; the score was now four to two.

He and Huang Long were at a complete disadvantage...

"Hey, what are you all doing gathered here?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached Yu Ding's ears.

"The reinforcements have arrived..." Yu Ding smiled.

Taiyi Zhenren and another Taoist priest dressed in purple robes, surrounded by a clear light, landed.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Taiyi, Senior Brother Daode Zhenjun!"

Everyone bowed once again, their faces bearing wry smiles.

Is it over yet?

Can we agree to have everyone come at the same time?
But now that things have come to this point, who knows how this will end?
Are the twelve immortals going to split into two factions today?

"I've met all of you, senior brothers!"

"Junior brother, junior sister..."

Taiyi and the purple-robed Taoist greeted the crowd.

"Senior Brother Yu Ding, Senior Brother Huang Long." The purple-robed Taoist greeted Yu Ding and Huang Long.

"Junior Brother Qingxu Daode?"

Yu Ding looked the newcomer up and down; this was the youngest of the Twelve Golden Immortals.

"What's going on?" Taiyi asked in a low voice.

Huang Long quickly told the two what had happened.

"Why are you sticking up for others? You know how hypocritical those guys, like Manjushri, are."

Taiyi glanced at Yu Ding with an annoyance, his eyes filled with reproach: "Besides, don't you know your own situation?"

Upon hearing this, Huanglong Zhenren and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting, and their ears perked up.

That statement... is problematic.

"Who told me to be so upright and intolerant of these things?"

As Yu Ding spoke, he glanced at Ju Liusun and said, "Ju Liusun seems to have seen through my problem."

Taiyi looked at Julusun with a grim expression: "That guy is very cunning and holds grudges..."

Yu Ding, Huanglong Zhenren, and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun nodded silently after listening.

They exchanged another glance.

Great minds think alike!

Huang Long asked with a curious look, "Yu Ding, what exactly is wrong with you?"

Taiyi ignored him and suddenly laughed loudly, "Gentlemen, it seems that there is no rule among our disciples that we need to report after mastering a spell, right?"

He smiled and looked at the four, including Manjushri and Guangfa Tianzun: "Why don't you tell me, fellow disciples, what great supernatural powers have you recently cultivated?"

Yu Ding silently gave Taiyi a thumbs up.

Pretty!

"My fellow disciples, the Sage has summoned me."

Just as Ju Liusun was about to say something, the White Crane Boy suddenly appeared, glanced at everyone, and said, "Let's disperse for now!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

It's finally over.

"Accept the decree!"

Once the decree of the Primordial Celestial Venerable was issued, no one dared to delay and they all set off for the Jade Void Palace on the mountaintop.

The disciples also scattered and left.

P.S.: Thank you all for your votes.

muah!
(End of this chapter)