Immortal Father
Chapter 620 - 620 217 Powerful and Poor_2

620: Chapter 217 Powerful and Poor_2 620: Chapter 217 Powerful and Poor_2 “Hehehehe.”

“Whoa!”

Li Ping’an’s body shuddered as he forcefully kicked his legs out, sliding directly out of the five-man encirclement.

“Ahem!”

Tongtian Sect Leader cleared his throat, and his four major disciples flashed to his left and right sides in formation.

The TongTian Sect Leader held his left hand in front of him and carried his right hand behind him; the Daoist robe’s sleeve, a foot wide, hung down, spilling endless celestial light from within, with boundless mystical charm circling around him.

The Tongtian Sect Leader said in a gentle voice, “Young friend, have you awakened?”

Li Ping’an, having worshiped the portraits of the Three Pure Ones for many years, recognized the Tongtian Sect Leader at first glance.

As for someone daring to impersonate the Tongtian Sect Leader…

Li Ping’an thought this possibility was virtually impossible.

He stood up and deeply executed a Daoist salute, saying, “Disciple Li Ping’an, greets the Great Ancestral Master!”

“Ah, you’re too kind, too kind.”

The Tongtian Sect Leader waved his hand:

“There aren’t many rules here, just relax a bit, no need to be as restrained as you would be with your great grandmaster, my second senior brother.

“Come here, sit down, I just happen to have something to discuss with you.”

Li Ping’an moved his neck around and glanced at Mother Gui Ling.

A girl dressed in an immortal gown affected a casual air as she gazed into the sky and pretended to whistle inattentively.

Li Ping’an didn’t say much.

‘Did they knock me out to keep me from knowing the location of the Azure Wander Palace?’

The smile on the mouth of the Tongtian Sect Leader grew richer as he placed two meditation cushions on the steps, sitting down first and patting the empty cushion.

Full of trepidation, Li Ping’an mustered his courage to move forward, shifting the cushion down two steps with a respectful Daoist salute before taking a seat.

Taoist Duobao, observing this, raised his eyebrows slightly, his lips curling into a broader smile.

Li Ping’an inquired, “Great Ancestral Master summoned me here; may I ask what the matter is?”

“It’s nothing serious.”

The Tongtian Sect Leader rapidly pondered what significant matter could there be for him, the leader of the Jie Sect, to seek a conversation with the incumbent Heavenly Emperor, and said with a smile:

“Previously, I saw you display mighty power using the Great Vow Method, and the Heavenly Dao established you as the New Heavenly Emperor.

I wanted to ask how you intend to manage the Heavenly Court.”

Li Ping’an quickly responded, “The Great Ancestral Master must not blame me; I’m as clueless about this as one could be and do not yet know how to establish the Heavenly Court.”

The Tongtian Sect Leader asked in surprise, “Oh?

You don’t know how to establish the Heavenly Court, and yet you dare to make a Great Vow?”

“I was compelled by the situation at the time and only borrowed the power of the Heavenly Dao to repel the enemy,” Li Ping’an sighed, “and surely, such matters of the world cannot be concealed from you.”

The Tongtian Sect Leader blinked, and a hint of a smile once again surfaced on his handsome face with a youthful countenance.

Of course, he couldn’t tell his grand-disciple that he spent his days ‘inverse meditating,’ ‘idly cultivating,’ and ‘bathing’ in the Azure Wander Palace, never showing interest in such vexing affairs of the world.

Now that the topic had reached this point, the Tongtian Sect Leader could only nod confidently in agreement.

“Indeed, This Poor Daoist is somewhat aware.”

Li Ping’an’s face bore a bitter expression: “It is said that the Human Race is flourishing, yet in truth, the momentum of the Human Race has been cut off by the West for nearly a hundred thousand years.

The West has sheltered those great demons guilty of heinous crimes, which has made it impossible for the Human Race and the Hundred Clans to resolve their enmity.

Now, the conflicts are increasingly intense.

The Holy Mother and Emperor Xuanyuan have long intended to establish a New Heavenly Court…”

“This Poor Daoist does know a thing or two about this matter.”

The Tongtian Sect Leader replied with a smile:

“In the past, I heard your grandmaster admonish that the two Sect Leaders of the West possess some background, and warned me not to touch them lightly.

“Those two Sect Leaders are constantly preoccupied with the prosperity of the West.”

Li Ping’an: Is this even the same issue?

After thinking for a moment, he still followed the lead of the Tongtian Sect Leader’s words, asking, “Great Ancestral Master, do you know why the Western Sect shelters those ancient great demons?”

“For their own profit, of course.”

The Tongtian Sect Leader raised his brows, a look of disdain crossing his face.

“The influence of the Western Sect is not as strong as the Three Teachings of our Taoist Sect, nor is their Daoist lineage as profound, hence the little and big leaders of the West have always held a grudge.

“Initially, they sought to gradually take control of the Human Race, to have the Human Race offer incense to their sect, but Nüwa, my junior sister, saw through them and scolded them both severely.

“Jie Yin is sinister, and Zhunti is cunning; these two old rascals concocted a plan to directly enlist the weaker of the Hundred Clans and then turned to coerce the Human Race, pushing them to open the doors to their evangelism.

“It’s an old trick of theirs.

“In ancient times, the West provoked many great clans into warfare, only to step in as mediators, preaching their hypocritical doctrines and ‘saving’ beings to the West.

Most of the beings in the West were lured there by such deceptions.”

Li Ping’an thought for a moment, trying to steer the conversation back: “Great Ancestral Master, may you have any instructions regarding the New Heavenly Court?”

“A reminder…

ahem.”

Tongtian Sect Leader asked, “What instructions did your Grandmaster have for you?”

Li Ping’an replied, “I have not yet had the opportunity to pay my respects to the Grandmaster, nor have I had the chance to listen to his teachings.”

Tongtian Sect Leader was surprised, “Haven’t you met my second elder brother?”

“Well,” Li Ping’an said with a wry smile, “I am but a junior in the ways of cultivation.

Previously, I only received teachings in the Path of Artifact Refining from my teacher, Yun Zhongzi, and I haven’t had the chance to visit Jade Void Palace yet.”

Tongtian Sect Leader’s expression changed, and he turned his head to glare at Guiling.

Mother Gui Ling dutifully lowered her head in earnest.

“This…

ah, one day, you disciples will make me so angry, I’ll spit blood.”

Tongtian Sect Leader raised his hand to his forehead.

Li Ping’an was puzzled, “Uncle-Master, what’s wrong?”

“Alas,” Tongtian Sect Leader sighed, “what you don’t know is that your Grandmaster is very particular and loves to nag.

When we cultivated together back in the day, he could go on and on about the smallest issues for ages.

You should have first paid a visit to Jade Void Palace, then to the Nine Heavens to pay respects to my elder brother, and only after that could you come to me.

And now I’m the one who invited you back, so he must be thinking, ‘Does Third Brother not take me seriously anymore?

Is Third Brother trying to overstep his bounds?’…

Like that.”

Li Ping’an couldn’t help but chuckle.

He always felt that this Sect Leader, who appeared even younger than himself by two years, was a bit too down-to-earth.

Li Ping’an bowed, “Uncle-Master, you jest.

You are one of the foremost masters in the world, a pillar of the Taoist Sect, and the revered leader of Jie Sect.

How could the Grandmaster possibly blame you for such a minor matter?”

“Your Grandmaster just overthinks things.”

Tongtian Sect Leader let out a deep sigh, his eyes filled with a hint of reminiscence.

“Your Grandmaster is still decent, but your great-uncle master can be quite violent.

The problem is, I can neither beat nor outrun him.”

“You must think I’m quite impressive as the Sect Leader, right?”

“Actually…”

“Cough!

Cough cough cough!”

The dignified and beautiful Jinling Saint Mother gave a few delicate coughs at his side.

Tongtian Sect Leader looked up to the heavens and exclaimed, “See, now even my disciples are trying to control me.”

Li Ping’an: …

“Master,” Taoist Duobao said warmly, “The prospective Heavenly Emperor has made a Great Vow to create a New Heavenly Court, surely facing many pressures.

Our third and fourth generations of Jie Sect disciples are numerous, which may be of help.”

“That would indeed be good.”

Tongtian Sect Leader looked Li Ping’an up and down before saying with a smile:

“I have eight great disciples, three thousand recorded disciples, as well as three thousand celestials engaged in the dust of the world and three thousand pure cultivators, all practicing on the Immortal Isles overseas.

“If you need people at the Heavenly Court, feel free to come and have a look here.”

Li Ping’an stood up and made a formal bow, “Thank you, Uncle-Master!”

Tongtian Sect Leader casually waved his hand, “No big deal.”

Taoist Duobao placed his hands in his sleeves and added from the side, “However, regarding treasures and such, please don’t look to our Jie Sect.

We have many people but live frugally.

Everyone is just scraping by, and it’s been tens of thousands of years since Master has given any rewards to his disciples, not a single one.”

Tongtian Sect Leader glared at Duobao, “Is that something to say in public?”

Taoist Duobao gave a sheepish smile, “Just giving a heads-up to the prospective Heavenly Emperor.”

“As if you don’t have enough treasures!”

Tongtian Sect Leader scolded:

“Though Jie Sect is poor, that doesn’t mean we lack spirit!

Jin Ling, go find some less populated Immortal Isles and dig out the Spirit Veins to send as a gift to the prospective Heavenly Emperor!”

“There’s really no need!”

Li Ping’an shouted too loudly, somewhat agitated, and then he coughed a few times, bowing his head.

He hastily added, “Uncle-Master, the creation of the New Heavenly Court requires the unity of the entire Human Race.

At the moment, there’s no lack of anything, nor are there any signs of starting construction.”

“You, coming here isn’t an easy feat,” said Tongtian Sect Leader, “how about I teach you some Daoist principles?”

“This…”

“Come on, let’s go!”

Tongtian Sect Leader casually grabbed Li Ping’an’s arm, turned around, and called out:

“You four come too.

Let’s go to Bitian Pool.

Duobao, go call some disciples with Spiritual Roots that have gained sentience to join us for a soak, to improve the quality of the bathwater.

“The prospective Heavenly Emperor has come all this way, how could Jie Sect neglect to show proper hospitality?”

Talking about the Dao?

Bathwater?

Disciples with sentience?

A soak?

Li Ping’an felt a bit confused, as Tongtian Sect Leader pulled him towards the back of the hall.

He still didn’t quite grasp why Tongtian Sect Leader had called him there…

suspecting there might be some ulterior motive, he knew he had to remain cautious.