Chapter 110: Fate and Opportunities Each Have Their Destiny

After Dongmen Hong took his seat, more individuals soon arrived. Wu Shi remained composed, continuing to meditate with closed eyes, seemingly unaffected by anything around him. In contrast, Dongmen Hong glanced over and spotted Hu Dali, Hu Xiaoli, followed by a hunchbacked young man. At first glance, it was clear that this young man had not fully transformed from his turtle monster form; a prominent shell-like bulge protruded from his back.

Initially hesitant upon entering, Hu Xiaoli dared not move recklessly. However, when he saw Dongmen Hong seated on Lotus Mountain, he promptly pulled Hu Dali towards their own lotuses, eager to sit as well.

“Behave yourself.”

“But bro, if that Daoist can sit, why can’t we?!” Hu Xiaoli stubbornly insisted, though truthfully, without seeing Dongmen Hong take a seat, he wouldn’t have dared to do so either.

Feeling defiant, Hu Xiaoli let out a huff and chose the lotus furthest away from Dongmen Hong to sit down. Seeing this, Hu Dali hastily sat beside his younger brother, ready to keep an eye on him.

In contrast, the turtle-like youth following behind them appeared hesitant and cautious. Sensing the unfriendly atmosphere within the hall, he refrained from claiming a lotus seat. Instead, he slowly retreated to a corner where he sat cross-legged on the floor.

The turtle youth had come merely to listen to the supreme Dao, with no intention of involving himself in others’ disputes. Thus, he chose not to engage in such competitive posturing.

Soon after, yet another pair of monsters entered.

Dongmen Hong observed the newcomers—a man and a woman, both strikingly handsome. However, their aura carried a watery essence, suggesting they likely hailed from aquatic origins. The nearest significant body of water was the Sishui River, implying they could be formidable creatures from that domain.

Dongmen Hong felt discontent; surprisingly, most arrivals thus far were monsters. As this male-female duo scanned the hall, they noticed nine golden lotuses serving as meditation cushions, with four already occupied.

“Shixiong, let’s sit here,” Pang Zhu suggested, her oval face reflecting a glint of spiritual insight as she surveyed the area.

Bivalve-type monsters typically have weak offensive capabilities and struggle with self-defense. However, due to their innate ability to generate treasures, they possess a natural affinity for detecting valuable objects. Upon seeing the lotus cushions, Pang Zhu vaguely sensed that securing a spot might bring immense benefits.

With this thought, Pang Zhu promptly pulled Hui Xiuran towards those seats.

Having witnessed Dongmen Hong’s displeasure earlier, Hui Xiuran initially hesitated to sit down and considered retreating outside the hall instead, preferring quiet meditation nearby. After all, being close enough to clearly hear the sermon was sufficient for him. However, Pang Zhu insisted on dragging him along, leaving Hui Xiuran no choice but to disregard Dongmen Hong and take a seat near Hu Dali and Erhu.

Thus, six out of the nine spots were claimed.

Hardly had they settled when more individuals arrived. Those already seated turned to see a refined middle-aged man enter, dressed in luxurious silk garments that immediately hinted at his substantial wealth. Strangely, though, there was not a trace of cultivation aura about him; rather, he exuded a scholarly air.

The middle-aged man sported a long beard typical of scholars, with features suggesting an educated background. Upon observing the gathering within the hall, he promptly bowed with a smile and introduced himself, “Greetings, everyone. I am Zhang Youren, a cloth merchant from Yuzhou Prefecture. Recently, while conducting business here in Qingzhou Prefecture, I noticed peculiar signs in the sky and decided to investigate.”

After Zhang Youren’s introduction, Hui Xiuran nodded and returned the courtesy. Dongmen Hong gestured towards the nearby lotus cushions, smiling, “Fellow Daoist Zhang, your arrival here is truly serendipitous. Please take a seat.”

Zhang Youren had endured a physically exhausting journey, with his back sore and heart weary. Honestly, even he was reluctant to relive the sheer determination it took to ascend the Heavenly Stairs. Feeling genuinely drained, Zhang Youren gratefully accepted the offer and sat on one of the golden lotus cushions.

Just as Zhang Youren settled down, an energetic voice rang out from behind, clearly indicating the speaker’s youthful age.

“Old Ox, Old Ox, hurry up! We’ve reached the mountaintop.” A teenager, around fifteen or sixteen years old, bounded through the temple entrance, followed by a robust-looking old ox.

At this lively age, noticing there were still three cushions available, the youth grinned and swiftly claimed one. “Come sit with me, Old Ox. This spot’s great; we’ll hear everything clearly later.”

The great ox blinked and replied, “Go ahead, Daoxue. The hall is not spacious, nor are these lotus cushions large enough for my comfort. I’d rather lie outside where it’s more relaxing.”

Yuan Daoyuan had managed to escape from home just in time, thanks entirely to this steadfast great ox carrying him along the journey. Hearing the ox wanted to listen at the door, Yuan Daoyuan immediately stood up to accompany him.

Unexpectedly, the great ox let out a low moo and shook its head, “Stay seated; lying down outside suits me fine, but it would be inconvenient for you.”

Persuaded by the great ox’s words, Yuan Daoyuan decided to remain seated. He glanced around, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the immortal.

After another quarter of an hour, two more figures flew into the hall.

Recognizing one of them, Dongmen Hong exclaimed, “Fellow Daoist Tuo, it’s actually you?”

As previously mentioned, Dongmen Hong, as the monastery host of Baiyun Monastery, held high esteem even within Qingzhou Prefecture. The other individual was none other than Tuo Wenjing, the monastery host of Changchun Monastery.

While there was competition between them, it remained amicable, as their relationship was quite cordial. After exchanging sect-specific talisman manuals, Tuo Wenjing claimed significant insights and set out to visit friends for further discussions. Before leaving, he mentioned that he would return in about a year, requesting Dongmen Hong to keep an eye on Changchun Monastery during his absence. With only half a year left until his expected return, seeing Tuo Wenjing back now naturally surprised Dongmen Hong.

Tuo Wenjing had a lean build but exuded a sharp gaze. Upon hearing Dongmen Hong’s greeting, he nodded promptly. “Fortunately, some urgent matters arose, so I called my friend ahead of schedule to return with me to Qingzhou Prefecture. Otherwise, we might have missed this event.” Tuo Wenjing glanced at Dongmen Hong, noticing that only one lotus cushion remained among the nine, and swiftly took his place.

The friend accompanying him observed the lack of available spots in the main hall, scanned the area, and remarked with a faint smile, “Since when do our human race’s immortals allow such numerous aquatic and oviparous beings to sit here during their teachings?”

Tuo Wenjing’s friend was named Zhun Pu, a fair-skinned individual with long ears and a perpetual hint of smile on his face. Though somewhat plump, it didn’t appear greasy but rather conveyed a sense of abundant prosperity.

With this appearance, Zhun Pu often managed to deceive others effortlessly. In truth, he was highly cunning, employing unscrupulous methods whenever necessary. Consequently, many fell victim to his schemes.

Zhun Pu, being astute, quickly assessed who occupied the golden lotuses after scanning the hall. He then directed his attention towards Hui Xiuran and his companion.

Confronting Dongmen Hong directly would have been awkward for Zhun Pu, while Yuan Daoyuan, being just a child, might even embarrass Tuo Wenjing if addressed. As for asking some monsters to vacate their seats, Hu Dali and Erhu looked fiercely untamed, and there were numerous other mountain spirits outside the hall. The aquatic creatures had sent the least representatives, and moreover, Hui Xiuran sat beside a woman—making them, under these circumstances, the most vulnerable targets.

Zhun Pu’s assessment proved accurate. When he singled out Hui Xiuran, Hu Dali and Erhu furrowed their brows slightly but remained silent. After all, Hui Xiuran and his companion emanated a strong aquatic aura; the bond between underwater beings and land-dwelling monsters wasn’t yet that deep.

Tuo Wenjing sat upright, also turning his gaze towards Hui Xiuran and joining Zhun Pu in singling them out.

Hui Xiuran’s face flushed red then pale; he had never endured such indignity before. Unable to resist rising for a confrontation, yet determinedly holding back, he remembered what the golden carp attendants mentioned upon arrival: regardless of who was right or wrong, anyone causing disturbances through fighting at the patriarch’s abode would be promptly expelled.

Unwilling to leave, Hui Xiuran forced himself to endure silently.

Pang Zhu tugged on his arm and whispered, “Let him rant, Shixiong, pay him no heed. Let’s see how long he can go on without any response. After all, none dare to resort to violence here.”

After relentless taunts, Zhun Pu noticed Pang Zhu and Hui Xiuran closing their eyes, seemingly unfazed. Fuming with anger, he abruptly strode over to Pang Zhu and plopped down next to her. As Pang Zhu occupied the central cushion meant for a woman, there was some space beside her, which Zhun Pu shamelessly squeezed into.

“What are you doing?!” Pang Zhu glared furiously at Zhun Pu.

Zhun Pu grinned widely, “Naturally, I’m exhausted from the journey. Since this fellow Daoist is the smallest, we’ll just have to make room together.”

His words were utterly shameless as he continued inching closer to Pang Zhu.

This audacious maneuver left Dongmen Hong and Tuo Wenjing feeling embarrassed; they fell silent, momentarily unable to speak.

As Zhun Pu continued to press closer, Pang Zhu could no longer tolerate it and abruptly stood up, fuming. “You shameless Daoist, I’ll let you have this spot! As a monster, today I’ve truly witnessed the thickness of human faces - thicker than city walls!”

With that, Pang Zhu walked over to Hui Xiuran’s side and sat cross-legged on the floor.

Hui Xiuran, equally furious yet powerless, gritted his teeth and yielded, saying, “Zhu’er, take my place.”

Pang Zhu shook her head. “Don’t worry about me, Shixiong. These golden lotus cushions seem immensely beneficial, but I’m content to forgo them. No matter what happens later, Shixiong must not yield again.”

While Hui Xiuran and Pang Zhu whispered back and forth, Zhun Pu had already comfortably seated himself with a grin, seemingly unfazed by the peculiar looks from others.

Another day passed, and dozens more cultivators or creatures ascended Kunlun Mountain. However, there were no additional golden lotus cushions within the grand hall. Some chose to sit directly on the floor, while others, like the Great Black Ox, transformed into their original forms and lounged outside. By evening, the heavenly ladder was retracted, leaving newcomers to listen to the teachings at the base of Kunlun Mountain.

On one particular day, as everyone rested with closed eyes, a sudden burst of rosy light filled the heavens and earth. Then, on the elevated seat within the grand hall, a figure slowly materialized.

Dressed in azure robes, this figure sat cross-legged, their long black hair loosely draped over their shoulders, appearing remarkably youthful.

“Disciple greets Master.” Upon seeing Duan Wenxuan, Wu Shi immediately rose to kneel before him. The crowd was taken aback; they realized that the first person seated on the cushion was none other than the disciple of ‘Taiyi’ Immortal.

Duan Wenxuan nodded slightly without a word and promptly began his discourse.

The so-called “Dao” that Duan Wenxuan expounded upon wasn’t anything profound. Instead, he recited passages from Daoist scriptures sourced from the world of Love Apartment, chosen at random. These texts held no inherent meaning initially, but by imbuing them with significance using the gate symbols, they truly became meaningful.

His discourse continued for forty-nine days straight, captivating all those gathered on Kunlun Mountain. Some listeners even started practicing on the spot, realizing how misguided their previous cultivation had been. No wonder they’d never seen anyone achieve immortality or divine status—this was the true path.