"Yo, isn't this Mr. Tu?"
Before Yun Ze could speak, Gong Li, upon seeing him, started laughing. "What, are you surprised to see me?"
Yun Ze frowned, but ignored him, his gaze fixed on the three people standing before him.
He recognized one of them – the red-clad girl who had opened the treasure chest back then.
As for the other two... judging by their cultivation, they were at least at the Golden Core stage!
One of the Golden Core cultivators wore a token at his waist. Judging by its design and appearance, it belonged to the Immortal Mansion.
It seemed the Gong family had sent reinforcements.
"Little Li."
The Golden Core cultivator from the Immortal Mansion spoke slowly, his eyes sweeping over Yun Ze and Zi Ji. "Is this the Mr. Tu you mentioned?"
When a Golden Core cultivator asked, according to the rules of the cultivation world, Yun Ze could not remain silent.
He cupped his hands and said, "Junior Tu..."
"Hmph!"
A cold snort echoed!
"Pfft!"
Yun Ze's mind trembled, his Qi sea unstable, and he spat out a mouthful of blood!
"Sir!"
Zi Ji quickly stepped forward to support Yun Ze. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Yun Ze forced out the two words.
If he didn't constantly temper his Qi sea, this single shock would have caused ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators to be injured for ten years at best, or their Qi sea to collapse at worst.
Fortunately, he only needed a moment's rest to recover.
The Golden Core cultivator glanced at Yun Ze again. "Ignorant fool! Did I ask you?"
"Hey! Fellow Daoist Gong, why the anger?"
Another Golden Core cultivator chuckled beside him. "There are more and more juniors who don't know the rules these days. Just give me some face.
Come, let's talk upstairs."
"Brother Shangguan speaks wisely."
The Gong-named Golden Core cultivator turned and smiled. "Let's go, we'll talk upstairs. No need to let such scum disturb our mood."
"Please!"
The two invited each other upstairs. The red-clad girl also glanced at Yun Ze before following. As for Gong Li...
He swaggered forward, came to Yun Ze's side, and whispered into his ear, "Kid, remember what I said?
I said... we'd meet again! Hahahaha!"
Yun Ze's brows furrowed, but he remained silent, only staring at Gong Li's receding back.
Golden Core cultivators were involved.
He was only at the Foundation Establishment stage now. Facing their pressure, he couldn't retaliate at all.
His only option was to find Brother Yu.
See if he could find some way within the 'rules' of the Immortal Mansion to send this guy in again.
But with the four of them upstairs now, and the spiritual sense of Golden Core cultivators, he definitely couldn't go up. He could only wait until they reached the Imperial Palace.
"Let's go."
Yun Ze leaned on Zi Ji, not even wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, feigning a severely injured appearance.
The two walked out of the Ye Huan Tower.
"Sir, we're in trouble."
Zi Ji supported Yun Ze, his brow slightly furrowed. "Why don't we... go back to Tongtian Academy first? Have the academy send someone else to participate in the Ascension Conference?"
"It's nothing."
Yun Ze replied calmly.
He led Zi Ji towards the street selling spiritual artifacts. "Even if we have to go back, we still have to attend the Dao discussion appointment first. Otherwise, how will others view Tongtian Academy?"
"But Sir..."
"Alright, you want that wolf-hair brush, right? You remember the way, don't you? Help me over."
"...Yes, Sir."
Zi Ji replied and no longer persuaded him, leading Yun Ze towards the spiritual artifact street.
After buying the wolf-hair brush and leaving the Immortal Gathering, they boarded a light boat and flew towards the Imperial Palace.
Just past the city gate, Yun Ze saw the entire Imperial Palace brightly lit and decorated with lanterns from the light boat, as if there was a great celebration. Many cultivators were even flying into the palace without landing at the entrance.
The Immortal Mansion had explicit rules: they could not directly interfere with secular imperial power and must maintain friendliness towards secular imperial power.
Remember, the reason they could enter the palace directly back then was because Ji Shan was on the light boat, and he had allowed them to enter the palace directly.
Yun Ze landed his light boat outside the palace gate. As he was about to enter on foot, he learned the reason from the guards.
Ji Lanshan had invited all the immortal families who had come to the Chengtian Dynasty to participate in this Dao discussion. Those willing to participate could enter the palace directly and be seated without announcement!
Although there were still only Yun Ze and the other three discussing the Dao, the number of people attending the banquet was at least a hundred!
However, no one had informed him of this beforehand.
Yun Ze frowned slightly but didn't dwell on it.
Ji Lanshan had his reasons for doing this. He remembered that one of the plans Zi Ji had given for saving the country included this point.
'Set up a formation to lure many immortals into the palace, causing the enemy to be confused and suspicious.'
Using the Dao discussion to fulfill this condition seemed the most convenient.
Moreover, with so many people watching, he didn't have to worry about the Gong family using their power to suppress him and then refusing to admit defeat if he lost!
Yun Ze boarded the light boat again and followed the palace lanterns to the great hall, where he landed.
Since the number of participants was not limited for this Dao discussion, nor was the cultivation level, many Qi Refining stage cultivators had come to watch.
However, to maintain order, cultivators below the ninth level of Qi Refining were only allowed to watch the Dao discussion from outside the great hall. Only cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining and above could enter the great hall.
At this moment, the area outside the entire great hall was almost packed with people.
As soon as Yun Ze landed, Ji Shan and Ji Xiu, who were waiting nearby, rushed to greet him.
"Fellow Daoist Tu."
Ji Shan, upon seeing Yun Ze, first cupped his hands and apologized. "I'm sorry, I will give you an explanation for today's matter. Please forgive me!"
"It's nothing, nothing."
Yun Ze waved his hand, not taking the matter to heart. "It's a small matter, I won't mind. How is the Dao discussion preparation going?"
"Big Brother, see? I told you Master wouldn't mind, right?"
Ji Xiu smiled and came to Yun Ze's side, taking his sleeve and walking towards the great hall. "Let's go, Master. The Dao discussion is ready. After listening to Father Emperor's nagging, we can begin!"
"Calling me Master again?"
Yun Ze put on a stern face. While following Ji Xiu's lead, he still lectured, "I told you, until you pass the Ascension Conference, I am not your master."
Ji Xiu's smile faded, and he lowered his head, looking wronged. "Oh, I know..."
"Then what should you call me?"
"Mr. Tu."
"Hmm, teachable."
Yun Ze nodded with a smile. "Once you become my disciple, you will surely achieve something. Let's go, take me to see your father."
"Okay, Mr. Tu~"
Ji Xiu responded and continued to skip into the hall, holding Yun Ze's sleeve.
Yun Ze couldn't help but smile.
Children were indeed children. As long as you gave them some sweetness, they would forget their grievances.
It was good.
Ji Xiu led Yun Ze and Zi Ji into the hall, with Ji Shan following closely behind.
The eunuch guarding the entrance quickly shouted in a sharp voice.
"Immortal Tu and his disciple have arrived!"
As the four entered the hall, Ji Lanshan, who was on the throne, quickly stood up.
Today, he was wearing a crimson robe, exuding an incomparably noble aura, vastly different from his appearance yesterday.
But the gratitude in his eyes remained, and there was even a hint of guilt.
"Mr. Tu."
Ji Lanshan stepped down from the throne and hurried to Yun Ze. He clasped Yun Ze's right hand with both hands, showing no imperial arrogance. "Mr. Tu, you've finally arrived!
Come, all my beloved ministers, this is Mr. Tu. Why don't you quickly pay your respects to the immortal?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the civil and military officials who were waiting around and seated on both sides of the imperial seat simultaneously stood up and cupped their hands towards Yun Ze, shouting in unison.
"Your subjects, pay respects to Mr. Tu, and wish Mr. eternal immortal path and longevity equal to heaven!"
Yun Ze had never seen such a grand occasion, but he still managed to steady his mind and nodded at everyone. "No need for such formalities, please rise."
"Thank you for your grace, immortal!"
The officials shouted again, then stood aside.
Besides the ministers present, four other cultivators also rose from their seats and cupped their hands towards Yun Ze.
Yun Ze sensed them briefly and could tell at a glance that they were also Foundation Establishment cultivators.
He recognized one of them.
Wanbao Tower, Xu Caiwan!
This fellow had actually come.
Among the other three were the two who had accompanied Gong Xiao yesterday – the woman in the bamboo hat and the man in white.
As for Gong Xiao and the others... they hadn't been seen yet.
They probably came early because they weren't participating in the Dao discussion.
Yun Ze cupped his hands towards the four of them, then heard Xu Caiwan's voice from the front.
"Brother Tu, here, come here!"
Yun Ze nodded, then looked at Ji Lanshan. "Fellow Daoist Ji, my friend is calling me, so I'll go over first."
"Good, good, Daoist, feel free."
Ji Lanshan replied with a smile and walked towards the front of the hall with Yun Ze.
He returned to the throne, while Yun Ze, with Zi Ji and Ji Xiu, sat beside Xu Caiwan.
"Yo, isn't this the little prince of Chengtian?"
Xu Caiwan saw Ji Xiu and leaned forward with a smile. "Brother Tu, are you planning to take a disciple early?"
"I found this kid to my liking, so I gave him a promise," Yun Ze explained calmly.
"A promise?"
"Yes!"
Ji Xiu spoke up proactively. "Mr. Tu said that if I can pass the Ascension Conference, he will take me as his disciple!"
"Oh? Then I must congratulate Brother Tu on gaining a talented disciple!"
Xu Caiwan cupped his hands with a smile, then leaned closer to Yun Ze. "Brother Tu, there's something... I don't know if I should say it or not."
"What?"
"It concerns Gong Li!"
"Hmm..."
Yun Ze pondered for a few seconds, then finally said, "I've already met him."
Xu Caiwan frowned, then immediately asked, "Then how are you? Did they make things difficult for you?"
"A Golden Core cultivator attacked, and with a cold snort, severely injured me."
Yun Ze said truthfully, then looked at Xu Caiwan. "Do you know any hidden details about this matter?"
"The story is like this..."
Just as Xu Caiwan lowered his voice, intending to continue speaking, a sharp voice rang out, interrupting him!
"Immortal Gong, Immortal Rui, Immortal Xiao, Immortal Chen have arrived!"
"Gong Xiao is here, we'll talk about this later!"
Xu Caiwan frowned upon seeing this.
He casually handed a Qiankun bag to Yun Ze and quickly instructed, "There are four second-tier spiritual artifacts inside. I'll give you a 30% discount. You can just give them to him later."
"What?"
Yun Ze hadn't misheard; he suspected he had misheard.
"Oh, Brother Tu!"
Xu Caiwan patted Yun Ze's shoulder and said earnestly, "Spirit stones are not as important as life. Don't make things too stiff with the Gong family!"
"Yo, Fellow Daoist Tu."
Gong Xiao's voice sounded from the doorway. He spotted Yun Ze sitting in the distance at a glance and said with a loud laugh, "Came so early, have you prepared the spiritual artifacts?"
Yun Ze ignored Gong Xiao and pushed the Qiankun bag back into Xu Caiwan's hand. "Brother Xu, I appreciate your kindness.
However... since I intend to beat a dog, I naturally won't care who its master is!"