Dream?
Yun Ze subconsciously recalled what Yun Xiao had told him.
The reason she had asked him to bring Ji Xiu to Tongtian Academy was because of a dream!
Could it be...
This person was also a reincarnated soul?!
And he had just kowtowed to him!
The moment this thought flashed through Yun Ze's mind, Ji Xiu caught the look of panic in his eyes.
In an instant, Ji Xiu knew that this person absolutely knew about the matter of dream communication, otherwise, he wouldn't have had such an emotional reaction upon hearing the word 'dream'.
Secondly, it was this person's knowledge.
He knew about reincarnated souls, but he didn't necessarily know his own identity. This also ruled out the possibility that Yun Xiao had guessed his identity and planned to harm him.
If that was the case, then this person was clearly someone Yun Xiao trusted.
As for the sealing aura on him, it could be Immortal Jade, or it could be for some other reason.
He could afford to wait and see.
Ji Xiu smiled innocently, reached out, and grabbed Yun Ze's sleeve. While gently shaking it, he pleaded in a very childish voice, "Yes, Master! I had a dream a few days ago, and I dreamt that Master came to take me as a disciple!
I believe this must be a sign from heaven. I am willing to become your disciple, and you must be willing to take me as your disciple!"
Phew...
Yun Ze secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that this child was not some powerful being reincarnated, otherwise, it would be too terrifying.
He raised his hand and rubbed Ji Xiu's head, smiling slightly, "We'll talk about taking disciples later. The Ascension Assembly still needs to follow a process.
If you truly wish to become my disciple, then wait until you pass the Ascension Assembly and are accepted into Tongtian Academy."
"Okay!"
Ji Xiu nodded heavily, with a youthful spirit, "Don't worry, Master, I will not disappoint your expectations!"
Yun Ze helped Ji Xiu up and couldn't help but say with a wry smile, "Little Xiu, before that, it's best not to call me Master, lest others gossip."
"Alright, then I'll call you... Mr. Tu!"
"Yes, that's fine."
Yun Ze nodded slowly, but his hand unconsciously rested on Ji Xiu's shoulder.
This clever and adorable young man was extremely likable. Who wouldn't like him upon meeting him?
Upon hearing Yun Ze's words, Ji Lanshan and Gu Xiaoshu on the side smiled, but only one person forced a smile.
"Come, come, let's not talk about this anymore. The food is getting cold. Let's eat first and chat while we eat!"
Ji Lanshan said and invited Yun Ze to sit down, while Gu Xiaoshu went to the lakeside pavilion to get a stool.
There were originally only five stools around the table, not counting Zi Ji's seat. While everyone was talking, a palace maid had already brought a stool from outside to the lakeside pavilion.
After everyone was seated and about to pick up their chopsticks, hurried footsteps sounded outside the pavilion!
"Your Majesty, an urgent matter to report!"
"Come, come, Mr. Tu, you all eat first."
Ji Lanshan put down his bowl and chopsticks, picked up his wine cup, and toasted Yun Ze with a smile, "It's all worldly matters, but they must be dealt with. I hope Mr. Tu will forgive me."
"It's nothing, national affairs are more important."
Yun Ze picked up his wine cup and took a sip.
The wine was mellow and fragrant, smooth on the palate, and faintly carried a spiritual energy. It seemed this was not ordinary wine.
Although it was not as good as the Ascension Wine he had drunk before, it was still a rare spiritual item.
After the wine entered his throat, he heard the guard's voice faintly.
"Your Majesty, those immortals wish to enter the palace for an audience."
This was not Yun Ze eavesdropping.
It was just that with his cultivation level, the sound naturally reached his ears, and he couldn't help but hear it.
Ji Lanshan frowned slightly, "Did they give a reason?"
Those guys had always disregarded him, so why would they want an audience at this particular time?
"No."
Ji Lanshan fell silent and glanced at Yun Ze.
He knew that no matter how quietly they spoke, these words would reach Tu Sheng's ears.
Since that was the case...
"Mr. Tu."
Ji Lanshan looked at Yun Ze and said with a smile, "Some fellow Daoists have arrived. What do you think..."
"We are all fellow Daoists, it's fine to meet them."
They had naturally seen the light boat land in the imperial palace.
Since they knew he was in the imperial palace and chose this time to enter, Yun Ze also wanted to know what they wanted.
"Got it!"
Ji Lanshan replied, turned to the guard, and said, "Tell them that a family banquet is being prepared in the palace, and invite them to enter the palace in an hour!"
"Yes!"
After speaking, Ji Lanshan smiled and welcomed them back, sat down, picked up his wine cup, and toasted Yun Ze, "Come, Mr. Tu, have a drink!"
Yun Ze raised his cup and took another sip, smiling at Ji Lanshan, "Your Majesty is not in a hurry to see the other fellow Daoists?"
"It's just a discussion of Dao, how can it be more important than a family banquet!"
Ji Lanshan picked up a piece of meat and ate it, showing no trace of royal arrogance, "Mr. Tu, please eat. Try my wife's cooking."
"Yes, Sir."
Gu Xiaoshu also got up to pour wine for Yun Ze, "This is your first time visiting our home. It won't do if the hospitality is not good."
Yun Ze looked at these two, they were both as cunning as can be!
He couldn't help but glance at Ji Shan.
Where did this Big Brother Ji get his straightforward nature from?
Big Brother Ji still looked unhappy at the table, not drinking or eating, as if afraid others wouldn't know his plan had failed.
Both Ji Lanshan and Gu Xiaoshu noticed Ji Shan's displeasure, but neither of them pointed it out.
After all, this was not the place to discuss such matters.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.
Most of the dishes on the table were swept away by Zi Ji.
This fellow seemed to still be unsatisfied.
After all, given his size, even if he ate everything on the table, there would still be plenty left.
Seeing this, Gu Xiaoshu summoned a palace maid and asked the imperial kitchen to prepare more food.
Yun Ze did not refuse, because to be honest... the food in the palace was really delicious!
But when the imperial kitchen served the second round of food, the guard returned.
This time, he was followed by seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, led by a white-haired old man.
An hour?
This was probably less than half an hour.
These guys must have forced their way in!
Ji Lanshan frowned, but he could only smile and get up to greet them.
He cupped his hands towards the white-haired old man, "Senior Gong."
"Your Majesty, there's no need for such ceremony," the white-haired old man replied with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man behind him spoke, "Yes, Your Majesty, why be so polite?
We have been in Chengtian Prefecture for half a month, and you haven't invited us to the palace for a banquet. Now you're being polite."
"Senior Wei, what are you saying."
Ji Lanshan saw that the other party's words were laced with sarcasm, but he remained neither angry nor annoyed, only smiling, "It's just a simple family banquet. I was planning to hold a banquet tomorrow and invite all fellow Daoists to the palace for a discussion."
"Oh?"
A woman in red asked, smiling charmingly at Ji Lanshan, "Is Your Majesty blaming us for coming unannounced?"
"This... Senior Lin, don't put words in my mouth!"
Ji Lanshan quickly waved his hands and cupped his hands in apology to everyone, "Enough, enough. If I, Ji, have been negligent towards you all, I apologize here. I hope you will forgive me."
As he spoke, he bowed deeply!
There was no other choice.
Although he wore a crown, he also carried the burden of his people on his shoulders!
If he refused to bow now to keep his crown from falling, then his people would suffer!
At best, a few immortal seedlings from the Chengtian Dynasty would be lost in this Ascension Assembly.
At worst...
Their sects might never send envoys to participate in the Ascension Assembly again!
This bow was unavoidable!
"Alright, don't tease fellow Daoist Ji anymore."
The white-haired old man spoke, and the other five fell silent.
It seemed they had decided to follow his lead.
The white-haired old man then looked at Yun Ze not far away, his face creasing into a smile, appearing amiable, "This must be fellow Daoist Tu, right?"
Yun Ze knew that the other party was not here with good intentions.
He had also considered whether to be as diplomatic as Ji Lanshan and handle things smoothly, which would save a lot of trouble.
But... Tu Sheng was never diplomatic!
Or rather, no one from Tongtian Academy was diplomatic!
It was said that having knowledge made one naturally elegant, but Tongtian Academy was different. Most of them were naturally arrogant with their knowledge!
How could Tu Sheng, someone who even his fellow disciples from Tongtian Academy were unwilling to approach, or even looked down upon, be diplomatic?
This was also why he was still drinking and eating at the table, even though he saw the six people approaching.
He placed his wine cup on the table, not even glancing at them, and said calmly, "Zi Ji, do you know the next line after 'Is it not a pleasure to have friends coming from afar'?"
Zi Ji was busy eating and instinctively replied, "Is it not a pleasure to have friends coming from afar."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of most of the six people improved slightly.
They all knew that Tongtian Academy produced arrogant people, and since this person called them friends, his attitude was already quite good.
But in the next moment...
"What if a dog comes from afar?"
"A dog?"
Zi Ji froze with his chopsticks in hand.
He looked at Yun Ze blankly, somewhat at a loss, and quickly put down his chopsticks, placing his hands on his lap, "I have not learned this lesson, please guide me, Sir!"
"Then remember it."
Yun Ze smiled slightly and looked at Zi Ji, saying, "If a dog comes from afar, begging for food and barking incessantly, it should be whipped a dozen times and driven to the side courtyard."
Upon hearing this, the faces of Gong Lao and the others instantly darkened!
Not only them, but even Ji Shan beside them was stunned!
They all said Tongtian Academy was arrogant, but... this was a bit too arrogant!
Weren't they afraid of causing any conflict?!
"You, surnamed Tu!"
The woman in red who had spoken earlier stepped forward, pointed at Yun Ze, and cursed, "Who are you calling a dog?!"
"Whoever barks is a dog."
"You!"
The woman in red cursed angrily, and the flying sword at her waist was instantly unsheathed, pointing directly at Yun Ze!
"How dare you!"
Ji Shan roared.
But before the sword hilt could fly past Gong Lao, the sword was grabbed by him and pushed back into its sheath!
"Gong Xiao!"
The woman in red was confused and looked at the white-haired old man, questioning, "What are you doing?! This scoundrel is bullying us, and you still want to be a dog!"
"I will only stop you this once."
Gong Xiao said calmly, "If you want to fight a fellow Daoist in the imperial palace in front of the people from the Immortal Mansion, I will cheer you on."
"I..."
The woman in red was stunned and could only frown and look ahead, no longer making a move.
"This one is reasonable."
Yun Ze replied with a smile from the side, but said no more, only continuing to drink and eat.
The situation was now awkward, and Ji Lanshan didn't know what to do, so he could only watch from the side.
This Mr. Tu looked refined, but when he hurt people, he was truly ruthless!
"Your Majesty."
"Yes!"
Ji Lanshan responded quickly when Gong Xiao spoke, "What advice do you have, Senior?"
"You said you were holding a banquet tomorrow and inviting us to the palace for a discussion?"
"Yes!"
Seeing Gong Xiao offering a way out, Ji Lanshan quickly replied, "I hope all seniors will grace us with your presence!"
"Then, we will certainly not miss it!"
Gong Xiao looked at Yun Ze and smiled slightly, "Fellow Daoist Tu, you will be coming too, right?"
"Me?"
Yun Ze asked back, and took another sip of wine, "It depends on my mood."
"After all, it's a banquet for discussing Dao."
Gong Xiao spoke again, "If fellow Daoist Tu doesn't come, and Tongtian Academy is absent, won't this banquet for discussing Dao lose its fun?"
"Oh?"
Yun Ze asked back, then turned to Gong Xiao, "Listening to your words, are you looking to discuss Dao with me?"
"Do you dare? No, or rather..."
Gong Xiao's lips curved slightly, "Does Tongtian Academy dare?"