Yunze had no other choice now.
But even if Gong Xiao hadn't forced him, he wouldn't have refused.
After all, it was just Foundation Establishment!
I don't know how many Core Formation cultivators I've killed in the Heaven-Building Secret Realm. Discussing the Dao with you? I can even let you use both hands!
Yun Ze chuckled.
He finally turned his head and looked at the other party squarely, "Fellow Daoist, do you have nothing left to linger for in the Nine Heavens?"
Gong Xiao smiled, not taking the words to heart, and continued to ask.
"Dare you, or not."
"Good."
Yun Ze replied, "How do you plan to discuss the Dao?"
"We are both fellow Daoists. Even if we discuss the Dao, we shouldn't harm our harmony. Why don't we send out our outer disciples to fight on our behalf?"
Fight on behalf of the master?
Only he and Zi Ji had come to Tongtian Academy. Zi Ji was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, ranking in the lower-middle tier among outer disciples.
If he were to send Zi Ji to fight, it would be no different from admitting defeat directly.
Yun Ze chuckled, "Fellow Daoist, your appearance is not much, but your thoughts are quite beautiful. However, unfortunately, Zi Ji is not my disciple, merely a student."
"Then..."
Just as Gong Xiao was about to speak, a childish voice rang out beside them!
"I! I am Master's disciple!"
Ji Xiu stood on a stool and looked at Gong Xiao, "I can fight on behalf of my Master!"
"Xiao Xiu!"
Gu Xiaoshu quickly picked Ji Xiu up!
This was not the time to express loyalty!
"Hahahaha."
Gong Xiao laughed heartily and gently stroked his white beard, "It seems Fellow Daoist Tu discovered an immortal seedling before us. At such a young age, you've reached the second level of Qi Refining. Your future is promising!"
"Of course!"
Ji Xiu wriggled free from Gu Xiaoshu's embrace and stood beside Yun Ze, holding his arm, "Master, don't worry, I definitely won't disgrace you!"
"Good boy, Xiao Xiu, I know your intentions."
Yun Ze reached out and ruffled Ji Xiu's head, then pulled him behind him.
He looked at Gong Xiao, "This child has not yet joined my sect, so he is not my disciple. If you wish to discuss the Dao, then you must discuss it with me."
"Good."
Gong Xiao did not refuse further.
This was the outcome he desired!
He knew that Tu Sheng would not bring out the chubby boy and the little boy to fight, so he deliberately made this request, prompting him to propose that the two of them fight!
Only in this way, even if he 'accidentally' killed him, he would not be held responsible!
After all, this was Tongtian Academy!
It was considered a major power in the entire Southeast Heaven!
He had to be cautious.
However, he wouldn't really kill this kid, just seriously injure him and teach him a lesson.
"I want to fight too!"
The woman in red stepped forward, "Tu, you've insulted me, and this matter isn't over! You and I will also have a match!"
"Since it is a discussion of the Dao, then naturally everyone should participate."
The middle-aged man surnamed Wei also spoke, cupping his fists towards Yun Ze, "Fellow Daoist Tu, why don't you count me in?"
"Hahaha!"
A fat monk in a kasaya laughed, "Then this humble monk will also join in the fun!"
Four now...
Yun Ze looked at the other two.
One of them wore a bamboo hat, obscuring his face. Judging by his build, it was not difficult to tell it was a woman.
The other man wore a white robe and stood coldly.
They did not speak, merely observing, clearly unwilling to get involved.
Ji Shan, who was by the table, frowned and couldn't help but say, "Since it's a discussion of the Dao, then I..."
"Good!"
Yun Ze uttered a single word, interrupting Ji Shan's intended words, "However, a discussion of the Dao should have some stakes."
As he spoke, he took out a second-grade spirit sword from his spatial ring and placed it on the table, "I offer a second-grade spirit sword. Any fellow Daoist who can produce an item of equivalent value can participate in the discussion of the Dao."
This sword was not the Mountain Ghoul, but the one used by Di Sha.
This was clearly left behind by someone who had entered the Heaven-Building Secret Realm.
Now, thousands of years later, no one would recognize the origin of this sword, so Yun Ze dared to take it out with confidence.
Seeing that Yun Ze had even brought out a second-grade spirit sword, Gong Xiao couldn't help but frown.
A second-grade spirit artifact.
Such treasures were not much for disciples of immortal cultivation families, or for extremely talented prodigies.
But for those like them, who had spent half their lives painstakingly reaching Foundation Establishment, a second-grade spirit sword was equivalent to half a lifetime of effort!
However, this temptation alone was not enough to shake his mind; instead, it made his mind even clearer!
"Fellow Daoist Tu is truly joking."
Gong Xiao chuckled, "Four of us are discussing the Dao with you, and you only offer one second-grade spirit sword. If you lose one match, won't the other three lose the opportunity to discuss the Dao with you?
How about..."
"How about what?"
"The four of us will discuss the Dao with you simultaneously!"
Gong Xiao said this without blushing or skipping a beat, as if he were stating something perfectly normal.
But any normal person would know that this was utterly bullying!
"Heh."
Yun Ze chuckled and said nothing.
A war of attrition was one thing, but now that they saw a second-grade spirit sword, they had completely thrown all pretense of decency out the window?
Since the other two remained silent, Gong Xiao continued, "Unless Fellow Daoist Tu can produce three more second-grade spirit artifacts, otherwise..."
"Who said Fellow Daoist Tu can't produce them?"
Ji Shan said as he took out a spear from his spatial pouch, "A second-grade spirit spear, Dragon Devourer.
Now there are two. Tomorrow, there will definitely be two more spirit artifacts, you can rest assured!"
"Good!"
Gong Xiao's eyes lit up.
Originally, he had only intended to steadily acquire one second-grade spirit artifact. Now, he had lured out three more.
Since that was the case, it was worth taking some risks.
Gong Xiao smiled slightly and cupped his fists towards the two, "Since that is the case, we will not disturb you any longer. Farewell!"
With that, everyone turned and left.
"Fellow Daoist Tu."
Seeing everyone leave, Ji Shan turned to Yun Ze, "Gong Xiao is a cultivator in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, at the third realm of Qi Sea. Do you... have confidence?"
Late stage of Foundation Establishment? I can slay a late stage Core Formation cultivator for you!
It's just that it will be difficult to use killing moves then. How can I injure him without killing him...
"Rest assured."
Yun Ze couldn't say this to Ji Shan, so he only uttered four words, then chuckled, "Fellow Daoist Ji, please put away that spear.
If I am to discuss the Dao, how can I use your spirit artifact as a stake?"
"This matter started because of me, so I should bear some of the risk."
Ji Shan frowned, "It's just that the other two second-grade spirit artifacts are difficult to obtain. I'm afraid no one will be selling such items at the Immortal Gathering."
Yun Ze said nothing, just watched silently.
Ji Shan was still the same, a good old man, too warm-hearted, always thinking of others but not himself.
"Zi Ji, bring that thing out."
"Yes."
Zi Ji responded and took out the two pages of paper from his embrace, handing them to Yun Ze with both hands.
"Here."
Yun Ze handed them to Ji Shan, "Fellow Daoist Ji, a deal is a deal. Since you are willing to lend me this spear, I must pay you interest.
This is the interest I am giving you.
As for the other two spirit artifacts, I will naturally find a way to obtain them."
"This is..."
Ji Shan took the two pages of paper, but with just a glance, he was instantly stunned, "This... this... this is too precious!"
"To me, it is merely scribbled grass paper, very cheap."
Yun Ze said indifferently, not intending to stay any longer.
He got up and summoned his light boat, brought Zi Ji along, and flew out of the palace, "Everyone, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Fellow Daoist Tu, be careful on your journey."
"Immortal, farewell."
"Master, see you tomorrow!"
Everyone bid farewell to Yun Ze. Ji Lanshan immediately went to Ji Shan's side, peering at the paper in his hand, "Shan'er, what did Mr. Tu give you?"
"Father, you can see for yourself."
Ji Shan handed it to Ji Lanshan and murmured while looking in the direction the light boat had flown, "Our Chengtian imperial family owes him a great favor."
Ji Lanshan's gaze swept across the white paper, and in an instant, his old face turned red!
"Quick! Quickly summon all officials to an audience! I have a major announcement to make!"
"Your Majesty, what exactly is on it?" Gu Xiaoshu couldn't help but ask curiously.
"It is the future of our Chengtian!"
"Future?"
Ji Lanshan did not hide it. He held the paper and began to tell Gu Xiaoshu how shocking the contents were!
Ji Shan also listened, wanting to see if there were any omissions.
Only Ji Xiu.
He glanced at everyone, then walked out of the lakeside pavilion alone, returned to his room, and sat down cross-legged, recalling the scene just now.
Earlier, when he had repeatedly come into contact with that kid's body.
That feeling of being vast as the sea and complete in the five elements!
Without a doubt, that was what he had been searching for for nearly a thousand years!
Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment!
That person was not Tu Xiu, but a scion of the Kong family's Yun clan!
The Yun clan...
That meant the two immortal jades he had hidden away were indeed on this kid!
He had originally planned to retrieve the immortal jades after he had achieved some success. Now, these immortal jades had returned to him on their own.
It seemed fate was on his side!
A scion of the Yun clan...
I entrusted the immortal jades to your clan for safekeeping for many years. You owe me a bow, and this kindness should be repaid!
The immortal jades should be returned to me!