Time: Likely before the Fengshen era.
Place: The primordial world.
A cloud floated gracefully across the sky.
"No need for riding mounts or steering boats, one roams freely across the five lakes and four seas.
In a moment, one can traverse the vast universe, for a stone to crumble and a pine to wither, it is but an autumn's time."
Standing upon the cloud was a figure clad in white robes, exuding an ethereal, otherworldly aura. His cloud-patterned Eight Trigrams robe fluttered lightly as he sang with abandon, embodying the image of a transcendent sage, free from mortal concerns.
"Yun Zhongzi, wait for me!" A voice suddenly called from behind.
The man in white turned around, only to see a beam of light rapidly approaching. When the light reached him, it flickered, transforming into a tall, middle-aged Daoist dressed in a yellow Eight Trigrams robe, with a few wild strands of stubble at the corners of his mouth.
"Ah, it's Senior Brother Huang Long," Yun Zhongzi greeted him with a respectful nod after recognizing the newcomer.
Yun Zhongzi was a disciple of the Chan Sect, while the visitor was Huang Long Zhenren, the third of the Twelve True Disciples of Yuxu Palace. As far as seniority went, Huang Long was indeed his senior.
Huang Long nodded lightly and said, "Junior Brother, you have been in seclusion for so long that you are rarely seen. Where are you heading today?"
"I've just emerged from seclusion and decided to go for a stroll wherever the mood takes me," Yun Zhongzi replied, glancing at Huang Long with a smile. "And you, Senior Brother, where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"To Yushan Mountain, to see Yu Ding."
"Senior Brother Yu Ding? What happened to him?" Yun Zhongzi asked with surprise. Before Huang Long could answer, Yun Zhongzi's gaze shifted to the ground, and he smiled, saying, "Senior Brother, please wait a moment."
In a graceful motion, Yun Zhongzi descended to the ground, his robes billowing in the wind. Huang Long, somewhat perplexed, nodded and watched as Yun Zhongzi flew down. His expression froze as Yun Zhongzi landed on a hilltop, used a spell to dig up a small tree emitting a radiant light, and stored it in his sleeve. It was unmistakably a spiritual root.
Moments later, Yun Zhongzi returned, and Huang Long remarked sourly, "Junior Brother, you truly have good fortune."
"Oh, it's nothing, just a stroke of luck—nothing worth mentioning in front of Senior Brothers," Yun Zhongzi laughed, skillfully changing the subject. "Right, we were talking about Senior Brother Yu Ding. What happened?"
"This is a long story," Huang Long sighed. "Half a year ago, feeling bored and stuck with no progress in my Three Corpses severing, I suggested to Yu Ding that we go on a journey to clear our minds, hoping we might encounter some treasures or breakthroughs along the way."
He sighed again and continued, "But as fate would have it, our luck wasn't great. We ran into the Seven Immortals, the attendants of Uncle-Master Tongtian."
Yun Zhongzi's expression froze, and he asked cautiously, "Did you get into an argument?"
Huang Long smiled wryly, "If it had just been an argument, it would have been fine. After exchanging greetings, we were all about to part ways, but that scoundrel Qiu Shou Xian suddenly insulted our Master. Yu Ding and I, as the leaders of Yuxu's Twelve Immortals, couldn't just stand by and let him disrespect our teacher. Things escalated, and before we knew it, we were fighting."
Yun Zhongzi glanced at Huang Long and remarked, "Two against seven—Senior Brothers must have been at a disadvantage."
"Who said that?" Huang Long snorted, "You should've seen Yu Ding wielding his Immortal-Slaying Sword, chasing Qiu Shou Xian and the others until they were running with their heads covered. He almost cut off Qiu's... uh, you know."
Yun Zhongzi opened his mouth in awe, then said, "Senior Brother Yu Ding is as fierce as ever."
Huang Long cleared his throat. "Fierce, yes, but even the best tiger can't hold off a pack of wolves. Wu Yun Xian, that scoundrel, caught Yu Ding off guard with his innate spiritual treasure, the Primordial Hammer, injuring him. The others quickly returned to the fight..."
"Was Senior Brother Yu Ding seriously hurt?" Yun Zhongzi asked anxiously.
"He spat some blood, but at the time it didn't seem too serious. Later on... well, he should be fine, right?"
"Should be?"
"We fled in different directions... Junior Brother, don't look at me like that! I took a hit to the back from that Primordial Hammer protecting Yu Ding, and it still hurts a bit now. They had numbers on their side, so we had to retreat."
Yun Zhongzi sighed, "Very well, I'll go see for myself then."
At Yushan Mountain, outside the Golden Glow Cave.
"Senior Brother Taiyi is healing Yu Ding?" Yun Zhongzi and Huang Long stood before a young Daoist boy guarding the cave entrance. The boy, with a double topknot, red lips, and white teeth, had an appearance so delicate he could easily be mistaken for a girl. His face was filled with deep concern.
"Yes, Masters," the boy said, "Master Taiyi instructed that no one is allowed in until he emerges. So, I must ask the two of you to wait here."
"No problem," Yun Zhongzi replied. "How badly is your Master hurt?"
At these words, the young Daoist could no longer hold back his tears and sobbed, "He's gravely injured. When Master returned, he was covered in blood. He ordered me to find Master Taiyi before falling unconscious. Master Taiyi has been in there for half a year."
Covered in blood… Half a year...
Yun Zhongzi and Huang Long exchanged glances, both of them recognizing the gravity of the situation. Their expressions turned heavy.
Yun Zhongzi frowned and looked at Huang Long, "Didn't you say Senior Brother Yu Ding was fine?"
Huang Long looked helpless, "He was! We fled in different directions, three of them chased me. I wasn't too badly hurt, so I figured Yu Ding should be fine too. That's why I waited to heal up before coming to see him."
"This..." Yun Zhongzi couldn't help but feel that Huang Long's reasoning made some sense, leaving him momentarily speechless.
"Who chased you?" Yun Zhongzi asked.
"Wu Yun Xian, Pi Lu Xian, and Jin Gu Xian. Why are you looking at me like that?" Huang Long grumbled, "They're the strongest of the Seven Immortals, you know. I drew their fire."
Well, at least they were more principled and didn't try to kill him. Yun Zhongzi silently added to himself. But as for the other four…
Yun Zhongzi's face darkened. Those four may have the abilities of immortals, but they lacked the virtues of one. They engaged in all kinds of immoral acts like killing and cannibalism, much like demons. The only difference was that they wore the skin of immortals from the Jie Sect. Given that Senior Brother Yu Ding had thoroughly thrashed them earlier, there was no way he could come out unscathed if he fell into their hands.
Three days passed, but there was still no movement from within the cave. Huang Long grew restless, pacing anxiously back and forth at the entrance.
"Those seven scoundrels are truly despicable. Normally, a bit of sparring between us would cause no harm, but who could've expected them to strike so viciously?"
"This won't stand! No matter what, Yuxu Palace will not let this go easily. I'm going to Kunlun to report this to our Master. He must seek justice for Yu Ding!"
Yun Zhongzi glanced at Huang Long but remained silent. His expression, however, grew increasingly grave.
The Chan and Jie sects originate from the same source, but due to differences in doctrine and practices between their respective leaders, there have been some disputes.
As a result, the disciples of the two sects have gradually developed animosity and mutual disdain. If the matter of Yu Ding's injury were to be reported to the Primordial Lord, it could very well become a spark that ignites a war between the immortals of the two sects.
At that time—Yun Zhongzi glanced at the depths of the cave and sighed. With the presence of the Celestial Saints, the Chan Sect is not afraid of trouble! However, when immortals fight, ordinary beings suffer. With so many immortals from both sects potentially going to war, he could hardly imagine the scene. The only ones who would suffer are the ordinary lives. This is something he does not want to see.
Inside the Golden Cloud Cave, on a cloud bed, a Daoist with closed eyes sits cross-legged, wearing a fiery cloud-patterned robe and wielding a whisk in his left hand, continuously sweeping out golden light. Another Daoist, dressed in a light blue cloud-patterned robe, sits in mid-air, surrounded by a protective aura. After a long while, the light blue-robed Daoist descends, and the fiery-robed Daoist, having finished his work, opens his eyes. These two are the Fifth and Tenth of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Jade Void, namely Tai Yi and Yu Ding.
Tai Yi said, "Junior Brother, how are things?"
Yu Ding's expression was filled with anxiety and tension as he asked, "First, tell me if my cultivation is preserved?"
Tai Yi looked at him, hesitating to speak. Yu Ding's heart sank, "Senior Brother, please just tell me. I can handle it."
Tai Yi shook his head and sighed, "Your foundation has been damaged. The three flowers at the top of your head and the five qi in your chest have all dissipated. Your cultivation... is likely beyond saving."
"What?" Yu Ding was stunned.
Tai Yi sighed again, "I'm sorry to disappoint you. At this point, the only thing we can do is to go to the Jade Void Palace and ask the Master if there's a way to preserve your cultivation."
"How... could this happen?" Yu Ding stared blankly at the top of the cave. How could a prominent Golden Immortal end up like this? It doesn't make sense! Moreover, this is different from the storyline in his memory!
But when Yu Ding heard the latter part of Tai Yi's words, he quickly came to his senses and grabbed Tai Yi's sleeve, saying, "Senior Brother, please don't go to the Master, and don't tell anyone about the complete loss of my cultivation."
"Why?" Tai Yi was surprised. "The Master might have a way to help."
"And those people from the Biyou Palace," Yu Ding continued, "they usually act recklessly and without rules, but this time they've come to bully our Jade Void Sect and have even gone so far as to seriously injure you. This matter can't be easily brushed aside." As he spoke, his expression grew somewhat grim. It seems Tai Yi really is as protective as rumored...
Yu Ding sighed, "What good would it do to ignore it? There's already a rift between the Master and the Grandmaster of the Celestial Sect. The disciples from both sides often have conflicts and dislike each other. If the Master and the Senior Brothers learn about this, in their anger, might they not go to Biyou Palace to demand an explanation from the Celestial Grandmaster and the Biyou disciples?"
Tai Yi remained silent, tacitly agreeing with this assessment.
"You know how the Celestial Grandmaster is—he would never bow down or admit fault. If the two Masters are forced into a difficult position, what can we do? Should we let the Master lead the Jade Void disciples into a bloody conflict with the Biyou Palace? Not only would it cause mutual destruction, but it would also provide outsiders with a spectacle of our Jade Void and Biyou Palaces, and make a mockery of our two Masters." Tai Yi gradually calmed down. He had to admit that Yu Ding was speaking the truth.
"So what about your cultivation? All those years of hard work turning into nothing, falling from a prominent Golden Immortal to an ordinary person—are you willing to accept that?"
Yu Ding sighed, "They injured me because I was outmatched. There's no need to feel bitter about it; I accept it. I, Yu Ding, have the courage to start over."
He paused and then continued, "But the grudges and conflicts between us younger generation should be resolved by ourselves. There's no need to involve the Master and the Grandmaster. Besides, I have a premonition."
Seeing Yu Ding's serious expression, Tai Yi quickly asked, "What premonition?"
Yu Ding slowly replied, "When Yu Ding faces a calamity, who knows it might be a blessing in disguise."
Tai Yi: "???"
He looked at Yu Ding helplessly. Injured? No, you've been completely crippled! Not only that, but it seems your mind might also be affected.
However, Yu Ding's demeanor and magnanimity are truly impressive. Even under such grievances, he remains composed, which gives Tai Yi a significant shift in perception of his once aloof and reserved junior.
"Alright!" Tai Yi finally nodded in agreement. Taking Yu Ding's hand, he said with a serious expression, "Once your cultivation is restored, I'll have someone accompany you to resolve this karmic issue."
Yu Ding glanced at Tai Yi and withdrew his hand calmly, smiling, "In that case, thank you, Senior Brother Tai Yi."
"We are brothers, no need for thanks!" Tai Yi replied. Then he looked toward the cave entrance and added, "It seems Huang Long and Yun Zhongzi are here. If they come in, your current condition will undoubtedly be exposed. Let me deal with them for you."