Chapter 1 The Senior Disciple Under the Patriarch

"Whoosh~~~"

Within the torn void passage, faint, twisted colors of light could be seen. The white-robed Jiang Jun led Ji Ning, the Whitewater Marsh, and Little Qing as they traveled through this void passage.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning suddenly showed surprise, while beside him, the Whitewater Marsh and Little Qing were both stunned.

Because the colors around the void passage kept changing—sometimes fiery red, as if it were a passage of flames; sometimes water-blue, as if it were a passage of seawater... They had been flying in this void passage for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, yet they were still flying.

"Brother Jiang," Ji Ning quickly asked, "Why have we been in this void passage for so long? Does tearing through the void to reach another place usually take this long?"

"No."

The white-robed Jiang Jun smiled and shook his head. "Normally, to leave the Grand Xia world, one only needs to tear through space to reach the endless void outside the great world, then perform a Great Teleportation to easily reach a certain place. But where we are going now is our master's 'Slanted Moon, Three Stars Cave,' the most mysterious place in the Three Realms. Ordinary methods simply cannot reach our master's place."

"Oh." Ji Ning nodded slightly.

"It's not me maintaining this void passage now; it's our master guiding us," said the white-robed Jiang Jun. "We can follow this void passage directly to the Slanted Moon, Three Stars Cave."

"How much longer?" Ji Ning looked at the surrounding void passage, which had turned completely pitch black.

The black passage twisted forward, making Ji Ning feel a faint chill in his heart.

He had a feeling that if he were swept into that twisted space, he would be torn to death.

"Soon, soon," said the white-robed Jiang Jun with a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking,

Whoosh!

A hazy world appeared ahead of the void passage, and the white-robed Jiang Jun, Ji Ning, and the others flew directly into it.

"We've arrived!" The white-robed Jiang Jun stood in midair, a look of pride on his face, and smiled as he surveyed the hazy world around them.

"This... this is the Slanted Moon, Three Stars Cave?" Ji Ning looked down from above. Below was an endless world with many cities and towns. Just by looking with the naked eye, it was a vast world.

The white-robed Jiang Jun said, "This is the cave world opened up by our master. In terms of size, it is not much different from the Grand Xia world."

"Comparable to Grand Xia?" Ji Ning, the Whitewater Marsh, and Little Qing all nodded inwardly.

Ji Ning asked, "Was this world personally created by the Patriarch? Legend has it that powerful figures in the Three Realms can create some small worlds, such as worlds tens of thousands of miles in radius. Can they also create a world as vast as the Grand Xia world?"

"Haha... the Primordial World was created by Pangu splitting heaven and earth. It is immeasurably larger than each of the great worlds," the white-robed Jiang Jun said, shaking his head with a smile. "Although our master cannot match Pangu, he can still create a cave world comparable to Grand Xia."

"This cave world is completely isolated from the outside world."

"Within the cave world, there is its own cycle of reincarnation. There is also a small underworld in this world, where the souls of the dead can continue to be reborn within this world," the white-robed Jiang Jun said with a smile. "This cave world is actually a small-scale 'Primordial Pangu World,' completely free from the control of the Three Realms. Even other great powers cannot enter at all."

Ji Ning, the Whitewater Marsh, and Little Qing were all inwardly shocked.

Free from the control of the Three Realms...

Its own cycle of reincarnation...

A great power, truly a great power!

"Mount Fangcun is at the center of this cave world," the white-robed Jiang Jun said, pointing to the distance above. "It's over there."

Ji Ning, the Whitewater Marsh, and Little Qing all looked up.

Indeed, in the distance, a mountain peak could be faintly seen floating.

"Let's go."

The white-robed Jiang Jun immediately led Ji Ning and the others flying over. The floating mountain peak grew closer and closer, and they could even see some cranes and beasts moving about within it.

"Whoosh." The white-robed Jiang Jun, Ji Ning, and the others flew into the mountain peak and landed on a mountain path.

"Follow this mountain path to the very top, and that's where our master teaches and takes disciples," said the white-robed Jiang Jun. Ji Ning followed him upward.

The mountain path was rugged, but fortunately, there were stone steps layer by layer.

After walking for a short while, the white-robed Jiang Jun turned and followed a clearly trampled small path into the forest. "Ji Ning, first come with me to see the senior disciple."

"Senior disciple?" Ji Ning was confused inwardly but followed the white-robed Jiang Jun deeper into the forest.

"The senior disciple was the first to follow our master. You must not be disrespectful," said the white-robed Jiang Jun.

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded.

Ji Ning's ears twitched, and he faintly heard a sound.

"One, two, three, four. Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten... fall down!" Accompanied by a loud voice, there was a crack, followed by a rumble~~~ The white-robed Jiang Jun and Ji Ning quickened their pace. Hearing the sound, they soon approached and saw a large tree crashing down. Through the shadows of the trees, Ji Ning vaguely saw a woodcutter wearing straw sandals, cloth clothes, and a straw hat. The woodcutter had dark skin and looked very simple.

The white-robed Jiang Jun walked over: "Senior disciple."

"Senior disciple?" Ji Ning was stunned.

A woodcutter?

The senior disciple?

The woodcutter before him was ordinary, dressed plainly. Ji Ning's eyesight was now sharp, but no matter how he looked, the worn-out straw sandals and cloth clothes seemed to be very ordinary, not magical treasures.

Moreover... no matter how he looked, the woodcutter had no pressure, no aura, and Ji Ning couldn't even sense any threat. From any angle, this woodcutter was a mortal!

"Hoo." The woodcutter shouldered his axe, straightened his waist, turned his head, and said with a smile, "Haha, it's Jiang Jun. What brings you to my place?"

"I was ordered by our master to go to the Grand Xia world to pick up the junior disciple. Now that I'm back, I first brought the junior disciple to see the senior disciple," said the white-robed Jiang Jun.

"Junior disciple?" The woodcutter looked at Ji Ning, examining him carefully. His gaze was ordinary, without any penetrating power.

"He is the junior disciple, named Ji Ning. He is currently only a Wanxiang Adept," said the white-robed Jiang Jun. "Ji Ning, pay your respects to the senior disciple."

"Greetings, senior disciple." Ji Ning bowed respectfully.

The woodcutter smiled: "I'm just a woodcutter. But at such a young age, you were sent for by our master, which shows he values you. Our master has a good temper, but you must also work hard not to disappoint him."

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded.

"Alright, go on. Jiang Jun, take Ji Ning to see our master," said the woodcutter.

"Alright." The white-robed Jiang Jun immediately led Ji Ning away.

They returned to the mountain path.

Ji Ning was puzzled: "The senior disciple shouldn't be a mortal, right?"

When he looked at Lü Dongbin, the Xia Emperor, and others, he could clearly see their extraordinary nature. Of course, it might be that Lü Dongbin and the others hadn't restrained their auras. But this woodcutter... no matter how he looked at him, he couldn't detect any trace of cultivation. Even the woodcutter's hands had calluses, and there were a few white hairs on his head.

"Of course he's not a mortal," said the white-robed Jiang Jun. "Under our master's tutelage, from ancient times to the present, there are many disciples, including many True Immortals and Celestial Immortals. But in terms of strength, the senior disciple is unquestionably the first! Far stronger than the rest of us."

"Unquestionably the first?" Ji Ning was shocked.

"Yes. But since the Primordial World shattered, the senior disciple has never left this cave world of the Slanted Moon, Three Stars Cave," said the white-robed Jiang Jun. "So in the Three Realms... very few know of the senior disciple."

Ji Ning was inwardly awed.

The Primordial World shattered, and then the Three Thousand Great Worlds and the countless minor worlds were born.

From the birth of the Three Thousand Great Worlds to the present, how long had it been? This senior disciple had the patience to never roam the Three Realms. Generally, the stronger one is, the more one likes to travel to many places in the Three Realms. After all, the countless minor worlds each have their own characteristics and their own wonders.

Like Lü Dongbin, who roamed the mortal world, leaving his legacy in countless worlds.

Many powerful figures were famous throughout the Three Realms.

The senior disciple hadn't left since the Primordial World shattered?

"What is the senior disciple's name?" Ji Ning asked.

"Woodcutter," said Jiang Jun.

"I mean his real name or Dao title?" Ji Ning pressed.

"Whether it's his real name or Dao title, I only know the senior disciple is called 'Woodcutter,'" Jiang Jun said, shaking his head. "I don't know anything else. When you study the Dao on the mountain, you can cultivate in the forest. Perhaps if the senior disciple sees you, he might give you some guidance."

Ji Ning nodded.

The senior disciple under Patriarch Subhuti was so mysterious. Ji Ning also grew curious.

...

Soon, Jiang Jun led Ji Ning to the mountain gate.

Beside the mountain gate was a large stone with five large characters on it: Slanted Moon, Three Stars Cave!

At the mountain gate stood two young Daoist boys in green robes. These two boys, who had come to Mount Fangcun, were also extraordinary prodigies, but on Mount Fangcun, they were only ordinary. Being able to guard the gate made them very happy.

"Grandmaster."

"Grandmaster." The two Daoist boys bowed respectfully to Jiang Jun. Jiang Jun was a Pure Yang True Immortal, of extremely high status.

"Mm."

Jiang Jun nodded and led Ji Ning, the Whitewater Marsh, and Little Qing directly inside. The two Daoist boys naturally did not stop them.

...

They walked along.

Inside the Slanted Moon, Three Stars Cave, the scenery was beautiful. Various immortal birds and beasts could be seen everywhere, each restraining their auras. But even restrained, Ji Ning still felt a strong sense of threat, indicating they were very powerful.

The atmosphere inside the Slanted Moon, Three Stars Cave was very peaceful. None of those immortal birds and great beasts showed any ferocity; they all seemed exceptionally docile.

"When the Patriarch teaches disciples, he does not care about background. So besides humans, many demons and even gods and devils study the Dao here," Jiang Jun said with a smile. "The Patriarch also has a rule: on this Mount Fangcun, any disciple who fights is forbidden. If any disciple dares to make a move, the Patriarch will immediately suppress them and directly scatter their soul!"

"No matter who, even if it's me, facing those disciples and grand-disciples, I cannot make a move. If I do, our master will directly kill me," Jiang Jun said. "This is an iron law that no one can violate."

Ji Ning nodded.

No wonder the atmosphere was so peaceful. Fighting was forbidden, and the Patriarch was on the mountain. Who would dare to act recklessly?

They walked along.

Along the way, they often heard various titles like "Grandmaster," "Uncle-Master," "Uncle-Grandmaster," showing that Jiang Jun held a high status.

"Our master is inside," Jiang Jun said, pointing to an ordinary Daoist temple ahead. At the temple gate stood two Daoist boys.

"Uncle-Master, the Grandmaster has already instructed that there is no need to announce you. You may enter directly with Ji Ning," one of the Daoist boys said with a smile.

...