Open the Door

"Being a core disciple like you sure looks exhausting."

Cui Hao mumbled while cracking melon seeds in his mouth, watching Zheng Zhaoling's figure hurrying back once again.

Back when he was at the Tianyan Sect, he had also paid attention to the core disciple Yanyun. He noticed that Yanyun was only busy during special occasions or when going out to gain experience.

The rest of the time, he just stayed on the main peak of the Tianyan Sect, either cultivating or studying the Heaven Divination Arts.

He never bothered with ordinary matters, only taking over when Lu Xuanzhen occasionally couldn't spare the time.

From time to time, he could even stroll over to the Loving Family Peak to see if his master was planning anything major, so Yanyun could prepare in advance and fiercely object to it.

Cui Hao had originally thought that all core disciples were this leisurely. After all, more than half of the entire sect's future would rely on the core disciples, and no one should be blind enough to offend their future supreme boss.

Yanyun wasn't the only example. Cui Hao had also observed Xu Jin and Daoist Yuyang.

Although he didn't know the specific details, it was obvious that their words and promises were equivalent to the promises made by the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect and the Taidao Sect.

Their words carried weight and could command the two great sects to act accordingly.

During this period, Cui Hao had been staying in the Yunmeng Pavilion. The jade token bearing the divine sense of his master and Bai Xuanling had also arrived, specifying that Cui Hao would cooperate with the Yunmeng Pavilion to deal with the great tribulation.

Although Cui Hao couldn't even get through the door of the Yunmeng Pavilion's inner sect meetings in reality, it didn't hinder the influence of his words within the pavilion now.

At the very least, the Yunmeng Pavilion cultivators who had argued with Cui Hao at the entrance back then now had to bow and salute when they saw him.

In comparison, Zheng Zhaoling was completely different.

She was clearly the contemporary core disciple. Even though she had only recently been confirmed for the position, she should still enjoy the rights and privileges of a core disciple. Yet, based on his observations these past few days...

Zheng Zhaoling seemed to hold the status in name only, without any actual power.

The most obvious example was that whenever there was a task for Zheng Zhaoling to handle, she would definitely run the errands herself, making every possible preparation before leaving.

This was a manifestation of a deep fear of making mistakes, and certainly not something a core disciple in charge of the overall situation should be doing personally.

There might be reasons behind this, but it wasn't something Cui Hao could ask about directly.

Fortunately, Zheng Zhaoling had now received a more important assignment: to cooperate with Cui Hao in executing the Heavenly Dao Covenant from back then—subduing demons and eliminating devils.

Although the current progress of the mission was still stuck at drinking tea and chatting, without any practical measures taken.

Zheng Zhaoling, walking hurriedly, cast a glance at Cui Hao who was making sarcastic remarks, and replied,

"Your lazy appearance looks like it's been built up over years and months. What, doesn't your master supervise you?"

A smile curled on Cui Hao's lips as he said,

"My master naturally supervises me."

"How does your master supervise you to make you this lazy?"

"My master drinks wine with me, hooks an arm around my shoulder, and says that if I don't work hard on my cultivation, even San Dong will be able to beat my dog head in."

Zheng Zhaoling couldn't tell if this was Cui Hao's nonsense, nor had she ever heard of any master putting an arm around their disciple's shoulder to drink. She changed the subject and asked,

"Who is San Dong?"

"Our sect's invincible grand protector."

Hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling looked at Cui Hao in dumbfounded silence for a moment before saying in a strange tone,

"Isn't it perfectly normal for your invincible grand sect protector to beat your dog head in?"

Cui Hao shrugged and said, "Our current grand sect protector is only at the Foundation Establishment realm. From time to time, he chats with a planted tree, telling it to grow faster. Oh, right, that tree hasn't even developed a divine sense yet."

Zheng Zhaoling was speechless for a moment:

"Someone with this cultivation level can be a grand sect protector?"

Cui Hao smiled and replied, "Why not? If you come, I guarantee to make you the super grand sect protector, fiercely pressing down on San Dong."

She had originally thought this sect was already unfathomable and completely baffling.

Hearing Cui Hao's words made her understand it even more.

Yet, this sect somehow gave off a feeling that was absurd but at the same time reasonable.

Zheng Zhaoling sat down opposite Cui Hao. Hearing this, she could only shake her head and say,

"Forget it. I'm afraid I'd end up having to guard the door for you guys."

"Guarding the door is Qinghe's job."

"That flood dragon belonging to Bai Xuanling of Zhuji Peak?"

Cui Hao nodded to indicate she was correct.

Zheng Zhaoling was rendered speechless once again.

Cui Hao took some more melon seeds and placed them in front of Zheng Zhaoling, then raised an eyebrow and asked,

"Weren't you, as a core disciple, assigned to work under me? Why are you always running off to do other things? I told you to use me as an excuse to decline, but you refused. I figure you don't mind me, so are you just farming favorability points with your fellow disciples?"

Farming favorability points?

Zheng Zhaoling listened to this novel expression, pondered it for a moment, and understood its meaning. She replied in a calm tone,

"I wouldn't put it quite like that. It's just that there's no harm in helping out if I have the free time. After all, looking at your face every day gets annoying."

"Tough talk, but your skin is quite thin." Cui Hao propped his face up with one hand. "However, everyone has their own difficulties. It's normal not to want to talk about it."

Hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling lowered her gaze to the melon seeds in front of her. In a rare move today, she reached out and picked one up.

Cui Hao didn't continue to press the matter, nor did he plan to preach any other philosophies to Zheng Zhaoling.

Everyone has their own way of living.

Everyone has their own reasons.

Cui Hao lazily sprawled over the table in front of him.

"You couldn't have come to Yunmeng Pavilion just to rest, right?" Zheng Zhaoling looked at Cui Hao, who had done absolutely nothing since arriving at the pavilion, and asked, "Since you have the status, if you really want to do something, Yunmeng Pavilion can still cooperate within its capabilities."

Cui Hao replied, "I am conserving my strength and storing up energy."

"You've been conserving it for almost a month."

"Is that so?" Cui Hao suddenly lifted his head. The reason wasn't Zheng Zhaoling's words, but rather a jade pendant at his waist that had begun to glow.

Under Zheng Zhaoling's stunned gaze, Cui Hao stood up briskly and cast his eyes toward the east.

Zheng Zhaoling also looked toward the east but saw nothing. Confused, she asked,

"What sudden madness has come over you? Are you planning to play a trick on me?"

"Until I can beat you in a fight, I probably won't play tricks on you." Cui Hao's tone suddenly became much more serious, even though his words were still playful. "After all, I'm afraid of pain."

Zheng Zhaoling didn't ask any further, her gaze following his toward the east.

After all, since Cui Hao had said so, if he really was tricking her, she would just beat him up on the spot to vent her anger.

She only had to wait a moment longer.

A dazzling rainbow light swept in rapidly from the east.

Then, a terrifying Dao rhythm emerged, bringing with it an overwhelming and intimidating pressure.

The grand formation of the entire Yunmeng Pavilion lit up with a brilliant radiance—this was a preemptive defense against an ultimate enemy.

Zheng Zhaoling's eyes widened. For the arrival of a single person to trigger the grand formation of the entire Yunmeng Pavilion, this person could undoubtedly only be—Bai Xuanling.

The rainbow light came to a halt.

A figure clad entirely in white stopped in the sky above the Yunmeng Pavilion.

The gazes of everyone in the Yunmeng Pavilion were fixed on that figure in white.

In the next moment, they heard an utterly domineering voice from that white-clad figure:

"Open the door!"