True understanding is when you can talk clearly about shared interests.

Zheng Zhaoling frowned slightly as she looked at Bai Xuanling, who was standing suspended in the air.

After all, the Cloud Dream Pavilion was her sect. As a core disciple selected and heavily nurtured by the sect, Zheng Zhaoling still had a sense of belonging to it.

Bai Xuanling's posture and words were somewhat disrespectful to the Cloud Dream Pavilion.

At the very least, she should have followed the procedures, reported to the main gate first, and then entered.

Not long after the demand to open the gate, upon confirming Bai Xuanling's identity, the Cloud Dream Pavilion still opened up a small space in the grand mountain defense array, allowing Bai Xuanling to enter the pavilion directly from the sky.

This was an unprecedented occurrence, and it was also a sign that the Cloud Dream Pavilion had already lost a layer of momentum.

Seeing this, Zheng Zhaoling sighed softly in her heart.

Although they were both among the Eighteen Immortal Sects, sometimes they had no choice but to swallow their pride.

Zheng Zhaoling turned her gaze back to Cui Hao:

"Bai Xuanling is here. Aren't you going to welcome her?"

Cui Hao shook his head gently and replied,

"If Senior Bai is here for me, she will naturally call for me. Senior Bai doesn't like unnecessary greetings anyway."

Hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling muttered a soft complaint, "You're all weirdos."

Although Bai Xuanling was impolite, Zheng Zhaoling would not vent her anger on Cui Hao.

Only the incompetent would take their anger out on others.

Zheng Zhaoling would not do something so classless.

Zheng Zhaoling put down the melon seeds in her hand, then stood up and prepared to head towards the main hall of the Cloud Dream Pavilion.

Seeing this, Cui Hao asked, "Where are you going?"

Zheng Zhaoling stopped in her tracks, thought for a moment, and told the truth,

"You have your reasons for not going, but I am a core disciple of the Cloud Dream Pavilion and I've taken on your task. You can choose not to go when Bai Xuanling arrives, but I cannot."

Cui Hao sighed softly and said, "Sometimes I really don't know if you're playing dumb. Isn't Senior Bai's hostile attitude obvious enough? What use is there for you to go over there, other than standing like a lackey and taking the abuse?"

"Once Senior Bai finishes her grand entrance, she will naturally come looking for us. She's probably here because something major has truly happened. She came specifically to back me up, just in case you guys refuse to cooperate."

Hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling's expression showed some hesitation.

She could definitely tell that these words were true, but not going... would also come with a price.

"You've helped so many people; why not help me out now?" Cui Hao gently gathered his sleeves, then said in a calm tone, "Senior Bai's attitude upon arrival sets the tone for how I will handle things next. If you don't go now, and they ask you about it later, just tell them that I firmly forbade you from going. If you do go, I will consider you unreliable."

Hearing these words, Zheng Zhaoling neither agreed nor refused, her expression still somewhat hesitant.

Cui Hao completely ignored the hesitant expression on Zheng Zhaoling's face. He sat back in his seat, picked up the melon seeds, and started cracking them again:

"You are a pushover, but being a pushover makes it easy for people to lose respect for you. Learning how to say no is also something you must do to stand on your own."

Zheng Zhaoling ultimately sat back in her seat. "You make me sound like an idiot who agrees to everything."

"There is still a difference between a pushover and an idiot," Cui Hao replied with a smile.

Zheng Zhaoling leveled her mindset, reached for the melon seeds, and also started cracking them.

The two chatted casually from time to time.

After an unknown amount of time.

Bai Xuanling's voice came from outside the courtyard:

"Good boy, I sent you here to work, yet you came here to rest?"

As soon as her words fell, Cui Hao hurriedly stood up, his gaze looking towards Bai Xuanling, who was surrounded by a group of elders and grand elders of the Cloud Dream Pavilion.

It was as if the entire core of the Cloud Dream Pavilion was following right by Bai Xuanling's side.

Before Cui Hao could reply.

As Bai Xuanling stepped closer, she continued directly,

"Could it be that the Cloud Dream Pavilion agreed verbally, but is actually tripping you up behind the scenes?"

Zheng Zhaoling also stood up. She first glanced at the Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Pavilion, only to see him shake his head slightly. After seeing this, she finally bowed to Bai Xuanling.

The oppressive aura of the only living True Immortal in the world was simply too strong.

Bai Xuanling's posture was even more relaxed than the group of Cloud Dream Pavilion elders surrounding her. She unceremoniously sat down on the chair next to Cui Hao, raising her brow slightly as she looked at him, as if prompting him to speak up and issue another warning to the Cloud Dream Pavilion.

A slight smile appeared on Cui Hao's face as he said, "I wouldn't call it tripping me up. The Cloud Dream Pavilion even sent a core disciple, Zheng Zhaoling beside me, to assist me. It's just that we don't have enough information, so we can't make any arrangements for the time being."

Bai Xuanling glanced at Zheng Zhaoling, whose expression remained unchanged, and then said casually,

"She does have some extraordinary aptitude."

Zheng Zhaoling cupped her hands and replied, "Senior Bai flatters me."

"It's no flattery; I think Fellow Daoist Zheng is quite formidable." Cui Hao smiled and immediately took over the conversation. He then swiftly sat down in the seat next to Bai Xuanling. "You must have some urgent matter to attend to this time, right?"

Bai Xuanling took out a jade token from her spatial ring and handed it to Cui Hao personally, saying,

"The information you need is all inside. Do whatever you need to do. If you can't handle it, come back to me, and I'll take care of it for you."

Cui Hao took the jade token handed over by Bai Xuanling with a serious expression:

"Cui Hao understands."

Bai Xuanling nodded gently, then looked at the Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Pavilion standing to the side:

"Do not say that I, Bai Xuanling, am unreasonable. We will overlook and no longer speak of the previous matters."

"I won't repeat those grand principles that we all understand. We all have our difficulties; just do the best you can."

"Since the Eighteen Immortal Sects have received the blessings of heaven and earth, they naturally must also bear the hardships of heaven and earth."

"Although Cui Hao is only a Golden..."

Bai Xuanling suddenly paused, took another look at Cui Hao, and then continued with a smile on her face:

"Although he is only at the Nascent Soul realm, he can still represent my will and that of Chu Xingchen."

"If he does anything wrong, I, Bai Xuanling, will naturally come to apologize in person."

The Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Pavilion looked at the humbly expressioned Cui Hao, then showed a slight smile and said:

"Fellow Daoist Bai need not worry. The current matters were already settled in the covenant back then."

"My Cloud Dream Pavilion will certainly not decline matters within our power."

Bai Xuanling nodded gently, then reached out and patted Cui Hao's shoulder beside her, saying:

"I'll leave all the matters here to you for now. If there's something you can't decide on, just write to me."

Cui Hao cupped his hands and replied, "Understood."

Bai Xuanling nodded in satisfaction, then stood up and slightly cupped her hands towards the Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Pavilion, saying:

"I am busy with many matters. Since I have the Sect Master's promise, I am relieved and will not intrude any longer."

"Everyone, please stay. There is no need to see me off."

The Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Pavilion offered some polite remarks, and then still had two elders accompany Bai Xuanling as she left.

The rest remained where they were, their gazes falling on Cui Hao and Zheng Zhaoling.

The Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Pavilion looked at Cui Hao, pondered for a moment to make a decision, and then spoke frankly:

"Fellow Daoist Bai said that only when the great calamity is over and the Heavenly Dao retraces its steps will we have a chance to become Immortals."

Hearing this, Cui Hao was taken aback, and then replied:

"I am only at the Nascent Soul realm..."

The Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Pavilion smiled knowingly, then looked at Cui Hao and said:

"I understand."

Hearing this, Cui Hao also showed a look of understanding, then cupped his hands and replied:

"I understand as well."

The Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Pavilion nodded in satisfaction.

The newcomer was indeed a smart one.