Chapter 8: Three Treasures

The image of Daoming's corpulent figure flashed through Hailong's mind, causing a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. He said, "With Daoming's high level of cultivation, I simply cannot compete with him. As long as he does not provoke me, I will not take the initiative to oppose him."

Hailong smiled bitterly to himself, thinking that it seemed he really had to return completely naked. However, it was fortunate that all his masters were male. It had been three years since they last met, and he wondered if they still remembered this mischievous little rascal.

Hai Long was just about to leave when he heard the strange person say: "Hai Long, after you return, diligently practice the Tianxin Jue. If you wish to become a member of the immortal realm, you must lay a solid foundation. You should know that for cultivators, the first hundred years are the most important. I have calculated that soon, you may have an opportunity for an experience; you must seize it yourself. The small iron rod I gave you must always be kept on your person and never lost. I have recalibrated my spiritual consciousness, and this time it can be activated entirely by you. When you encounter danger, just shout the words 'Qian Jun,' and it should save your life. Your temperament tends to be impulsive; at times, you need to control yourself and avoid offending those you cannot handle. After you return, you should first visit the Mo Yun Cave to see your ancestral master. Rest assured, he should not target you in the future."

Listening to Daoming's words, a strange feeling arose in Hailong's heart. He recalled the enchanting beauty of the Mysterious Daoist, and instinctively said: "I am speaking the truth! The Mysterious Daoist is indeed very beautiful, not at all like an old woman over two thousand years old"

Pah. You brat, you hope for my good will. I am not angry with you. I have truly never seen anyone more shameless than you. If you say such things again, I will take back the other two magical artifacts.

Hailong was still immersed in excitement and did not notice the change in Daoming Zhenren's expression, somewhat impatiently saying: "It was I who asked you to strike, hurry up."

Hailong said dreamily: "Master Ancestor, could it be that the handsome, elegant, charming, tall and imposing figure in the mirror, resembling a descending celestial being, is truly me?"

Hailong cried out in pain, angrily saying: "You dead fat man, why did you strike so hard"

Hailong frowned and said, "What method?"

Hailong shuddered all over; he detected a hint of melancholy in the strange man's tone. "Senior, wasn't it said that the lives of us cultivators are quite long? If I am not mistaken, your cultivation level should at least be on par with those second-generation ancestors of our Lianyun Sect. Since you have already reached the state of not falling, why would you still be returning to the West?"

Daoming's expression changed slightly, and he quickly forced a smile, saying: "After all, I am your grandmaster; can't you speak a bit more politely?"

Strange Person said: "For you, the utilization rate of these three years has been quite high. Everything I wanted to accomplish in these three years has been completed. Although it is not yet very stable, it has finally been achieved. With my final wish fulfilled, starting tomorrow, I can make the final push and strive for an early return"

After hearing Daoming's words, Hailong felt a surge of blood and energy within him. Now he finally understands why the Daoist Master Daoming had coughed up blood back then

The strange man shook his head and said, "I am different from them. They are all serious cultivators, while I have my own path. Do not ask too much. I do not wish for my matters to become your burden. How about this: you have many questions, right? Then come here to find me on August 14 two years from now. One day will be enough for me to explain everything to you. As for the clever one, he will meet you at Moyunping in the future. I hope you can become lifelong friends."

With a wave of his hand, Master Daoming placed the blue collar around the Sea Dragon's neck. A chill breeze seeped into the Sea Dragon's body, instantly merging with his own magical power, clearing his mind. Caressing the smooth surface of the starry blue ring, the Sea Dragon asked, "Master Ancestor, what is this for?"

Hailong curled his lips and said, "What is so comfortable about it? Unknowingly, so much time has passed, and I don't even know how I grew up."

"Young man, you have returned." The door opened, and a corpulent figure appeared within Hai Long's line of sight

Hailong said somewhat impatiently: "I understand, I understand. I will refrain from speaking casually in the future"

Hailong was momentarily taken aback, then angrily said, "Damn fat man, you tricked me." He glared fiercely at his master in front of him, knowing that he had willingly fallen into the trap; no matter how he looked at it, he could not blame the real person Dao Ming. Indignantly, he declared, "I will not lose. Just wait and see. Once I reach the peak realm within a hundred years, the first thing I will have you do is lie on the ground and grunt like a pig, and then you will be my little brother."

Hailong nodded and said, "Senior, I will not disturb your rest. Two years from now, on August 14, I will definitely arrive here on time. Please take care of yourself."

Sensing the change in Dao Ming's attitude, Hai Long was slightly taken aback and said, "You, you can also smile?"

The strange person slowly shook his head and said, "Do not ask about these things. When the time comes, I will naturally tell you."

Daoming touched Hailong's forehead and said, "You little rascal, are you not dreaming? Since the emergence of cultivators, I have yet to hear of a genius from any sect that could reach the peak realm in just over a hundred years. Fine, I will take your bet. But what will happen if you lose?"

Hailong said nonchalantly: "It doesn't matter. Just the cool appearance is enough. When I find a partner in the future, as long as I wear this, won't I be invincible?"

In a moment of desperation, Hai Long found a large tree leaf in the woods to cover his lower body, and only then did he return to Mo Yun Ping with Xiao Ji Ling

Hai Long was taken aback and stood up, saying: "What? Can we cultivators also find wives? How is this possible? Master Liu has said that we belong to the world beyond and should sever all desires"

Dao Ming Zhenren snorted and said, "You brat, you turn your face faster than you turn a page. Listen carefully. This Star Blue Armor is not omnipotent. From now on, you must be more restrained in whatever you do. If you provoke someone you shouldn't, you'll be in for it. As long as the opponent's cultivation level exceeds yours by one or two realms, they can easily break through the defenses of this armor and bring you to your demise"

The little clever one has indeed grown up, feeling heavy in my arms. If it stands on the ground, it has already surpassed the waist of the sea dragon, and its robust arm circumference has even exceeded that of several large monkeys. With its bright red eyes, it looks quite fierce. It seems extremely excited, its grown monkey paws constantly stirring up the sea dragon's hair. The sharp squeaking sounds continuously stimulate the sea dragon's hearing. It seems extremely excited, its grown monkey paws constantly stirring up the sea dragon's hair. The sharp squeaking sounds continuously stimulate the sea dragon's hearing

Daoming struck him again and said: "Nonsense, I am already your ancestral master, why would you need to pay homage to anyone? How about this: if you lose, you must formally admit your defeat to me at the gathering of all the peaks of our Lianyun Sect, and from then on, you must obey all my commands without any resistance."

Hailong furrowed his brow and said, "Senior, could you please refrain from constantly saying things I cannot understand? It makes me feel quite uncomfortable"

Wow, little clever one, why have you sunk so much? Is it because you've eaten too much good food?

It seemed as if he could see through the thoughts of the Sea Dragon, and he spoke with profound meaning: "Young man, for us cultivators, any promise made must be fulfilled; otherwise, one will never achieve the Great Dao in their lifetime. It would be better for you to keep those mischievous thoughts to yourself."

Daoming snorted and said, "Hmph! If you, little monkey, continue to be so disrespectful, I will make you endure a life of hardship here until you grow old, without allowing you to find a wife"

Upon hearing the eccentric person claim that his realm had improved, Hai Long was immediately filled with joy. He formed a hand seal, concentrating his mental energy on himself, and shouted: "Listening Ear, heed my command, investigate. Huh, why am I only at the initial stage of Tiger Subduing? This is too low. Could it be that the ginseng I consumed that day was actually a disguised radish?"

Hailong touched his smooth face and realized that, without knowing it, two lines of tears had already streamed down. Startled, he thought to himself, when did I become so fragile? Feeling a gentle nudge from behind, he instinctively turned to look. He saw Xiaojiling grinning widely, pointing towards the way back. Hailong understood that Xiaojiling was going back. He nodded gently and said softly, "Tomorrow, just come here to find me." He saw Xiaojiling grinning widely, pointing towards the way back. Hailong understood that Xiaojiling was going back. He nodded gently and said softly, "Tomorrow, just come here to find me."

The Daoist Master revealed a peculiar expression on his face and murmured, "Is this what you asked me to strike?"

Everything in Moyunping remains as it was, just like three years ago. The row of small houses still stands quietly there, surrounded by a wooden fence, and various herbs are even more lush than before. Breathing in the familiar air and gazing at the well-known scenery before him, Hailong's eyes became moist. The concerned words of the masters echoed continuously in his ears. They were all truly good people who cared for him.

Looking at the much more humanized Daoming than before, Hailong suddenly felt very relaxed and laughed, saying: "What about you? Are you going to eat me? You were already quite fat to begin with"

Hailong let out a huff in annoyance. Deep down, he knew that the star-blue armor given by Daoming was indeed a fine item. Moreover, tempted by the allure of two other magical treasures, he found it difficult to take out his frustrations on Master Daoming. Reflecting on the earlier situation, he murmured, "When you struck me just now, it seemed as if I saw countless blue and golden starlights flashing, completely enveloping me in a large sphere of light. But now, where has it gone?"

You—" The Sea Dragon's anger surged, but he also knew that he had no way to deal with the chubby man in front of him, whose cultivation level was unknown but likely much higher than his own. He could only say with resentment: "Fine, let's wait and see"

Master Daoming remained unfazed and smiled, saying: "Sure! As long as you can achieve it, I will definitely keep my word. However, I must clarify one point: reaching the peak state while dreaming does not count. Ha ha, ha ha ha."

Dao Ming said with slight anger: "Just as I was speaking of you, you made another mistake. The ethereal Daoist Master possesses vast powers, and even the sect leader must show her some respect. You are the first to dare speak lightly to her. That day, it seems the ancestors found it quite novel, which is why they let you off the hook. If a similar situation arises again, you may find yourself in danger. Don't rely on the small iron rod given to you by your senior; it cannot save you at all times."

Hai Long excitedly looked at the three clusters of light in front of him, his interest greatly piqued, and hurriedly asked, "Master Ancestor, what are these things?"

Daoming smiled and said, "Tan Yu, after all, you are my disciple's disciple, and you have already attained the initial stage of the Tiger Subduing technique. Although the Seven-Repair Sword is excellent, you are still unable to wield it at this moment. I will give you a few items for self-defense, so that some people won't say I am unkind." As he spoke, he formed a hand seal, and under the enveloping power of his magic, three orbs of light—one blue, one red, and one white—floated before Hai Long.

The stranger is so mysterious in the eyes of the sea dragon, and the sea dragon has too many enigmas it wishes to clarify. However, it knows that unless the stranger reveals them, no matter how it asks, there will be no results. Nodding, it said: "Alright, I believe you certainly will not harm me. Ah! By the way, senior, what about the little clever one? It has been three years; what has it become now? Has it grown quite large?"

Hailong curled his lips and said, "I don't believe that finding a wife would affect my cultivation. Isn't mating between men and women the most primitive and natural thing? In the future, who knows, I might even find a partner to ascend to immortality with."

The strange man chuckled: "Youngster, do not be ungrateful. That thousand-year blood snow ginseng is the most yang and harmonious celestial herb, with extremely potent effects. Originally, I intended to prevent you from breaking through to the Tiger Subduing realm for ten years. However, with that girl Piaomiao's magical power combined with the numerous celestial herbs you consumed, the effects were too strong. Although I have worked hard to suppress it, most of the effects have been restricted, yet it still allowed you to advance to the early stage of the Tiger Subduing realm. You must understand that an ordinary person would need at least ten years of cultivation to reach your current level. Yet you have only been cultivating for a mere four years."

Changing into a set of dry clothes from the wardrobe, the loose robe now fits perfectly. Sitting on the bed, surrounded by the familiar atmosphere, Hai Long couldn't help but feel a bit entranced

Dao Ming Zhenren retracted his thoughts and lightly uttered, "Reveal your true form." The azure magical energy enveloping the treasures unfolded and then receded. The three magical artifacts revealed their true appearances. The Sea Dragon focused his gaze and saw that they were a blue collar, a small red bagua, and a delicately carved white dragon. The impatient Sea Dragon reached out to grab them, but was blocked by a soft current of air, unable to cross the threshold.

Before the strange person could respond, a mass of gray-brown shadow had already lunged at him wildly. The familiar scent caused Hai Long to shudder all over, and he instinctively embraced the approaching shadow in his arms

Daoming sighed helplessly and said, "I knew that you, this mischievous little rascal, would be interested in this matter. Among us cultivators, as long as a man and a woman get along well, they can become Dao partners after informing their mentors. Forming a Dao partnership may have some detrimental effects on one's cultivation level; for us cultivators, many of these unions are on a spiritual level."

The little clever one leaped high, lightly tapping on the head of the sea dragon before disappearing into the mountains and forests. Watching its agile silhouette, the sea dragon shook its head helplessly. Turning around, it pushed open the door and walked into its former room.

The strange person fell silent, not uttering a word for a long time. The little clever one jumped down from the sea dragon's embrace, bouncing over to the strange person, chirping as if trying to convey something to him

Hailong thought for a moment and said, "If I lose, I will acknowledge you as my master."

Hailong chuckled and said, "It seems I have never been afraid of you, right? Daoming, the fat guy."

In the blink of an eye, Daoming had already arrived in front of me, and his chubby right hand tapped me on the head, sending waves of pain through me. "From now on, you must address me as Master Ancestor. If you call me Fatty again, I will..."

Dao Ming retracted his playful demeanor and said, "Although my previous strike was somewhat heavy, it has made you understand the limits of the energy of the Star Blue Armor. If the force of the attack is too great, not only will you perish, but the Star Blue Ring will also turn to dust. In a situation like just now, where the energy consumed by the armor formed from the Star Blue Ring is completely depleted, only then will the energy-based armor disappear. Once this occurs, it will take at least an entire day for the Star Blue Ring to absorb enough energy to transform back into armor form. Therefore, you must not rely on it too much. Extend your left hand, and I will give you the second magical artifact."

Elevating his magical power to the limit, the Sea Dragon transformed into a shadow and, with a few rises and falls, arrived outside the wooden cabin. The door to the room he originally inhabited was closed, while the sound of deep breathing could be clearly heard from the other houses, indicating that the masters were in the midst of their cultivation. The area around Mo Yun Peak was surrounded by restrictions; as soon as someone made contact, an alarm would immediately awaken Ling Tongzi and the others. With this layer of defense in place, they generally closed their six senses during their daily cultivation, fully immersing themselves in meditation. At this moment, the Sea Dragon was returning from the forest where the monkey group resided, thus not disturbing them.

Dao Ming shook his head innocently and said, "Of course not. I am your grandmaster, how could I casually discipline you? However, from the perspective of seniority, even if I were to discipline you, it wouldn't be a big deal."

Daoming smiled and said, "You little rascal, you also have your moments of impatience. Don't rush to take them; I will explain each one to you. These three magical artifacts have been specially prepared for you based on your current cultivation level. They all belong to the category of spiritual tools, and their greatest advantage is that they do not require overly strong magical power to activate. This blue collar is called the Star Blue Ring, the red bagua is the Demon-Slaying Mirror, and this white little dragon is of the highest quality, surpassing even the Seven-Refinement Sword; it is named the Illusion Dragon"

Dao Ming scoffed disdainfully and said, "You think it’s easy. Although the senior values you highly, cultivation requires a gradual process. Do you think you can just ride a flying sword? There is no such thing as achieving success without effort. If you truly have the ability to become a third-generation disciple on par with me in a short time, then I will listen to you in the future. I will take you as my master." If you truly have the ability to become a third-generation disciple on par with me in a short time, then I will listen to you in the future. I will take you as my master.

The strange man sighed and said, "Hailong, you may leave. There is no need for you to come again for a while. On the fifteenth day of August two years from now, it will be the day I return to the West with the *Tushu*. If you have the heart, you may come to see me off."

Dao Ming chuckled and said: "It turns out that the feeling of not having any resentment is so wonderful. It seems that it won't be long before I can elevate myself to the realm of Dao Long. Hai Long, I must thank you! Stop glaring at me; don't you want the other two treasures? First, tell me how it felt when I struck you just now. To be honest, with the force I just used, even a few hundred pounds of rock could be crushed to powder. If it weren't for the Star Blue Armor, I fear..."

Hailong chuckled and said, "Alright, I accept your bet." He thought to himself, you fat fool, don't you know what it means to not keep your word? Even if I lose, so what? I just won't admit it.

The Taoist Master Daoming, with a plump face adorned with a smile, floated down beside the Sea Dragon and unjustly remarked: "It was you who asked me to help you test the power of the Star Blue Armor. If you don't exert more strength, how can you fully test its endurance?"

At this moment, the figure of the strange man in the eyes of the sea dragon reveals a sense of desolation; he appears to be so lonely

Reluctantly casting a glance at the strange person, Hai Long and Xiao Ji Ling simultaneously sprang into action, transforming into two shooting stars heading towards Mo Yun Ping. As his mind lingered on the strange person by the pond, it was not until they had covered half the distance that Hai Long realized he was still bare. He grabbed Xiao Ji Ling and awkwardly asked, "Xiao Ji Ling, where are my clothes?"

Hai Long's expression changed, and he excitedly said: "You must keep your word. Let's make a bet. If I reach the level of having three generations of disciples within one hundred years, you will take me as your master, and from then on, you will follow my instructions in everything"

Dao Ming Zhenren chuckled and extended his large hand, resembling a fan, towards the Sea Dragon. Instantly, a blue hand-shaped light shadow floated out, continuously enlarging in the air. By the time the Sea Dragon realized and looked up, it was already in front of him. "Boom." The Sea Dragon trembled violently, his body was struck by a powerful force and flew backward, crashing through the door and directly falling onto Mo Yun Ping, landing in a disheveled state, covered in dust, with intense pain radiating through his bones. A flash of blue light appeared, and the Star Blue Armor had vanished.

Hai Long nodded excitedly. With the urging of his thoughts, a much stronger heat than before surged within him, flowing through his meridians into the Star Blue Ring. The blue light suddenly radiated brilliantly, and Hai Long distinctly felt a cool sensation instantly spread throughout his body. His vision blurred for a moment, as if something had been added to him.

Daoming chuckled and said: "What is impossible? We are not like those monks of the Fanxin Sect who have abandoned everything. As long as you are willing to seek, no one will stop you. In our Lianyun Sect, apart from the second-generation patriarch, there are disciples from the third and fourth generations who have formed Dao partners. Although this may have some impact on cultivation, it is not insurmountable."

Hai Long trembled all over and exclaimed, "Is it you, you dead fat man?" The one who had arrived was none other than his master ancestor, Dao Ming Zhen Ren

Hailong questioned, "Is it true? Are you not taking the opportunity to fix me?"

The furnishings in the room remained unchanged, just as they were when he left. The bed and the table were spotless, and a faint, dry fragrance lingered in the air. Clearly, someone often cleaned this place. Hai Long's eyes moistened again as he murmured, "Masters, have you kept this room for me? Do you still remember Hai Long?"

Daoming touched his chubby face and smiled, saying: "Why can't I smile? I just received a notification from my senior saying that you have returned, so I rushed over immediately. How was it? Sleeping for three years, must be very comfortable, right"

Daoming sighed lightly and said, "In the past, my resentment was indeed too heavy. Over these three years, I have gained insight into many matters, and the current Daoming is no longer the same as before. You need not fear me any longer; I will earnestly teach you the ways of the Dao."

Daoming has mastered the force of this strike exceptionally well, reaching the limit that the Star Blue Armor can withstand without causing any damage to it

Hailong paid no attention to what Daoming Zhenren was saying, as he excitedly adjusted his star-blue armor. Although the armor appeared solid and sturdy, it did not hinder the movement of his joints in the slightest. The most remarkable aspect was its weightlessness, making it feel no different from wearing a cloth robe. "Master Ancestor, hit me once, quickly hit me once, let me experience the power of this precious armor"

The Tao of the Master Daoming, shrouded in mystery: "First, learn not to get angry, and then learn how to infuriate others. Hehe, kid, you are still too inexperienced to compete with me."

Dao Ming Zhenren smiled slightly, raised his right hand, and cast a spell into the void, causing the air to ripple like water waves. A bright mirror appeared before the Sea Dragon. The Sea Dragon looked into the mirror, surprised, and thought, is this really me? In the mirror was a handsome young man, with long black hair cascading over his shoulders, a face like jade, a nose like a suspended gallbladder, and a pair of phoenix eyes that revealed a glimmer of divine light. The young man was adorned in a complex suit of armor that shimmered with brilliance, its texture resembling blue crystal, looking exceptionally luxurious. The armor covered every part of his body, with shoulders slightly protruding to the sides, and diamond-shaped plates tightly fitted together, accentuating the young man's tall and extraordinary figure.

Dao Ming, holding his stomach, began to cough violently, while the nearby figure with a round face turned bright red. The mirror, formed by magical power, naturally vanished. Hai Long was startled and laughed, saying: "Master Ancestor, what has happened to you? You aren't going to go mad, are you?"

Dao Ming let out a snort and said, "I have stated that the union of cultivators primarily exists on a spiritual level. Without profound cultivation and good character, who would be interested in you?" His expression changed suddenly, and Dao Ming became devout, repeatedly saying, "Master, please forgive your disciple for his reckless words."

Master Daoming said: "The three magical artifacts I am giving you differ in nature from flying swords. Each of these three artifacts contains a magical array that can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish its deficiencies. Therefore, you only need to guide your own magical power to unleash their intended effects. This is a defensive treasure; when you activate it, it can generate a set of star-blue armor. As long as the opponent's attack does not reach the level of directly destroying it, the armor will protect you completely, preventing you from taking any harm. You can give it a try; just input your magical power into it." This is a defensive treasure; when you activate it, it can generate a set of star-blue armor. As long as the opponent's attack does not reach the level of directly destroying it, the armor will protect you completely, preventing you from taking any harm. You can give it a try; just input your magical power into it.

The delicate faces of Ling Feizi and the ethereal Daoist Master flashed before Hai Long's eyes, igniting a surge of warmth in his heart. He hurriedly flattered, "Oh, esteemed ancestor! No, wise and mighty ancestor, please tell me in detail about finding a wife."

A kind warmth warmed Hai Long's eyes, gently caressing the clever little head. He murmured, "It seems that I have truly been in a deep sleep for three years. Time passes so quickly!"

The little clever one shook its head, revealing a look of confusion.

Master Daoming smiled and said: "Tanyu'er! Over the past few years, I have come to understand something, which is also a good method for me to resolve the resentment in my heart. Since you are my disciple's descendant, I will impart it to you."

Hailong asked in confusion, "Senior, why are you suppressing those abilities? Don't you want me to absorb them?"

Daoming patted Hailong on the shoulder, his expression turning serious as he said: "Alright, let’s consider what just happened as me avenging the blood feud you caused. From now on, there will be no more animosity between us. You and I only need to focus on our respective duties. I am your master and mentor, while you are my disciple. Although our Lianyun Sect is relatively lenient towards its disciples, you must not engage in any overly reckless behavior. The incident where you disrespected the esteemed Piao Miao Dao Zun must never happen again." A hint of fear flickered across his face as Daoming helplessly remarked: "To be honest, I truly admire your audacity. You dare to act so recklessly towards someone as revered as Piao Miao Dao Zun; I really can’t tell if you are incredibly bold or just foolish."

No, no, no. Master Ancestor, I know I was wrong. You are so wise and powerful; within a hundred years, you will surely ascend to immortality. How could you possibly be reluctant to part with these few trivial low-level magical artifacts

The strange person slowly nodded and said, "Little clever one, you take the sea dragon back."

Hailong angrily said: "You, you despicable little man"