Though he would not speak of it in public. Zhen's father was greatly displeased with him.
How could a four-year-old possibly win a dao battle against a core formation cultivator?
Feeling the urge to stop it, Prince Fu would try and plead with his father. Maybe, just maybe, he could change his mind.
Ultimately, he failed, with no other option in mind. He hesitantly decided to have faith in his son.
[Dao battle to begin] Heaven's declared
Upon hearing the dao, Grandpa Shen lifts Zhen, who was dressed in a beautiful robe embedded with emeralds, inlayed with dao sigils, woven using the silk of the immortal spider queen, and graced with dao formations.
With a wave of his hand, a soft, warm wind wraps around them and gracefully guides them through the skies.
Even while an infant, many immortals knew he would come to be the most handsome immortal.
Having arrived, Zhen respectfully bows to the 8 clan leaders. Along with the immortal emperor, who is stationed on a floating immortal pillar chair
Zhen, now on his own, walks towards his tutor. Giving him a long and intense stare, Zhen proceeds to sneer and mock him using soul thread, the first technique Zhen's tutor taught him. Upon learning it in 1 minute, he would run to show his tutor, who at first could not believe him. Once Zhen performed it, his tutor, feeling humiliated, unknowingly gave birth to an inner demon.
Refusing to retaliate, the tutor chose to sit in silence. Feeling challenged, Zhen became determined to make him crack
"What a petty old man". He remarked, directly declaring conflict
old tutor: tch... I don't plan on going back and forth with a child".
Infant Zhen: Ohhh, but you don't have a problem having a battle with a four-year-old!! I'm four, you creepy grandpa
Zhens' remark fully offended his tutor. The tutor would signal to the panel filled with the immortal lords to allow him to begin.
With permission given, the tutor went first;
(Hey Dao here)---->[Dao battle explanation: A Dao battle is between 2 cultivators upon invoking the oath.
1. can be either a physical duel or a Dao debate.
2. The winner steals the dao insight of the other ( stealing their memories of that dao understanding).]
Tutor: Do you think you stand a chance? What Dao do you even know? Quietly give up and become my obedient little pupil
Zhen: blahh, blah. Just start already,
In an instant, the tutor claps his hands. A ball of light surrounds them. flowing soft and ethereal, transforming into a platform.
On the left, Zhens Dao's soul begins to take form, quickly gathering and transforming into a clone body. The clone embodies Zhens' understanding of the Dao. Though still an infant, its taking form was a testament to his abilities.
On the right, the tutor's dao clone, fully covered in a bloody red mist, could barely be seen. Though large, it showed the tutor's lack of understanding of his dao. To avoid further embarrassment, the tutor began to ask the first question-
Tutor (smiling gently): Ah... Young Master.How noble you are, standing here with your tiny body, so full of conviction.But conviction is not cultivation. You are barely five. How could you possibly grasp the weight of the Dao?".
Zhen: (tilting his small head, baby voice faintly lisped): "You sure like talking, creepy old man. But all I hear is fear dressed in excuses. If the Dao scares you so much, maybe you should stop trying".
Upon completing his barely understandable sentence, the immortal lords are shocked as a single leafed petal emerges from Zhen's chest.
He grows slightly—age 7. His golden avatar stabilizes, brightens.
What a heavenly defying scene, though shocking, the debate cannot be interrupted.
Tutor: (voice silky, eyes sharp): "Freedom sounds sweet, Young Master, until it gets someone killed. Structure is safety. Discipline is kindness. Even chaos has a leash in heaven".
gaining insight, Zhen ponders. Seconds turn into minutes, on the 3rd minute. Zhen looks up at his tutor, though at odds. Zhen could somehow see the wrinkles on his teacher's face, bringing clarity to his mind.
The heavens, noticing this, gave light to another petal.
Zhen (physically 12 now, taller, eyes glowing): "Keep telling yourself that. You sound like a corrupted mortal official who believes he's a healer. Funny thing is... your 'order' only works on corpses".
The red avatar behind the tutor flickers. A deep crack forms across its chest.
Tutor(tone tightening): "You stand here preaching as if clarity could match cultivation.You know nothing of sacrifice! I bled to reach Core Formation!
murmurs spread among the lower-ranked clan members; "he speaks no lie"
Zhen (now 15, voice calm and a little more mature): "You bled? So did every disciple you threw into the fire. You climbed a tower of bones and called it a staircase".
"his methods were indeed ruthless", the emperor chimes.
Even when hearing the emperor's words, the tutor feigned ignorance. lifting his head, intending to mock Zhen. seeing a now 15-year-old boy, with long black hair, courageous dark-green eyes, and a face that a goddess would blush before.
He proceeds to clench his fists in anger, causing his palms to become dressed in red. greatly pleasing Zhen.
A second pulse. Zhen's golden avatar now glows like a living flame. In contrast, the Tutor's red form shrinks, grows darker, and becomes more brittle.
Zhen (grinning, folding his arms): "You know, creepy old man, if I didn't know better, I'd say the only thing that was the only thing holding your spine together was your title as my tutor. Guess what? It's now gone. Just like your credibility".
Tutor(staggering): "You... ungrateful child…, how dare—!".
Zhen (cutting him off, eyes narrowing): "Stop calling me that. You're not my master anymore. You're just a sad, bloated fraud with too much makeup on your lies.And since you keep hiding behind that title...
Zhen steps forward, his aura pressing down.
Zhen (tone like thunder wrapped in silk): "Say it with me now: [Ping Xin]'
The moment the name leaves Zhen's lips, Ping Xin's body convulses. His Qi spasms. His arms twist at unnatural angles. Red mist oozes from his eyes. Then—
....CRACK.
A sickening sound as his mortal shell ruptures, bones snapping inward. His form contorts, bloats, and tears apart, revealing a massive crimson blood worm wreathed in black Qi. Veins bulged like molten cords. Its many eyes blink wildly.
All the immortal lords are quickly aware and emerge. Each one is fully prepared to eliminate ping xin. Afraid, he tries to explain to the lords.
Blood Worm Ping Xin (whimpering, voice warped): "N-No... this isn't... this isn't me...I cultivated harmony... I... I am harmony...
He looks down at his bloated, monstrous form, at the writhing tentacles and pulsing veins. He shudders. For a brief second, he cowers. Even nearing death, he loathed the idea of Zhen looking down on him, as his first reaction was to glance at Zhen.
Zhen (mockingly): "What's wrong, Ping Xin? Not quite the 'wise elder' look you were going for, huh? You used to walk around with your head held high. always making sure those beneath you knew you wore silk robes. Now you wear regret".
Blood Worm Ping Xin (screaming): "NO! I AM NOT THIS! You—you poisoned my path! YOU DEFILED THE DAO! You are a blasphemy, you are a demon!!!!".
He thrashes, Qi violently tearing into the platform. Then, suddenly, his gaze locks on Zhen. All fear evaporates into madness. Rage fills the void.
Blood Worm Ping Xin(roaring): "IT'S YOUR FAULT! I'LL KILL YOU—AND I'LL ASCEND FROM YOUR BONES!"
Ping Xin charges towards Zhen, mouth split into rows of jagged teeth. Zhen raises a brow—but doesn't move.
A halo of light expands over Zhen's head as a transparent shield forms instantly before him.
!!!PING!!!!! HOW DARE YOU!!.
Ping Xin crashes against the shield and rebounds, screeching. From high above, a figure descends on radiant wind—Grandpa Shen, the First Immortal Lord, eyes glowing like twin stars. One hand outstretched, the other behind his back. Calm, but furious.
Grandpa Shen (without moving his lips): Dao Technique: Dao of Order-Chains of judgment, 9 large chains formed by dao rymes spread out, binding his body and soul. The Ping xin writhes, screaming, but cannot move forward.
Grandfather (floating down, voice filled with emotion): Zhen... my child...
He lands softly beside him. The divine aura fades—but the warmth lingers. He kneels, placing a hand over Zhen's shoulder and another over his dantian, inspecting the energy flow. His voice is gentle now. Concerned. Loving.
Grandpa Shen (eyes wide): "Your body... it matured in minutes. How could this be?
Still amazed at the sight, Grandpa Shen calmly assesses his body.
"You reached THE 9TH of foundation establishment, your foundation is flawless... but this kind of spiritual evolution... Zhen. What happened? How did you... age?".