Chapter 642 - 137: End of the Initial Chaos

"Once you draw their attention, your safety can no longer be guaranteed," Dang Xiangjun said, looking calmly at Huixin.

Huixin nodded and said, "I understand. I have already informed the World Honored One. No matter what happens to me, no blame will fall upon the Celestial Spirit Sect. It will be the result of my own insistence.

Besides, you needn’t worry. The World Honored One has already arrived within the borders of the Hundred Spirits Blessed Land. I should be safe."

Hearing this, Dang Xiangjun fell silent.

After a moment of silence, Dang Xiangjun suddenly turned his head, looked at Zhang Deming, and asked, "What do you think?"

Zhang Deming, a Spiritual Light twinkling in his hand, was taken aback. "Huh???"

Stunned for a moment, Zhang Deming realized everyone was looking at him. He glanced at Dang Xiangjun, who was giving him a strange look—or more accurately, was looking at the Spiritual Light twinkling in his hand.

After a brief pause, he instantly understood why Dang Xiangjun had asked him.

With a flip of his hand, a phantom image appeared before him. Zhang Deming replied, "I don’t know anything about that. All I know is that I just made a Liuying recording. I trust the esteemed monks from Xuande Temple have no objections!"

Song Huidong: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Fang Qing, in particular, gave Zhang Deming a strange look. ’This guy is just like my peers in the Array Department, always making Liuying recordings at the drop of a hat.’

’Making a recording was one thing, but announcing it to everyone’s face was as good as saying: ’I’ve recorded everything, so don’t you dare try to pin this on me!’’

A wave of silence fell over the group. Even Huixin gave Zhang Deming a deep look, which made him feel a bit embarrassed under everyone’s gaze.

’It wasn’t my fault,’ he thought. ’Making a recording is just a habit, okay? I wasn’t going to say anything, but then Dang Xiangjun called me out. I had no choice but to say something. After all, he couldn’t have *actually* been asking for my opinion, right?’

"What do you think?" Dang Xiangjun asked, turning back to Huixin and his group with a calm expression.

Huixin paused, then replied, "I stand by what I said before. You only need to drop us off below."

Dang Xiangjun nodded. "Since you all insist, then have it your way."

With that, he waved his hand. A massive Jade Disc appeared, enveloping Huixin’s group and flying out of the Flying Artifact.

"After five breaths, you’re on your own!" The monks on the Jade Disc paused briefly.

The two Three Talents High Monks beside Huixin exchanged a look and sat down cross-legged in unison. A giant twin lotus flower emerged from beneath their feet, taking the place of the Jade Disc and descending downwards.

After watching Huixin’s group depart, many of them turned their heads and once again stared at Zhang Deming.

Zhang Deming felt inexplicably awkward under their stares. Speechless, he said, "What are you all looking at me for? Here, Martial Uncle, you can hold on to this."

With that, Zhang Deming flipped his hand and, in full view of everyone, tossed the Array Card to Dang Xiangjun.

Everyone: "..."

Fang Qing chuckled. "Master Zhang... erm... Junior Brother Zhang, it’s truly a pity you won’t take a post in our Array Department."

Only after speaking did Fang Qing realize the issue with the form of address. He had wanted to call him Martial Uncle, but Zhang Deming held no official position and was just a Duality Cultivator.

He thought of calling him Junior Brother, but then again, Zhang Deming addressed Dang Xiangjun as Martial Uncle, and Ancestor Dang didn’t seem to react to it at all. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to just ignore the issue of how Zhang Deming addressed Dang Xiangjun.

Hearing this, Zhang Deming speechlessly rolled his eyes and didn’t reply.

Instead, he looked back toward where the group from Xuande Temple had disappeared. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned his gaze to Dang Xiangjun and began, "Martial Uncle..."

"What is it? Don’t tell me you also want to go down there to ’Cultivate Heart and Open Original Vow’," Dang Xiangjun cut in before Zhang Deming could continue.

All along the way, he had noticed that among the group, while the monks were the most moved by the plight of the mortals below, it was Zhang Deming whose emotions had fluctuated the most.

And now that the people from Xuande Temple had taken the lead, Zhang Deming’s intentions were even more obvious. That was why he had cut him off before he could finish.

The others were slightly stunned and all turned to look at Zhang Deming once more.

Zhang Deming paused, then said, "I..."

"We’ll talk about it when we get back," Dang Xiangjun interrupted again.

’Anyone else would be one thing,’ he thought, ’but this is a Tier Four Spirit Nurturer. If something were to happen to him while under my care, it wouldn’t just be a matter of my own reputation. A few of the old-timers in the Sect would probably be displeased as well.’

Zhang Deming gave a bitter smile. "But if I go back just like this, my heart won’t be at peace. I’m afraid... I won’t be able to continue my cultivation..."

Dang Xiangjun was slightly stunned by his words. After a long moment, he said, "Old Man Yuee certainly misjudged you. Your innate talent might not be great, but you are worthy of Ling’er. Even as a Saintess, you are still worthy of her."

The expressions of the onlookers grew even stranger as they stared at Zhang Deming.

"Ahem... Martial Uncle, I’m being serious!" Zhang Deming said.

"So am I," Dang Xiangjun replied, no longer changing the subject. He stated bluntly, "My Mastery is in Reconnaissance and tracking. I am not at all skilled in the art of Incarnation."

"..." Zhang Deming was silent for a long while. He looked at Dang Xiangjun earnestly and said, "Martial Uncle, I really can’t just stand by and watch... I spent too much time in the Mortal world back then. My heart can’t grow indifferent..."

"Sigh..." Dang Xiangjun heaved a sigh. "It was indeed a long time. The aura of the Red Dust is heavy on you. While it’s an endearing quality, it’s not suitable for cultivation."

"Heh, that’s why I’m such a conflicted person," Zhang Deming said. "I desire eternal life, yet I can’t forget the vast Red Dust. I can’t become one of those tranquil and detached Immortal Gods.