During their casual conversation, Xu Zhengyang learned that this Taoist priest taught such extraordinary magical arts that could be described as world-shaking, yet he did not charge exorbitant fees. He charged 300 yuan per person per day per lesson. Moreover, it was said that he did not accept disciples casually, but rather required the students to have innate spiritual energy and aptitude.
The cost of the lessons is negligible for the members of these "Bamboo Garden" clubs.
The conditions for accepting disciples further demonstrate that this Taoist priest is no mere figurehead.
Furthermore, with a magnanimous heart for doing good, this Taoist priest also took special care of those who lacked the aptitude and talent to be accepted as disciples. He allowed them to pay a certain fee to listen to his lectures in a side room, and how much they could comprehend depended on their own destiny and understanding.
According to Guan Jie and Yu Yazhi, these words sounded like they contained some hidden meaning; however, Xu Zhengyang felt that they were not hidden meanings, but rather just a complete mystery.
What a load of rubbish.
“Mr. Xu, if you’re also interested, I can introduce you to become a member of the Bamboo Garden Club…” Guan Jie looked at Xu Zhengyang’s rather serious expression and immediately felt that this was a good opportunity to get closer to him. If Xu Zhengyang could come here often in the future, wouldn’t he be able to see Xu Zhengyang more often? So before he finished speaking, he immediately changed his words and said, “How about I give you a meeting card?”
That being said, the actual membership card still requires detailed personal information registration. Guan Jie is not like Ding Changri back then; that guy always handled things meticulously, thoroughly checking Xu Zhengyang's personal information before issuing the membership card.
Xu Zhengyang shook his head and declined. Looking at the time, it was almost nine o'clock, so he said, "If classes start soon, it won't be convenient for me to go in with my current identity, right?"
"Oh, it's alright." Guan Jie quickly said, "I'm a member and also a disciple of Master Xuanyi. I can introduce newcomers to listen to the lecture from the side."
"Hehe. It seems that Brother Guan is quite qualified."
"Hey, this is just a casual visit," Guan Jie chuckled. But what he said was true. Compared to most of the wealthy people at the Bamboo Garden Club, Guan Jie hadn't really thought about becoming an immortal. He just came here to socialize with people in the industry and celebrities in society.
Xu Zhengyang nodded without saying anything else, a hint of disappointment and amusement already creeping into his heart.
Seeing that it was already nine o'clock, Guan Jie got up and invited Xu Zhengyang to go to the lecture together. Xu Zhengyang smiled, thanked him, and then went out.
The classes were held in a secluded courtyard on the west side of the bamboo garden.
At this moment, a few people were already walking towards that direction in the courtyard. Judging from their clothes and demeanor, they were all wealthy and influential figures from high society.
Walking along the gravel path and through the archway between the low walls, you enter this quiet little courtyard, where you'll find a bamboo house, giving it a secluded, idyllic feel.
Upon entering the elegantly and simply decorated room, the view suddenly becomes much more open than outside.
Inside, besides two elegant rooms, there was a spacious hall on the left, covering an area of over 100 square meters. The floor was covered with round cushions, and at the far end was a low couch with an antique-style long table on it.
At this moment, a few people were already sitting cross-legged on the cushions in the room.
Xu Zhengyang glanced around and saw that there were about thirty people. They were of varying ages, including elderly people in their sixties, middle-aged men in their forties and fifties, and more than ten young people who looked to be around thirty. There were both men and women among them, and some of them were celebrities who looked very familiar.
Those present remained quiet and silent, some closing their eyes to meditate, others flipping through books.
Guan Jie whispered to Xu Zhengyang to come with him to the last few cushions and gestured for them to sit down.
Xu Zhengyang smiled and sat down, but instead of sitting cross-legged like the others, he sat on the edge of a field like an old farmer, with his legs bent and spread apart, knees raised, looking at his apprentices who were seriously practicing or learning in the spacious "classroom" with a playful expression.
Zhu Jun did not sit down, but stood against the wall behind Xu Zhengyang, coldly observing everything in the room.
At this moment, Ouyang Ying squatted down next to Xu Zhengyang with a giggle and said, "Brother Zhengyang, why don't you go up and give them a lesson in a little while?"
"Nonsense," Xu Zhengyang chuckled inwardly, then turned and looked around, his gaze piercing through the wall to the two open doors on the other side, leading to rooms in another building. "This must be the outer room," Xu Zhengyang thought to himself, inwardly grumbling. "What kind of rubbish is this? Who designed it?"
More students kept coming in, each one quiet and silent.
It was exactly 9:25.
No one else came in. Xu Zhengyang saw that the arched gate outside had been closed by a handsome young man who looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a Taoist robe.
9:30.
From behind the low couch, a sprightly old man with a long, flowing beard emerged from one side of the screen. He looked to be over seventy years old, dressed in a dark blue Taoist robe, wearing a hair-binding crown, with a Bagua pattern on his chest. His wide sleeves fluttered with his steps, and he truly had the air of a sage.
The trainees below all opened their eyes, sat up straight, and were as serious as primary school students in the cradle of education.
The Taoist priest clearly noticed two unfamiliar faces sitting at the very back of the room among the students below, which seemed out of place with the rest of the room: everyone else was sitting cross-legged with expressions of respect; one of them was standing with a stern expression, while the other was sitting there casually with a playful and relaxed expression.
However, the Taoist priest didn't pay it any mind. He was a new student, and young and inexperienced, which was understandable. After class, another student would introduce him, and he would give him a good beating then.
So the Taoist priest, still with a kind expression, sat cross-legged on the low couch, then crossed his arms between his legs and began to preach:
The way of Heaven is clear and manifest, restoring the natural cycle... The earth is born of spiritual energy, giving rise to all primordial energy...
The essence of Yin and Yang resides there, which is...
One after another, rather mysterious and difficult-to-understand words slowly came out of the Taoist priest's mouth.
The trainees below listened attentively.
Xu Zhengyang, however, was doubting whether they could really understand. At least... Xu Zhengyang didn't understand.
As soon as the old man emerged from behind the screen, Xu Zhengyang unceremoniously extended his divine sense, locked onto the old man, and entered his mind to examine him.
Sigh, just as I expected.
Xu Zhengyang sighed helplessly and shook his head.
It's a lie.
"Brother, it's fake, isn't it?" Ouyang Ying said resentfully.
"Hmm, nonsense..." Xu Zhengyang nodded, both amused and exasperated, and wanted to get up and leave. But then he remembered that Guan Jie had helped him before he came, so Xu Zhengyang, ever the good Samaritan, decided to leave. After the Taoist priest finished his esoteric tales and began explaining how to meditate, build a foundation, and how to suspend one's spiritual consciousness to achieve a state of oneness with heaven and man, Xu Zhengyang turned to look at Guan Jie, who was frowning and racking his brains to understand his teacher's words. He said softly, "Brother Guan, let me remind you, this is all a lie. I'll take my leave now. We'll keep in touch later."
Having said that, Xu Zhengyang got up and walked out before Guan Jie, who had just come back to his senses from listening attentively and pondering, could say anything. He didn't want to waste any more time here. He had been maintaining a proper and serious attitude, and hadn't used his divine sense to travel over and politely check on Guan Jie, only to find out that Guan Jie was an imposter.
How could these usually brilliant and capable elites, who are adept at social interaction and business, be so easily deceived?
In a way, he deserved it... but being a scammer is wrong in the first place, and then he goes on to scam people by claiming to be a deity...
Damn it, the Heavenly Laws are so rotten! They don't have enough energy to investigate other blasphemous acts in the human world unless it involves my own affairs. Sigh.
As for the swindlers, Ouyang Ying will naturally pass the message on to Li Haidong and let them handle it.
Xu Zhengyang didn't want to show off in broad daylight here.
Although he was furious, it wasn't that he was petty, but rather that as the only deity, the dignity of this divine office was equivalent to his own dignity, and this was a deception using his name, which was unforgivable.
"Hey, Mr. Xu!" Guan Jie called out in a panic.
Aside from the ethereal voice of the old Taoist priest echoing in the elegant and simple classroom, Guan Jie's shout was utterly abrupt.
The Taoist priest stopped speaking, his eyes clearly showing his anger.
The others also turned around in surprise to see who this was, daring to be so disrespectful in front of an immortal.
Just as Xu Zhengyang stepped out of the side door and was about to leave, the old Taoist priest's voice came from behind him:
"You rude brat!"
Xu Zhengyang stopped, turned his head and stared coldly at the old Taoist priest, and said indifferently, "What did you call me?"
The old Taoist priest was taken aback for a moment, then flicked his sleeve and said, "How dare you wander around the Taoist hall at will during the teaching period! You have no manners! You brat, you are far too rude!"
"Bullshit!" Xu Zhengyang cursed the old man without any sense of propriety.
"you……"
"What?" Xu Zhengyang didn't let the old Taoist priest speak. Instead, he turned around and walked towards him. "Great immortal, let me see how you're going to use your magic to teach me a lesson. Come on!"
Those inside the room stood up in surprise and anger, blocking Xu Zhengyang and glaring at him as they rebuked him:
"Who are you? Get out!"
"How dare you be so disrespectful to the Taoist priest! Get out!"
"Kid, are you tired of living?"
"You ill-mannered brat, who brought him to the Bamboo Garden Club?"
"that is……"
...
Amidst a series of crisp cracking sounds, the individuals who had spoken rudely earlier clutched their cheeks and cried out in pain, while the crowd scattered with a whoosh.
Xu Zhengyang casually clapped his hands, as if they were stained with dirt after he had just slapped someone. Then, as he continued walking slowly toward the old Taoist priest, he said, "Look at you bunch of fools! With so much free time, you should do something worthwhile, make more money, and if you have too much money to spend, do some real good deeds. Instead, you let this foolish old Taoist priest fool you so much that you really want to live forever? Dream on!"
Enraged, the crowd saw several burly security guards from the Bamboo Garden Club rush in and stepped forward to surround them, seeking revenge and venting their anger!
However, they hadn't taken more than a few steps before they all stopped, or rather, they hurriedly took two steps back, their faces showing astonishment and fear.
Zhu Jun had somehow caught up with Xu Zhengyang and stood in front of the group, his expression stern, holding a gun in both hands. He pointed it at the crowd, his resolute face expressionless, and said coldly, "Don't move."
No one doubted that if they took a step forward, this cold-faced young man would actually fire his gun.
Xu Zhengyang had already walked up to the old Taoist priest. Seeing the old Taoist priest still sitting cross-legged on the couch, pretending to be calm, Xu Zhengyang's anger intensified. He kicked over the long table and said coldly, "Get up!"
"Kid..."
Before the old Taoist priest could finish speaking, Xu Zhengyang slapped him across the face.
"Are you a deity?" Xu Zhengyang grabbed the old Taoist priest's long hair and yanked him up, staring down at the old priest who was now panicking, shouting and hissing in pain. "Old deity, don't pretend to be calm, quickly use your magic to deal with me, or I'll torture you to death..."
"How could I possibly stoop to your level?" the old Taoist priest retorted stubbornly.
Xu Zhengyang slapped him again and said, "What kind of knowledge do you have? What kind of bullshit knowledge do you have?"
The old Taoist priest could no longer contain himself. With a swift movement, he raised his withered hand and wrapped it around Xu Zhengyang's arm, intending to use a grappling technique to throw Xu Zhengyang to the ground. The old Taoist priest was confident that although he was old, the skills he had honed over decades of cultivation were absolutely genuine.
Unfortunately, once his hand touched Xu Zhengyang's wrist and forearm, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pry it off.
The old Taoist priest immediately raised his right knee and viciously rammed it into Xu Zhengyang's groin. Unexpectedly, just as his right leg was raised, his knee was hit hard as if by a heavy hammer. A sharp pain came, and the old Taoist priest's body went limp, but he did not fall down.
Because his hair was still being tightly gripped by Xu Zhengyang.
"Where's your magic?" Xu Zhengyang slapped him again.
At this point, the old Taoist priest could no longer think about any magical arts that didn't exist in the first place, and he cried out and groaned in pain.
Xu Zhengyang suppressed his anger, bent down, and whispered sternly in the old Taoist priest's ear: "How dare you blaspheme the divine power in the mortal world! You deserve to die!"
"I, I..." The old Taoist priest was in so much pain that he couldn't speak. He had no mind to think about the deeper meaning in Xu Zhengyang's words.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd below, shouting, "Boy, do you know where you are? I advise you to release Master Xuanyi right now, or you'll regret it!"
Volume Six, Chapter 338: Who Ignores Whose Existence?
Where is this place?
Xu Zhengyang didn't utter those disdainful words aloud, but conveyed them clearly through his eyes and expression. His dismissive and arrogant demeanor made it clear to everyone in the room that he didn't take these so-called wealthy and powerful people seriously at all.
Just as he had previously uttered those sarcastic and mocking words with disdain, a bunch of fools.
Xu Zhengyang often felt that similar scenes and scenarios repeatedly appeared in reality, novels, movies, and TV dramas. It was truly boring and utterly pointless!
Given Xu Zhengyang's personality, further words are pointless; let's see what he's made of...
To put it another way, it's a weak question to say whether I know where I am or not; and it's even more foolish to say that I'll be in deep trouble if I don't let go of this great Taoist priest. Does he think that letting him go will solve all my problems? The answer is obviously no.