Sure enough,

the old man was not surprised at all. Instead, he smiled and pointed his finger, and the giant stone that Wang Wu had just smashed with one punch instantly restored itself as if nothing had happened.

Goodness, this at least indicates that he is a cultivator of the third grade or higher.

And such a cultivator couldn’t possibly be idle enough to randomly take someone as a disciple by the roadside, much less be a fraud.

This means he truly saw something special in Wang Wu.

However, if he really could see something special, it would also prove the opposite—he is definitely not a cultivator, not even of the first grade, not to mention an Earth Immortal!

The only answer is that he, like Wang Wu, is a Taiyi True Immortal lingering in the Cultivation Realm, and not just any ordinary Taiyi, but one with significant Daoist skills and quite remarkable.

This truly is a surprise!

Thinking of this, Wang Wu put away his previous angry expression and asked solemnly, "What exactly is your purpose, sir? Just say it!"

Yet the other party still kept that smiling expression, "I have already clearly indicated that I wish to take you as my disciple. A gem like you not cultivating Daoist techniques nor ascending the Immortal path is truly a pity!"

Damn!

Wang Wu had a strange feeling because if he were to go to that small village where the child was, he would definitely use the same excuse. Why does it feel like there is some connection between these two events?

"Alright! I’m curious, how am I a cultivation genius? As long as you can prove I’m a cultivation genius, accepting you as my teacher is not impossible."

Wang Wu sneered, thinking that if this old fellow could lift his forbidden technique status, he would really have to thank him. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Upon hearing this, the old man seriously scrutinized him before saying, "Whatever I say now, you probably won’t believe. Just come back to the cave with me. It will only take several decades, and I can certainly help you attain Celestial First Grade; crossing tribulations and ascending will be a piece of cake."

"Decades? Well, sorry, I have other matters to attend to!"

Wang Wu turned and left; he was still busy recruiting disciples.

But this time, the old man didn’t pursue him, only sighed deeply, "I am sincerely speaking to you, yet you ignore it like the wind by your ears. How can such good talent be wasted in the mortal world? Young man, everything in the Mortal World is fleeting; only the Great Dao is true. Do come with me!"

Having said this, he waved his large sleeve, and the surrounding scenery instantly changed, directly whisking Wang Wu away. If this method is not one of a lingering Taiyi, it would be odd.

Wang Wu intentionally displayed an astonished expression, inwardly sneering, wanting to see what tricks this guy had next.

Why not play along!

In the old man’s large sleeve, Wang Wu felt as if he were alone in a world, much like the proverbial universe within a sleeve.

However, he quickly became uneasy because the old man’s escape speed was incredibly fast, dashing across tens of millions of miles in a moment.

Such unrestrained conduct, he at least had to be a Tier Seven Taiyi.

This is bad!

In the next second, the surroundings returned to normal, and Wang Wu landed, finding himself in a seemingly ordinary small valley.

But at first glance, he confirmed it was a small depression, and there wasn’t just one Taiyi here.

There were as many as four in total, and the one who captured him was not even the leader or the strongest among them.

"Reporting to the Divine Monarch, subordinate has brought back someone suspected to be an Astronomer Prophet! Please Divine Monarch, verify."

Huh?

Divine Monarch!

Wang Wu felt a jolt in his heart because being called a Divine Monarch usually meant being at least a Half-step Daluo. Damn, this was indeed unlucky.

But how did this old man mistake him for an Astronomer Prophet?

Could it be because he suffered a backlash from the forbidden technique?

Wang Wu was greatly puzzled.

But now that he had suffered from the forbidden technique backlash, he couldn’t discern others’ depths, nor was he clear about his own status, so he could only stand there honestly.

Soon, a cold-faced young man stepped out, followed by two Taiyi. He first took out an object, unexpectedly a miniature version of the Sin Prison Tower. No, it wasn’t miniature; it was a genuine Eternal Firm Immortal Artifact similar to the one belonging to the Hidden Origin Divine Monarch’s Zhenyuan Tower, but seemingly refined by him.

Apparently, this Eternal Firm Immortal Artifact could operate normally?

"Xue Chang, you’ve worked hard; first enter the Zhenyuan Tower to cleanse away the Celestial Dao Spiritual Light clinging to you."

"Thank you, Divine Monarch!"

The old man hurriedly thanked him, and Wang Wu suddenly realized how he had been exposed. That colorful glow must have been Celestial Dao Spiritual Light, so after being backlashed by the forbidden technique, isn’t his body devoid of this Celestial Dao Spiritual Light?

At this moment, the Divine Monarch stepped forward, placing a single hand on Wang Wu’s skull, then examined his meridian; finally, a cluster of eyeballs rapidly grew from his brow— not in any chaotic manner but precisely nine eyeballs arranged in a systematic, symmetrical way, looking very much like a laser disco ball...

But Wang Wu felt nothing from this.

He truly felt nothing, as the backlash from the forbidden technique rendered all his divine techniques silent, while also seeming to drape him in the strongest defense.

Thus, the Divine Monarch observed for a long time, seemingly still unable to confirm anything, merely stating: "This situation, is the first I have ever seen. He does not carry the Celestial Dao Spiritual Light, nor any cultivation or divine techniques, yet possesses a Creation Immortal Body comparable to Tier Eight Taiyi—strange and bizarre!"

"My Lord, could it be possible that he was originally a stranded Taiyi?"

At this point, someone cautiously asked, considering the possibility was significant.

But the Divine Monarch shook his head, staring at Wang Wu: "Impossible, that Celestial Dao Spiritual Light is the celestial law evolved by twelve Daluos combined. Even if I leave this basin, I would be stained by it, let alone a Tier Eight Taiyi? However, he is definitely not some Astronomer Prophet."

As he said this, the nine eyeballs on the Divine Monarch’s brow fixed intently on Wang Wu, spinning like a soul-capturing frenzy, and at the same time asked in a deep voice: "Tell me your name, do you have any secrets?"

But being stared at by these nine eyeballs, apart from a slight sense of absurdity, Wang Wu felt nothing extra; this evil divine technique was ineffective against him.

This was truly an unintentional pleasant surprise.

If it were not for this unusual state, he might not have withstood it.

"Interesting, not affected by my Divine Eye, yet not an Astronomer Prophet, where did such a monster emerge from?"

The next second, the Divine Monarch made a knife with his hand, slicing into Wang Wu’s chest as if through tofu, despite the fact that the Tier Eight Creation Immortal Body was so vulnerable before him.

However, it was at this instant that Wang Wu suddenly felt a sense of relief, as if someone shared half of the backlash from the forbidden technique.

Although he still couldn’t use any divine techniques, the Divine Monarch opposite him suddenly had a drastic change in expression and retreated rapidly, but it was too late.

Wang Wu clearly saw a layer of gray aura sweep over him, the next second, the nine eyeballs on his brow clinked off one by one.

Now detached from the Divine Monarch’s body, these eyeballs instead turned into some kind of mysterious gemstone.

Wang Wu reacted quickly, grabbing one eyeball and fleeing.

Yet those two subordinates of the Divine Monarch not only refrained from capturing him but also each seized four eyeballs, escaping without a care.

Even ignoring the colorful splendor outside.

As for the Divine Monarch, he seemed heavily injured, momentarily slow, only recovering three seconds later.

He attempted to retrieve the Zhenyuan Tower, but after several efforts, it showed no response at all.

All his divine techniques, all immortal techniques, were entirely forbidden.

He couldn’t even bother chasing after Wang Wu and the two subordinates, merely pounding on the Zhenyuan Tower, roaring, "Xue Chang, come out!"

But from inside, Xue Chang, whether he didn’t hear or for some other reason, made no sound.

Goodness, so he intends to claim the Zhenyuan Tower as his own?

But this had nothing to do with Wang Wu, who sprinted wildly outside. The half-day’s encounter was truly bizarre, he didn’t even know the backlash from the forbidden technique could be contagious?

Yet, just as he was about to escape the basin, he was caught up by the Divine Monarch.

"Boy, be clear, what exactly is your origin!"

Of course, Wang Wu didn’t want to answer, flinging himself around to fight hard.

When you had divine techniques, I couldn’t beat you, but now that everyone is under the forbidden technique, the gap should be narrower, right?

However, the Divine Monarch didn’t dodge at all, withstanding Wang Wu’s hit firmly, staying immovable and unshaken, while it nearly shattered Wang Wu’s fists.

Damn!

"Boy, don’t humiliate yourself; even if all my divine techniques and immortal techniques are sealed, I still have a Creation Immortal Body cultivated for five hundred thousand years. Your mere Tier Eight Taiyi Creation Immortal Body is no more than smashing an egg against a stone!"

Indeed, there was no way.

Facing a Half-step Daluo, what could Wang Wu do, he never imagined that such a big fish was hidden in this Cultivation Realm.

Presently, he cupped his hands,

"Senior, why didn’t you take the opportunity to leave the Cultivation Realm thirteen thousand years ago?"

"Hmph! As expected, you’re indeed a Tier Eight Taiyi. Now, tell me what’s going on?"

"Reporting to Senior, I was ambushed by a despicable person named Wang Wu, and then I don’t know why, even when I was about to take his life,"