269: Zhang Sanfeng: This gift is giving me a headache!

Given Duan Zhengchun's status, it wouldn't benefit anyone if the gift sent was too light.

Moreover, that Duan Zhengchun sent him an invitation meant he treated him as a friend; if he brought something shabby, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Ordinary items simply wouldn't catch the eye of a Master like Duan Zhengchun.

"Master, I remember we still have a century-old ginseng. Why don't we bring that?" Eldest Martial Brother thought for a moment before speaking.

"Yes, we must bring this ginseng."

"However, just a single ginseng isn't enough. It seems this old Taoist will have to be thick-skinned and make a trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain." Zhang Sanfeng pondered for a moment before finally making up his mind.

Eldest Martial Brother didn't expect that Master would actually go to Dragon Tiger Mountain just to bring a gift.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, he knew clearly that Master's trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain was definitely for the sake of the gift.

Dragon Tiger Mountain is the birthplace of Taoism on the Nine Provinces Continent; its Legacy is long-standing, and its foundation is naturally much stronger than that of the Sect.

Furthermore, it is rumored that Dragon Tiger Mountain also has an Earth Immortal Realm Master whose strength is not inferior to Master's.

In addition to one Earth Immortal Realm Master, Dragon Tiger Mountain also has two Heavenly Human Realm Masters.

In this regard, they are more powerful than the current Sect.

Currently, besides Master, an Earth Immortal Realm Master, the Sect only has Junior Martial Uncle Mu, a Grandmaster Peak Master.

He himself was only at the Peak Grandmaster level and had not yet reached the Great Grandmaster Realm.

This time, Master's trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain would likely come at a small price.

"Master, do we really have to do this?" Eldest Martial Brother asked hesitantly.

"You, you're more than capable of guarding the mountain, but you lack boldness."

"This Opportunity is very rare. If we can befriend Duan Zhengchun, as long as he is alive, our Sect will stand tall and never fall."

"I am already over a hundred years old, and my Lifespan is only two hundred years. I cannot protect you for a lifetime."

"Before that, I must naturally think of a way out for all of you."

"Prince Duan is the Sect's Opportunity, so you must also seize the time to Cultivate and not be slack."

"No matter how strong a backer is, it's not as good as improving your own strength."

"Otherwise, even with a powerful backer, you will still be looked down upon by others." Zhang Sanfeng said with a sigh of emotion.

"It's this Disciple's uselessness that has caused Master so much worry." Eldest Martial Brother lowered his head in shame, not daring to look at his Master.

His talent was not high; he had to work several times harder than others at his martial arts, yet he still hadn't been able to step into the Great Grandmaster Realm.

Although he had earned the title of a 'Great Hero', he knew very well that others only gave him Face because of his Master.

Without Master, who would remember who this Great Hero Song was?

"You don't need to belittle yourself. This trip, I am going to seek an Opportunity for you."

"When I first took you as a Disciple, it was because I valued your character. Although your talent isn't top-tier, it's still much better than most people's."

"It's just that because you've been in charge of the Sect all these years, you haven't had more time to Cultivate, which is why you've been stuck at the Peak Grandmaster Realm, unable to Breakthrough."

"I see all your efforts. This time, if possible, I can obtain some Opportunities from Prince Duan to help you Breakthrough to Great Grandmaster."

"However, you must keep a close eye on Qingshu; there must be no more trouble."

"Zhang Wuji's matter has already made me feel ashamed toward Old Fifth. Qingshu's talent is decent; among the third-generation Disciples, he is the most capable."

"He cannot have any more accidents. You must educate him well, do you understand?" Zhang Sanfeng looked at Eldest Martial Brother with a solemn tone.

"Rest assured, Master, I will keep a close eye on Qingshu."

"However, Master, there is one more thing I need to tell you." Eldest Martial Brother hesitated for a moment but decided to speak out.

"Hmm? What is it?" Zhang Sanfeng frowned at his eldest Disciple; his intuition told him that the matter was certainly not simple.

"It's like this..."

Eldest Martial Brother recounted everything that had happened in the Deaf-Mute Valley.

Hearing Eldest Martial Brother's description, a trace of gloom flashed across Zhang Sanfeng's Face.

He didn't expect Zhang Wuji to be so stubborn.

He had said it before and even warned him; why just not listen?

"Sigh... I don't know what Zhang Wuji went through during the years he was missing that would cause such a change in his state of mind."

"Knowing he was no match, why did he still go and provoke them?"

"Does he really think that because I am here, people will definitely give you Face?"

"This old Taoist's Face can save you once, but it cannot save you for a lifetime."

"Looking at it now, Old Fifth also spoiled Zhang Wuji back then, making him ignorant of the heights of the heavens and the depths of the earth. He acts willfully and treats my words as wind passing by his ears." Zhang Sanfeng felt a bit frustrated that his expectations weren't met.

His Grand-disciple was originally supposed to be the most dazzling existence among the third-generation Disciples, with both the strongest opportunities and talent.

Unfortunately, of all the people to provoke, you just had to provoke that baleful star, Duan Zhengchun.

Back then, they let you go once at the Bright Summit, yet you still didn't repent. Even if you wanted to avenge that grudge, you should have waited until your strength was sufficient.

You, a Great Grandmaster dared to provoke an Earth Immortal Realm Master? Who gave you the courage?

Even I, your Grand-master, don't have that kind of confidence. Your Grand-master is no match for that kid's strength. And you still dared to provoke him?

Zhang Sanfeng knew that the reason Duan Zhengchun only crippled one of Zhang Wuji's arms was also because of his Face.

If it hadn't been for the last time when Duan Zhengchun and the Sweeping Monk dueled, and he had helped Duan Zhengchun block Great Awakening from Nine Dragons Temple, Duan Zhengchun would have definitely killed Zhang Wuji without hesitation.

When he was in the Heavenly Human Realm, he could already kill Earth Immortal Realm Masters, let alone now that he's already in the Earth Immortal Realm.

In the entire Nine Provinces Continent, not a single person in the Earth Immortal Realm is his match.

And now, he's gone missing again.

Zhang Sanfeng was truly speechless.

Who did the Sect offend? Such an outstanding junior, yet he's so stubborn.

"Master, I am also responsible for this. If I had investigated beforehand and known that Prince Duan would also go to the Deaf-Mute Valley, I wouldn't have brought Zhang Wuji along."

"That way, he wouldn't have offended Prince Duan, leading to such a tragedy." Eldest Martial Brother looked at Zhang Sanfeng with a Face full of guilt.

To be honest, he still valued his Fifth Junior Brother's son very much and had always treated him like his own son.

But after all, he wasn't his biological son. He had originally thought of bringing him along to see the world, hoping he might gain some opportunities, but he hadn't expected such a thing to happen.

"You don't need to blame yourself; this matter has nothing to do with you."

"The grievance between Zhang Wuji and Prince Duan is because of the events at the Bright Summit."

"Although he hid it well, I can still see that Zhang Wuji is an ambitious person."

"Originally, with his strength at the time, he had the chance to withstand the Six Major Sects and protect the Ming Cult. At that time, given his grandfather White-Browed Eagle King's status and The Golden Lion King's status, he was the most likely candidate to inherit the position of the Ming Cult's Leader."

"As it turned out, Prince Duan's appearance caused his plans to fall through."

"I know clearly that he did this simply because he wanted to avenge his parents."

"I am also responsible for this matter. If I had been more firm back then, the Cuishan couple would not have died tragically."

"Although Zhang Wuji didn't say it, he must surely harbor resentment in his heart toward me, his Grand-master."