The arrival was swift and marked by an air of intense, dignified haste. The group of cultivators was led by a man in a dark green Taoist robe, his countenance radiating an aura of immortality, his eyes warm, bright, and profound. This was none other than Daoxuan Zhenren, the revered leader of the entire Qingyun Sect.
Accompanying him and Tian Buyi were five other formidable figures, the abbots (or Peak Lords) of the remaining peaks: Cangsong of Longshou Peak, Shang Zhengliang of Chaoyang Peak, Taoist Tianyun of Luoxia Peak, Zeng Shuchang of Fenghui Peak, and the sole female leader, Shuiyue, of Xiaozhu Peak.
"Is this the Grandmaster Uncle?"
As Taoist Master Daoxuan entered Shoujing Hall, his enlightened eyes immediately locked onto Zhu Hao, who was still sleeping soundly and contentedly in Tian Ling'er's arms. He instantly recognized the perfect match to the ancient portrait enshrined in the ancestral temple. More importantly, he sensed a faint but palpable terrifying power emanating from the piglet's core—a power that made even his formidable heart palpitate.
This must be the great ancestor, without a single doubt!
As Daoxuan examined Zhu Hao, the other peak lords—Cangsong, Shang Zhengliang, Taoist Tianyun, Zeng Shuchang, and Shuiyue—all fixed their intensely burning gazes upon the small, golden creature.
"What exactly are you looking at?"
Feeling the collective, spiritual heat of seven high-level cultivators fixed on him, Zhu Hao cracked open his big eyes. He sat up, glanced around the room, and stated with absolute dissatisfaction, "If you continue to stare, Lord Pig will start charging a viewing fee!"
"Well..."
Taoist Master Daoxuan and the assembled Peak Lords froze, utterly petrified. Could this truly be the founder's elder brother? Does an ancient ancestor really have to be this incredibly naughty and demanding?
But then, the realization settled: Zhu Hao wasn't human. He was a primordial relic, an ancient being. A little eccentric behavior was to be expected—it was, in fact, perfectly normal for beings thousands of years old.
"Daoxuan, the eighteenth-generation leader of the Qingyun Sect, pays homage to the Grandmaster!" Taoist Master Daoxuan composed himself and bowed deeply to the small pig.
"The Abbot of Longshou Peak, Cangsong (the Abbot of Chaoyang Peak, etc.), pays homage to the Grandmaster Uncle!" Once the leader confirmed the identity, the other Peak Lords immediately followed suit, offering their respectful bows.
Tian Ling'er, holding the center of this sudden chaos, felt completely overwhelmed. She looked at her parents, Taoist Master Daoxuan, and the most powerful people in the world bowing to the creature in her arms. Though she knew the reverence was for Zhu Hao, the sensation was unsettling. She instinctively tightened her grip and rubbed his back, full of nervous excitement.
"Is Lord Pig really that old? You should call me Lord Pig!" Zhu Hao waved his tiny paws, correcting them with a frown.
"Greetings, Lord Pig!" Taoist Master Daoxuan and everyone else bowed once more, accepting the generational demotion.
While some of the Peak Lords internally grumbled at the lack of dignity, they followed their leader's lead.
"Alright, alright, that's enough! Stop disturbing Lord Pig's beauty sleep. Now, go away!" Zhu Hao dismissed them with an impatient flap of his little paw, literally shooing the most powerful figures of the righteous path out of the room.
"Yes, Lord Pig. If you have any instructions, please simply inform us!" Taoist Master Daoxuan replied, accepting the command. He then motioned for everyone to leave.
The appearance of the Grandmaster Uncle was an event of such massive significance that it required immediate, high-level discussion. The group quickly departed.
That night, the entire Qingyun Sect was in an intellectual and spiritual turmoil because of Zhu Hao's arrival. Zhu Hao, however, slept like a rock, cocooned in the soft comfort of Tian Ling'er's arms, with Su Ru keeping careful watch nearby. Su Ru had chosen to stay with Tian Ling'er, ostensibly due to worry, though the piglet's warmth and quiet presence made for a surprisingly comfortable night for both of them.
The next day.
"Wow! My Experience Points increased by another thousand! This is absolutely wonderful!"
Zhu Hao woke up, immediately checked the Pig God's Light display, and saw that his spiritual experience had grown substantially overnight. His little fat face beamed with excitement. So, existing on a sacred mountain while being held by beautiful cultivators is a great path to leveling up!
"What has Lord Pig so thrilled this morning?"
Su Ru smiled, reaching out to gently rub Zhu Hao's head. She had already found that despite his completely irreverent dialogue and lack of masterly demeanor, Zhu Hao was harmless, warm, furry, and surprisingly amusing—the perfect, cuddly, albeit highly ranked, pet.
"Lord Pig dreamt of a stunning, exquisite beauty last night! Do you wonder why I'm so happy?" Zhu Hao laughed, his voice a childish, high-pitched squeal.
"You are simply too naughty!" Su Ru chastised lightly, tapping his head with a gentle finger.
"Mother!"
Tian Ling'er woke up, immediately spotted Zhu Hao, and was delighted. She quickly scooped him out of Su Ru's arms and held him tight against her own chest.
"Why, are you afraid Mom will steal him?" Su Ru scolded, but her eyes held a playful smile.
"Hehe!" Tian Ling'er stuck out her tongue. She was genuinely possessive of her new "Great Grandmaster Uncle."
The three then made their way to the dining hall. Tian Buyi and his six other disciples were already seated, patiently waiting. The main seat at the front of the table remained empty, and Tian Buyi sat awkwardly to the left, two empty places beside him.
"Lord Pig, please take your seat!"
As Zhu Hao, Su Ru, and Tian Ling'er entered, Tian Buyi rose, giving a deep, formal bow. Despite his inner depression (his wife had abandoned him for a pig), he was determined to maintain the proper etiquette for the sect's ancestor.
"Not bad, little Fatty!"
Zhu Hao jumped from Tian Ling'er's arms onto her shoulder, then stretched out a paw and patronizingly patted Tian Buyi's large shoulder, adopting the air of a highly satisfied patriarch.
Zhang Xiaofan, Tian Buyi's six other disciples, and Tian Ling'er all choked back nervous laughter. In the entire Qingyun Sect, Zhu Hao was the only being alive who could address the formidable Peak Master Tian Buyi as "little Fatty" and live to tell the tale.
"Thank you, Lord Pig, for the compliment. I am truly unworthy!" Tian Buyi's mouth twitched, but he forced a stiff, unnatural smile onto his fat face.
Zhu Hao didn't hesitate. He jumped directly to the main seat at the head of the table and sat down. Tian Buyi sat stiffly on his left, with Su Ru and Tian Ling'er to his right. Below them were the seven disciples.
Most of them were seeing Zhu Hao for the first time, and they stole furtive glances at their non-human Grandmaster. He was golden, perfectly round, and looked entirely like an incredibly cute, harmless, furry meatball . He made everyone desperately want to cuddle him.
"Xiao Fanzi, go prepare two roast chickens for Lord Pig!"
After the meal commenced, Zhu Hao finished eating and looked over at Zhang Xiaofan, who was diligently cleaning up the dishes, giving his command.
"Ah, Uncle Pig, were you calling me?" Zhang Xiaofan asked, surprised after a moment's delay, seeing everyone staring at him.
"Who else would Lord Pig be calling? Go quickly!" Zhu Hao snapped, annoyed by the slow reaction time.
"Uncle Zhu, perhaps I could cook for you?" offered Du Bishu, the sixth disciple and the primary cook of Dazhu Peak.
"No need!" Zhu Hao waved his paw dismissively. He knew Zhang Xiaofan's secret cooking skills were vastly superior to Du Bishu's standard fare.
"Yes!" Du Bishu immediately backed down. He only hoped Zhang Xiaofan's cooking wouldn't be so bad that it provoked the Grandmaster's anger.
Soon, Zhang Xiaofan returned, presenting two perfectly roasted chickens. The skin was a beautiful gold, and the enticing aroma of rich meat instantly filled the hall.
"Not bad at all!"
Zhu Hao tore off a piece, took a large bite, his mouth full of oil, his little fat face radiating pure enjoyment.
Is it really that delicious? Tian Buyi and the others wondered, watching the piglet feast.
"Ling'er, Xiaoru, Lord Pig grants you chicken legs!"
Zhu Hao tore off two prime chicken legs and offered them to Tian Ling'er and Su Ru.
"Thank you, Lord Pig!"
Both women accepted, took a bite, and instantly confirmed Zhu Hao's assessment: the chicken was far more delicious than anything Du Bishu had ever cooked.
He values women over his friends! The little lecher! The disciples cursed in unison in their minds.
Tian Buyi was also depressed, but this culinary revelation gave him an idea: he resolved that from this day forward, Zhang Xiaofan would be permanently assigned to cook all meals for Dazhu Peak.
"Alright, Lord Pig must depart!"
Zhu Hao scooped up the second, entirely untouched roast chicken, tucked it securely under his paw, stood up, and announced his departure. He had never properly explored the Qingyun Sect yet, especially Xiaozhu Peak, which was rumored to be filled entirely with female disciples. That sounded like a prime location for gaining copious amounts of spiritual experience.
"Uncle Zhu, where are you intending to go?" Tian Buyi asked, trying to sound helpful rather than demanding. Daoxuan had strictly commanded that Zhu Hao must not be allowed to escape the sect's control.
"Do I need to report my itinerary to you, little Fatty?"
Zhu Hao rolled his eyes at the Peak Master with supreme unhappiness. Two spiritual Wind and Thunder Wings instantly materialized on his back, shimmered with purple light, and with a blinding flash, he vanished from everyone's sight.
"He's so fast!"
Tian Buyi gasped, shocked. The speed was far beyond his own mastery, making pursuit utterly impossible.
Sure enough, the Grandmaster Uncle is still the Grandmaster Uncle! Lord Pig remains Lord Pig!
"Wife, go quickly and see where Lord Pig has gone. I must report this escape to the headmaster!" Tian Buyi said to Su Ru, before summoning his flying sword and shooting toward Tongtian Peak to find Daoxuan Zhenren.
"Alright!" Su Ru nodded.
"Mom, I'm going too!" Tian Ling'er insisted, grabbing her mother's hand.
"Very well!" Su Ru agreed.
The mother and daughter quickly summoned their flying instruments and chased after the golden blur, hoping to locate their unpredictable Grandmaster Uncle.
"Lord Pig is truly amazing!"
Zhang Xiaofan and his fellow brothers watched the empty space where the ancestor had been, their eyes filled with awe, unable to recover from the sight of the flying, roast-chicken-toting pig for a long time.