Vol 1 Chapter 9 (2/2)

After sitting alone in meditation for an hour, a child Daoist servant walked down in a hurry from the mountain pa.s.sage. He quickly arrived at Zhou Zishang’s door and bowed respectfully, “I don’t know which honored guest is currently visiting our Daoist temple. The temple’s master has ordered this lowly one to invite the distinguished guest to have a chat with the master.”

Zhou Zishang stood up, repairing his robe. An arrogant expression was slightly drawn on his face as he nodded, “Lead the way.”

The child Daoist servant didn’t know his true ident.i.ty. He only knew that the temple master suddenly ordered him to descend the mountain peak to greet an honored guest. This child servant didn’t dare to say anything as he respectfully formed a gesture to direct and led the way.

The Profound Virtue Temple’s master rarely went out and was not seen by many people. However, with Zhou Zishang’s cultivation level, he just needed to sit down and deliberately emit his spiritual force and wait. His presence could then be perceived by the temple’s master, who could sense that there was a powerful cultivator in the vicinity. Of which, the servant was then sent to invite this guest to go to the temple.

Not far from the foot of the mountain peak, about an hour’s time of walking, a gigantic black agate was seen in front of the temple gate.

Without notifying anyone, the child servant led Zhou Zishang straight into the temple.

The Profound Virtue Temple was built along the vertical axis of the mountain. After crossing the gate, there was a towering basaltic stele built on the side facing the east. It displayed the school’s early cultivators as their names were engraved on the stele. A stone road split the lush and dense ancient forest as it led the way to the three temple’s halls. The Ethic Academic Hall, the Great Tranquility Hall, and the Profound Virtue Hall. These three main halls were the center of the Three Great Schools of the Blue Ocean Sect.

The alley road was paved with pebbles, and there were many potted bonsais and ivy plants that were arranged neatly on both sides. It was very beautiful as if it was a celestial being’s dwelling place. However, Zhou Zishang actually had no intention to appreciate this place as he strode directly forward and followed the child servant to the top of the Temple’s Hall on Endless Night Peak.

As they strode forward and entered the main hall, they saw a white-haired and white-bearded Daoist priest sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat.

The old Daoist slightly opened his eyes, rolled up his horsetail whisk and spoke, “So it’s actually a fellow Daoist from the Heavenly Jade Sect who is visiting the temple, this poor Daoist is the head deacon of this temple; I greet you.”

Zhou Zishang didn’t return the courtesy as he replied in a straight manner, “I’ve come here to discuss something and it will be troubling fellow Daoist.”

Hearing these ‘fellow Daoist’ words and seeing the disrespectful manner from Zhou Zishang, the old Daoist priest’s eyebrows unconsciously twitched as he rose and slowly said, “Please, may your Excellency state the matter clearly.”

Zhou Zishang crossed his hands behind his back as he stood straight, and spoke condescendingly, “Myself is a youngster from the Zhou Family. One of the disciples in this Profound Virtue Temple is this one’s brother-in-law. Because there were some matters in our family, he then left after some discords happened at home. So, he angrily climbed the mountain and came here. My true intention here is to bring him back and descend this mountain.”

The Old Daoist priest’s lips squirmed as he expressionlessly replied, “A Profound Virtue Temple disciple has always followed their heart and mind, with intentions and desires to move accordingly to his destiny and nature. This old Daoist cannot force him to do anything.”

These words seemed like it was an irrelevant reply. However, it strongly hinted the words ‘heart and mind’. The Old Daoist priest’s meaning was very clear. As long as Zhang Yan was unwilling to leave, he will not force him to descend the mountain.

Zhou Zishang showed a faint smile, this answer was originally within his expectations.

“If that is the case, then please send my family’s Dao manual as a gift to my brother-in-law. Old fellow Daoist wouldn’t refuse this request would you?” Zhou Zishang’s hands held a light silk manual and directly handed it to the Old Daoist in front of him.

The Old Daoist glanced slightly at the book’s t.i.tle, ‘Exquisite Records of the Inner Qi Profound Origins’. His eyelids unconsciously jumped slightly. He hesitated for a long time before he finally stretched his hand and received the manual. He lightly said, “If it is so, this manual would be sent to him by this old Daoist.”

The old Daoist’s complexion was indifferent, but Zhou Zishang’s also showed the same and ignored it as he cupped his hand, “Thank you for fellow Daoist’s help.”

The old Daoist priest shut his eyes and didn’t speak again. His hand pinched a jade slip as it then emitted a melodious sound. It was a sign indicating that he was asking this guest to leave.

Zhou Zishang loudly laughed and casually walked away.

The old Daoist lightly stroke his white beard. Although his complexion didn’t change even a bit, his heart was extremely amazed. This Zhou Zishang was only a teenager, but to his surprise, he had already opened his meridians and solidified his Qi. There was a faint rosy cloud enveloping this youth’s body, of which indicated that his cultivation level was not beneath himself. He was really worthy to be an elite disciple from a powerful sect. His previous conduct and methods had shown his confidence and also indicated his true self, that it was natural for him to do so.

Don’t judge his conduct of striding directly into the temple as being impolite and rude. As a matter of fact, the old Daoist was fully aware that the youth’s conducts from a moment ago were only forcing him to become a mediator to cover his true purposes. That youth also didn’t tell him about his main point. Therefore, this youth intentionally showed an arrogant and domineering appearance to make him slowly feel unwell and restless, without giving much effort in doing so.

If this youth was given sufficient time to grow, his future would be limitless.

The old Daoist lowered his head and glanced at the Dao manual in his hand. This ‘Exquisite Records of the Inner Qi Profound Origins’ was one of the ancient manuals from early historical times. It was told that the manual originally came from the Great Southern Sect, and was sent by a Daoist devotee’s crane. As for how this manual came into Zhou Zishang’s possession, it was unknown. This manual contained a superior law to help open one’s meridians.

When a cultivator’s meridians opened, a spiritual power seed would take root and grow. The seed would become the foundation in forming spiritual Qi. Which would give that cultivator the ability to practice a superior immortal law that would greatly promote their strength in the future. However, this Dao law was not only very complex and complicated, it also hid an enormous danger. If a cultivator didn’t have a master or an experienced cultivator to direct them in every step of the way, it would be very easy for them to run into accidents, which would injure them and even possibly break their meridians. This would absolutely cause their foundation to be completely destroyed, disabling them. And in the end, they wouldn’t be able to continue cultivating for the rest of their lives.

The old Daoist couldn’t help but sigh deeply. He didn’t know how Zhou Zishang and Zhang Yan had a falling out, but one of them had unexpectedly gone too far as he planned to destroy the other’s cultivation path.

After leaving the temple hall’s gate, Zhou Zishang seemed to be very pleased with himself. He believed that his plan was very thorough and would not fail. Zhang Yan might have been able to cultivate after he came to this Cangwu Mountain. However, Zhou Zishang was certain that even if Zhang Yan was very careful, he definitely had some acupoint gates in his meridians that he was not aware of. Once he missed all the delicate and minor details about the acupoints in his meridians, his main vital acupoint would be discarded. This plan, that borrowed the Profound Virtue Temple’s hands to destroy Zhang Yan’s cultivation path, was the safest and the most reliable plan. Even though the moment would come where Zhou Zishang would be suspected for Zhang Yan’s accident, he would have a good excuse. That the manual was given out of goodwill. Thus, Zhang Yan could only blame himself because of his bad luck.

Once Zhang Yan realizes that he has no hope to cultivate, he could only go back home and obediently serve his wife and family at home.

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