Chapter 95: Chapter 66: Making a Brazen Move
Sun Suzhen was no fool, and his deduction was based on his own knowledge. Noticing Xuzhuang’s hesitation, his eyes narrowed as he asked, "What is it? Junior Brother, have you discovered something amiss?"
Xuzhuang hesitated for a moment before shaking his head slightly and replying, "I just have a few reservations. After all, the Upper Profound Sect and the Yinji are here in this realm as well."
Sun Suzhen noticed Xuzhuang wasn’t elaborating. He paused thoughtfully for a moment, then concealed it with a hearty laugh. "Junior Brother, don’t worry. So what if the Upper Profound Sect and the Yinji are here? When it comes to a clash between peers, what do we have to fear?"
"If there really is a scheme behind all this," Sun Suzhen’s words were filled with a deep pride—not in himself, but in the glory of his sect. He declared, "My Tai Su Orthodox Sect is renowned as one of the Three Great Sects of the Divine Continent. Do you think we earned that title just by existing for ten thousand years? We would never allow outsiders to plot against us. So don’t you worry, Junior Brother!"
Zhe Junyang seemed inspired, clapping his hands with a smile. "Junior Brother Sun is absolutely right. The sect is our greatest backing. What schemes do we have to fear?"
Seeing this, Yan Renhe could only look on with envy.
Xuzhuang smiled. "You have a point. I was overthinking things. Senior Brother, where were you in your explanation? Please, continue."
Sun Suzhen nodded. "Alright. As I was saying, this Grotto Heaven isn’t a repository for some great inheritance. Although we might have all sorts of fortuitous encounters after entering this realm, it would be difficult to find the true Dharma Origin Dao Lineage."
"But if we’re right, the fact that this Grotto Heaven is so perfectly preserved means it was left for a destined successor to return and re-establish the Dharma Origin Dao Lineage. In that case, this realm must have a central control hub, or a sect keepsake, waiting for that destined person to claim it. Once someone takes control of this Grotto Heaven, then all the Daoist Books and Techniques, Secret Techniques and key arts, pills and Spirit Veins, and even its legacy treasures will naturally be within their grasp!"
Xuzhuang said, "So, you’re saying this hub is on Central Pillar Peak?"
"That must be it," Sun Suzhen said. "Senior Brother Yue and I have already been up Central Pillar Peak to investigate. There’s a grand hall on the summit, protected by a powerful array. It seems it can only be opened when all five Decrees are gathered."
"I see. If it’s just as we suspect, the five destined Commanders of the Dharma Origin Sect would have naturally cooperated with each other," Xuzhuang said. "But as things stand now, we only have two Decrees. Does that mean our only option is to team up with the others to open the hall? I wonder, is there any other way to break that protective array?"
"Of course I’ve tried. I even used a Breaking Charm, but it didn’t work." Sun Suzhen shook his head. "Besides, we’re out of time to find another way. While Senior Brother Yue and I were waiting for you, the group from the Upper Profound Sect had already headed up Central Pillar Peak."
"Oh? Then it seems our only choice for now," Xuzhuang said thoughtfully, "is to gather all five Commanders, open the hall together, and figure things out from there."
"That’s right." Sun Suzhen laughed. "It seems a direct confrontation is unavoidable after all. Let’s get going. We shouldn’t keep the people from the Upper Profound Sect waiting."
Xuzhuang had no objections, but before nodding, he asked, "Senior Brother, haven’t you contacted Senior Brother Yue? How come we haven’t seen him at all?"
"Senior Brother Yue met up with me before you did, but he stayed behind on Central Pillar Peak," Sun Suzhen said. "Your earlier concerns weren’t unfounded, Junior Brother. In fact, I had already taken precautions, which is why I had Senior Brother Yue stay on the peak. It’s to prevent the Upper Profound Sect from getting the jump on us, just in case they were prepared and could break the array first."
A single, great hall occupied the summit of Central Pillar Peak. It was vast and magnificent. In front of the hall lay a plaza paved entirely with jade, flanked by eighteen jade pillars. These pillars were carved with images of the Black Tortoise and the Vermilion Bird, along with patterns of water and fire.
After crossing the Cloud Bridge, Xuzhuang, Sun Suzhen, and the others began their ascent. They weren’t in a rush, chatting occasionally as they walked. Even at this leisurely pace, it took them only a little over a quarter of an hour to reach the summit.
As they stepped onto the jade stairs leading to the plaza, they felt as if they were standing directly beneath the sun. The heavy clouds had vanished from the sky, and the sun cast down countless golden rays, bathing the mountaintop in a brilliant radiance.
As expected, there were already people on the plaza.
Three members of the Upper Profound Sect were seated cross-legged atop the jade pillars on the left side of the plaza, deep in meditation. Suddenly, Tan Chong stirred and opened his eyes. He saw the group from the Tai Su Orthodox Sect arriving at the summit, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he whispered, "Junior Brother Yu, that last person in Sun Suzhen’s group—is that Xuzhuang, the new True Disciple of the Tai Su sect?"
Yu Jing said, "That’s him."
Tan Chong asked, "Have you seen his techniques before?"
Yu Jing replied, "I haven’t."
Tan Chong thought, ’Zhe Junyang and Yan Renhe are mediocre at best. Yue Junlan and Sun Suzhen are certainly skilled, but their Divine Techniques are well within my expectations. As for the Yinji Demon and those Loose Cultivators, they’re nothing to worry about. But this man, Xuzhuang... I still have no idea what he’s capable of.’
After a moment of thought, Tan Chong decided, ’I should find a way to test him first.’ He then beckoned Yu Jing over and whispered a few words in his ear. Yu Jing’s brow furrowed slightly, and he mulled it over for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Seeing Yu Jing agree, a slight smile touched Tan Chong’s lips as he suddenly called out in a clear voice, "Fellow Daoist Sun."
"Hm?" Sun Suzhen, who had been looking for Yue Junlan, raised an eyebrow at Tan Chong’s call and replied, "Fellow Daoist Tan?"
Tan Chong smiled. "You certainly took your time, Fellow Daoist. You’ve kept me waiting."
"What difference does it make if we’re early or late? We still have to wait for all five Decrees to be gathered anyway." Sun Suzhen said with a grin. "If you ask me, we’d both be better off going to look for more fortuitous encounters. We might even find a few treasures."
Tan Chong said, "You jest, Fellow Daoist. If we can take control of this Grotto Heaven, won’t all of its treasures be ours for the taking?"
Sun Suzhen wasn’t surprised that Tan Chong shared this ambition. He replied calmly, "Easier said than done. Controlling the Grotto Heaven would be ideal, of course, but if that proves impossible, then what’s truly real is what you can hold in your hand."
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