Chapter 1329: Chapter 51: A Cunning Plan Leads Astray (Part 2)
On this day, as everyone was discussing the Dao and debating techniques, someone brought this up and said, "This Shao Zhongxiang is cultivating with a demon body. Back then he was expelled from the sect by Sect Leader Chen, and I heard he had long since fled to the Outer Continent. Who would have thought he had been lying low on Divine House Mountain."
Zeng Conglun looked toward an old man at the banquet and asked with a smile, "How does this man compare to Elder Xing?"
Elder Xing chuckled and said, "In former years Shao Zhongxiang once wielded the Hundred Shadow Sword, one of the Six Great Swords of the Fengxiang Sword Sect. He must have had some skill—if he still had that sword in hand, this old man would certainly not be his match. But later I heard that sword was taken back by Sect Leader Chen, so his Daoist Cultivation is probably only sixty percent of what it once was. I have confidence I could still fight him to a draw."
Zeng Conglun nodded and said, "Then that Daoist Zhang being able to best him means his abilities are by no means small."
At this moment someone shouted, "What’s the point of saying all this? There are over a hundred fellow Daoists present—are we supposed to be afraid of that Daoist Zhang?"
Zeng Conglun said with a smile, "Indeed."
Among the people invited by Wei Daoist this time, there were over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators alone. Placed within East Victory Continent, they could already be called a considerable force.
Elder Xing glanced at Wei Daoist, who had been sitting to the side in silence, and said, "Daoist Wei, we have lingered at your place many days now, eating and drinking for free every day. If we keep staying on, we’ll become unwelcome guests."
Zeng Conglun quickly said, "Elder Xing, what are you saying? These past days, debating the Dao with everyone each day, I have truly benefited greatly."
Wei Daoist thought to herself, "Very well. Since the floodwaters have receded, it won’t be said that my Little Cang Realm Disciples took advantage of others’ misfortune."
The next day, the more than a hundred people on Fire Hole Mountain each rose on their tunneling light and headed toward Cangzhu Peak.
At this time, high above in the heavy sky, two people were standing and watching this scene. One of them was Song Chuyuan, who had been away for a year, and the other was a limping Daoist, though his features were handsome and refined, with spirit hidden in his eyes.
Song Chuyuan thought to himself, "Judging from the direction this group is taking, they are indeed heading for Divine House Mountain. If I return and report this to Sect Leader Zhang, he might spare my life in the future."
Back when he signed the Dharma Contract, the term was only set for sixteen years. He truly did not know how Zhang Yan would deal with him once the term expired, so he could only think of every possible way to prove he was useful.
Some time ago he had returned from the South Guanghai Realm to visit an old close friend here, hoping to persuade him to return to Han Yuan with him. Unexpectedly, he overheard Wei Daoist widely inviting fellow Daoists, intending to go make trouble at Han Yuan Sect, so he stayed to gather information.
The limping Daoist now said, "Daoist Song, since this younger brother wishes to throw in with Sect Leader Zhang, why not resolve this crisis for him?"
Song Chuyuan couldn’t help losing color and said, "Daoist Tang, there are more than ten Nascent Soul cultivators over there. How could the two of us possibly stop them?"
The limping Daoist smiled mysteriously and said, "There’s no need to block them head-on. Just watch my methods, and come with me."
With a turn of his body, he rode the Gang Wind and flew off. Song Chuyuan hesitated for a moment, then followed after.
The two of them were cultivating up in the heavy sky, so they were naturally much faster than Wei Daoist and her party. After an hour, they landed in a valley where wild grass grew thick.
The limping Daoist took out a bamboo pole and checked the ground in a couple of places. A coffin then emerged from the earth. He lifted the lid and saw inside a grey-templed cultivator, breathing faintly. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Fellow Daoist, I must borrow your body for a time."
Having said this, he took out a piece of talisman paper and stuck it onto the Daoist’s forehead, then drew a Banner from his sleeve. A red ribbon was wound around the shaft, and copper rings hung below. One could see a soul coiled about it, identical to that grey-templed Daoist.
He formed a spell gesture, and with a shake of the Banner, the talisman paper instantly sank into the grey-templed Daoist’s brow. The man suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.
At first his gaze was somewhat bewildered, but after a while it grew somewhat clearer. The limping Daoist hastily pinched another spell formula.
The face of the grey-templed cultivator showed a look of struggle, but after a moment it gradually returned to wooden blankness. Then he tapped his foot, rode up on a stream of Gang Wind, and soared into the sky.
As Wei Daoist and the others were in the midst of their journey, a tunneling light came from ahead. It resolved into a middle-aged Daoist with grizzled temples, looking to be around forty, who blocked their path and shouted, "All of you, stop right there!"
Zeng Conglun glanced at the attire of the grey-templed cultivator and recognized it as the robe of an elder from the Zhongtai Sect. His heart jolted, and he gestured to the others, then walked forward alone and bowed, saying, "For what reason does fellow Daoist block our way?"
The grey-templed cultivator clasped his hands behind his back and said coldly, "I am Zou Xiao, a Zhongtai Patrol Envoy. Who are you people?"
Zeng Conglun said, "I am a Qi Refiner of Fire Hole Mountain. Today I am traveling with fellow Daoists through your honored sect’s lands, on our way to Divine House Mountain to visit a friend."
The grey-templed cultivator looked him over and said, "Do you have a Command Token?"
Zeng Conglun asked in puzzlement, "What Command Token?"
The grey-templed cultivator said, "By decree of the Sect Leader, within the borders of our Chu Kingdom, whenever two Nascent Soul cultivators travel together, they must carry a roaming Command Token. If you do not have one, you may not pass this way."
Zeng Conglun was taken aback and said, "There is such a rule?"
Wei Daoist, growing impatient, stepped forward and said, "I am of the Little Cang Realm..."
The grey-templed cultivator rudely cut her off, saying, "No matter who you are, if you present the token, this seat will not obstruct you. If not, then be off at once."
Wei Daoist had not expected him to give her no face at all, and her willow brows rose at once. Seeing things go awry, Zeng Conglun said softly, "This is after all Zhongtai territory. We must not act rashly."
Not only he, but the other cultivators also came forward to dissuade her, afraid Wei Daoist would start a conflict. After all, Zhongtai was one of the Five Major Sects, and though it had expended much Primordial Qi in its battles with the Xuanyue Sect over these dozens of miles, it was not something they could afford to provoke.
Zeng Conglun said, "Since the Zhongtai Sect has such a rule now, we can only detour by sea."
If it were only Nascent Soul cultivators, they could simply travel high up in the heavy sky, but there were quite a few disciples alongside them, so that was not feasible.
Elder Xing said, "Going by sea will only add a dozen days or so. Daoist Wei, it’s not worth offending Zhongtai over this."
Someone, still uneasy, said, "But there’s the Python Clan over the North Sea. Will they..."
Elder Xing said, "You worry too much, fellow Daoist. Though the Python Clan occupies the Beimo Sea, they are tens of thousands of miles from Divine House Mountain. Besides, the trouble with the tidal vortex has only just passed, and even with a Cave Heaven True Master sitting in town to calm the sea, they have no leisure to bother with us. There’s really no need for concern."
Once the group finished their discussion, they turned west, preparing to go around by sea to Divine House.
Watching them recede into the distance, Song Chuyuan was overjoyed and said, "Daoist Tang, we really did fool them."
The limping Daoist said, "This only treats the symptoms, not the root. It merely delays them a few days. We still need to report to Sect Leader Zhang quickly so he can make preparations early."
Song Chuyuan nodded his agreement.
The two of them did not delay, each circulating his Mana. They shot into the sky, turning into two long rainbows as they sped toward Han Yuan Sect.
...
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)
