Chapter 1356: Chapter 65: Jade Statue Prolongs Life and Moves Fate
After Zhang Boyant saw off Xiang Zhanfu, he felt this matter was beyond his authority to decide alone, so he went to Zhang Yan’s alchemy room to report it.
Upon meeting, he detailed the matter again, and added, "I have met with Prince Ying twice. From the perspective of ordinary people, this person can actually be considered deeply strategic and isn’t a witless individual. Though it is unknown why he was imprisoned this time, he certainly won’t sit idly without resistance. He will undoubtedly use every bargaining chip to extricate himself. In my opinion, he is very credible."
Zhang Yan pondered for a moment, and then said, "Is there any threat to Prince Ying’s life recently?"
Zhang Boyant replied, "I have already inquired. After all, he is the son of Emperor Chu. Although he has been sentenced to imprisonment, the encirclement is located in a Cave Mansion outside the city at Xiao Wen Mountain, with imperial guards guarding him. He is provided with food and water daily by someone assigned, and aside from being forbidden from meeting others privately, there is no harsh treatment. Unless something unexpected occurs, he is meant to spend the rest of his life in the mountains."
Zhang Yan immediately said, "Since it’s not urgent, let’s discuss this matter after the Dragon Pillar Assembly."
At present, there is only a month until the Dragon Pillar Meeting. If we are able to successfully repel Xuanyue, then upon returning, we can strategize this matter in full.
However, if Zhongtai suffers defeat, then the entire sect would be on the brink of destruction, and it might not even care for a prince in captivity. Rescuing him would also be easy.
At this, Zhang Boyant gave a sinister smile and said, "Pavilion Master, should I first find a way to fetch that Treasure Map?"
Although Xiang Zhanfu said he’d hand over the map after the matter is accomplished, as a mere Xuan Guang Practitioner and now fallen on hard times, if I employ some methods, I don’t believe the map cannot come into my hands. At that point, whether to rescue him or not would be up to us, and he didn’t concern himself with whether such actions are righteous.
Zhang Yan flicked his sleeve and said in a deep voice, "There is no need."
Even without this matter, on account of Prince Ying’s two gifts of Snake Ring Essence, he is willing to provide aid and rescue.
Moreover, although the Da Mi Ancestor set the rule that no Zhongtai Disciple from Xuanyue should covet the treasure of the secret heritage, rules are inflexible while people are not. If someone truly wanted to claim the treasure, he doesn’t believe in thousands of years no one found a loophole to exploit.
Because of this, he inferred that obtaining this Dharma Treasure must either rely on the descendant disciples of the original borrower or someone who is fated with it.
In any case, if this treasure is yours, others can’t take it away. If it isn’t yours, no need to urgently do evil, it’s of no use.
The rear mountain of Xisheng Mountain.
With ceremonial robes and a proper crown, Sect Leader Qiao walked alone into a dark cave, where one is unable to see one’s hand before one’s face, and the footsteps echoed in the emptiness, lingering without dispersing.
After a moment, a glow of light appeared, and he had already walked out from the cave, faced with a stone stairway carved along the mountain wall, beside which a waterfall crashed down, rendering the stony path slippery smooth, its edges rounded off.
Following this road downward, shortly he delved into the mountain’s valley, and after an hour, suddenly a sense of shifting realms came over him, as if arriving in a different world, having reached a mountain valley.
This place is serene and deep, with the sound of water dripping like the plucking of zither strings, pleasant to the ears. Across a broken cliff, a hundred-zhang tall cave gate could be seen, with clouds rising intermittently from within.
This place is the Great Huiyu Jing Cave Heaven. Since the days of the Da Mi Ancestor, over several thousand years, three Cave Heaven True Masters have cultivated here.
Sect Leader Qiao shifted his gaze and saw on a large flat stone ahead a white rhinoceros as large as a giant elephant, lying asleep, its massive body gently rising and falling with its breaths. He then clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Brother Daoist, this humble Daoist wishes to pay respects to the True Master, and hopes you will convey my request."
After a while, the white rhinoceros lazily lifted its eyelids slightly, seeing that it was Sect Leader Qiao, it ignored him and turned over to sleep again.
Sect Leader Qiao could only shake his head helplessly and did not urge, instead sitting cross-legged right there.
Although this Exotic Beast was guarding the gate, it wasn’t of its own volition, but was captured by Master Zheng and forced to make a vow. Due to this resentment, every time a member of the Zhongtai Sect came to see the True Master, it would ignore them for a while, which Sect Leader Qiao was already accustomed to.
The white rhinoceros slept for four hours, finally stretching its limbs and slowly standing up. It shifted its mountainous body and glared at Sect Leader Qiao, roaring, "The True Master summons you in."
Its voice rumbled like thunder, causing numerous gravel pieces to fall from the cave ceiling.
Sect Leader Qiao opened his eyes, stood up, gave a Daoist bow, then conjured clouds with his feet, rising up to enter the cave.
This place holds a cave within a cave, dense like a honeycomb, and one who does not know the path absolutely cannot find the right way.
After passing through numerous passages, he finally reached the end. On the mountain wall, a white jade statue ten zhang high was deeply embedded, depicting a large-eared Daoist with lifelike facial features, and in front of him was a double-dragon square-mouthed furnace, enveloped in swirling mist.
