Chapter 420: Chapter 207: 9 Yin 8 Sunflower
The mountains stood majestic, dominating the east!
Ascend Taishan, and all other mountains shrink into insignificance!
Although Zhao Rui was from Dongqi, he had rarely visited Taishan. On previous trips, he had only seen it as a famous mountain, impressive for its height and steep trails, and nothing more.
Now, as he walked from the Taishan Sect toward the back of the mountain, basking in the sunlight, he was surprised to see threads of Pure Yang True Qi slowly wafting out from the mountain rocks like mist.
"What is this?"
Zhao Rui paused for a moment. He reached out, letting his hand pass through the Misty Qi, and frowned.
"What’s wrong, Fellow Daoist?"
His question prompted Qingyang and the others to ask in surprise.
"This Pure Yang Qi... has it always been here?"
Zhao Rui asked curiously.
"What Pure Yang Qi?"
Master Qingshan said with a stunned expression, "There’s nothing here but bare rock. Where would this Misty Qi be coming from?"
Master Qingyang’s expression grew grave. He quickly employed the rudimentary Domain techniques he had just grasped to perceive the aura before him. After a long moment, he said in astonishment, "This feeling... It’s actually Pure Yang Qi. To think we’ve lived on this mountain all this time and never noticed..."
Master Qingyang couldn’t help but shake his head with a bitter smile.
Just then, an ancient but resonant voice suddenly echoed in their ears.
"Qingyang, to think a trip away would bring you such a fateful encounter. This is truly a blessing for Taishan... Young Friend, you honor Taishan with your visit. I am Mu Hua Zi. Forgive me for not coming out to greet you."
As he spoke, an ancient Daoist with only a few strands of hair left on his head suddenly materialized beside the group.
The old Daoist trembled as he gave Zhao Rui a deep, formal bow, making one wonder if he might simply topple over.
"Greetings, Senior Mu Hua Zi."
Zhao Rui returned the bow with a smile.
"Ah, on the path of the Martial Dao, accomplishment comes before age. Young Friend, your Contribution to Creation is profound; we should interact as peers. You absolutely must not use the word ’Senior’ again."
Mu Hua Zi said with a smile, quickly correcting Zhao Rui’s form of address.
At his words, Master Qingyang’s face flushed with awkwardness.
’All this time, I’ve been interacting with Zhao Rui as a peer. With Uncle Master pulling a stunt like this, how am I supposed to address anyone?’
’Do I have to call him Senior now?’
’Uncle Master must be getting senile.’
’Although I also think highly of Zhao Rui, he is, after all, just like me—at the high tier of the Dharma Realm.’
’How could he possibly be on the same level as Uncle Master?’ His expression soured.
Perhaps sensing his martial nephew’s embarrassment, Mu Hua Zi said sternly, "Accomplishment comes before age. Or would you also call any white-haired elder at the foot of the mountain ’Senior’?"
"Yes, yes. This disciple was wrong."
Master Qingyang said, bowing hastily.
"Let’s just stick to our own relationships," Zhao Rui interjected with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Qingyang and I have known each other for a long time and our bond is deep. We are naturally peers."
"I have heard that you, Fellow Daoist, have only been practicing martial arts for a little over a decade, yet you have already comprehended Domain Power," Mu Hua Zi marveled. "That is truly astonishing. Even the proudest prodigies from Gui Xu that I have seen were merely on par with you."
He had learned Zhao Rui’s name from his martial nephew, Qingyangzi. He also knew that when they had driven off Cangwu Zi, Zhao Rui had single-handedly stood against the Saint Lotus Sect Leader.
How could the Taishan Sect not pay close attention to such a powerful "neighbor"?
"It was merely a stroke of luck. Compared to your Contribution to Creation, Daoist Brother, I am still a long way off."
Zhao Rui replied humbly.
"Domain Power? Fellow Daoist Zhao, have you already comprehended it completely?"
Hearing his Uncle Master praise Zhao Rui and then mention Domain Power, Master Qingyang blurted out in astonishment.
"I’ve made some small progress."
"This..."
Master Qingyang was stunned speechless for a moment, then shook his head with a resigned look.
"F-Fellow Daoist, you’ve kept me in the dark this whole time! It turns out you comprehended Domain Power long ago..."
He had always known Zhao Rui was a cut above him in strength, but he thought it was only by a narrow margin, still within the bounds of the Dharma Realm.
Only now, after hearing what his Uncle Master said, did he realize that Zhao Rui’s strength had long since reached another level entirely.
Hearing this, Zhao Rui could only offer a smile. It wasn’t that he had wanted to hide it; he just hadn’t had a suitable opportunity to show off.
"What is Domain Power?"
Miao Miaomiao asked curiously.
"Domain Power... it’s complicated to explain. It’s not something you need to worry about yet."
Zhao Rui said with a smile.
"Young Friend Zhao, let’s go inside my grotto-abode and talk. I have some simple tea there that is quite flavorful."
At this, Mu Hua Zi stroked the sparse whiskers on his chin and invited everyone into his grotto-abode to chat.
The grotto-abode was sparsely furnished, containing only a few everyday items.
Everyone took a seat on the meditation cushions.
Master Qingyang quickly reported the matter of accepting a disciple on his master’s behalf. Mu Hua Zi frowned slightly but did not object.
He had also observed Miao Miaomiao’s aptitude and agreed it was extraordinary. If she hadn’t been living on Blue Star, where the Spiritual Qi was so thin, she would likely have reached the Divine Void Realm by now.
The reason for his frown was that his martial nephew’s actions seemed a bit too deliberate, unbecoming of the composure expected from the Taishan Sect.
However, what was done was done, so there was no need to say more. In any case, it was a good thing.
After discussing Miao Miaomiao, Mu Hua Zi began to explain the origin of the misty yang qi on Taishan.
This aura was the "Violet Qi from the East," unique to Taishan. Over the ages, it had accumulated within the mountain rock, causing some of Taishan’s stones to generate Spiritual Qi and naturally possess a unique power.
A great master of the Taishan Sect once achieved enlightenment while observing the stones of Taishan. He manifested a colossal, sky-blotting boulder as his Dharma Aspect, and this was the origin of the Taishan Sect’s Dharma Aspect technique, the Tai Mountain Stone Guardian.
However, this misty yang qi could only be observed by a Domain Powerhouse, one who had opened their six apertures.
Mu Hua Zi spoke in his trembling voice, and the others listened with rapt attention.
Just as the story was getting interesting, both the seated Zhao Rui and the speaker, Mu Hua Zi, abruptly lifted their heads, their sharp gazes fixed on the outside.
As the others watched in surprise, a burst of unrestrained laughter came from outside the cave.
