Against Yi Chen’s expectations, the one meeting him at the foot of the mountain was not only Old Han, but also a white-haired elder, and a middle-aged burly man who looked proud and eager to try.
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"I am Bai Siming of Ju Zi from Yunmo Mountain, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the esteemed Hidden Dragon Taoist!" the white-haired elder bowed as he looked toward the robust Daoist approaching with a vigorous and imposing manner.
Yi Chen’s gaze immediately sharpened upon seeing this.
"Hiss, to think that the Ju Zi of Yunmo Mountain would personally come to greet me, such grand treatment." With this thought, his chest puffed out even higher.
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Non-Aggression Hall.
Entrance, seating, serving tea.
After some pleasantries, Yi Chen finally learned that the Ju Zi of Yunmo Mountain came down the mountain to meet him personally.
The reputation of his serene and noble character as the Hidden Dragon Taoist had actually reached Yunmo Mountain.
He had rushed thousands of miles to Zeyang City to investigate the disappearance of cultivators, a selfless act done solely for the benefit of others.
Yi Chen didn’t know how Old Han had boasted about him, but he had managed to suppress the news that Yi Chen had accepted two pieces of ice and fire Jue Jade, a rare natural treasure, crafting for him an image of utmost righteousness and nobility.
"The Hidden Dragon Taoist is zealous and benevolent, racing thousands of miles to save others, embodying the spirit of ancient ink masters, and later even aided our Yunmo Mountain’s Que Long while traveling the world, leaving us all on Yunmo Mountain deeply touched and grateful."
"...."
Through roundabout ways, the white-haired elder began to subtly probe Yi Chen, seeking to see if he would join Yunmo Mountain.
Damn it, the Ju Zi sure knows how to read people.
Yi Chen stealthily glanced at Old Han who was quietly meditating, and had no choice but to tactfully change the subject.
No matter what, he was very comfortable using the Qilin Armor; giving it back was out of the question.
Seeing that he was not taking the bait, the burly middle-aged man seated next to the Ju Zi grew impatient. He swept his gaze across the room and said in a booming voice,
"Que Long has been incessantly praising the Hidden Dragon Taoist for his wisdom and remarkable words that strike to the heart of the matter. I wonder what the Taoist’s views are on the differences between our Yunmo Mountain and Qin Mo?"
Upon those words, the room fell silent, and everyone turned their gaze toward Yi Chen.
"Qin Mo is realistic, Qin Mo is good."
"Yunmo is idealistic, enduring through storms without changing its true colors, Yunmo is also good."
Yi Chen fell silent for a second, drank the cup of clear tea on the table in one gulp, then raised his head and smiled at everyone.
In that moment, Yi Taoist, with the spirit of a clear-soup grand master, began playing the fool.
The struggle over Dao Mastery is extremely dangerous. If word of this conversation got out to those with ulterior motives, it would undoubtedly bring about trouble, which he would rather avoid.
Although he wouldn’t be afraid, he detested complications.
That night, the people of Non-Aggression Hall witnessed the oratory art of the Hidden Dragon Taoist with admiration, and Bai Siming’s eyes flickered with a hint of disappointment. Nevertheless, he did not pursue the matter further, and instead led the conversation to leisurely topics, discussing secrets from past and present with grace. The banquet concluded late into the night.
The next day, at the foot of the mountain behind Yunmo Mountain, a loyal leopard was dragging a heavy and bizarre carriage, clad in sturdy armor with two strange metallic wings inserted into the armor plates. Several metal conduits connected to the carriage, giving it an appearance akin to an iron Garurumon, as it idly scratched an itch, its comportment somewhat dog-tired.
The carriage and the equipment on the loyal leopard were thank-you gifts from Yunmo Mountain. Relying on this gear, the leopard could traverse mountains and rivers with ease, tread on level ground as if flying, and pull the carriage at high speeds over great distances, making the leopard much more adept at assuming its role as a tool leopard.
Once the connecting rails were removed, The Loyal Leopard relied on its armor, and its evasion speed became even more astonishing.
"Hidden Dragon Taoist, what do you think of the insignificant tricks Mo Yuan hurriedly put together last night? How do they measure up?" The middle-aged, muscular man grinned at Yi Chen, unable to hide a smug look of pride on his face.
The armor on The Loyal Leopard and the carriage were indeed crafted by this man’s own hands. As a candidate for the next Ju Zi of the Yunmo Mountain sect, he certainly had some clever methods up his sleeve.
"Truly ingenious craftsmanship, I am impressed," Yi Chen couldn’t help but admire. It was much more effective than anything handmade, indeed very useful!
"Since the Taoist admires it, I would ask you for a battle before you leave!"
"If the Taoist loses, how about joining our Yunmo Mountain? I also hope that the Taoist will speak truthfully about last night’s incident. If the Taoist wins, consider that I, Mo Yuan, owe the Taoist a favor. If in the future the Taoist needs to forge any Magic Artifacts, I, Mo Yuan, still have some modest methods at my disposal."
"It is widely known that Hidden Dragon Taoist has single-handedly slain the Wusheng Sword Mother and severely injured the villain Xu Du from the Controlling Spirit Holy Puppet Sect. I, Mo Yuan, wish to experience that for myself."
"Mo Yuan has devoted half his life to cultivation, with his skills reaching the mid-phase of intersection. He has painstakingly personalized a suit of battle gear for himself, and just a few days ago, it was completed. Hidden Dragon Taoist managed to kill the Purple Crystal Demi-human in Zeyang City, so your cultivation must be unfathomable. I, Mo Yuan, wish to test it!"
In the flow of his words, the middle-aged, muscular man’s eyes shone with an eager desire for battle. From the large bamboo tube he carried on his back, which suddenly unsheathed with a sound, thousands of bamboo slips and strange metal gadgets swiftly flew out, forming countless components.
No sooner had these components flown out, they immediately attached themselves onto the middle-aged man like a divine decree, and in the blink of an eye, a giant resembling a mech appeared at the foot of the mountain. On the shoulders of the giant, two large cannon muzzles twisted their way out, and on the thighs and sides of both arms, there were several strange metal tubes,
The left arm was already covered by heavy metal components, with one large and one small cylinder attached to it. Inside the circular metal bands, eighteen channels resembling naval gun barrels radiated a chilling cold light, while the smaller metal sleeve above it was as smooth as a mirror.
In an instant, Mo Yuan transformed into a fortified battle bastion.
Halfway up Yunmo Mountain, two white-haired elders stood with their hands behind their backs, watching the scene unfold below.
"Brother, is this any way to treat a guest? Mo Yuan is bright and talented. Although he has not focused on cultivation, the strange battle gear he has researched is indeed remarkable. If he injures Hidden Dragon Taoist, that would be regrettable."
Bai Siming looked at the elder beside him who appeared even older and said with a sigh, "Mo Yuan is arrogant due to his talent, and wholeheartedly engrossed in external objects. It’s a pity that not a single one of our Yunmo Mountain disciples, who are devoted to cultivation, can suppress him, even though he often emerges victorious in his encounters with other cultivators by conquering the strong despite being weaker."
"Don’t worry, brother. I have observed Hidden Dragon Taoist, and his aura is deep and as immovable as a mountain. A man’s reputation precedes him, and he is most certainly not a weak opponent. If he can cause Mo Yuan to become somewhat more restrained, that would be a good thing."
"Do not underestimate that Hidden Dragon Taoist. His cultivation might be even slightly superior to Mo Yuan’s!"
"What?" Bai Siming’s companion’s eyes widened in shock upon hearing this; he knew well the prowess of Mo Yuan’s strike, which was close to the power of a nascent realm of Dao Mastery.
The Mo of Yunmo Mountain have always upheld the original philosophy of Ju Zi, with "universal love" and "non-aggression" as their highest ideals. However, after several setbacks, the average Mo from Yunmo Mountain had become more restrained, while Mo Yuan, after reviewing the centuries of Yunmo Mountain’s history, believed that to realize the ideals of Ju Zi, Yunmo Mountain needed to wield the greatest force.
Focusing on the research of his own battle gear and arming himself was the first step he had taken, but his ideas had not received the support of the elders, who were unwilling to reallocate the full resources of Yunmo Mountain to change directions and take the lead boldly.
His challenge to Yi Chen today was the result of careful consideration. If he could defeat the one whom even Ju Zi admired immensely with a display of overpowering strength, then he could convince Ju Zi to increase support for him, including manpower and resources.
"A challenge?" Yi Chen looked Mo Yuan up and down with a faint smile on his face, as if seeing right through him.
He did not speak but turned away and gestured with his hand, indicating that he had to leave.
A look of disappointment flashed across Mo Yuan’s face, but the integrity of a Mo prevented him from forcibly striking from behind and dragging Yi Chen into this gamble.
Just as the carriage had shrunk to the size of a soybean in the distance, suddenly, the sound of wind and thunder arose from afar.
"Mo Yuan, catch this spear from me, and I will accept your challenge!"
For a moment, Mo Yuan’s face lit up with wild joy, and a thick blue light began to emanate from the cannon on his left arm.
"My will aligns with the heavens, and the heavens will surely bless me! My words strike true, and my bombardment is imminent!"
"Heaven’s Mandate · Sky-Piercing!"