Chapter 241: Chapter 240: Successful Talks, a Newcomer Joins
The intelligence exchange was over, and the agreement for mutual resource support was finalized. Both sides were very satisfied with the attitudes displayed, making the meeting a resounding success.
Zheng Hongsheng breathed a sigh of relief. The main objective was accomplished; all that was left was the issue that had come up the previous night.
"I have the latest update," Zheng Hongsheng said with a smile. "Regarding the incident at Berkeley, the other side is already trying to suppress the story. It seems you Daoists gave them quite a scare this time. I imagine they won’t be sleeping well for a while."
Taoist Ming Yu raised an eyebrow. "They’ll be able to suppress it?"
Zheng Hongsheng froze for a moment. ’Did they not expect it to be suppressed?’ he thought. ’So they were actually planning to publicly reveal their abilities, to manifest their powers before the masses?’
"As long as you Daoists don’t make frequent appearances, most people won’t believe that Immortals truly exist in this world," Zheng Hongsheng said carefully.
Taoist Ming Yu smiled. "It’s not that we’re intentionally revealing our powers to the public, we’re simply letting nature take its course. Of course, we also hope that more young people with righteous hearts and a talent for cultivation can learn to cultivate the Dao and refine their Qi."
Zheng Hongsheng’s mind raced. He asked tentatively, "As long as someone can cultivate Inner Breath True Qi, are they qualified to go... over to your side?"
Taoist Yi Hong laughed heartily. Though there was also the trial of the Five Thunders Order, he absolutely could not reveal that. "In any case, being able to cultivate Inner Breath True Qi is always beneficial."
"But in modern society, cultivating Inner Breath True Qi is incredibly difficult. Even the talented must endure decades of arduous, daily practice to achieve anything," said Taoist Ming Yu. "So, one must have a genuine passion for it. It cannot be forced."
Zheng Hongsheng nodded, signaling to a young man with him to mark that part down as a key point.
"But this is a technological age, after all. The occult is not in the open. If you Daoists display your powers in public, it will likely cause a media frenzy and could lead to a certain degree of social chaos," Zheng Hongsheng reminded them.
"Director Zheng makes a good point," Taoist Yi Hong acknowledged.
Taoist Ming Yu also nodded. "We will do our best to be discreet."
Zheng Hongsheng breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "We will assign people to protect Wang Changyi and his parents. We will also keep the identities of you Daoists confidential and sever the claws of anyone who tries to pry into these secrets."
"Also, please rest assured, Mr. Gu. All leads related to you have been concealed," Zheng Hongsheng added.
"Understood." Taoist Ming Yu nodded. He was about to say something, but then smiled. "As for Changyi, that won’t be necessary."
Zheng Hongsheng was taken aback for a moment, then nodded in understanding.
Clearly, Wang Changyi was also about to enter a period of rapid strength improvement. If someone with ulterior motives were to find him again, he would definitely not be the one needing protection.
...
After watching Zheng Hongsheng and his group drive away, Gu Zhao led Changyi and his family back to the study hall.
Taoist Yi Hong and Taoist Ming Yu didn’t report to Gu Zhao, because he had been observing them the entire time with his Divine Thought. He was already aware of everything discussed during the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, Taoist Yi Hong had also told Zheng Hongsheng that they could ask for help if they ever encountered a problem they couldn’t solve.
"Well, that’s settled for now," Taoist Yi Hong said with a smile.
Taoist Ming Yu nodded. "The other side suppressed the story, so the fallout is smaller than we expected."
Changyi took out his phone. "But it’s still making the rounds."
They had gotten the news around noon the day before. On the other side of the ocean, it had been just after 9:00 PM. They rushed to Berkeley, arrived at 4:00 AM, and completed their business in about ten minutes.
When they returned to Celestial Xia, it was morning on the other side of the ocean, but it was just after midnight here.
The exhausted trio—Changyi and the two Daoists—rested for the latter half of the night and had a meal in the morning. Now, it was approaching noon in Celestial Xia. A full day had passed on the other side, and even with the story being suppressed, well-connected people had already reposted the videos.
[Alien Sighting in Huaqi Country!]
[Apocalyptic Scene! Aliens Really Exist!]
"Aliens? For real?"
"That has to be a fellow Daoist undergoing their tribulation in Huaqi Country. Red, yellow, green, white, black—the Five Elements thunderclouds are all there. That’s a nine-level thunder tribulation!"
"The entire storm cloud is black. How did the guy above manage to spot the color black?"
"It’s a vibrant, multicolored black!"
"This is from a foreign movie, right? The next-generation Thunder God?"
"Foreigners can’t film lightning with those kinds of colors. You can tell at a glance it’s one of our Thunder Techniques."
"Are those golden figures Celestial Soldiers and Generals? Holy shit, this can’t be a movie foreigners made to slander us, can it? Like the Celestial Court’s Thunder Department invading Huaqi and capturing civilians, only to be defeated by their superheroes?"
"They wouldn’t dare!"
"Why wouldn’t they dare? They made their own versions of *Journey to the West* and *Hua Mulan*. Back when relations were good, the worst we got were tired stereotypes. Now that things have gone south between us, of course they’re going to start smearing us."
"Has it occurred to any of you... that what’s in the video might be real?"
"My girlfriend goes to Berklee College of Music. She says everything in the video is real; she saw it with her own eyes."
"My condolences, bro!"
"Hahaha, this video is obviously a promo for something. Besides, why was your girlfriend awake at four in the morning?"
"It’s real! It’s real! It’s real! I’m telling you again, I’m right here in Berkeley! This is real, there are actual aliens! It was so fucking terrifying! I’ve already booked a flight home. I’m not spending another day in this godforsaken place!"
Gu Zhao glanced at Changyi’s phone. "They aren’t suppressing the story here?"
Taoist Ming Yu smiled. "Truth and lies, illusion and reality... why bother suppressing it?"
"Besides," Taoist Yi Hong added, "given the stance we just took, they naturally wouldn’t take such a superfluous step."
Gu Zhao nodded. "I’ve already had Martial Uncle Yan Song give the order for our disciples to draw more Vajra Profound Talismans. Those should be the most useful Talismans for ordinary people."
Changyi stood to the side, burning with a curiosity that was almost unbearable. But remembering Taoist Ming Yu’s reminder, he wanted to ask questions but didn’t dare.
Gu Zhao teased him, "You probably can’t go to Huaqi Country anymore, but if you still want to study abroad, I can have your grand-uncle pull some strings. Mi Qi or Australian Bag should be possible."
Changyi was speechless. After witnessing such Extraordinary power, how could he possibly have any interest in studying abroad?
He could naturally tell Gu Zhao was teasing him. Seeing Taoist Ming Yu give him a look, he immediately said with a shameless grin, "I wish to stay by your side."
The two elder Daoists roared with laughter, and Gu Zhao tapped a finger between Changyi’s brows.
A Thunder Seed was sent into Changyi’s Sea of Consciousness. Then, a bolt of violet-gold lightning coursed down through him, activating the Innate Qi in his chest and tempering his entire body.
When Changyi looked up again, two brilliant points of starlight flashed in his eyes.
Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you cultivating the *Zhengyi Scripture* and the *Alliance Power Reading Talisman*?"
Changyi respectfully clasped his hands. "Sect Leader, I am cultivating the *Zhengyi Scripture*, but my supplementary manual is not the *Alliance Power Reading Talisman*. It is the *Supreme Four Dipper Star Constellation Grand Talisman*."
