Chapter 331: Chapter 165: Qingcheng Sword Sect or Anvil Sword Sect?

"The times are changing, aren’t they!"

"That’s true!"

Listening to their idle chatter, Zhao Rui couldn’t help but smile knowingly.

The mortal world rushes ever forward like a great river, but there will always be those who step up to turn the tide.

A glint of light flashed in Zhao Rui’s eyes.

’If this world is mired in filth, then I’ll carve out a place for the sun to shine brightly!’

「Half a day later.」

Zhao Rui got off the train at a station in a small city in Sichuan Province.

"Zhao Rui, over here!"

Yu Zhengnan, dressed in a Daoist Robe, waved at Zhao Rui as he walked out of the station entrance.

"Why’d you come to pick me up yourself? I could have just gotten a cab."

Zhao Rui said with a laugh.

"I was worried you wouldn’t be able to find the place."

The two chatted and laughed as they walked to the parking lot and got into a van.

Yes, a van.

"The temple didn’t have much money to begin with. After moving to a new place and all the repairs and renovations, we’ve spent most of it."

Daoist Yu said awkwardly.

"Er... should we punish the wicked and praise the good? Rob the rich to help the poor?"

Zhao Rui joked.

"Haha, without you here, I wouldn’t have the confidence to rob the rich to help the poor!"

Knowing that Zhao Rui was willing to come to the Daoist Temple, Daoist Yu’s mood improved immensely, sweeping away the gloom of the past six months.

The van drove south through the county’s bustling areas, passed through towns and villages, and finally stopped beside a dense mountain forest.

Looking at the small mountain before him, with its rugged cliffs and jagged rocks, yet not particularly tall peaks, Zhao Rui asked curiously.

"What mountain is this?"

"This is called Iron Anvil Mountain. Right next to it is Crane Mountain, the sacred site of our Sichuan Province’s Daoist School!"

"So what will our sect be called from now on?"

"The Qingcheng Sword Sect, of course!"

Yu Zhengnan said with a serious expression.

In his heart, he naturally still dreamed of the day they could return to Qingcheng Mountain, back to the Qingcheng Daoist Temple where he had spent decades.

"We’ll go back one day!"

Zhao Rui said with a smile.

"Come, let’s head up the mountain!"

Yu Zhengnan gave a carefree laugh, his wide Daoist Robe fluttering as he stepped onto the stone stairs.

The mountain path was rather remote. There were only a few scattered, man-made stone steps and concrete posts. Further up, it was just a small trail worn down by foot traffic.

Getting up and down the mountain wasn’t very convenient.

After walking for nearly half an hour, they saw four or five mud-and-tile-roofed buildings in the distance, perched on a mountaintop.

"Don’t be fooled by these few rooms, the labor costs were too high. To save money, everyone in the Daoist Temple pitched in."

Whenever this topic came up, Yu Zhengnan couldn’t help but sigh. It would be strange if he didn’t hold a grudge against the group of Gui Xu Qingcheng Guests occupying Qingcheng Mountain.

It was just that circumstances were stronger than men, and they had no choice but to bow their heads.

After rounding another peak, the "Daoist Temple" finally came into view.

"The Sect Leader is back! The Elder is back too!"

The two Daoist Children on duty at the gate immediately shouted with excitement when they saw Zhao Rui and Yu Zhengnan approaching.

"These Daoist Children came along too?"

"Yes, quite a few people came. It shows that our Qingcheng Sword Sect still has some appeal."

Yu Zhengnan stroked his stubbly chin and laughed heartily.

"Elder, you’re finally back."

"Elder, Elder, when are we going to fight our way back?!"

Hearing this, Yu Zhengnan immediately gave the Little Daoist Child who said it a knock on the head and chided, "Is this what you’ve cultivated your Dao Heart for?!"

"But Uncle Master Yun Hao says it every day!"

The Little Daoist Child muttered defiantly.

"You’re sentenced to copy the Huangting Scripture three times!"

After saying this, Yu Zhengnan strode inside.

The two Little Daoist Children paid it no mind and fought over who got to carry Zhao Rui’s suitcase.

"Elder, you have no idea! We’ve been practicing our cultivation so hard so we can fight our way back to Qingcheng Mountain. Look!"

The Little Daoist Child who didn’t get the suitcase demonstrated the Qingcheng Technique he was cultivating, waving his arms and legs about.

BANG! The Gang Qi he was recklessly brandishing blasted a small crater in the ground, kicking up a lot of dirt.

The Little Daoist Child stuck out his tongue and sheepishly ducked his head.

"Not bad, but your control over the intensity needs work. It’s not yet effortless."

Zhao Rui commented with a smile.

"Really?"

The Little Daoist Child was instantly overjoyed.

These Little Daoist Children were all from the towns and villages near the foot of Qingcheng Mountain. The fact that they could follow Yu Zhengnan and the others here meant their parents clearly trusted them.

They were willing to let their children endure hardship to practice cultivation.

Seeing the innocent and carefree expressions on these Little Daoist Children, who were only about ten years old, Zhao Rui’s mood brightened considerably.

’The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao!’

’If all Daos are with me, then peace will reign in this world!’

"The Junior Elder is back!"

Following the Daoist Child’s clear shout, thirty or forty people RUSHED out of the Daoist Temple.

Among them were four or five young Daoists from the same batch as Zhao Rui, and about twenty younger Daoists or Daoist Children.

The rest were official Daoists of the Qingcheng Sword Sect from before.

"Junior Brother Zhao, you’re finally back!"

A smile graced Yun Hao’s handsome face. With Zhao Rui’s arrival, more than half of his pressure was instantly lifted.

He was the only high-level combatant in the entire Daoist Temple and hadn’t dared to leave the mountain gates, terrified that an unwelcome guest might force their way up the mountain.

Now that Zhao Rui was back, he could finally get some proper rest.

This rest wasn’t physical, but more mental.

"Yes, I’m back!"

Zhao Rui nodded with a smile, then ruffled the heads of a few Daoist Children who had gathered around and asked, "Did you slack off while I was away?"

"No!"

The Little Daoist Child, Shouzhuo, answered the loudest.

After the commotion died down, Yu Zhengnan and Yun Hao led Zhao Rui to the large, tile-roofed building in the center.

This was the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, and also the only place that had been properly constructed to look like part of a Daoist Temple.

Yu Zhengnan first led Zhao Rui to pay respects in the main hall, and only then did the three of them go to a side hall to sit down.

A Daoist Child quickly walked over and served tea.

After the three had a few sips of tea, Yun Hao asked about Zhao Rui’s life in the military camp and the changes in the outside world.

Zhao Rui gave him a full account.

Yun Hao’s expression turned grave, and he couldn’t help but say, "My Power has advanced by leaps and bounds these past six months, but whenever I recall fighting those people on Qingcheng Mountain, I’m still filled with lingering fear."

"Among them, I’m afraid there are some who are beyond the Divine Void Realm."

Hearing this, Zhao Rui nodded. Based on the situation, it was highly likely there was a master at the Dharma Realm.

’I just don’t know how many people the Gui Xu’s Qingcheng Sect has, and whether all of them came, or just a part.’

"Where did they come from?"

Zhao Rui voiced the question in his heart.

’They couldn’t have all traveled here as Divine Souls, could they?’

"They came from a secret realm in Emei Mountain. There’s a weak point between the two worlds there, which was also the entry point when Gui Xu first arrived!"

"Mount Emei actually established contact with Gui Xu a long time ago."

Yu Zhengnan said with a sigh.

Their Qingcheng Sword Sect had essentially been played by their ally, Mount Emei!

"No wonder!"

Zhao Rui nodded, the figure of Zen Master Zhisheng appearing in his mind.

The three of them spent some time catching up on their experiences since they had last met.

Yu Zhengnan then took Zhao Rui to his living quarters to rest.

Behind the few large, tile-roofed buildings, there were several simple, open-bay dormitory rooms that resembled shipping containers.

The young Daoists slept on bunk beds, just like in a school.

Zhao Rui’s accommodations were naturally better: a single-room studio with its own private courtyard.

"Sect Leader, it’s time to pick up the Taoist Blessing Technique again. We can’t let everyone go hungry."

Zhao Rui said, shaking his head.

"I know, I know. I’ve been teaching a few disciples with high comprehension recently. You won’t starve! Tomorrow I’ll go to the Daoist Government Office again and ask for some subsidies."

After speaking, Yu Zhengnan quickly left the small courtyard, as if afraid Zhao Rui would start complaining about what they lacked.

’A simple environment always allows for sincere cultivation to settle in!’

Without the hustle and bustle of the mortal world, without the magnificence of the past, this remote little mountain was actually quite suitable for Cultivation.

Bathed in moonlight by night, showered in the rosy glow of dawn by day!

The rich True Qi stirring within Zhao Rui’s body, after such a long period of adding points and being augmented by Cultivation Techniques, finally began to loosen.

"The Dharma Aspect is my aspect! The aspect is born from the heart!"

Zhao Rui’s eyes shimmered with starlight, burning brightly!

...

Qingcheng Mountain, the Gui Xu Qingcheng Sect’s garrison!

A group of people dressed in Daoist Robes and ancient-style clothing strode toward the mountain gate.

"In the blink of an eye, five hundred years have passed. We, the Qingcheng Disciples, have finally fulfilled the charge of our ancestors!"

"Boundless Celestial Venerable!"

The crowd all bowed and chanted the True Words.

Before long, a large group of similarly dressed Daoists poured out from within the mountain gate. There were hundreds of them, both old and young.

"We respectfully welcome the Sect Master’s return to the mountain gate!"

The resonant voice echoed throughout all of Qingcheng Mountain!