Chapter 353: Chapter 176: What Is Gui Xu Truly After?

If he disagreed or had any objections, then all these decisions would be nothing but empty talk.

"You can handle it, Senior Brother!"

Zhao Rui had little interest in the sect’s affairs. As an Extraordinary Elder, he was fine with anything, so long as it didn’t interfere with his cultivation.

To be honest, he rather missed the Eternal Life Cave.

"Since you have no objections, Junior Brother, we’ll choose a day to meet with the Master of the Qingcheng Sect..." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Yu Zhengnan let out a long sigh of relief.

In truth, returning to the sect was far more complex than simply settling past grievances.

It involved matters of lineage, ritual, succession, and even the sect’s very continuation—all things the Qingcheng Sword Sect had to consider.

If it were merely a matter of people, they could find any random mountain and establish a new sect. Zhao Rui’s reputation alone, combined with the Qingcheng Sword Sect’s numerous Cultivation Techniques, would be enough to sustain a mid-tier, or even an upper-mid-tier, sect.

But the Qingcheng Sword Sect had a legacy to uphold.

"You arrange it, Senior Brother. Where is Senior Brother Yun Hao?"

"He’s in closed-door cultivation on the back mountain. His Divine Soul has stabilized, and he’s attempting to break through to the High Tier of the Divine Void Realm,"

Yu Zhengnan said.

"Mm, I’ll go have a look."

With that, Zhao Rui stepped forward, and his figure vanished from in front of the main hall.

"I’m so jealous! When will I ever be as skilled as the Elder!"

Shouzhuo watched Zhao Rui’s departing figure, filled with envy.

The back mountain of Crane Mountain was teeming with birds and beasts, covered in dense, lush forests.

Unlike the barren Iron Anvil Mountain, this place had once been a Daoist Immortal Mountain Blessed Land. In terms of scenery alone, there was no comparison.

"Elder Zhao! What brings you here?"

Ye Qinglian, who was standing guard for Yun Hao, hurried forward to ask.

"I came to see how Senior Brother Yun Hao’s progress is coming along."

"It’s been seven or eight days. His aura is still quite stable, so there shouldn’t be any major issues."

Ye Qinglian turned to look toward a cave, her eyes filled with concern and worry.

Zhao Rui felt a faint sense of envy.

’This must be what they call a match made in heaven—you’re fond of me, and I’m fond of you.’

’He didn’t know if it was because he had experienced too much in his past life, or if, in this one, he was simply incapable of letting anyone into his heart.’

Zhao Rui always felt a sense of detachment from the women around him, a feeling he couldn’t quite explain.

Miao Miaomiao, Qin Rui, and even He Wanqing were undeniably beautiful.

But in his heart, that genuine, deep-seated affection was always missing.

’A beautiful face on the path of the Jianghu, when will the cycle of love and hate ever end?’

’Was it because he lacked the experience?’

Zhao Rui shook his head, unable to make sense of it himself.

"Mm, I just came to check on him. Let me know when Senior Brother Yun Hao comes out of seclusion."

"Of course!"

Ye Qinglian hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Zhao Rui said no more and left the back mountain.

Two days later, the Daoists on Crane Mountain all felt a sudden tremor in their hearts.

It was as if some inexplicable feeling was tugging at their consciousness.

These were not ignorant men; they all immediately began circulating the Qingcheng Divine Skill, Concentrating and Calming the Mind.

After a few breaths, the sensation vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

Everyone turned to look toward the back mountain.

Sure enough, just moments later, a flash of sword-light appeared at Uncle Master Yun Hao’s feet, and he returned to the sect’s gate.

"We respectfully welcome Uncle Master’s return from seclusion."

The crowd of Daoists bowed in congratulation.

Yun Hao laughed heartily. "All disciples must strive to advance and not grow complacent," he said.

Everyone voiced their assent.

With that, Yun Hao headed straight for the guest rooms where Zhao Rui was staying.

Before he even reached the entrance, the door swung open on its own, and Zhao Rui’s voice drifted out:

"Your Divine Soul is perfect and without blemish. Senior Brother, your heart is so singularly devoted to the sword; I imagine it won’t be long before you can attempt to break through to the Dharma Realm."

"I want to temper it for a while longer. I’d like to wait until my Sword Intent reaches Great Success before I make the attempt."

"That’s a good plan as well."

"Qinglian said you were looking for me, Junior Brother?"

"Yes. It concerns Dharma Divine Techniques and the Thought of the Divine Soul. I’ve had some recent insights I wish to share with you..."

"This..."

Yun Hao was stunned. A moment later, his eyes cleared, and he said, "You have done me the great service of teaching me the Dao. It would be no exaggeration to call you half a master."

"You are mistaken, Senior Brother. For a Martial Artist, the heart is everything. Your Dao Heart is stable, you cultivate the Thunder Sword Intent, and you are upright and unyielding, with a spirit as sharp as a blade. I pass the Martial Dao to you so that you may act as a Guardian. How can there be any talk of being half a master?"

"This ’Guardian’ protects not only the Qingcheng Sword Sect, but all living beings in this vast world."

Zhao Rui suddenly felt a premonition. He gazed to the east as a tremor ran through his Divine Soul.

"Is something the matter?"

Yun Hao asked, concerned.

"It’s nothing, just a sudden impulse. Today, I will impart to you the Mahayana Infinite Divine Skill, which Cangwu Zi comprehended after he fell to the demonic path... How much of it you grasp will be up to you."

This Divine Skill places great emphasis on the Divine Soul. You either comprehend it or you don’t; it cannot be faked in the slightest.

Strictly speaking, it is not a Martial Art of physical Techniques in the traditional sense. Rather, it is one that involves the Divine Thought Realm, similar to the Heavenly Demon Illusionary Sound Technique.

Unlike the Divine Void Realm, this is a true Divine Will Touching Technique, one that connects with the Dao rhythm of the heavens and the earth.

It doesn’t merely target one’s own Divine Soul.

For those with low comprehension, listening would be a waste of time.

Upon hearing this, Yun Hao’s expression turned solemn. He gave Zhao Rui a respectful bow, then sat down cross-legged, ready to listen with his full attention.

Zhao Rui waved a sleeve, shutting the door. He then released his Divine Sense, letting it envelop the entire Qingcheng Sword Sect.

He then began to speak the True Words, expounding upon the principles and Magic Techniques of the Mahayana Infinite Divine Skill one by one.

Four hours passed before Daoist Yun Hao finally emerged from the room.

His eyes were half-closed, and he seemed to be in a daze, somewhere between dreaming and waking.

He went straight to the back mountain and immediately entered seclusion once more.

When Ye Qinglian saw that her husband had gone back into seclusion after just one meeting with Zhao Rui, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Another lonely watch to keep.

「Three more days passed.」

Yu Zhengnan and Zhao Rui left Crane Mountain together and made their way to the Qingcheng Sect.

The mountain path was familiar, as were the buildings.

Yu Zhengnan was filled with complex emotions.

When the two of them reached the foot of the mountain, they saw Cang Zhenzi himself waiting on the path, accompanied by several other Elder-level Daoists.

For one of the Qingcheng Sect’s few supreme masters to come out personally, the reception was undeniably grand.