Chapter 128: Chapter 127: Daluo Palace Gains More Combat Power

Taoist Zhi Qing was on the verge of going mad.

He knew, of course, that Taoist Ming Yu was chanting the Golden Light Divine Curse, but the problem was, what kind of Daoist could actually manifest a golden light just by chanting it?!

’Wasn’t this "golden light" supposed to be a metaphorical spark of inspiration concentrated in one’s spirit?’

Taoist Zhi Qing subconsciously began to follow along. He stepped out the Righteous Yu Step, formed the Taiqing Seal with his hands, activated his Cultivation and Luck, and began chanting the Spell, "Heaven and Earth Profound Sect, Root of Ten Thousand Qi. Vast Cultivation for Billions of Years, Prove My Divine Techniques."

After finishing the four lines, he stopped.

A gentle breeze rustled past. The sparrows in the old courtyard tree chirped and flew away. Nothing else happened.

Taoist Zhi Qing was speechless.

Taoist Ming Yu burst out laughing. He pointed at Taoist Zhi Qing, shook his head, and said, "You’re not there yet."

Taoist Zhi Qing’s eyebrow twitched. "I’m not there yet? Does that mean I can do it someday?"

Taoist Ming Yu dispersed the golden light around his body and, brimming with vital energy, walked over to Gu Zhao. He turned to Taoist Zhi Qing and said, "There’s no need for you to probe this matter further. For now, just focus on your Cultivation at the Celestial Master’s Mansion. Once I’ve accumulated enough merit, I will come back to guide you all."

Taoist Zhi Qing blinked. He didn’t fully understand, but he could tell that his Senior Uncle’s current state had something to do with Gu Zhao.

’Yunyang?’

’Don’t be ridiculous. I know Yunyang’s background quite well. The West Capital Eight Immortals Palace might be a Ten Directions Forest of the Quanzhen Dragon Gate Sect, but if a disciple of the Dragon Gate Sect could do something like this, I’d jump into the Luxi River and drown myself!’

Hearing Taoist Ming Yu’s pointed words, Taoist Zhi Qing was deeply shaken and couldn’t help but look at Gu Zhao again.

’Could it be... that Immortals really exist in this world?’

Gu Zhao smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, which startled Taoist Zhi Qing into hastily returning the gesture.

Taoist Ming Yu reminded Taoist Zhi Qing, "Remember, my illness was a misdiagnosis. But my body is still weak, after all, so I’m going to Yangcheng to rest and recuperate."

"Yes!" Taoist Zhi Qing bowed to accept the order.

"This involves Cultivation and other sensitive matters, so don’t reveal anything, not even to Ming Chong and Zhi Xiu. Just wait for further news from me," Taoist Ming Yu instructed.

’Even though it’s ninety-nine percent certain, it hasn’t been fully confirmed yet, so I can’t tell Taoist Ming Chong and Taoist Zhi Xiu.’

"Yes!" Taoist Zhi Qing’s expression grew stern, and he bowed again to accept the order.

Taoist Ming Yu nodded with a smile and said immediately, "Go and book train tickets for me. Get them for Yunyang and Mr. Gu, too. We’ll have dinner together tonight and leave first thing in the morning!"

"Oh, right," Taoist Ming Yu suddenly remembered and added, "Pack up a copy of all the new edition scriptures from our Scripture Pavilion. We’re taking them with us tomorrow."

...

「The next morning.」

Gu Zhao and Yunyang, each pulling a suitcase, took a dedicated car from the Celestial Master’s Mansion to the high-speed rail station. From there, they took Taoist Ming Yu on the train, transferring through Xing City.

"Actually, Xiang Province has many Taoist Temples, including several with long and storied histories," said Taoist Ming Yu. "There might be some true masters among them."

Yunyang asked, "Like the South Mountain Temple?"

Taoist Ming Yu shook his head. "Not in the South Mountain Temple; that’s just a tourist spot. I heard that Taoist Zhang Zhishun established the Huangzhong Temple in the mountains. I wonder if there are any true masters left there after his passing."

Although Zhang Zhishun was of the Quanzhen Lineage, Taoist Ming Yu still held him in high regard. After all, he was a legend in the contemporary Taoist Sect.

After transferring in Xing City, they soon arrived in Yangcheng. The three of them got off the high-speed rail, took a taxi back to Gu Zhao’s house, and then Gu Zhao led the two of them through the portal to the Otherworld.

...

"Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

"Welcome, welcome!"

Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Yi Hong had already returned to Daluo Palace and were there to greet the newcomers.

Arriving in the Otherworld for the first time, Taoist Ming Yu and Yunyang were shocked to feel the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi that saturated the air. At the same time, they began to frantically absorb the Spiritual Qi to restore their Magical Power.

Taoist Yi Hong knew Yunyang, and Yunyang knew Taoist Ming Yu, so Yunyang served as a bridge between them. With Gu Zhao there as well, everyone got along splendidly.

The two also recounted their trip to Three Extremes Mountain.

"Huang Yuan performed meritorious service. He blocked one road to Three Extremes Mountain while we blocked the other, and we didn’t let a single Demon escape," said Taoist Yan Song. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Taoist Yi Hong said, "We eliminated the Demons on Three Extremes Mountain and had Huang Yuan give the people who had been captured and held there gifts of gold and silver to send them home. Saving so many lives did indeed reduce some of the Evil Qi on him, but only a limited amount."

"Evil deeds are easy to commit, but good deeds are hard to perform!" Taoist Yan Song said with a smile, shaking his head.

"That Three Extremes Mountain was practically a Demon Cave," Taoist Yi Hong lamented. "For fifty li around, the land was desolate and uninhabited, littered with abandoned villages and bleached bones."

Taoist Yan Song chuckled. "The most powerful one left on Three Extremes Mountain was a black bear, but it only had a little over a hundred years of Dao Practice. Brother Yi Hong killed it with a single slash. When we heard new people were joining, we made sure to cut off a pair of its paws to bring back."

Gu Zhao said helplessly, "You brought more? I remember we haven’t even finished the Bian Ancestor yet, right?"

Taoist Yan Song shook his head. "We haven’t. Forget the Bian Ancestor, we haven’t even finished the Black Bear King and the White Wolf King."

Taoist Yi Hong added, "As for the other Little Demons and Monsters, their Demon Power dissipates after death. Their meat becomes gamey and foul, has no beneficial effects, and doesn’t taste good. It’s also a hassle to carry, so we just skinned them and brought back the pelts."

Taoist Ming Yu looked at Taoist Yan Song, then at Taoist Yi Hong. ’Are you two old Daoists from the Quanzhen Sect seriously discussing eating meat with such straight faces? Is that really okay?’

"Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable." Yunyang recited the Daoist salutation before asking, "Does it taste good?"

Taoist Yan Song shook his head. "The taste is average, but eating it strengthens your bones and blood and increases your strength."

Yunyang’s eyes lit up. Taoist Ming Yu immediately asked, "When’s dinner?"

Taoist Yi Hong chuckled. "The Silk Embroideress and Wang Yue are already preparing the meal."

Taoist Ming Yu asked, "Are those the Mages in Harmony with the White Fox and the Orchid?"

"The very same," Taoist Yan Song confirmed with a nod.

Taoist Ming Yu stroked his beard and smiled, while Yunyang rubbed his hands in anticipation, ready to embrace this Extraordinary World.

Then, Gu Zhao led them out of Daluo Palace’s secret portal point, down the mountain, and back to Cui Mountain Village.

...

Two more disciples arriving at Daluo Palace was no longer anything strange to the others.

That evening at dinner, Taoist Ming Yu couldn’t stop praising the Old Ao Soup, and Yunyang was equally impressed with the Braised Bear Paw.

Afterward, Taoist Yan Song took them to their rooms. Gu Zhao went out for a walk with Zhuo Qingyan. Enjoying the night breeze, they ambled toward the main gate of Daluo Palace, where they saw a man in yellow robes patrolling and inspecting the area.

"Huang Yuan?"

"Sect Leader!"

Seeing Gu Zhao and Zhuo Qingyan approach, The Golden Dog of Bond Huang Yuan hurried forward to greet them.

"Sect Leader, the temple isn’t finished yet, but the craftsmen and villagers have already started burning incense to worship the gods here. The Power of Incense and Candlelight isn’t much, but it would be a shame to just let it dissipate!"

"Oh?" Gu Zhao was taken aback. He focused his senses for a moment and did indeed perceive some Power of Incense and Candlelight nearby.

This Power of Incense and Candlelight was drifting about the area. Although it could linger for a while, if it wasn’t absorbed or stored soon, it would eventually vanish as the condensed Telekinesis within it dissipated over time.