Chapter 150: Chapter 149: Daoist Yan Song Rides the Wind

Cuiluo Mountain, Daluo Palace.

By the time Gu Zhao returned to Cui Mountain Village, the Jade Emperor Hall in the third courtyard of Daluo Palace, along with the halls of the Medicine King and the Matchmaker God, were nearly complete.

"It’s all thanks to Huang Xingguan. He helped with some of the heavy pillars and main beams," Elder He said in admiration. "Those beams are so heavy, yet he lifted them with ease."

Huang Yuan gave a simple, honest smile. "It was nothing."

As Huang Yuan spoke, he lifted a pillar and carried it to its designated spot. Yang Chi and Lu Yue watched in astonishment. They could sense the Demon Power emanating from him, and his level of Dao Practice was clearly higher than their own. They never imagined he was also a Star Official of Daluo Palace.

Just then, two elders in blue robes came chattering down the path, arguing over whether the demon one of them had killed was more formidable, or the ghost the other had slain was more powerful.

Trailing behind them was a third elder, smiling amiably and occasionally chiming in. Upon seeing Gu Zhao, he raised a hand in greeting.

"Martial Uncle Yan Song, Martial Uncle Yi Hong, Martial Uncle Ming Yu!" Gu Zhao greeted them.

"Greetings, Sect Leader." The elders bowed to Gu Zhao one by one, their posture reverent.

"It seems you’ve all had a fruitful journey. Congratulations," Gu Zhao said with a smile.

The men exchanged smiles.

After spending some time away from the mountain, Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Yi Hong had completely absorbed the Evil Qi harvested from the battle at Three Extremes Mountain. Combined with other recent, smaller gains, the feedback greatly enhanced their Magical Power, making it even more potent. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Although Taoist Ming Yu had arrived later, he had used more than half of the Incense Qi recently accumulated by Daluo Palace to create seven or eight Celestial Warriors. In terms of pure combat strength, he was not the least bit weaker.

Gu Zhao introduced Yang Chi and Lu Yue to the old Taoists, and the pair quickly clasped their hands in greeting.

Then Gu Zhao turned to Taoist Yan Song. "Martial Uncle, you mentioned yesterday that you had a surprise for me. Did you find some more Heavenly and Earthly Treasures?"

Taoist Yi Hong and Taoist Ming Yu also turned to look at Taoist Yan Song in unison.

Taoist Yan Song’s old face broke into a mass of wrinkles. He didn’t speak, only chuckled smugly as a wisp of clear wind materialized out of thin air and began to blow gently around him.

The next moment, before everyone’s watchful eyes, he slowly ascended into the sky.

Everyone stared, jaws slack.

It was a literal ascension, not a leap or a jump. His entire body seemed to have lost all weight, floating up and swaying gently on the breeze.

Taoist Yi Hong clapped his hands and laughed. "Soaring through the void!"

Taoist Ming Yu also exclaimed in admiration, "Like Liezi riding the wind!"

Gu Zhao’s eyes lit up. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Martial Uncle, has your Dao Practice broken through?"

Taoist Yan Song let out a booming laugh. With a sweep of his sleeve, his face transformed into a red opera mask. He blew gently, and a torrent of Taiyi Wind and Fire surged out. The wind fanned the flames, and the fire empowered the gales, forming a roiling ocean of wind and fire in mid-air that stretched for hundreds of yards.

"Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

The people of Cui Mountain Village and the artisans building Daluo Palace were used to hearing the old Taoists chant their holy names. But now, witnessing Taoist Yan Song’s incredible Divine Techniques, they all fell to their knees and kowtowed, their faces filled with pious reverence.

Incense burned before the Spirit Official Hall and the Four Imperial Lords Hall. In the span of a breath, a great deal more Power of Incense and Candlelight coalesced upon the Divine Statues.

After displaying this miracle for a moment, Taoist Yan Song opened his mouth and inhaled. Like a great whale swallowing the sea, the Wind and Fire rushed back into him in an instant. The clear, sunlit sky returned, as if the incredible vision had never happened at all.

Landing gently on the ground, Taoist Yan Song was all smiles. "Well? What do you think?"

"At least we don’t have to worry about the Golden Wind Divine King attacking us anymore," Gu Zhao said with a nod and a smile.

Taoist Yi Hong shook his head. "Sect Leader, why build up his reputation at our expense? The only reason we haven’t gone to Changping Prefecture is our concern that the Golden Wind Divine King might escape, not because we can’t defeat him."

Taoist True Qi, born of the principles of heaven and earth, was pure, righteous, and formidable. It was inherently superior to sinister Ghost Qi and brutish Demon Power. In fact, it was their natural counter, allowing Taoist cultivators to fight opponents of a higher level without pressure.

After they destroyed the forces at Three Extremes Mountain, they were no longer afraid of the Golden Wind Divine King. They hadn’t gone to Changping Prefecture simply because the Golden Wind Sect was his long-established stronghold, and they were concerned they wouldn’t be able to stop the flight-capable Golden Wind Divine King from escaping.

But just because they didn’t go didn’t mean they were afraid of him coming to them.

The large-scale construction at Daluo Palace and the acts of worship and incense-offering were not being hidden. News had gradually spread to Xiuyue County, and the Golden Wind Hall there had likely already heard and informed the Golden Wind Divine King.

Therefore, before any of them had set out, they had already laid an array around Daluo Palace. One person always remained within the palace to relay messages, while the others never traveled too far away. With their speed, returning would not take long.

If the Golden Wind Divine King stumbled into the array and was trapped by the Dragon-locking Light Curtain, they might just achieve their great victory ahead of schedule.

But now, more than ten days had passed, and winter was fast approaching, yet there was still no sign of the Golden Wind Divine King.

Yunyang shook his head. "So the Golden Wind Hall in Xiuyue County is just filled with useless freeloaders."

Taoist Yan Song chuckled. "Whether he’s received the news or not, he won’t come here. He’s waiting for us to go to him."

Taoist Yi Hong spoke up, "The Bian Ancestor is dead, and the Golden Wind Divine Sect also lost Consort Yu and several Guardians. Huang Yuan detected at the time that the Golden Wind Divine King returned to the Golden Wind Sect and has not emerged since. It seems he is preparing to repel an enemy."

Taoist Ming Yu added, "I made a trip to Changping Prefecture and discovered that many traps have been laid around the Golden Wind Divine Sect."

"I see," Yunyang said with a nod, his eyes lighting up. "So when are we going after him?"

’Just one Snake Demon from Bian Palace boosted my cultivation by a good amount,’ he thought. ’If we destroy the entire Golden Wind Divine Sect, does that mean I’ll be able to fly, too?’

"No rush, no rush," Gu Zhao said. "Since the Golden Wind Divine King has prepared his defenses, let’s go after someone else first."

Gu Zhao reached into his robe, took out a small seal, and then looked at Taoist Yi Hong. "We’ll try to help Martial Uncle Yi Hong take the next step as well."

"Is that the Soul-Stabilizing Seal?" Taoist Yan Song asked.

Gu Zhao nodded. "On the way back, I performed a simple refinement on it. I can activate the Dharma Seal now, so it’s the perfect chance to test its power on its original owner."

The old Taoists had already learned what Gu Zhao had encountered through a Divine Sense message, so they also knew the Stone King was not a good person.

"Very well. Let this battle be a rehearsal for our attack on the Golden Wind Hall," Taoist Yi Hong said, stroking his beard. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he felt a sliver of anticipation.

Gu Zhao nodded. "Huang Yuan, you will stay here on guard with Yang Chi and Lu Yue. We are making a trip to Changye County. We expect to be back tomorrow."

Huang Yuan clasped his hands. "Yes."

Yang Chi and Lu Yue exchanged a look and took a step forward. "We have only just joined Daluo Palace and have yet to achieve any merit..."

"You’ll come with us for the battle against the Golden Wind Sect," Gu Zhao said with a smile. "My martial uncle improved the Breathing Technique that Huang Yuan practices. You can ask him to teach you."

"Huh?" The two of them froze, taken aback.

Huang Yuan pulled the two of them aside. "The Daoists possess profound Dao Practice. They taught me a Dharma Gate for fusing Demon Qi with the Power of the Stars. As Guardian Star Officials of Daluo Palace, we need to raise our cultivation levels quickly."