Chapter 164: Chapter 163: Taoist Jing Feng Joins

Fengdu Temple.

Taoist Jing Feng stood before the window of his private chamber, quietly watching as the distant dark clouds dispersed. Sunlight spilled down once more, and the lingering moisture in the air coalesced into a brilliant rainbow that hung in the sky, refusing to fade.

’Was that him?’

’How is that possible?’

’That immense Magical Power... I couldn’t have misread it, but...’

Taoist Jing Feng couldn’t make sense of it. He was both astonished and curious. He had wanted to brave the rain and investigate, but the memory of Gu Zhao’s parting gaze surfaced in his mind, halting his impulse.

He clearly recalled Gu Zhao’s words before leaving: "Once this matter is concluded, I will call on you again."

Taoist Jing Feng had a premonition. Perhaps he was about to learn a great secret, or maybe he was on the verge of encountering a world he had never before imagined.

After all, Gu Zhao had no reason to reveal himself in his presence!

"Master, Mr. Gu, who left just now, has returned. He has several senior Daoists with him." Taoist Gu Ning came trotting to the door of Taoist Jing Feng’s room, knocked, and spoke in a low voice.

Taoist Jing Feng’s gaze sharpened, and he whirled around. "What seniors?"

As he spoke, he was already at the door. He began straightening his Daoist robe as he walked, his heart pounding with nervousness.

"One is from the Supreme Lord Pavilion on Qingcheng Mountain, one is from the Yandu White Cloud Temple, and another is from the Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain Heavenly Master’s Mansion." Gu Ning was also tense, unable to understand why old Daoists from these three places would appear here at the same time.

"Hmm?" Taoist Jing Feng was both perplexed and curious. "Modern Daoists?"

"Ah?" Taoist Gu Ning blinked. ’If not modern Daoists, could they be ancient ones?’ he thought.

Taoist Jing Feng shook his head and quickly arrived at the front courtyard, where he saw Gu Zhao with three other old Daoists.

Two of the old Daoists wore Primordial Hats. One was grinning as he looked around, while the other had a calm expression and nodded upon seeing him.

The last old Daoist wore a Nine Ridge Hat, and his gaze held a hint of amusement, though there was no ill will.

"Greetings, Daoist." Gu Zhao greeted him with a cupped-fist salute.

The normally stern Taoist Jing Feng forced a smile. It was awkward but sincere. "Greetings, Mr. Gu. And greetings to the esteemed Daoists."

The three old Daoists returned the salute with a bow. Then, they were invited into the private chamber in the rear courtyard for tea.

Once they were alone in the chamber with Taoist Jing Feng, Gu Zhao asked directly, "Daoist, did you sense the commotion from our ritual to pray for rain on the back mountain?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Taoist Jing Feng’s pupils contracted. He suppressed the excitement in his heart and feigned calmness, nodding. "Your Magical Powers are profound. This humble Daoist is no match."

Everyone smiled at his words. How could they not see what Taoist Jing Feng was truly thinking?

’He’s clearly shocked to death, okay!’

After all, they had gone through the exact same thing!

Taoist Yi Hong smiled. "I thought the Fengyue Sect’s lineage had long been absorbed into the Celestial Master’s Mansion and that no one practiced its arts anymore. I never expected to find it still being passed down."

Taoist Jing Feng replied, neither servile nor overbearing, "We are but a small and humble sect, but thanks to the efforts of our ancestors, our line has endured to this day."

Taoist Yan Song asked, "We are all in the Ba and Shu region, yet I’ve never heard any news of you. Besides yourself, fellow Daoist, are there any other practitioners of the True Dao in the Fengyue Sect?"

Taoist Jing Feng nodded, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes as he responded politely, "My young disciple, Gu He, has also achieved some success. However, his elderly father just passed away, so he has returned home for the funeral."

"And that’s all?" Taoist Ming Yu asked.

Taoist Jing Feng looked at them, his mind racing. He decided not to hide anything. "There is one more at the East Mountain Temple. He is of my generation, Jing Chun. He’s a few years younger than me, but his talent surpasses my own."

Taoist Ming Yu nodded. ’Three of them, and that’s just the ones Taoist Jing Feng knows about. That’s quite good,’ he thought.

After they had finished their questions, it was Taoist Jing Feng’s turn to ask. "May I ask if you have revealed your true selves before this humble Daoist for a particular reason?"

The men exchanged a smile.

Gu Zhao said, "We came to invite you to join us, Daoist."

Taoist Ming Yu added, "To perform Exorcism, and to eradicate evil and accumulate merit."

Taoist Yan Song smiled. "The benefit is that it will aid your Cultivation. You might even be able to transcend the tribulations in your physical body and have a chance at Ascension."

Taoist Yi Hong shook his head. "The drawback is that the ghosts and monsters are vicious and cruel. It’s fair to say there’s a risk of death."

Taoist Jing Feng’s eyes narrowed. A glimmer of understanding appeared on his face as he gave them a strange look. "Do you gentlemen know what technique this humble Daoist cultivates?"

Taoist Yi Hong raised an eyebrow. "Is it not the ’Fengdu Black Law’?"

A peculiar smile spread across Taoist Jing Feng’s face. "When it comes to calling the wind and summoning the rain or praying for blessings, this humble Daoist is inferior to you all. But when it comes to expelling spirits, slaying ghosts, and performing Demon Suppression... that is this humble Daoist’s specialty!"

...

A moment later, Taoist Jing Feng bowed respectfully to Gu Zhao. "Greetings, Sect Leader!"

Gu Zhao helped Taoist Jing Feng up. "Greetings, Uncle. From now on, we are all fellow sect members."

Feeling the power granted to him by the Thunder Seed within his body, Taoist Jing Feng felt strength coursing through him, as if he were young again. He couldn’t help but grin. "You are too kind, Sect Leader. In that case, this old Daoist will take the liberty."

"Uncle, please make your arrangements as soon as possible. If you can, return with us to Yangcheng tomorrow," Gu Zhao instructed. "We need you to recover your Magical Power quickly. We will need your strength for the battle with the Golden Wind Sect."

"I will pass the position of abbot to Gu Ning tomorrow."

Taoist Jing Feng’s eyes were shining. "This old Daoist has cultivated the Beiyin Fengdu Technique my whole life, and all I’ve ever wanted was to find a ghost to slay. I had already given up, but I never imagined such an opportunity would come to me in my old age."

Taoist Ming Yu asked curiously, "Isn’t your disciple who cultivated Inner Breath True Qi named Gu He?"

Taoist Jing Feng shook his head. "He’ll be going to the Otherworld sooner or later. What’s the point of him taking over as abbot?"

Taoist Ming Yu chuckled. "You still need to leave someone behind to pass on the lineage."

Taoist Jing Feng gave a detached smile. "The temple has its own scriptures and traditions. If someone has the talent, they will naturally succeed."

Taoist Yi Hong nodded. He had the most authority to speak on this matter.

He had cultivated at the White Cloud Temple for decades, and it wasn’t for lack of patience in teaching the temple’s disciples. But in all those years, not a single one had managed to cultivate Inner Breath True Qi. He had long since resigned himself to it.

To cultivate Inner Breath True Qi, one needed a combination of talent, comprehension, patience, and perseverance. It even required a certain physical aptitude, and perhaps, a bit of luck.

"However, the Thunder Seeds are not easy to form, so it won’t be Taoist Gu He’s turn so soon," Gu Zhao said, giving Taoist Jing Feng a heads-up.

For now, he wouldn’t be taking anyone who hadn’t been granted a Thunder Seed to the Otherworld.

Taoist Yan Song thought for a moment and advised, "Besides, we will be establishing many Taoist Temples in the Otherworld in the future. It would be beneficial for Taoist Gu He to familiarize himself with the duties of an abbot first."

Taoist Jing Feng was taken aback by this, then nodded.

...

The next day, Taoist Jing Feng called Gu He and then had Gu Ning temporarily take over as acting abbot, pending the official handover when Gu He returned.

As Taoist Jing Feng’s inner disciple, Taoist Gu Ning knew about Inner Breath True Qi and had no objection to Gu He taking over. He was simply curious as to why Taoist Jing Feng was leaving, but he dared not ask.

Taoist Jing Feng didn’t give him an answer, only instructing him to cultivate diligently. Then, he followed Gu Zhao and the others back to Yangcheng.