Chapter 214: Chapter 213: The Old Daoist from the Shangqing Sect

Taoist Shen Hao was over ninety years old. He was tall and thin, with a solemn and majestic air. His beard and hair were white, and a pair of long white eyebrows drooped down from his temples. Though he looked as skinny as a bamboo pole, he had succeeded in his Qi Refining and his spirit remained vigorous.

However, the Daoist ceremony required extensive preparations and lasted for a long time. The younger generation worried the old master wouldn’t be able to handle it, so they didn’t ask him to preside over the ceremony, letting him watch from the side instead.

Taoist Shen Hao was naturally happy for the leisure. Besides, the Wanfu Palace Master presiding over the ceremony was his own prized disciple.

"Times are good now!" Taoist Shen Hao said, looking at Taoist Yu Zhang beside him.

Taoist Yu Zhang was his good friend, more than ten years his junior. Although his hair was also salt-and-pepper, he had a pair of thick, dark eyebrows. He had come to visit and was now sitting beside the old Daoist, watching the Qingming ritual with him. Hearing his friend’s comment, he agreed, "Much better."

Both of them had lived through hard times. The scene before them now was something they could have scarcely dreamed of back in the day.

Taoist Shen Hao was getting old and now simply enjoyed his retirement on Sanmao Mountain. Taoist Yu Zhang, on the other hand, was still at an age where he could run and jump about, so he had gotten a tour guide license and traveled all over the country.

"Have you been to the Celestial Master’s Mansion recently?" Taoist Shen Hao asked, turning his head. "How is Elder Ming Yu?"

Shangqing, Zhengyi, and Lingbao—the Three Mountains Talisman sects were all one family. Thus, Taoist Shen Hao and Taoist Ming Yu knew each other. As practitioners of the True Dao who had cultivated Inner Breath in modern society, they held mutual admiration.

"I have," Taoist Yu Zhang nodded, then shook his head. "Neither Brother Ming Yu nor Brother Ming Chong were there."

Taoist Shen Hao was taken aback. He frowned and asked, "I can understand Ming Chong not being there, but why was Ming Yu gone too? Could he be sick in the hospital?"

"No, I heard he went to Yangcheng," Taoist Yu Zhang replied.

"Yangcheng?" Taoist Shen Hao thought for a long time but couldn’t recall any famous Zhengyi Dao temples in Yangcheng. "What’s he doing in Yangcheng? If he wanted to preside over Transmissions in Port City, he should have gone to Peng City, shouldn’t he?"

"I don’t know. Zhi Qing didn’t say," Taoist Yu Zhang shook his head.

"I know about this," a middle-aged Daoist next to them leaned in. "I went to a provincial meeting a few days ago and heard that the Taoist Association opened a Taoist Research Institute in Yangcheng."

Taoist Shen Hao and Taoist Yu Zhang both turned to look at the middle-aged Daoist. He continued, "I heard it was Taoist Yi Hong from Yandu’s White Cloud Temple who first proposed it, and Taoist Ming Yu joined in later. Both of them are listed as directors of the institute. They should both be in Yangcheng."

Taoist Yu Zhang was very curious. "I’ve heard Taoist Yi Hong’s name before, but Brother Ming Yu probably doesn’t know him, does he?"

The middle-aged Daoist shook his head. "I don’t know the specifics. I only heard that this research institute is quite high-end. You can only go there to cultivate if you’re personally invited by Taoist Yi Hong and Taoist Ming Yu."

Taoist Shen Hao frowned. "What high-end research institute? Sounds unnecessarily flashy."

Taoist Yu Zhang pressed, "Who have they invited?"

"I didn’t pay too much attention, since I just overheard it as after-dinner gossip." The middle-aged Daoist recalled carefully. "I think there were two old Daoists from Qingcheng Mountain, one from the Mountain City Fengdu Temple, and finally, they called a young Daoist from Qin Province’s Eight Immortals Palace to do odd jobs."

Taoist Shen Hao became a little disgruntled. "Why didn’t they invite me?"

The middle-aged Daoist quickly tried to console him. "You’re getting on in years, so it’s not convenient for you to travel. Besides, this is clearly just a vanity project. You don’t need to worry about it."

Taoist Shen Hao glanced at the middle-aged Daoist, a little skeptical. ’I don’t know Yi Hong, but Ming Yu isn’t that kind of person.’

Taoist Yu Zhang wasn’t concerned. He smiled and said, "I’ll find out when I go to Yangcheng in a couple of days to take a look, won’t I?"

Just then, the Qingming ritual was reaching its conclusion. The two stopped their idle chat and watched as the presiding Mage offered the last three sticks of incense. Then, from a remote corner behind the palace, a column of Spiritual Qi shot into the sky, and the light rain instantly vanished.

"What!?" Taoist Shen Hao’s eyes flew wide open.

Taoist Yu Zhang shot to his feet. Following the soaring column of Spiritual Qi with his gaze, he saw the oppressive dark clouds gradually disperse, revealing a rainbow and swathes of auspicious clouds shaped like immortal cranes.

At the same time, the middle-aged Daoist presiding over the ritual, an old Daoist assisting him, and a young Daoist standing at the head of the crowd in the back all turned their gazes toward the rear.

And as the few Daoists cast their gazes toward the woods behind the palace, Gu Zhao was already observing them with his Divine Sense.

’So this old Daoist knows Martial Uncle Ming Yu.’ Gu Zhao nodded to himself. ’No wonder Taoist Ming Yu suggested I come to Sanmao Mountain.’

’Although this eldest Daoist still seems to be in good spirits, he is ultimately at risk. If by some chance he passes before I finish my recruitment, it would be a real shame.’

’He’s about the same age as Taoist Yan Ling. Maybe they’ll have something to talk about.’

As Gu Zhao watched Taoist Shen Hao, his gaze shifted to Taoist Yu Zhang. ’This one has a light in his eyes. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit seem complete. I can take him along as well.’

Taoist Shen Hao and Taoist Yu Zhang rose and, without hesitation, strode toward the location where the Spiritual Qi had erupted.

The Master of Wanfu Palace, Taoist Han Zheng, handed the written memorial he was holding to an assistant. He signaled for the ritual to conclude as he walked toward Taoist Shen Hao.

Taoist Han Xuan, who was beside him, quickened his pace to follow. At the same time, he waved back, beckoning to the young Daoist who had already been about to step forward.

The group of Daoists arrived at the woods behind the palace. They saw a few scattered tourists resting and admiring the scenery, still marveling at the rainbow and auspicious clouds in the sky, seemingly unaware that anything unusual had happened.

But Taoist Shen Hao and Taoist Yu Zhang quickly focused their attention on a young man, because that young man was smiling right at them.

Beneath the shade of an old tree stood a stone table and four stone stools.

Gu Zhao rose to greet them, gesturing with an open hand. "Please, have a seat, you two Daoists."

Taoist Shen Hao stared intently at Gu Zhao, his white eyebrows trembling slightly. He could feel his heart pounding as he slowly walked up to Gu Zhao, raised his hands high, and prepared to bow in salute.

"Elder, there is no need for such ceremony. Please, sit."

With a smile, Gu Zhao caught Taoist Shen Hao’s body as he was about to bow and gently guided him onto a stone stool.

Feeling the potent True Qi that flowed into him, which seemed to make his own body feel more than a decade younger, Taoist Shen Hao’s face was filled with even more disbelief.

"You..."

"I know Taoist Ming Yu." Gu Zhao looked at Taoist Yu Zhang and gestured for him to sit as well. "I also know Taoist Yi Hong."

Only then did he nod to the other Daoists who had followed, introducing himself. "Gu Zhao of Lingnan. It is a pleasure to meet you, Daoists."

"Lingnan?" A glint flashed in Taoist Shen Hao’s eyes.

"Yangcheng?" Taoist Yu Zhang seemed to have understood something, his gaze toward Gu Zhao seeking confirmation.

"Precisely." Gu Zhao smiled and nodded.

Taoist Yu Zhang drew in a sharp breath.

Gu Zhao turned to Taoist Han Zheng. "I would like to speak with these two Daoists. You and these other two may listen in, but I must ask everyone else to please step away."

Taoist Han Zheng’s expression turned serious. He immediately instructed the few Daoists who had followed them, who had not yet cultivated Inner Breath True Qi, to withdraw.