Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 168 - 132 Demi Immortal Chi Ling_2

Chapter 168: Chapter 132 Demi Immortal Chi Ling_2

But why specifically deliver it to Gu Wen?

Ao Tang raised the question, and an elder from the Yuqing Sect, standing tall and confident, said, "This child is a Heavenly Girl introduced by our sect, naturally, she should join the Yuqing Sect."

"But Gu Wen hasn’t yet entered the sect gate, isn’t this a bit inappropriate?"

"Is it necessary to give a personal transmission? Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Ao. I will call a meeting with the True Monarchs of each branch soon."

"..."

Ao Tang didn’t say anything more. This old Daoist was clearly pretending to be confused.

He also understood. Right now, Gu Wen was the sole practitioner of the True Sword Dao. Wouldn’t it be necessary to act fast to claim him before others tried to snatch him away?

Suddenly, a divine thought followed the old Venerable of the Yuqing Sect and reached out to him, Ao Tang immediately severed the connection, but it was still a step too slow.

No, the visitor was too powerful.

A streak of fire turned into a red sparrow, perching on a branch and looking down at Ao Tang, its mung bean-sized pupils seeming to contain an entire Grotto Heaven.

"Three Pure Ones, Ao Tang."

Ao Tang’s face stiffened, and he slightly bowed, saying, "May I ask for your command, senior."

The sound like heaven falling, leisurely transmitted.

"Chi Ling here, today I only seek to probe one matter."

Hearing this name, Ao Tang’s spirit shook, as if triggering some sort of Daoist rhyme.

Golden Core Path spearheads, grasping the universe in the palm, and fists moving the sun and the moon.

These words were recorded in the scriptures of the Sword Control Sect, passed down from its founding ancestor, Chi Ling Venerable, who is now deemed a Demi Immortal.

And one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Skills, the Golden Core Skill, was created by her. Anyone who can reach the realm of a Demi Immortal can call it an Immortal Skill, as this method is recognized by heaven and earth and can lead to immortality.

It is said that she had reincarnated in the last hundred years, contemplating the mysteries of life and death, to return as an immortal.

This life seems to be an opportunity for immortality. First, there was the suspected phenomenon of the Sword Master’s attainment, followed by the return of a Demi Immortal who represents the ultimate in Golden Core.

"I do not know what senior seeks."

Chi Ling said, "Daoist Heavenly Girl, no... a person named Gu Wen, has taken away my sister. Due to the power of Qingcang Immortal, I couldn’t locate them and hence came to ask."

"This junior doesn’t know their whereabouts."

Ao Tang looked down and truthfully answered, even if he knew, he wouldn’t say.

Because the opponent was not present in the real form, even if the real body came, he might be able to escape using his divine Skills but couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t lose an arm or a leg.

Chi Ling asked again, "Is this the intention of the Daoist Sect?"

Ao Tang quickly shook his head, "The Daoist Sect does not intend to interfere in senior’s attainment, perhaps it’s just the juniors accompanying a friend."

"Let’s hope so."

The Red Sparrow turned back into a wisp of flame and extinguished, quietly, without a trace.

Ao Tang could no longer sense any presence, nor could he tell if the visitor had really left.

-----------------

Nanshui.

Gu Wen’s Primordial Spirit floated in mid-air, drifting low over mountains and rivers, searching aimlessly for Spiritual Medicine; half a day passed, and he found nothing.

He said with some disappointment, "It seems there really is none."

There are many opportunities for becoming an immortal in the Immortal Land. There are countless small opportunities like Spiritual Medicine, which need some time to grow, about as fast as mushrooms; spirit medicines of a hundred years grow seasonally.

After Gu Wen’s several sweeps, he would have to wait several months before finding any in the vicinity.

At this thought, Gu Wen couldn’t help but look towards Bianjing.

The Emperor must be killed, that position must also be seized; at least put someone supportive in place.

Because Gu Wen, working tirelessly, gathered Heavenly Marrow for a hundred years, it was nothing as compared to one fifth of South Water County. If all of Nanshui produced Five-hundred-year Heavenly Marrow every three months, then the Emperor could get six thousand Heavenly Marrow from the twelve counties of Daqian every three months.

Even if not all could be seized by the court, factoring in various losses, there would still be a thousand Heavenly Marrow a year, four thousand a year coming reliably.

Adjusting for what he saw in the Grand Treasury Department, stabilizing at a thousand Heavenly Marrow a year was entirely feasible.

Ten thousand Heavenly Marrow in ten years, not to mention the Immortality Pill, which would reduce the required amount of Heavenly Marrow.

The Primordial Spirit returned to his body on a riverboat.

Opening his eyes, he saw Yu Hua sleeping next to him, Chi Yu Zi bored by the window, munching on some leftover Spirit Grass, Jun Yan nowhere to be seen.

They were in the best room of the boat, a cargo ship belonging to a major merchant of Nanshui.

Through some tricks by Jun Yan, all the people on the ship were kept oblivious.

And their original plan was to pretend to detour to the neighboring Lin Chuan County, in reality to deliver silver taels to the chaotic army as military pay.

Because even merchants could not stand the government’s exorbitant taxes, and Nanshui and Luo River were the places with the thickest commercial atmosphere, countless major merchants there were also local powerhouses.

That was also why the chaotic troops could not be eradicated.

On the surface, it seemed like a rebellion of hundreds of thousands of peasants, but in reality, it was backed by all the powerful figures of Nanshui. Once the government showed signs of weakness, it would immediately turn into a raging fire.

Thus, the rebellion itself was not the issue; the inability to suppress it was.

Historically, countless dynasties have seen rebellions at practically every period.

"Where is Jun Yan?"

Gu Wen asked as they no longer addressed each other as Fellow Daoists, a change initiated by Chi Yu Zi.

She felt it was false courtesy and also did not want to engage in frivolous talk with Jun Yan.

"He’s gone to cook."

Without turning his head, Chi Yu Zi said, "We will soon reach the ferry, after you meet that old friend, what are your plans?"

"No plans for now."

Gu Wen, sensing the implicit meaning in his words, directly asked, "Do you have any other plans?"

Chi Yu Zi also answered straightforwardly, "The sect has prepared a secret realm of opportunity for me, and I want to go and make use of it to cultivate an indestructible Taoist body. I want you to come with me; I will share half with you."

Major Sects all have their opportunity sites similar to Heavenly Spring Mountain. As one of the top sects in the Daoist path, Sword Control Sect naturally had arrangements in the Immortal Land.

It was an excellent opportunity to practice the Golden Core Skill.

Upon hearing the beneficial opportunity, Gu Wen’s eyes brightened a bit, but he did not immediately nod in agreement; instead, he asked, "Why?"

"I have not received my sister’s Divine Thought as I traveled with you," Chi Yu Zi glanced at the dozing Yu Hua and said, "I do not want the sect to discover that I have cultivated the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill."

"Alright."

Gu Wen considered for a moment and then agreed.

If it had been before, he might have hesitated about whether to offend a Demi Immortal. But ever since Heavenly Spring Mountain, Gu Wen’s perspectives had shifted immediately or rather he had gained a deeper understanding of the situation.

Above those Venerables, comparable to the leaders of the Three Pure Daoist Sect, it was the Demi Immortals who were the real threat.

At that moment, Yu Hua woke up, and it was unclear if she heard their conversation, but Gu Wen repeated it again.

She shook her head and said, "You have already cultivated the True Sword Dao and are no longer a novice child making decisions. I’m just curious, why do you still need to cultivate after achieving the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill?"

The last sentence was directed at Chi Yu Zi.

"Above the Golden Pill."

Chi Yu Zi replied, Yu Hua did not continue to inquire, and Gu Wen was somewhat confused.

Thud, thud, thud!

The door was knocked on, and then Jun Yan entered carrying large and small plates using his Divine Thought, laying out a lavish spread of five dishes and one soup.

"It’s time to eat."

At this moment alone, Jun Yan seemed utterly normal, not at all like someone from the Demon Path.

But normalcy sometimes could be abnormal too.

The four of them sat at the table, clinking utensils, Chi Yu Zi and Gu Wen wolfed down their food, pointing out each other’s eating manners.

Yu Hua tasted the dishes sparingly, praising, "Not bad, cooking Spiritual Objects with the skill of Pills."

This was why Gu Wen wolfed down his food, he himself did not know why Jun Yan, usually self-serving, was willing to bring out Spiritual Medicine for others only when cooking.

"An old creature taught me." Jun Yan rarely showed a smile and said, "Unfortunately, she died early; otherwise, I could have learned more. She was one of the few people who were good to me."

Gu Wen looked up briefly, then continued to eat, and Chi Yu Zi did the same.

They would not ask how she died, not because they avoided Jun Yan, but because they did not want to affect the mood for eating.

The next day, the ship docked, and a loud voice came from outside.

"We’ve arrived at the ferry!"

Gu Wen and his companions disembarked, inquiring about the location of Jiang Family Village. In the meantime, they saw a young general in silver armor returning with his troops.

From afar, Gu Wen recognized him as Jiang Jucai, but he did not go to acknowledge him.

Because there was no need; his trip was not to seek refuge but just to meet Jiang Fugui.

As for Jiang Jucai’s rebellion or achievements, it was all just a mortal farce.

Only cultivation could decide the great trends.