Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 297 - 194: The Incident at Daoist Sect, Leaving the Immortal Land

Chapter 297: Chapter 194: The Incident at Daoist Sect, Leaving the Immortal Land

Luo River, a wine shop.

The misty rain was incessant, blurring the distinction between day and night, much like the current state of the world, where right and wrong were indistinguishable.

Jiu Zhenjun had ended a day’s business, accumulating enough through selling Spiritual Wine to passersby with great talent to fulfill the First Level. Although it might be slow, it was safer.

Suddenly, a faint scent of blood wafted through the air as two young Taoists hurried in, their cloud-patterned boots crossing the threshold and leaving behind bloodstains.

"Do you have any rooms available?" asked a voice that was pleasant to the ear, both masculine and feminine.

Jiu Zhenjun looked up to examine the two Taoists. One had the aura of a Heavenly Person, with a look of heartfelt wonder; the other was a handsome man, severely injured.

Both wore the same Taiji and Bagua Taoist robes, a common attire of the Daoist. The subtle patterns suggested they belonged to the Sanqing Taoist Sect.

At present in Immortal Land, there were only two groups from the Daoist Sects, one led by the Heavenly Girl and the other by the Three Pure Daoists.

He was injured? Who in Immortal Land could have hurt a Three Pure Daoist?

Jiu Zhenjun’s face showed a hint of surprise as he answered, "There are three rooms left."

"One room, and a few jars of Spiritual Wine," the man-like Taoist said as he took out a Spirit Fruit. Jiu Zhenjun examined it and then spoke with some difficulty, "Honored guest, I’m afraid all my wine put together may not be enough to trade for your Ancestor Spirit Fruit."

This was a fruit from the Ancestor Spirit Tree, only obtainable by the most incredible geniuses; each one was worth a fortune.

Jiu Zhenjun could perhaps match the value of this single fruit with five or six years of his earnings.

The other gender-ambiguous Taoist then said, "Consider any excess as good karma with your establishment."

The pair then went upstairs, and Jiu Zhenjun later brought up the Spiritual Wine with therapeutic effects. It could be considered returning a favor for a favor given.

Spiritual Wine is like a Pill, yet more in accord with medicinal principles.

The drizzle continued; Jiu Zhenjun sat quietly behind the counter, and another customer stepped into the wine shop.

Xiao Yunyi closed his oil-paper umbrella and went upstairs without anyone stopping him. Jiu Zhenjun didn’t intervene but communicated psychically to inform the guests.

The inn was just a place to stay; selling Spiritual Wine was his main business, and he offered no protection services. Jiu Zhenjun didn’t believe he could protect anyone in Immortal Land; even a Venerable might die here.

In the upstairs room, Xiao Yunyi knocked and entered after getting a reply to find two Taoists with similar appearances and smiled.

"It’s been a while. How should I address you?"

"Chan Xi."

"Xi."

The man-like one was called Chan Xi, while the Heavenly Person still went by Xi.

Xiao Yunyi asked, "Are you still him? Previously, I met Chan Xi, and she seemed to completely disregard our past affection."

He and the Three Pure Daoists were good friends with a cordial relationship, exchanging letters annually. Now that Broken Sword Mountain and the Daoist Sect were on the same side, Xiao Yunyi naturally knew his friend was in trouble.

When he previously went to assist Gu Wen against the Devil Clan, Chan Xi didn’t interact with him at all, showing a subtle resistance.

Chan Xi replied, "Both of us are fine. If you ask who resembles our original self more, it should be me."

"You retain worldly attachments, merely the original self of our youth," said the Heavenly Person, Xi, indifferently. "I am the self closest to the time of entering Immortal Land."

"Every person has the seven emotions and six desires, external things are not my true self."

"One who conquers oneself and cultivates diligently is genuine."

Listening to their dispute, Xiao Yunyi truly perceived the issue with the Three Pure Daoists. He asked, "Xi, before you cultivated ’One Qi to Three Pure Ones,’ did you anticipate this situation?"

At this question, the two stopped arguing, and Xi, the Heavenly Person, replied, "Brother Xiao, this is the true fulfillment of ’One Qi to Three Pure Ones.’"

"The three of you are divided in heart and morality; how can you speak of fulfillment?"

Xiao Yunyi countered, believing in a sense that the Three Pure Daoists had already perished.

Even if all three reached the level of a Demi Immortal in the future, it was unlikely they could combine to become one and thereby achieve immortality.

The two before him might still be driven to seek the Dao, but Chan Xi had become an independent entity. More than an incarnation of the Three Pure Daoists, she seemed like a woman who had received their legacy.

"I’ve heard there have been many who practiced the transformation of ’One Qi to Three Pure Ones’ within the Daoist Sect, all retaining their true self without dividing into male or female."

Xi spoke calmly, "That’s why they’ve not achieved immortality. You just can’t accept that the Three Pure Daoists have perished."

"..."

Xiao Yunyi frowned, feeling an innate discomfort and a surge of anger.

He did not agree with attempting immortality through such extreme means, but it wasn’t his place to judge the paths of others.

"Perhaps, but all this talk is futile now. I only want to know one thing. What are you two doing here?"

He casually grasped his right arm with his left hand, as if holding an unparalleled Taoist Sword, its sharpness gradually becoming apparent.

"I have already lost one Fellow Daoist; I don’t need to lose another."

The two exchanged looks, and Chan Xi glanced at his wounds before answering, "We are here under orders to take Gu with us."

Xiao Yunyi paused, not interrupting, but waiting for them to continue.

"Lately, the crown of Jianmu has been shining with an immense spirit light, and according to the Heavenly Girl, the Devil Clan has prepared a Heaven and Earth Law for Qingcang Master. There is also secret intelligence that the Twelve Demon Ancestors are reviving, and our master suspects they will target Gu."

"Why not prepare for both possibilities?"

Xiao Yunyi voiced his confusion. For the Twelve Demon Ancestors to target a junior like Gu Wen, these members of the Devil Clan seemed incredibly shameless.

And did Brother Gu truly warrant such a grand gesture? This was equivalent to the mobilization of twelve Immortals, an event recorded in history only during the era of the Qingcang Immortal.

It wouldn’t be surprising if it happened again now.

"Perhaps, but we also must prepare for both eventualities," said Chan Xi, unable to deny. "If the Twelve Demon Ancestors indeed come personally, Three Pure Mountain will strike Jianmu, forcing them to defend Jianmu, and we will take Gu with us."