Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 398 - 20: Xuan Yue Appears_2

Chapter 398: Chapter 20: Xuan Yue Appears_2

He bowed to Gu Wen and the other two and said, "Fellow Daoists, might I ask what brings you to Qinghua Mountain?"

Flying through the air is a symbol of a Golden Core Cultivator while hovering above a certain Spiritual Mountain is akin to standing outside someone else’s door, peering in.

With utmost politeness, Gu Wen returned the bow and said, "I am seeking a particular Qinghua Cake. I learned that only the Qinghua here can be used to make the cakes that date back eight hundred years."

The Golden Core Cultivator said, "I am but three hundred years old and have never heard of Qinghua Cake. This place is private territory, so I cannot allow fellow Daoists to explore at will. Please forgive me."

"What’s with all the dilly-dallying? Move aside and let me handle this. Who acts so courteous toward their juniors like some old ancestor?"

Chi Yu Zi pushed past Gu Wen and flung a token into the air, resplendent with gold and red; its fiery red characters gleamed.

The Golden Core Cultivator’s face turned to one of astonishment. He looked at the token and then back at the short-haired girl barely taller than five and a half feet, his eyes flickering with disbelief, suspicion, and panic.

He then took out a black iron token from his chest, sending a beam of spirit light from it into Chi Yu Zi’s token.

In an instant, the Golden Core Cultivator respectfully bowed, saying, "Yun Cui, a true disciple of the Cui Temple, a branch of the Yuqing Sect, pays respects to Chi Venerable. Your esteemed presence caught me unaware; forgive my ignorance and alarm."

In his voice, you could not suppress the excitement.

For eight hundred years, the Yuqing Sect had been without a Venerable. Naturally, Chi Yu Zi had assumed the position of the Yuqing Heavenly Venerate and was revered by the disciples of the sect.

This true disciple of the Yuqing Sect had seen the nine-meter golden man but had never come across Chi Yu Zi’s petite figure.

Chi Yu Zi asked, "Does the Yuqing Sect still manage legacies?"

Yun Cui meekly corrected, "Cough, cough, cough... It’s the site of loyal martyrs, naturally managed by the Daoist Sect. Otherwise, the descendants would not feel at ease with others in charge."

Every year, the Daoist Sect sends a large number of disciples to patrol around. Some are tasked with taking over certain spirit lands. Not only do they protect the sects that have declined due to the great wars against demons but also to deter others.

Should any crisis arise, the Daoist Sect would be the first to know and take action.

"And these two elders are?"

Xie Yunnan introduced himself, "I am a true disciple of Broken Sword Mountain, you are older than me, Fellow Daoist, undeserving of ’elder’."

"Sss! Is the fairy none other than Fairy Xie, the unparalleled top figure of the current age?"

Yun Cui’s eyes gleamed, and he fervently bowed his admiration.

Then he turned his gaze to the last, rather ordinary-looking man, whose cultivation he could not discern. But since he was traveling with Chi Venerable, he must also be a figure of some importance.

He bowed and asked, "May I know your venerable name, elder?"

The unremarkable man smiled warmly, his voice calm, "I am Red Dust."

"Ah, Elder Red Dust... ah?" Yun Cui’s heartbeat nearly halted as he stumbled over his words, "What did you say your name was?"

"I am Red Dust."

"....."

For a long while, Yun Cui was silent, appearing utterly stupefied.

To outsiders, this Daoist name might be unknown, but Yuqing Sect disciples had been hearing it since joining the sect.

Isn’t he our esteemed ancestor of the Yuqing Sect? Did the great master just bow to me? Will I be expelled from the sect when I return?

Thinking of this, Yun Cui’s hands began to shake; he did not wish to be expelled just for stepping into the sect.

Chi Yu Zi added, "This is your ancient ancestor, and even your master would have to kowtow upon seeing him."

Gu Wen was Qingcang Immortal’s disciple, holding a seniority even above that of the Venerables Yun Miao and Huayang.

Right then, Yun Cui knelt down. Gu Wen moved to stop him but retreated, faced with the tear-filled and terrified countenance of the other.

If he didn’t allow him this bow, could his Daoist heart be shattered?

"Yun Cui has seen the grandmaster!"

Gu Wen helplessly said, "Take us in, please."

"Yes, Grandmaster."

The three of them proceeded unobstructed into the Ninghua Sect’s residence. The old sect entrance was desolate, with groups of empty caves in the mountains left uninhabited.

Along the way, Yun Cui enlivened as he eagerly recounted the past of the Ninghua Sect, having overcome his initial shock and fear.

Perhaps this was his chance to cultivate more deeply within the Yuqing Main Lineage. The experience of guiding the legendary Yuqing Heavenly Venerate could lead to the sect entrance being worn thin by the elders’ eager visits.

With this thought, he calmed his mind and dedicated himself to answering the grandmaster’s inquiries.

Ninghua Sect’s gate was desolate, with its disciples all but gone.

Ninghua Sect had lost a great number of powerful fighters in the battle against the demons, and after the war ended, the only True Monarch and several elders remaining had passed away due to illness. This had caused their ability to cultivate disciples to wither, and even with the Daoist Sect’s protection, they could not attract any new cultivation talents.

Now that cultivation had deeply permeated the common people, no one would choose a sect without a True Monarch.

Therefore, the Daoist Sect had taken over the gatekeeping duties, allowing the heirs to enter the Major Sects for further study.

Yun Cui said, "This spiritual land once had a top-grade Spirit Vein, but after the Daoist Sect took over, it turned into Middle Grade. Elders from within the sect investigated but couldn’t find any reason. The Daoist Sect could only compensate Ninghua Sect based on the value of a top-grade Spirit Vein, and in the future, provide them with a Middle Grade Spirit Vein as reparation."

"Spirit Veins can degrade in quality?"

Xie Yunnan was quite puzzled and said, "Spirit Veins are like wells; they rely on extracting Earth Vein Spiritual Energy. Generally speaking, they don’t degrade."

Yun Cui shook her head and said, "So the Daoist Sect has always been baffled. It’s said that even Yun Miao Heavenly Venerate came to look and couldn’t find any anomalies."

Chi Yu Zi also couldn’t find any anomalies and turned his head to Gu Wen.

If a Venerable couldn’t do it, surely the Little Saint could.

Gu Wen pondered for a long while, as if his spirit had wandered off to the heavens, and everyone waited for a long time.

"The spirit marrow of the Spirit Vein has been excavated."

Having said that, he turned and walked towards an adjacent path where a road extended downwards in what had been a pathless place, leading all the way to the depths of the Spirit Vein.

The crowd followed closely behind. The thick earth parted before them, and a vertical channel gently descended.

They had seen the sea part, but never a mountain opened.

After descending a thousand zhang into the thick earth, their surroundings suddenly opened up to reveal a hundred-acre hollow.

A Spirit Vein, as clear and translucent as crystal, hung high above, emitting a soft spirit light that illuminated the many Spirit Fields below.

At the very center was a thatched hut, as if someone lived there.

"How could there be such a large hole?"

Yun Cui couldn’t believe it; he had stayed in the Ninghua Sect for decades and had considered investigating the mystery to use this merit to rise into the Main Lineage.

But until today, he had never discovered this place. Why could a hundred-acre hollow evade detection?

Chi Yu Zi’s expression immediately turned serious, and he said to Yun Cui and Xie Yunnan, "You two, go out first."

"Yes."

The two soared up and flew out of the hollow.

Gu Wen and Chi Yu Zi landed, and they encountered rows of Qinghua flowers, their fragrance even richer than that outside.

He plucked a flower, tasted its scent, as if an old acquaintance were still beside him.

His thoughts climbed like vines, his emotions budding like flowers waiting to bloom.

When he reopened his eyes, the detachment in the depths of Gu Wen’s eyes had lessened somewhat, his aura more serene, more like a mortal.

Chi Yu Zi clearly did not notice such a change; in her eyes, Gu Wen had never changed, still the same heartless troublemaker. But after Gu Wen became a Saint, there was an additional chasm separating him from all things; he had arrived at the far shore.

He saw the world with different eyes, and he understood the true essence of all things, the truths of the Great Dao.

On the other hand, people were like dry bones; they were nothing more than products of the actions of laws like the Five Elements, Yin and Yang, et cetera.

The Qinghua indeed contained an aspect of emotion.

"The fragrance of Qinghua flowers is intoxicating, but one must not smell them too much."

A voice came from the thatched hut, followed by the door slowly opening, and an elegant Taoist walked out.

Dressed in a cyan and red Daoist robe, with a lyn water sword at his waist, and a faint red light emitting from his chest.

He looked at the two visitors with a trace of realization, saying, "Eight hundred years have passed since we last parted, and the child of those days has become a mighty figure standing firm between heaven and earth."

"Xuan Yue."

Chi Yu Zi revealed the identity of the Taoist, the founding ancestor of the Liuyun Sect, who had aided them against Chi Ling, the Demi Immortal.

He was also the one who, owing to his lifespan, had betrayed them in the end, showing them the meaning of eternal life.

"Our bond should have been one of good karma, but fate toys with us."

Xuan Yue smiled radiantly, returning to his original unperturbed demeanor, no longer bearing the ugliness of old age.

He spread his arms, revealing a wisp of aura; he had become an Immortal.

"Today, this poor Taoist has become a True Immortal."