Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 417 - 31: Seeing the Master Again_2

Chapter 417: Chapter 31: Seeing the Master Again_2

Chan Xi blinked her eyes, which resembled the gently swirling Yun Xia clouds, and with a tinge of surprise, she said, "Junior Brother and Master always appear quite similar."

Gu Wen teased, "Shouldn’t our Master be like, ’I want what I think is necessary, not what you think’?"

Openly joshing Qingcang, he was probably the only one in the entire Daoist Sect with such gall.

"Indeed," she affirmed, "our Master has always been domineering, always assigning us tasks that are incredibly difficult to accomplish. For instance, with the academy, during the drafting phase it was hampered by secular forces. We said it might take a hundred years, but she wanted it done in fifty—if the launch didn’t happen in fifty years, she would order the execution of the local City Lord."

Chan Xi covered her face with a smile, while the Heavenly Person and the man beside her remained silent, the latter giving a look.

She swiftly changed the subject, "I’ve heard that Junior Brother has become a Saint?"

As core great powers of the Sanqing Taoist Sect, unalike the noisy bunch earlier, these three were privy to the news of Gu Wen becoming a Saint.

It was just a month ago, around the time when Gu Wen stepped into Xuanhuang State.

Gu Wen nodded and replied, "Little Saint indeed."

Chan Xi’s eyes shone brightly. She stepped forward and asked upfront, "Would Junior Brother permit me to comprehend the Grand Dao of a Saint?"

"What you see is my Dao."

Gu Wen replied, and the three gazed at him pensively for a long time but discerned no clues.

They all sighed, shook their heads, and then thanked him with folded hands.

They did not suspect Gu Wen of fooling them. It was unnecessary, and they were aware of their own limitations.

Even transcendence to become an Immortal was uncertain, how could they aspire to understand the Grand Dao of a Saint?

Suddenly, they all felt an inexplicable pat on their heads, and taken unawares, they each advanced two steps forward.

Chan Xi quickly cleared the way, saying, "Junior Brother, although I’d love to show you around the Daoist Sect, you should first visit Master; otherwise, she would not be pleased..."

Bang!

Before she finished speaking, Chan Xi was launched out like a ball, transforming into a star on the horizon.

The other two remained silent. They were not familiar with Gu Wen, nor were they on particularly good terms with the Master.

Qingcang Master was immensely strict with everyone; to the majority of great powers, she was even nothing short of terrifying.

Promoting the academy, enlightening the masses, an Immortal killing ten thousand people, predominantly of secular noble families.

Launching the Cultivation Hall, spreading the Qi Cultivation Skill, an Immortal destroying three thousand sects.

Then there was the promotion of the Five Spirits Valley, delineating Spirit Fields, integrating great cities, and issuing laws and so on. Each ten years brought a reform, each time a bloody and brutal affair.

Mortals were killed, Cultivators too, be they noble families or sects. Anyone or anything that dared obstruct the Will of an Immortal was mercilessly crushed.

A piece of paper flew out from the Jade Palace, as heavy as a Divine Mountain,

Never showing favoritism, nor any particular affection.

Perhaps only Gu Wen was somewhat of an exception.

——————————

Deep within Three Pure Mountain, amidst the bamboo forest, lay the tranquil Pan’an Courtyard.

Li Yunshang was dressed simply, her beauty natural without any adornment of rouge or powder, plain as water, yet cool as ice.

"Disciple Gu Wen offers greetings to Master."

A voice came from outside, and Li Yunshang closed her eyes in contemplation.

After some time, the White Fox in her arms, initially silent, rose and leaped outside to look at the rather ordinary man standing there. Her voice was like a wind chime as she said:

"Come in, your Master has been waiting for a long time. Say some nice words later; she’s easy on the ears and will soon cool down."

Gu Wen entered, and as he crossed the threshold, he saw a woman in plain clothes, her countenance exuding an austere authority difficult to face directly.

Feeling him enter, she slowly opened her eyes and said in a cold tone, "You know to come back?"

"Parents at home, one must not travel far; your disciple naturally has to return."

Gu Wen stepped forward and knelt, presenting his respect. As a Saint, he might not need to bow before anyone, let alone kneel.

But before becoming a Saint, he was a mere person. Qingcang had sheltered him for the first half of his life, and to save his own life, his foundation had been damaged, thus missing his chance at becoming Little Saint.

Li Yunshang’s stern face relaxed as she said, "Rise, what dignity is there for a Saint to kneel to me?"

Hearing this, Gu Wen knew he had overcome the hurdle. He got up and boldly moved forward to massage her shoulders and back, saying, "Kneeling to one’s parents is right and proper; not to mention a single kowtow, but even a thousand would be no problem."

"Hmph, sweet talker," Li Yunshang snorted. With a flick of her sleeve, a short-haired woman about five and a half feet tall appeared.

Chi Yu Zi hung her head down, looking like a child who had done something wrong and dared not speak.

Gu Wen said, "Blame only your disciple for believing in slander, all the fault lies with Chi Yu Zi."

Chi Yu Zi suddenly raised her head, her two white fangs bared and her hands clenched tightly as anger filled her eyes.

Had the Qingcang Immortal not been there, she might have already struck out.

After a short while, Li Yunshang’s originally tense expression softened, revealing a gentle smile.

Gu Wen recounted the events of his journey, inevitably embellishing the tale, taking credit for Chi Yu Zi’s achievements on himself.

Everyone else might draw their swords to help when seeing injustice; Gu Wen would pull out Chi Yu Zi.

But if Gu Wen had not mentioned it, Chi Yu Zi might not have intervened anyway, so he too had his merits.

Li Yunshang had been watching him since Gu Wen began practicing the Yuqing Heart Method; she knew him well and softly said, "You really should stop bullying Chi Yu Zi. She regards you as her dearest brother; what kind of brother constantly bullies his sister?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Wen reflected deeply.

Isn’t that how it should be?

"I didn’t!"

Chi Yu Zi’s face turned red as she protested loudly, "I am older than he is; I should be the sister."

Li Yunshang laughed without saying a word, not denying her claim, then changed the subject, "How does your strength now compare? Are you slightly weaker than I, or did you deliberately lose to your Master?"