Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 360 - 353 Dao Classics II

Chapter 360: Chapter 353 Dao Classics II

The black cloud flew into the white vortex in an instant, and suddenly the view brightened.

The surroundings shifted directly from mid-air to the peak of Snow Mountain.

Atop the peak lay a moderately-sized green lake, around which was a circle of uneven buildings of various types.

Different Sect flags fluttered in the wind, planted in front of these buildings.

The black cloud descended, and Lin Xin along with his party stepped out onto solid ground.

They were immediately greeted by a few reception staff.

"May I ask which faction’s representative you are?"

A graceful woman in a red dress asked with a sweet voice, so crisp and melodious that it would be difficult for anyone harboring dissatisfaction or anger to release it.

"Magical Alliance," Lin Xin replied indifferently.

"The representative from Magical Alliance... is the Third Crown Prince from Yuan Dou Demon Sect!" The receptionist quickly recalled the corresponding identity, and her heart trembled, her face breaking into an unprecedentedly perfect smile.

"So it is Crown Prince. We did not greet you from afar and ask for your forgiveness. The residence of Yuan Dou Demon Sect is directly north of the lake. Please, Crown Prince, this way to your seat."

Before she finished speaking, a group of young male and female cultivators in black hurried over from the lakeside.

"May the Crown Prince be safe!"

These cultivators bowed and saluted to Lin Xin.

"You are too kind, no need for such formalities," Lin Xin said as he walked confidently towards the lodging, simultaneously inquiring about the situation in a low voice with one of the leading cultivators.

As for the little Jade Fox Wang Peng and the others, they had stood there stunned. The magnitude of the Magical Alliance and the formidable reputation of Yuan Dou Demon Sect were such that even the Jade Fox, who had never ventured out of its clan’s territory, had heard of it, not to mention those from Wang Peng’s Rong Wangfu.

Without paying attention to the shock of the people behind him, Lin Xin directly inquired of the Yuan Dou Demon Sect representative.

"Who else is here this time?"

The person responsible for the Yuan Dou Demon Sect’s local branch spoke in a low and respectful voice.

"The main participants are from Heavenly Cloud Sect and Jade Pure Sect along with us from the Magical Alliance handling the arrangements. Red Spine Sect members have arrived but haven’t ascended the mountain yet; it’s unclear exactly who it is. However, all others are the elders’ choices. It’s just that we have been replaced by you, Crown Prince."

"For the Daoist Canon Conference, all the others should be at the Intent Level, right?" Lin Xin casually asked.

"Yes," responded the superintendent, a young cultivator not older than a hundred years who had already held this responsibility for the Daoist Canon Conference multiple times.

This time he did not understand why the Sect would choose a representative who had not yet reached Intent Level.

After all, the Daoist Canon Conference was bound to be a scene of chaos, and as one of the three main organizing factions that had always been responsible for this, the Yuan Dou Demon Sect had always represented the Magical Alliance in suppressing the entire scene.

That’s why at least the Intent Level of cultivation was necessary.

Both Heavenly Cloud Sect and Jade Pure Sect had also sent Intent Level ancestors.

He did not fathom what the higher-ups were thinking. While the Crown Prince indeed had extraordinary potential, it was still just potential; what was needed here was actual power to suppress.

Despite his thoughts, the manager continued to explain to Lin Xin.

"The representative from Heavenly Cloud Sect is still the Elder Hong Gui, and from Jade Pure Sect is the Second Princess. Both are at the Intent Level. And we have you, Crown Prince..."

Lin Xin heard his implication, which was clearly concern that his cultivation level would not be high enough to control the situation.

He gave a slight smile.

"Don’t worry, if the Sect Master has made this arrangement, he must have his reasons. Besides, do you doubt my strength?"

The manager frowned slightly, obviously still worried.

"The Crown Prince’s strength is undoubtedly exceptional, but..."

"This is not your place to worry." Suddenly, another elder’s voice came from behind.

Lin Xin turned slightly and saw Guan Mingyue, who had appeared behind him at some point, within two steps of distance.

As soon as his voice emerged, even the followers like Wang Peng and the little Jade Fox, who had all along been close behind, jumped in alarm. They all stared warily at the old man who had suddenly appeared.

Guan Mingyue’s eyes were downcast.

"Just follow the old rules. I will accompany the Crown Prince, and everything will continue as usual."

The manager’s body shook, and he immediately understood, bowing his head without further comment.

"Even now, Elder Guan’s reputation has immediate effect," Lin Xin said with a smile.

"You flatter me, Crown Prince. With your talent, it’s only a matter of time," Guan Mingyue shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.

The group escorted Lin Xin and Guan Mingyue towards the Yuan Dou Demon Sect’s residence.

Wang Peng quietly asked the little Jade Fox from behind.

"Isn’t he your master? How did he suddenly become the Third Crown Prince of Yuan Dou Demon Sect?"

"I don’t know..." The little Jade Fox was also quite shocked, initially thinking she had made a contract with a reclusive Loose Cultivator who could cause her daily worries, only to find out he was an overlord of a top-tier Sect. The massive leap in contrast left her struggling to adjust.

Wang Peng and the others were speechless.

"So you signed a contract without even knowing your own master’s identity?" Qiuling said, resigned.

The little Jade Fox lowered her head in embarrassment.

"I... I had no choice at the time... If we from the Jade Fox Clan do not have protection when we venture out, we are captured by other demon races and humans to be sold as goods. Better to face life and death with my master than that fate."

"Is this what they call a fool’s luck?"

Qiuling covered her forehead.

The four of them followed closely behind Lin Xin, watching as he was surrounded by people all the way, and from time to time, there were cultivators by the roadside bowing and saluting to him and an old man beside him. Among them were not a few at the Intent Level, even at the peak of Intent Level.

Mostly, Lin Xin just nodded in response, only giving a slight smile to a few with very high cultivation. The others did not mind and even a humble smile that came from within faintly appeared on their faces.

This was obviously due to the great disparity in status between the two sides.

The more Wang Peng and the others watched, the more moved they were. The status of the Crown Prince was clearly more revered than they had imagined.

The group headed towards the location of the Yuan Dou Demon Sect. Midway, they encountered another group, all dressed in green, all older female cultivators.

The two groups caught sight of each other, and the leading female cultivator, with a complexion calm as water and holding a white horsetail whisk in her hand, nodded towards Lin Xin as a greeting.

Lin Xin smiled back.

The two parties brushed past each other.

They soon arrived at the Yuan Dou Demon Sect, which was also the residence of the Xian Sha Alliance. A group of cultivators in black had already been waiting outside.

The buildings of the Yuan Dou Demon Sect were like a giant hand stretching out from the ground and reaching towards the sky. Its fingers were fierce, and its nails sharp. The entire body was pitch-black, with runes of Demonic Qi lingering faintly.

There were several small doors for entering and exiting beneath the hollow part of the wrist.

The welcoming individuals stood quietly in two rows in front of the small door waiting.

"We welcome the arrival of Crown Prince," as Lin Xin approached.

A group of people suddenly shouted in unison.

"We welcome Elder Guan."

"Everyone, please rise." Lin Xin made a gesture for everyone to get up and took the lead walking inside.

Inside was a cylindrical black hall, where all around the walls hung various strange beasts’ furs and heads, and some places were carved with large areas of blood-red runes and inscriptions. It looked somewhat mysterious.

In the middle of the ground at the center of the hall was a large blood-red diamond-shaped crystal, upon which a semi-transparent woman in a black dress floated quietly above.

"Respected Crown Prince," the woman in the black dress bowed to Lin Xin.

"Who are you?"

Lin Xin didn’t recognize the woman and slightly frowned upon her question.

"I am the spirit of Myriad Laws Hall, Daoist Canon. You may call me Wushuang," the woman said indifferently. "The Xian Sha Alliance has always been responsible for the position of the main organizer of Daoist Canon. Please be sure to restrain your relations with the Heavenly Cloud Sect to avoid unexpected conflicts like last time."

Lin Xin’s eyebrows rose sharply, sensing that this spirit had come specifically to warn him. The Myriad Laws Hall was daring enough to issue a warning even to his current status.

He glanced at Guan Mingyue, Elder Guan, who didn’t show any expression, clearly leaving all decisions to him.

"Understood. My Yuan Dou Demon Sect has always been one to not offend others unless offended. If Senior Spirit can restrain the personnel from Heavenly Cloud Sect, we will have no problem here," Lin Xin responded with ease.

"I hope so."

The spirit of the hall bowed slightly to Lin Xin again, her figure suddenly disappearing.

"The spirit of Myriad Laws Hall is an old monster that has lived for thousands of years, with unfathomable cultivation. Do not clash with her, Your Highness," Guan Mingyue spoke slowly only after the spirit had vanished.

"I understand," Lin Xin said with a smile.

Guan Mingyue then carefully mentioned to him the unspoken rules of past Daoist Canon conventions and the regulations of the three main organizers.

Lin Xin listened carefully, and only then did he instruct Wang Peng and the other two.

"You may find a place to rest within this residence. I am going to meet with the elders of the other two main organizers now. If you are willing, you may also follow along."

Jade Fox naturally followed him. The rest, Wang Peng and the other two, being strangers here, also decided to stick with him.

Seeing that nobody wanted to part ways, Lin Xin did not press the matter.

The group got organized, changed into new clothes—all standard formal black robes of the Yuan Dou Demon Sect—and Lin Xin wore a shoulder-guarded black cape that covered his whole body.

After leaving the residence, they headed straight towards the central lake at the top of Snow Mountain.

In the center of the lake, a green stream of water flowed upwards from below, moving naturally into the sky as if it were a tender sprout growing out or a tentacle extended by the lake water.

Under the guidance of the person in charge, the Yuan Dou Demon Sect party moved towards the water column, naturally stepping on the surface of the water without any sign of sinking, as if the water was just a piece of green vitreous enamel.

"Oh?"

Suddenly, a surprised and uncertain voice reached Lin Xin’s ears from not far away.

Lin Xin’s expression also shifted slightly as he followed the sound.

To his surprise, among another group of cultivators in white robes, two brothers looking extremely alike were looking at him with astonishment.

These two brothers had slight bulges on their foreheads, symbols of growing prominence, and followed closely behind an extremely old cultivator.

This elderly cultivator stood with three Taoists behind a majestic and handsome tall man with a solemn expression.

Lin Xin had a good memory and recognized the two of them at a glance.

It was none other than Ming Qing and Ming Yi, the two brothers from the Heavenly Cloud Sect who had formed an acquaintance with him after visiting the Manor.

These two brothers had already lost the sharpness they had when they first met, evidently maturing quite a bit.

The elderly man in front of them should be their Honored Master, Daoist Master White Crane.