Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 361 - 354: The Taoist Canon 3

Chapter 361: Chapter 354: The Taoist Canon 3

The two people stared intently at Lin Xin, finding him somewhat familiar yet hesitant to confirm it. Clearly, the gap between the identities of a Manor Villa Master from the South Prefecture and a representative of a major Sect from the Central Prefecture was too vast, making them doubt whether they were seeing things or remembering the aura incorrectly.

However, no matter how much a person changes, their inherent aura doesn’t undergo significant alterations.

This aura was neither Spiritual Energy nor Demonic Qi but a vital energy of life itself.

Unconcealed, Lin Xin let the two sense the same aura he originally possessed.

Seeing their hesitance, Lin Xin suppressed a laugh and took the initiative to approach the opposing team.

"What guidance does the Yuan Dou Demon Sect’s Daoist have?" the handsome man leading the Tian Yun Taoists asked with a smile, bowing slightly.

"Ah, it’s Senior Hong Gui," Lin Xin replied with an unchanged joyful expression and returned the greeting.

The handsome man was none other than the representative of Tian Yun Taoism this time, the elderly Hong Gui. Or rather, it was always Hong Gui who personally handled the matters of their doctrine.

And for Jade Clear Taoism, it was always the Second Green Lady in charge, only Yuan Dou Demon Sect had changed representatives this time.

"Oh, it’s Crown Prince! I’ve heard much about you. I wonder if you have any important matters to discuss or other issues to resolve..." While it seemed like Hong Gui was talking to Lin Xin, his gaze was directed toward Guan Mingyue.

Old Guan, however, was observing calmly, motionless and completely uninterested in speaking.

Lin Xin chuckled softly.

"I haven’t been the Crown Prince for long. I have always admired the grand name of Tian Yun Dao, so today I came out of curiosity. Please, Senior Hong Gui, let’s enter first."

Hong Gui glanced at Guan Mingyue, squeezed out a false smile again, and led the team toward the green water column where they disappeared in an instant.

Lin Xin smiled and remained silent. He was certain that the two brothers of the Radiance Society, Ming Qing and Ming Yi, definitely recognized him. As a core member of the Radiance Society and someone they personally cultivated, the brothers surely had a deep impression of him.

However, the core of the Radiance Society was mainly hidden deep within various Sects under secretive identities, and in essence, their presence in Central Prefecture’s so-called employment task platform was nothing more than a protective guise of the Radiance Society.

Lin Xin collected himself and led his group from the Yuan Dou Demon Sect into the green water column,

The view suddenly opened up before his eyes.

Inside the pillar of water was a small green hall, within which a small door led to a secret room.

"Let’s follow the old rules."

The representatives from Jade Clear Taoism had already arrived and were all dressed in blue. The leader was the same older woman with a cold expression.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, she directly spoke up.

"That sounds good."

Hong Gui nodded.

The two promptly headed for the small door of the secret room.

Having received Guan Mingyue’s explanation, Lin Xin also entered the secret room alone.

The three entered, and the door behind them snapped shut.

The room housed only three seats in the corners, and in another corner floated the previously seen spirit of the hall.

All three took their seats.

"The rules of the Taoist event remain unchanged, is everyone alright with that?" the hall spirit asked lightly.

"That makes things simpler," said Hong Gui, nodding.

The Second Green Lady glanced at Lin Xin.

"The rules are no issue; we should mainly discuss the details of the competition. The three of us are the main referees, concerning rankings, award ceremonies, and recruitment of talents. How should we sequence it?"

"Let’s stick to the old rules and let them choose freely," Hong Gui said calmly.

"Free choice? Tian Yun Daoism has always had a good reputation; you’re not afraid, but Yuan Dou Demon Sect would end up suffering silently?" Lin Xin, standing for the Demon Sect, naturally had to consider his Sect’s interests.

Although True Monarch Huang Yuan was somewhat coerced into teaching him, he had still provided many benefits.

"That’s because you all behave peculiarly and fail to differentiate right from wrong," Hong Gui’s face briefly lost its smile, showing a hint of mockery.

"That is mostly due to the world mishearing rumors," Lin Xin said unashamedly.

Hong Gui gave him a speechless look.

"Then let’s use the second set of rules," Jade Clear Dao interjected, playing the mediator.

"Other people wanting to join a Sect don’t have the freedom of choice?" Hong Gui retorted.

"We can each lay out our conditions to see where they truly want to join. However, letting them choose before the conditions are presented is out of the question. I suggest after the competition and entering Nether River, we let them decide then," said the Green Lady.

"I object," Hong Gui promptly opposed.

Although Tian Yun Daoism had a long history, it was financially inferior to the wealthy Yuan Dou Demon Sect Alliance. Naturally, he objected after hearing this.

The three engaged in heated discussions about the various aspects and details of managing the Taoist event and exchanged benefits in the secret room.

Whenever Lin Xin’s presence seemed insufficient, Guan’s aura extended from behind, supporting and empowering him.

Hence, the negotiations went rather smoothly from start to finish.

Before leaving, Hong Gui gave Lin Xin a stern look. After some argument, this young man not only didn’t suffer any loss, but he even managed to turn the tables slightly on him.

This bit of benefit is not important, but it makes an old face blush, even Lady Qingniao looked somewhat oddly at her own complexion.

As a person who used to negotiate with tit-for-tat and never gave in, Elder Hong Gui felt somewhat embarrassed to have actually been bested by a young spear-thrusting lad this time.

Three groups of people quickly turned out of the green water column.

Outside, their respective followers were already waiting.

Ming Qing and Ming Yi, the brothers, made faces at Lin Xin but did not dare to transmit messages directly.

For top experts like Elder Hong Gui and Lady Qingniao, even the so-called absolutely safe secret sound transmission could not guarantee that it wouldn’t be intercepted.

The three needed no communication to understand each other’s intentions, they would meet separately in a bit.

"Crown Prince, it seems somewhat different from the usual style of the Immortal-Demon Alliance," Elder Hong Gui said lightly before climbing onto the Immortal Crane carriage.

"Oh? Elder Hong Gui, what kind of style are you referring to?" Lin Xin asked with a smile.

He also stopped in front of his own massive calamity vehicle door. Two fat giant calamities shook their heads and slapped their heads, snorting heavily.

This massive calamity vehicle had timely flown over from the Sect and was standing by.

"The usual style has always been overbearing and unreasonable, often resorting to fists directly," Lady Qingniao unexpectedly blurted out from the side.

Lin Xin shook his head speechlessly, directly boarded the massive calamity vehicle with Elder Guan, and a few ordinary horse carriages were behind for Wang Peng and Little Jade Fox and others to get on.

Elder Hong Gui snorted and drove away.

Lady Qingniao stood in place, along with several masked lovely female cultivators, watching both departing caravans.

"This sudden change of person leading the Immortal-Demon Alliance, wasn’t it always that kid Guan Mingyue before? Replacing him with such a young lad, Elder Huang Yuan is really taking good care of him," a woman with skin that looked like golden jade on her exposed arms whispered.

"As the Crown Prince, if he grows up, he should be comparable to a mid-stage, so it makes sense to nurture him like this," Lady Qingniao said indifferently.

"I heard that this Crown Prince came from the Southern Prefecture?"

"Yes. It’s said that he originally belonged to the Radiance Society, but they didn’t appreciate him enough, or rather didn’t have enough time to appreciate him when True Monarch Huang Yuan personally captured him. A future Nascent Soul Seed, tsk tsk, the Radiance Society must be regretting this deeply," the female cultivator sneered.

"That lad has a bone age of not even sixty years. No wonder True Monarch Huang Yuan values him so highly," Lady Qingniao slightly shook her head, "Back in the day, that man was also so young, and in a blink, two thousand years have passed, time flies... Well, let’s go."

She casually walked forward, and the car door automatically slid open.

**********************

On the Immortal Crane carriage in the Cloud Path.

Elder Hong Gui picked up a cup of red tea and gently sipped. After setting it down, he looked at the opposite man in black hood.

"This Grand Competition will attract most people’s attention. According to the old rules, you execute the plan shortly before it ends. Any problems?" he transmitted softly.

The Immortal Crane carriage was only occupied by the two of them, and even the surrounding car walls were inscribed with various runes to sense aura and sound.

In such an environment, the two still used sound transmission to communicate, which shows how secretive and important their conversation was.

"The Immortal-Demon Alliance changing its representative at the last moment didn’t cause any problems, did it?" the hooded man asked in a low tone.

"I’ve tested him, he doesn’t know the situation. And this lad won’t be stationed here for long. It won’t affect much," Elder Hong Gui shook his head.

"Lady Qingniao being here this time, has Taoist Jade Qing Sect noticed something?" the hooded man asked gravely.

"There are so few from Elder Yuan Jing’s lineage, everyone’s eyes are on them. Even if she noticed anything, what can she do?" At this moment, Elder Hong Gui was completely devoid of his usual irritability and agitation and instead portrayed a calm and confident demeanor.

"Best not to have any unexpected complications. From the mountaintop to that place, it’s about twelve miles. Not a single issue must arise during transit, otherwise once exposed, neither of us can bear the consequences," the hooded man warned.

"You don’t need to tell me, I understand," Elder Hong Gui replied coldly, "There hasn’t been a problem so many times before, and with me here, what’s there to fear."

"I hope so," the hooded man said coldly. With a swoosh, his figure suddenly disappeared from the carriage. Even Elder Hong Gui couldn’t see how he had left.

************************

At the Immortal-Demon Alliance stronghold.

Lin Xin sat cross-legged in the center of the Demon Hand Hall, in front of him was a fire pile more than a person tall, red and yellow flames surged towards the sky, continually making soft crackling sounds.

Wang Peng and the others had been arranged by the people of the stronghold to go to their quarters to rest.

Messy chores could wait to be discussed later, for now, he needed to absorb all the accumulated Demon Talisman Seeds.

During this time, he had accumulated a total of 51 regular Demon Talisman Seeds, two light golden, and one dark gold.

Previously, aside from adding three points to his constitution to balance the overbearing damage, he hadn’t used any Demon Talisman Seeds at all.

Demon Talisman Seeds indeed could continuously strengthen one’s quality, but there was an issue, growing too fast, which made it difficult for Lin Xin to reach a stage where he could adapt to Taoist intent, always needing to take time to adapt to the changes in his body again and again.

So, he planned to add them all at once after accumulating many, thus significantly shortening the adaptation time.

He had instructed everyone to stay away and not come near.

Lin Xin was about to take out the Demon Talisman Seeds from the storage bag to throw into the fire pile.

Suddenly he felt a slight tightness in his heart, as if some inexplicable stimulus had passed by his side. It was as if something very important to him was about to slip away from his side.