Chapter 245 - 138: True Thunder Subdues Celestial Permanence, Mingjing Strikes Dianxing

Chapter 245: Chapter 138: True Thunder Subdues Celestial Permanence, Mingjing Strikes Dianxing

Zhengquan Taoist frowned at these words. However, when he saw Mingjing Zhenren with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze falling upon him, he ultimately remained wary of his Divine Techniques. Heaving a great sigh, he said, "Since it has come to this, I have no objection to the True Form Temple taking the place of the Celestial Permanence Sect."

With that, he shook his head and offered Mingjing Zhenren a cupped-fist salute. "The business here is concluded," he said. "I will come and pay my respects on another day, fellow Daoist."

His voice had barely faded before he vanished without a trace.

Mingjing Zhenren watched the direction in which Zhengquan Taoist had disappeared and suddenly remarked, "A pity. To think that Zhengquan Taoist was able to pass through the Fire Calamity. I was rather hoping to test my skills against him."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang was surprised to hear this. In the Daoist Scriptures of this world, Master Dongts, like Primordial Spirit True Men, also had to face the Three Calamities. But it seemed that in all of recorded history, not a single Master Dongt had ever truly survived one. Xuzhuang had assumed this was a flaw in the Grotto Heaven cultivation methods.

But now Mingjing Zhenren was saying that Zhengquan Taoist had already passed the Fire Calamity. ’It seems that even if the Grotto Heaven Dao has its flaws, it’s not a complete dead end after all.’

Xuzhuang nodded thoughtfully and said to Mingjing Zhenren, "I must thank you for your assistance this time, Martial Uncle."

"It was nothing." Mingjing Zhenren gave a slight nod and replied, "There was supposed to be one other, but he has not arrived. I assume the matter here is settled, so I won’t be waiting for you."

Evidently, Mingjing Zhenren paid no mind to Zhengquan Taoist’s parting words about a future visit. As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked the hem of his robes and vanished without a trace.

Thus, the three Zhenren appeared and departed in a flash, leaving only Xuzhuang in the Grotto Heaven with the members of the Celestial Permanence Sect sprawled in disarray on the ground below.

Xuzhuang lowered his gaze once more. Now that the threat of the Profound Fire True Thunder was gone, an even darker look of despair settled on Wang Xingsi’s face. He let out a choked cough, spraying a fine mist of blood.

After coughing up that mouthful of essence blood, Wang Xingsi paradoxically seemed to rally. He pushed himself into a half-sitting position and said with a bitter smile, "I wonder how you intend to deal with our sect, fellow Daoist."

Xuzhuang’s gaze swept over them. Caught in the aftershock of the clash between Mingjing Zhenren and Star Pointing Zhenren, the members of the Celestial Permanence Sect had lost all power to fight back. But even if that hadn’t happened, with the Grotto Heaven Array now broken, killing them would be as easy as slaughtering chickens and dogs. He simply had no interest in it.

With a flick of his sleeve, Xuzhuang said flatly, "Cede the Grotto Heaven and withdraw from this domain. No matter which prefecture or commandery you retreat to, my sect will not hunt you down."

"Very well." Wang Xingsi’s spirit seemed to brighten further, a sign of terminal lucidity. He even added, "Thank you for the mercy of sparing us, fellow Daoist. However, should the Celestial Permanence Sect be fortunate enough to have a junior reach the Nascent Soul Third Layer in the future, they will certainly come to seek your instruction again."

Xuzhuang only smiled at this. Wang Xingsi knew his defiant words were merely something to cling to. He let out a self-mocking laugh, got to his feet, and went with two of his Nascent Soul junior martial brothers, who were still in fair condition, to rouse the Golden Core Mages who had fainted on the ground.

They tried for some time, but nearly half of them remained unconscious. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Wang Xingsi’s expression turned grim again. He looked up and asked, "Fellow Daoist, many of my sect’s members were born in this domain. If they do not wish to leave their homeland to follow the sect... how will you treat them?"

The moment Wang Xingsi asked, more than a dozen people on the ground pricked up their ears. Xuzhuang saw this, but merely shook his head and said, "My sect can take in Qi Cultivation Disciples who have only recently begun their training. As for the rest, they are free to go as they please. As long as they do not violate the rules of my sect, they may even find a place to continue their cultivation within this domain."

With that said, Xuzhuang didn’t spare the Celestial Permanence members another look. He left them with one final command: "Gather all your members within one day. Leave this domain within ten days." Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he disappeared into the depths of the Grotto Heaven.