Chapter 247 - 139: Profound Yellow’s Secret, The Mystery of the Celestial Waterfall (Part 2)

Chapter 247: Chapter 139: Profound Yellow’s Secret, The Mystery of the Celestial Waterfall (Part 2)

Xuzhuang gave a slight nod, and Meng Fusheng continued, "Reporting to Martial Uncle, the inventory of the Celestial Permanence Sect’s book collection is complete. In total, there are six hundred ten volumes of Daoist Scriptures, detailing eighty-one different Daoist arts. However, only a few of the Celestial Permanence Sect’s own core techniques are noteworthy..."

After reporting the details of transferring the various books to the Library Pavilion, Meng Fusheng shook his head and said, "But among them, not a single volume clearly records a method for creating a Grotto Heaven."

Xuzhuang wasn’t surprised. He had already conducted a thorough search of the Celestial Permanence Grotto Heaven before Meng Fusheng and Daoist Zhang even began their inventory. Even among the dozen or so Daoist Scriptures hidden away with the True Inheritance Daoist Scripture, there was no clear record of a Grotto Heaven method, let alone in the rest of the collection.

’It seems this method of attaining the Dao is meant to be passed down orally. If I had only kept Jiang Chengzi’s True Spirit, I might have gotten something out of it.’

However, Xuzhuang wasn’t overly concerned. Yang Bijie had promised him a Grotto Heaven method, and it had already been delivered along with the True Form Temple’s congratulatory gift for its promotion into one of the five major sects. He had only searched the Celestial Permanence Sect’s Daoist Scriptures just in case.

After hearing their reports on the two tasks he had specifically assigned, Xuzhuang listened for a while longer. Feeling that the remaining matters—such as constructing palaces and pavilions, settling the disciples, and even recruiting new members throughout the Celestial Permanence Domain—didn’t require his personal oversight, he nodded and prepared to take his leave.

Just as he began to rise, however, he heard the sound of rapid footsteps outside. A familiar voice followed, announcing, "Disciple Wen Ning requests an audience with Martial Grand-Uncle."

Wen Ning was one of the True Form Temple’s rare Middle-Grade Golden Core Cultivators and also the head disciple of Zeng Quanfeng. Xuzhuang was, of course, familiar with him. After a moment’s thought, he settled back into his seat and called out, "Come in."

Hearing Xuzhuang’s permission, Wen Ning entered the main hall. He bowed respectfully to Xuzhuang, then greeted Meng Fusheng and Daoist Zhang in turn before reporting, "Martial Grand-Uncle, there is... a strange Daoist outside. He’s asking for you by name."

"Hmm?" Meng Fusheng’s brow furrowed slightly. He asked, "How could an outsider enter the Grotto Heaven? Why was there no announcement?" Halfway through his question, his expression shifted. He glanced at Xuzhuang and asked, "Martial Uncle, could it be?"

Xuzhuang nodded slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes. ’Who else could enter a Grotto Heaven so silently, aside from the Master Dongts of the three great sects?’

’But the Celestial Permanence Grotto Heaven now belongs to the True Form Temple. For someone to barge in like this is a blatant disregard for the Tai Su Orthodox Sect.’

Xuzhuang’s eyes narrowed, a sharp light flashing within them. He asked, "What does this Daoist look like? Is he in a simple Daoist robe with an ordinary face, or a Star-Pointing Daoist Robe with crane-white hair and a wizened look?"

Wen Ning, however, was taken aback for a moment. He replied, "Neither. He’s an old Daoist who looks like a beggar."

’Oh? Could it be the Immoral Taoist?’ The answer took Xuzhuang by surprise. After a moment’s thought, he said, "In that case, show him in... and remember, be courteous."

Wen Ning acknowledged the order and left. Xuzhuang then turned to Meng Fusheng and Daoist Zhang. "My two martial nephews, our guest is a person of esteemed status. It would be improper to receive him in a side hall. Please move to a side hall to continue your work."

Hearing this, Meng Fusheng and Daoist Zhang didn’t dare to delay. They cupped their fists in unison, acknowledged the order, and took their leave.

Xuzhuang nodded. Before he could do anything else, a loud cackle echoed from outside the hall. He looked up and, sure enough, saw the Immoral Taoist striding in. The man glanced around, clicked his tongue, and remarked, "Xu the Kid, this may be a Grotto Heaven, but it’s awfully crude."

Xuzhuang didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he rose and bowed. "This junior greets Zhenren."

After the Immoral Taoist nodded and sprawled brazenly in a chair, Xuzhuang finally spoke. "My sect has only been in possession of this Grotto Heaven for a few days. Please forgive its current state, Zhenren."

The Immoral Taoist chuckled. "True enough. You haven’t even set up your Tai Su Orthodox Sect’s Ancestral Hall. If you had, that rotten old Daoist outside wouldn’t dare to be spying so casually."

Xuzhuang nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you for the reminder, Zhenren. Construction on the Ancestral Hall actually began the moment my sect took ownership of the Grotto Heaven. We’ve simply been too short-staffed to formally install the ancestral effigies yet."

The Immoral Taoist waved a dismissive hand. "Still," he chuckled, "compared to the other grounds of your Tai Su Orthodox Sect, at least you’ve got a Grotto Heaven. That’s already quite an achievement."

Xuzhuang simply smiled at his words, picking up the tea set on the table to pour a cup for the Immoral Taoist. The latter took it and gulped it down in one go. "Not bad," he grunted in praise.

Xuzhuang smiled. "This junior brought these tea leaves from the sect. To earn Zhenren’s praise makes the effort worthwhile."

Without pausing, he refilled the Immoral Taoist’s cup and then asked, "Did Zhenren come all the way to the Celestial Waterfall Realm to find me because the tournament is about to begin?"

The Immoral Taoist shook his head emphatically. "Not at all... This old Daoist is just leaving the Profound Yellow Realm to lay low for a while. Hmm, figured I’d pop in and see what you, kid, are cooking up in this realm."

Xuzhuang was slightly taken aback. "May I ask, Zhenren, what great event has transpired in the Profound Yellow Realm that would force even someone of your stature to avoid it?"

The Immoral Taoist stroked his beard. "I figured you wouldn’t know. In the time you’ve been gone from the Profound Yellow Realm, the Bone Sect and the Celestial Abyss Sect have been beating each other’s brains out. As for the Nascent Soul cultivators who’ve died..."

He held up both hands as if to count, but then let out a frustrated grunt. "Bah! Let’s just say things have gotten seriously heated. If it goes on like this, I’m afraid even the Primordial Spirit True Men are going to get involved. Better to steer clear."

"Is that so." Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed deeply. "Why would the Bone Sect be so eager to stir up a conflict the moment they re-emerged?"