Chapter 255 - 143: A Hidden Dragon Enters the Abyss, Stirring Discord

Chapter 255: Chapter 143: A Hidden Dragon Enters the Abyss, Stirring Discord

By the time Xuzhuang left Langhuan Tower, night had already fallen. Two moons, one white and one purple, hung in the sky, and the countless stars shone with an unusual brilliance.

Xuzhuang tilted his head back to admire the sight for a moment before rising into the air. He transformed into a streak of rainbow light, soaring through the starry night and arriving at Chongyun Peak in a matter of breaths.

He heard voices coming from the summit of Chongyun Peak. Xuzhuang looked over and saw three figures in the pavilion at the peak’s edge: a young Daoist, a white-furred ape, and a woman as fair as jade. They were drinking wine beneath the twin moons.

To be more precise, it was Yuan Hao and Qin Dengxiao who were drinking. Xue Yuren sat primly on her stool. Though a cup of wine was placed before her, she hadn’t touched it. Instead, she seemed to be in a daze, gazing at the night sky, which was so starkly different from that of the Celestial Waterfall Realm.

Yuan Hao and Qin Dengxiao had just finished a round. As Yuan Hao began to pour more wine, he noted that while Qin Dengxiao’s expression was calm, ’he seems to have some worries on his mind’. Qin Dengxiao raised his cup and drained it in one go.

Xuzhuang had not intended to reveal himself, but upon seeing this, his brow furrowed. He sensed something was amiss. With a change of heart, he materialized, descended from the clouds, and strode into the pavilion.

Qin Dengxiao was a new disciple Xuzhuang had recently accepted. Xuzhuang had permitted him to establish a residence and cultivate on Chongyun Peak after returning to the Tai Su Orthodox Sect and being officially registered. It was only natural that he would become acquainted with Yuan Hao.

As for Xue Yuren, Qin Dengxiao had met her many times back in the Celestial Waterfall Realm, so they were also acquainted.

While Yuan Hao and Qin Dengxiao were drinking today, Xue Yuren had suddenly arrived on Chongyun Peak, led by a Daoist Child. Her arrival was a pleasant surprise for Qin Dengxiao, partly because he was happy to see someone from his home, the Celestial Waterfall Realm, but mostly because it signaled Xuzhuang’s joyful return to the Profound Yellow Realm.

However, seeing Xuzhuang suddenly appear, the two men were caught off guard. It was Xue Yuren who rose first, giving a slight curtsy and calling out softly, "Greetings, Master."

Yuan Hao and Qin Dengxiao snapped out of their daze, as if waking from a dream. "Your disciple, Yuan Hao/Dengxiao, greets you, Esteemed Master," they cried out in unison, moving to prostrate themselves.

Xuzhuang nodded slightly. Without any visible movement, an invisible force emerged and prevented the two from completing their bow. He then casually walked to the stone table and sat down. Glancing at them, he said, "Both of you, sit. This isn’t a formal occasion; there’s no need for such ceremony."

The two chorused their assent and sat. Xue Yuren hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod and resumed her seat, perching on the edge of the stone stool.

Though Xuzhuang never intentionally played the part of a stern master with Yuan Hao, the sheer weight of his authority and legendary status often made his disciple feel constrained. They had never simply sat together like this before. After sitting down in a stupor, Yuan Hao, on some strange impulse, took out a jade cup, placed it on the stone table, and filled it with wine for his master.

Xuzhuang was surprised but smiled. "I hear the fruit wine Hao’Er brews has earned quite a reputation within the sect. It seems I’ll finally have a chance to taste it today."

Only after filling the cup did Yuan Hao realize what he’d done. He jolted. Hearing Xuzhuang’s words, he didn’t even have time to feel relieved before he hurriedly said, "This is just something your disciple brewed in my leisure. If it pleases you, Master, I have several aged vintages in my residence. I will fetch them all to honor you."

Xuzhuang simply smiled at his words. He took the cup and had a small sip, finding it to be quite mellow and delicious. He didn’t refuse the offer. "Since Hao’Er is so filial, I will graciously accept."

Far from feeling the loss, Yuan Hao was overjoyed. He couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear, his ape-like nature showing through.

Seeing his reaction reminded Xuzhuang of something. "Hao’Er," he asked, "do you wish to take on a human form? If you do, I can write a letter to the Danxia Institute and procure a Transformation Pill for you."

Yuan Hao hesitated for a moment before replying, "Reporting to Master, your disciple is not at all uncomfortable in my ape form."

Xuzhuang nodded lightly. "Good." Although Xuzhuang himself was born with exceptional looks, he placed little importance on physical appearance. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited until today to bring this matter up with Yuan Hao.

That Yuan Hao was comfortable in his ape form was actually to Xuzhuang’s liking. He offered a word of praise and pursued the matter no further, turning his gaze to Qin Dengxiao with a slight smile. "Dengxiao, are you adapting well to cultivating here in the main sect?"

Qin Dengxiao, who had been listening quietly, immediately moved to cup his hands in a formal gesture. But he caught Xuzhuang’s eye and remembered his instruction to dispense with the formalities. "Replying to Master," he said, "your disciple is adapting very well."

Xuzhuang nodded in approval. "I can see your Daoist arts have progressed. I thought as much."

Joy flickered across Qin Dengxiao’s face at Xuzhuang’s praise. "The sect’s elders give sermons every month," he replied. "I gain new insights every time I attend."

Xuzhuang smiled slightly. "I suspect there’s more to it than that."

Although Qin Dengxiao’s aptitude was good, it wasn’t exceptionally rare. Xuzhuang had accepted him as a disciple primarily due to his outstanding character, not for any other reason.

Furthermore, Qin Dengxiao had already reached the peak of his cultivation stage back in the Celestial Waterfall Realm. While his foundation was expected to improve after he switched to practicing the *Tai Su Single Qi Scripture*, the depth of it now slightly exceeded Xuzhuang’s expectations.

Qin Dengxiao replied, "To accumulate merit, your disciple often undertakes missions for the sect. On one such occasion, I had a fortuitous encounter and consumed an unknown Spirit Fruit, which advanced my cultivation. But this was a benefit from an external object, not comparable to true progress in my Daoist arts, so I didn’t dare boast of it."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang nodded thoughtfully. His eyes blinked once, and activating his Dharma Eye, he saw something astonishing. Above Qin Dengxiao’s celestial gate, the faint image of a dragon was taking shape, roaming through clouds of vapor. It was still solidifying, a clear sign of accumulating fortune.

Qin Dengxiao had shown no such signs in the Celestial Waterfall Realm. Yet after arriving in the Profound Yellow Realm, it was as if a hidden dragon had found the abyss, or a flood dragon had reached the sea—his fortunes were soaring. ’The ways of fate are truly profound and unpredictable.’

After a moment of contemplation, Xuzhuang said, "It is excellent that you received such a blessing, but your mindset is even better. You must remember that only your own Daoist arts are truly yours. External objects can be made useful, but you must never grow dependent on them."

Qin Dengxiao replied, "Yes. Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"Mm." Xuzhuang took a sip of wine, then abruptly changed the subject. "And what is this restrictive seal on you?"

At his words, the expressions of both Qin Dengxiao and Yuan Hao changed. After a moment of silence, Qin Dengxiao answered, "Replying to Master, your disciple broke a sect rule and was confined by the Law Enforcement Hall."

Hearing Qin Dengxiao’s explanation, an unhappy look crossed Yuan Hao’s face, and he couldn’t help but speak up. "Reporting to Master, this clearly wasn’t Junior Brother’s fault! It was the Law Enforcement Hall—"

"Senior Brother Yuan." Qin Dengxiao frowned and cut him off. "Watch what you say, Senior Brother."

"It’s fine." Xuzhuang raised a hand to silence them. "Hao’Er, you tell me what happened."

"Master—" Before Qin Dengxiao could finish, Xuzhuang fixed his gaze on him and said coolly, "Dengxiao, you are my disciple. If you truly broke the sect’s rules, you will not only face punishment from the Law Enforcement Hall, but I will punish you myself as well."

Qin Dengxiao’s expression shifted. Xuzhuang continued, "However, if you have been wronged, I will not simply sit by and watch."

Yuan Hao was overjoyed. "Reporting to Master, a short while ago, Junior Brother Qin got into a dispute with a Yuxiao Sect disciple outside our sect’s grounds, and it came to blows. The Yuxiao disciple was no match for him and resorted to using a Thunder Pearl refined from a Fifth-rank Taoist Technique. Fortunately, Junior Brother Qin was quick-witted and wasn’t injured. In his anger, he then cut off one of the Yuxiao disciple’s arms."

By this point, Xuzhuang was frowning. Yuan Hao continued, "But unexpectedly, shortly after Junior Brother returned to the sect, the Law Enforcement Hall summoned him for questioning. They said the other party had come to our gates demanding that Junior Brother apologize. Junior Brother refused, even if it meant death, so the Law Enforcement Hall issued an order of confinement. I hear the other party is still here, relentlessly demanding some kind of resolution."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang’s expression was unreadable. He turned to Qin Dengxiao. "Is what Hao’Er said true?"

Qin Dengxiao sighed. "Reporting to Master, what Senior Brother said is true. However, when I cut off the Yuxiao disciple’s arm, I also used a Daoist Talisman. That’s the leverage they’re using against me."

"Leverage?" Xuzhuang’s eyes narrowed. He picked up his wine cup and fiddled with it, a cold smile on his lips. "What kind of leverage is that? Has the Law Enforcement Hall gone senile? Have they forgotten who they serve?"

The Yuxiao Sect and the Tai Su Orthodox Sect may be allies, but conflict is inevitable even among members of the same clan. It’s perfectly normal for there to be some friction between disciples of the two sects.

But for the Law Enforcement Hall to side with an outsider against its own... that is intolerable. ’I wonder what the real reason behind this is.’

With a low grunt, Xuzhuang drained the wine in his cup and rose to his feet. "I will personally retrieve the official Xiezhi record of this incident from the Law Enforcement Hall," he said coolly. "If what you two have told me is true, I will not let this matter rest."