Chapter 265 - 148: The Five Elements Taking Shape, Demon Shadow on Mang Mountain

Chapter 265: Chapter 148: The Five Elements Taking Shape, Demon Shadow on Mang Mountain

Years in the mountains passed like flowing water. Before he knew it, early spring was approaching, and this was already the third year since Xuzhuang had returned to the sect from the Celestial Waterfall Realm.

After Xuzhuang dispatched the Dao Soldiers to the Chen Family, their Jade Sun Spiritual Vein was not harassed again by the Celestial Fire Yang Clan, perhaps because they saw it was guarded by Tai Su Dao Soldiers.

Perhaps the Celestial Fire Sect was still restraining itself, avoiding a direct conflict with Tai Su.

Afterward, the Chen Family registered many of their independent enterprises with the sect. In exchange for the sect’s protection, they naturally had to tithe a portion of their profits. For the Chen Family, this was not an ideal arrangement.

Therefore, the Chen Family did not register all their external enterprises. Instead, they consolidated their power, focusing all their efforts on protecting the core industries their clan valued most. As a result, their conflict with the Yang Family only intensified.

However, this no longer concerned Xuzhuang. He was aware that Yang Huai Venerable harbored a deep grudge against him for the death of his son. If Yang Huai Venerable ever came for him, Xuzhuang wouldn’t hesitate to settle the score.

But he had no interest in getting involved in the war between the Chen and Yang families.

Thus, for the past three years, Xuzhuang had led a reclusive life, focusing solely on cultivating his Taoist techniques.

Though he had duties at the Upper Affairs Hall, his Three-Element Dharma Body could typically handle them in his stead, so he didn’t need to attend to every matter personally. Other than occasional trips to the Upper Affairs Hall for meetings, he enjoyed a long-overdue period of leisure.

However, Xuzhuang did not grow complacent. In just three short years, all his Taoist techniques had advanced, especially the Five Elements Origin Fusion Art. As the fourth true technique he had chosen to cultivate, it had gradually caught up to his others now that it was his primary focus.

The Five Elements Dao was a fundamental Dao of the Mystic Gate, so his advancement in the Five Elements Origin Fusion Art benefited Xuzhuang immensely. Not only did his overall cultivation level increase, but it also enhanced his existing Tai Su Taoist Technique. This was the profound advantage of studying different yet related Daos—using insights from one to achieve breakthroughs in another.

However, as he mastered the Five Elements Origin Fusion Art, Xuzhuang had a subtle feeling that the goal of reaching the third layer and perfecting his Nascent Soul had grown even more distant.

Of course, this was within his expectations. Mastering the Five Elements Origin Fusion Art wasn’t as synergistically beneficial as mastering Tai Su’s three great true techniques—which had laid an incredibly profound foundation for him and constantly advanced his cultivation—but it did further solidify his base.

This small improvement raised the upper limit for perfecting his profound techniques—an opportunity countless Nascent Soul Cultivators yearned for but could never grasp. Since Xuzhuang could achieve this simply by continuing his cultivation, he certainly understood its value.

Having chosen this path, Xuzhuang was naturally prepared for the resulting delay in reaching perfection. Otherwise, he would not have chosen to cultivate another true technique after already mastering the three great true transmissions.

Aside from that, Xuzhuang naturally didn’t neglect his own Tai Su Taoist Technique or his Divine Communication Techniques. In truth, his cultivation was unlikely to hit a bottleneck even after ten or a hundred years of seclusion, let alone three. He enjoyed the process and planned to continue cultivating diligently.

One day, however, a Flying Book shot through the sky above Chongyun Peak and fell into the restrictive wards around his immortal’s abode.

Xue Yuren, hearing the arrival, went to retrieve it. She glanced at the cover and saw the seal of True Disciple Sun Suzhen. After a few moments of expressionless thought, she delivered it to the quiet room within the residence.

Xuzhuang was somewhat surprised to receive a letter from Sun Suzhen. Partly thanks to him, all the thirteenth-generation True Disciples had formed Top-grade Golden Cores, and in recent years, Sun Suzhen and Sword Step Master had both been in seclusion, striving to reach the Nascent Soul realm. As such, they hadn’t been in much contact.

He took out the letter and read it carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly. Sun Suzhen had indeed brought him some interesting news, inviting him to his residence for a detailed discussion if he wished to learn more.

After a moment of contemplation, Xuzhuang put the letter away, straightened his robes, and left the quiet room.

Xue Yuren was waiting outside. He called her over and had her fetch two formal gifts from the residence’s treasury, then left his immortal’s abode and soared into the clouds.

Xuzhuang knew the way to Su Zhen Peak well. Riding the wind, he arrived at the summit within moments. Sure enough, the doors to Sun Suzhen’s Traveling Palace stood wide open. Seeing no one waiting outside, Xuzhuang dispensed with formalities, transforming into a streak of rainbow light that shot into the palace. He passed through several halls and chambers before arriving in the parlor where Sun Suzhen usually received his guests.

Sun Suzhen was indeed in the parlor. With him was a young Daoist wearing a crown and his hair in a topknot. It was a familiar face: Sun Suzhen’s close friend, Zhe Junyang.

The two were sipping tea when the rainbow light burst into the room. As the radiance faded to reveal Xuzhuang, neither man seemed surprised. They rose to their feet, one after the other, and greeted him with a smile. "Junior Brother Xu, you’re here."

"Senior Brother Sun," Xuzhuang replied, retrieving the gifts from his sleeve and presenting them. He then turned to Zhe Junyang. "I didn’t realize you had already reached the Nascent Soul realm, Senior Brother. Please forgive me for not preparing a congratulatory gift."

Zhe Junyang waved his hand dismissively. "It took me five hundred years of cultivation just to barely reach the Nascent Soul First Layer. That’s hardly worth celebrating."

Sun Suzhen feigned a look of bewilderment. "Are you two trying to make fun of this Mage?"

Xuzhuang and Zhe Junyang burst into laughter. Only then did the three of them sit down. Xuzhuang added to the banter, "Senior Brother Sun, I saw Nephew Fei the other day. Her cultivation is quite impressive, and I hear she’s now cultivating in Dongzhen Hall..."

"Alright, alright," Sun Suzhen said with feigned annoyance. "I’m at a critical juncture myself. I can’t be the one to bring shame upon our thirteenth generation of True Disciples."

After the three of them had spent some time laughing and catching up, Sun Suzhen had them drink some more tea before finally getting to the point. "Today, Senior Brother Yue and I were discussing the reemergence of the Demon Sect," he began. "We mentioned that several figures, suspected to be True Disciples of the Demon Sect, have recently been spotted. I believe one of them bears some resemblance to the woman you asked me about, Junior Brother. It’s difficult to be certain, which is why I sent for you."