Chapter 271 - 150: Demon Sect Saint Child, Divine Wood Treasure Seed

Chapter 271: Chapter 150: Demon Sect Saint Child, Divine Wood Treasure Seed

Seeing his expression, Xuzhuang’s eyes glinted. He asked, "Your injuries are quite severe, Junior Brother. Could they have been caused by a Demon Sect cultivator?"

Out of respect for a fellow sect member, he hadn’t pried into Yue Zilin’s condition. He had been wondering how two Demon Sect cultivators could have pushed them into such a perilous situation. Now, seeing Yuezixun, he realized the man was grievously injured. Yue Zilin was likely wounded as well.

Yuezixun gave a bitter smile. "Indeed. While Zilin and I were investigating the situation outside, we encountered Chi Ming, a True Disciple of the Demon Sect, and were injured by him."

"Chi Ming," Xuzhuang murmured, then asked, "Later, when you have a moment, Junior Brother, please describe this person’s Dao Skills to me in detail."

Yuezixun agreed with renewed spirits. Seeing that the two had finished speaking, Venerable Ju Mang stepped forward with a smile. "Zilin, Yuezixun, would you introduce me to this fellow Daoist?"

Hearing this, Yue Zilin replied, "This is Xuzhuang, Senior Brother Xu, a True Disciple of our sect."

"What? Xuzhuang?" The middle-aged cultivator behind Venerable Ju Mang exclaimed in shock. "Could he be the one famed throughout the Divine Continent for his thousand-year immortal grace, the Mystic Sect Daoist as renowned as Zhong Shenxiu, Venerable Dao Miao?"

A look of vicarious pride appeared on Yue Zilin’s face as he said, "The very same."

At these words, a strange light glinted in Venerable Ju Mang’s eyes. He cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist, this old Daoist has long heard of your great name. Seeing you today, I know your reputation is well-deserved. Thank you, fellow Daoist, for saving my Divine Wood Dojo from dire straits."

"You are too polite, Venerable." Xuzhuang cupped his hands in return and, without beating around the bush, said, "I came here to investigate the Demon Sect’s schemes. Venerable, could you explain the details to me?"

"Of course," Venerable Ju Mang replied. "After those Demon Sect cultivators appeared in Mang Mountain, they initially just surveyed the terrain everywhere. Although they occasionally committed murders, causing widespread panic, many people still held onto a sliver of hope."

"Oh? Surveying the terrain?" Xuzhuang’s brow twitched. He thought to himself, ’Could some branch of the Demon Sect be planning to establish themselves in Mang Mountain, like the Luoshan Sect? But this area hardly qualifies as an Immortal Mountain Blessed Land. Could it be they also possess the power to reshape creation, like the Taixuan Profound True Monarch?’

"Exactly," replied Venerable Ju Mang. "Those Demon Sect cultivators were searching for something unknown. They surveyed everywhere, covering a wide area at first. But after their search led them to this vicinity, they suddenly changed their approach completely. It was as if they were scraping the land three feet deep, searching every mountain and every peak. If they encountered fellow Daoists from Mang Mountain cultivating and those Daoists were unwilling to give up their mountain gates, they would immediately go on a killing spree..."

"So that’s why those two Demon Cultivators came to your door?" Xuzhuang asked.

Venerable Ju Mang nodded and pointed in a direction outside the Divine Wood Dojo. "They came searching from that direction, insisting that this old Daoist surrender the Divine Wood Dojo."

"The Divine Wood Dojo was passed down by this old Daoist’s master, and I have personally managed it for several hundred years. How could I abandon it so lightly? Naturally, I refused. The Demon Sect cultivators then tried to take it by force. Fortunately, you came to our aid, fellow Daoist, otherwise..." Venerable Ju Mang sighed softly and shook his head.

Xuzhuang nodded thoughtfully. After getting a more detailed understanding of the situation from Venerable Ju Mang, he said, "I wish to investigate the area those Demon Cultivators came from. Venerable, could you spare a disciple to guide me?"

Venerable Ju Mang hesitated. "Those Demon Sect cultivators failed to take the Divine Wood Dojo by force; they will surely return. Fellow Daoist, perhaps it would be better to wait for them here..."

"That won’t be a problem." Xuzhuang’s body flickered, and a Dharma Body split off from him. He said, "I will leave a Dharma Body here. Even if a Demon Sect True Disciple attacks, it can hold them off for a while, long enough for me to return."

"This...?" Seeing his firm resolve, Venerable Ju Mang could only agree. "If that is the case, we shall do as you say, fellow Daoist." He then said to his junior brother, "Go and bring Chang Chun."

The middle-aged cultivator acknowledged and left. A short while later, he returned with a young Daoist who had a calm and steady expression. The young Daoist bowed to Xuzhuang and said, "This junior, Chang Chunzi, greets the Venerable."

Xuzhuang gave a slight bow in return and said, "I will have to trouble you shortly, fellow Daoist."

Venerable Ju Mang had cultivated for a thousand years, and this disciple of his also had several hundred years of cultivation. Although he was a Golden Core Cultivator, his actual age was greater than Xuzhuang’s. Xuzhuang was not one to put on airs, so he addressed him as "fellow Daoist." Hearing this, however, Chang Chunzi looked alarmed and said, "Venerable, you flatter this junior too much."

Seeing this, Xuzhuang didn’t press the matter. He was about to take his leave from Venerable Ju Mang when the latter said, "Fellow Daoist, please wait."

He was seen taking a Cyan Jade Box from his pouch. He opened the lid, revealing six or seven wood seeds resting on a silk lining, each one like a jade bead. He said, "These are grown from the Divine Wood and are remarkably effective at restoring Magical Power. Please accept them, fellow Daoist."

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. Seeing the pained look on the face of the middle-aged cultivator behind Venerable Ju Mang, he knew these items were no ordinary treasure. He replied, "Venerable, what is the meaning of this? I am not one who acts for the sake of reward."

Venerable Ju Mang said, "Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. The Demon Sect cultivators outside are gathering in increasing numbers. Though your Divine Techniques are astonishing, I fear you may face consecutive battles. If you take these, they can serve as a form of support."

Seeing his sincerity, Xuzhuang pondered for a moment, then took three of the wood seeds from the jade box and replied with a smile, "I appreciate your kind intentions, Venerable. Three of these will be enough."

Seeing this, Venerable Ju Mang did not insist further and put away the jade box. Xuzhuang rolled the wood seeds in his hand to examine them. He felt a vibrant life force within them, and the wood-elemental qi was exceptionally pure. Just by smelling them, he felt a sense of comfort spread through his organs. Rather than a treasure for restoring Magical Power, these seeds were more like a supreme treasure for cultivating Wood Element Dao Skills.

A thought struck Xuzhuang. In his hands, this item might not be of much use for restoring Magical Power, but it would be miraculously effective for cultivating the Five Elements Primordial Union Art and the Five Elements Primordial Divine Light. Although Ju Mang was unaware of this, he had hit the mark by coincidence. Thus, Xuzhuang cupped his hands again and said, "Thank you, Venerable, for this gift of treasure."

Hearing this, Venerable Ju Mang quickly said, "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind."

Xuzhuang just smiled and said no more. He called over Chang Chunzi and said, "Chang Chunzi, please lead the way for me."

Chang Chunzi respectfully agreed, formed a hand seal, and rose into the air on a streak of cyan light. He led Xuzhuang through the Divine Wood Dojo’s formation gate and into the sky, then pointed in a certain direction. "Those Demon Sect cultivators came searching from this direction," he said respectfully. "How does the Venerable wish to investigate?"

Xuzhuang considered for a moment. "As we head in this direction, which mountain is inhabited by cultivators?"

Chang Chunzi replied, "About a thousand li to the northwest, there is a Languan Mountain. A Daoist Nun who has refined a Nascent Soul has established a temple there to cultivate. She also has nearly a hundred disciples."

Xuzhuang nodded. "Alright, then let’s head to Languan Mountain."

Chang Chunzi agreed and was about to lead the way when Xuzhuang suddenly called out, "Chang Chunzi, do you recognize this Daoist?"

Chang Chunzi was startled. He saw Xuzhuang raise a hand, grasp, and then toss. Chang Chunzi felt a surge of spiritual energy and a shift of the five qis. Suddenly, a middle-aged Daoist was plucked from an unknown location and sent tumbling through the air. With nothing to support him, he hastily activated an Escape Technique, creating a brilliant light that held him aloft and prevented him from falling.

He looked closely and saw that this person was also a somewhat famous cultivator in Mang Mountain, a Venerable who had refined a Nascent Soul. To be treated like a puppet on a string by Xuzhuang, captured so effortlessly, was beyond imagination. He took a few breaths to recover before replying, "This is also a cultivator from Mang Mountain, called Venerable Lengshan... Venerable, why are you here?"

Venerable Lengshan, having been suddenly seized by Xuzhuang, was terrified. He stammered for a few moments before managing to say, "This one was just passing by. Fellow Daoist, you suddenly brought this... me... here. May I ask for your guidance?"

"Oh?" Xuzhuang said with a half-smile. "I sensed someone spying in the shadows and assumed it was a lackey of the Demon Sect, which is why I acted to capture them. I’ve been impolite; I hope you can forgive me, fellow Daoist."

Venerable Lengshan hurriedly said, "It’s no matter, no matter at all. Mang Mountain is in turmoil right now, so it is only right for you to be vigilant, fellow Daoist..."

Xuzhuang said with a casual air, "Since you also know Mang Mountain is in turmoil, you should refrain from spying in the future. If you fall into the hands of a powerful Demon Sect cultivator, you probably won’t be able to escape."

Venerable Lengshan felt a cold sweat break out and was momentarily at a loss for words. Fortunately, Xuzhuang flicked his sleeve and said, "You may go." He hastily expressed his thanks, scrambled to activate his escape light, and fled.

Witnessing this, Chang Chunzi said doubtfully, "Venerable, that man’s actions were sneaky. It doesn’t seem like he was just passing by."

Xuzhuang merely smiled at his words. Ever since he and Chang Chunzi had passed through the formation gate, Venerable Lengshan had been spying on them from the side. Of course, it wasn’t that simple.

But Xuzhuang had no intention of stooping to his level, nor did he fear the Demon Sect learning of his arrival.

’A Demon Sect True Disciple? Will they come looking for me?’ Xuzhuang looked up at the vast azure sky, smiled faintly, and said, "No matter. Let’s continue on to Languan Mountain."