Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

Chapter 274: Chapter 151: Mountains as Pieces to Lock the Spiritual Mechanism, a Demon Venerable as a Blade to Greet the Daoist

"Perhaps," Shao Ying said noncommittally. "After all, this man with the bearing of a millennium-old immortal once truly bested Zhong Shenxiu. He cannot be underestimated."

At the mention of Zhong Shenxiu, Chi Ming’s expression grew slightly solemn. In truth, Demon Sect Saint Children like them had cultivated for several hundred years more than Zhong Shenxiu’s and Xuzhuang’s generation, so a great reputation alone wasn’t necessarily enough to intimidate them. But Zhong Shenxiu was an exception.

After all, not long ago, this born Dao Zhen talent had made a grand show at the Demon Sect’s expense.

As the two were conversing, a questioning voice suddenly interjected, "Xuzhuang?"

Chi Ming and Shao Ying looked to the side, only to see a graceful figure elegantly walk out from a nearby mountain cave. From beneath a white veil came a clear and gentle voice, which asked, "He’s here?"

Behind her followed a Daoist in linen robes, with gray hair and a gray beard, who appeared to be in his thirties. Upon seeing this man, a hint of deep apprehension appeared in the eyes of both Chi Ming and Shao Ying.

Hearing her words, Chi Ming raised an eyebrow slightly and replied, "That’s right. Junior Sister Shi, you know this person as well?"

Shishi’s elegant eyebrows knitted slightly. She said, "I more than know him. I have a grudge against this person."

Chi Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly. He said, "Isn’t this perfect? That Xuzhuang is already blocking my subordinate elders from setting up the altar. Why don’t we go kill him together? It would be killing three birds with one stone."

One, it would remove the obstacle blocking the earth’s qi. Two, it would of course help Shishi settle her karma. As for the third, killing a renowned Daoist from a prominent orthodox sect would undoubtedly be a move that helps the demonic path flourish and the profound path wane.

Unexpectedly, before Shishi could speak, Shao Ying smiled and said, "If he wants to protect the Divine Wood Dojo, then let him. The ’thing’ has already been confined within our perimeter. The chances of it heading toward the Divine Wood Dojo were already slim. It will just take a little more effort on our part, that’s all."

Chi Ming said expressionlessly, "And what if he’s coming for us?"

Shao Ying replied, "Then we can deal with it when it happens."

Before Chi Ming could speak, his brow suddenly furrowed deeply. He sneered, "One of the Forbidden Altars my subordinates set up has already been destroyed. Are you still banking on luck?"

Hearing this, Shao Ying also fell into contemplation. After a long moment, he suddenly said, "Junior Sister Shi, what are your thoughts?"

Shishi gazed into the distance, as if her sight could pierce through thousands of miles of mountains to the Divine Wood Dojo. She replied, "This is a matter for your esteemed sect. You two Senior Brothers can decide for yourselves. I am merely here to assist on my sect’s orders."

Her words seemed to leave the decision to the two of them, but Chi Ming’s frown deepened. He remained silent. Shao Ying, however, asked, "It seems that even if the two of us decide to fight Xuzhuang, you won’t be helping, Junior Sister?"

Shishi smiled faintly and said, "My profound arts are not yet complete. If I were to face him, I would surely be killed. I am unwilling to take such a risk."

Chi Ming said coldly, "Junior Sister, are you implying that even with our combined strength, we are no match for Xuzhuang?"

Shishi just smiled and did not reply. Shao Ying, however, once again sank into deep thought. After a long while, he said, "If he truly has skills on par with Zhong Shenxiu, or even superior, then we might not be able to do anything to him."

"The two of you are giving him too much credit. How long has that Xuzhuang been cultivating? Just because his reputation is similar, does that mean his profound arts are nearly as complete as Zhong Shenxiu’s?"

Chi Ming said expressionlessly, "Besides, we have over a dozen elders under our command, all at the second-stage Nascent Soul cultivation level. With our combined forces, we still can’t handle him alone?"

Shao Ying said, "Numbers are meaningless against a figure of his caliber. The lesson of Julu Form is still fresh in our minds."

Chi Ming sneered, "That Julu Form thing only knew how to show off his demonic tricks. Does gathering a mob make one a true power? It’s only natural that he was defeated by Zhong Shenxiu."

Shao Ying knew that Chi Ming had always disliked Julu Form, so he paid no mind to his attitude, saying coolly, "Julu Form didn’t just gather a crowd; his avatars acted with a single mind. If even that was useless, the men under our command are even less of a comparison."

One must understand, this person, Julu Form, was born with the ability to seize the bodies and spirits of others, refining them into his avatars. And all of them acted as if they were his own body. It was truly bizarre to the extreme.

No one knew when Julu Form had infiltrated the Demon Sects, unseen and unheard. All four great Demon Sects had his avatars within them. He had even seized and transformed a True Disciple of the Manifestation Sect.

If he hadn’t, in the guise of a True Disciple, met with a Manifestation Sect Zhenren and been exposed, forcing his hand, the four great Demon Sects would likely still have been unaware of his existence. But strangely, the Manifestation Sect did not punish him. Instead, they formally listed him as a True Disciple, and it was only then that the name Julu Form truly became known.

If that incident caused an uproar among the four great Demon Sects, then the matter of Julu Form gathering over a dozen of his avatars to ambush and kill Zhong Shenxiu shocked them even more.

The Manifestation Sect True Disciple body that Julu Form openly used possessed several hundred years of cultivation, making him a contemporary of Chi Ming and Shao Ying. Among the avatars he gathered, there were actually two with Nascent Soul cultivation refined from Top-grade Golden Cores, along with over a dozen Mid and Low Grade Nascent Soul Body Cultivators. The strength he revealed was comparable to that of some medium-sized sects.

And yet, such a powerful force was defeated at Zhong Shenxiu’s hands, almost completely annihilated by him. Because of this, Zhong Shenxiu’s name, which had been quiet for a time, began to circulate within the Demon Sects again, instantly arousing the apprehension of many.

Chi Ming actually knew he had a point. He closed his eyes to suppress his displeasure and asked, "Since it’s like this, what do you propose to do?"

Shao Ying chuckled and said, "Chi Ming, it’s not that I’m afraid of Xuzhuang. It’s just that if we are to clash with him, we must be fully prepared."

Chi Ming said nothing. Shao Ying knew he had taken his words to heart and continued, "If he wants to destroy the altars, let him. In any case, we’ve already mostly succeeded. We just didn’t want to pay the price."

Chi Ming’s brow twitched slightly. He then heard Shao Ying say with complete confidence, "Once I release the Yin Mountain Venerable to cover this area, it can also serve to contain that thing. If Xuzhuang is bold enough to attack, it will be perfect. With the Yin Mountain Venerable’s help, we can definitely keep him here permanently."

Chi Ming’s gaze sharpened. He asked, "Do you really dare to release the Yin Mountain Venerable? Aren’t you afraid it will devour you instead?"

Shao Ying let out a light laugh. "The Yin Mountain Venerable has been subdued by me for a hundred years. How could it possibly escape my control?"

"Good." Chi Ming pondered for a long moment before replying, "Then we’ll do as you say. But since you intend to release the Yin Mountain Venerable, there’s no reason to use such a great talent for a minor purpose. We need to think of a way to lure Xuzhuang over."

Shao Ying mused for a moment, then said, "Do as you see fit. I’ll go and prepare first." With that, he waved his sleeve and his figure vanished in an instant.

Only then did Chi Ming turn his gaze to Shishi’s face. He seemed to study the expression in her visible eyes for a moment before saying impassively, "Even so, Junior Sister, you still have no desire to help us?"

Shishi lowered her eyes and said, "It is not that I am unwilling. It’s truly that my cultivation is insufficient. I’m afraid I lack the ability to participate."

Chi Ming’s gaze shifted between her and the Grey-bearded Taoist a few times before he spoke. "That’s fine too. However, if Shao Ying and I can slay that man with the help of the Yin Mountain Venerable, it would also be settling your grudge for you. Junior Sister, could you help me lure Xuzhuang here?"

Shishi frowned. "What would you have me do, Senior Brother?"

Seeing her intention to agree, Chi Ming nodded and said, "It’s a simple matter. Since you have a grudge against him, Junior Sister, you only need to show your face for a moment. I will then send a message inviting him here. I imagine he’ll have no reason to refuse."

At this point, Chi Ming sneered, "If he doesn’t dare to come, then so be it. That would just mean his reputation is undeserved."

Hearing this, Shishi seemed to let out a laugh. After a moment, she said, "Alright. We’ll do as you say, Senior Brother."

Chi Ming nodded and thought for a moment. "In that case, I also need to prepare some measures. I’ll take my leave first."

"Go on then, Senior Brother." Shishi gave a slight nod. Chi Ming did not linger and transformed into a streak of black light, vanishing into the distance.

Only then did Shishi let out a soft sigh and say to herself, ’How did Xuzhuang’s cultivation increase so dramatically? If this continues, and I can’t achieve great completion of my Nascent Soul before he does, I’m afraid I truly won’t survive this calamity.’

Her words seemed to pose a question, but she received no answer. She paid it no mind and was about to return to the cave when, after two steps, she suddenly asked, "Martial Uncle, can you help me kill this person?"

Only then did the Grey-bearded Taoist’s expression show a slight change. He replied flatly, "My cultivation can no longer be considered within the Nascent Soul realm. If I were to act and kill him, I’m afraid it would trigger a formal conflict between our sect and the Tai Su Orthodox Sect."

Shishi sighed. "Since it’s like that, Martial Uncle, please just consider my words to be nonsense."

The Grey-bearded Taoist was silent for a moment, then said, "True Man Yan Tian’s words are not always one hundred percent accurate. Why must you care so much, Martial Niece? As long as you can maintain your own cultivation, there will naturally be no so-called calamity."

After a pause, the Grey-bearded Taoist added, "That Daoist may be exceedingly powerful for now, but whether he can achieve the Primordial Spirit realm is still unknown. You need not be so disheartened, Martial Niece."

Shishi simply replied, "This disciple understands."

The Grey-bearded Taoist nodded, said no more, and silently followed Shishi into the cave.