Chapter 380: The So-Called Orthodox Daoist Sect

Chapter 380 -205: The So-Called Orthodox Daoist Sect

“Material: purple clay. Thirty-six layers of Celestial Spirit restrictions. It refines purple qi to form a resplendent robe, possessing defensive capabilities. Unbreakable by metal or stone, impervious to water and fire. It also has various wondrous uses such as flight, levitation, and transformation.”

Reading the message within the Zhang Jade Talisman, Xu Zhuang couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

The power of the Great Tong Golden Mirror was truly extraordinary. Not only could it appraise Magical Artifacts, but it could even list their many transformations.

Besides defense, the Purple Qi Xiaoyi did indeed have many other uses. This was a common trait for many cloud-based arts and Primordial Qi Tao Skills, and for low-level cultivators, its applications were practically endless.

Of course, for Xu Zhuang, aside from its defensive capabilities—which could be quite useful when bolstered by his own formidable Magical Power—its other functions were trivial. That was why he had never bothered to study its transformations in depth.

Rather than these detailed applications and transformation methods, Xu Zhuang was more interested in the other information.

“Date of creation: between 6,800 and 7,100 years ago.”

Xu Zhuang gently caressed the smooth body of the purple clay pot with three fingers, his eyes narrowing slightly. ‘Forged from ordinary purple clay, yet its restrictions could be refined to perfection. It has existed for six or seven thousand years and was even part of the Dragon Palace’s treasury. It seems every detail about it points to how special it is.’

But to Xu Zhuang, none of this truly enhanced its value. The only thing that mattered was the Sacrificial Refining Skill—the potential to upgrade it into a Spiritual Treasure.

And yet…

Xu Zhuang closed his hand around the Jade Talisman. “Master Zhang,” he asked, “why is the section for the deduced Sacrificial Refining Skill left blank?”

“Hm?” Mi Yuan Dao’s gaze shifted, his brow furrowing slightly. Master Zhang quickly cupped his hands in a salute. “My apologies, Fellow Daoist. It is a rule of the Upper Scenery Pavilion. I was also unable to see the deduced Sacrificial Refining Skill from the Great Tong Golden Mirror.”

“A rule?” Xu Zhuang’s gaze shifted to Mi Yuan Dao. “Fellow Daoist, can you enlighten me?”

Mi Yuan Dao said thoughtfully, “According to the Pavilion’s rules, if the Great Tong Golden Mirror fails to deduce the method, it would state so plainly, and we would charge a reduced fee. For it to be left blank, there is only one possibility.”

“The Sacrificial Refining Skill for this Magical Artifact involves an orthodox Daoist lineage.”

“Involves an orthodox Daoist lineage?” Xu Zhuang was slightly startled. “You mean this Sacrificial Refining Skill is a True Inheritance Daoist Technique from an orthodox Daoist Sect?”

‘If it really involves an orthodox Daoist lineage, then this isn’t about some taboo or deliberate concealment. It’s something that simply *cannot* be displayed!’

Why must one’s name be entered into the Jade Register upon becoming a True Disciple of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect? On one level, it represented the True Disciple’s induction into the sect’s official annals. Even if the Dao was passed down for thousands of generations, their successors could still find their name within the Jade Register.

On another level, an outsider whose name was not recorded in the Tai Su Orthodox Sect’s Jade Register would be unable to comprehend the profound Daoist arts within the complete True Inheritance versions of the *Tai Su One Qi Scripture*, the *Tai Su True Form Scripture*, or the *Tai Su Formless and Formful Sword Qi*, even if they obtained them. All they would see would be blank pages, or perhaps just scrambled, nonsensical gibberish.

This was not as simple as merely placing restrictions within the True Inheritance Daoist Scripture; it was a change on a conceptual level. How exactly this was achieved was something Xu Zhuang could not yet comprehend.

But Xu Zhuang knew one thing for certain: this was undoubtedly one of the inconceivable Divine Techniques of a Pure Yang True Monarch. As far as he knew, only a sect founded and protected by a Pure Yang True Monarch was qualified to call itself an orthodox lineage. This was the fundamental difference between an orthodox Daoist Sect and a common one!

The profound Daoist arts of an orthodox Daoist Sect were never at risk of being leaked. Without the proper orthodox affinity, one could not comprehend them even if they obtained a Superior Daoist Scripture.

Never mind that Xu Zhuang had already achieved Nine-Orifice Pill Formation; even if the fundamental scripture of the Upper Profound Sect, the *Profound Truth Supreme Treasure Register* which pointed directly to the Pure Yang Dao, were placed right in front of him, he would be utterly helpless to understand it.

For the Sacrificial Refining Skill of the humble Purple Qi Xiaoyi to actually involve an orthodox Daoist lineage—this was far beyond Xu Zhuang’s expectations.

“You’ve misunderstood, Fellow Daoist,” Mi Yuan Dao said thoughtfully. “Involving an orthodox Daoist lineage doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a True Inheritance technique from an orthodox Daoist Sect.”

“There is another possibility. The Daoist art in question may be a technique or skill that is recorded within my Spirit Treasure Sect, one that is also part of the legacy of a certain orthodox Daoist Sect. Although it might not be classified as a secret orthodox inheritance, the Great Tong Golden Mirror refrains from displaying it to avoid any karmic entanglements.”

“I see.” Xu Zhuang shook his head. So the Purple Qi Xiaoyi did have an unusual origin, but this hardly seemed like good news for him.

Given the pace of Xu Zhuang’s cultivation, if the Purple Qi Xiaoyi could not be refined to manifest a new form and be upgraded into a Spiritual Treasure, it would soon be gathering dust on a shelf, its usefulness at an end.

He hadn’t expected his sudden impulse to yield bad news. Xu Zhuang felt a strange sense of dissonance. It seemed his long streak of smooth sailing had lulled him into a sort of inexplicable arrogance, a state where he felt favored by fortune and expected his every wish to come true.

A chill ran through Xu Zhuang’s heart as he inwardly took stock of himself. He cupped his hands and said, “In any case, my thanks to you, Fellow Daoist, and to you, Master Appraiser.”

“You are too courteous, Fellow Daoist.” Mi Yuan Dao returned the salute. “The treasure has been appraised. Would you care to join me at my place for another cup of tea?”

Xu Zhuang put away the purple clay pot and replied, “Now that my business is concluded, I shall not impose on you any further.”

“Very well,” Mi Yuan Dao said with a smile. “But you should still take some of my fine tea with you, Fellow Daoist. I will soon be relieved of my duties to enter seclusion. If you visit again, I may not have the leisure to entertain you.”

Xu Zhuang smiled freely. “After we part ways, I too must return to my sect. I’m afraid I won’t be visiting again anytime soon. If you ever return to Profound Yellow, Fellow Daoist, I invite you to join me for a talk in Yunmeng Marsh.”

Mi Yuan Dao replied, “Excellent.”

——

After leaving the Upper Scenic Golden Pavilion, Xu Zhuang felt an even stronger urge to depart. Without dallying, he headed straight for the Tai Su Pavilion.

He walked around the jade pool and stepped into the pavilion, where he was met by the very same young Kun Dao who had received him on his last visit.

‘We haven’t met in ten years, and her foundation has improved a great deal. Her aptitude must be decent. I wonder if she was dispatched from the Celestial Dao Field or is a disciple from the main sect holding a post here.’

The young woman was pleasantly surprised to see Xu Zhuang. Only after he had left last time did she learn the true identity of this True Disciple before her. She quickly bowed in greeting. “Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle Xu.”

Xu Zhuang gave a slight nod. “Martial Niece, would you please inform him that I wish to see Steward Yi?”

A troubled look appeared on the young woman’s face. “Steward Yi is not in the pavilion.”

“Oh?” Xu Zhuang asked. “Then who is currently in charge of the pavilion?”

“That would be me.” A voice suddenly came from behind him. Xu Zhuang’s eyebrow twitched, and he turned to look.

He saw a bipedal Golden Silk Tiger—an orange cat—walking toward him. It wore a Tai Su Daoist Robe and a Pure Yang Scarf, with a peachwood Magical Sword strapped to its back. A reedy human voice issued from its throat as it chuckled, “So, the most prominent True Disciple of our Tai Su Orthodox Sect has arrived… Hmm, your looks are at least as exceptional as the rumors claim.”

Upon seeing the Golden Threaded Tiger Daoist, the young woman hastily bowed low. “This disciple greets you, Zhenren.”

Xu Zhuang was taken aback. This Golden Silk Tiger, dressed in their sect’s robes, was actually a Zhenren. Whether it was an ancestor of the orthodox lineage or not, Xu Zhuang dared not show any disrespect. He quickly bowed. “Disciple Xu Zhuang greets you, Zhenren.”

“Mm.” The Golden Silk Tiger Zhenren nodded sagely. “Dao Miaozhi, for what reason do you seek me?”

Xu Zhuang replied respectfully, “This disciple wishes to use the pavilion’s Celestial Sphere to return to the sect.”

He was, in fact, being a little shrewd. The Chaotic Celestial Talisman on his person was a blessing he had received when traveling to the Celestial Waterfall Realm. Since the Tai Su Pavilion provided a channel back, he didn’t want to waste one of his talisman’s uses.

After all, in the Tai Su Orthodox Sect, even the True Inheritance Golden Sword was a one-time, life-saving item. Once used, the sect would not bestow another. This wasn’t unique to the Tai Su Orthodox Sect; many sects operated this way. Giving their members the means to act recklessly would only do more harm than good.

“Hmm.” The Golden Threaded Tiger Daoist’s eyes lit up. He gave his whiskers a sideways stroke. “That’s easy enough. But before that, Dao Miaozhi, could you perhaps do a small favor for me?”

Xu Zhuang frowned. “What is your request, Zhenren?”

The Golden Threaded Tiger Daoist grinned. “Mizhen Daoist Mi and I have a little wager for fun. Perhaps you, Dao Miaozhi, could take care of it for me.”

Xu Zhuang’s brow furrowed in thought for a long moment before he asked, “Disciple asks boldly, but my mind is set only on quiet cultivation. I just want to return to the mountain and enter seclusion. May I refuse?”

“Oh?” The Golden Threaded Tiger Daoist scratched its chin with a paw and thought for a moment. “Fine. As a Zhenren of this sect, I can’t very well stand in the way of a junior’s cultivation.”

“Especially you, Dao Miaozhi. Many of the ancestors have high hopes for you.” The Golden Threaded Tiger Daoist shook its head. “Have it your way, kid. In a few days, a shipment is being sent back to the sect. You can just return with it then.”

Xu Zhuang breathed a sigh of relief and answered respectfully, “Thank you, Zhenren.”

The Golden Threaded Tiger Daoist waved a fleshy paw without another word, muttering to itself, “Now this is a problem…” It then wandered off, shaking its head.