Chapter 382 - 206: Acting in Response to Change

Chapter 382: Chapter 206: Acting in Response to Change

Qin Dengxiao followed suit and bowed. Zhi Xing was not surprised by their arrival and said, "Greetings to the two Core Disciples. Please follow me."

The two of them followed Zhi Xing into the palace and arrived before the main hall. Zhi Xing said, "Core Disciples, please wait here until the Zhenren calls for you."

"Oh?" Zhou Jun was slightly surprised. It was not because he was unhappy about having to wait, but because the Sect Leader was an esteemed Primordial Spirit cultivator, whose predictions were always prescient and whose arrangements were always orderly. ’To summon someone only to make them wait... this is the first time I’ve ever encountered such a thing.’

The thought had barely crossed his mind before both he and Qin Dengxiao gave a sound of assent and waited with their hands at their sides before the great hall. Their wait lasted for half a day. It was not until the great sun began to sink into the sea of clouds, painting the sky with golden light, that they finally heard a sound.

They both looked up to see the hall doors swing open. A cloud of spiritual energy drifted out, and from within, a figure in white slowly emerged. His face was one they knew all too well, and they were both taken aback. They bowed respectfully and called out, "Zhou Jun pays his respects to Junior Martial Uncle Dao Miao."

"Disciple greets Master."

Xuzhuang’s gaze fell upon them. He nodded slightly and said, "So it is Nephew Zhou. Congratulations on forming a top-grade Golden Core. From now on, longevity is within your grasp, and the Great Dao is yours to pursue."

"..." Since forming his Golden Core, Zhou Jun had not yet seen Xuzhuang, but he inexplicably felt a sense of strangeness. Without time to dwell on it, he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your congratulations, Junior Martial Uncle. Without your guidance in the Daoist arts, I might have fumbled for a long time before perfecting my cultivation."

Xuzhuang just smiled faintly and turned his gaze to Qin Dengxiao, a trace of admiration in his eyes. "Dengxiao, I’ve long known of your superior innate talent and firm Dao heart, but whether you could truly achieve something, even I could not predict."

"Seeing you form a top-grade Golden Core today brings me great comfort. After you have paid your respects to the Sect Leader, come see me on Chongyun Peak."

Qin Dengxiao was momentarily stunned but quickly agreed. Xuzhuang knew they were there to see Daochen Zhenren, so he said no more, simply nodding and letting them enter the great hall. Only then did he leisurely walk away from the Cloud Palace.

Zhi Xing hurried after him for a few steps. "Senior Brother Xu, I’ll see you out."

Xuzhuang did not refuse. "Thank you, Zhi Xing."

Escorted by Zhi Xing, Xuzhuang walked out of the Cloud Palace’s main gate. The sky was already a dusky yellow. His spirits lifted slightly, and he smiled. "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the sect’s sea of clouds. I’ve quite missed it."

Zhi Xing smiled. "Senior Brother Xu, you’ve just returned from the outer worlds. You must be planning to stay in the sect for a period of quiet cultivation."

"Haha." Xuzhuang chuckled and shook his head. "Little do you know. Just now, the Sect Leader entrusted a heavy responsibility to me."

As it turned out, this Xuzhuang was his true body, having just returned from the Guangyuan Realm.

Xuzhuang had returned to the sect intending to cultivate in peace. He never expected that as soon as he arrived at the Chaotic Heaven Hall, he would be summoned by Daochen Zhenren. They had a detailed discussion in the main hall, where he learned of the plan for the Nanzhan Treasure Continent.

Furthermore, he held a rather crucial position in Daochen Zhenren’s plan—one he could not shirk even if he wished to.

Xuzhuang raised his head to look at the last rays of the setting sun and suddenly smiled. ’People in this world are just swept along by the tides, and even Cultivators are no exception.’ He had no complaints about contributing to the sect, but he couldn’t help but wish he could resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

"I’ll be on my way. Farewell, attendant!" Xuzhuang called out softly, then leaped into the clouds and transformed into a streak of qi, vanishing in an instant.

An hour later, Zhou Jun and Qin Dengxiao left the main hall. After bidding farewell to Zhi Xing, they headed out of the Cloud Palace.

Meanwhile, inside the great hall, Daochen Zhenren was lost in thought.

’Junior Brother Xu’s progress is much faster than I anticipated.’

’If that’s the case, should we be able to wait until Junior Brother Xu refines the third level and masters his profound art, this plan’s success would be all but guaranteed.’

Despite this thought, Daochen Zhenren frowned slightly. The divine wheel of light coalesced behind his head began to turn slowly, a sign that he was deep in thought.

After only a moment, Daochen Zhenren suddenly shook his head and smiled, muttering to himself, "So be it. Such conduct is unbecoming of a Sect Leader and a senior brother."

His lips moved, silently chanting something. An instant later, a brilliant light flared, and Mingjing Zhenren leaped out from within it. "Daochen," he asked, "why have you summoned me?"

Daochen Zhenren smiled slightly. "The plan has changed. I intend to... within ten years..."

"Hmm." Daochen Zhenren pinched his fingertips together as if performing a calculation, a hint of doubt on his face. After a moment of careful thought, he corrected himself, "After ten years, we will initiate our venture into the Nanzhan Treasure Continent."

"Oh?" Mingjing Zhenren said in surprise. "Didn’t you want to wait until preparations were fully complete before proceeding with this?"

Daochen Zhenren gave a faint smile. "Adapting to the circumstances is also a viable path. In a few days, I will request the Ancestral Masters to grace us with their primordial awareness and will formally propose this matter."

Mingjing Zhenren replied, "You are the Sect Leader. With you at the helm of the sect, I doubt the Ancestral Masters will interfere much."

Every generation of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect’s Sect Leader was nurtured under the watch of the previous generation’s Ancestral Masters, and sometimes even more ancient ones. Their temperament and innate talent were naturally beyond question.

And once the Ancestral Masters of each generation stepped down from their sect duties, they mostly busied themselves with cultivation, comprehending the Great Dao, and deepening their Dao attainment. Their attention to sect affairs would diminish greatly, and they would naturally not interfere lightly in the decisions of the current Sect Leader.

Daochen Zhenren nodded slightly. "Given the bond between our Tai Su Orthodox Sect and the Yuxiao Sect, it would be improper not to inform them of this matter."

"At that time, I will need Junior Martial Uncle Mingjing to make a trip to the Yuxiao Sect. If Yuxiao wishes to take the first step alongside our Tai Su Sect, I can facilitate it for them. However, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Yuxiao will also have to give their full support in guarding the formation gate."

Mingjing Zhenren understood. "Rest assured," he replied. "I will personally inform Lady Yuxiao of this matter. With her making the decision herself, even if the Yuxiao Sect has no intention of joining, the news will not leak."

Hearing this, Daochen Zhenren smiled. "Then I must trouble Junior Martial Uncle Mingjing."

* * *

After leaving the Cloud Palace, Qin Dengxiao parted ways with Zhou Jun and headed for Chongyun Peak alone.

Landing on the peak, he saw that the entrance to the cave abode was open. He stepped inside, only to find that it had completely changed. The first thing he saw was a White Jade Shadow Wall. Past it was a magnificent hall, at the head of which sat a jade throne adorned with carved feathers and painted beasts.

"This is..." Standing on the peak of Chongyun and having entered through his master’s abode, Qin Dengxiao wasn’t worried about any danger, just surprised. As he walked into the hall, a beautiful maidservant approached gracefully, curtsied, and said, "Greetings, Young Master. The Master has already given instructions. Please follow me to the side hall to see him."

Qin Dengxiao quickly returned the gesture. As he followed the maidservant, he couldn’t help but ask, "I don’t believe we’ve met, miss. Did you perhaps arrive at the residence within the last ten years? Has Master’s abode been renovated?"

The maidservant gave a faint smile and replied, "My name is Shang’Er. This is inside the Master’s magic treasure, the Du Xu Palace. Young Master will understand in time. We have arrived."

Qin Dengxiao had no more time to ask questions. He straightened his robes and followed Shang’Er into the side hall. Sure enough, he saw his master already seated on the main seat. Seeing him enter, his master nodded slightly and said, "Dengxiao, no need for formalities. Come, take a seat."

Qin Dengxiao still bowed first before taking his seat. This time, Xuzhuang phrased it differently. "Twelve years ago, I knew you had the potential to form a top-grade Golden Core. But to see you finally succeed still brings me, your master, great pleasure."

Xuzhuang knew Qin Dengxiao was confused and did not hesitate to explain. "What you don’t know, Dengxiao, is that I was actually cultivating in the outer worlds. What I left in the sect was merely a manifestation of mine. It was only after I returned to my abode that I learned of the events of recent years."

Even though Qin Dengxiao had already formed a top-grade Golden Core, he couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed. Any trace of pride and complacency he had just begun to feel was instantly swept away as if by a broom, leaving nothing behind.