Free Web NovelChapter 80: Chapter 53: Setting Out
Two months passed in a flash, and the appointed day soon arrived. Xuzhuang descended from the clouds, landing on Su Zhen Peak.
A peak’s style was indeed a reflection of its Peak Master. Compared to Chongyun Peak, Su Zhen Peak was another world entirely. Magnificent jade towers and gleaming, glazed palaces rose one after another along the mountain’s contours, with countless Daoists cultivating within.
Immortal cranes and great rocs, White Deer and Jade Rabbits—all manner of Spiritual Birds and Beasts roamed the mountainside, completely unafraid of strangers.
Xuzhuang’s streak of light dissipated as he landed before the most exquisite and magnificent Traveling Palace on the peak. Two Daoist Children guarding the entrance hurried over, bowed respectfully, and called out in unison, "Junior Martial Uncle Xu."
Xuzhuang gave a slight nod. One of the Daoist Children stepped forward and said, "This way, please, Junior Martial Uncle."
Xuzhuang followed the Daoist Child through the main gate, crossing through several halls before arriving in a grand chamber. Three people were already inside, deep in conversation. At the head of the room was, of course, Sun Suzhen. Perhaps because of the impending journey, he had changed into a Daoist Robe.
Seated to the right was a young Daoist wearing a Lotus Crown and a Crane Robe, leisurely sipping tea.
To the left sat a woman with a Sword Box on her back. Her long hair was casually pinned up, with a few strands falling across her forehead. Her face was ashen, without a trace of makeup, and her phoenix eyes held a heart-wrenching exhaustion.
As Xuzhuang entered the hall, all three looked over. Sun Suzhen rose and said, "Junior Brother Xu, you’re here." He then gestured for Xuzhuang to take a seat.
Xuzhuang clasped his hands in acknowledgment and took the offered seat. Before he had even settled, the young Daoist beside him clasped his own hands and said with a wide smile, "Junior Brother Xu, I’ve heard so much about you."
Xuzhuang returned the gesture, clasping his hands. "And you are, Senior Brother...?"
Before the Crane Robe Taoist could speak, Sun Suzhen interjected, "This is Senior Brother Zhe Junyang. He reached the Golden Core realm long before either of us."
The Tai Su Sect had countless members. Besides the True Disciples, there was no shortage of mid- to low-tier Golden Core Cultivators. Naturally, Xuzhuang had never heard the name before. He simply said, "Ah, so it’s Senior Brother Yue."
Zhe Junyang didn’t seem to mind, just letting out a hearty laugh. Sun Suzhen then introduced the woman with the Sword Box to Xuzhuang. "This is the Sword Step Master, Senior Sister Bu."
"Oh?" ’So this exhausted woman is the sect’s True Disciple, the Sword Step Master.’ Xuzhuang had seen her name in the jade records long ago and knew she was a woman, but he had never imagined she would look like this. He clasped his hands and said, "Senior Sister Bu."
The Sword Step Master merely nodded, her demeanor icy. Xuzhuang paid it no mind and turned back to make small talk with Sun Suzhen. Zhe Junyang also chimed in from time to time, keeping the atmosphere from growing quiet.
After a few more moments, the sound of two sets of footsteps suddenly came from outside. Xuzhuang looked toward the sound to see a Daoist Child leading a young man into the hall.
The man had shoulder-length hair that was a shocking snow-white, a stark contrast to the black robe he wore. His features were cold and severe, his posture ramrod straight. To look at him was not to see a person, but to behold a sharpened, unsheathed sword.
Just as Xuzhuang was forming a suspicion, Sun Suzhen was already on his feet to greet the newcomer, his posture showing a surprising degree of reverence. He bowed and said, "Senior Brother Yue."
’It really is Yue Junlan!’
Yue Junlan nodded. Sun Suzhen guided him to a seat and began the introductions.
A somewhat constrained expression appeared on Zhe Junyang’s face. "Cousin," he said. Yue Junlan merely offered a slight nod in return.
When Sun Suzhen introduced the Sword Step Master, she and Yue Junlan also merely exchanged nods. It was only when Sun Suzhen introduced Xuzhuang that, before Xuzhuang could even speak, Yue Junlan’s gaze landed on him.
"Xuzhuang. I only recently heard about your affair," Yue Junlan said flatly. "These so-called great families are nothing but a pack of petty, short-sighted parasites who refuse to better themselves. They’ve turned the sect into a cesspool. If I ever achieve the Primordial Spirit realm and take leadership of the sect, I will restore order and put an end to this chaos."
"Er..." At this, Zhe Junyang, who was sitting nearby, could only manage a wry smile.
"If you run into any more trouble in the future, feel free to come and find me," Yue Junlan added.
Xuzhuang rubbed his nose. "Thank you, Senior Brother," he said, not knowing what else to say.
The moment Yue Junlan arrived, he seemed to take charge of the room. He turned to Sun Suzhen and said, "Junior Brother Sun, when can we depart? After this is over, I must begin preparing my breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm. Let’s resolve this as quickly as possible."
Sun Suzhen grinned. "With Senior Brother Yue here, I’m sure it won’t take much effort at all." He rubbed his chin. "However, there is one more thing before we go."
As he spoke, he took a White Jade Box from his sleeve, opened it carefully, and produced a stack of talismans. He smiled. "We still don’t know what kind of situation awaits us in that hidden treasury. But all of you, my martial brothers, have come to help me, Sun Suzhen. I cannot let you bear all the risk."
"These are talismans I specially requested from an elder. I hope... well, actually, I hope we won’t have any need for them! Haha."
With that, he distributed the talismans, giving three to each person. "This," he explained, "is a Breaking Charm. It will be useful if you get trapped in some kind of restrictive spell or Array. This is a Vertical Earth Golden Light Talisman. With it, you can escape tens of thousands of miles in a quarter of an hour. And this is a Qi Zhen Gang Yuan Spell, a Sixth Rank Body Protection Taoist Skill..."
Naturally, no one present refused. Even Yue Junlan, who didn’t so much as glance at the talismans, accepted them and tucked them into his sleeve.
Xuzhuang accepted them readily as well. After a careful examination, he could tell they were Daoist Talismans refined by a Nascent Soul Venerable at the very least.
Seeing that everyone had accepted the talismans, Sun Suzhen said, "Excellent! We have a long journey ahead, so let’s depart immediately."
"Agreed," the others replied.
Sun Suzhen let out a hearty laugh. Without even rising from his seat, his hand suddenly formed an incantation seal. "Rise!" he commanded.
The entire palace immediately began to tremble. The teacups on the table rattled against each other with a chiming sound. A moment later, everything grew steady again.
But Xuzhuang, of course, could sense that the entire Traveling Palace had already ascended into the clouds. It flew out of the Tai Su Sect at a considerable speed, and before long, it had passed beyond Yunmeng Marsh, heading ever westward.
—
In some unknown, chaotic void, a dark streak of light tore through the drifting, gloomy mist. It found a floating palace and descended. The light faded to reveal the Wumei Daoist, a man with sunken eyes, a sinister face, and no eyebrows.
He had just landed when the faint sounds of debauchery drifted out from the palace. The Wumei Daoist’s expression darkened. He projected his voice inside, and not long after, the noise within ceased.
Only then did the Wumei Daoist stride inside. He cast his gaze about and saw a jade-faced young man lying completely naked and languidly upon a massive jade couch, a sheet of fine silk pulled halfway over his body.
The Wumei Daoist’s brow furrowed. "Tantai Jing!" he snapped. "We’re about to move out, and you’re still fooling around! If you jeopardize the Zhenren’s grand plan, we’ll see how you answer for it."
Tantai Jing just laughed. "I was merely relaxing my mind a bit. What’s the delay in that? Did it hold things up as much as Senior Brother Zuo deciding to test the Tai Su Sect on his own, only to be beaten half to death by Han Wang?"
The corner of the Wumei Daoist’s mouth twitched. He said, displeased, "Han Wang was struck by my Nether Origin Filthy Divine Qi. You think he got off easy?"
"Heh. Senior Brother Zuo’s Nether Origin Filthy Divine Qi, which took you a hundred bitter years to refine, is certainly formidable. I just wonder how much of it you have left after your fight with Han Wang? Is it still enough to complete our assignment?"
"Shut your mouth. I can’t be bothered to bicker with you," the Wumei Daoist said grimly. "Senior Brother Wei has given the order. We are to rendezvous at his position within the hour and depart immediately." With that, he flicked his sleeve, and with a WHOOSH of rushing air, his escape light flared to life, and he shot back out the door.
"Pah." Tantai Jing spat on the floor. "A thing as stupid as a pig, trying to pull rank on me."
