Free Web NovelChapter 293: Chapter 292: The Old Daoists’ Suspicions and Expectations
Gu Zhao made a loop around Taiqing Palace but found no sign of Taoist Huai Yi, nor any other Daoists who had cultivated Inner Breath True Qi.
’Fair enough. This was becoming a regular occurrence.’
An accomplished Daoist, even one willing to walk the mortal world, wouldn’t stoop to working as service staff in a tourist attraction.
So, Gu Zhao left Taiqing Palace and walked over to Shangqing Palace.
While Taiqing Palace was situated by the sea, Shangqing Palace was high up on the slopes of Lao Mountain. Its remote location meant fewer tourists, making the environment serene and pleasant.
Shangqing Palace was small, just a simple, single-courtyard building. But the moment Gu Zhao stepped through the gate, his eyes narrowed, and he glanced toward the palace’s rear entrance.
The Thunder Seed in his Sea of Consciousness stirred excitedly—a reaction it had when it encountered a suitable person. More importantly, the feedback it sent Gu Zhao indicated there wasn’t just one, but several.
This took Gu Zhao by surprise. ’I can’t believe this little Shangqing Palace is hiding so many masters.’
Gu Zhao lit three incense sticks and paid his respects to the Three Officials and the Jade Emperor. Then, he crossed the small courtyard and went out the back gate of Shangqing Palace. A stone staircase, wide enough for two people, snaked its way up the mountain.
Not far from Shangqing Palace, the staircase forked off, leading to a clearing in the woods where three pavilions and two covered walkways had been built as a rest area.
Gu Zhao could see clearly that five Daoists were seated in one of the pavilions. A teapot and cups sat on the stone table between them as they drank tea and chatted, looking perfectly at ease.
But more importantly, all five of them were Daoists who had cultivated Inner Breath True Qi. In terms of numbers, it was the largest group he’d seen since the great gathering of the True Dao at the Zhenwu Mountain Martial Arts Festival.
’All of them gathered together... this certainly makes things easier for me.’ Gu Zhao couldn’t help but smile. He scanned his surroundings and nodded.
The Taoist Office kept a census of all Daoists in the country who had cultivated True Qi, but for various reasons, their list was incomplete. Taoist Huai Yi, for instance, had not been counted.
Of the five people before him, only three were on the Taoist Office’s official list—and that was including Taoist Huai Yi.
They were Taoist Huai Yi of the Golden Mountain Sect, Taoist Tai Xian of the Sui Mountain Sect, and Taoist Xu Ning of the Pure Sect.
Taoist Huai Yi was gaunt and thin, Taoist Tai Xian was broad and stout, and Taoist Xu Ning looked like a wizened little old lady.
That’s right—Taoist Xu Ning was a female Daoist.
’I have to say, the Purifying and Calming Wanderer’s *Chongyang Primordial Monarch’s Alchemy Secret Manual* must be quite suitable for female cultivators, huh?’
As for the other two, one was an old Daoist similar to Taoist Huai Yi, though he looked a bit younger. He had a short beard, the Divine Light in his eyes was contained, and he projected a calm, dignified air. Though he rarely spoke, it was clear at a glance that he was a man who knew his own mind.
The last one was rather unexpected for Gu Zhao—a stunning beauty with flawless features and an endlessly graceful bearing.
She was tall and slender, and her natural charm was apparent even through her Daoist robes. Her hair was held up with a simple Daoist hairpin, she wore a touch of light makeup, and her exquisite eyes seemed to shimmer like water. If someone snapped a few photos of her from the right angle, they wouldn’t even need editing; posting them on some social media platform with a #DaoistLady tag would attract swarms of admirers.
Gu Zhao found it hard to imagine how such a stunning woman had managed to cultivate such profound and pure Taoist True Qi—enough to cause a stir from his Thunder Seed.
Gu Zhao gave them a casual glance, then walked over to another pavilion and sat down. He took out a bottle of water, had a drink, and then leaned back to enjoy the distant sea view, appearing to be just another resting hiker.
The two pavilions were separated by a covered walkway more than ten meters long, so normal conversation couldn’t possibly be overheard. The Daoists gave Gu Zhao a single glance, paid him no mind, and continued their chat.
The beautiful Daoist refilled their cups.
Taoist Huai Yi smiled and nodded his thanks before taking a sip of his tea.
Taoist Tai Xian spoke in a deep voice. "I asked around at the Taoist Association. The Taoist Cultural Exchange Support Office isn’t affiliated with them. It’s an agency that reports directly to Yandu. The Association doesn’t know the specifics either."
Taoist Huai Yi nodded. "The Protective Talismans they carry are incredibly powerful. It sensed a malevolent aura and activated on its own, sending that guy flying. If you ask me, that foreigner will be bedridden for at least six months."
Taoist Tai Xian patted his stomach, picked up his cup, and took a drink. "A census of the True Dao, managing the Tao Scriptures, foreign Mages, Protective Talismans... what is happening to the world?"
Taoist Xu Ning glanced at the beautiful Daoist beside her and said to the others, "Perhaps that video from Huaqi Country is real."
Taoist Huai Yi, who never went online, couldn’t help but ask, "What video?"
The beautiful Daoist picked up her phone from the table, pulled up a video, and showed it to them. It was the footage of the Five-Colored Thunderclouds and the golden silhouette over Berkeley.
Taoist Tai Xian frowned. "You can’t be serious. How could this possibly be real?"
Taoist Xu Ning asked, "Then how do you explain everything that’s been happening lately?"
Taoist Tai Xian waved his hand dismissively. "But this is just too far-fetched."
The beautiful Daoist shook her head, her voice serene. "A classmate of mine in Huaqi Country sent me a message. That building really was destroyed, and some local sanitation workers witnessed what was in the video with their own eyes."
Taoist Tai Xian clicked his tongue. He still wasn’t convinced, but he fell silent.
The short-bearded Daoist, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke. "Taoist Yi Hong of White Cloud Temple has disappeared."
"What?" The others turned to look at him.
"Taoist Ming Yu and Taoist Ming Chong of the Celestial Master’s Mansion have also disappeared," the short-bearded Daoist continued.
The expressions of the others grew taut.
"Though ’disappeared’ might not be the most precise term," the short-bearded Daoist said thoughtfully. "Sometime ago, they organized and established a Taoist Research Institute in Yangcheng. It was registered under the Taoist Association’s name, but not under its jurisdiction."
"But not long after, the institute’s official designation was transferred away from the Taoist Association," the short-bearded Daoist went on. "Since then, none of them have appeared at any of White Cloud Temple’s events or the Celestial Master’s Mansion’s rituals."
The others exchanged glances, then looked again at the video on the beautiful Daoist’s phone.
Taoist Huai Yi couldn’t help but pull out a cigarette and hold it under his nose to smell it. "You don’t actually think that’s Taoist Ming Yu from the Celestial Master’s Mansion in the video, performing the Five Thunders Technique, do you?"
"I don’t know." The short-bearded Daoist shook his head.
Taoist Tai Xian jumped in. "And those people from the Taoist Office, the ones cataloging the True Dao, they won’t say a word! You can’t even find them!"
Taoist Huai Yi shook his head. "They told me we would find out sooner or later."
After a moment of silence, Taoist Xu Ning smiled. "It looks like some major change is happening within the Taoist Sect. There might really be a secret after all."
Taoist Tai Xian frowned. "Related to the True Dao?"
The short-bearded Daoist nodded. "Taoist Yi Hong and Taoist Ming Yu are both masters whose Dao Practice is deeper than ours."
Taoist Huai Yi smiled languidly. "But we’re no slouches, either. Shouldn’t it be our turn soon?"
The beautiful Daoist poured another round of tea. "If seeking yields no answers, then all we can do is wait in peace."
The old Daoists all laughed at her words. Taoist Huai Yi said appreciatively, "Jingyi, you truly have a wonderful temperament. The Pure Sect has a worthy successor!"
