Free Web NovelChapter 321: Chapter 320: A Shocking Calculation
As Gu Zhao and Zhuo Qingyan came out of the small courtyard hand in hand, they happened to run into several Daoists from Lao Mountain returning to the mountain.
Daoist Huai Yi, Daoist Tai Xian, and Daoist Xuan Yong were at the front, with Daoist Xu Ning and Daoist Jingyi behind them.
Seeing the two emerge, the Daoists all bowed in unison. "Sect Leader, Miss Zhuo."
Gu Zhao glanced around and couldn’t help but smile. "Looks like everyone had a fruitful trip!"
Daoist Tai Xian stroked his beard and smiled, extremely satisfied. He, Daoist Huai Yi, and Daoist Xuan Yong had formed a team and basically went on a rampage in the low-level areas. No demons or ghosts could pose a threat to them.
Their Dao Practice was high and their travel speed was swift. They journeyed through the villages and towns of several prefecture cities, not caring about the quality of their targets. Whenever they encountered malevolent demons and ghosts, they would strike with overwhelming force. After two or three months, each of their Dao Practice Realms had risen by a full level.
Compared to those three, Daoist Xu Ning and Daoist Jingyi were more peaceful and detached. They focused on experiencing human society and natural scenery, eradicating evil while they traveled. Although their efficiency wasn’t high, they built a very solid foundation.
"Martial Uncle Zhi Qing, Martial Uncle Han Zheng, Martial Uncle Gao Yue, and Martial Uncle Xu Xing are all in the back courtyard." Gu Zhao pointed toward the rear of Daluo Palace. "Martial Uncle Yi Hong and Martial Uncle Ming Yu are there too. The welcome banquet will be held tonight."
Daoist Huai Yi nodded. "I’ve met Senior Brother Xu Xing before. I’ll go say hello."
The three old Daoists walked toward the back. Daoist Xu Ning said to Gu Zhao, "Daoist Jingyi and I brought seven or eight children up from the foot of the mountain. They are all poor souls who have lost both parents."
Gu Zhao nodded. "There’s a school in Cui Mountain Town that specifically takes in orphans and looks after their daily needs. The children brought by Earth Badger of Di He Feng are also there. Have them move in as well."
Daoist Xu Ning nodded. "So the palace has already made preparations. We didn’t know before; that was an oversight on our part."
"It’s all just minor details. It’s not strange that you didn’t notice, Martial Uncle," Gu Zhao said with a smile.
Daoist Xu Ning glanced at Zhuo Qingyan, whose eyes were glistening with moisture, then said to Gu Zhao again, "Daoist Jingyi and I will go get settled in."
...
That evening, numerous Daoists gathered in the rear hall of Daluo Palace.
Aside from Daoist Yan Song and Daoist Shen Hao, who were still dealing with the Demonic Qi at the foot of Black Rock Mountain, basically all the Daoists had returned to Daluo Palace. It wasn’t specifically to welcome the newly arrived group, but because the new year was approaching and they needed to discuss how to celebrate it.
After more than a year of development, Daluo Palace had grown much stronger.
Following local customs, they adopted a system of individual meal settings. Gu Zhao sat at the head of the hall with Zhuo Qingyan, while the numerous senior, middle-aged, and junior Daoists sat below, arranged to the left and right.
Gu Zhao looked around and did a silent calculation.
Twelve members of the Zhengyi Dao were present:
Daoist Ming Yu, Daoist Ming Chong, Daoist Zhi Qing, Daoist Zhi Xiu, and Daoist Changyi from the Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain Heavenly Master’s Mansion.
Daoist Han Zheng, Daoist Han Xuan, and Daoist Zhan Qing from the Sanmao Mountain Shangqing Sect.
Daoist Jing Feng and Daoist Jing Chun from the Mountain City Fengyue Sect.
Daoist Yu Zhang from the Feiyun Mountain Northern Emperor Sect.
Daoist Gao Yue from the Zhenwu Mountain Qingwei Sect.
Fourteen members of the Quanzhen Dao were present:
Daoist Yi Hong from the Yandu White Cloud Temple.
Daoist Yan Ling and Daoist Yan Qi from Qingcheng Mountain.
Daoist Jing Fa and Daoist Yunyang from the Eight Immortals Palace.
Daoist Jing Hong from Dragon Gate Cave.
Daoist Xu Xing from Zhenwu Mountain.
Daoist Yuan He and Daoist Yangshuo from the Lü Zu Temple’s Pure Yang Sect.
Daoist Huai Yi of the Lao Mountain Golden Mountain Sect, Daoist Tai Xian of the Sui Mountain Sect, Daoist Xuan Yong of the Yu Mountain Sect, and Daoist Xu Ning and Daoist Jingyi of the Pure Sect.
Two members of the Sanfeng Sect, which formed its own lineage, were present:
Daoist Qingyuan and Daoist Qingwei from Zhenwu Mountain.
Adding in Daoist Yan Song and Daoist Shen Hao, who had not yet returned, he hadn’t realized it until he counted, and the number was a shock. The number of Elders in Daluo Palace had now reached a full thirty!
This was all thanks to the selfless contributions of the demons and ghosts of this world. Gu Zhao silently gave a thumbs-up to the Golden Wind Divine King, the Yellow Heaven God, the White Bone God Monarch, the Netherfire Sect Leader, and the others.
"Cheers!" Gu Zhao raised his cup.
"Cheers!" the Daoists echoed.
Seeing the hall full of fellow Daoists, their hair white but their spirits high, the many old Daoists were filled with excitement. Daluo Palace had finally established a firm foothold in this otherworld.
"At last year’s New Year Grand Ceremony, Daluo Palace had just been built, and we only had five Elders." Gu Zhao smiled. "Now, in our second year, our achievements are remarkable and worth celebrating."
"I must ask all you martial uncles and senior brothers to continue your hard work next year and recruit even more fellow Daoists." Gu Zhao continued with a smile, "So that I don’t have to keep working so hard myself."
The old Daoists couldn’t help but laugh.
Daoist Ming Yu said to Daoist Gao Yue with a laugh, "I don’t know much about the Qingwei Thunder Skill. We should exchange pointers often."
Yunyang threw an arm around Zhan Qing’s shoulder. "Big bro will carry you!"
Daoist Yi Hong, Daoist Huai Yi, and Daoist Xu Xing chatted and laughed in low voices, enjoying their conversation.
Gu Zhao’s tone shifted, drawing the attention of the Daoists. "Although everything is looking up, as we grow stronger, we will also attract more and more attention."
"I had originally planned to hold the New Year Grand Ceremony at Daluo Palace again this year, but after annihilating the Nether Fire Sect, we’ve come to the attention of Chaoyang Island and Silent God Mountain."
Gu Zhao continued, "Silent God Mountain is one thing, but Chaoyang Island is a major power with an immeasurably long history. It’s said that their patriarch is a great figure comparable to the Sect Leader of the Xuanwei Divine Sect or the director of the Spirit Court."
The old Daoists all grew serious.
Of course, they had confidence in themselves. With the blessing of the Thunder Seed, not only did Eradicating Evil and Accumulating Merit accelerate their cultivation, but their own natural cultivation speed was also very fast.
They also had confidence in the Dharma Gates they cultivated. Taoist Skills were nimble and natural, profound and pure. In terms of Magical Power quality, it was superior to Demon Qi and Ghost Qi, and their combat strength was greater at the same realm.
As long as they were given time, sooner or later they would fear no one in this world.
Of course, the premise was that they had to be given that time.
They did not underestimate the experts of this world. According to the information they had gathered from various sources, the legends of this world spoke not only of a hundred years of Dao Practice or a thousand years of Dao Practice, but also of Ten Thousand Years of Dao Practice!
In other words, the top experts of this world had long lifespans and profound Dao Practice. When they reached the highest levels of cultivation, their Dao Practice was measured in tens of thousands of years!
If they were targeted by this world’s experts prematurely, it would be very difficult for them to handle it at their current stage.
"But the good news is that Chaoyang Island is considered a lawful neutral faction, and Silent God Mountain, despite its long history, also practices restraint." Gu Zhao recalled Deng Lingyun of Silent God Mountain whom he had killed last year; he had only wanted the souls of Mages.
"Therefore, I plan to hold this year’s New Year Grand Ceremony on Black Rock Mountain," Gu Zhao said. "The Demonic Qi at the foot of Black Rock Mountain has been almost completely cleared, and the Daluo branch temple on Black Rock Mountain is almost finished.
On New Year’s Day, the branch temple will open. We’ll invite Chaoyang Island and Silent God Mountain to attend the ceremony, interact with them a bit, and then we’ll be considered established in Yongzhou."
"Of course, for the New Year’s ceremony, I’ll still need all of you martial uncles to hold down the fort," Gu Zhao said with a smile.
The old Daoists cupped their fists in unison. "We will not disappoint you, Sect Leader!"
