Free Web NovelChapter 325: Chapter 324: Mutual Probing, First Hearing of the Spirit Realm
A Daluo Palace Master of unfathomable Dao Practice.
Twelve Sect Leader Level masters with profound Magical Power.
Daluo Palace had stunned the host of Demons and Ghosts who came to observe the ceremony. With the appearance of the White Spirit Mountain Master, Celestial True Monarch, and Ancestor Mie Yang, everyone knew that Daluo Palace had now established a firm foothold in Yongzhou.
When the ritual ceremony concluded, Daluo Palace invited all the guests into the rear courtyard for a banquet, while Gu Zhao personally invited the guests from Chaoyang Island, White Spirit Mountain, and Silent God Mountain to a private room.
As it happened, both Celestial True Monarch and the White Spirit Mountain Master had questions for Gu Zhao. Ancestor Mie Yang, who had originally planned to leave after the ceremony, decided against it and followed the others to the private room in the rear courtyard.
"Please," Gu Zhao said, making a welcoming gesture with his hand before taking the host’s seat at the head of the table.
To his left, in the seats of honor, sat Taoist Yan Song, Taoist Yi Hong, and Taoist Ming Yu. Further down from them were the White Spirit Mountain Master and Li Qingshuang.
To his right, Celestial True Monarch was invited to take the seat of honor. Ancestor Mie Yang sat in the next seat down, while Xu Yan, Wan Ping, and their entourage sat behind Celestial True Monarch and Ancestor Mie Yang.
Celestial True Monarch glanced at the low table before him. There was a pair of Purple Sandalwood chopsticks, a blue-and-white porcelain saucer, and to the left, a White Jade porcelain bottle exuding a rich, fragrant aroma of alcohol. In front of him were four cold appetizers—two meat and two vegetable: a plate of crisp greens, a deep crimson dish, a plate of meat in chili oil, and another of chopped chicken.
A Daluo Palace disciple in attendance stepped forward to pour him some alcohol, then stood respectfully to the side.
Celestial True Monarch peered into his cup. The liquid was clear and crisp, imbued with faint traces of Spiritual Qi. A glint flashed in his eyes and his index finger twitched, but he made no other move.
Then he heard Xu Yan gulp behind him.
The next moment, Gu Zhao raised his cup. "It is a great honor for Daluo Palace to host the three of you. Please, drink!"
Celestial True Monarch, Ancestor Mie Yang, and the White Spirit Mountain Master all raised their cups. "Please!"
Celestial True Monarch drained his cup. The Spiritual Qi within it seemed to be from a Thousand-Year Spirit Ginseng, but he paid it no mind. It was the alcohol itself that impressed him—its flavor was rich and mellow, sweet and clean on the palate, with a complex, lingering aftertaste. Its potency also far surpassed that of ordinary alcohol.
"Excellent alcohol," Xu Yan couldn’t help but smack his lips from behind, savoring the aftertaste. "What is this called?"
Taoist Ming Yu smiled. "This alcohol is called Wuliangye. It is made from five types of grain and fermented through thirty-six distinct processes. Our oldest fermentation pits have been in use for several hundred years, which gives it a unique flavor and a lingering aftertaste."
"I see. Thank you for the explanation." Xu Yan nodded again and again. As soon as the words were out, he poured himself another cup before the Daluo Palace disciple could even act.
Celestial True Monarch was left speechless.
Qiao Qian’Er wasn’t drinking, but she picked up her chopsticks, tried a piece of the crimson dish, and found it to be sweet and sour. Curious, she asked, "And what is this?"
Taoist Yi Hong explained, "That’s a cold tomato salad, which is sweet and sour. The dish next to it is a cold cucumber salad, which is savory and spicy. The lamb in chili oil is also savory and spicy, and finally, the roasted chicken has a five-spice flavor."
The corner of Celestial True Monarch’s mouth twitched. Just then, he heard Taoist Yan Song pick up the conversation with a smile. "Many of the spices, fruits, and vegetables here are specialties of Daluo Palace. We invite you to sample them and hope they are to your liking."
The White Spirit Mountain Master gave a slight smile and also picked up a piece of cucumber. It was crisp and refreshing; savory and spicy upon entering the mouth, yet with a sweet aftertaste. It was somewhat similar to the green-striped fruit of Jiangbei, but the flavor was even better.
"Daluo Palace’s foundations are truly profound. Not only are your cultivation Dharma Gates first-rate, but even this food and alcohol are anything but ordinary." Ancestor Mie Yang’s words were laden with meaning. "Truly, it is admirable!"
Gu Zhao smiled and shook his head. "Ancestor Mie Yang, you overpraise me. Silent God Mountain has a thousand-year legacy. I am not worthy of such praise from a senior as yourself."
Ancestor Mie Yang replied pointedly, "You may not be worthy, Palace Master, but the gods in this palace certainly are."
Gu Zhao merely smiled and did not reply.
His silence was a tacit admission.
Ancestor Mie Yang’s gaze didn’t waver, but he had already swept his perception across the room. The ordinary disciples were oblivious, but the three old Daoists to Gu Zhao’s left had naturally heard his exchange with Gu Zhao.
However, they too only smiled and said nothing. And Ancestor Mie Yang’s Dao Practice was so profound that he could even perceive their true attitudes in the depths of their eyes.
Taoist Yi Hong was slightly displeased, Taoist Ming Yu was faintly amused, and Taoist Yan Song showed a trace of faint disdain.
Ancestor Mie Yang did not get angry.
He was nearly a thousand years old, with millennia of Dao Practice; a true "old monster" long past the age of flying into a rage at the slightest provocation. Besides, while the foundations of these three old Daoists might be deep, their current Dao Practice was still shallow. He paid them no mind. The one he was truly concerned with was Gu Zhao in the seat of honor, and...
...the person, or perhaps god, standing behind Gu Zhao.
Since they had broached the subject, Ancestor Mie Yang continued to ask, "Forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of the gods within Daluo Palace. From where, Daluo Palace Master, did you learn of them?"
Gu Zhao gave an evasive answer. "The Dharma Gates we cultivate at Daluo Palace come from these very gods."
The corner of Ancestor Mie Yang’s eye twitched. ’Just as I suspected!’
The White Spirit Mountain Master set down their chopsticks, a look of sudden realization in their eyes as they gazed at Gu Zhao.
Celestial True Monarch also narrowed his eyes and nodded. "Palace Master Gu is indeed a straightforward man. In that case, I won’t mince words. Does the heritage of Daluo Palace come from the Spirit Realm Upper Gods?"
Gu Zhao: ???
Taoist Yan Song, Taoist Yi Hong, and Taoist Ming Yu: ???
The three old Daoists lowered their heads, reined in their expressions, and calmed their hearts, revealing no trace of their shock. They began communicating with Gu Zhao through the Thunder Seed.
’Spirit Realm Upper Gods! So there really is a Spirit Realm!’
’The mortals of this world are identical to those on Blue Star. They even have legends of divine beasts like the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. Bai Ke’s Celestial Fox bloodline is also very similar to the Tushan Clan from our records. The two worlds must be connected in some way.’
’We have legends of Ascension, and just as we suspected, they have a Spirit Realm.’
When they had decided on the opening day for the Daluo Temple branch on Black Rock Mountain, they had all agreed on a plan to display their strength and probe for information while interacting with this world’s upper echelon.
The strategy was to never reveal everything, to let others guess, to probe one another, and to discern truth from lies.
They never expected that just as the banquet was starting, after only a few probing exchanges, a bombshell would be dropped. The White Spirit Mountain Master, with whom their relationship was closest, hadn’t said a word. Ancestor Mie Yang, with whom their relationship was most strained, hadn’t revealed any information. Instead, it was Celestial True Monarch who dropped a massive revelation the moment he opened his mouth.
Of course, this was also probably because Chaoyang Island was the strongest of the three powers, meaning Celestial True Monarch had the fewest inhibitions.
Gu Zhao’s expression remained serene. "Why do you ask such a thing, Celestial True Monarch?"
Celestial True Monarch let out a laugh. "There’s no need for veiled words between us. Why feign ignorance, Palace Master? You possess top-tier Dharma Gates for Human Mage cultivation and a means of communication that connects directly to the Upper Realm. If you were to claim Daluo Palace has no connection to the Spirit Realm Upper Gods, you’d be telling a bald-faced lie."
Gu Zhao’s eyes flickered as he sent a low-voiced transmission. ’I was just wondering how that Incense Blessing Divine Curse suddenly vanished in the sky. You mean it actually crossed realms to find someone?’
Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Yi Hong both looked toward Taoist Ming Yu, who looked completely baffled. ’I had no idea either!’
