A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch

Chapter 226 168: Collecting Taxes in the Countryside, Reversing the Heavenly Gang (Part 2)

Able to heal internal and external injuries, clear meridians and muscle membranes, cleanse blood and flesh, and enhance physical ability, it is far more useful than the military ration wine of Celestial Water Prefecture.

I plan to present it to Brother Pei as a stepping stone."

Tao Rong's eye twitched; the True Skill Root Diagram is an essential item for refining the internal organs, nourishing the spirit, and reshaping the form.

Not to mention, the secret formula of Warfare Wine is remarkably effective for training soldiers.

"Brother Tao, surely you realize, we cannot stay in Zhechong Prefecture forever.

If we want to build our careers, we must ultimately go to the Six Towns, which are closest to the source of the Turbid Tide, teeming with monsters and rampant with evil. Many heroes are buried there; without a strong backing, venturing alone might end tragically."

Seeing Tao Rong's interest, Chen Zhao seized the moment:

"From what I know, Brother Pei is soon heading to Huaisuo and recruiting private soldiers. Brother Tao, you have been stuck at the Skin Barrier for years, hindered by the poor quality of the True Skill Root Diagram, unable to comprehend the divine form and begin refining the internal organs.

If you can lend me your hand this time, I can introduce you to Brother Pei. With your age and talent, you can climb higher without having to endure the Tao Family's First Branch."

Tao Rong was hesitant, pondering for a while:

"Brother Chen, are you sure you can get those things from Ninghai Zen?"

Why would the Four Cultivation Grandmasters pay attention to you?

If invoking the name of Celestial Water Prefecture's Silver Hammer Grand Protector Pei Yuanqing could hold ground, the Seventeenth Lineage wouldn't have lost four families a decade ago.

Ninghai Zen is notoriously indifferent to favors.

After all, he even expelled his own mentor, let alone others.

"Before departure, my mother secretly gave me the Sect Leader's Seal of Tongwen Hall. Although Ninghai Zen took over my father's position as Sect Leader and carried off the Three Major True Skills and Five Superior Manuals, the Sect Leader's Seal is a Dragon Elephant Jade, divided into yin and yang.

Ninghai Zen only has the Dragon Form, lacking the Elephant Form, remaining incomplete all these years."

Chen Zhao felt confident, his father being Ning's mentor, with the Elephant Jade as compensation, obtaining a True Skill Root Diagram and the secret formula for Warfare Wine is no problem.

"What does Brother Chen need me to do?"

Tao Rong was puzzled, considering Chen Zhao's thorough preparations, why involve him?

His martial arts level barely reached the Third Skin Refining Barrier, and being a Captain of the Brave Guard of Tianshui Prefecture, he was a notable figure in Yihai Prefecture.

But before the Four Cultivation Grandmasters Ninghai Zen, he was insignificant.

"Brother Tao, you command a battalion of soldiers, I hope you can do me a small favor."

Chen Zhao's mouth revealed a sly smile:

"I heard Ninghai Zen has recently accepted a new disciple; let's make some use of him. Suddenly visiting Tongwen Hall, Ninghai Zen might never meet me, you play the tough cop, I'll play the nice cop, how does it sound?"

Tao Rong's heart skipped a beat, this felt like walking through a mountain of knives!

One slight mistake, and he might end up shattered!

"Fortune favors the bold; you would not harm Bai Qilang in the slightest but just put up a front, giving Ninghai Zen a rude awakening, without risking your life."

Chen Zhao's tone was calm.

"Fine! At worst, I'll act humble afterward, apologize profusely!"

Tao Rong gritted his teeth and agreed; the Tao Family runs a rice shop business and lacks a substantial family legacy. The only True Skill Root Diagram is held by the head of the First Branch, inaccessible to a side branch member like him.

In other words, unless he is willing to rely on and wholeheartedly serve the Tao Family, receiving instructions would be difficult.

To advance further, a different plan must be made.

With the Silver Hammer Grand Protector Pei Yuanqing of Celestial Water Prefecture as a solid backing, if he could come under his wing.

The future would hold promise.

"Brother Pei prefers bold and daring men. Trust me, Brother Tao, good days are ahead!"

Chen Zhao was resolute.

...

...

"Uncle Dao, you mentioned earlier that there's a Tongwen Hall in Yihai Prefecture?"

Bai Qi was slightly surprised; Ninghai Zen had never mentioned it, but from the plaque of Yihai Hidden Dragon and the Sitting Hall Master's secrecy at the Inner City Martial Arts Association, it suggested some forbidden old stories.

"Indeed, it used to be called that, the Young Master smashed the signboard, then changed it to Chen's Martial Arts Hall."

Lao Dao idly cracked melon seeds as he reminisced, Young Master Qi, being a direct disciple, should know the origins of Tongwen Hall.

"The hall owner, Chen Xing, was the Young Master's mentor. After the Way was lost, during a thousand-year turmoil, countless legacies, schools, and Taoist traditions were severed.

Apart from the seven martial arts Upper Sects, five Taoist true sects, and Dragon Court, there were no complete advancement paths.

This completeness refers to the Four Major Practices of the Body Secret Realm and the Nine Transformations of the Divine Secret Realm."

Bai Qi's eyes flickered, indicating that the Upper Sect, Taoist Sect, and Dragon Court's Central Hub monopolized all upward paths.

"But some scattered legacies were rediscovered, emerging again to flourish. Tongwen Hall is such a case; its exact origin in unknown, only that it was unearthed during a once-in-a-century Turbid Tide surge."

Lao Dao, having followed Ninghai Zen for many years, was well-acquainted with these matters:

"Three generations of the Chen Family have never gained fame until it fell into Chen Xing's hands, whose talent was also outstanding, achieving Great Perfection in Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, Mercury Blood Silver Marrow, and Water and Fire Immortal Robe.

Unfortunately, the martial arts associations in Yihai Prefecture were exclusionary, not letting Chen Xing establish a signboard. He fought seventy-one matches before the association invited Celestial Water Prefecture's Four Cultivation Grandmasters to knock him off the stage. The name Tongwen Hall hadn't yet resounded through County City before it was dismantled.

According to martial arts association rules, if the signboard is destroyed, a hall cannot be established, resulting in Chen Xing being expelled from Yihai Prefecture."