novelraw Chapter 465 - 246、Solidification [Exile Immortal] Immortal life, innate immortal qi_2
Chapter 465 - 246、Solidification [Exile Immortal] Immortal life, innate immortal qi_2
He was not yet five hundred years old, considered part of the same younger generation as Xu Xing, and also a Pride of Heaven. Yet, Xu Xing’s words made him feel as if he had aged centuries in an instant, like a flower past its bloom.
"Friend Yu need not consider himself a junior," Xu Xing began. "When I was in the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, I observed the Heaven, Earth, and Human Three Ranks. I still recall the Shadow Assassination Hall’s assessment of you: ’Sword slashes six demon generals in yellow sands, first among the Northern Wilderness Sword Immortals...’"
Xu Xing mused for a moment, a flicker of reminiscence in his eyes, and said wistfully, "Looking back, I greatly admired your distinguished style."
"Currently, I merely hold a slight advantage over you in terms of realm, Friend Yu."
"Given time, Brother Yu will catch up. A momentary victory or defeat means little."
As he spoke, he retrieved a sheet of golden paper from his sleeve and offered it to Yu Buzhou.
This golden paper was the Taiyi Dividing Light Sword Sutra, a gift from the Greedy Wolf Dao Monarch when Xu Xing first encountered him upon joining the Starfall Sect.
Although this Sword Sutra offered limited improvement to the strength of Daoist Cultivators, for Sword Cultivators, successfully cultivating it would cause their strength to surge, greatly enhancing their combat power.
"This Sword Sutra was a welcoming gift from the Greedy Wolf Dao Monarch, a token of gratitude for my Master, the Giant Sword Daoist Monarch, for his guidance in swordsmanship in years past..."
"I... although I cultivate both magical sword techniques and the Dao, fate had it that I missed the opportunity to practice this Sword Sutra. So, I shall gift this Sword Sutra to Brother Yu. Please consider it payment for renting the Cave Mansion..." Xu Xing said with a slight smile.
Cultivating the Taiyi Dividing Light Sword Sutra in the Dao Pill Realm indeed provided formidable offensive power, comparable to Daoist techniques of the Nascent Soul Realm. Unfortunately, its cultivation required the Light Mist Stone from the Xiaoyu Sect. Having fled to the Nanyan Continent, he naturally couldn’t obtain these stones, thus losing the chance to practice this particular Sword Sutra. Now that he had advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm, better offensive techniques were available to him, rendering this Sword Sutra somewhat obsolete; there was no need to pursue its cultivation further. It was best used now to curry favor. Buxu Zi had introduced him to Yu Buzhou, the Chief of the sect, clearly intending for Xu Xing to look after Yu Buzhou in the future. It was a matter of mutual benefit, one good turn deserving another. Xu Xing had already memorized the entire Sword Sutra, so he wasn’t reluctant to gift it to Yu Buzhou to foster goodwill with the Chongzhen Temple. Back when the Greedy Wolf Dao Monarch gifted him this Sword Sutra, he hadn’t required Xu Xing to swear a Dao Oath forbidding its private transmission. This implied Xu Xing had the right to decide its fate...as long as he didn’t disseminate it widely. Besides, the Chongzhen Temple and the Starfall Sect enjoyed amicable relations. Gifting this Sword Sutra would further strengthen this bond, benefiting the Starfall Sect as well.
"The Taiyi Dividing Light Sword Sutra?"
Yu Buzhou’s expression shifted. Merely hearing the name told him this Sword Sutra was of no low grade. Upon receiving the golden paper and quickly scanning its contents, an expression of profound gratitude towards Xu Xing washed over Yu Buzhou’s face.
"Thank you... Brother Xu, for your help."
He hesitated for a moment. Seeing Xu Xing’s sincerity in calling him ’Brother Yu,’ Yu Buzhou steeled himself against the implicit pressure from his Grandmaster Buxu Zi and, choosing to reciprocate the courtesy on an equal footing, addressed Xu Xing as ’Brother Xu.’
Buxu Zi raised an eyebrow. "Buzhou, don’t be impudent," he chided. Then, his expression smoothing into a smile, he resumed his conversation with Xu Xing.
After a brief wait, Buxu Zi led the way. The two of them rose on a white cloud, heading together towards the mountain gate of the Chongzhen Temple.
The Chongzhen Temple’s Blessed Land was quite different from that of the Starfall Sect. It featured numerous Daoist Temples and edifices, rather than cave-like Cave Mansions.
A group of several people arrived at the main hall.
Buxu Zi led Xu Xing into the inner sanctum. After reverently lighting Magic Incense before the shrine of the sect’s founder, he retrieved several Jade Slips. Infusing them with Spiritual Energy, he presented them to Xu Xing and said, "Daoist friend Xu, you gifted Buzhou a Sword Sutra. It is only right and proper that our Sect reciprocates. This is the legacy of the Chongzhen Temple. I hope you will accept it..."
"Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this?" Xu Xing asked, his brow furrowing as he retreated several steps.
This wasn’t Xu Xing being disingenuous. Rather, adherents of the Righteous Path were expected to maintain a certain decorum. It was akin to how The mortal Son of Heaven, upon ascending the throne, must observe the ritual of three refusals.
"To be frank with you, Daoist friend," Buxu Zi began, his voice heavy, "ever since my Senior Brother perished one thousand three hundred years ago, the Chongzhen Temple has been left with only a single Dao Lord...
"I live in constant fear, day and night, terrified that I will betray the trust of my Master and Senior Brother, leading to the Chongzhen Temple’s destruction at the hands of the Demon way..."
Observing Xu Xing’s demeanor, Buxu Zi nodded inwardly in approval. He paused thoughtfully for a moment, then sighed deeply and revealed his concerns.
"Daoist friend, you are a trustworthy individual and hail from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, a bastion of the Righteous Path."
"The Chongzhen Temple is but a modest establishment; you surely would not harbor designs of seizing it. That being the case, to safeguard against any unforeseen misfortune befalling me, entrusting the Chongzhen Temple’s legacy to you would serve as an additional assurance," Buxu Zi said, stroking his long beard.
Among the Chongzhen Temple’s disciples, only Yu Buzhou is reasonably talented, with a prospect of attaining the Dao Lord Realm in several hundred years. But that is merely a prospect. The future remains unseen by anyone.
Over tens of thousands of years, countless Daoist lineages in East Huangzhou have been extinguished. If the Chongzhen Temple does not make preparations soon, it is only a matter of time before it suffers the same fate.
"Fellow Daoist Buxu, you have presented me with a formidable challenge..." Xu Xing shook his head with a wry smile. He took out Ren Yuanrui’s secret decree and, with a flick of his hand, sent it into Buxu Zi’s grasp.
He sighed ruefully. "I owe an immense debt of gratitude to my Sect and bear the heavy responsibility of its revival. To take on the Chongzhen Temple as well... this is truly difficult! Truly difficult!"
In his Fate Deduction, Buxu Zi had only invited him to reside in the Chongzhen Temple’s Blessed Land, not offered him its inheritance.