The Blade-Wielding Legend

Chapter 1415 729: The Magic Artifact Completed, the Missing Scholar

Wudang Mountain, Purple Cloud Palace.

The morning bell resonated melodiously; it was originally time for the morning lesson.

However, at this moment, the Daoist who was passing on the teachings, along with the disciples, stood in stunned silence, staring ahead.

The incense and candles in the hall were burning fiercely, rolling blue smoke rapidly swirling, forming a vortex in front of the Divine Statue of Emperor Zhenwu.

An invisible pressure enveloped the hearts of everyone present.

Whether an elder or a newly initiated Daoist, all felt a tremor that originated from the soul.

"Master, could it be that some evil spirits have entered the hall?"

"Nonsense, how could that be possible!"

"Then, what is this..."

"This is a heavenly decree!"

At this moment, an old voice sounded from outside the hall.

There appeared outside the hall an old Daoist with a stout physique and a head full of white whiskers.

His skin was slightly yellowish, even displaying a hint of gold. This was the sign of a Mystic Sect Technique cultivated to its peak, but the dense age spots indicated that he was extremely elderly, having lived well over a hundred years.

The newcomer was none other than the Golden Toad Ancestor of the Purple Cloud Palace, Wang Daozong.

He was the father of Wang Jingxiu and the most respected figure on Wudang Mountain.

Back in the day, the True Man Sanfeng had several famous disciples—Qiu Yuanjing, Sun Biyun, Li Xuanzong, Wang Daozong...

After the Daoist of the Iron Toad at the Five Dragons Palace achieved soldier relief, this old Daoist remained the last of the original generation.

"Greetings, patriarch!"

The crowd, upon seeing this, knelt down in unison, prostrating themselves in shock.

The Golden Toad Ancestor had been secluded in the rear courtyard, rarely showing himself; they never expected he would be alerted.

The Daoist passing on the teachings inside the hall was even more shocked by the Golden Toad Ancestor's words.

"A heavenly decree... how is that possible?"

"Nothing is impossible."

The Golden Toad Ancestor looked calmly at the swirling blue smoke in front of the Divine Statue, saying in a deep voice, "It's a decree from the Heavenly Court. Ring the bell, go quickly and invite the Sect Leader here!"

"Yes, patriarch!"

With an order, the Copper Bell within the Purple Cloud Palace immediately roared violently.

This bell sound signified a major event was descending, prompting every disciple on Wudang Mountain to converge on the Purple Cloud Palace upon hearing it.

The Sect Leader Yu Chanzi, who had originally been in closed-door cultivation, quickly arrived inside the main hall of the Purple Cloud Palace.

"A decree from the Heavenly Court?"

Hearing of this matter, his brows immediately knit tightly, "The last heavenly decree was during the end of the Song dynasty when the Great Song Ghost Sect ravaged the common people, forcing the various sects to unite—giving rise to new forces like the Taixuan Orthodox Sect. Since then, though there have been inductions, the 'Heavenly Rules' are strict, the Daluo Law Realm rarely directly intervenes in the operations of the human world."

"This time, what could be such a significant matter?"

The Golden Toad Ancestor glanced at the Zhenwu statue, softly saying, "Let's take a look first."

"Yes, Martial Uncle."

Yu Chanzi suppressed the enormous waves in his heart, forced himself to stay calm, and spoke in a deep voice:

"Bring the [Tongjia Secret Plate], using [Qimen Dunjia] to deduce the true intent of the heavenly mechanism!"

The reason for the strength of the Mystic Sect Orthodox is due to a complete inheritance, never breaking off.

Even if the Heavenly Court issues orders, it will not clearly inform them.

If Li Yan were present, he would have realized this is a way to bypass regulations, like the Five Dao Generals in the past. Even when communicating face-to-face with his divine soul, they did not utter half a word, drawing pictures for him to guess.

Immortal Master Erlang in the Daluo Law Realm, similarly used the Nuo mask to have him see for himself, without speaking.

To decipher the heavenly decrees, one must use the method of divination.

This is considered one of the most profound methods in the Mystic Sect, easy to learn but difficult to master, with few able to grasp it.

In the Mystic Sect, although Wudang is not famous for divination, a few people are proficient in this method.

Several white-haired, skilled in mathematics old Daoists immediately came forward.

They jointly took out a Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Plate made of thousand-year Yin Chen Wood. It had an embedded Heavenly Instrument pointer and was engraved externally with intricate Luoshu River Map and Three Wonders and Six Instruments. They arranged for four plates (year, month, day, hour) based on the hour.

At the same time, they sat cross-legged, forming mantras, infusing their divine thoughts into the plate.

Whirling!

The massive Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Plate immediately rotated, with the internal and external directions opposing each other.

"The Heavenly Plate's 'Yi' wonder enters the Zhen Palace! The token falls in the Ninth from the 'Li'! This is the omen of 'divine light visits, emerging opportunities'!"

"The Heavenly Gate opens at the Qian Position (northwest), heralding the birth of a new deity, with an exalted status!"

"Resting Gate meets Ding wonder... this position of the deity is closely related to 'artifact', 'fire', 'the mechanism of rotation'..."

Although the mantra was complex, the Golden Toad Ancestor understood, pondering as he stroked his beard: "Divine light visits, exalted status, this is the image of a new deity being consecrated by the Taoist sects. Such fanfare, the last time was for the Queen Mother of the West... what disturbances are there in the northwest?"

"A new deity?"

Yu Chanzi was also somewhat perplexed, turning to look behind: "Has there been any significant event recently in the northwest?"

Ling Yun, having just returned from a mission, suddenly had a thought and said, "Sect Leader, a disciple who is well-acquainted with Li Dao You learned he's gone to the Capital, hence keeping an eye on the information from there."

"Recently, the Qiankun Academy has opened in the Capital, and it is heard that there is an imperial decree for the 'Sui Lun True Monarch'."

"Sui Lun... the mechanism of rotation, it should be this deity."

The Golden Toad Ancestor pondered, while the others exchanged glances.

"How could a newly consecrated mortal god cause such a stir in the Heavenly Court?"

The Wudang Sect Leader, Yu Chanzi, looked toward the northwest, stroking his beard and frowning: "It is heard that the Qiankun Academy has revealed a Divine Artifact, amid the human Dao transformation, causing quite a commotion in the Capital, probably due to this."

"It seems, this poor Daoist needs to make a trip to the Capital..."

...

Dragon and Tiger Mountain, Successor Han Heavenly Master Mansion.

Inside the Laws Sect Altar where generations of Heavenly Masters preside, below the Divine Statue of Patriarch Zhang Daoling.

A purple-robed Daoist held the "Three Five All-Purpose Jade Seal", with faint lightning in his eyes.

His body was lean, face ancient, with a full head of silver hair, exuding great authority.

This person was the forty-eighth generation Heavenly Master, Zhang Siyuan.

To hold such a grand position naturally meant he was extraordinary.

Though advanced in age, his Daoist skills were profound, requiring no assistance from others, he could deduce on his own.

Forming a Five Thunders Finger Technique, reciting the "Jade Pivot Treasure Scripture" aloud, operating the "Five Thunders Heavenly Heart True Method", in an instant thunder roared and crackled around him, and the "Three Five All-Purpose Jade Seal" in his hand also hovered in mid-air.