novelraw Chapter 242 - 181: The Great Virtuous Master’s Daoist Wisdom, The Princes’ War of Contention, An Audience with the Taoist Ancestor?
Chapter 242 - 181: The Great Virtuous Master’s Daoist Wisdom, The Princes’ War of Contention, An Audience with the Taoist Ancestor?
The moment he turned his head, notifications began popping up nonstop.
[Trait Triggered (Great Luck). Gained one blue Opportunity (Hundred Treasures Level - Thunder Marsh Flower)]
[Thunder Marsh Flower]: Similar to Cordyceps, it is a wondrous existence somewhere between animal and plant. Whenever there is Thunder in the sky, it emerges to absorb the Thunder Qi and increase its power. If a Cultivator obtains it, they can use the Qi Sea True Fire Talisman to refine it, remove its toxins, and turn it into Elixir Qi. By tempering their Divine Soul Thoughts with this, they can allow their thoughts to comprehend the Thunder Marsh’s Will, become more powerful, and pass the Thunder Tribulation with greater ease.
’I can get Opportunities just by walking around now?’
Lu Mingyuan was completely astonished.
Silently, he stored the two Opportunities in his Jade Pendant.
[Azure Fate Grid - Celestial Blessed Fortune, Refinement Level increased to 20%]
At this moment, a Nascent Soul Cultivator sent a voice transmission to the group: "Attention, everyone. The Daoist Academy Cultivators will soon return to the Great Wilderness Tomb Canyon via the Teleportation Array. When they do, it won’t be long before we can leave this Grotto Heaven."
The moment his words fell.
A spatial fluctuation rippled through the sky above the canyon.
A Golden Light Array appeared in the firmament.
"Your Highness!"
A Tenth Realm Confucian Scholar from the Drumming Institute, covered in blood, was the first to step out of the Array. He returned to Lu Yunqing’s side, clearly a Counselor Tributor from Prince Chongwen’s Mansion.
Next, a pale-faced Qi Cultivator with a severed arm also appeared beside them.
Seeing this, Lu Mingyuan’s expression shifted slightly, as if he had guessed something.
’It seems the Pearl White Sand Islands really were a place of great peril. Good thing I didn’t go. I successfully avoided that option.’
"What happened? It seems the battle didn’t go well."
Lu Yunqing couldn’t help but ask.
The Qi Cultivator with the severed arm spoke, his breath weak and shallow. "The Pearl White Sand Islands are too dangerous. Not only did the Demon Race army go there, but the native Grotto Heaven also contains many ferocious and terrifying creatures that are lethal. Many Cultivators have already perished."
The Confucian Scholar bowed respectfully and said, "Lord Sui is engaged in a fierce battle with a Demon Monarch while covering our retreat. Since we were injured, we came back first."
"At the same time, Prince Jin’s subordinates have also suffered heavy losses."
"Prince Jin was there too?"
Lu Yunqing’s brow furrowed.
Lu Mingyuan had sharp ears and caught the news immediately.
However, his brows relaxed.
’Excellent. I finally managed to screw that guy over.’
RUMBLE!
Accompanied by the sound of something tearing through the air.
A large amount of black Demon Qi surged out from the Golden Light Array. It seemed the Teleportation Array was under attack by a Great Demon.
In an instant, the chosen geniuses from all sides looked as if they were facing a great enemy.
They all took out their Lifebound Treasures.
The Nanli Princess, Li Muwan, summoned her Nanming Li Fire Armor.
Princess Jinwu brought out her Lifebound Flying Sword, the Immortal Sword Jin Yu.
The Prince of Silver Frost stroked his Great Frost Dragon Bracelet, preparing to summon a frost dragon to battle, lest everyone accuse him of slacking off again.
Lu Yunqing, standing at the head of the group, threw up his hand. A snow-white Treasure Map slowly drifted down, coalescing in mid-air into a thin layer of mist. Within the mist, the scenes from inside the map appeared, image after image flowing continuously.
A peerless Swordsman, his Saber Qi rampant and his Sword Intent imperious. A line of poetry was inscribed on the Treasure Map, the calligraphy lively and flowing like dragons and snakes, carrying an overwhelming Momentum:
"Delve the tiger’s den, enter the flood dragon’s palace; gaze to the heavens, my breath becomes a white rainbow."
If anyone in the know were present, they would have recognized it at a glance.
It was the Snowfast Blade Scroll, ranked thirteenth on the Ten Thousand Treasures Divine Weapons Record.
As for Lu Mingyuan?
He quietly pushed the others in front of him, preparing to watch the show.
In reality, very few people could actually intervene. Anyone who was a Grandmaster had already rushed forward. The vast majority of Cultivators could only watch the excitement.
But it didn’t matter. Lu Mingyuan had already summoned the Great Virtuous Master.
In the Great Virtuous Master’s hands was the Blood Shadow Legion, disguised as Papermen. With a great wave of his hand, it was a classic case of Scattering Beans into Soldiers.
’He’ll take on all comers. For every member of the Demon Race that appears, one will be slain!’
Just as Lu Mingyuan thought everything was going according to his script...
...the world before him paused and suddenly changed color.
The vibrant, multi-colored world turned into an ink-wash black and white. The colors rapidly faded, sweeping across the entire land.
His head spun, and he found himself in a world that resembled the surface of a mirror.
Lu Mingyuan’s perspective shifted, and he arrived in an ink-wash pavilion.
"Where is this?"
He didn’t act rashly, instead observing his surroundings.
In the ink-wash pavilion sat a white-haired old man dressed in a simple Daoist Robe. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his back was to Lu Mingyuan. His posture was transcendent, like that of an immortal.
Suddenly, the white-haired old man turned around, revealing a face with an immortal-like bearing, and smiled faintly.
"You are the Sixth Prince of Great Yan, Lu Mingyuan, correct?"
"I am. And you, Senior, are...?"
The white-haired old man asked with great interest, "Who do you think I am?"
Lu Mingyuan sized him up and down repeatedly, then glanced at the surrounding ink-wash scenery.
He mused, ’I’ve long heard that the Confucian Temple possesses an extremely precious antiquity called the Grand Thousand Canglan Map, which contains countless worlds within it. One of its most distinct features is its ink-wash scenery. If I’m not mistaken, the place I’m in right now must be inside the Grand Thousand Canglan Map.’
’The Grand Thousand Canglan Map was created by the Painting Saint a thousand years ago. Legend says he would not paint without an edict and none could view it without an order. A single painting could rival a thousand armies and suppress a million members of the Demon Race.’
’But you definitely aren’t the Painting Saint from the Confucian Temple, because that old master disappeared a long time ago. At the same time, you are wearing a Daoist Robe, so you shouldn’t be from the Confucian Temple, but from the Taoist Sect.’
The white-haired old man laughed heartily. "Just as the rumors say, you are very clever and very calm. No wonder you have the support of so many people, the protection of the Celestial Dao, and the assistance of the Celestial Master’s Mansion. You have gathered the Destiny of the Confucian-Buddhist-Taoist Dao all upon yourself."
"You are correct. This is indeed the inside of the Grand Thousand Canglan Map."
"And I am indeed a man of the Taoist Sect."
Lu Mingyuan looked puzzled and utterly confused. "The chosen geniuses of the Human Race are currently in peril. Why haven’t the reinforcements from the Three Religions and the Dao Alliance arrived yet? Senior, can you give this junior an explanation?"
"Well, haven’t I arrived?" the white-haired old man said slowly, stroking his beard.
Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan sighed. "In this junior’s heart, the Three Religions and the Dao Alliance are supposed to uphold justice in the Central Plains World and restore order and clarity to the realm, creating a great era of peace and tranquility. Yet now, you have allowed us to fall into such peril."
"You little rascal. Truly a shameless rogue. You won’t let the hawk fly until you see the rabbit."
The white-haired old man waved his large sleeve, and a water screen materialized before them.
The images within showed the scenes at the Great Wilderness Tomb Canyon and the Pearl White Sand Islands.
In the images, the Demon Race was incomparably savage, yet they were being repeatedly repelled by the Human Race Cultivators. Prince Jin, Lu Guangjing, was prominently featured, looking battered and grimy, with his subordinates dying one after another beside him.
Lu Mingyuan also saw Sui Yuqing’s face among them.
’It seems my plan this time was a complete success. I managed to delay the Demon Race army’s advance.’
The white-haired old man gave a faint smile. "Are you satisfied now?"
"Do you know why I have come here?"
Lu Mingyuan thought for a moment. He knew that the status of the man before him was likely beyond his imagination. The most important thing right now was to latch onto this powerful backer, making his own background so formidable it would be unbreakable.
So he said softly, "My guess is that it has to do with the Great Yan Imperial Throne, and with the Destiny of the Taoist Sect."
"To summarize, it comes down to four words: ’Restore the Dao’s orthodoxy.’"
"Since the Middle Ages, a hundred schools of Cultivation Techniques have risen among the Human Race. However, after an era passed, only the Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist schools have survived to this day. The Three Religions have used the Central Plains Celestial Destiny Dynasty to support and restrain each other for ten thousand years. Now, the trend is toward a reshuffling of the deck."
"Outside the Central Plains, the Buddhist Family is thriving, and the teachings of the Confucian Temple have spread throughout all the worlds. But the Taoist Sect of old, due to internal strife over succession, has been torn apart and is plagued by constant internal divisions. Senior, have you come here today perhaps to make a deal?"
The white-haired old man’s expression grew even more satisfied, and he stroked his white beard again.
"You are truly worthy of being the fated one my master spoke of."
"You see through everything from within the game itself. Though you are a piece on the board, you act without any taboos, and danger never touches you. That ability is truly remarkable."
Lu Mingyuan’s gaze was sharp as he said, "Senior, you still haven’t told me your name."
The white-haired old man smiled faintly. "You may call me Yuqing Ancestor Master."
...
Sorry for the wait!
[Thank you to (Yanyou) for becoming an Alliance Leader! Thank you, boss!]
This is my first Alliance Leader since I started writing. I’ll be adding an extra Chapter for my Alliance Leader patron. I really can’t squeeze anything more out today; I have writer’s block.
I’ll definitely make up for it tomorrow!