Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1074: How Could There Be a Path to Immortality in This World? (82) — Origin of the Plain-Clothed Dao

The carriage raced through a vast tunnel.

Ghostfire flared from the hooves of the black ox, casting a pale green glow that illuminated the surroundings.

Suddenly, Xiao Shengmo yanked the reins hard, bringing the carriage to a slow stop—the tunnel ended in a sheer drop.

Inside the buried, mysterious giant tower, the structure was hollow. In the center stood an enormous metal pillar, slowly rotating.

Even from a distance, Xiao Shengmo could feel the terrifying energy emanating from the rotating pillar.

Frowning, he tugged the reins again. The carriage resumed its journey, spiraling upward around the massive metal column.

The small, mysterious tower that had absorbed Long Xiruo and the others stood quietly beside Xiao Shengmo, completely undisturbed by the jostling of the carriage.

…

Ever since they were sucked into the small tower, they had lost all sense of the outside world.

This was City Lord Xiao Shengmo of Fengdu City's treasured artifact—the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts.Legend said it contained a self-contained space capable of housing ten thousand ghost soldiers and generals. Once unleashed, it would blot out the sky and bring forth hell itself.

No one knew what the inside of the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts was really like. One would expect a terrifying, hellish realm filled with malevolent spirits.

Yet, when Kui Qianyi and the others opened their eyes, they saw not a nightmarish underworld—but a serene, secluded place of winding paths and tranquil beauty.

A small bridge, flowing water, and a gentle breeze created a paradise-like atmosphere, putting their minds at ease.

“This is the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts?” Long Xiruo’s voice suddenly rang out.

Kui Qianyi and Gui Ying turned to see her already standing. Her pale complexion had regained some color—likely due to the pill Kui Qianyi had given her.

“It should be,” Kui Qianyi nodded. “Xiao Shengmo’s tower has always been mysterious. No one’s ever seen the inside... But why did he suddenly trap us here?”

Long Xiruo frowned. “Since becoming Fengdu’s City Lord, Xiao Shengmo rarely leaves the city except for the Penglai Grand Gathering. He’s always been secretive... Let’s move forward. I doubt he brought us here for no reason.”

“They say this tower holds ten thousand ghost soldiers. Aren’t you scared?” Gui Ying asked, somewhat worried.

But Kui Qianyi calmly replied, “Others might be afraid, but your Lord Long wouldn’t be. The True Dragon’s aura is the most righteous and authoritative power in the Divine Land—it’s the nemesis of all evil spirits.”

Gui Ying nodded, then hoisted the still-unconscious Luo Pianxian onto his back—clearly the most suited for the task.

Just then, faint zither music drifted from deep within the bamboo forest ahead.

Long Xiruo paused in surprise. “What a cold, clear tune.”

“It sounds like it’s luring us forward,” Kui Qianyi frowned.

Long Xiruo and Kui Qianyi exchanged a glance, then resolutely followed the sound into the bamboo grove.

The bamboo was either silent or gently rustling. The music twined like smoke through the air—chilly but not mournful, more like a song of worldly clarity, its lingering notes soothing yet wise.

As they walked deeper, Long Xiruo brushed aside a bamboo leaf and saw a wooden house ahead, simple and elegant, nestled among the trees.

Outside stood a small pavilion. A figure sat within, gently plucking the strings of a guqin.

Their footsteps disrupted the melody. As the group approached within several meters, the player’s hands stopped.

Resting his hands on the strings, he looked up slightly.

“You brought us here—why?” Long Xiruo asked sternly. “Was it you who told Xiao Shengmo to trap us here? Who are you?”

“Lord Long, have you forgotten me?”

The man’s voice was hoarse and aged. He stood and turned around—an elderly man, gentle-looking, almost like an immortal beyond mortal dust.

Seeing him, Long Xiruo’s expression shifted sharply. Kui Qianyi also reacted with shock.

The old man nodded slightly. “It’s been a long time, Lord Long… and Mister Kui.”

“It’s you!” Long Xiruo’s face filled with disbelief. “Heavenly Heart… the 70th generation!”

…

“He’s the 70th generation Heavenly Heart?” Gui Ying looked at the elderly man in shock. “I thought he perished destroying the Dragon Fiend—how is he here?”

“This is the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts,” Kui Qianyi seemed to understand now. He stared at the old man in the pavilion, frowning. “So, 70th generation Heavenly Heart… you're just a ghost now?”

The old man nodded. “Just as Mister Kui said—I'm now nothing more than a wandering spirit.”

“You didn’t die completely…” Long Xiruo stepped forward. “After stabilizing the Dragon Vein chaos, I rushed to the battlefield and found only your lifeless body—no trace of life. So you escaped into Xiao Shengmo’s tower?”

The elderly man—Heavenly Heart—shook his head. “Not exactly. After eliminating the Dragon Fiend, my life force was indeed extinguished. My soul drifted away and began to fade… It was City Lord Xiao who saved me. He placed a wisp of my soul into this tower and nurtured it with ghostly energy. After decades, I’ve finally regained clarity.”

“Since your soul survived, why didn’t you reappear?” Kui Qianyi asked in confusion.

Heavenly Heart gave a bitter smile. “On one hand, my soul was too weak. I’ve spent decades in a daze, only recently regaining myself thanks to City Lord Xiao. On the other hand… the Dragon Fiend incident was caused by my wayward disciple. I failed both the Daoist and Demon realms of the Divine Land. Barely surviving is already a gift from the heavens—how could I show my face again?”

Kui Qianyi let out a long sigh.

Long Xiruo said calmly, “Back then, you gave your life to destroy the Dragon Fiend. Even if it brought disaster, your merits and faults cancel each other out. There's nothing to feel guilty about.”

“The past is better left unspoken,” the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart shook his head, then continued seriously, “Thanks to Lord Xiao of Fengdu, I’ve been able to remain within the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts and keep aware of the outside world… Lord Long, your condition is not good. If I may offer a word of advice: too much is as bad as too little. Letting go can also be a kind of gain.”

“My affairs are none of your business,” Long Xiruo said coldly. “Why did you bring me here?”

The 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart fell silent for a moment before asking, “Lord Long, do you know the origin of my Plain-Clothed Dao?”

Long Xiruo pondered. “Plain-Clothed Dao mysteriously emerged two thousand years ago, known for mastering occult arts, predicting the heavens, earth, and people, leaving nothing uncalculated. Each generation has only one true successor, and it has always been shrouded in secrecy. As for its origin… no one has ever known. It’s strange—there are many in the Daoist world who study divination, yet none come close to the Plain-Clothed Dao. Even I couldn’t trace your roots.”

“Lord Long, may we speak alone?” the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart suddenly said.

“What do you mean by this?” Kui Qianyi frowned, and Gui Ying also looked uneasy.

“There are some things I can only say to the True Dragon. Mr. Kui, I’m sorry,” the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart said calmly. “Please excuse us.”

In his lifetime, this man had held a highly respected position in both the Daoist and Demon worlds of Divine Land. Because of the Plain-Clothed Dao’s unique abilities, even the mighty Xuanyuan Palace had to show some deference… Don’t be fooled by their scholarly appearance—those skilled in geomancy and occult techniques wielded mysterious powers, and offending them could lead to unseen ruin.

“Kui Qianyi, you and Gui Ying take Pianxian into the house to rest,” Long Xiruo waved her hand.

“…Alright,” Kui Qianyi reluctantly agreed.

…

When only the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart and Long Xiruo remained in the pavilion, he gestured for her to sit.

“If the world knew that the mighty True Dragon of Divine Land now looked like a child, I wonder what chaos it would cause in the Daoist and Demon realms,” he said, shaking his head.

“You kept me alone just to mock me?” Long Xiruo’s voice was full of displeasure.

“That’s not my intent,” he shook his head. “I mention it only to lessen the shock of what I’m about to say. I believe someone who has witnessed that power will understand.”

Long Xiruo was stunned, lowered her head to think, then her expression changed. “Plain-Clothed Dao… is it connected to that place…?”

“The founder of the Plain-Clothed Dao actually knew nothing of feng shui or divination,” the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart said slowly. “All those arts were developed gradually by later generations. The true abilities of our lineage—the core powers—have always been just two: the Heavenly Eye and the Heavenly Heart. But in truth, even those weren’t created by us. The first of our lineage obtained them from somewhere else.”

Long Xiruo frowned. “It’s said that the Heavenly Eye sees through essence, and the Heavenly Heart comprehends all things—past lives, present, and future. The Heavenly Eye I can accept, but the Heavenly Heart… to see the future? Just how high a price did the founder pay to get such abilities from that swindler?”

“Swindler?” The 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart looked surprised. “I’ve never met him, but according to our sect’s secret texts… that place conducts fair trade. They never force anything. In fact, it’s usually the buyers who push harder. So why call it swindling?”

“Whatever—none of your business!” Long Xiruo snorted. “I’m not here to argue whether he’s a swindler.”

The 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart didn’t press it—he knew Long Xiruo was sharp-tongued. Everyone in the Daoist and Demon worlds knew it. But that, in a way, was fortunate. At least the True Dragon, who held Divine Land’s greatest power, was just sharp-tongued—not cold-hearted.

“Let’s get back to the point,” Long Xiruo said, calming down. “You’re saying the Heavenly Eye and Heavenly Heart came from that place? It already existed two thousand years ago?”

“I don’t know how long it’s truly existed,” he said. “Our sect’s secret records contain very little on that place, and much of it is speculation.”

“You didn’t bring me into the Tower of Ten Thousand Ghosts just to tell me that, did you?” Long Xiruo asked, still composed.

“Lord Long, do you know where this is?”

“Penglai?” she guessed. This place had appeared in her inherited memories, but something felt slightly off, so she wasn’t certain.

“More accurately, this place is called the Penglai Treasure Vault,” the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart said solemnly. “It was built as a replica of the real Penglai. In fact, it was constructed atop the foundation of Penglai itself. The real Penglai… has long perished.”

“Explain more clearly,” Long Xiruo said, maintaining her composure.

"I'm not entirely sure of the specific reason," the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart recalled. "This was something told to me by the previous generation—the 69th Generation of Heavenly Heart. Our sect has certain secrets that are passed down orally from master to disciple, never written down. Back then, the Dragon Fiend incident came suddenly, and I didn’t have time to pass this on to my successor before I left. If not for that, the current 71st Generation of Heavenly Heart wouldn’t have made such a foolish mistake—opening the Penglai Treasure Vault and trapping both the Daoist and Demon worlds of Divine Land inside. I'm afraid this has already disturbed the true master of the Penglai Treasure Vault."

He paused, then looked seriously at Long Xiruo. “Lord Long, what I’m about to tell you is a forbidden secret of the Plain-Clothed Dao. But the situation is dire, and this is no time for rigid traditions. Still, I hope that only you, Lord Long, will know of this.”

Long Xiruo nodded.

“The master of the Penglai Treasure Vault is not someone from the world of Divine Land,” the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart said gravely. “In fact… not even from this world at all. It is very likely an invader from beyond.”

“From beyond?” Long Xiruo narrowed her eyes.

“It’s said that beyond our world, there exist many others—some very similar to ours, some completely different.”

“As for how many, I don’t know,” he continued. “Our sect’s warnings were clear on only one thing: no matter what happens, the master of the Penglai Treasure Vault must never be awakened. The Plain-Clothed Dao has always known the entrance to Penglai—or more accurately, the Penglai Treasure Vault—and how to open it. Over the years, to follow our ancestral rules, we’ve participated in each Penglai Grand Gathering as ceremonial figures. In truth, our real purpose was to monitor the Treasure Vault’s entrance for any signs of leakage.”

Long Xiruo gave a cold laugh. “No wonder you told me alone. If this got out, someone would dig up your grave to curse you! For two thousand years, the Daoist and Demon worlds of Divine Land have been played like fools by your Plain-Clothed Dao! People say wandering sorcerers are basically con men—and they’re absolutely right!”

The 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart pretended not to hear it. “The master of the Penglai Treasure Vault is an invader to our world and must never awaken. But Penglai is said to house immortals, which draws countless cultivators from the Daoist and Demon realms to seek it out. If not for this, someone would have opened the Penglai Treasure Vault long ago. If its true master wakes, the disaster may be far worse than even the Dragon Fiend incident… I hope you can understand why we did what we did.”

“Should I give your sect a Divine Land Outstanding Contribution Award, then sing your praises for the great burden you’ve borne?” Long Xiruo sneered.

“Please, Lord Long, no more sarcasm.” The 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart gave a bitter smile.

He understood well—his sect had deceived the Daoist and Demon realms for two thousand years. Anyone would be furious upon learning that. Over the years, the Plain-Clothed Dao had certainly received more than its share of reverence and courtesy.

“I have one question.” Long Xiruo’s face darkened. “If the master of the Penglai Treasure Vault is an otherworldly invader… then how did your Plain-Clothed Dao know about this? How do you even know the truth behind Penglai and the Penglai Treasure Vault?”

“That’s because… the founder of the Plain-Clothed Dao was also a traveler from beyond,” the 70th Generation of Heavenly Heart said softly. “And in the mortal world, he once went by the name… Xu Fu.”

(End of Chapter)