While Zhang Mingcheng was busy showing off and explaining things to his parents, Gu Zhao had already turned south and arrived at Chang City in Zhang Province.
Zhang Province was characterized by its mountainous terrain and dense network of waterways. It lagged behind in development, marginalized to the point where people joked about a "Circum-Zhang Province Economic Belt" that excluded it entirely.
However, many were unaware that in ancient times, Zhang Province had been a vital hub connecting the east and west, and a crucial chokepoint linking the north and south. Among the Talismanic Three Mountains, both the Celestial Master’s Mansion on Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain and the Spiritual Treasure Sect on Ge Xuan Mountain were located here.
Aside from the Talismanic Three Mountains, the Ancestral Court of a Zhengyi Dao branch was also situated in Chang City, Zhang Province.
It was Jingming Dao!
Jingming Dao, also known as Jingming Loyalty and Filial Piety Dao, held "loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and caution" as its core ethics. It emphasized cultivating the mind through "purity and clarity." As a lineage of the Taoist Sect that actively engaged with the secular world, its Ancestral Court was built in the city rather than in the mountains.
Although the various branches of the Taoist Sect appeared different on the surface, their core principles were unified. They all revolved around the Three Flowers of Essence, Qi, and Spirit converging on the crown, and the Five Qi of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth residing in the chest. Only their methods of Cultivation differed.
Jingming Dao took "loyalty and filial piety" as its foundation and "purity and clarity" for mental cultivation. This implicitly aligned with Zhengyi Dao’s path to Conserve Spirit, except it manifested the abstract refinement of the spirit through external actions. It was much like practicing Martial Arts from the outside in—mastering External Skills first to eventually develop Inner Power.
At Wanshou Palace in Chang City, Taoist Qing Ye sat in the backyard, accompanied by four elderly Daoists.
Two of the elderly Daoists, wearing grayish-white Daoist Robes and simple hairpins, were Tianwen Taoist and Taoist De Hong of Jingming Dao. Tianwen Taoist practiced right here in Wanshou Palace, while Taoist De Hong practiced in a small temple near Lu Mountain. Although Taoist De Hong was a generation junior to Tianwen Taoist, he was actually three years older.
A slightly plump Daoist in a blue robe, whose Daoist name was Xiu Wu, practiced at Yuxu Temple on Ancient Pine Mountain near Chang City. He came from the Spiritual Treasure Sect and belonged to the same generation as Taoist Xiu Jing and Taoist Xiu Ji from Baopu Taoist School.
The last one, Taoist Yu Zong, also hailed from Lu Mountain. However, he was not a Daoist of Zhengyi Dao, but an inheritor of the Pure Yang Sect. If not for the meticulous systemic records, no one would have known that right in Zhang Province—the stronghold of Zhengyi Dao—there existed a True Dao of the Pure Yang Sect, a lineage even older than Quanzhen Dao.
Aside from these four elderly Daoists, there were three or four middle-aged and young Daoists around Wanshou Palace, Lu Mountain, and Chang City who had also cultivated Inner Breath True Qi. Despite being younger than Zhang Mingcheng, they lacked his serendipity and thus had to wait in line.
Tianwen Taoist was tall, upright, and exuded an aura of righteousness. Playing the role of the host, he refilled the teacups for the others. "Please!"
Taoist De Hong, calm and collected, took a light sip and sighed in admiration. "The Grotto Heaven Blessed Land is indeed brimming with Spiritual Qi. The roasting technique of these tea leaves is actually quite crude, but the raw quality is so exceptional that it doesn’t even matter. It is truly fragrant!"
Taoist Qing Ye laughed heartily and teased, "Senior Brother De Hong is an expert in tea making. From now on, we’ll leave the tea production over there in your capable hands."
Taoist Xiu Wu, with a kind face, chuckled in agreement. "Then we’ll all get to enjoy the perks."
Leaning against the bench in the pavilion, Taoist Yu Zong smiled leisurely. "Compared to tea, I much prefer wine. Senior Brother Qing Ye, are there any good ingredients for brewing wine over there?"
"There are, but do you know how to brew it?" Taoist Qing Ye asked.
Taoist Yu Zong was curious. "Can’t we bring them out?"
"We could, but we’ve been too busy with other matters to even think about enjoying ourselves," Gu Zhao suddenly said as he appeared outside the pavilion.
"Sect Leader!" Taoist Qing Ye immediately stood up and bowed.
The four elderly Daoists’ eyes narrowed. They instantly realized that this young man was the New Grotto Heaven Master.
"Greetings, Mr. Gu," the four of them bowed in unison.
After the formalities, Taoist Yu Zong asked curiously, "What exactly is happening in the New Grotto Heaven that requires so many Daoist brothers to be constantly busy?"
"Are you sure you want to know?" Gu Zhao asked with a smile. "Once you do, you’ll be just as busy. You might not have time for wine anymore."
Taoist Yu Zong shook his head. "I don’t believe it. No matter how busy I get, how could I not have time for a drink?"
Gu Zhao gently clapped his hands, sending the last four Thunder Seeds from his Sea of Consciousness directly into the Sea of Divine Soul Consciousness of the four elderly Daoists. "Alright, I admit it. There is indeed time for wine."
Taoist Qing Ye picked up his teacup, gently blew away the floating leaves on the surface, and took a light sip. "It’s mainly because we’re too lazy to brew it ourselves. But if Senior Brother Yu Zong knows how, we can all enjoy the perks too."
Taoist Yu Zong wanted to reply, but the Thunder Seed had already entered his Sea of Consciousness. It unleashed Thunder Power, activating Innate Qi to circulate throughout his body for Muscle and Bone Strengthening and restoring True Qi. He simply had no time to speak.
BOOM!
Thunderbolts roared within their Divine Souls, and True Qi surged through their meridians. The aura of Tianwen Taoist and the others transformed at a visible rate—though, of course, only a keen observer could notice such a change.
Gu Zhao looked at the four elderly Daoists who had closed their eyes to comprehend the power, and he silently did some mental math. It was quite a shock once he tallied it up. Including these four, he had now pulled a total of seventy-two Daoists from Blue Star, perfectly matching the number of the Earthly Fiends!
At that moment, the Five Thunders Order in Gu Zhao’s Sea of Consciousness trembled slightly. It was Yangshuo transmitting a message through his Thunder Seed.
"Sect Leader! I’ve broken through too!" Yangshuo’s voice was full of excitement.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Otherworld, a Fierce Ghost with a hideous face watched as Yangshuo hovered in mid-air, draped in golden light. He looked as if he were bathing in a golden glow, while strands of sharp, golden aura permeated the surroundings.
The Fierce Ghost’s eyes instantly cleared of malice, and it turned to flee.
Yangshuo pointed a finger. A speck of golden light shot from his fingertip, flashing briefly before instantly piercing into the Fierce Ghost’s back and shooting out through its chest.
In the next moment, the Fierce Ghost’s Ghost Body disintegrated within a single breath, turning into a wisp of light smoke that drifted away. Only a pinch of black ash was left on the ground, leaving the surrounding commoners and martial artists staring in absolute shock.
Only then did they realize that the speck of golden light was actually a Flying Sword—no longer than three inches, consisting entirely of a blade with no hilt.
"Mage!" The commoners kowtowed repeatedly.
"Daoist!" Several Martial Arts Experts bowed respectfully, their eyes filled with worship.
Yangshuo nodded. "If Fairies harm people or Fierce Ghosts commit atrocities again, go to Daluo Temple in Jade Plate Prefecture for help. The Daoists there will naturally assist you."
With those words, Yangshuo turned and flew away, meeting up with Changyi, who was not far off, as they headed north toward Shanzhou.
Back on the other side, as Innate Qi circulated through their bodies, their bone marrow and meridians were cleansed. With the Thunder Seeds taking root in their Seas of Consciousness, Taoist Qing Ye took the opportunity to telepathically brief them on the situation in the Otherworld.
They finally learned the truth about the New Grotto Heaven!
What Grotto Heaven Blessed Land? It was an entire Otherworld filled with Ghost Gods and all sorts of Demons!
What they were facing weren’t carefree and unfettered fellow Daoists, but rather hideous, twisted Outer Celestial Demons intent on turning the world upside down and transforming it into a Demon Realm!
Taoist Yu Zong opened his eyes. He no longer mentioned anything about brewing or drinking wine. Instead, he asked enthusiastically, "If we kill that old demon and accumulate enough merit and Evil Qi, will it be enough for direct Ascension?"