Heaven Knows, Earth Knows, I Don't Know; The Gu Daoist Is Like an Old Acquaintance

There are always some self-proclaimed upright people in this world who do shady things behind the scenes. Just as the true reality is fully revealed, it will transcend the constraints of benevolence, righteousness, and etiquette, and only human nature will freely unfold.

At this moment, in a mysterious valley, Ancient Wood and new trees covered the slopes and valleys, and wisps of mist rose from the valley like a tide, vast as the sea, with a faint smell of blood in the mist.

In the heart of the valley, shrouded in mist, a magic array was being activated. A group of cultivators dressed in concealment robes were performing some kind of ancient ritual around the array.

Holding special candles and Law Artifact bells, they moved through the Formation, seemingly chanting Mnemonic.

As the obscure incantations and bell sounds grew stronger, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within the valley seemed to be stirred, and one could almost feel a mysterious power flowing within the Formation.

Especially in the central area of Formation, within a shocking pool of blood, one could hear intermittent breathing sounds and faint calls like those of a child.

As this mysterious ritual proceeded, the blood within the Formation began to bubble and gradually solidify into the outline of a blood-red human face, inspiring awe and as if it might trigger some unpredictable event at any moment.

A soft whooshing sound suddenly came from the mist, lingering outside the mysterious Formation ritual area, faintly conveying a subtle spiritual power.

How much longer until we find him?

Near the Formation area, a mysterious figure shrouded in a cloak bowed in response.

"Senior, we cannot confirm the exact time yet, but we have determined a general area. He is still in the Eastern Region, and not too far from us."

"Speed up! Ideally, we should have results within thirty days!"

We will do everything in our power.

The sky stretches for thousands of miles, covered with endless dark clouds.

A spring thunderstorm was about to hit, and a small boat, like a fishing boat racing across, darted past beneath the dark clouds where the spring thunder roared, gradually descending lower and lower.

At this moment, the dark sky gradually turned pale.

The rolling dark clouds turned into boundless water vapor and mist, merging heaven and earth together, and the world was instantly shrouded in rain and fog.

"Waaah--"

The Black Cloud Leopard got up unhappily, shaking off the raindrops that had fallen on its glossy black fur like a hawk shaking its feathers.

Chen Dengming frowned and made Method Formula. The Formation Method Talismanic Script engraved on the surface of the spirit boat instantly brightened, and Spirit Shield like a transparent eggshell appeared, keeping the rain out.

After doing all this, he felt that the inexplicable unease he had just felt had subsided somewhat, but he still summoned the Soul Guiding Banner.

He summoned his brothers from within the banner to Zhu Xun for him, absorbing the resentment.

But this time, the brothers in the banner circled around him once, letting out annoyed roars, looking fierce and irritable as if they hadn't been hit by the resentment. This made Chen Dengming feel relieved, but also a little strange.

"Three days ago, I was free from any resentment or unease in my cave abode. Now, it seems I still have no resentment, so why did I feel uneasy again just now?"

He frowned in thought, feeling puzzled and agitated, much like the oppressive and gloomy weather. He felt as if a conspiracy was brewing, as if a pair of malicious eyes were staring intently at his neck.

He suddenly turned around, the surrounding area shrouded in rain and mist, as if it had just been a figment of his imagination.

Chen Dengming slowed down the speed of the spirit boat, flying dozens of feet above the ground, and suddenly took out the Storage Bag that Liang Yunsheng had handed him before parting.

This bag was a gift from the sect leader Qiu Feng.

He had never met this mysterious sect leader in the nearly two years since he joined the Evergreen Sect, but he had heard many descriptions of him within the sect—'public-spirited,' 'shrewd and capable,' 'upright and incorruptible,' 'protective of his own,' and so on.

These words and phrases reveal that Qiu Feng is a tough person, decisive and efficient, yet also quite fair and caring towards his disciples.

This kind of person seems inconsistent with the imagined Evergreen Sect Master.

In Chen Dengming's imagination, the Evergreen Sect Master should be a mild-mannered person who practices health preservation, is rather slow in doing things, and is very Buddhist.

Regardless, a gentle elder who is tough on the outside and gentle on the inside is undoubtedly a boon to the disciples of the Evergreen Sect, allowing them to stand tall when they are out in the world.

At this moment, Chen Dengming held the Storage Bag in his hand, his eyes flickering, wondering whether he should open it now to check the contents.

He has a calm and composed personality and likes to have everything under control.

Even if it's not under our control, we should at least be aware of it and plan before we act.

What exactly is Storage Bag and how to use it are all unknown.

Waiting until trouble arises before taking it out entrusts one's safety to the unknown; there are too many variables.

"Senior Brother Liang only told me to take out the items in my Storage Bag when I encountered trouble, and that would resolve the issue. He didn't specifically tell me not to check them in the meantime."

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Dengming made a decision, made a hand seal, and a wisp of spiritual light emanated from his fingertips.

The Storage Bag was opened instantly, and looking inside, there were only two ancient wooden plaques and a note in the Storage Bag space, which was about three zhang in diameter.

Chen Dengming was surprised, and casually hooked his finger.

Both wooden plaques flew out and hovered in front of him, exuding a rich and vibrant Life Force.

One of the wooden plaques has the two characters "Changchun" engraved in ancient script from the Cultivation World!

On the other wooden plaque, the two characters "Longevity" were engraved!

"These are tokens representing the Longevity Sect and the Everlasting Spring Sect, respectively? Does that mean I can just show them when I'm in trouble and it will be resolved?"

Chen Dengming was surprised, feeling that it wasn't that simple.

When traveling, if you encounter trouble in crowded and bustling places, it's fine. Just reveal your identity and ask for permission, and even Golden Core Cultivator will give Changchun and the Longevity Sect some face.

However, if you encounter trouble in a remote place, showing your token to reveal your identity may not be effective.

Chen Dengming took out the note from the Storage Bag and examined it.

"To deal with minor troubles, simply channel Spiritual Qi into the Evergreen Token. To deal with major troubles, channel Spiritual Qi into the Longevity Token."

The note was signed "True Person Changchun" in strong, vigorous handwriting.

Chen Dengming's eyes lit up as he weighed the difference between this minor trouble and a major one.

Now that he has reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, False Core Great Cultivator would be a minor problem, right?

Does "big trouble" refer to Golden Core True Person?

"That doesn't seem quite right either. False Core Great Cultivator may be strong, but he might not pose a life-threatening threat to me. If I try to escape with all my might, I still have a high probability of success."

Even if we met in the middle of nowhere, once I revealed my identity, they wouldn't cause me any trouble unless they were absolutely certain of their identity. It wouldn't be much of a problem."

Now his Wood Escape Technique is almost at the Grandmaster level, and his ability to escape will be even better. Even if he can't beat False Core Great Cultivator, he's confident he can escape, unless he's in special terrains like deserts, rivers, or oceans.

"So, the 'minor trouble' might refer to Golden Core True Person, while the 'major trouble' refers to Nascent Soul True Lord?"

In the end, Chen Dengming realized he had exaggerated his thoughts.

If Nascent Soul Old Monster were to target him, the only thing he could do in a split second was to figure out how to die in a more dignified manner. He wouldn't even have the time or opportunity to produce the token.

"Let's play it safe. Let's target minor troubles at pseudo-Core Formation or Golden Core Early Stage cultivators, and major troubles at Golden Core Mid Stage cultivators. Dealing with late-stage cultivators seems a bit unreliable. But at least we can definitely handle Golden Core Cultivator."

Regardless, after considering this in his mind, Chen Dengming's anxiety and worries lessened considerably.

Having a sect or a powerful backer is really awesome.

These two signs will make him stand out more. He can call himself "Little Chen" when he meets people, but he can't just call himself "Little Chen" anymore, so he has to show off his signs.

He was in a good mood for a moment, but a question also flashed through his mind.

Why did the sect leader present him with these two tokens, one large and one small, as a gift after he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage?

Senior Sister He broke through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, but didn't give any gifts?

"Maybe she received it without my knowledge. It's impossible for her to discriminate. I'll ask my senior sister again later to see what she received."

Chen Dengming urged the spirit boat forward, breaking through the thick rain curtain, heading straight for the Luo Family in Jiamu Pass, which was getting closer and closer.

Along the way, one can see thousands of desolate villages, vast stretches of once thriving mortal lands now deserted.

Some of the auspicious places once occupied by the Cultivation Family are still occupied by other Lineage today, and some even fight over resources.

The two-year war not only resulted in the deaths of many cultivators, but also in even more mortals.

Many Cultivation Family and sects in the Eastern Region also support mortals, and some Rogue Cultivator even live and multiply in the mortal world.

However, the Devil Cultivator who invaded from the Western Regions didn't care about such things. Mortals became food for demons and Demon Beast, or food for the yin souls within the Soul Guiding Banner of the Soul Devouring Sect -Devouring Sect cultivators.

Chen Dengming piloted his spirit boat, flying across the Battlefield where some Lineage cultivators were fighting. Even from a distance, the power of the spirit boat intimidated some of the fighting sides, who all showed great respect.

"May I ask which master from the Evergreen Sect is passing by? With the wind and rain raging, my Liu family is willing to provide you with a quiet room to rest and welcome you with a feast!"

As they passed a hill with a certain spiritual charm, an old man's kind invitation came from a magnificently built Cultivation Family on the hill.

"Thank you for the invitation, fellow Daoist, but I am in a hurry to get on my way, so there's no need to trouble myself!"

Chen Dengming responded faintly with his Divine Sense, then steered his spirit boat away.

"Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator?"

Among the Lineage below, an elder in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage trembled, his face showing regret and respect, but he was not surprised, after all, the other party was piloting the Evergreen Sect's spirit boat.

Along the way, Chen Dengming encountered several Cultivation Family who invited him to visit. It was as if the Evergreen Sect had become famous, and even a stray dog on the road would wag its tail and grin in greeting.

To avoid further trouble, he ultimately launched the spirit boat into the air and sped away.

He wasn't a novice in the Martial World. If someone extended an invitation with a beaming smile and seemingly friendly manner, he would immediately give them face and politely accept.

If that were the case, you'd be sold out without even knowing it.

It should be known that the reputation of the Evergreen Sect, coupled with his status as a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, would bring great honor to any Cultivation Family in the Eastern Region. With a little leverage, he could deter other rival Lineage from making rash moves and bring Lineage many benefits. However, he himself might also get into trouble because of this.

Therefore, now that I am a disciple of a major sect, I must be even more cautious in my actions, lest I be taken advantage of and deceived by a 'friendly stranger'.

After that, the journey of a thousand miles was only a quarter of an hour, and with the speed of the spirit boat, it arrived.

After traveling a thousand miles, the rain subsided.

Jiamu Pass resembles a giant beast lying on the plain, with its continuous, massive, and towering city walls appearing like mountains, shrouded in a misty rain, exuding a majestic and imposing aura.

The city is filled with the businesses of numerous Cultivation Family and sects. The air is filled with shimmering spiritual light amidst the rain and mist, giving one the feeling of a vast expanse of misty water on a rainy day, with spiritual light flying in and touching the snow-covered clothes.

After the war, many cheap magical Law Artifact were sold off at Jiamu Pass, attracting a flood of cultivators looking for a fortune.

The true Immortal Sect lies in the plains surrounding the massive pass, nestled among the rolling mountains.

In some remote corners or small hills with Spirit Vein, there are Cultivation Family that rely on sects for survival.

Considering Chen Ming's current identity as Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Evergreen Sect, Chen Dengming knew it was inappropriate to go directly to the Luo Family under that identity. Not only would it expose his current identity, but it would also seem rather abrupt, since the other party wouldn't recognize him and wouldn't allow him to take people with him.

Let's first restore our former identities, pay a visit first, and then discreetly take Xu Wei away.

If anything unpleasant happens along the way that disturbs his peace of mind, then he will have no choice but to reveal his current identity and forcibly leave.

By now, Chen Dengming had figured it out: the only thing that could make him feel uneasy and uneasy was the Wonderful Sound Sect.

Since this sect is looking for him, and even Lüo Bing was punished and sent to the Repentance Cave because of it, it must be because they can't avoid the matter of the Sha Star and the Human Immortal Orthodox Lineage.

Although he knew this, he was not afraid. Not to mention that he himself was not a pushover, the Evergreen Sect and Longevity Sect, which he was backed by, were much stronger than the Wonderful Sound Sect.

The former Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Wonderful Sound Sect has been dead for a hundred years. Does he really dare to make things difficult for him, Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Evergreen Sect?

Even if he truly had the audacity, he still had the token given to him by Qiu Feng to extricate himself from the predicament.

Thinking about this, Chen Dengming couldn't help but feel a little suspicious again.

It always felt like Sect Leader Qiu Feng knew what he was going to do when he went out, which was why he gave him these two tokens.

Surely no one is that prophetic?

Unless the other party already knows that he is from Nanxun, knows his origins and so on, they will naturally understand that the Wonderful Sound Sect is looking for him.

Thinking of this, Chen Dengming's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, his eyes filled with doubt and uncertainty.

This is highly likely.

He had only explained his activities at the Gathering Place, but given the power of the Evergreen Sect, even if he had hidden his past traces of Nan Xun's identity very well, it was still possible to find some clues.

If he were to contact the five sects of the Ascension Sect again, he would be forced to reveal his hand without even realizing it.

The reason he hadn't thought of this before was because he didn't believe he could find such a remote corner as Nanxun.

But now that I think about it, Liang Yunsheng didn't press the matter further at the time; perhaps he simply left it at that.

"Whether it is or not, if it is, that's for the best. It proves that the sect will not pursue my past, will not implicate me because of the Sha Star, and will even take the initiative to support me. This is the best thing. I am safer, and I don't have to worry about bone age when I join the Longevity Sect."

If not, it's nothing.

Chen Dengming changed out of his sect's robes on the spirit boat, then put the boat away. He then went to the vicinity of Jiamu Pass and inquired about the current location of the Luo Family from the patrolling cultivators there.

Even without the Evergreen Sect's disguise, he was still Foundation Establishment cultivator, so the patrolling cultivators naturally gave him a polite and respectful response.

After thanking him, Chen Dengming flew away and headed straight for the Luo Family.

If nothing has happened to the Luo Family and Xu Wei is safe, then with his Foundation Establishment strength, he should be able to take Xu Wei away.

At this time, within the Evergreen Sect.

Liang Yunsheng was communicating with the sect leader Qiu Feng through Sound Transmission Jade Talisman.

"Sect Leader, since the Wonderful Sound Sect has been searching for Junior Brother Chen, why did you allow Junior Brother to enter the Wonderful Sound Sect's territory?"

"Yun Sheng, everyone has ties. Among us cultivators, some sever their ties to attain the Dao, while others use their ties as motivation to pursue the Dao."

Regardless of the path, it's all part of the way, each person has their own path. Why should I stop him from walking his own path?

Besides, it's time to let that Han from the Wonderful Sound Sect know that the person he's looking for is already a member of my Evergreen Sect. What can he do about it?

Liang Yunsheng's expression changed slightly. "Sect Leader, that Sect Leader Han has the strength of the Golden Core Late Stage. Although the Nascent Soul Nascent Soul the Wonderful Sound Sect is dead, the sect did produce Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord a thousand years ago. They might still have some resources."

"What kind of foundation? Can it be stronger than my Longevity Sect? That Miao Yin Your Majesty is already dead. Otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed his sect's Nascent Soul to be killed a hundred years ago. The Wonderful Sound Sect has already declined, which is why it's so obsessed with seeking someone else's lineage. This is a misguided path."

Our Longevity Sect is different. We let things take their course. Whether Chen Dengming has truly come into contact with the Human Immortal Orthodox Lineage or not, we let him develop as he pleases. We don't ask him questions, put pressure on him, or make demands, so as to avoid making him suspicious.

All we need to do is give him protection and time to develop, allowing him room to grow in the future. He will naturally know how to give back to the sect in the future."

That's true.

Liang Yunsheng smiled and nodded.

Judge things by their actions, not their intentions; by judging intentions, no one is perfect.

Over the past two years, he had been secretly observing Chen Dengming and had already seen that Chen was a man of loyalty and gratitude, and that even if he was sometimes a little cowardly, that was normal.

The most common people in the Longevity Sect are those of the Gou generation.

The question is whether you're a spineless coward who lives off the sect without a care for its fate, or a principled person who knows how to repay kindness.

If the sect doesn't vigorously cultivate someone of Chen Dengming's talent and virtue, then who will it cultivate?

The leaders of the sects are not fools. If someone has talent, they should be cultivated with great effort. In the end, they cultivate a treacherous bull-headed person who turns against the sect at a crucial moment. Such incidents have happened in sects throughout the many years of Cultivation World.

Rows of willow trees, with their pale yellow branches, sway gently in the breeze.

The Luo Family's new residence is located in a valley deep in the willow-lined bank, a tranquil and pleasant environment that suits Lüo Bing's temperament quite well.

Wearing a bamboo hat and carrying a large sword as always, Chen Dengming visited the Luo Family as an old acquaintance, requesting an audience with Lüo Bing, the head of the Luo Family, and Xu Wei, an old friend.

After briefly displaying the spiritual power of Foundation Establishment, he was immediately and respectfully welcomed inside and settled in the VIP room.

Luo Ping, the deputy head of the family, was the first to receive the news, but upon learning that a Foundation Establishment senior had come to visit, he assumed it was a fellow Daoist whom Lüo Bing knew.

As a Qi Refining Stage 10 cultivator, even as the Vice Patriarch of the Luo Family, it was inappropriate for him to preemptively receive Luo Bing, especially since Lüo Bing was currently within the Lineage.

This was truly an odd couple's relationship, which seemed strange even within the Luo Family, and had become a source of amusement among the surrounding Lineage.

The woman is stronger than the man. Even though Luo Ping is not a son-in-law who moved into the family but Lüo Bing was married through proper channels, it is still laughable that he has been relegated to the position of deputy head of the Luo Family for so long.

However, Luo Ping didn't care about the opinions of the outside world. He knew his own situation best. No matter how much Lüo Bing resisted, in seven or eight years, some things would naturally fall into place.

It's not wise to push too hard at this point. After all, Luo Lüo Bing is indeed exceptionally talented and is a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator. If she's pushed too far, and she's willing to humiliate herself and fight to the death, even the Golden Core Golden Core Elder of the Pill Sect will find it difficult to handle the situation.

"An old friend in the Foundation Establishment Realm has come to visit?"

In her boudoir, Lüo Bing was quite puzzled when she heard the news.

She was aloof and didn't have many friends. Even when her Senior Brother disciples came to visit, she would contact them beforehand via telepathy.

"Can the visitor state his name?"

"He said he had found the way, and called himself the Gu Daoist."

He also mentioned that he and Miss Xu were old acquaintances and he wanted to meet her at the same time, but Miss Xu...

"The Gu Master!?"

Lüo Bing's beautiful eyes flashed, a startling light flashing in them, and she immediately got up and headed straight for the VIP room.

Xi'er was in the side hall, had also heard the conversation. At first, she looked puzzled, wondering why the young lady seemed so excited and her strides were larger than usual. But the next moment, she understood what was going on.

"Gu Daoist Gu?"

"It's him!? Senior Foundation Establishment?"

Xi'er's blood boiled like boiling water, her heart pounded like a drum being struck. In disbelief, she immediately turned around and stumbled out the door.

(Please vote with monthly tickets! I'm still short over a hundred tickets, so I'll be adding an extra chapter tonight.)