Huanglong Temple Mao Ba

Huanglong Temple...

Another extraordinary power, and one belonging to the Immortal Dao, with considerable influence.

Wu Dao secretly took note but did not respond; he knew Zhao Wei could not have come over just to make small talk.

"My apologies for the earlier offense. I mistakenly took you for one of those wolves from the Four Seas Gang. I hope you can forgive me."

As expected.

Zhao Wei cupped his fists apologetically and got straight to the point: "Your Tyrant Whale Fist intent is extraordinary, brother. I wonder which master you studied under? To be honest, my master was one of the elders of the Giant Whale Sect. Aside from a few, he shared a deep bond of brotherhood with the other elders."

So, he was here to "claim kinship."

If Wu Dao didn't press him or hold onto the matter, it would prove that their sects were not on hostile terms.

As long as Wu Dao gave a name, Zhao Wei could fabricate a story about blood-thicker-than-water brotherhood, naturally drawing closer to Wu Dao.

In any case, the relationships among the upper echelons of the Giant Whale Sect back then were roughly as he described.

Even if Wu Dao were cold-hearted, he would have to acknowledge this camaraderie, unless he were a traitor who had forgotten his roots.

That would make him an ingrate, not worth recruiting.

I have to say.

While this man looked rough and reckless, he was actually quite meticulous.

Having lived two lifetimes, Wu Dao was no muscle-brained brute; how could he not see through such social maneuvering?

But he had no intention of taking the bait, nor would he be stupid enough to invent a person who didn't exist, only to be found out later.

So, he simply crossed his arms and flicked a bit of flesh off his fingernail:

"Wu Dao, a mountain wanderer. I came upon it by chance; it's not worth mentioning."

When the Giant Whale Sect collapsed back then.

The Tyrant Whale Fist, one of its core legacies, was scattered to the winds. It was perfectly normal for a wanderer to have obtained it.

Of course, there was another reason.

By pointing out his status as a wanderer, he was indirectly stating that he did not belong to any faction, while simultaneously elevating his own "prestige."

If you want to recruit me.

Then offer something practical; don't bother with all that hollow talk.

"For a wanderer to possess such cultivation, brother Wu, you are truly remarkable."

Zhao Wei clicked his tongue in wonder. Regardless of whether he believed it or not, he offered a compliment on the surface while formally extending an olive branch:

"When this matter is concluded, I wonder if brother Wu would do me the honor of exchanging pointers? Although my White Whale Martial Arts Hall doesn't have geniuses like you, our headmaster is a renowned Innate Grandmaster, and we possess a complete, authentic legacy. I believe it would be of great benefit to you."

The conditions were generous.

A legacy is the lifeline of any faction; it cannot be easily viewed or studied by anyone other than the high-ranking members. If an outsider were to learn it, it would mean a feud to the death.

In other words.

As long as Wu Dao was willing to defect, he would at the very least become a high-level figure with access to the core legacy of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall.

Since things had reached this point.

Wu Dao naturally stopped putting on airs and grinned: "I have long heard that the Giant Whale Art of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall is a supreme form of Hard Qigong, said to grant the strength of nine Nine-Headed Savage Whales upon mastery, allowing one's physical body to contend with Innate experts! I truly wish to witness it; I hope brother Zhao won't be stingy when the time comes."

Whether he actually got the legacy didn't really matter.

Wu Dao knew that when it came to core legacies, it wasn't something Zhao Wei could decide just by saying a few polite words.

Wu Dao was only at the Divine Strength Realm; how could they possibly teach him a core legacy the moment he joined?

Of course.

He had to find a pretext; otherwise, joining a faction so easily without wanting anything would be like writing "I have ulterior motives" on his forehead.

It would be strange if people didn't suspect or guard against him.

"Haha, that goes without saying."

Zhao Wei laughed heartily, not at all bothered by the naked greed in Wu Dao's eyes.

As long as a person showed desire, they were easy to control.

What he feared were those who hid their desires in their hearts, smiling on the surface while preparing to stab you in the back.

Hm?

Just as Wu Dao was about to ask Zhao Wei for more details regarding the incident in Panshui Town, he suddenly sensed an undisguised coldness.

He squinted and looked over, only to see Yun Tianliu casting a look of disgust at him—or rather, at "them," including Zhao Wei and the other three from the White Whale Martial Arts Hall.

Glancing at the severed limbs and broken bodies scattered across the ground.

Wu Dao realized what had happened, but remained entirely indifferent, letting out a scoff: "Tsk, what a righteous heart."

In his eyes.

This man was nothing but a hypocrite.

He hadn't lifted a finger to save the three martial artists when the inhuman Green-Clad Dan was slaughtering them, yet now he looked upon him with such loathing.

So, monsters can be killed, but people can't?

If that isn't hypocrisy, what is?

Of course, he didn't care about virtue or hypocrisy. They were just low-level creatures; killing them was fine. As a high-level predator, he felt entitled to that right.

"Brother Wu, don't mind him. The people from Fangcun Sword Hall are all stubborn fools who can't tolerate a single speck of evil in their eyes."

Zhao Wei was long accustomed to this: "I've been here for many days; it's clear to me that these people were just scum who treated human life like grass. Killing them is no big deal; there's no need to carry any psychological burden.

However, Brother Wu, you should be a bit more careful in the future. Although the world is in chaos today and those courting death are as numerous as carp crossing a river.

If you run into some paranoid, stubborn, hot-blooded righteous types, they won't care if the people you killed were good or evil when you kill too wantonly.

Because they often view the world only through their own values—peering through a tube to see only a leopard's spot—and they will slap an indelible label of good or evil on you in an instant. You won't even be able to reason with them."

Binary thinkers, huh...

Wu Dao understood in his heart and nodded. There were plenty of such people in his previous life; it was nothing to be surprised about.

However, to avoid being labeled some kind of perverted maniac, he said casually:

"Unless it involves benefits or grievances, I disdain bullying the weak."

This was the truth.

Predators in the natural world, in order to conserve energy and avoid injury, never engage in meaningless slaughter or combat.

"Uh, in that case, that's good."

Zhao Wei recalled the bloodthirsty, frenzied appearance Wu Dao had just displayed and nodded with a strange expression.

To be honest.

If the world hadn't changed and moral bottom lines hadn't become so flexible.

He wouldn't dare recruit a "madman" like Wu Dao into White Whale Martial Arts Hall, no matter how talented he was.

Because a person with this kind of personality.

Might just bring a monstrous disaster upon you at any moment, causing the forces behind you to suffer an unprovoked catastrophe.

The unreserved discussion between Wu Dao and Zhao Wei.

Could hardly escape the ears of Yun Tianliu.

But while he possessed a righteous heart, he was not some hot-headed, brainless fool.

Wu Dao alone was someone he had to weigh carefully, to say nothing of Zhao Wei from White Whale Martial Arts Hall.

Both were Fist Dao Grandmaster level figures; if they joined forces, they would even dare to clash with someone in the Cocoon-Breaking Realm.

If he were to arrogantly rush up and level accusations, given the fierce man's previous disposition, a brutal fight would be inevitable.

Although, out of respect for the reputation of Fangcun Sword Hall.

Zhao Wei might offer a word of mediation, he would certainly not side with him, Yun Tianliu. If real anger flared, it would surely result in a two-on-one situation.

He stood nothing to gain.

Once injured, he would have no hope of obtaining the Strange Treasure in Canyun Mountain that held the key to his Cocoon-Breaking Realm breakthrough; the loss would outweigh the gain.

Know the times, understand when to advance and retreat.

Practicing chivalry is not the same as having a death wish.

This was a survival rule essential for any person of the jianghu.

Even if Yun Tianliu was deeply dissatisfied with Wu Dao's cruel actions, he could only suppress it for now. Right now, the anomaly within Canyun Mountain remained his primary objective.

Before Chunxiang Garden.

While everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

The naive young Taoist priest finished clearing the aftermath, hung up his Red Skin Gourd, put away his Tianpeng Ruler, and sat quietly in the moonlight, chanting as if performing a rite of passage.

Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

But no one, including Wu Dao, interrupted him.

After the previous struggle.

Wu Dao also understood one thing: their group of ruffians was not professional at dealing with these demons and ghosts.

Even including Yun Tianliu.

It was likely he had only been tracking the Green-Clad Dan in hopes of finding the main culprit.

Now that a professional had arrived.

Although he seemed to have a formidable background, the idea of them just giving up was completely out of the question.

The path of cultivation.

Its core lies in the single word: struggle.

To think they could monopolize the spoils with nothing but empty words and a reputation—how could there be such a beautiful thing in this world?

Furthermore.

Judging by the tone of Zhao Wei, there was wariness but no fear, suggesting that the Huanglong Temple backing this young Daoist was likely not some unreachable power within Guangqing Prefecture.

A moment later.

The naive young Daoist finished the rite of passage.

He opened his eyes and swept a glance across the crowd staring intently at him, a trace of helplessness flashing deep within his gaze, before he rose and cupped his hands in a salute:

"Everyone, I am Mao Ba, a Third Generation Disciple of Huanglong Temple.

Passing through this place tonight, I heard that a demon was wreaking havoc in Panshui Town. I have caused much offense previously, and I ask for your understanding."