Master

Realizing the visitors meant trouble, Wu Ming immediately said to Zheng Lingxi, "Senior Sister, go to the Sect Leader Temple and call Master, tell him the Liu family's bad news has arrived. I'll go down the mountain to greet the guests first..."

Before he finished speaking, a gentle breeze brushed past from behind, carrying a weary, aged voice.

"No need. I'll go myself."

The next moment, Gu Bai had naturally stepped in front of the two disciples.

Zheng Lingxi shuddered, shrinking her head. "M-Master, I was wrong..."

Gu Bai sighed, not scolding her, only saying, "Prepare some tea and snacks for the guests. Send them to the Sect Leader Temple later... Master doesn't blame you."

Then he looked at Wu Ming. "Come with me to greet the guests."

Before the words faded, Wu Ming felt his vision blur and found himself at the foot of Yan Mountain, miles away. Before him lay a wilderness of jagged rocks, a faint dirt path winding through the rubble. At the center of the path stood two blue-robed old Daoists, side by side, bowing to Gu Bai with clasped hands.

"By the Three Pure Ones above, Liu Yi (Liu Li) of Dinghuang Prefecture pays respects to True Person Gu Bai."

Then, from behind the two old Daoists came a delicate, shy girl's voice.

"This humble girl, Zhang Miao, pays respects to True Person Gu Bai."

Following the voice, Wu Ming was startled to see a familiar face.

Over a month ago, beneath Dinghuang Tower in Wu City, a tall, graceful girl with a charming figure had won thunderous applause for her initial score of over four hundred characters on the Human Emperor Scroll.

Though that score was soon overshadowed by those who came after, Wu Ming still remembered her—someone arranged as a foil for Third Young Master Liu was likely no ordinary person.

If the chance came, he thought, he might see if there was a side quest to pursue.

He just hadn't expected to meet again so soon.

As Wu Ming sized up Zhang Miao, she cautiously lifted her gaze to sneak a look at him... Their eyes met, and the girl flinched, lowering her head sharply and turning away, revealing only her flushed cheeks and ears.

Her timidity and shyness were even more pronounced than before. This immediately made Wu Ming uneasy.

No way...? This isn't the kind of side quest I wanted!?

In his bewilderment, he heard his master Gu Bai speak calmly, "Gu Bai, Sect Leader of Gujian Sect, welcomes the three of you from afar... May I ask what brings you here on such a long journey?"

The two blue-robed old Daoists exchanged glances. Liu Li spoke first, "We come on a difficult matter. It is of great importance. After much deliberation within Dinghuang Prefecture, we found no other recourse, so we were sent to seek help from True Person Gu Bai... We earnestly beg for your assistance!"

The words carried weight, and their posture was exceedingly humble. Gu Bai found it hard to refuse, so he said, "Please, come to the temple for a detailed discussion."

With a sweep of his Daoist robe sleeve, he transported the group to the front of the Sect Leader Temple.

Liu Li praised, "True Person Gu Bai often modestly calls himself a cripple, yet your divine abilities are undiminished from years past! This Five Elements Evasion Technique, coming and going without a trace, is truly admirable."

The remark carried a pointed undertone, especially the emphasis on "without a trace."

But Gu Bai acted as if he hadn't heard, simply pushing open the temple door to welcome them inside. After arranging meditation cushions and an incense table, he asked, "So, what difficult matter could compel Dinghuang Prefecture to send three of you to my remote mountain sect?"

At this, Liu Yi couldn't help sneering, "Heh, can True Person Gu Bai truly not guess why we're here?"

Gu Bai replied calmly, "This old man has always been dull-witted. Please speak plainly."

Liu Yi said, "A month ago, Liu Xi, the Protector Elder of the Liu family, had a dispute with you and then vanished without a trace, neither seen alive nor dead... Does True Person Gu recall anything?"

Gu Bai didn't even lift an eyelid. "This old man had no close ties with True Person Liu Xi. I wouldn't know where he went. If the Liu family or Dinghuang Prefecture seeks him, perhaps consult some Daoist friends skilled in divination. Forgive me for being of no help."

Liu Yi's face flushed with anger. "Stop playing dumb!"

But Liu Li raised a hand to stop him, forcing a smile. "Don't mind him, True Person Gu Bai. We've been a bit on edge lately, pressured by orders from above, prone to suspicion. Since you don't know, we'll ask no further."

He paused, then added, "Liu Xi's matter isn't today's focus. Dinghuang Prefecture sent us here for the Taiyi Dharma Sword."

Hearing their blunt declaration, Gu Bai couldn't hide his displeasure. "The Taiyi Dharma Sword was won fair and square by my disciple, Wu Ming. His results were verified by Dinghuang Prefecture's Mingren Jade. Barely a month later, do you intend to openly renege?!"

Liu Li sighed. "True Person Gu Bai, let's speak plainly. We both know whether the Taiyi Dharma Sword was won that fairly. Your disciple's talent and results are genuine, but does talent alone earn a sword from Ranxiang Workshop? Since when is the world so generous?!"

Gu Bai said, "The rules were set by you. We merely happened to be present."

Liu Li countered, "True Person Gu Bai, you should know that 'happening to be present' is just exploiting a loophole in the rules."

Gu Bai replied, "Is it a rule or an unspoken one? Besides, we cultivators on the Immortal Path, defying heaven's will, aren't we also exploiting the loopholes of the great Dao?"

Liu Li chuckled dryly. "Heh, I didn't know True Person Gu Bai had such a silver tongue... You're right. Some rules can't be brought to the table, and exploiting loopholes is indeed our instinct as cultivators. So if you insist on this loophole, we can hardly argue... But some principles must be made clear."

With that, Liu Li's smile faded, and he spoke solemnly, "The prefecture's Dharma Sword wasn't obtained for nothing. It was part of the Sanqing Immortal Sect's advance preparations for the imminent emergence of the Zhuoquan Immortal Mansion in this region. According to the prophecy decoded from the Nine Prefectures Heavenly Records: the Zhuoquan Immortal Mansion holds treasures of Immortal Pills, but its mechanisms are perilous, and those who enter face nine deaths in ten... Only cultivators native to this land have a slightly better chance of survival."

"Thus, the Three Pure Ones decreed that Qiongzhou mobilize from top to bottom, selecting young talents fit to explore the Immortal Mansion. The most gifted would wield the Dharma Sword, cultivate the true path, and venture into the Mansion... After struggles at the prefectural and county levels, the sword finally fell to Wu City."

"So the Taiyi Dharma Sword is no generous gift from the heavens. It carries a grave responsibility and duty. Wielding it means, when the Immortal Mansion appears, leading the charge and braving fire and water for Qiongzhou's Immortal Path... True Person Gu Bai, do you think your Gujian Sect is worthy of bearing this burden?"

As Gu Bai fell silent, Liu Li continued, "Of course, I know that by the rules, the sword has entered your disciple's hands, showing he has some fate with it. His talent is extraordinary, and losing this fate would be a pity. So we will offer compensation afterward..."

"Enough. Say no more."

Gu Bai sighed, cutting Liu Li off.

"This old man rarely leaves the mountain and knows little of worldly affairs, but I can still grasp basic principles... What you just said has truth, but not the whole truth."

"Let me ask you this: if the Taiyi Dharma Sword is so important, why didn't Dinghuang Prefecture simply designate a candidate and gift it to him? Why go through the trouble of holding a public competition for all to see?"

At this, the smile on Liu Li's face gradually cooled.

Gu Bai continued, "I recall that day, Prefect Kong declared before many noble guests that the prefectural lord had explicitly ordered the Taiyi Dharma Sword's ownership to be 'impartial, favoring neither kin nor foe, only the capable shall have it!' At the time, everyone praised the Liu family and the prefecture's fairness. But perhaps the prefectural lord's words weren't empty? Dinghuang Prefecture's open recruitment was a necessity?"

Liu Li remained silent, but his dark expression said it all.

"And when this old man later reflected, at the time our master and disciple knew absolutely nothing about this Dharma Sword—we simply happened upon it by chance. And isn't that coincidence itself Ming'er's immortal fate? And might this immortal fate have already been calculated by Celestial Master Sanqing? The prefect's explicit order was merely carrying out instructions?"

Speaking thus, Gu Bai let out a light laugh: "Furthermore, this old man also considered that since the Immortal Sect, when bestowing treasures, was willing to disregard background and only ask about ability, then the one who took first place on the spot—besides this Dharma Sword—should there not have been other benefits? Otherwise, if some wild mountain cultivator succeeded in claiming the treasure but was limited by insufficient resources and unable to fully realize his talent afterward, wouldn't that delay the great matter of opening the Immortal Mansion? So this old man would like to ask—where have the elixirs, talismans, sword techniques, and heart sutras that should accompany this Dharma Sword gone?"

By now, the two old Daoists of the Liu Family had faces ashen, and Liu Yi in particular frequently flashed murderous intent in his eyes, several times wanting to rise but forcibly restraining himself.

Gu Bai, however, acted as if unaware, sighing: "To achieve the Six-Layer Seal upon first consulting the Human Emperor Scroll—such talent is rare even in Qingzhou. And anyone who accomplishes this, even if born lowly or as a criminal's descendant, will immediately attract much favor... This old man naturally has no delusions of turning Qiongzhou into Qingzhou, so over the past month, I haven't sought anything from the prefectural office. I only hoped we could each take what we need and live in peace. Yet unexpectedly, you now come knocking at my door..."

"Enough!"

The hot-tempered Liu Yi could no longer hold back. He rose to his full height, stretched out his hand, and pointed at Gu Bai's nose, cursing: "You ungrateful old bastard! Do you have to force us to..."

Before he could finish, his companion firmly pulled him back.

Liu Li's eyes blazed with golden light, and a cold smile hung on his face as he said: "True Person Gu Bai, what you just said is entirely one-sided—without evidence and without reason... But we are not here to debate with you today. Rather, the more cunning your arguments, the more you appear calculating and premeditated! The contest a month ago becomes all the less convincing! The Taiyi Dharma Sword is of great importance and must never fall into the hands of treacherous villains like you!"

At this point, both sides were at daggers drawn, the situation on the verge of erupting.

Gu Bai let out a silent sigh, lightly raising his sleeve. Within his gray patched Daoist robe, it seemed as if billions of starlight flickered...

Yet just then, Liu Yi suddenly tilted his head, wrinkled his nose, and muttered: "Where's that stench of witchcraft coming from...!?"

Liu Li, meanwhile, let out a knowing laugh, his gaze shifting toward the back door of the Sect Leader Temple, where Zheng Lingxi was carefully approaching along the shadows, carrying refreshments for the guests.

The moment Liu Li spotted her, the girl froze, the dishes and cups in her hands clattering, her small face turning pale from extreme guilt.

Liu Li stared at her and said unhurriedly: "When we came, we saw a pack of Dog Demons at the foot of the mountain..."

"Hmph!"

Gu Bai let out a cold snort, cutting Liu Li off, his gaze gradually sharpening...

The next moment, a flash of golden-glow radiance suddenly burst forth, instantly filling the entire Sect Leader Temple, forcing everyone to squint.

It was Wu Ming who had drawn his sword. The Taiyi Dharma Sword let out a silent hum, leaping restlessly in his palm, its sword light shining boundlessly, casting the youth's handsome smiling face as sharp as a blade.

"Everyone, how about you let me say a few words now?"

We thank our readers for their critical feedback. Taking the good advice, we have made adjustments to the relevant plot points!