Zhang Daolin

The Moon Worship Tower was the most decadent place in Beiling City.

Lin Chao walked along the road, passing low sheds and dilapidated houses, with mud everywhere.

The occasional commoners he passed were barely clothed, their eyes vacant. Most of them were old men and women.

The colors in their eyes were mostly gray and somber.

As he arrived in the Moon Worship Tower district, the sky seemed to brighten, and the colors became more vibrant.

Red banners fluttered in the wind, and colorful ribbons added a splash of color to the sky.

Many pedestrians wore smiles and silk brocade.

Lin Chao knew this was the disparity of the world.

No matter how incompetent the Azure Lord was, there would always be those who benefited.

Of course, Lin Chao knew he was one of them.

The suffering masses would always be the ones enduring hardship.

Of course, even if Great Cang prospered, the common people would still suffer, though perhaps slightly better than before.

For example, the society Lin Chao lived in now could be described as extremely prosperous and open-minded.

However, there were still many burdens weighing down on ordinary people.

Or rather, if there were no disasters or calamities, it would be fine. But if floods or serious illnesses occurred, these were enough to crush ordinary individuals.

"Young Master Lin Ping, you're here."

A heavily made-up woman approached, her face fixed in an exaggerated smile that never wavered.

Lin Chao strongly suspected that if her expression changed too much, the powder would fall off like someone's dandruff.

"Mm," Lin Chao nodded.

He was now sixteen years old and had visited the Moon Worship Tower several times due to social obligations.

As the young master of the Dan Jian Sect, he was a true dignitary in Beiling City.

The people at the Moon Worship Tower naturally remembered his appearance.

Of course, Lin Chao remained virtuous, dedicating himself to the study of Anomalous Arts.

Lin Chao felt that these so-called Anomalous Arts were different from what he imagined cultivation or Qi refinement to be.

They were more like... pollution.

Or rather, the human body being contaminated by Exotic Treasures.

Lin Chao had been to the Moon Worship Tower a few times, but none of the women there had ever performed the moon worship ritual in front of him.

"Lin Ping, long time no see."

A gentle voice sounded. The speaker was Zhang Daolin, the young master of the Northern Cold Hall.

Zhang Daolin was older than Lin Ping, but only by a year or two.

At this moment, he was holding a young child, about three or four years old, with a pale complexion and an unusually sleepy appearance.

This child was Zhang Daolin's son.

Seeing this, Lin Chao felt a bit speechless.

Bringing a child to a pleasure house directly?

"Long time no see, Daolin," Lin Chao greeted calmly, but his voice carried a distant coldness.

He wasn't familiar with Zhang Daolin, having only met him once during the Azure Lord's daughter's selection of a husband.

Of course, he had heard his father mention him many times.

The child in Zhang Daolin's arms woke up, revealing a pale, tender face. He looked at Lin Chao and said, "Uncle... you're so handsome, like an immortal."

Lin Chao smiled.

However, he was only sixteen now, and being called "uncle" was a bit inappropriate, wasn't it?

Fortunately, the child said he looked like an immortal, not an immortal maiden.

"Ahem... Can Uncle Immortal take me to the rooftop to pick stars?

My dad says the rooftop is cold and won't take me."

"I'll take you when you're better," Lin Chao comforted him.

After saying this, the child's face lit up with joy, and then he drifted off into a sleepy daze.

Zhang Daolin looked at the child with gentle eyes, tinged with a hint of heartache.

The group entered a room.

The other guards dispersed, leaving only Zhang Daolin, Lin Chao, and the child in the room.

"What brings you to my Beiling, Daolin?" Lin Chao asked calmly.

Once inside the room, Lin Chao's expression softened considerably.

The Northern Cold Hall is Azure Lord's number one lackey.

But in reality, the Northern Cold Hall has secret ties with the Dan Jian Sect.

Azure Lord is too powerful, and too close to the Northern Cold Hall, which is why they pledged allegiance.

However, the Northern Cold Hall isn't foolish.

They know that following Azure Lord might ultimately lead to their destruction.

Naturally, the Northern Cold Hall is unwilling to accept this fate.

Thus, they've hedged their bets.

One side remains loyal to Azure Lord, while the other maintains secret contact with forces like the Dan Jian Sect.

Zhang Daolin's child has been sickly since birth, afflicted with a cold illness.

It's incurable, but can be alleviated.

One of the required medicinal ingredients is Fire Dragon Grass, a herb found only in Dan Jian Mountain.

For this reason, the Northern Cold Hall has placed their hopes on another force, specifically their young hall master, Zhang Daolin.

Zhang Daolin glanced around, confirming no one was present, and spoke calmly, but his tone grew heavier as he continued: "Azure Lord seeks the Immortality Elixir.

Once he obtains it, our major factions will surely be annihilated, with no chance of recovery. The world will truly fall into despair!"

Lin Chao had heard his father describe Zhang Daolin, saying he was deeply cunning, with suppressed righteousness, and likely to have a short life.

Even now, as Zhang Daolin spoke with anger, he kept his voice low.

He had suppressed himself for too long.

Lin Chao didn't answer immediately, letting him continue to vent.

"The Azure Dragon Stone is truly too overbearing!

With the Azure Dragon Stone, even if Azure Lord is unjust, he can secure his empire!

Do you know, three months ago, Zhao Sheng from Sanquan Village led a vast army of a hundred thousand rebels and besieged Jiangquan.

If they had captured Jiangquan, they could have controlled the nineteen passes and advanced directly into Kyoto!

At the time, Jiangquan had only three thousand defenders.

But heaven did not favor Zhao; it favored Cang.

That night, a meteor fell, and Zhao Sheng's rebel army suffered countless casualties."

As he spoke of these things, Zhang Daolin felt a sense of powerlessness.

With the Azure Dragon Stone, the favor of heaven rests with Azure Lord.

Azure Lord is a tyrant, hated by countless people.

Yet, his martial prowess is unmatched in the world.

Furthermore, with the favor of heaven, even if someone tries to poison or assassinate Azure Lord, various unforeseen events will occur.

"If Azure Lord obtains the Immortality Elixir, the world will truly have no hope left!"

Lin Chao's expression was calm.

He naturally knew of Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng's rebellion had also been secretly orchestrated by the Dan Jian Sect.

At this moment, Lin Chao frowned.

"The Immortality Elixir? How can such a pill exist in this world?"

Of course, with his knowledge, he felt it was possible for such a pill to exist.

However, in this world, apart from Exotic Treasures and himself, there was nothing truly related to cultivation.

Exotic Treasures were powerful and special, but compared to something as precious as the Immortality Elixir in the cultivation world, they were nothing.

"The Immortality Elixir originated five hundred years ago, refined by the Sun Emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty, who gathered Qi Cultivators."

Hearing this news, Lin Chao was completely stunned.