The Peaceful Heaven Sect, I Have a Senior

Once Old Man had explained the arrangements made by the figure in the mist.

The plain-looking woman, wearing only a simple hairpin, paused her weaving. Her thin lips parted as she instructed, "Do as he says."

"The more wildly he acts, the easier it will be for him to show his hand."

Remembering another matter, the woman asked:

"Has the Chu family discovered it already?"

Old Man replied, "Yes! In recent days, the Chu family has sent quite a few scouts to watch the Wang Family's surroundings. A Golden Core elder of the Chu family has even been keeping an eye on Wang Sheng himself. He followed him all the way to the north of the city just now and was hiding outside the courtyard."

"It seems the Chu family has discovered that he's been scheming behind the scenes. The two families will probably clash very soon."

The woman's lips curved. "It seems the Chu family has someone clever among them."

"Find a way to add fuel to the fire between them. If necessary, let Wang Sheng die at the Chu family's hands. I want Fengyang Commandery thrown into turmoil. Only amid great chaos will our Peaceful Heaven Sect have an opportunity to build up our strength swiftly and infiltrate the various families and major sects, laying the groundwork for our uprising ten years from now."

She paused, considered for a moment, then continued, "As for that old Daoist Xuanming, the enemy of our enemy is our friend. Find a way to warn him.

"Since the Truth-Seeking Abbey suspects Wang Sheng is plotting behind the scenes, give them the evidence. Let them know, while you're at it, that Wang Sheng was involved in Xuan Ye's death.

"Make sure Chang'anzi learns of this too. Young people are impulsive. In his Rage, he's bound to do all sorts of interesting things."

"When the time comes, we'll fan the flames. Fengyang Commandery will surely fall into chaos upon chaos, benefiting both my cultivation and the Peaceful Heaven Sect."

"Rest assured, Protector. That Golden Core cultivator from the Chu family should have overheard my conversation with the Wang Family lad just now. I expect word will reach old Daoist Xuanming's ears soon."

"Leave the other matters to me as well. I will bend my back to the task for our Divine Sect and serve until my dying breath."

Old Man did not linger.

Having received his orders, he swiftly departed.

Inside the house, the woman rose and walked to the doorway.

She lifted her head and gazed toward Floating Cloud Mountain, her eyes filled with complicated emotions. Only after a long while did she say quietly:

"Brother, you said the Truth-Seeking Abbey was merely a minor Daoist lineage, ordinary and Nonbeing, unlikely to be swept into any whirlpool."

"You said you hoped Chang Ning would live a carefree life, safe and happy, spending her days on Floating Cloud Mountain until old age."

"But times have changed. The Truth-Seeking Abbey is no longer what it once was. It's about to rise. I'm afraid things won't turn out as you wished."

"Today, for your sake, I'll lend the Truth-Seeking Abbey a hand. When you break free of your seal, I hope you won't be too grateful to your little sister."

As she finished speaking.

The corners of the woman's mouth lifted into a teasing smile.

A glimmer of cunning flashed through her otherwise placid eyes.

"Only great chaos can bring great order. Only great destruction can bring great creation."

"A new order is built upon the old, and towering edifices rise from the ruins."

"Now that the Truth-Seeking Abbey has entered the chessboard, how could it possibly remain outside the game?"

"The more chaotic Fengyang Commandery becomes, the better."

The next day, the morning sun had just risen.

The Daoists of the Truth-Seeking Abbey left the Immortal Grove Inn and headed straight for the Heaven-in-a-Gourd Palace, just like the other Daoist lineages.

That same day, many people set out from the city for Floating Cloud Mountain to challenge old Daoist Xuanming.

Some wanted to see whether he possessed genuine skill, some wanted to see whether he lived up to his reputation, and some simply wanted to join the excitement. Others harbored hopes of getting lucky, thinking old Daoist Xuanming might have been injured. They wanted to snatch an easy victory and become famous overnight.

Still others suspected the Truth-Seeking Abbey possessed a superior Foundation Establishment method and superior Daoist arts. How else could old Daoist Xuanming have defeated Chu Yunfei? Greed stirred within them, and they hoped to fish in troubled waters while someone challenged him, sneaking into the Truth-Seeking Abbey to hunt for treasures.

Yet all these people stopped at the city gates. Some turned toward the Chu Residence, some went home, some entered taverns to drink, and some went to the Heaven-in-a-Gourd Palace to watch the Dao Origin Grand Gathering.

It was all because the Chu Residence had beaten them to it, posting a notice at the city gates: "To challenge the Truth-Seeking Abbey, first come to the Chu Gate. To fight Xuanming, first withstand the Conquering Fist. Chu Yunfei of the Chu family awaits your challenge."

It was terribly melodramatic, and terribly domineering!

It successfully stoked the Rage and fighting spirit of some young people, while making others shrink back and furl their banners.

Others continued to speculate.

Some believed the Truth-Seeking Abbey had pledged allegiance to the Chu family. Others thought the two had merely joined forces. If the abbey had pledged allegiance, there would be no need to sacrifice the reputation of the family's own prodigy.

Some thought old Daoist Xuanming had forged a superior Dao foundation and the Chu family valued him enough to invest in him early. Others believed Chu Yunfei and old Daoist Xuanming might have made a wager before their fight. Xuanming had won, and Chu Yunfei had accepted his loss and willingly stepped forward to shield the Truth-Seeking Abbey.

All sorts of theories sprang up, and the arguments went on without end.

By noon, the Commandery City had grown even livelier because of this affair.

Chu Yunfei truly fought.

With one punch apiece, he knocked down every challenger.

He truly stood up for the Truth-Seeking Abbey.

After injuring the final challenger, Chu Yunfei stood before the gates with a brilliant smile.

He had already learned from the Daoists at the Immortal Grove Inn that True Person Xuanming liked peace and quiet. Since he knew how to repay a kindness, he naturally could not allow these clay chickens and pottery dogs to disturb the True Person's tranquility.

Xuan Yang paid no attention to any of this.

He spurred his horse onward, rushing toward the Truth-Seeking Abbey.

Dao-Treasuring Peak, the Scripture Pavilion.

Xuanming understood perfectly why Xuan Yang had come, and knew that he was worried about him.

Feeling gratified, he poured Xuan Yang a cup of tea and said warmly, "You've had a dusty journey, junior brother. Thank you for your efforts."

"Thank you, senior brother."

Xuan Yang took the cup and slowly moistened his throat.

Though he had been weighed down with worry, the moment he entered the Scripture Pavilion, all his panic temporarily vanished like smoke and clouds.

Wherever his senior brother was, there always seemed to be a special power that involuntarily settled the heart, as though every anxiety could be soothed and every problem resolved.

By the time he drained his cup, Xuan Tong and Xuan Yu, who had received Xuanming's voice transmission, arrived. Xuan Yang could no longer hold back and recounted everything that had happened in Fengyang Commandery.

The news spreading like wildfire.

The Truth-Seeking Abbey's predicament.

Chang'anzi's rise to fame.

The disciples' performance.

Once he finished, Xuanming offered him another cup of tea.

Xuan Yang felt miserable inside, but did not dare refuse. He could only accept the cup and continue sipping it wretchedly as he waited for his senior brother's decision.

Xuanming raised an eyebrow. Chang'anzi taking second place in the Dao debate trial had been beyond his expectations, and Chu Yunfei shielding him from all those challengers surprised him just as much. Still, Xuanming did not speak immediately, instead turning to Xuan Tong.

The latter understood at once. Together with Xuan Yu, one giving the main account and the other filling in the details, he recounted Chu Yunfei's challenge to Xuanming.

Only after Xuan Yang understood the full story did Xuanming speak:

"From the moment Chang'anzi entered the Dao Origin Assembly and Chu Yunfei came to challenge the Truth-Seeking Abbey, we could no longer keep the superior Foundation Establishment method secret for long."

"If it's a blessing, it isn't a calamity. If it's a calamity, there's no escaping it."

"Perhaps our Truth-Seeking Abbey must pass through this tribulation to break free of its cocoon, become a butterfly, and rise into a great Daoist Tradition sect."

Seeing that the worry on the three Daoists' faces had not eased, Xuanming said, "You needn't worry too much about this. Our Truth-Seeking Abbey isn't as simple as it appears. So long as no Golden Core True Person takes action, I have nothing to fear."

"As for Golden Core True Persons..." He paused, then continued, "Most such figures possess superior Dao foundations and probably won't intervene. If there truly is an exception, I will ask a senior to act."

"As long as we deter the Golden Core cultivators, our Truth-Seeking Abbey will have weathered this tribulation. Our fortunes will surely turn."

Xuan Tong was stunned, and Xuan Yu was astonished.

Curious, Xuan Yang asked directly:

"Senior brother, since when has our Truth-Seeking Abbey had an elder?"

Taking a light sip of tea, Xuanming explained in an unhurried tone, "This senior is a granduncle of mine, as well as an old acquaintance of our founding master."

"Two years ago, not long after I entered the Dao, he came to Floating Cloud Mountain. He has lived here in seclusion ever since, devoting himself to teaching me."

"That is also one of the reasons I became a True Person in just two years. It's only because he dislikes being disturbed that I didn't tell you about him."

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