Revisiting Taishang Laojun Pavilion

"Of course not!"

Bai Ke shook its head and tail. "It's not that I don't want to teach you, but you're only human. You don't have Heavenly Fox blood, you haven't Soul-Bonded with me, and you can't mobilize the power of moonlight. How can you use Moonlight Evasion?"

"Let's just try," Gu Zhao said, unconcerned.

Although he didn't have that so-called Heavenly Fox blood, the Daoist path he cultivated followed the Way of Nature. The opening of the Upper Clarity Heavenly Heart True Method was the Three Lights True Qi Cultivation Method. Moonlight was one of the most standard sources of true Daoist Qi.

"Okay, okay!" Xiuniang agreed repeatedly.

Her entire family, including Bai Ke, owed Gu Zhao an immense debt. Now that they had a way to repay him, if Gu Zhao hadn't needed anything, she would have even given him the Heavenly Fox Nail in her hand.

So, Xiuniang explained in detail to Gu Zhao how to circulate mana within his body, especially how to sense the power of moonlight, then mobilize his mana, merge himself with the moonlight, instantly burn his mana, protect his body, and shuttle at high speed.

Gu Zhao carefully noted it down and tried it out, but he didn't succeed.

However, he wasn't in a hurry. Even without Heavenly Fox blood, he might still be able to master it. Even if he couldn't achieve the extreme speed of Moonlight Evasion, he could accept a few tens of percent reduction in power.

Math problems don't necessarily have only one solution, so what's wrong with modifying a spell?

Gu Zhao stopped after trying it out and asked Xiuniang, "Is there anything else?"

Xiuniang froze at his words, her face flushing slightly. She hesitated, as if thinking of something, and her expression became somewhat alluring.

"Of course, there is. Do you think the legends of fox spirits circulating everywhere are false? Xiuniang also has a move to bewitch... oof?"

Xiuniang clamped her hand over Bai Ke's mouth and then said to Gu Zhao, "I can also temporarily borrow Little White's mana. Both the Heavenly Fox Nail and Moonlight Evasion can become more powerful."

"Oh!" Gu Zhao nodded, as if he hadn't heard Bai Ke's words. He only said to Xiuniang, "Not bad. You have offense, evasion, and temporary bursts of power. You can be considered a qualified grunt."

Bai Ke: o(▼皿▼メ;)o

If this young lady's mouth wasn't being held by Xiuniang, I would have bitten you!

But Xiuniang's expression became excited, "Then can I go out with Young Master next time?"

Gu Zhao was taken aback. "You want to go out with me?"

"Young Master comes from a distinguished background and shouldn't focus his mind on trivial daily matters," Xiuniang said with some expectation in her eyes. "I can also read a few characters and can help you serve tea, fetch water, make the bed, and fold the blankets. Moreover, I'm considered a grunt now, so I won't drag you down."

Gu Zhao couldn't help but laugh. He rubbed Xiuniang's head. "I was just kidding. You're not really a grunt. If you were in the mortal world, you'd definitely be considered a top assassin."

Xiuniang was startled and shook her head like a rattle drum. "I don't want to be an assassin."

"Of course, of course!" Gu Zhao understood. Meeting Xiuniang's expectant gaze, he thought that since he would be going out to clear out grunts and improve his cultivation in villages and county towns anyway, and there would be no danger, it wouldn't be bad to bring along a young girl familiar with the affairs of this other world.

So, Gu Zhao nodded in agreement. "Alright, after you get more familiar with things for a few more days, I'll take you out with me and find some harmful monsters for you to practice on."

Xiuniang's face instantly lit up with joy, and she exuded an air of refreshed spirit.

Bai Ke's eyes flickered, and it wagged its tail. "I know a harmful ghost that's perfect for Xiuniang to practice on!"

Qingcheng Mountain, Taishang Laojun Pavilion.

"Ding!"

A clear, melodious, and ethereal sound echoed through the great hall. Tourists who had climbed Qingcheng Mountain early in the morning bowed again to the Divine Statue of Laojun before rising to look around.

The middle-aged Taoist priest striking the chime saw a young man follow the tourists into the hall. He didn't bow but instead bowed three times to Laojun before walking towards him.

"Excuse me, has Daoist Yansong woken up?" Gu Zhao asked.

"Huh?" The middle-aged Taoist priest was surprised. "You're looking for Uncle-Master Yansong?"

"I made an appointment to visit him yesterday," Gu Zhao nodded, then took out his phone to check. "I just sent him a message, but he didn't reply."

The middle-aged Taoist priest instinctively glanced at Gu Zhao's phone screen and saw that the avatar in the chat was indeed Daoist Yansong. He quickly said, "Uncle-Master practices martial arts and chants scriptures every morning. He might not have seen his phone."

Just then, both of them heard a soft ping from Gu Zhao's phone. It was Daoist Yansong replying, "I'll be right there. Have Ning Wen take you upstairs first."

Gu Zhao looked up and asked, "Who is Ning Wen?"

The middle-aged Taoist priest pointed to himself. "Ning Wen is me."

"Come, I'll take you upstairs."

Although he didn't know what kind of relationship this young man Gu Zhao had with Daoist Yansong, since Daoist Yansong had spoken, Daoist Ning Wen naturally led Gu Zhao upstairs. He even brewed him a cup of tea before going downstairs to continue striking the chime.

The tea was still warm when Daoist Yansong pushed open the door and entered, smiling. "Did your Heavenly Dipper Talisman take effect so quickly? Are you here to thank this old Daoist for matchmaking, or to invite me to your engagement banquet?"

Gu Zhao was speechless. "Are you so sure I've taken a liking to her?"

"Young men are drawn to beauty. Your eyes are practically glued to her long legs. This old Daoist is helping you," Daoist Yansong said earnestly.

Gu Zhao looked the old Taoist priest up and down. He couldn't understand how the Five Thunder Token had judged such a shameless old man to have a pure soul and righteous spirit.

He's probably watching those domineering CEO romance novels!

"Five Thunder Token, do you want to take another look?" Gu Zhao silently addressed the Five Thunder Token in his heart.

The Five Thunder Token and the thunder seeds revolving around it leaped with joy.

Gu Zhao: "..."

"Actually, the other girl isn't bad either. I see her attitude towards you is better than the one with the long legs," Daoist Yansong stroked his beard and pondered. "If you put in some effort, this one should be easier to win over."

Gu Zhao sighed. "I came to see you today for a serious matter."

"I know, you said it. What important matter?" Daoist Yansong asked, "Is it about cultivation?"

Yesterday, Gu Zhao messaged him saying he had something to discuss this morning. Since they would talk in person, Daoist Yansong only practiced a set of Ba Duan Jin this morning before checking his phone. He hadn't expected Gu Zhao to arrive at the mountain so early.

Daoist Yansong wasn't particularly curious about the "important matter."

What else could a young man and an old Taoist discuss, besides Taoist cultivation? It wasn't like they'd talk about CEO romance dramas and purple-robed Celestial Masters, was it?

"Do you think Qingcheng Mountain is tranquil and elegant, and you want to become a Taoist priest here?" Daoist Yansong said with a smile. "Don't worry, things are different now. Religion is religion, law is law, work is work, and life is life. Even Taoist priests of the Quanzhen school can marry and have children."

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "What about eating meat and drinking alcohol?"

"The Quanzhen precepts are stricter, mainly for purifying the mind and body, cultivating oneself, and preventing falling into desire so one can focus entirely on cultivation. These precepts are useful for most people, but for geniuses, there's another set of standards."

Daoist Yansong said with a grin, "Patriarch Lü could drink and chase women; why can't his descendants?"