A Challenge of Swords

In the octagonal pavilion on the back of Golden Ao Mountain, Su Yao and Yang Xiu each held a black and white chess piece and played a game.

Zilin was making pounded tea on the side.

For a moment, the only sounds were the clinking of chess pieces falling and the clattering of tea being poured.

After a long while, Yang Xiu placed a black chess piece down, then looked at Su Yao with a smile:

"Fellow Daoist Su, what's wrong with your mind today? You actually let me steal a corner of your weapon in one move?"

Upon hearing this, Su Yao looked at the chessboard and saw that his white stones in the lower right corner had been completely surrounded by black stones. His large group of stones had been cut off, and his vital points had been lost. The strong position he had painstakingly built up had been devoured without him even realizing it.

He paused for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled. This stealth move had come so quietly that he hadn't even noticed it.

Zilin, who was busy hammering tea, glanced at Su Yao and replied with a smile:

"Fellow Daoist Yang, was this theft of the corner done secretly while Fellow Daoist Su was lost in thought? I've been pounding tea for so long, and Fellow Daoist Su probably didn't even smell the aroma."

After he finished speaking, the three of them burst into laughter. Su Yao looked at Yang Xiu opposite him:

"Isn't Sanlang curious why I asked you earlier if you wanted to take Ren Han under Golden Court's wing?"

Yang Xiu suppressed his smile and asked softly:

I'd like to hear the details!

Su Yao nodded, stood up, and faced the Cibi Lake with his hands behind his back.

"Opening a temple gate doesn't bring peace and quiet. Originally, I just wanted to recruit a few disciples at will, but some locals came to my door. As for that kid from the Yang Household, well, he's a local strongman after all. What's wrong with taking one in?"

He paused:

"That grand-nephew of Magistrate Li, though also a member of the Ningjin Li Household, is from a branch family. Taking him in wouldn't be a problem. But what about Ren Han, the Heavenly Element Child favored by the Heavenly Governance..."

He turned around, looked at the two men with worried faces, and continued:

"We are not afraid of the Heavenly Governance Favor; in fact, it is a joyous occasion for our lineage. But it just so happens at this juncture... and..."

Seeing this, Yang Xiu quickly asked:

"Fellow Daoist Su, please speak quickly."

Su Yao shook his head:

"Later, that Zichuan was probably someone arranged by the Yuanfu..."

With a loud crash, Yang Xiu, his face contorted with rage, overturned the chessboard to the ground.

Zilin rushed forward to comfort him, but Yang Xiu pushed her away.

"Yuanfu! What are they trying to do?"

Zilin quickly said:

"Fellow Daoist Yang, do not panic. Let's hear what Fellow Daoist Su has to say."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu calmed down, and then Su Yao continued:

"I was born under the blessing of the Rainbow Clouds, and I am naturally particularly sensitive to things outside the Immortal Dao. This person is either a person with Witch Talisman, a high-ranking High Witch, or a reincarnation of a demon or a being of the Golden Nature."

"High Witch, Witch Talisman?" Zilin exclaimed in surprise.

They came from a prestigious lineage within the Mysterious Gate sect, so they naturally knew what these represented.

After King Ping moved the capital east, the disciples of the Three Pure Ones tested each other repeatedly, but ultimately none of them seized other lineages, until... when the Qing Dynasty was first established, True Martial Mountain seized the True Qi. As disciples of the Three Pure Ones, Jade Pure One couldn't say anything, since at least it was still considered to be under their own control.

Eight thousand years ago, the True Qi, which was originally full of celestial energy, has now become much closer to the Divine Dao...

Back then, the Yuanfu even attempted to High Witch to seize the Purple Qi...

How could they not be afraid?

Zilin remained stunned for a long time before breaking the silence:

Do the adults know this?

Su Yao shook his head:

"The timing was perfect, but they were unaware that I possessed extraordinary abilities."

He thought to himself: Daozheng has been teaching him since he can remember that he should spread the word that he is born with divine abilities and can move people's hearts. He has heard that Daozheng has spread the word about him in the same way whenever he goes to Jade Void, Jade Lake, or Purple Mansion Continent. It seems that Daozheng was prescient or had some idea about him.

If Daozheng doesn't point it out, he won't say anything more.

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu paced back and forth, pondered for a moment, and then looked at Su Yao:

"What Daoist Su wishes to impart to Heavenly Element Child and Yuanfu Zi?"

Su Yao immediately replied:

"Ren Han can transmit the Cold Qi, as for Zichuan..."

He paused, then said in an icy tone:

"We should repair the Great Yang!"

"Good!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu shouted loudly and clapped his hands in agreement.

Seeing this, Zilin changed her expression and smiled:

"Whether it's High Witch or Witch Talisman, they all fear the Great Yang. Fellow Daoist Su's plan is brilliant."

But then he frowned and said:

"Since His Eastern Sovereign departed, no one has attained the Dao of the Great Yang. Although our families possess numerous Great Yang Cultivation Method, how can we conceal this from outsiders? After all, whether it's Cold Qi or the Great Yang, with the talents of these two individuals, ordinary Cultivation Method are insufficient. They need to obtain methods and Qi from the sect. How can we deceive outsiders...?"

Upon hearing this, Su Yao smiled and said:

"We must acquire the Rainbow Clouds Cultivation Method, and we must also acquire the Profound Qi Cultivation Method."

He paused:

"Judging from Lu Yuan's appearance, his temperament is indeed suitable for cultivating my Rainbow Clouds Mystic Method. As for the Profound Qi Cultivation Method, I will inquire about it to see if it is possible to allow Ren Han to cultivate Cold Qi instead of Cold Profound Qi."

After speaking, he looked at Yang Xiu without saying a word.

Yang Xiu nodded upon seeing this:

"Of course, I will write a letter and send it to Golden Court. The lord will surely send someone to deliver it. As for Ren Han, we can examine him. After all, given the current situation, with Heavenly Element down, none of the other True Person dare to act rashly. Perhaps we can even pick up a bargain."

After saying that, Su Yao nodded:

"That's a possibility, but we still have to be wary of it."

As soon as the words were spoken, sounds came from outside the mountain:

"Shen Yuxiao from the Yuanfu has come to inquire about swordsmanship!"

Upon hearing this, all three men's expressions changed. Yang Xiu asked:

"Is this the one from the Yuanfu who cultivated the Rainbow Clouds?"

Zilin nodded, then said angrily in an unfriendly tone:

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

Then look at Su Yao:

"Fellow Daoist Su, rest assured, leave this person to me! For now, you should conceal your brilliance and keep him as a trump card."

After speaking, he immediately turned to leave.

But Su Yao called out to him:

"Fellow Daoist Zilin, please wait."

She turned around, her brow furrowed with confusion.

Su Yao said calmly:

"After I descended the mountain, I made several moves, first against Noon Sparrow Mountain and the Hepu Witch Tribe, then slaughtered the White Sand Lu Household, and later fought against Ji Jie of Penglai. They already know many of my methods, so there's no need to hide them anymore. Now, concealing your and Fellow Daoist Yang's methods is the most important thing."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu also offered his advice:

"Indeed, now is the perfect time for Fellow Daoist Su to make his move. It's best for us to conceal our trump cards, and..."

He glanced at Su Yao and continued:

"Furthermore, Fellow Daoist Su is the master of this Pear Garden. Since the other party has come to inquire about the mountain, it is not appropriate for us to make a move."

Upon hearing this, Zilin stopped, but then took out a purple jade flute and handed it over. "Fellow Daoist Su, this Purple Heart Flute is a standard magical Law Artifact of my Mount Lao Purple Qi lineage. I have been constantly clashing with the Yuanfu and the various Witch Clan of the East Sea for tens of thousands of years. Although this flute is not a weapon of mass destruction, it has a unique use in dealing with Witch Technique. Since that person comes from the Yuanfu, although he cultivates the Rainbow Clouds technique well, he must be even more skilled in witchcraft in secret. If you take it with you, it will have many wonderful uses when necessary."