Chapter 107 - 72: So What of Demonic Evil?

Chapter 107: Chapter 72: So What of Demonic Evil?

In less than an instant from the moment that bright light pierced the celestial curtain, it blazed in all directions, sweeping away every trace of filth.

Before Xuzhuang could even react, the world around him emptied out, and he found himself once again in the unchanging void of the cosmos.

Xuzhuang stared blankly upward. He saw an imposing, handsome Daoist in a white robe hovering in the void. In one hand, he held up a treasured mirror. His great sleeves billowed without a wind, and his body was wreathed in a radiant, rosy glow, enshrouded in mist.

The Daoist’s eyes gazed into the distance, toward some unknown place. Suddenly, he pointed a finger!

A formless divine light—one Xuzhuang was all too familiar with—shot forth like lightning. It annihilated everything in its path, pierced through a dead, silent star, and vanished into the unfathomable depths beyond.

For some reason, Xuzhuang felt as if he had escaped the jaws of death, that the threat was completely gone. A thought stirred in his mind, and he inspected his inner spirit. The title of the ’Great Freedom Profound Monarch Six Marvelous Jade Muddy Heavenly Son’ had inexplicably dimmed a great deal.

Xuzhuang suppressed his feeling of relief, raised his head to bow, and asked, "Thank you, Ancestral Master..."

For no apparent reason, Xuzhuang swallowed the remaining words "for saving me." It was as if he had momentarily lost the ability to speak. The Daoist drifted down to land gracefully before him, smiled faintly, and said, "Junior Brother Xu, you mustn’t mix up the generations."

Only then did Xuzhuang feel his tongue loosen. He asked in disbelief, "May I ask who this Zhenren is...?"

The Daoist laughed heartily and replied, "My name is Lian Xing. You can call me Senior Brother Lian, or Senior Brother Daochen."

Daochen!

Xuzhuang’s heart trembled. The founder of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect had left behind a generational poem:

Tai Su is borne on the Jade Disc, its form reflecting the primal origin.

The Dao and its virtue lead to profound tranquility; true constancy preserves the spirit’s clarity.

By the present day, the True Disciples under Master Yuanhua were all of the "Dao" generation. The name Daochen, in particular, was fresh in Xuzhuang’s memory. This was the very person from the sect’s records—the True Disciple from eleven hundred years ago who comprehended the Innate Primordial Dissociation Divine Light upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

The man before him was, shockingly, a True Disciple of the same generation as himself!

After a moment, Xuzhuang suppressed the storm of emotions in his heart and said, without losing his respectful demeanor, "Greetings, Senior Brother Daochen. Congratulations on perceiving your true nature and achieving the Primordial Spirit. May you have a long life and eternal vision!"

Daochen smiled. "This is the first congratulation I’ve received from a fellow sect member since my breakthrough. Thank you, Junior Brother."

Xuzhuang said, "I have yet to thank you for saving my life, Senior Brother..."

Daochen waved his sleeve and said leisurely, "You’re mistaken. It was I who devised this plan, using you, Junior Brother, to lure out the Demon Lord in an attempt to rid the Profound Yellow Realm of this scourge. Unfortunately, that demon is exceedingly cunning and ever-changing. It was very cautious this time, and I only managed to destroy one of its avatars. I can’t say it was a success."

Xuzhuang was taken aback. "So that’s how it was..."

Daochen changed the subject, saying with admiration, "However, Junior Brother, your composure in the face of demonic evil, unafraid of its might, was truly befitting of our sect’s style. It is worthy of praise. I am very gratified."

Xuzhuang replied, "Senior Brother, you praise me too much."

Daochen chuckled. "I saw it with my own eyes, Junior Brother, no need to be humble. However, my curiosity about how you would handle the situation caused you to lose a protective technique. That is my fault. Let me think carefully about how I should compensate you."

Xuzhuang gave a wry smile. "Senior Brother, you’re being too serious..."

Daochen waved his hand, cutting the small talk short. "Alright, we’ve lingered here long enough. Let’s return to Profound Yellow."

With that, he placed a hand on Xuzhuang’s shoulder. There was no brilliant flash of light. Xuzhuang only felt a brief moment pass before Daochen was carrying him across the endless void. The scenery before his eyes blurred past in a continuous flash, and then the Profound Yellow Realm reappeared in his line of sight.

This time, it was not a case of the mountains looking closer than they were. The full panorama of the Profound Yellow Realm flashed by, then completely filled Xuzhuang’s vision. In an instant, they had descended into the Celestial Vault, broken through the Gang Wind, passed through layer after layer of clouds, and a vast, misty marsh appeared before them.

—

Outside the Cloud Palace, Sun Suzhen paced back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes filled with anxiety. Suddenly, his expression changed slightly as two figures abruptly descended from the sky and revealed themselves.

Seeing who they were, Sun Suzhen’s worry turned to joy. "Junior Brother Xu!" he called out. Then, slightly startled, he asked, "And this... senior is?"

Xuzhuang nodded in greeting. Hearing Sun Suzhen’s question, he quickly replied, "This is Senior Brother Daochen."

Daochen smiled faintly. "You must be Dao Zhen. Not bad." He then added, "I’ll go inside to see Master Yuanhua first. Junior Brother Xu, you wait here."

Xuzhuang respectfully agreed. Only then did Daochen enter the Cloud Palace. Sun Suzhen couldn’t wait to ask, "Junior Brother Xu... that Senior Brother Daochen just now, could he be...?"

Xuzhuang said quietly, "It’s just as you think."

Sun Suzhen stared blankly toward the Cloud Palace, his mind seemingly gone adrift.

Xuzhuang asked, "Why are you the only one waiting here, Senior Brother?"

Sun Suzhen snapped back to his senses. "Senior Brother Yue and the others have already returned to their respective places... You were late in returning, Junior Brother, and the Master even arrived before you. Although he said you were fine, I couldn’t rest easy, so I waited here... Seeing you safe and sound, I can finally relax."

Xuzhuang smiled and cupped his hands. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother."

Sun Suzhen laughed heartily. "It’s no trouble. Besides, I have something to tell you, Junior Brother."

Xuzhuang said, "Please speak, Senior Brother."

Sun Suzhen’s eyes glinted. "Back at the Dharma Origin Grotto Heaven, after Shangxuan Yi and the others took the Flame True Returning Essence Upper Method and were about to leave, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly came looking for me."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang asked. "What did he want?"

Sun Suzhen said placidly, "Zhong Shenxiu asked me to tell you, Junior Brother, that he will wait at most another twenty-one years before he cultivates his Nascent Soul."

Xuzhuang’s eyes flashed. He said slowly, "Thank you for passing on the message, Senior Brother Xie. I understand."

Sun Suzhen grinned. "If that day truly comes, Junior Brother, don’t forget to send me a message! I’ll be going now!"

Before his voice had even faded, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the clouds.

Xuzhuang retracted his gaze. Looking out at the vast sea of clouds, he murmured softly, ’Twenty-one years... I’m afraid that’s not enough time...’ Then he gathered his thoughts, lowered his hands, and waited quietly.