Chapter 173 - 103: Dragon Aspect Seeks an Alliance (Part 2)

Chapter 173: Chapter 103: Dragon Aspect Seeks an Alliance (Part 2)

What the sect disciples didn’t know was that not long after this guest arrived at the Hall of Councilors, a Flying Book was dispatched. It flew toward the Grotto Heaven of Daoist Master Miaomiao, the man now revered by all as the sect’s Heaven-Supporting Jade Pillar.

On this day, Xuzhuang happened to be taking a short rest in his residence, and Xue Yuren was also in the hall. This woman of jade was a slow cultivator, but her heart for the Dao was firm. After taking the opportunity to ask Xuzhuang about a few difficult points in her cultivation, she stood motionless to one side like a statue, apparently lost in thought.

Xuzhuang had no miscellaneous tasks for the woman, nor did he immediately return to his quiet chamber. Instead, he released the Taiyi Rainbow Sword. It spiraled within a ten-foot radius above the main hall as he casually practiced his Swordsmanship, falling into deep thought.

He had never neglected his Swordsmanship practice. However, he had recently begun to faintly sense that unlike his Daoist arts, no matter how much his Swordsmanship improved, it could not undergo any qualitative change before he formed a Nascent Soul. He had hit a bottleneck.

This alone would have been acceptable. In truth, Xuzhuang’s Swordsmanship was already formidable, and with a Magical Treasure Flying Sword at his side, he theoretically had no reason to worry about his flying sword’s killing power. But despite having possessed the Taiyi Rainbow Sword for so long, he had never been able to wield it as if it were an extension of his own arm.

This was because the spirituality of the Taiyi Rainbow Sword was unusually strong. Normally, even if a magical treasure developed a true form, it would be ignorant and childlike at first. This was even more true for an illusion-form magical treasure, whose spirituality should have been quite simple.

Take the Ming Venerable’s Image Pendant, for example. Although its spirituality was incomplete, he had the Sacrificial Refining Skill for it, so the refining process had proceeded without any hindrance. Xuzhuang had already refined it completely. As a treasure for purifying the mind and dispelling inner demons, it had been a constant aid in his cultivation.

But the Taiyi Rainbow Sword was different. Its spirituality had never truly submitted to Xuzhuang. As a result, even with the refining skill in hand, after more than a decade, Xuzhuang still hadn’t fully refined its treasure restrictions. He was always stuck on the final step.

This had caused his Swordsmanship, once his most reliable trump card, to gradually become a supplementary tool. Against Golden Core Cultivators, it was still like slaughtering chickens and dogs. But if he were to clash with a Nascent Soul, relying on Swordsmanship alone would make it difficult to gain any advantage.

Just as Xuzhuang was pondering this, a Flying Book suddenly shot in from outside his residence, interrupting his thoughts. Xuzhuang reached out and caught the Flying Book. He didn’t open it immediately, instead shaking his head with a smile.

’I’m not a pure Sword Cultivator, after all. There’s no need to pursue greater heights in Swordsmanship at this particular juncture. Thinking it over, the solution is actually quite simple.’

First, once he formed his Nascent Soul, his Swordsmanship would naturally advance by leaps and bounds again. Second, it was a matter of patient effort. No matter how disobedient the Taiyi Rainbow Sword was, with the Sacrificial Refining Skill, he would be able to refine it completely sooner or later. It was just that Xuzhuang didn’t have that much time to spare at the moment, so this too would have to wait until after he reached the Nascent Soul realm.

Having made up his mind, Xuzhuang temporarily put the matter of his Swordsmanship aside. He flicked the Flying Book in his hand open and glanced at it. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he instructed Xue Yuren to guard the Grotto Heaven and not to close the gate, saying he would be back shortly.

Xue Yuren acknowledged with a blank expression. Only then did Xuzhuang rise and go outside his residence. He summoned a wisp of smoke and cloud, and in an instant, he landed outside the Hall of Councilors, his figure reappearing as he strode into the hall.

Inside the great hall, two people were already conversing. One was, of course, the ever-present Daoist Zhang. The other was a young man with an extraordinary bearing, wearing a star-and-pearl-encrusted coronet and a robe embroidered with beautiful mountains and rivers.

Despite being within the gates of the True Form Temple, the man’s every move still unconsciously revealed a hint of arrogance. It wasn’t until Xuzhuang stepped into the hall that his expression turned slightly more solemn. He rose and clasped his hands in a salute. "Chao Wanzhan, True Inheritor of the Dragon Image Sect, pays his respects to Daoist Master Miaomiao."

Xuzhuang returned the courtesy without hesitation, saying, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist. Our cultivation levels are similar, so we can be considered peers. There’s no need for such honorifics."

Chao Wanzhan readily agreed. "Fellow Daoist’s words are most reasonable."

The two sat down again. Xuzhuang’s gaze swept over Chao Wanzhan’s face, and a thought struck him. He asked, "Looking at you, Fellow Daoist Chao, you seem somewhat familiar."

Chao Wanzhan smiled. "A year ago, during your battle to suppress Venerable Qiu Song, I happened to be in the audience. Perhaps I was fortunate enough to have seen you then."

"So that’s why." Xuzhuang smiled and nodded, then changed the subject. "Fellow Daoist, you’ve come from thousands of miles away and asked for me by name. May I ask what this is about?"

Hearing this, Chao Wanzhan smiled and cupped his hands. "Your fame, Fellow Daoist, has already spread to the Dragon Image Domain. To suppress a Nascent Soul Venerable with a Golden Core body... such talent, such a foundation, is truly unprecedented."

"Yunlan Province is under the jurisdiction of my Dragon Image Domain. When the Venerables of my sect heard that a figure such as yourself had emerged, they were extremely gratified and specially ordered me to deliver a gift to offer congratulations."

With that, Chao Wanzhan swiped a hand inside his sleeve, produced a jade beaker, and placed it on the table. He pointed to it and said with a smile, "This is Celestial Purity True Sand. It was made by a Venerable of my sect, who used a treasure to gather Spiritual Essence from within the Celestial Waterfall and refine it. It should be of great benefit to your cultivation, Fellow Daoist."

A glint flashed in Xuzhuang’s eyes, but he didn’t look at the Celestial Purity True Sand. Instead, he replied, "I cannot accept a reward I haven’t earned. Your sect’s goodwill has been received, but the gift is too valuable for me to accept. Please, Fellow Daoist, take it back."

Chao Wanzhan’s smile froze slightly. His mind raced for a moment before he cupped his hands again and said, "You’re too kind, Fellow Daoist. How can a mere introductory gift be considered valuable? Besides, there’s no precedent for taking back a gift once it has been offered. I must ask you to accept it."

Before Xuzhuang could refuse again, he continued, "I did not come here today just to present a gift. I carry a mission from my sect. If you do not accept this, Fellow Daoist, how could I possibly have the face to speak of it?"

Xuzhuang shook his head and said simply, "Whatever mission you are on, Fellow Daoist, please speak frankly."

Seeing that Xuzhuang was impervious to persuasion, Chao Wanzhan gritted his teeth and stopped beating around the bush. He said bluntly, "I’m sure you are aware, Fellow Daoist, that the current situation of my Dragon Image Sect is quite similar to the one your esteemed sect faced previously."

"The Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly is approaching, but my Dragon Image Sect is in an awkward interim with a gap in succession. Meanwhile, those scoundrels from the Divine Flow Sect are eyeing us like a tiger stalking its prey, eager to take our place." Chao Wanzhan said gravely, "As I understand it, your sect also has many conflicts with the Divine Flow Sect. Our two sects could absolutely form an alliance."

Xuzhuang gave a noncommittal reply. "Your sect is one of the Five Domains Great Sects, with a profound heritage. The Divine Flow Sect, moreover, has Venerable Chu River, who has reached the Nascent Soul Third Layer. How could the True Form Temple possibly compare?"

Chao Wanzhan said, "You are too modest, Fellow Daoist. According to my sect’s records, once a cultivator with a Top-grade Golden Core achieves Nascent Soul, there is a high probability they will refine Gangyun and break through to the Second Realm."

At this point, Chao Wanzhan saw Xuzhuang’s faint, unreadable smile and his heart skipped a beat. He knew he had lost his composure. After a moment’s thought, he concluded, ’When talking with a person like him, it’s better to be direct. Beating around the bush is pointless.’

So he continued, "As long as you are willing, Fellow Daoist, my sect can provide a continuous supply of this Celestial Purity True Sand to help you swiftly form your Nascent Soul. That would be no problem at all."

Xuzhuang said coolly, "And if I agree to this, what would your sect require of me as an ally?"

Chao Wanzhan said in a low voice, "My sect hopes that after you form your Nascent Soul, you will take the lead for us at the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly and face Venerable Chu River in a match."

Xuzhuang laughed aloud at his words. "A paltry bit of True Sand in exchange for me facing Venerable Chu River?"

Chao Wanzhan hurriedly said, "Please don’t misunderstand, Fellow Daoist. My sect is not asking you to fight Venerable Chu River to the death. We only need you to expend some of his Magical Power and probe one or two of his Divine Techniques. That way, my sect’s Venerables will have an easier time dealing with him."

Xuzhuang waited for him to finish before saying, "You’ve misunderstood, Fellow Daoist."

"Hm?" Chao Wanzhan looked over in confusion, only to see Xuzhuang’s indifferent expression as he said, "Venerable Chu River’s cultivation may be high, but not so high as to make me afraid."

"However, if you want me to solve this problem for your sect, it will depend on whether your sect shows true sincerity. If all you’re offering is a paltry amount of True Sand, then there’s no need to mention it again."

"What?" Chao Wanzhan almost suspected his ears were deceiving him. ’What did he mean, "solve this problem"?’ he thought. ’A dignified Nascent Soul Great Successor Cultivator, a man who causes the entire Dragon Image Sect to worry—and in this person’s mouth, it’s as if Venerable Chu River can be dealt with casually?’

’What on earth is the source of this man’s arrogance?’

These absurd words, contrary to expectation, did not anger Chao Wanzhan in the slightest. Instead, he asked in a strange tone, "Oh? Then what, in your opinion, would count as sincerity, Fellow Daoist?"

Xuzhuang paid him no mind and said coolly, "If your sect is willing to bring me the method for achieving a Grotto Heaven to look over, I can agree to this matter."

Chao Wanzhan shot to his feet and sneered, "It seems you’re the one who lacks sincerity, Fellow Daoist." He was about to turn and leave when he heard Xuzhuang’s voice from behind him: "Wait."

Chao Wanzhan turned back disdainfully and asked, "What other instructions do you have for me, Fellow Daoist?"

Xuzhuang, his face impassive, pointed at the beaker of True Sand on the table. "Please take this gift back, Fellow Daoist."

"Fine. Daoist Master Miaomiao, you are something else." Chao Wanzhan flicked his sleeve, sweeping up the Celestial Purity True Sand, and stormed out of the hall without a backward glance, summoning a ray of light to fly away.