Chapter 296 - 161: Preparations for the Appointment 2

Chapter 296: Chapter 161: Preparations for the Appointment 2

These pastry recipes were passed down within the Du Xu Palace. They weren’t rare Spiritual Objects, just exquisite and delicious—which evidently suited Master Zhaokong’s indulgent nature perfectly.

The Immoral Taoist waved his hand. "This Daoist Master doesn’t have maids with such deft hands to make pastries."

He clicked his tongue in admiration as he scanned the hall. "Xu the Kid, where did you find this magical treasure? It’s perfect for a life of leisure."

Xuzhuang replied, "This palace was left behind by our sect’s Ancestor Grandmaster Zhaokong. It’s a magical treasure bestowed upon me by the sect."

The Immoral Taoist was taken aback. "Master Zhaokong?"

Xuzhuang asked, "It seems you know of Ancestor Grandmaster Zhaokong, Zhenren?"

"Hmm..." The Immoral Taoist mused. "I’ve certainly heard of Master Zhaokong. Legend has it he was a great master who had overcome the Three Calamities and had a chance of attaining Pure Yang. What a pity."

"Oh?" This was the first time Xuzhuang had heard that Master Zhaokong’s cultivation had reached the stage of overcoming the Three Calamities. That was considered an extremely high level, even among Primordial Spirit True Men.

But seeing that the Immoral Taoist seemed unwilling to elaborate, Xuzhuang simply nodded and changed the subject. "Zhenren, what brings you here to find me this time?"

The Immoral Taoist said, "I’ve come for our appointment regarding the Innate Spirit Root, of course."

Slightly surprised, Xuzhuang asked, "Why so early? Does the journey take two years?"

The Immoral Taoist had told Xuzhuang that the Cyan and Purple Pearl Fruit would take another twelve years to mature. Only ten years had passed. Two years was nothing to a cultivator, of course, but there seemed to be no reason to set out early unless it was necessary.

The Immoral Taoist cleared his throat. "This Daoist Master won’t lie to you. The journey doesn’t take two years, but your Profound Yellow Realm is getting more and more chaotic. I really don’t want to be on edge every time I travel here, so I figured I might as well take you away early."

Then he added, "My senior brother already took Zhong the Kid away a few years ago."

A thought struck Xuzhuang, and he suddenly asked, "Zhenren, you just said you were reluctant to travel here. Is it because you know something about what happened out in space?"

"Hmm?" The Immoral Taoist paused, then it dawned on him. He said hesitantly, "That’s right... I know the Celestial Abyss Sect and the Bone Sect arranged to negotiate on a barren star not far from the Profound Yellow Realm..."

From the sound of it, the outcome was obvious.

Xuzhuang’s fingertips twitched, and he let out a soft sigh.

The Immoral Taoist said with surprise, "It seems you know something, kid?"

Before Xuzhuang could answer, he continued, "So, how about it? Can you leave early with this Daoist Master?"

Xuzhuang frowned. Although he had long been prepared, leaving early meant he would be gone for at least two years. This was different from his trips to Mang Mountain or his excursions into the void to gather energy.

Mang Mountain, while vast, was still within the Divine Continent. With Xuzhuang’s Flying Escape speed, it hardly counted as a long journey. And while traveling into the void to gather energy was more distant, it didn’t involve conflict with others. He could leave a Dharma Body behind in the sect to manage affairs, and in an emergency, he had ways to communicate.

But to follow the Immoral Taoist far beyond the Profound Yellow Realm, perhaps even to other worlds, was not so simple.

He still carried the responsibilities of a Three Hall Elder and the Jade Cauldron Hall Master. It wasn’t that he cared about losing power, but that he feared he would be failing in his duties to the sect.

Daochen Zhenren seemed to approve of his agreement with the lineages of the Immoral Taoist and the Divination Daoist regarding the Innate Spirit Root; otherwise, the Immoral Taoist wouldn’t have been permitted to come calling time and again.

But it wasn’t in Xuzhuang’s character to hold a position without fulfilling its duties, so he couldn’t just let everything go.

Of course, he had already made a pact with the Immoral Taoist, and he couldn’t go back on his word—to say nothing of the reward, the Innate Spirit Root and the Cyan and Purple Pearl Fruit.

The helpers sought out for this pact by the divination experts from the lineages of the Yi Daoist and the Divination Daoist could hardly be ordinary cultivation geniuses. Xuzhuang wasn’t one to boast, but just look at the helper Jide Taoist found:

Zhong Shenxiu, a masterpiece of creation! Dao Zhen, born of the Dao itself!

Regardless of how powerful the helper found by the other party was, the prospect of a long-overdue reunion with Zhong Shenxiu was enough to pique Xuzhuang’s interest.

’It seems this is the only way.’ After pondering for a long moment, Xuzhuang finally made up his mind. He said to the Immoral Taoist, "This junior can depart early with you, Zhenren."

The Immoral Taoist could tell he had more to say. "But...?"

Xuzhuang replied, "Rest assured, Zhenren. This junior just has a few matters to arrange. It won’t cause a long delay."

The Immoral Taoist raised a large hand and rubbed his chin. "Alright, then. This Daoist Master will wait for you here in your residence, kid."

Just then, the maids Hua and Wu’Er returned to the hall, presenting the pastries. The Immoral Taoist glanced at the tray and chortled, "More, bring more!"

The maids of Du Xu Palace were all perceptive. Without any signal from Xuzhuang, they all curtsied, bowed, and answered in the affirmative. After leaving the hall, one of them whispered, "Wu’Er, go get the ingredients. I’ll call Xingyu and Ni Chang to help."

The pastries in Du Xu Palace were always made to order; keeping a surplus was unheard of. Xuzhuang hadn’t changed this custom, so the rule had been maintained.

Xuzhuang smiled. "Then please make yourself comfortable, Zhenren. Feel free to ask the attendants for anything you need."

Seeing the Immoral Taoist was busy savoring the pastries and had just given a dismissive nod, Xuzhuang delayed no longer. He turned and headed out.

He already had a plan and didn’t need to ponder it further. He went straight outside his cave residence, and with a slight shimmer of his body, he separated out a Dharma Body. Then, with a gentle flick of his sleeve, Moon in the Well flew into the Dharma Body’s hand.

The Dharma Body accepted Moon in the Well, gave a slight nod, then soared into the sky as a streak of light, heading straight for the Three Halls.

Since Xuzhuang intended to leave with the Immoral Taoist but was unwilling to neglect his duties, there was only one solution.

He had already infused a great deal of Magical Power into Moon in the Well. By giving it to the Dharma Body, while it wouldn’t grant the body a truly independent existence, it would be more than enough for it to remain in the sect and handle matters in his stead.

Of course, this plan wasn’t without flaws. For one, if the Dharma Body had to leave the sect for some reason or on a mission and was destroyed by an enemy, not only would all his efforts be for naught, but he would also lose Moon in the Well.

However, his Three-Element Dharma Body possessed the same arts and Divine Techniques as his true self. With Moon in the Well to compensate for any shortcomings, he was confident it could even take on Top-Grade Golden Core Cultivators at the level of the Nascent Soul Third Layer. There was no need to worry excessively.

Second, leaving behind one of his Dharma Bodies and Moon in the Well would naturally weaken his own strength to some degree. But this journey wasn’t a life-or-death battle. It was to meet the cultivation geniuses the Immoral Taoist’s group had discovered on their travels through the myriad realms. Even if he were to be defeated, it wouldn’t be a great loss.

Besides, Xuzhuang never felt that holding back a few of his techniques would make him inferior to anyone.

Thus, Xuzhuang made his decision without further hesitation.

After sending the Dharma Body with Moon in the Well to the Three Halls, Xuzhuang leaped into the clouds himself. He rode the wind for a short while before arriving at a steep, sword-like peak—the location of the Sword Step Master’s cave residence.

Xuzhuang halted his flight and stood on a cloud, looking down. He saw a yellow paper talisman affixed to the cliff face, indicating that the master of the residence was in seclusion and not accepting visitors.

Xuzhuang pondered for a moment. ’This is for the best,’ he thought. He took a pure vase from his sleeve, formed a hand seal for a Spell, and summoned a Spirit Talisman. He wrote a few brief words on it, wrapped it around the vase, and casually tossed it down into the Sword Step Master’s cave residence.

The Yin Yang Merging Dao, which the Sword Step Master had passed on to him, had benefited him immensely. Now, Xuzhuang had even officially incorporated it as one of his Nine True Techniques.

Although the Sword Step Master had said it was merely repayment for a piece of advice he’d given her, Xuzhuang always judged himself by his own conscience, not by the words of others, and felt he had to properly weigh this debt of gratitude.

There was no need to make a grand declaration of such things, however. Since the Sword Step Master was in seclusion, he felt the timing was perfect—she wouldn’t be able to refuse his gift.

After tossing the pure vase down, Xuzhuang smiled faintly. With a surge of Magical Power, he transformed into a streak of rainbow light and vanished into the clouds.