Chapter 305 - 166: Grand Affairs at the Immortal Banquet, Friends of the Same Dao

Chapter 305: Chapter 166: Grand Affairs at the Immortal Banquet, Friends of the Same Dao

After Zhong Shenxiu and Xuzhuang received their Primordial Truths from Master Yu Bo, Pang Ban and the cultivator in the shrouded hat also made their selections. Master Yu Bo generously bestowed gifts upon them as well.

However, he was an orthodox True Cultivator. Although he held no sectarian prejudices, he had no Demon Sect’s Primordial Truth on hand. Instead, he gifted Pang Ban a measure of Profound Yin Essence, which Pang Ban gladly accepted.

At the table of the group from Dinghu Mountain, Changxin asked, "Senior Brother, Junior Brother Zhuo, what kind of Primordial Truth do you want?"

Zhuo Hansheng’s eyes were downcast, revealing none of his thoughts. He replied flatly, "If you have a use for it, Senior Brother, you might as well take mine as well."

Changhua glanced at the three remaining Glazed Cups. He and Changxin had occasionally offered differing interpretations when Pang Ban and the shrouded-hat cultivator were analyzing the characters, and had thus won a few jade beads.

Although it was a meager amount, Changhua felt no regret. He had come to the banquet with the intention of befriending fellow Daoists, so winning any prize at all was an unexpected bonus. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Zhuo Hansheng, on the other hand, was extremely proud. He aimed for a perfect interpretation every time, yet repeatedly failed to achieve it. From beginning to end, he had only managed to win the single jade bead from the very start.

Changhua was a perceptive man. After a moment of thought, he readily replied, "My Daoist techniques have improved recently, and I happen to need a measure of Primordial Truth."

"How about you two junior brothers give this opportunity to me? I will compensate you for it in the future."

Changxin was taken aback for a moment, then answered without hesitation, "If you need it, Senior Brother, then just take it."

Zhuo Hansheng glanced at Changhua, his expression softening slightly. He replied, "Senior Brother, you’re being too formal. It’s only a Primordial Truth. Don’t mention compensation again."

Changhua smiled faintly, rose to his feet, and said to Master Yu Bo, "Master, we three junior brothers would be so bold as to request a measure of Ice Extreme Essence."

"Oh? I do happen to have some of that on me." Master Yu Bo stroked his beard and agreed. He tapped his finger into the cup, and a wave of cold energy instantly flowed through it. The jade beads turned an icy, translucent color, and a layer of crystalline frost formed on the cup’s walls.

A hint of delight appeared on Changhua’s face. What he had said was not a lie; he truly did have a use for this Ice Extreme Essence. He cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Thank you for your gift, Master."

"No need for such ceremony." Master Yu Bo laughed freely. "I am truly fortunate to have formed a bond with you young friends today. I have already given instructions to have a courtyard prepared in Lai Xian Hall. You are all welcome to come and dine there as you please."

"If I am in the hall, you are also welcome to seek me out to discuss the profound."

Everyone thanked Master Yu Bo in unison. He let out a hearty laugh and said, "I’ve had my fill of fun for today. I shall take my leave."

As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished without a trace, showing no discernible movement.

Barely an instant after Master Yu Bo departed, the cultivator in the shrouded hat rose to his feet. In just a few steps, he disappeared down the stairway, coming and going without a sound—truly a mysterious figure.

Seeing this person leave, Pang Ban waited for a short moment, as if deliberately staggering his departure, then also rose and leisurely left the room.

Changhua put the Ice Extreme Essence into his sleeve and asked Zhuo Hansheng, "Junior Brother, are you returning to the sect?"

Zhuo Hansheng pondered for a moment. "I have no other business in Weiyun Immortal City. Indeed, I must return to the sect."

Changhua said, "In that case, why don’t you wait a moment, Junior Brother? After I say our farewells to a few fellow Daoists, we can return to the sect together."

"Oh?" A flicker of interest showed in Zhuo Hansheng’s eyes. "Very well. Please, go ahead, Senior Brother."

Changhua nodded slightly and led the way, rising to walk over to where Xuzhuang and his two companions were. After a brief greeting, he got straight to the point. "My two junior brothers and I are about to return to our sect, and we came specifically to bid you farewell."

The three returned the courtesy. Changhua continued, "Seventy-two days from now is the day the True Monarch will be lecturing on the Dao. If you fellow Daoists have not changed your minds, you may come find me on Dinghu Mountain."

Cen Fenghong laughed loudly and replied, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured. We would not dare to keep you waiting."

A faint smile appeared on Changhua’s face. "In that case, I shall be counting the days until your arrival, fellow Daoists."

They readily agreed. Only then did Changhua turn to his two junior brothers and say, "Shall we take our leave then?"

Changxin nodded in agreement and bid the three farewell. But Zhuo Hansheng suddenly said, "Wait."

Changhua’s heart skipped a beat. He thought for a moment, but before he could speak, Zhuo Hansheng had already turned to Zhong Shenxiu. "Creation’s spirit is gathered in Shenxiu; from birth, a true Dao Zhen!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhong, I have heard of you for a long time. Seeing you today, I find your reputation is well-deserved. I greatly admire your attainments in the Dao."

Zhong Shenxiu raised an eyebrow slightly and replied calmly, "You flatter me, Fellow Daoist."

Zhuo Hansheng continued at an unhurried pace, "I heard that you also practice Swordsmanship, and that you are quite extraordinary at it. So much so that Master Xuan Ying of your esteemed sect made a special trip to Dinghu Mountain to borrow a manual of Superior Swordsmanship from a Master of my sect."

"Coincidentally, I am rather confident in my own Swordsmanship. I wonder if you would be so kind as to offer me some guidance, Fellow Daoist?"

True Monarch Guangcheng had cultivated for countless ages. His Daoist techniques were something ordinary people could never hear about, let alone imagine. Of the two Taoist Sect branches he passed down, Dinghu Mountain was particularly renowned for its Sword Dao, and most of its disciples were Sword Cultivators.

Zhong Shenxiu smiled faintly. "You jest, Fellow Daoist. I only practice Swordsmanship as a hobby. How could I possibly be qualified to offer you guidance?"

"Besides, my trip to Weiyun Immortal City this time is merely for travel. I have no plans to compete with anyone at the moment."

Hearing this, Zhuo Hansheng frowned slightly. After a moment’s thought, he actually relented, "I have been presumptuous. In that case, it is not too late to speak of this again if we have the chance in the future."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded but did not reply further. Zhuo Hansheng, however, seemed to remember something else and turned to Xuzhuang. "Fellow Daoist, I have also been hearing of your reputation recently. I’m told your Swordsmanship has reached a transcendent state. If I have the opportunity, I would like to ask for your guidance as well."

"Hmm?" Xuzhuang frowned slightly, not out of displeasure, but out of confusion.

But before he could reply, Zhuo Hansheng had already turned to Changhua and said, "Let’s go, Senior Brother." He then walked straight past him and headed downstairs.

Changhua shook his head with a wry smile, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoists, we shall meet again!"

"We shall meet again!"

They all exchanged farewells, and only then did Changhua lead Changxin back down the stairway.

After the three from Dinghu Mountain had left the top floor, Cen Fenghong took a sip of wine and suddenly laughed. "That ’Dinghu One Zhuo’ certainly has a strong competitive spirit."

Zhong Shenxiu smiled. "It’s only natural for Sword Cultivators to be sharp and overt about it."

Cen Fenghong nodded. Seeing Xuzhuang silently lost in thought, he asked, "Fellow Daoist Xu seems to be puzzled about something?"

Xuzhuang replied thoughtfully, "Indeed. I only just arrived in Guangyuan today. It’s not just you, but even the fellow Daoists from Dinghu Mountain have heard of me. This is rather strange."

Xuzhuang thought to himself, ’I know I have some reputation in the Divine Continent, and even across Profound Yellow, but it shouldn’t have spread throughout the Star River all the way to Guangyuan.’ To find himself so well-known in Weiyun Immortal City was truly baffling.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Cen Fenghong burst into roaring laughter.

Xuzhuang’s brow rose. "What are you laughing about, Fellow Daoist?"

Cen Fenghong hurriedly waved his hand. "You should ask Brother Zhong."

Xuzhuang turned his gaze in surprise and saw a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment on Zhong Shenxiu’s face. Clearing his throat, Zhong Shenxiu began, "To be honest with you, Fellow Daoist..."

Seeing him begin to speak, Xuzhuang did not press him further and simply listened quietly. Zhong Shenxiu confessed, "A few years ago, for the sake of my cultivation, I made a trip to the Cyan Sky Realm."

"However, because my Upper Profound Orthodox Sect has some friction with a few major sects in the Cyan Sky Realm, it wasn’t convenient for me to use my real name openly there. Without thinking too much about it, I casually borrowed your name for a while."

As Zhong Shenxiu spoke, a strange expression appeared on Xuzhuang’s face. Just as he suspected, through a series of unforeseen circumstances, Zhong Shenxiu had ended up in several confrontations with the direct disciples of a few major sects in the Cyan Sky Realm.

Zhong Shenxiu didn’t go into detail, but Xuzhuang knew without having to be told that the result of these clashes must have been a great boost to "his" fame.

Zhong Shenxiu continued, "I never revealed your origins, Fellow Daoist. However, while your current reputation in Profound Yellow may not have spread throughout the entire Star River, it wasn’t difficult for those few Daoists to investigate you. Thus, your name spread like wildfire... By that time, I had already left the Cyan Sky Realm. It was Fellow Daoist Cen who told me about this."

Zhong Shenxiu poured some wine into his cup and raised it. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, I certainly did not make any enemies during my time in the Cyan Sky Realm."

"If any trouble arises from this, feel free to come find me. I, Zhong Shenxiu, will not shirk my responsibility. If you require an explanation from me, you need only ask."

At this point, Cen Fenghong also stopped laughing and tried to mediate. "Fellow Daoist Xu, as an outsider, it’s not my place to comment, but I’m sure Brother Zhong didn’t do it intentionally..."

Xuzhuang raised a hand, stopping him. He poured himself a cup of wine, raised it, and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhong!"

Zhong Shenxiu’s gaze focused. He watched as Xuzhuang downed the wine in one gulp and showed him the empty cup. Xuzhuang then let out a soft sigh. "We are even."

Zhong Shenxiu was startled. Cen Fenghong was dumbfounded for a moment, then burst out laughing, pointing at the two of them. "Truly, kindred spirits on the Path!"