Chapter 613 - 344: Deciphering the Seal

Dragon Tiger Mountain, Celestial Master Manor.

The current Celestial Master was in the main hall, drinking tea.

As a major sect within Daoism, Dragon Tiger Mountain had once been a highly influential force.

Unfortunately, after the Spiritual Qi Revival, the Martial Dao flourished while Daoist Techniques faded into obscurity. As a result, places of spiritual cultivation like Dragon Tiger Mountain clearly fell into decline.

Though the Martial Dao also possessed all sorts of Divine Techniques and wondrous abilities, they were fundamentally transformations of Martial Dao True Qi, not derivations of Daoist Techniques.

Feats like summoning the wind and rain, moving mountains and filling seas, or turning scattered beans into soldiers were all well-founded abilities of Daoist Techniques, completely distinct from the Divine Techniques of the Martial Dao.

An outsider might think they were all just divine powers—what’s the difference?

But cultivators truly in the know were crystal clear on the matter: the difference between the two was as vast as that between heaven and earth.

Dao was Dao, and Martial was Martial.

"Master, yesterday, while I was practicing the Five Qi Chaoyuan Pill Dao Skill, I felt a peculiar energy circulating faintly within my Dantian. It was far beyond anything comparable to my usual Martial Dao True Qi."

"But the feeling was fleeting. When I tried to find it again today, it was gone without a trace."

The middle-aged Daoist seated before the Celestial Master said with a frown, gripping his teacup so tightly he forgot to put it down.

"Foolish boy... The decline of Daoist Techniques is nothing new. Your talent is a rarity in this world. If you were to apply it to the Martial Dao, your achievements would be truly limitless... Alas."

The Celestial Master shook his head and sighed, a hint of bleakness in his voice.

’This disciple of mine... he joined the sect at the age of ten and his Cultivation has progressed at a divine pace ever since. His talent, be it for Daoist Techniques or the Martial Dao, is a rarity in this world.’

’What a pity he was born in the wrong era. With Daoist Techniques in decline, even a peerless talent like his will struggle to bear the fruit of the Dao.’

"I do not think it a pity, Master. My heart is set on the Dao. This is the very path I seek."

"Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

The Celestial Master recited the sacred name, his heart filled with both gratification and a sense of loss.

"The Celestial Master has found a fine disciple."

Just then, a booming laugh echoed through the hall, and a white-bearded old Daoist materialized out of thin air just outside.

"I am Tianxuzi of Wudang Mountain. Greetings, fellow Daoist. The situation is urgent, so I have come unannounced. I hope you will forgive my intrusion."

"Master Tianxuzi?"

Startled, the Celestial Master quickly led his disciple out of the main hall to greet the visitor.

"Daoist Master, this concerns the safety of Blue Star and the celestial secrets of the Dao. We can discuss the details on the way."

As soon as Tianxuzi finished speaking, he swept a wide sleeve, enveloping the Celestial Master and his disciple in True Qi. He lifted them into the air, then transformed into a streak of light, racing toward Kunlun Mountain.

In just a few moments.

The trio descended from the clouds, landing before the assembled group at Kunlun Mountain.

"Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable!"

Everyone exchanged greetings, but with no time for pleasantries, they immediately led the Celestial Master and his disciple to the expanse of runes.

Along the way, Tianxuzi had explained the situation in its entirety, and the two now understood the gravity of the matter.

With no time for further thought, they turned their attention to the runes. A single glance was enough to startle them both.

"Master, this is an ancient sealing Talisman script. It vanished completely after the Qin and Han dynasties."

"How much of it can you recognize?"

"I once studied them, but I can only make out about fifty or sixty percent."

"That’s enough. That’s more than enough."

Listening to their exchange, the others grasped the general idea, and their expressions immediately turned to excitement.

"Is there a way to break the seal, or to decipher its secret?"

Cang Zhenzi and the others all chimed in with questions.

"Allow my disciple and me some time to decipher this."

After speaking, the pair sat down cross-legged and began to study and deliberate on the Talismanic script before them.

The others waited anxiously nearby as the oppressive pressure from the sky grew ever heavier.

The sun rose and set; the Golden Crow announced the dawn.

After an unknown number of hours, the Celestial Master and his disciple suddenly opened their eyes and rose to their feet.

They bowed to the assembled group and announced, "Fortunately, we have not failed our task. We’ve deciphered the majority of it."