Chapter 225 - 223: Kou Anzhi’s Plot

Chapter 225: Chapter 223: Kou Anzhi’s Plot

Kou Anzhi was representing the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect, so Ouyang Xun’s reception was far more enthusiastic than it had been for Chen Yuan.

No matter how outstanding Chen Yuan was, he was still just a junior on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

Kou Anzhi, on the other hand, was an already famous Primordial Pill Realm Grandmaster who was certain to step into the Divine Platform Realm in the future. Even the Celestial Profound Realm wasn’t out of the question for him.

Moreover, he was the Palace Master Master of the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect’s Profound City Palace—a position of great power and authority that Chen Yuan couldn’t possibly compare to.

Furthermore, Ouyang Xun was currently in discussions with Kou Anzhi about opening a branch of the Valley God Palace’s Daoist Palace. With mutual interests at stake, Ouyang Xun naturally had to be more cautious in his attitude toward him.

The Martial Artists from the other factions present were unaware of these details. They merely whispered amongst themselves that the Ouyang Family was truly not what it used to be.

Not only was their strength growing year by year, but now even a prodigy from the top twenty of the Hidden Dragon Rankings and a Palace Master Master from the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect had come to attend their ancestral rite. This was a tremendous show of respect.

Kou Anzhi and his entourage were escorted to the seats of honor. Afterward, Ouyang Xun had the various family branches begin their competitions to select the younger generation of Martial Artists for the martial exhibition.

There was nothing much to see in these competitions. Chen Yuan even found himself dozing off.

Since entering the Jianghu, he had fought life-and-death battles, earned a spot on the Hidden Dragon Rankings early on, and crossed blades with the most brilliant prodigies of the Jianghu’s younger generation.

But the Ouyang Family’s legacy was broken. Their current Cultivation Techniques were at the Earth Level at best. Most of their disciples had never experienced a real life-or-death fight and had pitifully little combat experience.

While their strength was decent compared to the surrounding factions, in Chen Yuan’s eyes, they were unremarkable. Their disciples’ moves were riddled with openings, yet Ouyang Xun thought his family’s disciples were performing well.

After the competitions finished, each branch had selected its representative for the martial exhibition.

The fourth branch, of course, didn’t need a selection; Ouyang Yi could just go up directly.

With so many people present, Ouyang Xun called the five young Ouyang Family Martial Artists onto the stage and offered them some words of public encouragement.

Just then, Kou Anzhi suddenly said, "Hold on."

With that, Kou Anzhi walked directly up to Ouyang Yi, sized him up for a moment, and then asked, "How long have you been cultivating the Martial Dao?"

Ouyang Yi swallowed nervously. "I was formally initiated into martial arts at seven. It has been fourteen years now."

Kou Anzhi suddenly reached out and placed a hand on Ouyang Yi’s head. A strange light flashed in his eyes, and he praised, "Not bad. Truly not bad at all."

After speaking, Kou Anzhi returned to his seat. The other young members of the Ouyang Family stared at Ouyang Yi with envy.

’That’s the Palace Master Master of the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect! Even our own Elder has to treat him with courtesy, yet he’s praising Ouyang Yi like this?’

’And he even managed to get acquainted with Chen Jiutian, who’s been making a huge name for himself on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. What kind of dogshit luck has this Ouyang Yi stumbled into? How come all the good things are happening to him?’

Chen Yuan, however, frowned slightly.

’Has Kou Anzhi discovered the Innate Dao Bone on Ouyang Yi?’

After all, Kou Anzhi was from the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect; his sensitivity to the Innate Dao Bone was bound to be far greater than Chen Yuan’s.

After the competitions, Ouyang Xun held a banquet to entertain the Martial Artists in attendance.

When the banquet concluded, Kou Anzhi summoned Ouyang Xun and Ouyang Mingli, and the men gathered in a small hut to discuss matters.

"Kou Master, didn’t I say we would discuss opening the Daoist Palace after the ancestral rite is over? There’s no need to be so hasty."

Ouyang Xun thought Kou Anzhi was about to bring up the matter of the Daoist Palace again.

Kou Anzhi shook his head. "This isn’t about that. I have good news for you. Your Ouyang Family has a hidden gem in its midst."

"That disciple from the fourth branch, Ouyang Yi, possesses an Innate Dao Bone. As long as he cultivates a Celestial Level Daoist Cultivation Technique, his Cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds."

"Once the branch of the Valley God Palace’s Daoist Palace is opened, my Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect can provide you with a Celestial Level Technique for your Ouyang Family to cultivate."

Hearing this, Ouyang Xun and Ouyang Mingli stared at each other in stunned silence.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Would I lie about something like this?"

Kou Anzhi’s expression soured. "The Innate Dao Bone may be rare, but my Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect is one of the Four Daoist Courts. We currently have two senior brothers in the sect who possess an Innate Dao Bone."

"The father of one of them also possessed an Innate Dao Bone, but it was discovered too late in his life, delaying his cultivation. So, it was removed and transplanted into his son."

"The Innate Dao Bone can be removed and transplanted into someone else?"

The eyes of Ouyang Xun and Ouyang Mingli instantly lit up.

"Of course. However, it must be done between members of the same clan, and it must be performed by my Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect. Anyone else would be careless and risk damaging the Innate Dao Bone."

Kou Anzhi frowned. "Why do you ask? That Ouyang Yi is only in his early twenties. It’s fortunate I discovered this early. He’s at the perfect age for cultivation."

Ouyang Xun looked a bit embarrassed. He paused, then said, "Ouyang Yi is from the fourth branch, whereas I am from the first."

After that, Ouyang Xun explained the situation with the Ouyang Family’s various branches to Kou Anzhi.

After listening, a barely perceptible sneer touched the corners of Kou Anzhi’s mouth.

’A small temple with fierce winds, a shallow pond with many turtles.’

The Ouyang Family was just an inconspicuous local power, yet they were embroiled in so much chaos and endless infighting. Truly a worthless lot.

’However, the more fiercely they fight amongst themselves, the easier it will be for me to control them.’

A smile appeared on Kou Anzhi’s lips. "If that’s the case, then as for who you want this Innate Dao Bone to be placed in... I can ask a senior uncle from the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect to help."

Ouyang Mingli glanced at Ouyang Xun and said in a low voice, "Elder Ouyang, among our first branch’s direct lineage, Ah Jing is the strongest, but he is already over thirty. Ah Cheng is the youngest."

"How about we give the Innate Dao Bone to Ah Cheng?"

Ouyang Xun nodded in agreement.

Ouyang Cheng was also his direct blood descendant. Among the younger generation of the Ouyang Family, he was one of the more sensible ones and was well-liked by Ouyang Xun. It was indeed possible to give the Innate Dao Bone to him.

Kou Anzhi smiled. "Elder Ouyang, my Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect has already shown great sincerity."

"We can help your Ouyang Family transplant the Innate Dao Bone and even give you a Celestial Level Technique."

"Those remnants of the Ming Sect are hunted by everyone. Cooperating with them is extremely risky. How can it possibly compare to cooperating with my Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect?"

"Furthermore, after we transplant the Innate Dao Bone for your Ouyang Family’s disciple, the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect can also accept him as a disciple of our Direct Lineage."

"In the future, the relationship between your Ouyang Family and my Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect will become even closer. Do you still need to consider the matter of opening the Daoist Palace?"

A trace of hesitation appeared on Ouyang Xun’s face.

In the original plot, Ouyang Yi had been forced by Ouyang Cheng to give up his spot in the martial exhibition, so he never appeared before Kou Anzhi, who naturally never discovered his Innate Dao Bone.

But now, with the matter of the Innate Dao Bone and the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect’s promise to take Ouyang Cheng as a disciple, Ouyang Xun was wavering.

Ouyang Mingli also watched Ouyang Xun with an expectant look.

’After all, if this succeeds, my son will possess the Innate Dao Bone and can join the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect. He’ll soar to the heavens!’

’That Chen Jiutian doesn’t know what’s good for him, daring to disrespect me.’

’Once my son has the Innate Dao Bone transplanted and joins the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect, he’ll be able to rank on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. Maybe he’ll even crush that Chen Jiutian under his heel!’

"Fine! We’ll do as Kou Master says! I will open the Daoist Palace after the ancestral rite!"

A smile spread across Kou Anzhi’s lips. "Now that’s more like it. The Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect never mistreats its own."

Just then, as if suddenly remembering something, Kou Anzhi asked, "By the way, the woman standing with Ouyang Mingcheng of the fourth branch today—was that his wife, Ouyang Yi’s birth mother?"

"Yes, she is."

Ouyang Mingli nodded, though he had no idea why Kou Anzhi was asking.

Kou Anzhi narrowed his eyes and said, "I’ve taken a fancy to that woman. I want to take her back to the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect."

Ouyang Xun and Ouyang Mingli both stared at Kou Anzhi in astonishment.

’Well, I’ll be. Who would’ve thought that this Kou Anzhi, with his thick brows and big eyes, looking every bit the part of a Daoist Sect master, would be into this sort of thing?’

’Some men have a thing for married women, which is one thing. But this guy... he’s into mothers.’

’Still, that bastard Ouyang Mingcheng is pretty lucky. His wife’s son is already twenty, yet she’s still so graceful and radiant, looking like she’s barely in her early thirties.’

Seeing their expressions, Kou Anzhi knew what they were thinking and couldn’t help but snort coldly.

"This humble Daoist is no lecher. The Innate Dao Bone is an accumulation of inherited Dao Essence. That woman’s ancestors must have come from a Major Daoist Sect. For her to be able to give birth to a child with an Innate Dao Bone, the residual Dao Essence in her body must be astonishing."

"I merely wish to take her as a Furnace Cauldron to aid my cultivation with her residual Dao Essence."

Ouyang Xun quickly replied, "No problem. It’s just a woman. I’ll have her sent to Kou Master’s bed later."

Kou Anzhi nodded in satisfaction and departed.

’When the branch of the Valley God Palace’s Daoist Palace is opened, I’ll have to hand over the lion’s share of whatever is found to the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect.’ 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

’But the benefits gained from using that woman as a Furnace Cauldron will be all mine. It seems practicing that dual cultivation and harvesting Secret Technique wasn’t a waste after all.’

Although Ouyang Xun had been dragging his feet before, once he made a decision, he acted with surprising swiftness.

That very night, Ouyang Xun summoned Ouyang Mingcheng.

"You summoned me, Elder Ouyang. What are your instructions?"

Ouyang Mingcheng asked cautiously as he walked into Ouyang Xun’s study.

Ouyang Xun waved a hand and said flatly, "Today, Kou Master discovered that Ouyang Yi has some latent congenital injuries. He needs to be taken back to the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect for treatment. After the ancestral rite is over, have Ouyang Yi go back with Kou Master."

If Chen Yuan hadn’t pointed out that Ouyang Yi had an Innate Dao Bone, Ouyang Mingcheng might have actually believed him.

But with Chen Yuan’s prior warning, Ouyang Mingcheng immediately felt that something was wrong.

"Elder Ouyang, there’s nothing wrong with Ah Yi’s body. There is no need for this."

Ouyang Xun’s eyes flashed. "Kou Master is the Palace Master Master of the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect! Could he be mistaken? Don’t be ungrateful!"

Ouyang Mingcheng took a deep breath, his gaze, for once, directly meeting Ouyang Xun’s. "Elder Ouyang, are you so insistent on having Kou Master take Ah Yi to the Heaven-Encompassing Daoist Sect because of his Innate Dao Bone?"