Chapter 684: Chongxing Taoist's Gift

The old man looked into ‘Wang Ping’s’ eyes and chuckled. “Very good. You must maintain that caution of yours…” He smiled happily, then continued, “Ever since the Taiyan Sect was disbanded, we’ve been the ones doing all the dirty work. At first, it was Yuxiao, but he’s so broad-minded his heart could hold the entire Cosmos…”

“Then there was Xiao Shan. Though he has a mind of his own, I can see he’s deeply influenced by Yuxiao. Sometimes he harbors misplaced hopes for certain people.”

“As for you, sometimes you’re a lot like Xiao Shan, and other times you’re not. You seem to be deliberately trying to shake off Xiao Shan’s influence. That’s the right thing to do. You must not only break free from him, but also from True Monarch Yuan Wu. He’s the real bastard, a crude thief!”

The old man looked as if he had been lonely for many years. Now that he had finally found someone he could talk to, he complained nonstop for quite a while.

‘Wang Ping’ remained silent from beginning to end.

After he finished complaining, the old man took a breath and turned to look at the storyteller in the main hall below. He said in a low voice, “Since you’ve all decided, I’ll abide by your decision. Going to the front lines is fine, actually. I can get away from this vexing world and only have to face those Outer Realm Demons, who are no different from beasts.”

“Back then, my opposition to the dissolution of the Taiyan Sect caused my Wood Spirit to be severely injured. They’ve timed this perfectly, knowing I don’t have many years left. They probably want me to die on the front lines. That way, they can get their hands on another Fourth Realm slot. A pity… but you can’t fight the powers that be.”

“In truth, my slot isn’t important. There are plenty of surplus slots for Taiyan Cultivators!”

He turned his head to look at ‘Wang Ping’.

‘Wang Ping’ immediately understood the old man’s meaning. “Senior, you have clues about a Fourth Realm Taiyan True Spirit?”

Hearing this, the old man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stared into ‘Wang Ping’s’ eyes again. After more than ten breaths, he sighed. “Fine, fine. It’s no use for me to hold onto it. Who can I blame but my own useless apprentice!”

“Back before Huishan True Monarch went mad, he captured a Fourth Realm True Spirit and refined it into a Magical Artifact used to power a large Transfer Array. He wanted to use it to hunt for more Fourth Realm True Spirits. I was the one carrying out the task. Unfortunately, not long after, Huishan True Monarch went mad, and no one else ever knew about the matter.”

He shook his head, then changed the subject. “You’ve met that apprentice of mine, haven’t you? I deliberately cultivated his murderous intent and cold nature, originally hoping he could inherit my mantle and turn their so-called ‘order’ upside down. But I never imagined they would actually change the rules of the game.”

“A bunch of bastards!”

After cursing, his gaze grew somewhat desolate and he sighed. “A shame my apprentice is useless. He couldn’t compete with you. Afterward, I planned to just take that treasure to the grave with me. But on second thought, it seemed like a waste. After mulling it over and over, I decided to leave it to you. No matter what, you are still a legitimate successor of our Taiyan Sect’s lineage.”

‘Wang Ping’ didn’t know what to say. In the end, he straightened up, clasped his fist, and bowed.

The old man continued, “I haven’t been idle these past few thousand years. I’ve been using that Magical Artifact to search for clues to other Fourth Realm True Spirits. I’ve found three targets, but I estimate that with your ability, you’ll be able to capture one at most. I have already marked their frequent locations on the Transformation Array within the Magical Artifact.”

“I’ll give you the Magical Artifact when you come find me. Just take it and don’t ask any questions. Remember, before you have the power, or before your word carries weight, do not reveal the existence of any extra slots.”

After saying this, the old man stood up. Without waiting for ‘Wang Ping’ to speak, he waved his hand impatiently. “That’s all. I have nothing else to say to you. Ah, forget it, I’ll say a couple more things. No matter what you do in the future, don’t you ever lose the heritage of the Taiyan Sect. Understand?”

“Alright!”

‘Wang Ping’s’ tone was resolute. This was one of the few promises he had ever made in his life.

The old man nodded, then waved his hand again.

‘Wang Ping’ silently clasped his fist in a bow, then quickly walked out of the private room. Soon, he had left the teahouse. He looked up at the sky, which had grown completely dark, and heard the fawning voice of a middle-aged man waiting nearby. “Shopkeeper Qin, leaving so soon?”

…

「In the cavern beneath the Qianmu Mountain Peak Dojo.」

Wang Ping retracted the consciousness he had attached to the puppet, then fell into a long silence. Yu Lian sensed his mood and didn’t disturb him, just waited quietly, perched on his shoulder.

In this meeting with the Chongxing Taoist, he hadn’t managed to say a single proper sentence. He had just listened to the Chongxing Taoist go on and on.

And now, he had obtained a Magical Artifact that sealed a Fourth Realm Taiyan True Spirit—though he hadn’t actually received it yet.

This senior, much like Wang Ping’s own master, placed extreme importance on the continuation of the Taiyan Sect’s lineage. He was willing to sacrifice everything for it—a traditional Cultivator of the old school.

No matter their circumstances, a light always shone in the eyes of people like them.

Perhaps one could only understand them by truly walking their path. Otherwise, outsiders could only admire them on the surface while remaining unconvinced in their hearts.

After thinking for a long time, Wang Ping stood up and walked to the edge of the Dark River before him. Gazing at the seemingly still surface of the water, he asked, “Are there any fish in here?”

“There are. Their meat is very tender, but they’re extremely rare. They’re also a bit poisonous. A normal person wouldn’t survive for more than Half an Hour after eating one. I read in a storybook that the fish in the Dark River cleanse the filth of the darkness, so they’re born with merit. If a person eats one, their own merit will be diminished…”