Chapter 993: Wu Tian, the Dao Emperor, and the Empress

Ding Xiangjun couldn’t believe Wu Tian would despise her so much?

…Time passed swiftly, and the Human Daoist Sect’s Daoist Debate was about to begin,

Human City was a necessary stop on the way to the Human Daoist Sect, hence, the inns in Human City were all packed to capacity. Even some private residences were being rented out.

On the day before the Daoist Debate, numerous Taoists from various Taoist temples arrived in Human City riding oxen,

Debating Dao involved other Taoist locations coming to discuss and compete with the Human Daoist Sect!

As for riding oxen?

This brings us to Wutian Celestial Emperor, who once said, Taoists should ride donkeys and oxen!

Dao Emperor didn’t believe it before, wondering why Taoists should ride oxen?

Wu Tian told the story of the Purple Qi coming from the East for thirty thousand miles, and Laozi exiting Hangu Pass westward,

The Dao Emperor praised its brilliance, and thus once ordered all Taoist gates, all disciples must ride oxen!

…The Human Daoist Sect, on the continent’s edge, is the strongest, but not the most ancient Taoist place,

At the continent’s edge, the oldest place is still Heavenly One Temple,

Now, Heavenly One Temple has come with a hundred Taoists, dressed in simple Taoist robes,

Their mode of transport was a horse carriage pulled by oxen, which might as well now be called an ox cart.

Knowing that Heavenly One Temple was coming, the Human Daoist Sect had to show some gesture, although they currently worked for the Undead Martial Sovereign, appearances still needed to be maintained, as Heavenly One Temple was the first Taoist temple on the continent’s edge,

The Sect Master of the Human Daoist Sect sent Elder Shengmen to welcome them,

“Here I am, Elder of the Human Daoist Sect, Dao-name Shengmen, here to welcome the Taoist friends from Heavenly One Temple, the Sect Master has already purchased a luxurious residence in Human City, ensuring you will stay comfortably when you arrive.” Elder Shengmen clasped his hands and smiled.

“No need, we are merely Taoists, not some aristocratic grandchildren, just residing in ordinary homes is fine. Taoists, why care about the fuss of food, clothing, accommodation, or travel? Too much concern for externals is not good! Not good!!”

From the leading ox cart, a distant voice came, causing Elder Shengmen to furrow his brows slightly,

What’s wrong with Heavenly One Temple?

I offer you a good place to stay, and you say I’m wrong for doing so?

Must I, as a Taoist,

be destined to suffer cold and poverty?

If Taoists can’t have wealth and fortune, who’d want to be a Taoist?

In Elder Shengmen’s view, Heavenly One Temple’s approach was incorrect,

Taoists can’t have wealth and fortune,

how can more people be attracted,

to become Taoists?

How can that Taoist gate,

measure up to the Buddhist Sect?

Once, when the Human Daoist Sect rose on the continent’s edge, they also wanted to obliterate Heavenly One Temple, after all, Heavenly One Temple was the continent’s first Taoist temple, if they could replace it, that would have great symbolic significance.

Yet, Heavenly One Temple’s Taoists were really just devoted to chanting scriptures, neither entering through the main gate nor the side gate. It left the Human Daoist Sect without any excuse or reason to attack.

Thus, the Human Daoist Sect found its only path to replace Heavenly One Temple by defeating them at the Daoist Debate,

But it was truly difficult,

In the past, the Human Daoist Sect always lost!!!

In terms of martial prowess, naturally, the Human Daoist Sect was strong,

Heavenly One Temple,

only knew meditation and chanting,

how could they compare with the Human Daoist Sect?

However,

On the Debate Platform,

the competition was about “Dao”

For example, if someone were to utter a sentence comparable to the Daoist classics, on the Debate Platform, it would transform into boundless power!

Within, what was compared was “Dao”!!!

Elder Shengmen stepped aside and let the Taoists from Heavenly One Temple find their own places to stay,

And just like that,

The citizens of Human City began to discuss this matter,

What truly defines a Taoist?

Elder Shengmen, aware of the common people’s discussions, was furious,

These discussions returned to the Human Daoist Sect, among which the Taoists gritted their teeth,

“What defines a real Taoist? Haha, our Human Daoist Sect is the real Taoists.”

“Indeed, our Taoist robes are worth a fortune, look at the Taoists from Heavenly One Temple, dressed in tatters, outright disgraceful.”

“Indeed, we are the Taoist among Taoists, eating the finest, drinking the spiciest, this is the lifestyle of superior Taoists, do you know, the Taoists from Heavenly One Temple go out to buy groceries, and all they can afford are the unwanted vegetables, not even a bit of meat.”

“How could they compare with us, we are the real Taoists.”

…What defines a real Taoist?

The dispute between Heavenly One Temple and Human Daoist Sect sparked much debate, some said the Taoists of Human Daoist Sect were the true Taoists, their attire and nobility displayed righteous sages.

While some elderly folks said the Taoists of Heavenly One Temple were the true Taoists, Taoists should not care about appearances or physical comforts.

This matter also reached the inns in Human City,

Wu Tian sighed upon learning of this.

“Pity my brother who devoted his life to Dao”!

Wu Tian and Dao Emperor were life-and-death friends, among Wutian Celestial Emperor, Dao Emperor, and Empress of Wind and Clouds,

Their relationships were incredibly complex.

Back then, the Empress liked Wu Tian, while Dao Emperor admired the Empress,

At the time, he wasn’t called Dao Emperor, nor had he become an Emperor, Wu Tian and that beautiful woman hadn’t become Emperors either,

Wu Tian claimed he didn’t like the Empress, but that was false, as his friend liked the Empress, Wu Tian felt it was complicated, unsure of what to do.

Unexpectedly,

Dao Emperor foresaw all of this, and stepped away, dedicating his life to being a Taoist,

Thus he became the Dao Emperor!!!

“Dao Emperor, Dao Emperor, could you truly have perished at the hands of Emperor Xuan?”