Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

Chapter 117: Chapter 76: Yearning for the Clouds

At this thought, Xuzhuang couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile, putting the matter aside for the moment. He then drew a decree from his sleeve that resembled a scroll of golden-threaded silk and read aloud, "Little Cyan Mountain..."

This was the very decree from the Master, which had come into Xuzhuang’s possession two years ago. It detailed the matter of Venerable Moonlight’s reincarnation. Since Venerable Moonlight was not yet a member of the Tai Su Sect, he had to reincarnate on his own, leaving Xuzhuang to find and retrieve him.

But even after reincarnation, setting aside the veil of rebirth, it still took time to grow to adulthood. At that time, Xuzhuang had just finished refining the Golden Mercury and was in no hurry to depart. Instead, he focused on his own cultivation, guided Li Changfeng’s practice for a few years, and made some other arrangements.

Xuzhuang thought, ’Senior Brother Daochen mentioned that something went wrong with Venerable Moonlight’s reincarnation. I wonder what the reason could be?’

After a moment of contemplation, combined with the information revealed in the decree, Xuzhuang had already formed a few theories. But ultimately, he would have to go to Little Cyan Mountain and see for himself to know the truth.

Thus, Xuzhuang delayed no longer. He put away the decree, straightened his robes, and rose, striding out of his abode. As the great doors of the cave dwelling slowly closed behind him, Xuzhuang shot up as a streak of rainbow light, vanishing straight into the clouds.

Little Cyan Mountain was no Immortal Mountain, nor was it famous for any magnificent scenery. It was simply a vast, verdant expanse of natural, forested mountains.

When Xuzhuang found the place and swept his gaze over it, a strange feeling arose within him. He saw that in this vast forest spanning hundreds of miles, there wasn’t a single trace of human life. Instead, tigers and leopards, birds and beasts, monstrous bears and giant salamanders—all manner of creatures lived freely, competing, yet coexisting harmoniously within Little Cyan Mountain.

Xuzhuang formed a hand seal, drew upon a faint, mysterious trace of an aura, and confirmed he was in the right place. He mused, ’So that’s how it is... No wonder they said there was a mishap. Still, as long as he can develop a heart for the Dao, it shouldn’t be an issue.’

While he was lost in thought, Xuzhuang’s gaze suddenly shifted. Circulating a trace of Magical Power, he kicked up a gentle breeze and descended toward a peak. He saw that the summit had been flattened into a smooth stone platform, upon which sat a cross-legged figure. It was a refined Daoist, tall and stately, with the white hair of an elder but the youthful face of a boy, dressed in a Star Constellation Robe. He was quietly awaiting Xuzhuang’s arrival.

Xuzhuang landed on the stone platform, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "I have troubled you by making you wait, Ascendant. This junior has arrived late."

This person was indeed Star Ascendant, whom Xuzhuang had met once before—the other Nascent Soul Venerable from Xingyue Marketplace.

Star Ascendant did not neglect propriety. He rose and returned the salute, saying, "Fellow Daoist, you speak too gravely. Senior Brother Moonlight has reincarnated and is now trapped by the amnesia of rebirth. I was concerned for his safety, so I have remained here to protect him."

Xuzhuang smiled. "In this life, Venerable Moonlight is fated to join my Tai Su Orthodox Sect. Now that this junior has arrived, you may set your worries aside, Ascendant."

Star Ascendant sighed wistfully, took two small pouches from his sleeve, and placed them in Xuzhuang’s hands. "This pouch contains a small token of my gratitude. My Senior Brother will be in your care from now on, Fellow Daoist. This other pouch contains my Senior Brother’s former possessions. I’ll have to trouble you to pass them on to him in the future."

Xuzhuang said, "This junior will of course take this matter to heart, so you can rest assured, Ascendant. As for the contents of this pouch, this junior will keep all of it for Venerable Moonlight."

Star Ascendant had no way of knowing if Xuzhuang was speaking the truth, but he simply offered a slight bow. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist," he said, then added, "In that case, I have other pressing matters to attend to, so it is time for me to depart."

Xuzhuang’s interest was piqued. He asked, "I’ve heard that you have left Xingyue Marketplace, Ascendant. May I ask where you are cultivating now?"

Star Ascendant made no attempt to hide it. He cupped his hands in a formal gesture and replied, "By the grace of Taixuan Profound True Monarch’s favor, I now humbly serve as an Outer Elder of the Taixuan Sect."

Xuzhuang’s expression grew solemn. He cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on being able to cultivate in the Meteor Dojo."

Star Ascendant stroked his beard and smiled. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist. However, what you say is a little off the mark. The Meteor Dojo will soon be a thing of the past."

Xuzhuang asked, puzzled, "I wonder where Taixuan Profound True Monarch intends to relocate the dojo?"

Since Star Ascendant was so forthcoming, the matter was clearly not a secret. Even if Xuzhuang hadn’t asked, he would likely have heard the news eventually. However, as far as Xuzhuang knew, there were no longer any prime Immortal Blessed Lands on the Divine Continent that could meet the Taixuan Sect’s needs.

An inscrutable look appeared in Star Ascendant’s eyes. He gazed into the distance and said reverently, "The True Monarch intends to establish the sect on the Western Continent. Using his Supreme Divine Techniques, he will harmonize the energies of the land and reshape the Western Su Land."

"What?" Xuzhuang was inwardly shocked. He cupped his hands and said, "If that is true... it is truly a deed of immense merit."

"But even for a Pure Yang True Monarch with limitless Divine Techniques, accomplishing such a feat would not be a swift endeavor, I imagine."

Star Ascendant nodded. "I dare not presume to speculate on the True Monarch’s methods, but the Taixuan Sect has had a ten-thousand-year plan in place. The first step should be to raise a Blessed Land spanning thousands of miles on the West Su Continent and nurture its Spirit Veins. In time, its boons will slowly spread across the entire West Su Continent."

Xuzhuang said with admiration, "This is an act that will bless the Profound Yellow world and nurture countless living beings. This junior is truly in awe of the True Monarch’s immense virtue."

Star Ascendant simply smiled, and Xuzhuang said no more. The two fell silent for a moment. Just as Star Ascendant was about to take his leave, he heard Xuzhuang say, "Venerable Moonlight is no longer in human form and has no name. Since you are still here, Ascendant, why don’t you choose one for him?"

Star Ascendant considered this. "I’m not particularly skilled at such things... In this life, my Senior Brother was born an ape. Since the word for ape, ’yuán,’ sounds like the surname ’Yuan,’ why don’t we use that? As for his name, we could use ’Yue’ or ’Hua’ from his former title. Does that seem fitting to you, Fellow Daoist?"

"Yuan Hua?" For some reason, Xuzhuang felt the name wasn’t quite right. ’Star Ascendant truly isn’t skilled at picking names,’ he thought privately. After clearing his throat twice, he said, "Yuan Yue is quite good. However, there is a saying, ’as brilliant as the bright white moon.’ So how about we call him Yuan Hao? What do you think, Ascendant?"

Star Ascendant said, "This child is Senior Brother Moonlight, yet at the same time, he is not. It truly is no longer appropriate to name him after his past life. Yuan Hao is excellent, excellent..."

At this, Star Ascendant seemed somewhat wistful. After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands. "In that case, I will take my leave. Moonlight’s... Yuan Hao’s future cultivation, I entrust to your care, Fellow Daoist."

Xuzhuang replied, "It is my duty. You can rest assured, Fellow Daoist."

Star Ascendant nodded. Dispensing with further pleasantries, he stamped his foot and instantly transformed into a shooting star, disappearing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.

—

"WHOOP!"

A young gray monkey pulled a large clam from the river. Overcome with joy, it clutched the clam to its chest and swung back into the trees, only to be faced with a problem.

The large clam was shut tight, and the gray monkey couldn’t pry it open no matter how hard it tried. It scratched its ears and head in frustration. A cleverer monkey nearby saw its plight, leaped down, and fetched a sharp stone. The two monkeys chattered away as they hammered at the clam, but they couldn’t break the shell.

After a while, the two monkeys stared at each other. The clever monkey’s eyes suddenly lit up. It grabbed the large clam and swung away through the trees. The gray monkey, thinking its prize was being stolen, panicked and gave chase, chattering incessantly.

One chasing the other, the two monkeys soon arrived in a clearing. In the middle of the clearing, a bonfire was burning brightly.

The two monkeys didn’t dare approach. The clever one looked around and spotted a white ape squatting quietly on a branch, gazing absently at a distant peak.

The clever monkey chittered a few times. The white ape snapped out of its trance, leaped down, and after a brief exchange of chattering, took the large clam and casually tossed it onto the bonfire to roast. The two smaller monkeys were overjoyed and immediately crowded around to wait.

The white ape paid them no mind. It walked upright to one side, scooped a mouthful of water from a crude basin it had molded out of mud, and drank. Then it climbed back onto the branch and resumed its blank stare at the distant peak.

It didn’t understand why it had been born so different from its kin.

Most of its kin were gray or black, but it was pure white. Most were simple-minded, with only a few of the elders possessing some wisdom, but it was a thinker. Its kin loved fruit, but also catching insects and scooping fish from the river. It loved fruit too, but it disliked eating insects and raw food. This lasted until the day lightning struck a tree, allowing it to keep the fire...

It felt there were too many differences between it and the others. This, combined with the bullying it had endured as a child because of its fur, caused it to live on the fringes of the troop. Though it later earned their respect with its intelligence, it never returned to live among them in the forest.

It stared at that peak. One day, it had seen a billowing mist envelop the entire summit, seemingly hiding the modest peak within the clouds. Ever since, it felt as if something had stirred deep inside, and it had been staring at that spot in a daze.

It didn’t know where this feeling came from. It only told itself... that it wanted to go see what was in the clouds.

The white ape suddenly rose to its full height, resolved to go to that peak and see for itself.

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