Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

Chapter 146: Chapter 91: Moyun Attacks

Xuzhuang stated calmly, "Senior Brother Daochen has sent me to this realm to serve as the acting Sect Leader of the True Form Temple."

Daoist Zhang was stunned for a moment. His mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but after careful consideration, he finally composed himself. He bowed his head and replied, "Yes. Since this is an arrangement from the upper sect, I will naturally comply. I will send someone to retrieve the Sect Leader’s Seal at once. Please wait a moment, Junior Martial Uncle Xu."

Hearing their exchange, Zeng Quanfeng opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again. He ultimately said nothing, silently acquiescing to the situation.

Xuzhuang nodded to himself. A sudden smile touched his lips as he waved his hand. "That may be so, but I am not well-suited to handling worldly affairs. I won’t be taking the position of Sect Leader from you by force, Nephew Zhang."

Daoist Zhang hesitated. "But... wasn’t this an order from the upper sect?"

Xuzhuang smiled. "I was only meant to be the acting leader, in any case. Just appoint me as an elder, Nephew Zhang. That way, I’ll still have a say in the sect’s future affairs."

Daoist Zhang quickly replied, "Of course. We will still need your guidance in the future, Junior Martial Uncle Xu."

As he said this, a wave of relief washed over Daoist Zhang. It wasn’t that he was greedy for power and unwilling to give up his position as Sect Leader. In the nearly three hundred years since Daochen had left and he had taken over, he had poured his heart and soul into managing the True Form Temple’s affairs. He’d worked so hard that he had neglected his own training, to the point that even Junior Brother Zeng and Junior Brother Meng had surpassed him in cultivation.

This Junior Martial Uncle Xu was from the upper sect, but his character, his methods, and his motives were all complete unknowns. Daoist Zhang couldn’t help but feel apprehensive about handing over the position of Sect Leader so abruptly.

Xuzhuang nodded. "You are too kind, Nephew Zhang. I have only just arrived in this realm and know nothing of the temple’s affairs. On the contrary, it is I who will need to learn from you."

Daoist Zhang insisted he was unworthy of such words. After they exchanged a few more pleasantries, with Zeng Quanfeng chiming in from time to time, Daoist Zhang suddenly slapped his own forehead. "Ah, where are my manners! Junior Martial Uncle, you’ve come all this way and haven’t even been settled in. It was truly inconsiderate of me."

He hastily summoned a Daoist Child and ordered that a cave residence be prepared, then turned to Xuzhuang. "Junior Martial Uncle Xu, please wait just a moment."

Xuzhuang gave a slight nod and said it was no trouble, then turned to answer a question Zeng Quanfeng had about Daoist arts. Seeing that Xuzhuang was not offended, Daoist Zhang breathed a small sigh of relief.

Before long, the Daoist Child returned to report. Daoist Zhang quickly turned to Xuzhuang. "Junior Martial Uncle, the cave residence is ready. If you would please follow me."

Xuzhuang nodded and rose with Daoist Zhang. Xue Yuren, who had been silent at the side all this time, saw this and hurried to follow.

Zeng Quanfeng had only exchanged a few words with Xuzhuang about Daoist arts, but he was already deeply impressed by the junior martial uncle’s profound understanding. ’I’d heard that the true disciples from the upper sect are all figures who, like our own Master, have formed a Top-grade Golden Core,’ he praised silently. ’Now that I’ve met one, he is truly extraordinary.’

Now, seeing that Xuzhuang was heading to his cave residence to settle in, Zeng Quanfeng hesitated for a moment, but his curiosity was too much to bear, and he quickly followed as well.

Daoist Zhang led the way, guiding the group up a high peak until they arrived before a wide-open entrance carved from blue stone. "The accommodations are humble," he said deferentially. "I hope you will not find them too lacking, Junior Martial Uncle."

Xuzhuang glanced inside. Seeing that the cave was quite spacious and filled with a decent amount of Spiritual Qi, he nodded. "This residence is excellent." He then turned to Xue Yuren and instructed, "Yu Ren, tidy up the cave residence."

Ever since setting foot in Yunlan Province, Xuzhuang had kept Xue Yuren by his side, ordering her about as he pleased. Surprisingly, Xue Yuren seemed to take it all in stride. She would occasionally venture to ask him about difficulties she faced in her cultivation, and Xuzhuang would answer her questions without holding back, which always seemed to leave her quite content.

With a blank expression, Xue Yuren gave a slight bow. "Yes, Master," she said, then gracefully entered the residence.

Daoist Zhang asked, "If I may be so bold, Junior Martial Uncle, is this lady one of your concubines? How should we address her?"

"Merely a handmaiden," Xuzhuang replied casually. He took a couple of steps to the side and gazed out. He could see the magnificent spectacle of the Celestial Waterfall pouring down from the heavens. With his Spiritual Sense, he could perceive an endless torrent of spiritual energy bursting forth from the cascade. A fine mist, carried on the breeze, caressed his face, refreshing both body and soul.

Xuzhuang’s expression flickered. A thought suddenly occurred to him regarding the cultivation benefits Senior Brother Daochen had mentioned. "Nephew Zhang," he asked, "is it possible to enter that Celestial Waterfall to cultivate?"

Daoist Zhang was taken aback. "While the Celestial Waterfall is indeed rich with spiritual energy," he replied, "the force of the cascading water is terrifying. I’m afraid it’s impossible to cultivate within it."

Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed slightly. But then Zeng Quanfeng suddenly interjected, "When I first joined the sect, our Master used to cultivate within the Celestial Waterfall."

Daoist Zhang said in a somber voice, "At that time, Master was a second-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who had already refined his Gangyun..." Realizing the implication of his words, his expression changed slightly, and he quickly explained, "I do not mean to question your abilities, Junior Martial Uncle. But the force of that waterfall is more terrifying than being crushed by a mountain, and it is relentless..."

Xuzhuang nodded pensively. "No matter," he said with a small smile. "I was merely asking."

Hearing this, Daoist Zhang finally let out a breath of relief. Just as he was about to say something more, a commotion arose from the mountain path below. It sounded as if a Daoist Child was stopping someone. Frowning, Daoist Zhang called out, "What is happening down there?"

A young disciple pushed past the Daoist Child and shouted, "Sect Leader, an urgent report from Lianyun Mountain!"

At these words, the expressions of both Daoist Zhang and Zeng Quanfeng changed. They exchanged a look, and Daoist Zhang said, "Please get some rest, Junior Martial Uncle. I have matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."

Zeng Quanfeng’s expression was grim. He said nothing, merely giving Xuzhuang a silent bow before preparing to depart with Daoist Zhang.

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. "What is this urgent business? Is it something that I, as an elder, am not permitted to hear?"

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