The streaks of light from the east faded, revealing Taoist Qingyuan and Taoist Qingwei. This was the lineage of the Sanfeng Sect from Zhenwu Mountain.
The streaks of light from the north faded, revealing Yunyang with Taoist Jing Hong and Taoist Jing Fa. This was the lineage of the Northwest Dragon Gate Sect.
The streaks of light from the south faded, revealing Taoist Shen Hao and Taoist Yu Zhang, who had traveled together. This was the lineage of Shangqing and the Northern Emperor.
The streaks of light from the west faded, revealing Taoist Yan Song walking over slowly with Taoist Yan Qi. This was Gu Qingcheng’s lineage.
Taoist Jing Feng smacked his lips. "Should I have called Jing Chun over?"
Gu Zhao shook his head and chuckled. "Martial Uncle Yuan He of the Chunyang Lineage doesn’t have the right connections. He missed out on this one."
Taoist Yan Song laughed. "It’s just one Black Furnace Ghost King, and there aren’t many masters on Black Furnace Mountain. If any more people ca, there wouldn’t be enough to go around."
Taoist Shen Hao’s white eyebrow twitched, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Then we’ll just find so more Demons and Ghosts in Qianshan Prefecture and eliminate them all at once!"
Taoist Yu Zhang nodded in agreent. "I’ve been to Qianshan Prefecture. The Celestial Extinction Association is up to no good."
Taoist Qingwei gently stroked the hilt of his sword. "Ancestor Sanfeng purged Demon Fiends for a full sixty-year cycle. We descendants cannot tarnish his great na."
Gu Zhao was speechless. That was an internet rumor, a piece of fan fiction based on a fan-made movie. There was no basis for it. It seed Taoist Qingwei had been fooled by so young people who had visited Zhenwu Mountain.
’Still...’
’It’s pretty hype, though...’
Seeing so many powerful masters suddenly appear, all of them brimming with killing intent, not only Xu Jing and his wife but even Purple Cloud Monarch couldn’t help but swallow hard.
’They’re all disciples of Daluo Palace. Taoist Ming Chong seems so friendly, so why do these old Mages look so aggressive?’
Li Qingshuang’s eye twitched. She had t Taoist Yan Song before, but she didn’t recognize anyone else. How did Daluo Palace suddenly produce so many masters?
Li Qingshuang looked back at Gu Zhao. No wonder this man had said he wasn’t afraid of the Netherfire Sect Leader. The people present right now were already on par with the combined forces of the three major powers from Shide Prefecture.
Taoist Jing Feng let out a strange chuckle. This was why he wasn’t the least bit regretful about failing to capture the Black Furnace Ghost King. He knew the Ghost King couldn’t escape.
Even if he hid in his own lair, he still couldn’t escape!
"No rush," Gu Zhao said, rising with a smile. "The Black Furnace Ghost King is a small matter. Brother Purple Cloud and Brother Xu with his wife have just arrived on the mountain. Since our martial uncles are here, let’s all have dinner together tonight to welco our three guests."
Taoist Shen Hao stroked his beard and laughed. "Excellent, excellent!"
Taoist Yu Zhang smiled. "You all possess Spiritual Qi. We should visit each other often in the future."
Taoist Jing Hong and Taoist Jing Fa also smiled and greeted them.
Of course, they all saw Li Qingshuang. Having learned about her relationship with Gu Zhao from Taoist Yan Song, they all paid their respects without the slightest neglect.
...
After showing Purple Cloud Monarch, Xu Jing, and Yue Yan around Daluo Palace, Purple Cloud Monarch was full of praise, while Xu Jing and his wife were overjoyed. They felt it was an extrely wise decision to have their daughter beco a disciple of Taoist Jing Feng at Daluo Palace.
Yue Yan was a ghost, and Xu Jing was her Harmony husband, so the two of them cultivated at a relatively fast pace. Their daughter, Xu Sirou, was human but possessed Yin Qi. With her simple Cultivation thod, she might have even died before them.
But now that she was joining Daluo Palace, according to Taoist Jing Feng, her talent was best suited for the Sect’s inherited Beiyin Fengdu Technique or the East Mountain Earth God Skill. Attaining five hundred years of Dao Practice would not be difficult, and a long, extended life was within her grasp.
If she could find a Ghost God for Harmony, her cultivation speed would be even faster!
Within Daluo Palace, green trees provided ample shade and the scent of Incense was strong. The Outer Disciples were brimming with vigor, while the Inner Sect Disciples kept their Divine Light restrained. The Dao rhythm that perated the entire palace complex gave it a celestial atmosphere.
The visitors had sharp eyes and could see the sharp longswords and Golden Gang Bracelets issued to the disciples. Many had also redeed various Elixirs and Magical Treasures. Any one of them would be a capable fighter if sent down the mountain.
They even saw a few disciples who, despite clearly lacking the necessary Cultivation, were able to fly through the air!
And this was just the Daluo Palace headquarters on Cuiluo Mountain. They had just learned that Daluo Palace also had several Elders presiding over the Daluo Temples in Changping Prefecture and Bai Shi Prefecture who hadn’t returned, and that there were Daluo disciples there as well.
By that count, didn’t Daluo Palace have ten or so masters with over five hundred years of Dao Practice?
How prosperous!
...
Daluo Palace covered a large area. The group didn’t fly within the palace, instead strolling and chatting as they went. Over the afternoon, they enjoyed many sights and even tasted so newly harvested seasonal fruits in the Vermilion Bird Forest.
At the evening banquet, the dishes were once again a mix from two different worlds. Although Purple Cloud Monarch and Xu Jing and his wife were not people who indulged their appetites, the various novel dishes still left them full of admiration.
Purple Cloud Monarch sipped the Wuliangye in his cup, the flush on his face deepening. He reached up to stroke his long beard, and a dicinal fragrance wafted out. He was already getting a bit tipsy. "Rich and fragrant, with a sweet entry! Good alcohol! Truly good alcohol!"
Yue Yan, on the other hand, was more interested in the various desserts and drinks. She and her daughter Xu Sirou tried dragon’s beard candy, mung bean cakes, and pumpkin pastries, as well as orange juice, plum juice, and more, unable to get enough of them.
Gu Zhao waved his hand magnanimously. "Brother Purple Cloud is a connoisseur of alcohol. Take a few jars with you when you leave. Also, the Silk Embroideress will prepare so desserts for Madam Xu. However, these things don’t keep well, so Madam Xu shouldn’t let them sit for too long."
Purple Cloud Monarch quickly refused, but Taoist Ming Chong had already pressed his hand down with a smile. "It’s just so ordinary alcohol, not worth much. There’s no need for Brother Feng to decline."
"So llow and complex, it’s a treasure among liquors! An essence that requires a hundred vats to produce just one. How can you say it’s not worth much?"
Purple Cloud Monarch was not an unworldly man. Seeing the enthusiasm of Taoist Ming Chong and the others from Daluo Palace, he thought for a mont and stopped refusing. He simply raised his cup to toast Gu Zhao again.
And so, the hosts and guests all enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
...
Early the next morning, just as Gu Zhao was getting out of bed, he saw several streaks of light soar into the sky, flying straight to the West. It was Taoist Jing Feng and the others, taking Xu Jing and his wife to Qianshan Prefecture to make trouble for the Black Furnace Ghost King.
However, Purple Cloud Monarch and Taoist Ming Chong did not go with them. They remained at Daluo Palace, chatting about various dicinal herbs, Spirit Plants, concocting dicines, and Alchemy. After Taoist Ming Chong gave Purple Cloud Monarch ten jars of premium Wuliangye, Purple Cloud Monarch generously left behind two ginseng tendrils to steep in two jars of alcohol.
Taoist Ming Chong said to Gu Zhao, "This is Spirit Wine made by steeping a spiritual Purple Ginseng with several thousand years of Dao Practice, supplented with three types of Spiritual Materials and eighteen kinds of dicinal herbs. Its effects are no less than a Miracle Elixir. It can grant mortals a long life and protect them from all illnesses."
Gu Zhao swallowed. "Can ordinary people drink it?"
Taoist Ming Chong said with a serious expression, "It must be diluted at least ten tis."
Gu Zhao nodded. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Martial Uncle. Please dilute one jar and send it to our relatives and friends. We’ll keep the other jar for our own use or for serving guests."
"Alright!" Taoist Ming Yu agreed.
Just then, sothing stirred in Gu Zhao’s Sea of Consciousness. The Five Thunders Order shook as it received a surge of Evil Qi from the void.
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