I Can Strengthen Everything

This Martial Dao Sect was very mysterious.

Its disciples were all prodigies, like dragons among men.

And it was only the members of the Supreme Dao Sect who wore Daoist Robes while traveling about.

Of course, other Martial Dao Sects couldn’t be ruled out.

After all, there were plenty of Taoist Sects in the Great Jing, with Daoist Temples found all across the land.

And the Supreme Dao Sect was the foremost among all Taoist Sects in the Great Jing.

A single word from them could shake the world.

As the number one sect among the Ten Great Martial Dao Upper Sects, even the Court treated them with great deference.

No one could fathom the true depth of the Supreme Dao Sect’s foundation.

He didn’t know if the man was from the Supreme Dao Sect, but anyone who casually carried a Top Grade Treasure Duster was certainly no simple figure.

Fang Xing sensed a hint of danger from the young Daoist.

He didn’t know the man’s specific cultivation, but he was certain it was at least at the Middle Stage of the True Qi Realm.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt this sense of danger.

"Sir, this humble Daoist is passing through and was hoping to rest here for the night. I trust you don’t mind?"

Stepping into the temple, the young Daoist looked to Fang Xing, a polite smile on his face as he asked his question.

"A temple on a desolate mountain is ownerless land. Daoist Master, feel free to do as you please," Fang Xing said indifferently.

"My thanks, sir!" The young Daoist smiled faintly and sat down to one side, but his gaze remained fixed on Fang Xing.

Fang Xing’s brow furrowed. "Why are you staring at me, Daoist Master?"

The young Daoist said with a beaming smile, "If you weren’t looking at me, sir, how would you know that I was looking at you?"

Fang Xing: "..."

’This guy sure can talk.’

Hearing the young Daoist’s words, Fang Xing was left speechless.

"A purple aura swirls between your brows. You must be a man of the Court, I presume?"

The young Daoist spoke.

Fang Xing looked at him. "You also practice physiognomy, Daoist Master?"

The young Daoist smiled faintly. "This humble Daoist knows a thing or two about the art of physiognomy."

"I observe that your forehead is full and your purple aura soars to the heavens. You are destined to be a pillar of the Court in the future!"

"However... you have yet to transform into a dragon. Once you do, you will be able to roam the nine heavens and traverse the world unhindered."

Fang Xing: "...?"

’I haven’t transformed into a dragon yet?’

’What does this fellow mean?’

Fang Xing looked at the young Daoist, his eyes narrowing. "I wonder, Daoist Master, what do you mean by ’transforming into a dragon’?"

The young Daoist said with a beaming smile, "That is a Celestial Secret, which even this humble Daoist cannot see through."

Fang Xing: "..."

’Celestial Secret... You’ve got to be kidding me.’

Fang Xing cursed inwardly as he looked at the young Daoist.

The young Daoist looked at him and continued, "However, you will face a great upheaval in the future. This upheaval may be your chance to transform into a dragon."

"A great upheaval?"

"Can you speak more plainly, Daoist Master?" Fang Xing watched him with great interest.

"The Celestial Secret is inscrutable, the great upheaval immeasurable. It cannot be spoken!" the young Daoist said.

Fang Xing gave him a deadpan look.

If not for the powerful aura he sensed from the young Daoist, coupled with the Top Grade Treasure Duster the man held, Fang Xing would have dismissed him as a common Jianghu charlatan.

"You do not believe me, sir?"

the young Daoist asked, looking at him.

Fang Xing glanced at him. "You haven’t spoken plainly, Daoist Master. How am I to know what’s true and what’s false?"

The young Daoist smiled. "I am merely analyzing my observations of the Celestial Secret; I cannot truly peer into it."

Hearing this, Fang Xing rolled his eyes.

’Observing the Celestial Secret.’

’How is that any different from spouting nonsense?’

"I observe that your destiny is profound, Daoist Master. You must be from the Supreme Dao Sect, yes?"

Fang Xing said, looking at the young Daoist.

"Eh? How did you know?" The young Daoist looked astonished.

"I was merely analyzing my observations of the Celestial Secret," Fang Xing said, returning the man’s own words to him.

The young Daoist: "..."

Rain poured down in sheets. Inside the temple, the two men looked at each other until the young Daoist sighed helplessly.

"You truly have a discerning eye, sir."

"Merely a deduction from the Celestial Secret," Fang Xing said indifferently.

The young Daoist was at a loss for words. He lowered his head and said no more.

Fang Xing also remained silent, closing his eyes and feigning sleep.

Inside the temple, there was no sound save for the drumming of the rain.

The night passed quietly.

The heavy rain that had fallen all night had stopped.

A hazy mist clung to the mountains.

Early the next morning, Fang Xing opened his eyes. To his side, the Daoist sat cross-legged; as if sensing it, he too opened his eyes at the same moment.

"Are you departing now, sir?" the young Daoist asked, being the first to speak.

"Do you have some business with me, Daoist Master?" Fang Xing glanced at him.

"...It’s nothing, I was just asking. The mountain paths are slippery. You should be careful on your journey, sir," the young Daoist said.

"Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Master."

After speaking, Fang Xing took out some dry rations and water and began to eat.

Nearby, the young Daoist also took out some dry rations and began to eat.

Neither of them spoke again.

They finished their meal in unspoken agreement.

Fang Xing led his Spiritual Steed out of the temple, vaulted into the saddle, and spurred it onward, quickly disappearing down the mountain path.

Once Fang Xing was gone, the young Daoist stepped out of the temple. He gazed in the direction Fang Xing had vanished, his head bowed, lost in thought.

Then, with a flicker of movement, the young Daoist also vanished from the temple entrance.

...

Jiang Province, Linjiang Prefecture, Qingyuan County.

He rode at a breakneck pace.

Around 3:00 PM, Fang Xing finally reached his destination.

Qingyuan County!

After stabling his Spiritual Steed at the Qingyuan Post Station, Fang Xing immediately set off on foot toward the southern part of the county.

At 7:45 PM, under the light of the setting sun, Fang Xing arrived at a village.

The village was desolate, with nine out of ten homes standing empty. It was a scene of utter ruin.

On the dirt paths within the village, there were even some skeletal remains.

The entire village was permeated by the stench of decay.

This was Qingshan Village, a small settlement under the jurisdiction of Qingyuan.

It was also a village that had been ravaged by Demons and Monsters.

Not a single soul could be seen; the entire place had become a deserted village.

It was deathly silent.

According to his mission briefing, Qingshan Village had originally been home to more than one hundred people.