Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

Zhong Shenxiu laughed freely and said, "Brother Xu, did you really think I wouldn't notice the hidden transformations within your vast true qi?"

Hearing this, Xuzhuang smiled. With a mere thought, he retracted his boundless true qi. Just as he was about to speak, his expression shifted, and he and Zhong Shenxiu both looked down together.

A streak of cyan light shot over from the direction of Weiyun Immortal City, halting several hundred yards away. It revealed the figure of a Kun Dao in her thirties. She glanced at the two of them and asked uncertainly, "Were you two Fellow Daoists fighting here just now?"

Xuzhuang replied calmly, "We were. Does Fellow Daoist have some guidance for us?"

"I am an enforcer from the Immortal City. I came to investigate the commotion from your fight." The Kun Dao's expression turned serious. She performed a formal Daoist salute and said, "Although this place is not within Weiyun Immortal City, it is too close. If you two Fellow Daoists are settling a grudge, it would be best to find another place."

Zhong Shenxiu returned the salute and replied, "The two of us were just practicing our Taoist skills, a simple spar. We did not expect to cause a misunderstanding. Our apologies."

The Kun Dao was secretly shocked. The commotion from the fight just now had been immense; she had assumed it was a life-or-death battle between core disciples of some Great Cultivator's sect. She'd been afraid they would get desperate, use something like a Primordial Spirit Taoist Skill or a Talisman Secret Treasure, and trigger Weiyun Immortal City's grand array. That was why she had hurried over.

But she never expected the two before her to claim they were just practicing their skills, a simple spar—

Neither Zhong Shenxiu nor Xuzhuang were in the habit of concealing their auras, so it wasn't hard for the Kun Dao to sense their cultivation level. They were merely at the Second Realm, which made her click her tongue in amazement.

Her thoughts raced, and her expression and tone softened. "Since that is the case, I must still ask you two Fellow Daoists to exercise restraint. If you trigger the Immortal City's grand array, I will have a hard time explaining myself."

Zhong Shenxiu replied, "Our practice session is over. We will be leaving now."

"Very well." The Kun Dao responded, and without further delay, she summoned her escape light and flew back.

Seeing this, Zhong Shenxiu shook his head with a smile and asked, "Brother Xu, shall we return to Han Yuan Cave now?"

Xuzhuang nodded slightly. With a casual flick of his fingers, Zhong Shenxiu gathered a ball of pure, gentle light into an auspicious cloud. It was quite conspicuous in the night sky. Tucking his hands into his sleeves, he gestured. "After you?"

They had arrived like a lightning storm, but there was no need for such haste on the return journey. Since Zhong Shenxiu was in a leisurely mood, Xuzhuang happily obliged, joining him on the auspicious cloud as he steered it slowly toward Weiyun Immortal City.

Only then did Xuzhuang ask, "Brother Zhong, what suddenly put you in the mood to compete with me in capturing techniques today?"

Zhong Shenxiu smiled faintly and replied, "I just felt that if we missed the chance today, we wouldn't have another opportunity to compete for a while, which would be a shame."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang said, surprised. "Brother Zhong, what makes you say that?"

Zhong Shenxiu gazed into the distance and said leisurely, "I also gained much from the trip to Guangcheng Dojo. But before that, I need to make some choices."

Xuzhuang's gaze sharpened. He suddenly noticed that Zhong Shenxiu's aura had weakened slightly and couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist, did you discard the Mixed Element Qi Refining Great Capture?"

"Not at all." Zhong Shenxiu shook his head. "I am merely keeping it under wraps for now. It will see the light of day again."

He added teasingly, "After all, I have to beat you in the Great Capture at least once, Brother Xu."

Hearing this, Xuzhuang, though not fully understanding, felt some of his worries ease. He replied, "Then I will await the good news."

* * *

Though they were drifting leisurely on the cloud, it only took a few quarters of an hour for Xuzhuang and Zhong Shenxiu to arrive back outside Han Yuan Cave.

Opening the main gate of the cave-abode, the two entered the main hall, only to see three people sitting separately within.

One of them was Cen Fenghong. Besides him, there was another man and a woman, both young and dressed as Daoists. The three each occupied their own seat. Cen Fenghong was chatting idly with the man, while the woman sat with her eyes closed, silently recuperating.

Seeing this, Zhong Shenxiu raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "Fellow Daoists, what brings you to sit and chat in the hall at your leisure?"

The other two in the hall, besides Cen Fenghong, were the people brought by the Jide Taoist and the Immoral Taoist to fulfill the appointment. They had met Zhong Shenxiu and Xuzhuang before, but hadn't had a chance to get acquainted.

The man was named Sima Zongfa, and the woman was Chang Su'Er. Their origins were quite mysterious. They seemed to be a senior and junior disciple pair, yet they weren't particularly familiar with each other. Since they didn't explain themselves to Xuzhuang and the others, the group naturally didn't press for details. Regardless, they were all cultivation geniuses who had reached the Second Realm of Nascent Soul within three hundred years.

Hearing Zhong Shenxiu's question, Cen Fenghong replied, "I heard from Master Jide today that True Deficient Virtue would be bringing the last person, so I was waiting here specially."

Sima Zongfa's eyes were narrow, and when he smiled, they seemed to squint into thin slits. He said, "I am also quite curious about this final Fellow Daoist."

As for Chang Su'Er, she merely acknowledged the two with a glance, still not uttering a word.

"Oh?" Xuzhuang's interest was piqued. He said to Zhong Shenxiu, "In that case, why don't we also wait and meet this final Fellow Daoist?"

Zhong Shenxiu said, "My thoughts exactly."

So, the two of them also took seats in the hall to wait. Sure enough, it wasn't long before the cave entrance opened and the Immoral Taoist swaggered in, followed by a young Daoist wearing a Purple Gold Crown, a Bright Yellow Daoist Robe, and carrying a Magical Sword on his back.

The moment he saw this person, Zhong Shenxiu let out a soft sound of surprise. The Daoist, upon seeing him, also smiled faintly and gave a cupped-fist salute from a distance.

The two were clearly acquainted. Xuzhuang wasn't surprised. Though he didn't recognize the man, he was familiar with the Daoist Robe he wore—it was the robe of the Spirit Treasure Sect, which, along with Shangxuan and Tai Su, was known as one of the Three Great Sects.

The Immoral Taoist led the Daoist from the Spirit Treasure Sect inside. He scanned the room, his expression changing slightly, and muttered, "Impossible. I should have been one step later."

Before he could say more, a voice drifted from the air, "I predicted my junior brother had already arrived, so I hurried back. It seems I was right."

The Immoral Taoist rolled his eyes. But before he could retort, the Jide Taoist let out a soft sound of surprise, materialized in the hall, and asked, "This kid... he doesn't seem to be the one you originally planned on, does he?"

"That's right." The Immoral Taoist immediately became smug. "I made a few trips, but that other kid didn't want to come. Then I just so happened to nab this one instead."

"You all get acquainted." He said to the group, then grabbed the Jide Taoist and whispered, "Senior Brother, come over here..."

The Jide Taoist frowned, and with a wave of his sleeve, the two of them vanished.

Seeing this, Cen Fenghong was about to step forward and greet him, but the Daoist from the Spirit Treasure Sect had already cupped his fists toward the group and smiled. "Mi Yuan Dao, at your service. Greetings, Fellow Daoists."

Hearing this name, Xuzhuang couldn't help but glance at Zhong Shenxiu. If his memory served him right, this was the core disciple from the Spirit Treasure Sect who had challenged Shangxuan Mountain, only to be easily defeated by Zhong Shenxiu, cementing Zhong Shenxiu's reputation as the number one of his generation.

It was said that after his defeat at Zhong Shenxiu's hands, he had vanished without a trace. Everyone assumed his Dao Heart was broken and he could no longer advance. Yet now, it seemed that not only had he not fallen into despair, he had instead progressed with courage and diligence, cultivating a Nascent Soul, and was even invited by the Immoral Taoist to this Spirit Root appointment.

While Xuzhuang was pondering this, Zhong Shenxiu had already introduced the others to Mi Yuan Dao. When he mentioned Xuzhuang's name, Mi Yuan Dao showed a flicker of surprise and cupped his fists. "Fellow Daoist Xu, although I have been far from the Profound Yellow world, I have heard of your fame. I've long admired you."

Hearing this, Zhong Shenxiu said, "So, Fellow Daoist has been cultivating beyond this world for the past hundred years? No wonder you vanished without a trace."

Mi Yuan Dao laughed heartily. "After my defeat at Brother Zhong's hands, I was indeed deeply affected. It just so happened that an elder was coming to this world to take charge of the sect's Treasure Pavilion, so they brought me along. You could say it's been a journey of cultivation."

The group had only exchanged a few words when the Immoral Taoist suddenly appeared out of nowhere beside Mi Yuan Dao. He shoved a box into his hands and said, "Kid, you were late, but this Daoist master treats everyone equally. You can't miss out on the customary cultivation gift."

Mi Yuan Dao did not refuse. He accepted the jade box and said with perfect composure, "Thank you, Zhenren."

The Immoral Taoist nodded and then announced to the group, "Listen up, kids. In another eighty-one days, the Cyan and Purple Pearl Fruit will ripen. We'll be depending on you then."

The group had already been waiting for a long time for this moment. They all replied in unison, "We juniors will do our utmost."

"Good!" The Immoral Taoist laughed loudly and said, "Go cultivate well. In seventy-two days, it will be time to set out."