Chapter 351 (1): Eleven Next Year

Chapter 351 (1): Eleven Next Year

After Zhong Kui left the relay station, the old Daoist priest placed him inside a piece of aged locust wood that looked much like a gavel.[1] After doing this, the old ancestor of Peace and Prosperity Mountain suddenly turned around, using a land-shortening technique and arriving in Chen Ping'an's courtyard in a single step.

Chen Ping'an, who was still dazed and yet to completely return to his senses, hurriedly stood up and bowed, cupping his fists in respect and saying, "Chen Ping'an pays his respects to Old Esteemed Immortal."

Zhong Kui had recounted his death in a calm and casual manner just then, but he hadn't concealed his close relationship with the old Daoist priest from Peace and Tranquility Mountain.

The old Daoist priest waved his hand two times and said, "There's no need to pay respects."

After straightening his back, Chen Ping'an asked, "Since you came back, is there perhaps something that you need from me?"

The old Daoist priest glanced at Chen Ping'an before nodding and remarking, "Being able to maintain self-control is the quality of a truly outstanding person. No wonder Huang Ting and Zhong Kui are both impressed by you."

Chen Ping'an didn't understand this remark, but he didn't ask any questions either.

The old Daoist priest was in a fairly good mood, so he smiled and asked, "You called yourself a swordsman, so where is your sword?"

He simply ignored the existence of First and Fifteenth, even though he had seen them flying.

"I mainly focused on practicing fist techniques before, and I've only just started to practice sword techniques. Because of this, I only feign holding a sword when I'm practicing sword techniques. I spend more of my time visualizing these sword techniques instead," Chen Ping'an replied honestly.

"If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have spent so much time and effort competing with other people in terms of divination," the old Daoist priest murmured to himself. "Not only did I lose, but I even lost the opportunity to observe your experiences in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land."

The old Daoist priest was tall and sturdy, and he was wearing a white Daoist robe as well as a hibiscus hat, a hat that represented one of the three Daoist branches. He also had gray hair and a gray beard, and this made him appear extremely ethereal and transcendent.

Chen Ping'an didn't know how to respond, so in the end, he chose to remain silent.

There was no need to act smart in front of such a wise and sharp-eyed immortal. Indeed, trying to dress oneself up would be the same as an old woman caking her face with makeup or a little child pulling on official garb. It would be nothing more than a joke.

"I can lend you a sword, and we can discuss how long you can keep it for, whether it's sixty years, one hundred years, or something else," the old Daoist priest suddenly suggested. "You can offer an immortal treasure in exchange, or you can also pay using grain rain coins."

Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment before eventually shaking his head and replying, "Thank you for your kind offer, Old Esteemed Immortal. However, I actually have a sword already."

Then, his face flushed slightly red with embarrassment. "In any case, I don't have a single grain rain coin on me right now."

The old Daoist priest didn't insist upon this. The reason he had suddenly thought about lending a sword to Chen Ping'an was because he genuinely appreciated the promise of ten thousand years between the young boy and Zhong Kui.

Beyond that, there was also a deeper sense of selfish goodwill. However, the old ancestor of Peace and Tranquility Mountain had immediately felt regret after making this offer.

It was best not to hasten his development and detrimentally affect his growth. The calamity that had befallen Planchette Writing Sect made the old Daoist priest feel slightly anxious.

As for why he had returned to the small courtyard... It was because he had noticed the peculiar fluctuations in the mind's realm of Chen Ping'an. It appeared that Zhong Kui's death had a huge effect on the young boy's mental state.

Upon closer inspection, however, the old Daoist priest was able to feel at ease again.

Cultivators were afraid of their minds becoming small boats that aimlessly drifted with the current. The old Daoist priest was of the opinion that those who allowed chaos and disorder in their mind's realm weren't even worthy of discussing such fears and taboos. In fact, such people shouldn't cultivate at all.

There were few young people whom the old ancestor of Peace and Tranquility Mountain acknowledged and viewed as worthy. Among them were Daoist Nun Huang Ting and Noble Scholar Zhong Kui.

And now, there was also Chen Ping'an.

Regardless of whether it was the secluded Parasol Leaf Continent in the southeast or the vast Majestic World, the old Daoist priest felt like there could never be enough young people like this.

No matter how chaotic the world became... there would always be pillars to hold it up.

In order to prevent Zhong Kui's yin soul from being taken to the underworld by that yin entity before, the old Daoist priest had chosen to sacrifice his cultivation base and drop a tier. He had made this decision despite being clearly aware of the consequences—he could no longer address the biggest regret in his life.

After advancing to the Immortal Tier, the old ancestor of Peace and Tranquility Mountain had been granted the title of Observing Mystical Heavenly Lord by the Daoist branch that he belonged to. He had enjoyed a transcendent standing.

Looking back at history, a Daoist priest would have the opportunity to meet their branch master and have their Daoist robes, Daoist hat, and an identity token personally handed to them by the branch master when they were promoted from the position of True Lord to Heavenly Lord. This was the case regardless of which of the three branches of Daoism they belonged to, and regardless of whether they were in Majestic World overseen by the Confucian Sect or Heavenly World overseen by the Daoist Sect.

However, as the newest Heavenly Lord of his Daoist branch, the Observing Mystical Heavenly Lord hadn't seen his branch master leave the White Jade Capital and descend into Majestic World. The old Heavenly Lord hadn't dared to speculate, yet the others in Peace and Tranquility Mountain had all mulled over this for a long time.

Because of this, the sect leader of Peace and Tranquility Mountain had specially traveled to the Confucian academy located in the northernmost region of Parasol Leaf Continent, inquiring about this matter and asking whether a Confucian sage had interfered in the process. Perhaps this was the reason why their branch master hadn't traveled to Majestic World to meet the new Heavenly Lord.

The mountain master of the Confucian academy was a straightforward person who hadn't wanted to go in circles with the sect leader of Peace and Tranquility Mountain. Thus, he had smiled and countered with a question, saying that perhaps the branch masters of the two other Daoist branches would face such "special treatment," yet what kind of relationship existed between their branch master and the Confucian Sect? Who would obstruct their branch master from entering Majestic World?

The old Heavenly Lord had felt increasingly dispirited after hearing this reply.

After mulling over it for a long time, he could only conclude that his Great Dao was too shallow even though his cultivation base was very high. Thus, his branch master was purposely giving him a warning.

Before the battle in Peace and Tranquility Mountain, the Observing Mystical Heavenly Lord had thought that he could eventually meet the branch master when he advanced to the Ascension Tier in the future.

Now, however, this was nothing more than a pipe dream.

He didn't regret his decision, yet it was impossible not to feel disappointed.

The old Daoist priest was just about to leave when Chen Ping'an suddenly said, "Thank you, Old Spiritual Master!"

The old Daoist priest smiled and asked, "Why are you thanking me? Is it because I sacrificed my cultivation base for Zhong Kui?" He shook his head. "There's no need to thank me. It's Peace and Tranquility Mountain that owes Zhong Kui."

"Thank you Old Spiritual Master and thank you Peace and Tranquility Mountain for allowing me to understand that there are also gallant and kind-hearted immortals in the mountains," Chen Ping'an replied in a solemn voice.

This instantly put the old Daoist priest in a delightful mood. "Oh, so that's how it is, huh? Who would have thought that you're quite similar to Zhong Kui? You're also very good at flattery, aren't you?"

"I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart," Chen Ping'an replied in a helpless voice.

The old Daoist priest looked at him with a smile and remarked, "Sincere words of flattery are the most soothing."

He then flew away on the wind.

1. Note that a Chinese gavel doesn't look like a ceremonial mallet as is common in the Western world. A Chinese gavel looks more like a simple rectangular wooden block. ☜