Chapter 142

Bowing to Xiaoyue as his master, this idea was something Zhou Shuo had considered after deep thought, huh, although it was only a fleeting moment, but thinking about it, Xiaoyue's background is fine—his previous master was the Thousand-Year Protagonist who had attained the Dao, the Golden Immortal Changmei Daoren, and his next master was the big boss of the evil cult, Haha Laozi, who truly controls both the orthodox and heterodox paths—what's wrong with taking him as a master?

One's cultivation realm can be self‑studied and self‑awakened, but technique experience is something you can't just figure out on your own; anyway, Zhou Shuo feels his comprehension is limited, and the days of relying solely on secret manuals are coming to an end—it's time to find a reliable master. Xiaoyue is a good choice: he's not young, he has backing, and taking him as master offers a chance to learn the Nine Heavens Mystic Classic and Haha Laozi's techniques—it's worth it.

"I am Zhu Hong; my master is currently performing rites in the cave and cannot receive guests, so please go back."

Although Zhou Shuo's little schemes were clicking away, the reply that came up on the wind from below was quite firm; as the words were spoken, the red sword light in the air trembled slightly, its edge faintly showing, clearly indicating a strong sense of vigilance.

"All right then!" Zhou Shuo heard the reply from below, and in his mind he thought of a certain traitor from the Five Peaks Sect, but after a moment he realized it wasn't that; Xiaoyue seems to have a namesake under him, and this must be that person, but since the other side is on guard against him, he finds it awkward to take them as a master.

"Forget it." Seeing the wary attitude below, Zhou Shuo had no other choice; he raised his sword light and flew over the Purple Gold Waterfall. Although his morals are low, he hasn't sunk to the point of being shameless, so as he went he looked around, and if it didn't work out he would go dig for secret manuals—there are many hidden treasure opportunities in Shu Mountain, and he can always manage to snag one or two.

Raising his sword light, Zhou Shuo gazed at the mountain range beneath his feet; now he finally knew where he was—the Yellow Mountain, famed as 'once you return, you need not look at other mountains', and indeed it is a marvelous sight, but where is the Welcoming Guest Pine?

"Welcoming Guest Pine, Welcoming Guest Pine!" Zhou Shuo controlled his sword light, flying downward from the sky, scanning among the peaks and mist, searching for that signature oddly shaped pine of Yellow Mountain.

"Fellow cultivator ahead, please halt!"

As Zhou Shuo was searching all over the mountain for the Welcoming Guest Pine, a female voice suddenly came from far behind; he felt the voice was a bit off, but he involuntarily stopped, and wrapped in his sword light he looked back—only to see a bluish‑green sword light sweep in and stop, upon which stood a young female Daoist who casually returned a salute.

"I don't know which fellow cultivator you are; have I seen you before, Xu Feiniang?"

"" Zhou Shuo looked at the overly familiar young female Daoist, his eye twitching—no wonder the voice sounded off earlier; damn, it turns out he's run into the female Shen Gongbao, Xu Feiniang.

"I am Zhou Shuo; I've seen you, Xu—" Zhou Shuo looked at the young female Daoist, suppressed his inner retort, opened his mouth but didn't know how to address her.

"Just call me Feiniang, Fellow Cultivator Zhou—where are you from? I, Feiniang, have wandered the four seas and still haven't seen you; of course, if you have any taboos you don't wish to mention, then please excuse my rudeness." The young female Daoist wore an overly familiar expression, truly living up to her nickname Wanmiao Xian Gu, and without waiting for Zhou Shuo's reply she introduced herself.

"Earlier I saw you fly out from the Purple Gold Waterfall—did you have some run‑in with Master Xiaoyue there?"

"Ah! I wanted to see Master Xiaoyue, but I didn't manage to." Zhou Shuo looked at her, who spoke in a lovely, melodic tone—a Wanmiao Daoist who caused no embarrassment—and he couldn't help but nod and smile.

"What do you want with Master Xiaoyue, Fellow Cultivator Zhou? That master possesses great supernatural powers, has long avoided the world here, and does not meet outsiders." Xu Feiniang gazed at him with a smiling, full‑eyed look; seeing the raw, nascent aura on him, one could tell he was a newcomer to the cultivation world.

"No need to hide it, Fellow Cultivator Xu—I've had some fortuitous encounters that led me onto the path of cultivation; today is my first time flying on a sword, and I'm looking for a master." Zhou Shuo looked at the smiling Daoist, feeling a bit embarrassed and scratching the back of his head.

"What about your former teachers, Fellow Cultivator?" Xu Feiniang looked at the figure within his sword light, unable to help but glance askance—you've achieved sword‑body unity and yet you still have no master?

"I haven't had many teachers; the only one who got me started on this path was a follower of the Wu Sheng Sect." Zhou Shuo could swear to heaven that he hadn't uttered a single falsehood.

"Wu Sheng Sect? I'd guess it's the White Lotus Sect, but fellow cultivator, your bearing doesn't seem like something those jianghu tricksters could teach." Xu Feiniang's gaze grew more sideways; such sword‑body unity cannot be learned without a master.

"No, I haven't had just one master; later I acquired two techniques and a Quanzhen Daoist Elixir Scripture written by predecessors, met several people like my master, and have struggled and scraped along the way." Zhou Shuo made a slight gesture.

"" Xu Feiniang looked at Zhou Shuo's gesturing, her eyes narrowing slightly—just relying on a jianghu trickster's guidance and heavenly fate, you've cultivated to this level?

"You don't believe me, Daoist Xu?" Zhou Shuo stared at the glaring Daoist nun, then stopped gesturing and asked back.

"No, Feiniang was just taken aback by your talent, Daoist." Feiniang glanced at Zhou Shuo's questioning look, quickly shook her head, paused a moment, then went on.

"The cultivation path is tough without a master to guide you, and I understand your feelings, Daoist Zhou, but how did you wind up right in front of Master Xiaoyue's gate?"

"As I just said, today is my first time sword-flying; I've long heard Huangshan has immortal traces, and I heard there's a Master Changxia here, so I came hoping to run into some fate." Zhou Shuo spread his hands, putting on an innocent expression.

"So you're after Master Changxia, but Daoist Zhou, your cultivation is insufficient—she's already perfected her practice and is a Buddhist nun who doesn't take male disciples. Still, may I ask, what stage have you attained?" Feiniang smiled, her eyes narrowing.

"Well, per the alchemy classics, I've just achieved the Return to the Elixir stage, with the five vital energies returning to the origin." Zhou Shuo glanced aside, thought briefly, then answered honestly.

"Have you formed the golden elixir inside?" Feiniang's expression stalled. The Return to the Elixir is indeed the Quanzhen Dao alchemical method; the five vital energies returning to the origin means one has already reached the scattered immortal stage—halfway between heaven and earth, possessing immortal potential. Without realizing the Great Dao, it's merely a minor accomplishment, yielding no visible results, only allowing one to linger in the world, live long, and not die among mortals. Having gotten this far, why still look for a master?

"I've formed it, and I'm now preparing to refine the Jade Elixir Return to the Elixir." Zhou Shuo nodded.

"Daoist Zhou, based on what you've said, the Quanzhen alchemical method you've learned is a direct path to celestial immortality; all that's needed is to accumulate virtuous merit, after refining the Jade Elixir Return to the Elixir, obtain the Heavenly Treasury Jade Scroll, and you can ascend straight to the spiritual realm. So why still look for a master and muddle about in the mortal world?" Feiniang's mouth twitched slightly. Since Wang Chongyang, Quanzhen Dao has widely spread its teachings; among mortals there are those with the cultivation seed who can comprehend and achieve it—this isn't strange. Yet why still seek a master?

"Ah! The Heavenly Treasury Jade Scroll, leading straight to the spiritual realm?" Zhou Shuo blinked, wondering what that was.

"Aren't you cultivating for longevity and the hope of ascension?" Feiniang gazed at Zhou Shuo's bewildered expression, her eye corner twitching. What's with this guy? Countless people yearn for longevity and ascension but never attain it; he already qualifies, yet he looks like this.

"I don't know. I've considered longevity, but I don't know what ascension means. As for the immortal realm, what's the difference between going there and the mortal world?" Zhou Shuo looked bewildered. Does Mount Shu speak of an immortal realm? I haven't really noticed; what's the difference between the immortal realm and the human world?

"I've never been to the spiritual void immortal realm, but I've heard it's said to be a gathering place of the deities, with jade halls and crystal palaces, beautiful beyond compare, wielding heavenly authority, commanding thunder, fire, and plague constellations, the stars and mansions, bestowing blessings upon the world." Feiniang held back her eye twitch, smiling as she recounted the legendary benefits of the spiritual void immortal realm.

"I didn't cultivate just to labor for people." Zhou Shuo's comment made Feiniang's eye twitch again, yet she felt it wasn't wrong—if the immortal realm is full of power struggles, what's the difference from the mortal world? She can't set aside her inner hatred; even if she ascended to the spiritual void immortal realm, how would that differ from being in the human world?

"Daoist Zhou, you are truly a seed of the Great Dao; I fall far short. But you seek a master, and I can't help with that. Still, if you don't mind, I could suggest a few places for you." Feiniang held back her twitching mouth, thinking: this person can't bear solitude, his cultivation talent is extraordinarily high, yet he can't be taken by Emei; recommending him to Hua Shan wouldn't be suitable either.

"I hope Daoist Xu can offer some guidance?" Zhou Shuo perked up. Although Xu Feiniang's nickname isn't pleasant, it also reflects her wide circle of friends; receiving her advice might make finding a true master not so hard.

"The orthodox Daoist Xuanmen tradition chiefly recommends the Emei School, founded by the thousand-year gold immortal Changbrow True Person—just like Master Xiaoyue and the Master Changxia you know of, both from Emei. However, Emei admits disciples very strictly; aside from Kunlun, Qingcheng, and Wudang, my influence isn't sufficient."

"Besides Daoist Xuanmen, there are Buddhist, heterodox, and demonic sects. Buddhist high monks and goddesses are elusive, rarely seen; heterodox masters either live in remote frontiers or hide overseas, making their traces hard to find. So, Daoist Zhou, among the places I know, only one remains suitable for you." Feiniang weighed the options, considering where to recommend Zhou Shuo for the greatest benefit to both him and herself.

"Where?" Zhou Shuo raised his eyebrows slightly. Daoist, Buddhist, and heterodox paths don't suit him—then only the demonic sect remains. First was the Wu Sheng Dao, second the Liu Sha organization, third the Quan Xing, and now again a demonic sect; everything linked to him seems far from righteous.

"I once had the fortune to meet the leader of the Red Naked Teaching, Ju Pan Xianpo, of the Nine Return Mountain Demon Palace, who imparted some marvelous techniques. If Daoist Zhou doesn't mind, I'd be willing to act as his patron. However, the Red Naked Teaching is a branch of the demonic sect; its precepts are not as lax as the heterodox schools, it also uses human souls and spirits in its alchemy, and it hasn't accepted male disciples for many years. Daoist Zhou..." Feiniang thought it over; the only place suitable for Zhou Shuo is the Red Naked Teaching, but that's hardly a benevolent place, and would Zhou Shuo be willing to go?

"Fellow Cultivator Xu, could you tell me the general details of the Red Naked Sect?" Zhou Shuo blinked his eyes.