Chapter 1141

The Taiyuan Sect, which had been in a stalemate for over half a month, suddenly found its people gone and the building empty one night when no one knew what had happened.

This sect, which had taken root in the southwest of Da Yu for countless years, with deep roots and great influence, seemed to have collectively crossed over, or as if wiped away by a pair of great hands in an instant—whatever the case, the more tense it had been before, the more sudden and unprepared its end was.

……

On the very next day after the Taiyuan Sect incident concluded, Chen Wuji saw someone he would never have expected to see.

Zhang Lao!

He was not alone; beside him were seven or eight old, disheveled men.

These old men dressed differently—some resembled old Daoists, some old farmers, and one looked like a beggar.

At a glance, it seemed as if he had gathered old men from every trade and profession into a chaotic mix.

Looking at these people, Chen Wuji suddenly understood some things.

"Master, this time you old man really owe me an explanation!"

Chen Wuji stood up and personally poured a cup of tea for Zheng Lao.

But anyone could see his tone was not pleasant, full of pressure.

Zhang Lao looked at Chen Wuji with a satisfied face, "Indeed, I must give you an explanation, but... I actually didn't deceive you."

"Huh?" Chen Li beside him suddenly glanced sideways.

Zhang Lao ignored him, looking at Chen Wuji and saying to himself: "I'm playing the old card once again, or rather, I should just call you Wuji. Explaining each issue individually would be too troublesome, so I might as well start from why I returned to Yunan County—this is no chance encounter, but a deliberate contact."

"Your methods are too crude; I've been suspicious from the start." Chen Wuji said.

Zhang Lao chuckled, "If my methods were more refined, I probably wouldn't be able to sit here today and talk with you about these things. Crudeness, at times, also has its merits."

Chen Wuji was startled, then relieved, "Every single one of you is an old fox!"

"Actually, I have no other motive. My deliberate contact with you is also something I once explained to you." Zhang Lao said.

"But... I concealed some things, one point being very important. The Ciji Zhai was originally named Ciji Zhai, later renamed Tingfeng Lou, and both names were used concurrently. The world knows Ciji Zhai, also knows Tingfeng Lou, but few know that Ciji Zhai also has a name for its Elder Pavilion: Louwai Lou."

"Louwai Lou is not only unknown to outsiders; many inside Ciji Zhai don't know it either. They only know that if someone inside the Lou Li achieves the rank of Grand Master, they leave. If they wish to summon these people to act, they must use the Gold Needle Order and pay a hefty price."

Chen Wuji knew this; Kong Jianshi had even suggested two days prior that he use the Gold Needle Order.

At that time, he had still hesitated.

It was Chen Li who insisted no reinforcements were needed, so Chen Wuji temporarily held back his forces.

"So, is this Elder Pavilion called Louwai Lou the true strength of Ciji Zhai?" Chen Wuji asked.

Zhang Lao gave a slight nod, "Indeed, this is also the true reason why Ciji Zhai ranks among the Nine Sects of the Rivers and Lakes."

"But many attribute this reason to Ciji Zhai's strong intelligence capabilities and the Gold Needle Order, as if they never considered other aspects. Regardless, since large-scale intelligence rarely surfaces in the Rivers and Lakes, people assume Ciji Zhai has no other hidden strength."

Chen Wuji looked at the people beside Zhang Lao, "So, are these all members of the Elder Pavilion?"

"Greetings, Tavern Owner!"

The old men behind Zhang Lao all clasped their hands in salute and bowed their bodies.

Chen Wuji raised his hand, "Hold on—let's finish discussing the matter first, then we can talk about etiquette."

Zhang Lao's face turned bitter, he gave a wry smile and shook his head, "Besides Louwai Lou, the only other thing I concealed was that I moved the headquarters of Ciji Zhai to Nan Jun, so I could make contact with you, Wuji."

"Within Ciji Zhai, there are the Five Departments of Mountain Doctor, Divination, and Related Arts, but in Ciji Zhai they are merely nominal—rarely does anyone truly master these arts emerge. Yet in Louwai Lou, these old fellows are all masters of these five paths; they cultivate these five ways."

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched slightly, "How did we suddenly get back to talking about cultivation?"

"Speaking of this, the story just gets longer." Zhang Lao said.

"Wuji, Ciji Zhai was originally a medical clinic; healers were originally shamans, sharing the same origin as the Dao, with many similarities—this is quite normal. And when a martial artist reaches the realm of Grand Master, they must consider what to cultivate—this 'what to cultivate' refers to one's own Dao."

"This counts as one of the core secrets of this realm; without a great inheritance, few know it. Not cultivating one's own Dao, only talking about realms—everything is empty talk, no hope of becoming a Grand Master, let alone mentioning the Land Immortal Realm or higher positions."

Chen Wuji's heart stirred, "Is there something higher than the Land Immortal Realm in this world?"

"Legends say there is, but even with Ciji Zhai's intelligence capabilities, one only hears scattered rumors, never obtains proof." Zhang Lao said, "It is said these people hide in deep mountains and old forests, in blessed caves and paradisiacal lands, contemplating the secret of ascension, and those living eight or nine hundred years are not uncommon."

"I'm not interested in such hearsay." Chen Wuji waved his hand.

In his previous life, such rumors were not few, but no one had seen the real or the fake.

In his previous life, he was merely an ordinary person, just hearing things secondhand—understandable.

But Ciji Zhai ranks among the Nine Sects of the Rivers and Lakes, possessing unparalleled intelligence capabilities, yet they don't know—then those rumors should just be rumors.

After all, hearsay isn't worth a few silver coins.

"Master, have you forgotten something else?" Chen Wuji asked.

Zhang Lao stared blankly, "What else?"

"Master, are you a bit forgetful due to your noble status?" Chen Wuji said helplessly, "The defection of Ciji Zhai—don't you consider that an affair in your heart? I think this matter is quite significant!"

Zhang Lao opened his mouth, his face full of astonishment, "Wuji, this matter... really can't be blamed on me. Jianghu people are mostly proud and arrogant, unlike governing an army."

Chen Wuji raised his hand to interrupt Zhang Lao's words, "Alright, Master, this matter indeed doesn't count as an affair."

This matter, indeed, seems impossible to keep arguing about.

If we continue, we'll surely end up concluding that personnel selection is unclear and strategies are indecisive.

Zhang Lao let out a silent laugh, "Although I can't be entirely blamed, I, as your master, do bear responsibility—I failed to fully restrain my subordinates, letting them develop second thoughts."

"Let's drop this matter." Chen Wuji said, looking toward Chen Li, "Shi Yi Shu, do you also have some matters?"

Speaking of this matter, saying he isn't angry would be false, but the underlying reason, he can barely understand.

It's just very annoying.

Chen Li froze, after a long while he muttered incoherently, actually not knowing how to respond.

He hadn't expected this fire to suddenly reverse direction and burn onto him.

"Shi Yi Shu, won't you admit you don't know these things?" Chen Wuji said in a low, gloomy tone.