Chapter 146

In the Tao family mansion of Guanglingcheng, the young master Tao that Brother Qian Chen had seen during the day had already returned home. His carriage was a cloud chariot, drawn by three immortal cranes with wings spanning several zhang and standing two or three men tall; beneath the chariot floated white clouds, and the carriage itself resembled a bed over one zhang wide and two or three zhang long, carved from a single piece of red tung wood, lined with the fur of the Arctic ice bear.

The white fur of the ice bear not only covered the entire cloud chariot but even had surplus left over. The fur was silken and soft, warm to the touch, smooth to the hair, exceptionally warm yet never stifling, possessing a quality of being warm in winter and cool in summer. When wrinkled, it formed shapes perfect for comfortable reclining.

Clearly, the bear must have been enormous in life.

Yet the ice bear whose fur this was was no powerful demonic beast.

But transporting it from the Northern Polar Great Brightness Palace required nearly a hundred King Wuling faith tokens.

Light gauze curtains were hung on all four sides of the cloud chariot, serving as veils; each curtain's corners were adorned with spirit pearls from giant Donghai clams, with tassels hanging in the center, and the white gauze itself came from superior spirit silkworms, refined by the magic power of cultivators—luxurious beyond measure, capable of adjusting light transmission, and nearly as resilient as a wall of blue brick.

Such an accumulation of precious items could barely mimic one percent of the capabilities of Brother Qian Chen's flying cloud pouch.

After all, the cloud chariot lacked sufficient essence of water crystal; the blessed clouds summoned could only support the carriage's weight. Without the forbidden seals to activate the clouds for flight, they could only rely on cultivating immortal cranes to pull it. Without the flying cloud pouch unfolding to generate a cloud barrier concealing the form, they could only substitute with white gauze curtains. Without blessed clouds to lift it, the sensation of resilience and softness could only be replicated with the fur of exotic beasts from beyond the seas.

The result was this extravagantly lavish, yet painfully slow flying vehicle—taking half a day to travel from King Wuling Fang back to Guanglingcheng—with not the slightest defensive capability.

Though Master Miaokong appeared crude and his display modest, the items he left Brother Qian Chen were all top-tier treasures—things these minor aristocratic families could never hope to obtain in a lifetime.

No wonder, even now, whenever Brother Qian Chen thought of Master Miaokong, he still felt deep nostalgia.

He gave gifts, he gave elixirs, he gave opportunities—even Brother Qian Chen's current body was his gift, and finally, he even gave away the foundation of Brother Qian Chen's primordial spirit demon. Truly, he was the greatest good man Brother Qian Chen had ever met!

Yet this cloud chariot, which Brother Qian Chen saw as gilded on the outside but hollow within, was a well-known spectacle in Guanglingcheng; as it slowly flew over the city walls, the low-level cultivators manning the great yellow flying crossbows—installed specifically to shoot down flying vehicles and flying demonic beasts for city defense—immediately bowed their heads in salute.

Most of them were private soldiers belonging to the city's major aristocratic families; without orders from those families, even the governor could not command them.

The cloud chariot halted in the Tao family's training ground. The young master Tao summoned a retainer to announce his arrival to his father and report the matter on his behalf, then returned to his chambers to change clothes before heading to the study. In the study, Tao Kan was reviewing several documents; upon seeing his son enter, he first accepted his formal bow and greeting.

Only then did he ask about what his son had seen during the day.

"I've sent people to investigate. This man only entered the Fang today, but spent lavishly—he nearly emptied the Fang 's stock of spirit herbs, mostly thunder-affiliated. Though certain insects that sprout only when spring thunder rumbles can be used medicinally, their applications are narrow, and none are kept in stock here. I heard King Wuling Fang has already requested shipments from the immortal sects!"

"He arrived riding clouds, pure and uncorrupted in color, with high-level forbidden seals. His expenditures included astonishing items like primordial qi elixirs. He is likely a true heir of the Daoist sects… I've already asked several friends to inquire among the aristocratic families of the Shenyiao Sect. The Shenyiao Sect has strong master-disciple lineages, with most of their roots in the overseas lands, so I must still rely on intermediaries."

Tao Kan nodded slightly and said calmly, "You've done well."

He then handed over a painting. The young master Tao took it and recognized at once—it was a portrait of Brother Qian Chen. Though slightly stylized, the spirit and essence were unmistakable; in the painting, Brother Qian Chen's sword-like eyebrows were slightly raised, radiating a fierce, lethal intent that seemed to spill from the scroll, making the thin paper feel impossible to hold.

The Brother Qian Chen in the painting, though sharing the same spirit as the mild, reserved man of today, carried a vastly different aura. Though no sword was drawn, a piercing sword intent filled the air, sending chills through the viewer.

The young master Tao, though no weak cultivator, found it easy enough to resist this killing intent—but still exclaimed, "That is indeed him. Why does Father have his portrait?"

"It was sent from Jiuzhen Commandery several months ago. Such a murderous star appears only once every few decades—how could our families possibly ignore him?"

Tao Kan said coolly, "This man killed the entire Pei family of Jin Chuan Sect a year ago. Though the Pei family's strongest cultivator was only mid-level Golden Core, they called themselves a clan, but had barely crossed the threshold into aristocracy—merely a sect-affiliated cultivation family, not even a county-level clan. Yet Jin Chuan Sect had some depth; still, he shattered them. Had he not been from an aristocratic lineage, he would have been a candidate for one of the Twenty-Eight Characters of the Central Lands."

"This man is so lawless?" the young master Tao exclaimed. "I was planning to invite him to explore the Magnetic Earth Cavity realm."

"I thought perhaps he was a true heir of Shenyiao Sect—I wanted to befriend him with news of the realm…"

"Inviting him to the Magnetic Earth Cavity is no problem," Tao Kan said calmly. "He is likely also a true Daoist heir…" He then handed over several sheets of paper detailing Brother Qian Chen's activities during his temporary stay in Wu Kang County: slaying two heretics of the Meishan Cult, saving a family of foxes, and even after successfully refining an elixir, his abandoned mansion transformed into a zhi herb chamber, benefiting the Wu Kang Dao Academy.

The Wu Kang Dao Academy treasured that zhi herb chamber as if it were their own eyes; over these past months, it had already produced spirit zhi, which they exchanged with various Guangling aristocratic families.

As the leading clan of Guangling Commandery, what could possibly be hidden from them?

Even the city's city god was an ancestor of the Tao family—far closer than the city god of the Wei family; the young master Tao must bow respectfully and address him as Great Uncle Ancestor.

Though Brother Qian Chen's actions were secretive, they could not escape the city god's gaze; thus, the Tao family's knowledge of these matters was natural.

"His appearance coincided precisely with the descent of the Daoist sect's true heirs. A rogue dared to provoke the Tiger's Whiskers of the Supreme Dao—thus all Three Pure Ones' true heirs stirred. Several Daoist true heirs appeared in Guangling. His elixir-refining skill is peerless; he must be from the Supreme Dao. His journey to Jiuzhen Commandery was surely to befriend the Cui family's son. He sought maps to enter the Jiuzhen Great Marsh and inquired of Bai Lu Sect cultivators about several deadly energies—this drew the unworthy heir of the Jin Chuan Pei family to try and steal the deadly energy… truly ignorant of death."

Everything Brother Qian Chen had done appeared as clear as the lines on his palm—demonstrating the depth and wisdom of the aristocratic families.

Tao Kan turned and asked, "What have you deduced?"

"He came seeking to condense deadly energies and refine Gang qi to achieve upper-level Golden Core!" The young master Tao, remembering his encounter with this ruthless man and how close he had come to conflict, was genuinely terrified.

Such a man, capable of exterminating entire clans—even with the protective seals of King Wuling Immortal Fang —

The young master Tao felt that if this man turned hostile, even the Fang 's defenses could not protect his life.

"What are you afraid of?" Tao Kan's voice held a trace of anger. "Because he wiped out the Pei family, you're afraid? Why isn't Wang Longxiang afraid? Why isn't the Wang family afraid?"

"How can we compare to the Wang family? This man still needs to condense deadly energies and refine Gang qi to achieve upper-level Golden Core, but Wang Longxiang has already reached upper-level Golden Core and commands a city with his sword! And how many true heirs of the Daoist sects are in the Wang family? How many in ours?" the young master Tao protested. "If he kills me with one sword, Father, can you avenge me? At best, we'd be forced to bow and beg for mercy before he comes to our door!"

Tao Kan rolled up the scroll in his hand and struck it against his son's head. "My ancestor, Tao Yuanming, was a Primordial Spirit True Immortal who ascended to Heaven. The Tao family has maintained generations of friendship with the Daoist sects of Yuan Shui, Taihe, Taochuan Palace, and Zhenyuan Abbey. Taihe Sect still has a Tao lineage today, with countless Golden Core cultivators. Your elder brother has entered the inner sect of the Dao Academy and will soon have the opportunity to enter the Zhengyi Dragon-Tiger Altar and join the Three Mountains. Your sister studies under Chaotian Abbey and already shows potential for Golden Core."

"If you are killed without cause—even if the killer is a Daoist true heir—do you think I cannot seek justice for you?"

"The Pei family provoked him themselves. Because of the Daoist sects' arrogance, no one dares to question it. Otherwise, wouldn't his in-law clans have begged the Wang and Xiao Xie families to demand retribution? As long as you don't make a mistake, I can protect you!" Tao Kan roared.

The young master Tao shrank back, then suddenly cried out, "I remember now—he's the man Master Wang Yan called 'Strong and Overbearing.' Princess Princess Qingcheng even rebuked the Wang family over this!"

"Princess Princess Qingcheng possesses primordial qi elixirs too!" Tao Kan nodded slightly. "She must have some connection to his sect, which is why she defended him."

"Too bad he crossed Wang Longxiang… that man is utterly lawless and arrogant," the young master Tao said with malicious glee.

"How many disciples of the Daoist inner sect has he overturned? Why would he fear a Supreme Dao true heir?"

"Do you know that after Princess Princess Qingcheng was wronged, Wang Yan returned home vomiting blood? On his way back from court, a cultivator from Jùqū Mountain directly handed him a jade seal. Wang Yan forced himself to accept it—and collapsed into a pool of blood upon reaching home."

"Master Wang Yan is nearly ready to attain Daoist Yangshen! How could he not even withstand a single seal? Jùqū Mountain!" The young master Tao's face paled.

"That Tao Tianshi has already restrained himself. Had he acted as he did in his youth… hah! Wang Yan was forced to stand firm to defend his nephew! Wang Longxiang has caught the eye of Sun Tian Shi of Gezao Mountain. The Tao, Sun, and Zhang Tian Shi have been at odds for years… Sun Tian Shi is close to the Wang family; Zhang Tian Shi is the foremost of all cultivation clans. Only Tao Tianshi, born of humble origins, achieved Primordial Spirit—astonishing many. And inexplicably, he has wide-ranging friendships, even among true immortals in the overseas lands and Northern Wei."

"Though lacking ancestral support, his influence rivals that of Zhang Tian Shi and Sun Tian Shi."

"He is now the de facto head of the Zhengyi Sect's master-disciple lineage…"

"The Supreme Dao has always relied on master-disciple transmission; it's natural that Tao Tianshi has several close friends among them. Thus, this man's origins are clear: a true heir of the Supreme Dao, an unparalleled elixir-refiner, likely protected by Tao Tianshi, and allied with Princess Princess Qingcheng. He is unfriendly toward the Wang, Xiao Xie, and imperial families—and not aligned with our clans at all."

"We may cultivate ties, but need not grow close."

Tao Kan pondered briefly. "After acquiring the deadly energy and Gang qi, he vanished for half a year—has he formed his Golden Core? Given such a short time, it's unlikely. Taiyin True Deadly Energy… what kind of core could he possibly form?"

"If this realm within the Earth Cavity had not been jointly discovered by the Xin family and us, it would have been sealed off in secrecy. But now we must retrieve its cultivated spirit items as soon as possible, lest the Xin family benefit. This man has clean origins and some skill—he can serve as an ally. But we must make clear: he may take all other spirit items, but if he obtains the core treasure of the realm, he must surrender it. We will compensate him accordingly."

"We must also engineer some friction between him and the Xin family."

Tao Kan turned to his son. "The two demons the Xin family seeks to subdue are foolish and greedy. Go find someone to tell them: today, a wealthy guest of extraordinary means purchased vast quantities of goods from the Fang. Lure them to the Daoist Brother Qian's location…"

"We must rely on our own cultivated personnel—we can't trust outsiders, let alone wild, untamable demons."

"The Xin family has taken the wrong path—we must steer them back."