[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-95":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2289393,4477,"Chapter 95: The Sweeping Old Daoist (Bonus Chapter 7)","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-95",95,"\u003Cp>Standing before the Hall of Ten Thousand Forms, Xiang Weiyuan unconsciously rubbed his eyes—his memory of the Hall had never been so grand; what had happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me, junior brother, step aside.” A voice came from behind Xiang Weiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan turned and saw a True Person arriving with seven boys and girls behind him. All seven were at the peak of Body Forging, their actual ages around ten. Xiang Weiyuan recognized this scene well—he himself had once been brought here by Zhang Sheng to view the foundational Dao paths of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The True Person noticed Xiang Weiyuan and his expression changed slightly, but he said nothing, only offered a smile before leading his disciples into the Hall of Ten Thousand Forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan followed them inside. The moment he entered, he was stunned by the floating continent bearing the starry river—was this his own Dao foundation? For a moment, Xiang Weiyuan felt disoriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He calmed his mind and looked again at the starry river. Without Zhang Sheng to guide him, he could now see only the Earth and Human-grade Dao foundations; at the heart of the river, only brilliant stars glimmered, their specific forms indiscernible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan’s gaze fell upon the floating continent again and found it blank—no description, no rank, no evaluation. He could sense it was a Dao foundation, yet easy to overlook unless one paid close attention. He did not yet know that the Immortal Lord had issued a silence order: details of Xiang Weiyuan’s Dao foundation were to be known only up to the level of True Person; below that, no one could reveal them unless they had directly interacted with Xiang Weiyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the vast Hall of Ten Thousand Forms, a few human figures appeared tiny as ants. The True Person was patiently pointing out and explaining various Dao foundations to his disciples, gentle and kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With youthful curiosity, the children naturally focused more on the Immortal-grade foundations. Amid their chatter, a little girl asked: “Grandmaster, which Immortal Dao foundation is the strongest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the question they truly cared about. The boys and girls all turned expectantly, waiting for the True Person’s answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The True Person stroked his beard and said: “Dao foundations shift in countless forms, each with its own strengths—none can be called the absolute strongest. But if you seek the one-of-a-kind, right before you stands one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the True Person pointed to the continent bearing the starry river. The youths were stunned—was this also a Dao foundation? Who could forge such a thing? Could even the spiritual sea contain it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, the True Person led his dazed disciples away. Xiang Weiyuan was about to leave when he noticed an old Daoist in the hall, gentle-faced, holding a broom, sweeping the floor. The old Daoist emitted no trace of spiritual energy, so Xiang Weiyuan had unconsciously ignored him until now, only noticing him after the True Person departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Hall of Ten Thousand Forms was illusory and real—where was the dust? What was the old man sweeping? Still, the Tai Chu Palace harbored hidden dragons and tigers; many ancient ancestors concealed their identities and wandered among mortals. Xiang Weiyuan silently speculated: could this elder be sweeping the hearts of men?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan hesitated, wondering whether to approach and pay respects, perhaps gain insight from this hidden elder, when two more entered the hall. This time, a Yunshen-grade Daoist arrived with two girls at the peak of Body Forging—likely master and disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering, the Yunshen Daoist stared at the floating continent in surprise, then began explaining the Heavenly and Immortal-grade Dao foundations to his pupils. He listed several Immortal Swords, and the two girls asked the same question: which Dao foundation was the strongest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yunshen Daoist pondered: “The Immortal Sword Beiming is profound and endless; the Immortal Sword Taiyang is majestic and radiant; the Immortal Sword Lishang brings heaven and earth to grief. Each has its strengths—it’s hard to say which is superior. It depends on who wields it and under what circumstances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a voice sounded from behind them: “No Dao foundation is the strongest. But if you seek the one-of-a-kind, isn’t one right before your eyes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yunshen Daoist turned in shock and saw the old sweeping Daoist standing behind him, calmly sweeping the dustless floor, having passed right by the three of them without notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yunshen Daoist realized he had encountered a master and immediately bowed respectfully: “Please, Elder, which Dao foundation is the one-of-a-kind? The Seven Marvelous Treasured Tree? Or the Nine-Tier Demon-Sealing Tower?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sweeping old Daoist pointed his broom at the floating continent and said calmly: “Don’t fixate only on Immortal-grade foundations. Beyond them lies another world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yunshen Daoist gasped: “This—this is also a Dao foundation?” “Then how else could the Hall of Ten Thousand Forms have become this way?” The old Daoist walked on leisurely, vanishing in an instant—the Yunshen Daoist could not even see how he moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls were equally stunned, pressing for details—who could possess such a Dao foundation? But the Yunshen Daoist had no answer. Yet his face turned solemn: “All Immortal paths lead to the One. If you two work hard, you too may one day forge such a foundation. If others can, so can you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls instantly burned with passion, their fighting spirit soaring, and followed their master away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan felt something was odd, yet could not say what. But now that he knew roughly where his own Dao foundation stood, there was no need to linger—he should return to cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after Xiang Weiyuan left, Xu Henshui entered the Hall of Ten Thousand Forms. He moved furtively, glancing around before confirming no one was near, then turned to the floating continent. He stared left and right, muttering: “If a orchid grew on it, that would be perfect. But should it grow atop Yushan, or at its foot? Each has its merits—so hard to choose!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he muttered, a soft voice sounded behind him: “Orchids cannot grow there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Henshui nearly jumped out of his skin and turned to see an old Daoist standing three feet behind him, diligently sweeping. The old man swept without sound—he had been standing there how long?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Henshui had carefully checked the hall—there had been no one. Where had this old Daoist come from?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Henshui, as if seeing a ghost, said nothing, covered his face, and fled. The old Daoist’s figure slowly faded, as if he had never appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Ji Liuli, Feng Chutang, Sun Yu, and others arrived one after another, each gazing at the floating continent before hurrying away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A while later, Zhang Sheng, who should have been in seclusion healing, also entered the Hall of Ten Thousand Forms. He looked at the continent bearing the entire starry river, then at the river itself, and suddenly felt profound sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When forging his Body, Zhang Sheng had spontaneously awakened an Immortal Sword, merging it with the two Immortal Swords granted by his Ancestor to form his Dao foundation, making him famous throughout the realm. He would never casually manifest a Dharma Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Zhang Sheng sought far greater things. After forging his Dao foundation, he had resolutely made his body the furnace, beginning to nurture a fourth Immortal Sword. Then he had found an ancient array diagram, painstakingly completing it, and had begun integrating it into his Dharma Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he one day finds a dragon’s breath to activate the diagram, he will be able to deploy it with a thought—four Immortal Swords will guard each corner of the array; anyone who dares enter will be annihilated, gods and immortals alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a Dao foundation and Dharma Form could dominate the very center of the starry river, overshadowing an entire generation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, staring at the continent bearing the starry river, Zhang Sheng felt an overwhelming desolation—as if fallen leaves no longer knew autumn had passed. The starry river’s heart, the place he had yearned for over a decade, suddenly meant nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he mourned inwardly, Zhang Sheng caught sight of an old Daoist holding a broom. The old man was sneaking away, broom held upside down, trying to slip off quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop!” Zhang Sheng barked. The old Daoist flinched, nearly dropping his broom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng’s face was expressionless, cold: “Master, how could such a clumsy illusion fool anyone? How filthy could this place be that you need to disguise yourself to sneak in and sweep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1427,"2026-06-20T03:38:27.933Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f4d2cdbc4b311116d9aa48dc61a07fc67f3aaf3621d9273384d3b8d35c1adae2","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-96","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-94",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]