Chapter 315: There Will Always Be Successors

The newcomer wore a robe of cyan, a jade seal hanging at his waist, his brows and eyes sharp and profound, his gaze clear and gentle.

His bearing was outstanding, resembling fine pearls and jade, yet as pure as a divine lord.

"Old Lord honors me too much."

Master Junyao spoke:

"Mr. Mei has reached a critical stage in his cultivation progress and cannot spare himself; this junior merely acted on convenience and deserves no praise."

After Master Junyao entered the hall and was granted a seat,

Tai Su Zhangren did not rush to examine the item presented by Mei Gongxing Mei, but instead lifted his eyelids.

He glanced briefly at Master Junyao, nodded slightly, and said:

"It seems that old fellow Mei Gongxing Mei still has some tricks; since you cultivated the 'Bai Shui Great Demon Spirit Curse Secret Spell,' the erosion of your lifespan was inherently difficult to halt, yet he managed to slow it down somewhat, proving he truly expended great effort."

Having spoken, Tai Su Zhangren turned to the woman seated nearby, pointed toward a certain direction with a faint smile, and said nothing more.

This woman had followed Tai Su Zhangren for many years, raised by him since childhood, their minds long attuned to one another, far beyond ordinary people.

Seeing that the direction Tai Su Zhangren pointed was toward the Imperial Garden, and hearing his mention of the 'Bai Shui Great Demon Spirit Curse Secret Spell' and the matter of Master Junyao's lifespan,

and knowing that now, within the Imperial Garden, another ginseng fruit had fully ripened on the tree,

with such intent,

he must be hinting for her to go to the Imperial Garden, pluck a ginseng fruit, and present it to Master Junyao afterward...

While understanding his meaning, she could not help but feel a touch of emotion.

Ever since Master Junyao arrived at this Daoist sanctuary from Xudu Xudu Tianyu, and after being summoned several times out of curiosity by Tai Su Zhangren,

her teacher's attitude toward this Daoist Son of Yu Yu Yuchen had gradually grown much kinder.

He frequently praised Master Junyao's brilliance before her, sparing no words of admiration.

And now, today, he was even willing to casually gift away something as precious as a ginseng fruit!

Such generous treatment

was indeed rarely seen...

"Then this disciple shall go."

The woman rose and bowed respectfully to Tai Su Zhangren upon the jade couch.

"Go then; I hear Tianmenzi has recently advanced further in the Immortal Dao and is brimming with pride, sending out invitations widely, wishing everyone to attend his celebration. My good disciple, pick an extra one along the way and attend the banquet on my behalf; this old man is too lazy to join such festivities.

Otherwise, meeting those few treacherous officials of the Dao Court there would inevitably lead to fighting, which would be awkward and ruin Tianmenzi's good occasion."

Tai Su Zhangren nodded, smiling:

"Later, you shall see Master Junyao off."

"This disciple understands."

The woman, comprehending fully, performed a Daoist salute and walked out the door.

Her figure was instantly swallowed by the inverted void outside the gate, disappearing from sight.

"Come, bring me that old fellow Mei's item to see; this old man is curious what new trick he has concocted!"

After the woman departed,

Tai Su Zhangren beckoned to Master Junyao and laughed loudly.

Master Junyao performed a Daoist salute and handed over a jade tray.

Tai Su Zhangren reached out, lifted away the colored silk, and saw upon the tray an object: precisely a simple, unadorned small white seal.

The surface of the small seal was uneven and extremely rough, marked with several deep and shallow short cracks, its appearance truly unsightly.

"When Mei Gongxing Mei entrusted you to deliver this item, did he say anything?"

Tai Su Zhangren asked.

"Mr. Mei only said, 'Does the Old Lord remember the matters plotted years ago with Crown Prince Changming at the Candle Night Palace?'"

Master Junyao replied.

Hearing this, Tai Su Zhangren's eyes flickered; without another word, he suddenly crushed the small seal in his palm, then tightly clenched the fragments and sank into deep thought.

Watching this scene, Master Junyao felt a slight puzzlement in his heart but remained outwardly calm, his expression unchanged.

He knew that Tai Su Zhangren and Mei Gongxing Mei were true loyalists of the Dao Court.

Over these years, these two had traveled everywhere striving to revive the Dao Court, which was no longer any secret.

Though the Ji clan's Dao Court now occupied only this corner of Zhengxu Heaven, its imperial dignity entirely lost, its commands unable to reach beyond Xudu Xudu Tianyu, devoid of any dignity whatsoever,

and though in the eyes of some great Immortal Dao leaders it had long become a joke, retaining merely the name of Dao Court,

Yet, if not for the efforts and deterrence provided by old ministers like Tai Su Zhangren, the Ji clan's Dao Court would likely not even possess this corner of Zhengxu Heaven, its last foundations having long been uprooted by those with ulterior motives.

Every single descendant of the Ji bloodline would have been utterly exterminated!

Given Master Junyao's status, when he consulted the sect's secret archives, he naturally learned of the various major deeds Tai Su Zhangren and Mei Gongxing Mei had accomplished to revive the Dao Court.

Even with his profound cultivation in calming his qi, upon reading those words in the Juan Sect records, he could not help but feel astonished.

He felt these two were truly fearless of any taboo, indeed audacious and reckless!

As for the mystery hidden within this small seal delivered now by Mei Gongxing Mei...

Master Junyao fell silently into thought.

But before he could ponder further, Tai Su Zhangren let out a long sigh.

The fragments in his palm moved like living creatures, hopping about, then suddenly leapt into his sleeve and vanished without trace.

"If this matter succeeds, the Dao Court may not greatly flourish, but at least its prestige can be somewhat restored, forcing back some of the petty villains..."

Tai Su Zhangren mused silently, then turned to look at Master Junyao, rose, and gestured toward the inner chamber, smiling:

"You have waited long; since we have nothing else to do, why not accompany this old man in a game of Go, what do you say?"

"I shall certainly obey."

Master Junyao cupped his hands and replied.

……

The window opened to a gentle breeze; the curtain rolled up to reveal a misty haze.

After half an hour had passed.

Gazing at the black and white stones crisscrossing on the chessboard, like two armies arrayed for battle and slaughter.

Tai Su Zhangren picked up a black stone, fixed his gaze on Master Junyao for a moment, then suddenly sighed with emotion:

"When it comes to teaching the Dao, I am far inferior to Zhi Jie Xian Fuchan Laozu; if you were my disciple, the face you lost at Zhi Jie Xian Fuchan Laozu's place could perhaps be somewhat regained, but alas..."

Before he could finish speaking, and without waiting for Master Junyao to open his mouth.

Tai Su Zhangren spoke again:

"However, regarding future matters, what are your thoughts?"

"Future matters?"

"You are Yu Yu Yuchen's Dao Son; after Pei Pei Shuyang abdicates, you will succeed to Yu Yu Yuchen's lineage, and Fangxuan Sect should also be governed by you!

Do you truly have no ambitions in your heart?"

Master Junyao understood the underlying meaning of Tai Su Zhangren's words; he merely smiled faintly, showing no trace of agitation.

"Elder, allow me to report: ever since arriving here, I have no longer counted myself as one of Yu Yu Yuchen; and as for Yu Yu Yuchen's lineage—"

At this moment, Master Junyao recalled a message from the Dragon Palace delivered a few days prior by Master Master Tongxuan.

He lowered his eyes, an unconscious smile touching his lips, and spoke in a clear voice:

"I believe that after Master Junyao, there will naturally be successors who will rise above him and undertake this duty!"

Hearing this, Tai Su Zhangren looked deeply at him for a moment and said noncommittally:

"If that is so, this old man shall wait and see..."

……

……

At the same time.

Xudu Heaven, East Sea.

After a booming roar that shook the vital organs.

Rustling sounds gradually arose in Chen Heng's ears, one after another, growing louder and louder!

Finally, it was as if a thin film had been pierced; inside and out became clear, with no more obstruction!

Xiao Wei Yi spreading his hand, wisps of jade smoke slowly condensed before him into a human figure ten feet tall.

"It is finally accomplished..."

Chen Heng looked at that figure and thought to himself.

(End of Chapter)