Chapter 303: The Dao Lord's Shifting Thoughts

Someone?

Li Li Yuanzhong's heart stirred; he followed the sound and looked, seeing only wind blowing and clouds moving. It seemed not far away, yet he saw nothing.

"Senior?" Li Li Yuanzhong tentatively cupped his hands: "Junior Uncle? Senior Uncle? Sect Master?"

The wind blew and clouds moved, but the mountain gave no response.

"Dao Lord?"

Li Li Yuanzhong cupped his hands and called out in a chaotic jumble; seeing no response, he had to give up.

In the mist-wreathed small courtyard, a stone tablet stood beneath a tree. Li Li Yuanzhong waited a while, saw no text appear on the tablet, and simply took up a stance to practice his Zhuang Gong.

From Tiger Form Zhuang to Python Form Zhuang, from Tiger Form Through the Divine to Yuan Python Swallows the Star, from Snake Form Eight Changes, he performed all manner of Zhuang Gong as smoothly as flowing clouds and water.

He did not proceed step by step, but rather interwove and changed at will; these six Zhuang Gong naturally shared common ground. After completing one set, Li Li Yuanzhong's body shifted.

Voom—

The sound of bones and tendons snapping and trembling pierced his body, emitting a humming like a heavy hammer striking iron, as if impurities within were being forcibly squeezed out.

This was Dragon and Snake Nine Changes.

After the six Zhuang Gong reached Great Perfection, he derived this Ultimate Art-level Zhuang Gong from it.

"Dragon and Snake Nine Changes."

Within the clouds and mist, Long Long Xinglie approached with hands clasped behind his back. His expression was calm and waveless, yet his pair of long white eyebrows kept rising and falling incessantly.

"A bit fast."

Long Long Xinglie murmured to himself.

Dragon and Snake Nine Changes is the introductory Zhuang Gong of the Tiger Gate's Divine Art, 'Dragon and Tiger Profound Scripture'. Though introductory, it is nonetheless an Ultimate Art-level Zhuang Gong.

He split it into six, lowering the entry difficulty of this Zhuang Gong; that it could be comprehended so quickly still exceeded his expectations.

Originally, he had prepared to leave this young man three months for examination and teaching; now it seemed...

"This Zhuang Gong, when Long Xinglie used it, took half a year; this young man used only a little over a month from start to finish?"

Within the clouds and mist, Long Long Xinglie walked slowly, pacing. He had already reached the outside of the small courtyard and, from a distance of several meters, was observing Li Li Yuanzhong practicing Zhuang Gong up close.

How excellent was his eyesight?

At a single glance he could see that this young man had not taken shortcuts, but with the most solid attitude had pushed each of these six Zhuang Gong one by one to the Great Perfection level, after which he naturally comprehended Dragon and Snake Nine Changes.

Though just entering the gate now, it already carried a hint of Great Accomplishment.

"With such talent, no wonder Wan Wan Zhuliu's Wu Gong advanced so quickly; perhaps it has nothing to do with the Eight Directions Temple, but simply because his talent is too good?"

Thinking thus, the Dao Lord's mood worsened; he would rather believe Wan Wan Zhuliu had gained fortune in the legendary Eight Directions Temple.

"A difference of several times."

Outside the small courtyard, Long Long Xinglie paced for a long while. Inside the courtyard, Li Li Yuanzhong pushed through the Zhuang Gong several times from start to finish; seeing no text appear on the stone tablet, he simply slowly closed his stance.

"Senior, please reveal yourself!"

Li Li Yuanzhong bowed deeply.

Only then did text appear above the stone tablet: "Six Zhuang Gong, ten ancient books; read through and recite; cultivate to perfection."

Truly concise and to the point.

Amidst surging clouds and mist, Li Li Yuanzhong involuntarily stepped back. Feeling the floating, shifting text before his eyes, he could not help but harbor some inner criticism.

One after another, all so mysterious.

"Again six Zhuang Gong."

Li Li Yuanzhong sat cross-legged, sensing the various Zhuang Gong ancient books appearing in his mind, and pondered: "Three Middle-Grade Zhuang Gong, three Superior-Grade Zhuang Gong; combined, they form yet another Ultimate Art-level Zhuang Gong?"

Li Li Yuanzhong opened his eyes, made a few gestures with his hands, and felt somewhat sighful in his heart.

In Gao Liu County, mastering even one White Ape Cloak Hammer required several twists and turns; now, let alone Lower-Grade, Middle-Grade, and Superior-Grade Wu Gong, he could obtain them at will.

Cannot finish learning, simply cannot finish learning!

"Two Ultimate Art-level Zhuang Gong; I fear they are truly Divine Art-level Zhuang Gong!"

Li Li Yuanzhong felt somewhat excited in his heart. He rose and practiced several rounds, bringing the six Zhuang Gong one by one to entry-level mastery. He discovered there was quite a connection between these six Zhuang Gong and 'Dragon and Snake Nine Changes', making them extremely quick to pick up.

However, he did not become too immersed. After practicing bitterly for a day, he was truly somewhat weary. He lit a spirit incense, took a small Soul-Returning Pill for Preserving the Spirit, and lay down to sleep.

Woo woo~

After Li Li Yuanzhong departed, the mist in the Cloudy Mountains was blown away by the wind, transforming into a cloud dragon complete with scales and armor, majestic and sacred. The cloud dragon coiled outside the mountain ranges; atop the peak, the White Tiger raised its head and roared long to the sky.

Divine weapons possess spirit and choose their masters; moreover, they harbor repulsion toward other divine weapons. Only a very few people can simultaneously wield two or more divine weapons.

If divine weapons are thus, then Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing are naturally even more stringent.

Since records began, those who simultaneously wielded two great Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing were but a handful, and all were related to the Dragon and Tiger Life-Nourishing Furnace.

"Wan Wan Zhuliu is domineering and self-centered; once he has formed an intention, he will not easily give up."

Long Long Xinglie set down his teacup: "Long Xinglie came to see me before entering seclusion. He fought Yan Yan Chunyang seven times in succession, all ending in draws; he has no certain guarantee of victory."

"Since Wan Wan Zhuliu sent him, he must have some reliance."

Nie Xianshan frowned slightly, his eyes growing cold: "Kill him?"

"Kill him?"

Long Long Xinglie shook his head: "Do not always think of fighting and killing. Killing him is easy; how to handle the aftermath?"

"Then what do you suggest?"

Nie Xianshan poured a cup of tea and snorted lightly: "You are the Dao Lord; you decide."

"I plan to open the Dragon and Tiger Tower."

"Open the Dragon and Tiger Tower?" Nie Xianshan frowned deeply: "Why?"

The Martial Arts of the Various Dao is a grand gathering where the Various Dao Sects exchange Wu Gong. The five Great Dao Sects host it in rotation; the location and method are not fixed. In past years, a few Dao Sects did indeed activate their Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing.

Several hundred years ago, the Dragon and Tiger Tower was once opened; opening it again would cause no harm.

The problem is, they had not planned this beforehand.

"What I mean is, before the Martial Arts of the Various Dao officially begin, we should first filter out the imperial court people."

Long Long Yingchan narrowed his eyes slightly, his two Bai Mei eyebrows flickering.

"How to filter?" Nie Xianshan was slightly stunned: "Yan Yan Chunyang's Wu Gong is no less than Long Long Xinglie's; what method can filter him out? Is the surname Yan not allowed to enter?"

"Or do you intend to act personally?"

"I certainly will not act."

Long Long Yingchan glared at him; this old scoundrel had no proper form: "Let Junior Brother Long Long Xi Xiang guard the tower."

"Long Xi Xiang?"

Nie Xianshan's heart stirred, already guessing his meaning; his eyes instantly lit up: "Wan Wan Zhuliu's blade intent?"

"Correct."

Long Long Yingchan held his teacup, his long eyebrows hanging down: "Using his master to drive away his disciple; no matter what schemes he plots, we only need to exclude the imperial court people from the Martial Arts of the Various Dao, and naturally there will be no issue."

Speaking, he paused slightly: "If that Yan Yan Chunyang truly is an unparalleled genius, able to pull out the blade intent left by his master, then that junior brother is exactly the one who breaks to establish; relying on that single 'Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Life Pill', he can instantly become a Grand Master!"

"Good, good!" Nie Xianshan slapped the table and rose, clapping his hands in praise.

However, he was somewhat worried: "However, this concerns the Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing; if that Wan Wan Zhuliu does not follow the rules."

"Does not follow the rules?" Long Long Yingchan lightly blew on the scalding tea water, his gaze dim: "Would that not be perfect?"

"Hm?"

Nie Xianshan's eyelids twitched slightly, then quickly calmed: "This matter still requires careful calculation."

Long Long Yingchan nodded; after watching Nie Xianshan depart, he paced a few steps in the courtyard, pondering carefully, and felt there was no problem.

"Wan Wan Zhuliu."

His gaze was dim; just as he was about to return to his room, footsteps came from outside the courtyard again: "Master, Lin Jia requests an audience."

"Lin Jia?" Long Long Yingchan raised his eyebrows: "Let him enter."

The footsteps outside the courtyard faded; not long after, Lin Jia came quickly, bowed deeply with his whole body, his expression respectful: "Disciple Lin Jia, pays respects to the Dao Master."

Inside the room, Long Long Yingchan held his teacup and nodded slightly: "Junior Nephew Lin need not be so polite."

Dao Master, this disciple has come regarding the death of Junior Brother Chu Shan Xuan Kong.

Lin Jia weighed his tone: "The assassin who stabbed Junior Brother Chu has not yet been found; this disciple wishes to beg the Dao Master to act, using the Nourishing Life Furnace to catch this person and avenge Junior Brother Chu!"

"Hm."

Long Long Yingchan put down his teacup and shook his head slightly: "More than a month ago, I already activated the Nourishing Life Furnace, but alas, that heavy rain washed away all traces of qi."

"Even the Nourishing Life Furnace could not record that thief's qi?" Lin Jia looked up in shock and suspicion.

"Although the Nourishing Life Furnace covers the inner mountain ranges, it is not on constant alert; that heavy rain ruined the matter."

Long Long Yingchan flicked his long eyebrows: "Junior Nephew Lin, rest assured; this Dao Master has a plan in mind. However, besides this matter, there is another thing for you to handle."

Lin Jia immediately bowed to listen to the order.

"Before and after Chu Shan Xuan Kong was assassinated, he had contact with outsiders; according to what Fang Chao confessed, those were people from the Xieshen Sect." Lin Jia suddenly raised his head, saw the Dao Master's gaze dark and deep as the sea, and immediately lowered his head.

"This matter is entrusted to you for investigation." "This disciple accepts the order."

Lin Jia bowed and exited the courtyard; wiping his hand, his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Outside the courtyard, a black-wood-silent youth watched him leave, then entered the courtyard and bowed: "Master."

"Yun Feng ah."

Long Long Yingchan ordered: "You go to the Dragon-Tiger Tower; instruct your Junior Uncle Brother Helian to select a site in the mountains as soon as possible; preferably around the second or third month, temporarily move the Dragon-Tiger Tower out of the Nourishing Life Mi Jing."

"Move the Dragon-Tiger Tower?"

Long Yunfeng suddenly raised his head, eyes wide with shock.

Inside the room, Li Yuan sat cross-legged in silent meditation; within the space of the Weapon, the Lingyin Talisman emitted a dim glow; words and voice appeared together: "The Divine Thief Brother Brother Sikong Xing stole the 'Yun Xiang Ding' storing incense offerings kept by the Dao Office; it is currently hidden in the southeast city district, waiting for an opportunity to leave the city."