Chapter 256: Absolutely True!

"It is absolutely true." Shen Chong put down his chopsticks, his voice lowered to a whisper, "My people saw them with their own eyes entering the Tang Sect Martial School. Furthermore..." He looked around to ensure no one was paying attention before continuing, "It seems the Tang Sect has prepared something important specifically for him."

"Interesting." Xia He took a light sip of tea, a hint of playfulness flashing in her beautiful eyes, "What do you all think, did he go to the Tang Sect for the sake of the Danshi?"

Once this question was raised, the few people present fell silent. As the Tang Sect's secret that is never passed on, the Danshi had always been an object coveted by various sects. If Lin Xuan were truly interested in this, then things would become interesting.

"Very likely." Gong Qing put down his chopsticks, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "Think about it, the Pill he refined recently could stir up celestial phenomena; how similar is such a method to the Danshi? Moreover, given his personality, he would certainly be interested in such an ancient secret technique."

"If that is truly the case..." Shen Chong frowned deeply, "Then things are troublesome. The Danshi is the foundation of the Tang Sect; if someone were to penetrate its mysteries..."

"That is why we must go and see." Gong Qing stood up and brushed off his clothes, "Pack up and prepare to depart. We cannot miss this excitement. Perhaps we can even take the opportunity to reap some benefits."

Watching the backs of the three as they walked away, the stall owner was still puzzled as to why these three guests with such extraordinary bearing had left just like that, departing without even paying.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall of the Tang Sect, the atmosphere had become increasingly subtle. Tang Miaoxing was enthusiastically introducing the history and heritage of the Tang Sect to Lin Xuan, but Lin Xuan's reaction was unusually indifferent, as if he were not interested in these things at all. This attitude made Tang Miaoxing feel increasingly uneasy.

"Daozhang Lin," he finally could not hold back and personally opened an antique brocade box, "This is the treasure of our Tang Sect—the Nine Dragons Awakening the World Map. We invited you here this time specifically to ask for your guidance on some of its mysteries."

The moment the brocade box was opened, an ancient aura rushed toward them. Lin Xuan glanced at the scroll, a faint, ambiguous smile appearing at the corners of his mouth: "Oh? Is that so?"

The simple two words made Tang Miaoxing's heart tighten. He suddenly had an ominous premonition that this performance he had meticulously prepared might be heading in a completely unexpected direction.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai exchanged a glance, both seeing amusement in the other's eyes. They knew their benefactor too well; this expression often meant that a good show was about to begin.

Inside the Tang Sect main hall, sandalwood incense curled. The antique rosewood furniture glowed with a faint luster under the candlelight, and the calligraphy and paintings on the walls revealed the vicissitudes of time. Tang Miaoxing's hands trembled slightly as he took the Nine Dragons Awakening the World Map from the brocade box, his expression exceptionally solemn.

"Daozhang Lin," his voice carried a hint of anticipation, "There are actually two copies of this Nine Dragons Awakening the World Map. One has already been delivered to you, and this is the second. Although this map has been passed down for a thousand years, I have always felt that there are still many mysteries that have not been penetrated. Today, I would like to ask you to take a look and see if there might be any new discoveries."

Lin Xuan took the scroll, his fingertips sliding lightly over the profound patterns. Everyone present held their breath, and even Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai could not help but move a little closer, wanting to see what unusual things their benefactor could discover.

"Interesting." Lin Xuan spoke suddenly, his voice calm, "This Nine Dragons Map is indeed extraordinary; the composition alone contains the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. Have you ever noticed that the arrangement of these nine dragons is actually performing a complete circulation of the Dao of Alchemy?"

Tang Miaoxing's eyes lit up, and he almost jumped up to lean in closer: "I humbly request that Daozhang Lin provide detailed instruction!"

"Look at this first dragon," Lin Xuan pointed to the details in the map, his voice still flat, yet every word seemed to carry a certain mysterious rhythm, "It spirals upward, and the direction of its tail aligns perfectly with the Tianmen, symbolizing the rising of the Qi. And the second dragon dives downward, the arc of its whiskers exquisitely outlining the direction of the earth's veins, representing the condensation of essence and energy."

"This..." Tang Miaoxing's breathing became rapid, "I have studied this for so many years, yet I have never noticed these details!"

"That is not all." Lin Xuan continued, "This curve between the two dragons, while appearing casual, is actually exquisite. Its path forms a perfect cycle, secretly matching the phenomenon of 'heaven and earth in communion.' And look closely at the claws of these nine dragons; the posture of each dragon claw is different, which is hinting at different alchemy techniques."

Speaking to this point, Lin Xuan's finger tapped the left front claw of the third dragon: "For example, the angle of the five fingers spread on this dragon claw perfectly matches the key steps of the 'Nine Turns Returning Yang.' If understood in this way, the entire map is a complete secret manual of the Dao of Alchemy."

"Heavens!" Tang Miaoxing's voice was trembling with excitement, "No wonder we were never able to penetrate its mysteries. It turns out the true key was hidden in these seemingly ordinary details!"

Wang Ye and Zhuge Qing watched from the side, dumbfounded. They were both elites of the Outsider world, but at this moment, they had to admit that they were like small children in front of Lin Xuan. Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai exchanged a proud glance; in their view, these so-called profound principles were nothing more than basic common sense to their benefactor.

"Daozhang Lin!" Tang Miaoxing suddenly knelt on the ground, his voice sincere, "These insights are truly enlightening. Although my Tang Sect has been passed down for a thousand years, our attainments in the Dao of Alchemy are likely not even one ten-thousandth of Daozhang Lin's. To receive guidance from Daozhang Lin today is truly the fortune of the Tang Sect! I beg Daozhang Lin not to withhold your teaching and to instruct us a little more!"

Seeing the dignified Sect Leader of the Tang Sect in such a posture, everyone present was stunned. Even Wang Zhenqiu, who usually loved watching the excitement most, did not dare to make a sound at this moment.

Lin Xuan smiled faintly: "Let us stop here. The path of cultivation values self-realization. Saying too much will instead affect your own comprehension."

Although Tang Miaoxing was somewhat disappointed, he did not dare to force it. He composed his mood and suddenly thought of something: "Since that is the case, I wonder if Daozhang Lin would be willing to go and see our Tang Sect's Danshi Training Ground? There are many disciples there currently exploring the mysteries of the Dao of Alchemy; if they could receive guidance from Daozhang Lin..."

After receiving Lin Xuan's nod of approval, Tang Miaoxing personally led the way, guiding the group through a secret underground passage. The sides of the passage were lit with eternal lamps, and some ancient Runes were carved into the bluestone bricks. The air was filled with a special medicinal fragrance, as if the scent of pills from years of accumulation had seeped into the stones.

"This secret passage was excavated by the founder of our Tang Sect himself," Tang Miaoxing explained as he walked, "The purpose was to provide a quiet cultivation environment for the disciples. These Runes were also carved by the founder himself; it is said that they can gather the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth, which is helpful for practicing the Danshi."