Chapter 2, Mediation of Creation, Meteoric Star Sanctuary
Xu Zhuang merely smiled and remained silent. Indeed, the sword technique he had just employed was the practice of the "Tai Su You Wu Xing Zhi Jian Qi," but in reality, he was not solely practicing this authentic sword technique, or rather, it was not just this technique. However, the matters involved are not sufficient to be disclosed to outsiders
The sudden duel ended abruptly without any resolution. Xu Zhuang pondered for a moment but still had no intention of abandoning Tai Su Yun Zhou and his responsibilities to pursue the enemy. He merely frowned slightly, uncertain of the reasons behind this unexpected foe.
The path of seeking the Dao is indeed long and arduous. If one cannot achieve the primordial spirit and attain longevity, then even the spirited ambition of refining a high-grade golden elixir today may be easily forgotten by others
I seek my path, yet I absolutely refuse to be this way
Before them floated a colossal meteorite, vast and boundless like a continent, adorned with spiritual peaks, dotted with hidden abodes, and interspersed with clear springs and flowing streams.
Immediately, he took eight disciples and went to the Hall of Strength to bring the ceremonial guards, and then set off.
"Master Uncle, I did not expect that you have mastered the unparalleled sword technique of Sword Qi Thunder Sound. I wonder if that last strike was the ultimate realm of material exhaustion?" Li Changfeng asked excitedly from the side, while another disciple added, "It is the first time I have seen Master Uncle make a move; was that just now the 'Formless Material Sword Qi' from our sect?"
Xu Zhuang raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "I am Xu Zhuang of Tai Su, what guidance do you have for me?"
Three days ago, Xu Zhuang received the decree of the Master of the Sect, representing the Tai Su Zheng Zong as a true disciple to attend the Golden Elixir Grand Ceremony of the Tai Xuan Sect. As a representative of a sect, it is impossible to go alone; there must be disciples accompanying him, as well as Daoist soldiers and attendants.
Such extraordinary abilities are simply unimaginable
Dongshengzhou is vast and expansive to the north, bordered by the mountains to the west and facing the boundless sea to the east
"Master Xu," Li Changfeng turned around and saw that Xu Zhuang had appeared behind him at some point, his face showing a look of embarrassment. He had made some progress in practicing swordsmanship, but in his intense concentration, he was startled by a sudden image and lost control of his flying sword. If it had not been for Master Xu's willingness to intervene, the flying sword would likely have flown out of the cloud barrier and who knows where it would have gone.
Xu Zhuang gently nodded, and with a glance, he could tell that these eight individuals indeed possessed commendable skills and conduct. They were likely not mere offspring of noble families, but rather distinguished figures within the inner circle. Suddenly, Xu Zhuang noticed one person who was lowering his head, seemingly trying to retreat into the crowd, which left him momentarily speechless
Tasks like this are sought after by many inner disciples, and it is only natural that various means are employed behind the scenes
Such miraculous creations are simply a manipulation of nature; Xu Zhuang could even feel that this meteorite dojo seems to contain boundless power. This meteorite dojo itself is an immensely large treasure!
At this moment, several disciples who had gathered around, ready to listen to Xu Zhuang's guidance, were still unaware of what had happened. They followed Xu Zhuang's gaze in confusion and suddenly caught sight of a blazing light in the distance. A line of fire was rapidly approaching from the horizon, and in the blink of an eye, it had closed in on the cloud boat.
After several days of sailing, Tai Su and his companions encountered many unfamiliar cultivators. However, these were merely ordinary loose cultivators, who, despite their limited experience, dared not provoke such a magnificent and colossal magical vessel as the Cloud Boat. If they were perceptive enough, they would certainly recognize the name of the Tai Su Cloud Boat. Therefore, when they saw the blazing escape light, they did not think much of it at first. It was only when the escape light charged directly towards the Cloud Boat that they realized something was amiss and immediately took up a serious defensive posture.
The disciple understands and thanks the master for his guidance Li Changfeng nodded and could not help but secretly yearn for it
"Hehe... Tai Su Zong, what a grand display!" The person in the blazing light chuckled, and suddenly the flames erupted violently, intertwining into a massive hand that obscured the sky and the sun, reaching out as if to grasp the cloud boat in its grasp
Hmm. Xu Zhuang nodded and asked, "Do you like swordsmanship?"
This day marks the fourth day since the departure of the Tai Su Cloud Boat. After traversing several teleportation arrays, it is now the final leg of the journey towards the Fallen Star Dojo and the library. The cloud boat soars through the blue sky, surrounded by billowing white clouds that are shaped by the wind. Looking down, mountains, forests, and rivers emerge from the mist, revealing a magnificent and grand landscape, a sight that some disciples, who are leaving the Yunmeng Great Marsh and the Tai Su Cave Heaven for the first time, have never witnessed before
Xu Zhuang no longer spoke in circles; with a flick of his sleeve, a small boat spun and soared into the air, transforming into a massive ship, measuring over one hundred zhang in length and width. On it were pavilions and towers, the hull shrouded in clouds and mist. This was the authentic Tai Su, specifically designed for ceremonial outings, a magical vessel crafted from the small heavenly cloud prohibitions, capable of carrying hundreds or even thousands of cultivators with ease
The strength of the Daoist soldiers and warriors goes without saying, as the sect will make proper arrangements. However, the disciples accompanying them can be chosen by Xu Zhuang himself. Nevertheless, Xu Zhuang's few close friends are not part of the sect, and he is too lazy to make any selections. He simply sent a letter to the Shanggong Hall, instructing them to issue a task to select eight inner disciples to accompany him on this journey
At the moment when the disciples were in an uproar, the cloud boat did not cease its flight, having quietly approached its destination. The strongman maneuvered the flying vessel, lowering the cloud head, and as they passed through the mist, a breathtaking scene appeared before their eyes
"Very well, let these eight be the disciples for this task," Xu Zhuang inquired. "Are you all prepared? The matter is urgent; if there are no issues, we shall depart immediately"
Your swordsmanship is quite good, unpredictable and skillful. Xu Zhuang nodded in acknowledgment, but then shifted the conversation, saying, "However, swordsmanship, after all, is a technique for killing enemies. The unpredictability is merely a form of swordsmanship, but it cannot be considered its essence. Your swordsmanship has plenty of variation, yet it lacks sharpness."
... ...
"Not bad, if you are fond of swordsmanship, you must be aware of the true teachings within the sect, namely 'The Formless Sword Qi of Tai Su.'" Xu Zhuang said lightly, "In 'The Formless Sword Qi of Tai Su,' there exists a profound realm known as 'Ultimate Quality,' which speaks of the utmost quality and the most formidable killing power. Mastering the Ultimate Quality allows the sword qi to be invincible, capable of cutting through mountains and rivers, and achieving the impossible... Do you understand?" "In 'The Formless Sword Qi of Tai Su,' there exists a profound realm known as 'Ultimate Quality,' which speaks of the utmost quality and the most formidable killing power. Mastering the Ultimate Quality allows the sword qi to be invincible, capable of cutting through mountains and rivers, and achieving the impossible... Do you understand?"
At this moment, Vietnam was filled with mixed emotions. The other seven individuals on this journey were all outstanding newcomers. Although they did not know Xu Zhuang, they merely assumed he was an unfamiliar true disciple within the sect. However, Vietnam was aware that Xu Zhuang was actually a peer disciple, with whom he had previously had some disagreements.
The Meteorite Dojo spans half of the Divine Continent. Without discussing the travel distance, it is necessary to transfer through several teleportation arrays. Xu Zhuang, having received a temporary assignment, made some preparations while waiting for the Shanggong Hall to gather its disciples. The Strength Hall is preparing the ceremonial procession for the warriors, but there can be no further delays
No wonder it is called the Meteorite Daoist Temple! The True Lord of Supreme Mystery has plucked the stars from the heavens and refined them to create this temple, which indeed has this appearance
This enormous meteorite connects to the void above, and within Xu Zhuang's divine perception, he can only feel the power of the cosmic stars cascading down like a waterfall, washing over the meteorite; below, it connects to the mountains, where the spiritual veins have been arranged into a formation by the great divine power of Mo, continuously releasing spiritual energy that rises like steam into the meteorite's dojo.
The land is vast and rich in resources, endowed with exceptional talents and beauty, where phoenixes and dragons gather. This is known as the Central Continent and the Divine Continent within the Xuanhuang Realm.
Even Xu Zhuang was stirred with emotions, and the eight disciples, along with the strongmen on the ship, were utterly stunned. Perhaps at this very moment, they finally realized what kind of existence the Meteorite Dao Field truly was
As for which disciples are selected by the Good Deeds Hall and by what means, he is no longer concerned. Xu Zhuang, having come up through the ranks as an inner sect disciple, naturally understands that such tasks are not chosen at random, nor can just anyone who wishes to take on the task actually do so.
At this moment, auspicious energy was coming from the east, and several disciples were gathering qi on the deck, while a strong man was serving nearby, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and harmony. A disciple named Li Changfeng was practicing flying swords at the bow of the ship, with a streak of blue sword light darting up and down in the clouds, shifting left and right, unpredictable like a fish swimming in the air, playing with the clouds, truly embodying a celestial aura.
"Respected Master Uncle, we are ready to depart at any time," replied the eight disciples
As soon as the flame light was retracted, it suddenly transformed into a streak of fire, soaring into the sky
"Indeed, the visitor comes with ill intent." Xu Zhuang raised his sword-like eyebrows, pointed his hand, and a beam of cold light shot out, piercing through the cloud barrier and vanishing into the clouds. In an instant, it suddenly reappeared on the fiery hand, the cold light reemerging, and then it struck downwards, cleaving the fiery palm along with the clouds behind it in half, revealing the blue sky. At that moment, a rumbling explosion echoed from the sky.
The words of Xu Zhuang resonated like a great bell, causing Li Changfeng's mind to buzz with sound, "The essence of swordsmanship?"
Unexpectedly, it has come to this day. It turns out that three days ago, the bell rang nine times, announcing the arrival of the Tai Su, yet there was no true transmission ceremony for the newly initiated disciples. To my surprise, it was Xu Zhuang. Therefore, the Vietnamese was afraid of being recognized by Xu Zhuang and even contemplated giving up this precious opportunity that he had painstakingly sought after.
On this day, Xu Zhuang arrived at the Shanggong Hall using the Escape Light, where the hall's steward was already waiting with eight inner disciples.
Xu Zhuang stopped in front of the Shanggong Hall, and the steward of the Shanggong Hall stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Master Xu, the Shanggong Hall has gathered eight inner disciples here."
If one observes that person's way of practicing the Dao, it should indeed be the style of the Heavenly Fire Sect
Suddenly, a flame shot like a meteor to the side of the cloud boat, and with a swift spiral, a cold voice emerged from the fiery light: "Oh? I had not heard that the Tai Su Sect has a new true disciple. I thought it was once again you, my friend Yue Junlan, in person?"
Oh? Xu Zhuang nodded slightly: "No wonder he is so unreasonable, but does Yang Lian think that I am a newly initiated disciple, and therefore easy to deal with?" As he spoke, he smiled faintly, "I suppose he is also heading to the Meteorite Daoist Temple. It seems that this trip to the Golden Elixir Ceremony of the Tai Xuan Sect is indeed not a peaceful matter.
The blazing palm was severed, causing the spell to dissipate. Flames, in wisps, scattered into the wind, flying far away before turning into scattered sparks. The person no longer maintained the Daoist technique, but instead let out a cold snort: "You have also mastered the sword energy and thunder sound, very good"
This person should be Yang Lian, a contemporary true disciple of the Heavenly Fire Sect. At this moment, Vietnam suddenly spoke up: "This person and his brother are both true disciples of the Heavenly Fire Sect, and it is said that they have a very good relationship. However, fourteen years ago, his brother was killed by our sect's true disciple, Master Yue Junlan, during a duel. Since then, Yang Lian and Master Yue have harbored enmity and have never gotten along..."
"Yes, Master Xu, ever since I entered the school, I have been extremely fond of swordsmanship." As soon as swordsmanship was mentioned, Li Changfeng immediately became somewhat excited, as if he were eager to share his passion for swordsmanship with others
It is essential to understand that the true transmission of the Supreme Purity involves the formation of high-quality golden elixirs, which hold the promise of achieving the primordial spirit. Those who can serve as vessels for the transmission of the Dao within a certain realm, when accompanied by such high-quality golden elixir masters, may, if they perform well, receive some guidance and even gain favor, thus being accepted into the sect. Would this not be a chance to soar to great heights
Of course, the way of swordsmanship is ever-changing... During these days, Xu Zhuang has provided much guidance to several disciples, and this includes Vietnam, with whom he had many disputes in his youth. Although only four days have passed, all the disciples have benefited greatly, and Xu Zhuang has also come to understand each of them much better. In a moment of inspiration, he was about to give Li Changfeng a thorough instruction on swordsmanship when suddenly he raised his eyebrows and gazed into the distance
"Your swordsmanship is quite impressive, it has some merit." Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind, startling Li Changfeng, causing him to shudder. The sword light trembled as if it had lost control, about to fall outside the small heavenly cloud barrier of the Cloud Boat. However, a hand as flawless as white jade reached out and the flying sword swiftly flew into the hand.
He simply did not know that Xu Zhuang only brushed past his mind, transforming it into a light smile. He did not expect to encounter someone with whom he had disputes in his youth at this place. Later, he traveled far and wide, and after many years, he had made great progress and become more courageous, while the old acquaintance remained stagnant at this point.