A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch

Chapter 424 - 257

"Midday Order..."

Bai Qi temporarily set aside the Nam-Ming Li Fire and Frost Grass, which were being nurtured, and carefully inspected the small black token, about the size of half a palm, with its surface engraved with numerous swords standing tall, as if surrounded by mountains and seas.

His Divine Soul Embryo faintly pulsed, as he infused a wisp of scattered thoughts into it, and suddenly his eyes flickered, as a fantastical scene unfurled like a painting.

A majestic sword intent swept across all directions, as grand as towering mountains, pressing down on all sides.

The fierce aura, soaring to the heavens, was almost as bright as the sun and moon, illuminating the void.

"The Upper Sect and Taoist Sect are indeed extraordinary."

Bai Qi recalled the first time, when his younger brother Bai Ming was guided by Lady Willow God, and his Divine Soul emerged from his body, fleeing into the void.

In the vast expanse, stars as large as celestial bodies emitted a magnificent world-shattering radiance, profoundly impressive.

Those were the mountain gates of the Seven Major Upper Sects and the Five Taoist Sects, majestically situated in the Red County Divine Land!

"I didn’t expect that, even though the Meridian Sword Sect is not a Taoist Sect, its Inner Scenic Land is this grand and magnificent."

Bai Qi was slightly surprised. It is said that the Ghost Immortal Shangzhen of the Five Taoist Sects, when their time is nearing, often choose to meditate in the void, letting their Divine Souls return to the mountain gate, creating various "wondrous sights."

Fated younger disciples undergo trials to inherit the teachings, so that the art of the way and the secrets of power can be passed down for generations.

He was very surprised that the Meridian Sword Sect, one of the Seven Major Upper Sects, had such a grand and vast Sword Sea as their mountain gate.

Faintly, Master Bai Qi, through his near-complete Divine Soul Embryo, glimpsed a corner of the Inner Scenic Land.

It was extremely conspicuous, like a lofty and rugged peak ten thousand feet high, resembling a colossal sword that pierced the sky and plunged into the earth.

From top to bottom, large names were carved upon it.

The one listed first was undoubtedly Kou Daozi.

"Observing the sword without uttering a sound... standing head and shoulders above the rest. It sounds very similar to the Observation Sword Shape and Sword Listening Sound of the ’Twelve Grievances of the Sword Monarch.’"

Bai Qi pondered, no wonder Chunyu Cultivator generously bestowed the Midday Order and remained unfazed when his Nam-Ming Li Fire was being taken away.

"Perhaps this Sword Sect true disciple saw a shadow of his old acquaintance in me?"

His Divine Soul gently pulsed as he swept through it again, noticing several unfamiliar names.

Beixiu, Fu Donglai;

Heroic King, He Wuchoo;

Little Celestial Master, Ge Pu...

"Underneath each name, there is a Sword Scripture. ’Up Nine to Yang Sword,’ ’White Hair Stay Immortal Sword’... It seems only those with exceptional swordsmanship are worthy of leaving their names in the Sword Sea."

Bai Qi mused.

Among them, what intrigued him the most was Kou Daozi’s "Observing the Sword without Sound."

"When I have the time someday, I should really meet the prodigal of the Sword Sect. Of course, I am cultured and gentle by nature; I wouldn’t engage in senseless killing. My main purpose is to nurture their swords and make some progress."

Bai Qi withdrew his thoughts and continued to activate the Sword Nurturing Skill, warming and nourishing the Divine Soldiers, Nam-Ming Li Fire and Frost Grass.

He did not mind working for the people in the Sword Sect, especially since his foundation was already firm.

Moreover, while improving the progress of the Sword Nurturing Skill, he could comprehend the essence of the opponent’s swordsmanship and sword intent.

This was a win-win situation!

"I wonder when Master will use mystical arts again to guide me to that sword cave-like Inner Scenic Land."

Compared to the Upper Sect Mountain Gate, Bai Qi was more interested in this because it was relatively safe and more stable.

No matter how ferocious the sword intent, Master would bear the brunt of it.

"In a few days, I should return to Black River County. I’ve been out for quite a while, and I don’t know how Brother Qi and Lv Nan have been managing the Spirit Field and Spirit Pool formed by Tai Sui Chen Earth."

Bai Qi attended to the two swords, his mind wandering, taking stock of what he gained from this trip to the County City.

Sending his brother to Yuanyang Temple as a Daoist School student also paved a promising future for him.

As for the successive collapse of the Martial Trade and the Lu Family, it didn’t have much to do with him; mostly, it was just going with the flow.

"With a Divine Soldier in hand, I now have a means of survival even against the Four Cultivation Grandmasters. Climbing up to the Meridian Sword Sect and getting to know Chunyu Cultivator and Long Tingfeng has widened the path."

"In this world, without some background, it’s difficult to take a single step."

Bai Qi contemplated; his master, Ninghai Zen’s solitary and mighty way of doing things, wasn’t something that suited him.

He came from humble origins, with family burdens; he couldn’t sever all ties and be carefree and unrestrained.

"Even the Master who taught my master couldn’t achieve that. In this world, there is only one Ninghai Zen, just as there is only one Bai Qilang; there’s no need to imitate everything."

Bai Qi understood; having joined the Tongwen Hall, with Master Ninghai Zen backing him and relying on Master Chen Xing, he could rest easy and hold onto these powerful allies.

"No matter how extraordinary one’s talents are, time is still needed to grow. Otherwise, one would end up like Master, constantly bullied by the old with their seniority."

...

...

Several days passed swiftly.

Bai Qi gathered once again at Mandarin Duck Tower with He Jingfeng and Xu Zirong.

As before, they were in that elegant room, with fine delicacies and exquisite food delivered like flowing water, making it hard to resist indulging joyfully.

"Brother Bai, why not settle permanently in the County City? I’ve discussed it with my father. Now that the Lu Family has collapsed, the He Family can take over the Fenghui Trading Company and present it to Brother Bai as a housewarming gift."

If Brother Bai finds it troublesome and can trust me, Jingfeng can manage it on your behalf, providing an annual thirty thousand taels of snowflake silver."

He Jingfeng got straight to the point, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Due to the premature deaths of two promising offspring, the He Family lost its pillars and was on the verge of decline and obscurity, reduced to the bottom of the Thirteen Trades.

Who would have thought that the Lu Family, who were at odds with the He Family, would suddenly collapse overnight, leading the Daoist Official’s Office to confiscate their properties?

Having been enlightened by Bai Qi beforehand, the He Family reacted the quickest, seizing several shops like a thunderbolt, not even sparing the Ronghua Studio, which collected rare treasures.