Chapter 45: Guarding Against Traitors and Golden Elixir Insights

Xuantong was pleasantly surprised, while Xuanyu was taken aback.

Xuanyang cracked into a broad smile.

The previous sect master's life was detailed in the archives of the Seeking Truth Temple. He had lost both parents and lived with other relatives, only to be separated during a year of famine, rescued by the founding master, and thus admitted into the sect.

That Senior Brother Xuanming had an uncle-grandmaster who had achieved the Golden Core realm, though surprising, was entirely within reason.

Everyone had their own karmic affinities.

Perhaps that uncle-grandmaster had encountered great fortune in the past, and after achieving success in cultivation, had visited Floating Cloud Mountain to seek out his relatives.

Such legends were by no means rare in the history of the Taoist gate.

"No wonder Senior Brother's progress has been so astonishingly rapid. It turns out he had a senior assisting him. Since Senior Brother knows what he is doing, this junior can rest easy."

"Senior Brother Xuanxu is still waiting for my reply. I must set off now and return to Fengyang County."

Full of urgency, Xuanyang made to leave, only to have Xuanming press down on his shoulder. "Junior Brother, you have been traveling for half a day. You should take a good rest; it won't be too late to leave tomorrow."

Heeding the advice, Xuanyang agreed and sat back down. Xuanming withdrew his hand, and after a moment of thought, said, "When the old Daoist sparred with Young Friend Chu, only Junior Brothers Xuantong and Xuanyu were present. After Young Friend Chu left the mountain, no other outsider has seen me."

"News of the old Daoist achieving the True Person realm should not have spread yet; otherwise, there would not be so many Essence-Refining realm challengers."

"Young Friend Chu would not publicize the outcome of this battle. To prevent the assassins from the Dust-Whipping Tower from continuing their attempts, he will likely stay sequestered at home. Thus, it is highly probable that an issue has arisen within our Seeking Truth Temple."

"Of course, it is also possible that the old Daoist has guessed wrong."

"Tomorrow, I must trouble Junior Brother Xuanyu to accompany Junior Brother Xuanyang to Fengyang County, visit the Chu household, and find out the truth."

Xuanong immediately understood, his expression sinking.

Xuanyu was equally grave, while Xuanyang angrily slammed his palm onto the table.

They had all caught the underlying implication.

Either Senior Brother had guessed incorrectly and the news leaked from the Chu family, or there was a traitor within the Seeking Truth Temple.

The outcome of the sparring match could be deduced from Senior Brother's condition.

A fine condition indicated victory.

A poor condition indicated defeat or a draw.

Of course, these were merely speculations; which scenario it was could only be confirmed after questioning the Chu family.

However, preparations that needed to be made must begin now.

Seeing their Senior Brother bury himself in the scriptures once again.

Xuanyang, Xuantong, and Xuanyu departed one after another.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three separated.

Xuanyang went to look for the deer, fearing it might have forgotten its master.

Xuantong and Xuanyu went to deal with the matter of the traitor.

Anyone who had visited Seeking Dao Peak in the past two days was a suspect and needed to be investigated in secret.

Sitting by the window, Xuanming spent an hour reading Taoist texts, then gazed out at the verdant mountain scenery as his thoughts surged.

The uncle-grandmaster, naturally, was a fabrication of his own making.

On the surface, he was merely the possessor of a Superior Dao Foundation. Upon achieving the Great Heavenly Cycle True Person realm, his strength was equivalent to that of a Prenatal Realm True Person.

To avoid exposing his Primordial Dao Foundation and to withstand the pressure of a Golden Core True Person, he needed to invent a figure.

In this way, many matters that were inconvenient for him to handle personally could be resolved through this uncle-grandmaster.

An ordinary man is not guilty, but holding a jade ring makes him a target.

Although he was deceiving his junior brothers, the Primordial Dao Foundation was far too shocking to the world. Until he possessed absolute strength, he could only temporarily fail them; nor did he wish to test human nature with this.

Early the next morning, Xuanyang and Xuanyu descended the mountain.

Before leaving, Xuanming informed Xuanyang that he could share the news of his attainment of the True Person realm with Xuanyin and Xuansu.

As for Xuankong, they would wait a little longer.

Who told him his mouth was so fast.

———

A morning glow means staying in, an evening glow means traveling a thousand miles.

By evening, Xuanyu returned, bringing Xuantong straight up to Seeking Dao Peak.

In the Asking Dao Courtyard, Xuanming was unsurprised by Xuanyu's return. The three Taoists sat around a table amidst the lingering fragrance of tea, and Xuanyu spoke: "Senior Brother, just as you anticipated, after Layman Chu returned home, he never went out again. Before the news spread, he did not reveal it to anyone other than the Chu family head, nor has the family head disclosed it to the outside world."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the three Taoists turned solemn.

This meant that the problem truly lay within the Seeking Truth Temple.

"The old Daoist is not skilled in such matters, so I must trouble my two junior brothers with this."

Xuanming spoke.

In learning there is precedence; in arts and crafts there is specialization.

He had full confidence in Xuantong and Xuanyu.

One was adept at untangling relationships, while the other presided over the Law Enforcement Hall. Working in tandem, they would surely unearth the traitor.

After discussing the specific details and concluding the matter at hand, Xuanming originally intended to let Xuanyu return early to rest, but unexpectedly, the latter withdrew a wish-granting pouch from his sleeve, one of a style different from those produced by the Seeking Truth Temple.

Placing the item on the table, Xuanyu explained: "Senior Brother, this is a token of gratitude given by the Chu family, thanking you for saving Layman Chu's life."

"I originally intended to bring it once Senior Brother revealed your True Person identity, but I did not know how long I would have to wait. Fearing it would delay your cultivation or that delivering it abruptly might arouse suspicion, and happening to visit the mountain myself, I brought it back through my own hands, hoping it might aid Senior Brother's cultivation."

"In time, the Chu family head will surely bring his son to pay their respects in person."

"Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother."

After expressing his gratitude, Xuanming glanced at the wish-granting pouch. Without rushing to inspect it, he finished his cup of tea before finally opening the pouch.

The internal space was as large as three carriages.

The largest portion consisted of spiritual herbs, spiritual materials, and other heavenly treasures, greatest in quantity.

Another portion comprised five hundred hand-copied rare editions of Taoist scriptures, which would vastly enrich the collection of the Scripture Pavilion.

The third portion consisted of three jade slips. Though seemingly the smallest in quantity, they were by far the most precious—three sets of Qi-refining insights.

One was presented on behalf of the Chu family, covering the three levels of the Great Heavenly Cycle, Returning to the Prenatal, and Condensing the Golden Core.

Another was a personal gift from Chu Dong, surprisingly containing the Qi-refining insights of a Great Heavenly Cycle realm True Person of the Taoist gate.

The third was given by the Chu family head in his capacity as a father, containing the Qi-refining insights of a Prenatal Realm True Person of the Taoist gate.

Seeing this, Xuanming burst into hearty laughter.

"What a remarkably bold Chu family head."

These three jade slips were unquestionably a heavy gift, full of utmost sincerity.

Even for a prominent clan like the Chu family, they constituted a deep foundation.

Although they were transcriptions, they remained immensely precious, especially for the Seeking Truth Temple, which had never previously produced a True Person. These could be passed down as heirlooms, instantly bolstering the sect's heritage.

For Xuanming, who yearned to understand more of the profound mysteries of the Qi-refining realm, it was like sending charcoal in snowy weather or providing sweet rain after a long drought.

When Xuantong and Xuanyu learned the contents of the three jade slips, they were similarly excited, declaring the Chu family to be wonderfully magnanimous.

Xuanming was not a petty person, and knowing that he and the Seeking Truth Temple shared a common destiny, he retained the jade slips and a portion of the resources, handing the remainder over to Xuantong with instructions to register and store them in the treasury.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother!"

Xuantong and Xuanyu bowed in gratitude.

These were items specifically designated by the Chu family for Senior Brother.

Even if Senior Brother Xuanming had kept them entirely for himself, it would have been entirely appropriate. Yet, he chose to take a portion to give back to the sect; this breadth of mind moved and inspired them.

After sending off his two junior brothers, Xuanming stared at the jade slips in deep thought. A moment later, he brandished his brush and wielded his ink, writing down two words:

Heritage!

Then he continued to write:

[A giant tree that fills your arms grows from a tiny seedling; a nine-story terrace rises from a pile of earth.]

[To gain much, one must give much; to gain little, one must give little.]

[Cooperation benefits both; conflict harms both.]

[Affairs depend on human effort, do not say everything is destined; circumstances are created by the mind, taking a step back naturally broadens the view.]

Perhaps for his Superior Foundation-Building technique, slaughter and intimidation were not the only paths he could take.

Having figured this out, Xuanming's state of mind shifted, showing signs of a subtle breakthrough. He stroked his beard and smiled, realizing he had chosen the right path for this technique.