Chapter 63: The Concept of a National Destiny Artifact

Inside the Inquiry Hall, beneath the pine tree.

The Daoist priests first brought up the assassinations by the Fanyi Pavilion.

The Fanyi Pavilion was a colossal entity whose prestige weighed heavily across multiple prefectures, boasting numerous assassins and formidable strength. Even mighty Qi-refining masters at the Saint Fetus realm had been assassinated in the past. Even though the Qiuzhen Taoist Temple was no longer what it used to be and now had two True Persons overseeing it, it still fell far short compared to the Fanyi Pavilion.

Moreover, assassins from the Fanyi Pavilion had already struck three times.

Once was to kill Chu Yunfei, which caused bad blood between the Qiuzhen Taoist Temple and the Chu clan; once was to assassinate Senior Brother Xuanming; and once was to assassinate Chang'anzu. They could not afford to let down their guard.

To resolve this matter, the key lay with Wang Sheng.

"Junior Brother Xuantong, how are the Chu clan's proceedings against Wang Sheng progressing?"

Xuanxu asked.

Xuanming also looked over.

Although the Qiuzhen Taoist Temple had established a connection with the Chu clan because of him, Xuanming lacked the patience to deal with such trivial matters and social interactions, so he had handed the task over to Xuantong, who excelled in this domain.

Xuanming was also curious about the extent to which the feud between the Chu clan and Wang Sheng had advanced.

Without leaving a trace, Xuantong glanced at Chang'anzu before replying, "The Chu clan just sent word yesterday that the Wang family has already caught on and has kept Wang Sheng confined to his residence all this time. Fortunately, the Chu clan has some connections within the Ministry of Vast Law and a certain degree of influence within the Heaven and Earth Courtyard. They have already secured partial evidence. While it is temporarily impossible to finish Wang Sheng off completely, stripping him of his wings and cronies poses no problem. When the upper echelons of the Ministry of Vast Law are eventually alerted and a thorough investigation is conducted, even with the Wang family's protection, Wang Sheng may escape with his life, but his reputation will be utterly ruined. He will lose his position as a Law-Enforcement Divine Official of the Ministry of Vast Law and be universally condemned by the public, while the Wang family's reputation will also take a hit. This can be considered exacting a measure of retribution for the Chu clan and our Qiuzhen Taoist Temple."

The gathered Daoists all nodded in agreement.

Although they were outsiders to the secular world, they understood that aristocratic families valued fame and reputation above all else, sometimes holding their good name in even higher regard than material gains.

Once this plan was executed, Wang Sheng would inevitably be disciplined by the Wang family and utterly discredited and notorious throughout Fengyang Prefecture. This was far more gratifying than simply slaying him outright. By then, to avoid continuing to be a target of public criticism, the Wang family would also compel him to rescind the assassination order issued to the Fanyi Pavilion.

"Let us proceed thus for now. There is plenty of time, and avenging oneself upon one's enemies need not be rushed. Good and evil will ultimately be recompensed in the end; an opportunity will always arise."

Xuanming set the tone for the matter.

The Daoists then moved on to the next topic.

---

Xuanxu: "There was something fishy about that flood-serpent yesterday."

Xuanyin: "Senior Brother speaks wisely. After returning last night, this poor Daoist pondered deeply and always felt that someone must have been manipulating that flood-serpent behind the scenes, or cooperating with it, attempting to use it to abduct Chang'anzu."

Xuantong: "From this poor Daoist's perspective, that flood-serpent was likely entrusted by someone with the intent to snatch the supreme Foundation Establishment method. The schemer behind this is profoundly unfathomable and must be guarded against."

Xuyang: "What a pity that Senior Brother Xuanming acted too swiftly; otherwise, we could have interrogated it. For someone of such advanced age—ouch!"

Before Xuyang could finish speaking, he clutched his forehead and wailed, wincing in pain.

Lowering the horsetail whisk he had used to strike him, Xuanming rolled his eyes in exasperation and exposed him, saying, "Enough! This poor Daoist didn't even use much strength."

Xuyang chuckled foolishly, and after thanking Xuanming for showing mercy, he immediately sat down obediently, not daring to speak out rashly again for fear of genuinely provoking another beating.

---

"Your conjectures coincide with this poor Daoist's. Although the flood-serpent is dead and the truth is temporarily untraceable, nothing done in secret can remain hidden forever. This poor Daoist will bestow upon Chang'anzu some self-protection measures. As long as the person behind this dares to reach out again, we will surely obtain some clues."

Xuanming placated them.

The Daoists placed deep trust in this senior brother, and knowing he was making plans for Chang'anzu filled them with a sense of peace.

Changqingzi and the other fourth-generation Daoists looked at Chang'anzu with eyes full of envy. Although his master had passed away, having Senior Brother Xuanming make provisions for him meant his future Daoist path would extend far beyond that of those who were taught by ordinary masters.

"Actually, our Qiuzhen Taoist Temple is not entirely without enmity with that flood-serpent; the flood-crossing dragon was its father."

Seeing that his junior brothers were reassured, Xuanming pondered for a moment and recounted the flood-serpent's origins, as well as how he had previously slain the dragon's split soul that had possessed the snake demon, giving the Daoists mental preparation.

Despite their initial astonishment, the Daoists accepted the revelation quickly. On one hand, the facts were already settled, and the dragon was suppressed, with its unsealing a remote and uncertain prospect; on the other hand, they felt their senior brother had acted entirely correctly.

Subduing demons and eliminating ghosts while protecting the common people was the very essence of a Daoist.

Xuanxu made an obeisance and said solemnly, "When the flood dragon crossed the waters, it inundated countless fertile fields, leaving countless common people displaced, corpses scattered across the land, and heavy casualties. This fiend's sins reached the heavens, and its evil deeds were manifold. If not for Senior Brother making a move and slaying that snake demon in time, had the flood dragon truly succeeded through internal and external coordination, it likely would have broken its seal and unleashed an even greater catastrophe. Senior Brother's actions saved countless lives and accrued boundless merit."

The other Daoists also stood up and made ritual bows.

"This poor Daoist merely happened to cross paths with it that day. Had it been any of you junior brothers, you would have acted just as unflinchingly,"

Xuanming returned the courtesy.

Though he put it lightly, the Daoists knew they lacked their senior brother's capability and, even if they had encountered it, would most likely not have recognized it.

Once everyone had resettled in their seats, Xuanyin produced an invitation card and introduced, "During the period when Senior Brother Xuanxu was in seclusion to break through his realm, the True Person of the Triple Rings visited and personally delivered an invitation, inviting our Qiuzhen Taoist Temple to attend the Founding Ceremony of the Yuhuan Sect next year."

This was good news.

None of the Daoists raised any objections.

---

The wind blew through the treetops, and the old pine swayed slightly.

Xuanming unclasped his palms, where two perfectly refined spheres—one large, one small—revolved along a profound trajectory. Yin and Yang flowed, life and death intertwined, suffused with an extraordinary aura.

"Senior Brother, this is... the pair of Yin-Yang Irons from the Chen family?"

Xuyang's eyes shone brightly as he tentatively asked.

He was in charge of artifact forging within the Qiuzhen Taoist Temple and possessed a piercing eye. Although the Chen family's golden sabers had undergone a drastic transformation—not only having been returned to their primordial essence but also condensed, purified, and imbued with a flourishing spiritual Qi, carrying the power of thunder and the Daoist essence of Yin and Yang—he could still discern a trace of their familiar outline. It was only because the changes were so immense that he had not dared to be certain.

"Junior Brother's eyes are like torches."

Xuanming acknowledged.

The praised Xuyang broke into a silly grin.

The other Daoists were utterly astounded, looking in disbelief at the pair of iron pearls. They had all seen the Chen family's golden sabers, which had been passed down for a century, but those weapons had never possessed such intense spiritual radiance.

They had initially thought these were some other heavenly treasures, never imagining they were actually those same weapons. Had Xuyang not pointed it out, they truly would not have recognized them.

To have transformed this ritual material beyond all recognition in just a few short months filled the Daoists with even greater admiration for Senior Brother Xuanming's methods.

---

"Senior Brother, what are your intentions in producing this item?"

Xuanxu asked with a puzzled expression.

Without concealing anything, Xuanming laid out his plans.

"When fortune departs, gold is like iron; when fortune arrives, iron is like gold. A single breath engenders all things, and all classes of beings in heaven and earth possess breath. An abundance of breath forms fortune; gathered fortune generates blessings, while dispersed fortune spawns misfortune. Mountains and rivers possess fortune, trees and vegetation possess fortune, and birds and beasts possess fortune.

"Our Qiuzhen Taoist Temple has been established for over a hundred and fifty years. Together with the Floating Cloud Mountain beneath our feet, the fortune we gather is only sufficient to sustain one or two Qi-refining True Persons. That flood-serpent was already a stray dog with rootless fortune; after it was slain, its fortune flowed into our Qiuzhen.

"This old Daoist uses his own body to suppress our fortune, so the Qiuzhen Taoist Temple's fortune naturally will not drain away. However, it is impossible for this poor Daoist to remain on the mountain forever; sooner or later, I will enter the secular world to cultivate, and if I am away for more than a day, the fortune will become unstable.

"Coupled with the fact that our Qiuzhen Taoist Temple's advancement to a major sect is already a foregone conclusion, we still lack a founding treasure to suppress our fortune. While the inherited magical sword is fine, a sword is a sharp weapon and falls slightly short when it comes to suppressing fortune. It would be fine if we do not advance to a major sect, but once we ascend, these flaws will manifest and grow with each passing day."

Glancing around at the gathered Daoists, Xuanming continued:

"This poor Daoist intends to forge a spiritual artifact for our sect to suppress the fortune of the entire Floating Cloud Mountain. Although this Yin-Yang Iron is sufficient to forge a spiritual artifact, its ability to suppress fortune is relatively weak. To forge a grand vessel of fortune, I will need the assistance of several junior brothers."

As the matter pertained to the heritage of the Qiuzhen Taoist Temple, Xuanxu and the others wore solemn expressions as they stood up in unison and bowed respectfully.

"We are willing to obey Senior Brother's commands."

Xuanming did not stand on ceremony and detailed the items required.

Since the materials could not be gathered overnight and required the concerted effort of the entire Qiuzhen Taoist Temple—and since Xuanming had mentioned there was no need to rush—the Daoists did not set out to procure them immediately.

Good things take time.

This endeavor truly required sufficient patience.

The materials themselves were not exceptionally precious; the difficulty lay in the sincerity of intent.

---

With the serious business concluded, the Daoists relaxed and began exchanging reminiscences.

Some chatted about the heavens and earth, while others discussed the Dao.

Some sought guidance on cultivation, while others tasted tea and played chess.

The Inquiry Hall was filled with an atmosphere of carefree transcendence.

For once, Xuanming did not meditate on scriptures or seek enlightenment, allowing his body and mind to unwind completely.

By dusk, the Daoists dispersed. Xuanming asked Chang'anzu to stay behind, and Xuanxu and the others exchanged glances, guessing their senior brother's purpose.