Daoist Master of Qing Xuan

One should understand the preciousness of the mystical wine. Not only was it scarcely seen by a Qi cultivator, it was even more precious seeing that it was put in the palace of Yinshang.

The fact that Shen Lian could gift this wine to his servant, meant that he was not only generous, he actually had no need for this mystical wine as well.

“I am Chang Shengzi from Xuanzhen Temple. Yet, I do not know which mountain you learned your Dao from. Maybe we are somehow related?” Since the Daoist was candid and frank enough and already had a high impression towards Shen Lian, he decided to open up to him.

Shen Lian thought that since he was part of the celestial ranks, he would be clear minded and not be obsessed with ghostly tricks.

He smiled and said, “I am Shen Lian.”

Upon hearing the name Chang Shengzi felt that it was familiar. Then his expression promptly changed into shock and he exclaimed, “You are Zhenren Qing Xuan!”

Shen Lian asked, “Do you, Zhenren Chang Shengzi think that I am joking?”

Chang Shengzi sighed, “I think there isn’t anyone who would doubt your authenticity, Zhenren Qing Xuan. I am guessing one of your followers must be a demon since I had my mystical wine scammed off by you.”

He was shocked beyond words, as his usually calm soul had rippled in turbulence. As one of the Seven Sons of Qing Xuan Temple, how could he not know who Shen Lian was? This was a real and actual living Tian Xian (heavenly immortal), who was at the level that Qi cultivators of his rank spent their lives pursuing after. There would not be any fakery in this.

Everyone knew that the current world was divided into three major forces. Xia kingdom was naturally opposing forces with Yinshang. However, judging from the way that Wen Zhong, the national advisor of Yinshang, wanted to cast heavenly punishment upon Shen Qingxuan, one would guess that these two were not in good terms either.

Shen Lian could have infiltrated into Yinshang unnoticed since he had the ability to do so. However, he had revealed his identity to him. If this information was leaked out in the future and he pretended to be clueless, one could not imagine where his Xuanzhen Temple would stand.

Chang Shengzi might be cool and unattached but he was still a disciple of Qing Xuan Temple which had its Dao tradition. Now he did not know what to do. He even felt a slight sense of regret for asking. If he never asked, Shen Qing Xuan would never reveal his own identity.

Shen Lian said, “This lady is Ah Lian and she studies the path of Shen. The child’s name is Jiu Yue, a shapeshift of a butterfly demon. You two should come up and thank Zhenren Chang Shengzi. This jug of wine can save you three to five years of cultivation.”

As both proceeded to bow, Chang Shengzi never avoided them either, but he replied, “What do you suggest I can do now, fellow Daoist brother?”

Shen Lian answered, “You just act without going against your own will. Why would you want to ask Shen Lian?”

Chang Shengzi felt that he had used up his lifetime’s worth of sighs that day. This man was in fact unpredictable. He had not seen Shen Lian’s characteristics yet, and he had already known of his own mind, temperament, and nature, leaving him speechless.

This was clear evidence that, of the three saints of the world, Qing Xuan was number one.

If Chang Shengzi had doubts about him before this, now he was impressed by him.

“I would still invite fellow brother to help me,” he said.

Shen Lian said, “Zhaoge is not too far from here. Even those in the mystical ranks are to behave themselves a little. Maybe you should capture the demons of unknown origins from this village since they are so reckless.”

Chang Shengzi replied, “This is also my question. If they are normal mountain spirits, their spiritual wisdom would not be explored yet. It would still be understandable for him to conduct such reckless acts. However, looking at the remains of this village, that demon seems quite powerful, more so than other normal beings.”

Shen Lian chuckled, “There is no point in us guessing here. How about I cast some spell to look into it?”

Chang Shengzi asked, “What spell are you planning to cast, fellow brother?”

Shen Lian answered, “I seem to have some progress these days. In respect of my seniors, I shall reenact the mystical spell of Yuan Guang Retrace. Since fellow brother is from Xuanmen, you must have heard this celestial skill before. Why don’t you help me comment on this?”

Chang Shengzi was surprised again, as he never expected that Shen Qing Xuan could even cast the Yuan Guan Retrace, a godly prowess which was recorded in the Pure Yang Inherited Engravings but without a clear method of cultivation.

This godly spell was said to be able to turn back time and trace back what happened in the past. Its length of observation timeline all depended on the mana level of the spell caster.

It was said that celestial immortals knew the past as far as five hundred years and could predict the future five hundred years. In actuality, it was just a peek into the timeline where they could make something out of the unclear future. So these kinds of people could only make some vague predictions which could still match when the exact incident happened. Yet, this was still not considered as knowing the future to the dot.

This Yuan Guang Retrace was a highly regarded spell since the ancient times, a prowess to observe the past. Even in legends, there were not many who had mastered this skill. Besides Lady Mother of the Chariot and that enlightened monk from the Asura Blood Sea, there was no one else who had the ability to cast this spell. Now if Shen Lian was able to cast it, this news would worry many people in Xia kingdom and Yinshang.

As Chang Shengzi was deep in his thoughts, Shen Lian was making hand signs for his chant. At this moment, the last bit of sunset had been replaced with a bright moon emerging from the east side.

A clear sound started to emerge from the void, where a clear stream was seen flowing out of it, flowing down the void and finally gathered into one.

That was not any water; it was the remnants of time, which was captured by Shen Lian using a certain method. At this instant, the red cinnabar on Shen Lian’s forehead turned bright red, which signified the amount of toll it had taken on him to cast this chant.

Actually, if Shen Lian had not traveled through time and space, and also be well versed with the Bright Moon Verse, the exquisite incantation involving the principles of time, he would definitely not be able to cast the Yuan Guang Retrace spell.

Even the elder master from Qing Xuan who authored this Bright Moon Verse would not have thought that Shen Lian would possess the ability and strength to cast Yuan Guang Retrace out of the Bright Moon Verse.

Within the light, there was a twisting and rotating ray which was then flattened by something that looked like a hand figure, finally showing the view within.

It was snowing scarcely then. The villagers were starting to prepare their dinner, as smoke was seen rising from their house roof. Suddenly, a gush of black mist completely engulfed the whole village. A while later, the black mist rushed towards north direction like a wave.

Chang Shengzi’s expression was stern. He said, “If I am not mistaken, that black mist is the unique devil aura emitted from the Yin Devilry Incantation of Asura. I never thought that someone would practice this incantation.”

Shen Lian asked, “This is the first time I heard of this name. Is this skill related to the Asura clan of the blood-red Asura Sea?”

Chang Shengzi explained, “It is not untrue that this incantation is related to the blood-red sea. Initially, when Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was still in the netherworld, there were many monks who sat down to listen to his teachings. As the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had a large conflict with the Asura of the blood-red Asura Sea, a monk under him went into constant battle with those Asura clans. During these battles, the monk managed to understand this incantation from the Asuras, which was rumored to have nine levels. Those who master the highest level will be able to merge with the Nine Underworlds and become invincible.”