Chapter 285 - 165: Nine Nether Profound Gang
Qingfeng Temple, Kunyu Mountain.
As the headquarters of one of the six great powers in Ning’an Prefecture, Kunyu Mountain was worthy of its name as a Spirit Mountain.
Clouds and mist coiled around it, ancient trees reached for the sky, and the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was far richer than in the outside world.
The cries of cranes often pierced the clouds, creating the truly ethereal atmosphere of an immortal Daoist Sect.
Atop White Crane Peak was a grove of flourishing peach trees.
It was early summer. The leaves formed a lush canopy, and young green peaches had just begun to form.
A young Daoist priest lay on a hemp rope hammock, looking slightly languid. He appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in a worn blue robe. His Daoist topknot was loose, his features detached, and the corners of his mouth seemed to hold a natural, faint, ambiguous smile.
What was most striking were his eyes. Though narrowed at the moment, they were bright and clear—as limpid as a deep mountain pool, exuding an air of otherworldly detachment.
And he was none other than the current lead True Inheritor of Qingfeng Temple, the former head of the Ning’an Ten Heroes, and now the man ranked second—Zhang Daoming.
It was because of this status and talent that he was able to occupy White Crane Peak for his solitary cultivation.
The hammock swayed gently with the breeze. Zhang Daoming was in a state between sleep and wakefulness, his mind wandering far away. Suddenly, the fingers toying with a peach leaf paused, and his eyes opened slightly.
"Junior Master Liang, since you’re here, why hide yourself? It’s a sin to disturb someone’s peaceful dreams."
"You lazy rascal, your Spiritual Sense is getting sharper and sharper."
A clear laugh echoed from within the woods.
Before the voice had faded, the light and shadows in the peach grove flickered, and a gray-robed figure was already standing beside the hammock.
The newcomer was a middle-aged Daoist priest with a gaunt face, a three-stranded long beard, and eyes that held a contained divine light. It was none other than Qingfeng Temple Elder, Liang Jingxing.
Zhang Daoming rolled out of the hammock and gave a casual salute.
"Greetings, Junior Master Liang."
"No need for formalities."
Liang Jingxing waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Daoming. Seeing that his aura had almost merged as one with the mountain forest, he nodded to himself. "I came today to discuss a matter with you, regarding the battle on Wushan Mountain."
"The battle on Wushan Mountain?"
Zhang Daoming raised an eyebrow. "I recall it’s still some time away."
"The date hasn’t changed, but the storm is already gathering."
Liang Jingxing’s expression turned solemn as he recounted the news making waves through Ning’an Prefecture: Chen Sheng of the Jingwu Bureau had battled the Danxia Sect, a feat now being called "Earth Fiend Defeats Profound Gang"; he had comprehended Sword Intent; and he was being hailed as the new head of the Ten Heroes.
Liang Jingxing added, "This young man’s talent, opportunities, and temperament are all top-tier. I predict that before the battle on Wushan Mountain, he will very likely break through to the Profound Gang realm. When that happens, his power will rise to a whole new level."
Qingfeng Temple’s usual low-key style of doing things stemmed from its deep heritage and transcendent confidence.
In the eyes of Qingfeng Temple, no one in Ning’an Prefecture was worth worrying about, aside from Golden Spring Temple.
In all past battles on Wushan Mountain, the final contest had always been between Qingfeng Temple and Golden Spring Temple.
This time, however, a variable had emerged from the younger generation of the Government Office—one sufficient to break the balance.
When Zhang Daoming heard "Sword Intent" and "head of the Ten Heroes," his bright eyes widened slightly, a flash of surprise crossing them.
"Fighting above his realm and comprehending a Mental Realm?"
He repeated softly, the curve of his lips deepening. "Interesting. It seems the Government Office has produced a truly remarkable talent."
"Precisely."
Liang Jingxing’s expression was grave. "The Sect Leader and I have discussed this. This young man has already established himself and cannot be underestimated. In the upcoming battle on Wushan Mountain, he will be a formidable opponent for you.
"I came to ask you, if you were to truly face him, would you be confident of victory?"
At this, Liang Jingxing paused, his tone softening.
"The Sect Leader’s meaning is this: if you are confident, you might find an opportunity to act, take back your title, and prevent Qingfeng Temple’s prestige from being damaged. If you are not confident, it is also acceptable to temporarily avoid the confrontation.
"Qingfeng Temple’s reputation is important, but your path of cultivation is even more so."
Zhang Daoming did not answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand to catch a falling peach leaf, his fingertips gently tracing its veins as a thoughtful expression crossed his face. After a few breaths, he looked up and chuckled softly.
"Go challenge him now? That would be bullying the weak and giving others a reason to talk. He is still only at the Earth Fiend realm, after all."
"I should at least wait until he enters the Profound Gang realm for it to be a fair fight. Then, on Wushan Mountain, it will be perfectly justified."
Liang Jingxing’s eyes lit up.
"Dao Ming, your words... Do you mean you’re confident?"
Zhang Daoming neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply flicked the peach leaf into the mountain stream beside them and gave a slight nod.
"I suppose so, Junior Master."
"Good!"
A smile bloomed on Liang Jingxing’s face. "Good, good, good! As expected of our Qingfeng Temple’s ’Innate Spirit Body,’ a talent seen only once a century!"
Although he didn’t know what realm Zhang Daoming had truly reached, given his junior-nephew’s disposition to never speak lightly and to always hit the mark when he did, "I suppose so" meant he had at least a considerable chance of victory.
Thinking further about his top-tier aptitude as an Innate Spirit Body and the secret Divine Techniques of the temple... Liang Jingxing had his suspicions. His junior-nephew’s progress was far deeper than what outsiders could see.
"Junior Master, if there is nothing else..."
Zhang Daoming began, his voice carrying a perfectly measured trace of weariness.
"I understand. I won’t disturb your cultivation any longer."
Liang Jingxing laughed heartily. His figure suddenly blurred, melting into the mountain breeze and forest mist until he vanished. Only his voice lingered, drifting back: "Prepare well. At the battle on Wushan Mountain, you will spread the fame of our Qingfeng Temple!"
The peach grove returned to its tranquility.
Zhang Daoming lay back down on the hammock, closing his eyes as if to sleep.
However, if an expert with a keen perception were present, they would discover that within a radius of several dozen feet around him, the flow of air, the shifting of light and shadow, and the very respiration of the plants had all achieved a wondrous resonance with his long, slow breaths.
Faint, almost imperceptible wisps of profound Daoist rhythm rippled out like waves on water, subtly harmonizing with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism of White Crane Peak and Kunyu Mountain.
Clearly, he was not sleeping, but was in a deeper state of "comprehension" and "integration."
.....
「Ning’an Wang Clan. Ancestral home, the study.」
Patriarch Wang, Wangqingshan, stood before the window with his hands clasped behind his back. He gazed at the rockery and flowing water in the courtyard, his expression grim and his brows tightly knitted.
Ever since the news of the battle between Chen Sheng and Lu Xuanzhou at the Danxia Sect had swept through the Ning’an Prefecture like a storm, this usually calm and steady Patriarch Wang had been unable to sit still.