Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

The Immoral Taoist reached out and, seemingly from nowhere, cast down a Jade Platform.

A brief glance revealed that the Jade Platform was, in fact, an entire Spirit Stone. In the hands of an ordinary cultivator, it would be a considerable fortune.

After setting up low tables and having everyone take their seats, the Immoral Taoist put on no airs. With a wave of his hand, a shimmering mist swept by, and on each table miraculously appeared Spirit Fruit, Immortal Tea, jade ewers, and wine goblets.

"There are no attendants here. Please, help yourselves."

Who knew how long the Immoral Taoist had been cultivating, or for how many years he had possessed a Primordial Spirit?

In any case, given his status as a Primordial Spirit True Man, everything he produced was extraordinary. Just a look at the few plates of Spirit Fruits was enough to tell they would greatly benefit the cultivation of even a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Xuzhuang picked up a jade ewer, poured himself a cup, and took a small sip. Only then did he realize the wine was actually Ice Extreme Essence.

This Ice Extreme Essence was not exceptionally rare. Back when Xuzhuang was still at the Golden Core realm, he had a fortuitous encounter with the Immoral Taoist and drank a cup of it. Now that he possessed the Du Xu Palace, he could even use its profound abilities to gather the essence from the void.

In terms of its effects, however, Ice Extreme Essence was considered superior among the various true essences. Besides being used for cultivating Ice Attribute Dao Skills and techniques, Ice Extreme Essence also had the wondrous ability to clear the mind, purify the spirit, and even make one’s Magical Power circulate more nimbly.

Furthermore, this ewer from the Immoral Taoist seemed to have been brewed with more than a dozen types of Spirit Fruits using a special technique, making its effects even more miraculous.

After Xuzhuang had poured and drunk a few cups by himself, the banquet seemed to grow more lively. Several Zhenren gathered together and, without any attempt at concealment, began openly discussing the details of establishing the Divination Pavilion.

Seeing this, the others stopped standing on ceremony. Lan Su Nu was the first to leave her seat, making a beeline for Xuzhuang. Her first three steps were imposing, but her next six were light and delicate. By the time she reached Xuzhuang’s table, she had adopted a bashful demeanor, stammering, "Fellow Daoist, I have long admired your great name. Might I offer you a toast?"

"Of course." Xuzhuang smiled faintly and raised his cup. "I recall your calling card, Fellow Daoist. Please."

Lan Su Nu was overjoyed. After toasting Xuzhuang, she drank her wine and then hesitated, wanting to say more. Just then, Jin Yuanzai suddenly approached with a smile. "During our duel, Fellow Daoist, you said you had made a friend in me. I trust that still stands?"

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"You jest, Fellow Daoist." Xuzhuang gave a faint smile and raised his cup in a toast. Jin Yuanzai naturally accepted. After the two drank, Jin Yuanzai took a small, blue-covered booklet from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and said, "This is the wager I promised you, Fellow Daoist."

This was the Daoist Scripture related to the Rainbow Sword that Jin Yuanzai had promised Xuzhuang before their duel. Xuzhuang accepted it without refusal. Not even glancing at it, he casually put it away. Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, a square golden seal appeared on the table.

Jin Yuanzai’s brow twitched. He heard Xuzhuang say, "Your magical artifact, returned to its rightful owner."

Jin Yuanzai did not rush to take it. Instead, he poured himself a cup of wine, took a sip, and only then said, "This One Yuan Chen Golden Seal... are you truly returning it to me, Fellow Daoist?"

"Hm?" A look of surprise crossed Xuzhuang’s face.

Back within the Cyan and Purple Tribulation Pearl Fruit Tree, it had been a different matter. To defeat Jin Yuanzai, he had knocked away his One Yuan Chen Golden Seal and shattered his Protective Talisman with a single sword strike, forcing him from the field.

But here, Jin Yuanzai could have recalled the One Yuan Chen Golden Seal with a spell at any time. Since he hadn’t, Xuzhuang had simply assumed the man was broad-minded and in no rush. He never expected such a question.

Xuzhuang frowned. "Returning something to its rightful owner—is that not simply what is right?"

Jin Yuanzai smiled faintly, picked up the One Yuan Chen Golden Seal from the table, and only then said, "A pity."

Seeing that both Xuzhuang and Lan Su Nu were confused, Jin Yuanzai shook his head and asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you know the origin of this One Yuan Chen Golden Seal?"

Xuzhuang had not heard the discussion between Sima Zongfa and Chang Su’Er, so he was naturally unaware. Jin Yuanzai did not hold back his explanation, stating plainly, "This One Yuan Chen Golden Seal was forged by an ancestor of my Taiyi Palace, who plucked one of the Celestial Stars from the sky, extracted all of its golden essence, and refined it into this seal."

Though Xuzhuang knew the One Yuan Chen Golden Seal was immensely powerful, he had not expected it to have such an astonishing origin. Upon hearing this, Lan Su Nu gasped, her lips parting slightly. She had never imagined that in his duel with Jin Yuanzai, Xuzhuang had been contending with such a world-shaking magical artifact.

"This ancestor was known for acting on a whim. Through a chance encounter, I earned his favor, and he actually bestowed this treasure upon me."

Jin Yuanzai sighed faintly. "You may not believe this, Fellow Daoist, but my karmic fortune has always been shallow. Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, heirlooms from predecessors, Taoist Scripture Jade Scrolls—I had no connection to any of them. I relied solely on my own meager aptitude and bitter cultivation. The magical artifacts and medicinal pills I possess were either redeemed from my sect or plundered from those I killed."

Never mind the other chosen talents gathered here; among all cultivators capable of forming a Top-grade Golden Core, who didn’t possess a measure of good fortune?

For Jin Yuanzai—a Great Cultivator who had reached the peak of the Nascent Soul realm at a mere three hundred years of age and was ranked among the top ten disciples of Taiyi Palace—to say such a thing was simply unbelievable.

Jin Yuanzai seemed unconcerned and continued, "But after I was bestowed the One Yuan Chen Golden Seal, my esteemed master issued a decree. He said the treasure’s golden, baleful energy was too potent, and my own karmic fortune was too shallow to suppress it. If I insisted on keeping it, I would surely suffer a backlash."

"That was my first true magical artifact." Jin Yuanzai shook his head with a wry smile. "I was young and arrogant! I relied on pure grit to form a Top-grade Golden Core and cultivate to the Nascent Soul realm. Coming from nothing, I fought against those chosen talents and stood as their equal."

"It was precisely because of this that I earned my master’s recognition and was accepted as his disciple. My whole situation changed for the better!"

"I had finally, after so much struggle, obtained a priceless treasure. How could I be willing to give it up just because of a few words about my ’shallow fortune’?"