Chapter 1322 - 1321: Dao Discussion Assembly
"Jade Sun Temple, Dao Discussion Assembly..."
Lu Zheng couldn’t help but shake his head in admiration, such familiar but distant memories.
As is well known, there isn’t any particularly powerful sect within Yizhou Prefecture; Jade Sun Temple, Ancient Pine Temple, Guilan Temple are considered the three major sects of Yizhou Prefecture City.
Among them, Jade Sun Temple is the most formidable, thus Yizhou is categorized as Daoist sect territory, and every year they hold a Dao Discussion Assembly, inviting Daoist temples from the eight subordinate counties. It serves as a way of mutual exchange.
In those years, Daoist Mingzhang attended the assembly and even encountered adversaries blocking his path, but with the Cloud Pattern Sword gifted by Lu Zheng, he eliminated demons and adversaries before sending them off to reincarnation.
Although Lu Zheng belonged to the Shaotong Mountain White Cloud Temple, he was merely an outer disciple and rarely participated in his sect’s activities, let alone those organized by other Daoist temples.
Moreover, Jade Sun Temple was considered insignificant in comparison to the general prestige of White Cloud Temple.
So he only occasionally heard Daoist Mingzhang and Daoist Yuan Jing mention it, but had never attended Jade Sun Temple’s Dao Discussion Assembly. Previously in Yizhou Prefecture, he had never dealt with any of the three forces.
Speaking of the Dao Discussion Assembly, besides the participating Daoist temples, other forces are also invited to observe, for instance, Jiming Temple, Guangyue has attended a few times.
Primordial Saint Sect, having established a foothold in Pingtan County this year, with its substantial reputation and court background, naturally attracted significant attention from Jade Sun Temple, leading the Dao Discussion Assembly invitations to directly reach Primordial Saint Sect’s mountain gate, inviting them to observe.
"Wow, such a show of prestige!" Lu Zheng exclaimed in admiration, "I have never attended, yet you received an invitation already. Impressive, impressive!"
Du Yueyao felt quite embarrassed, "I’m merely benefiting from Primordial Saint Sect’s reputation."
The renown of Primordial Saint Sect is certainly not small, having been a prominent sect of the former dynasty, retreated to the Southern Border, occasionally infiltrating the Central Plains, with bouts against the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, listed as a formidable entity on the court’s blacklist.
Now transformed, it has become a sect with court background, righteous lineage, practicing medicine, healing, and rescuing the distressed.
Importantly, a branch has been established in Pingtan County!
To say Primordial Saint Sect is content with merely preaching in one county, even Jade Sun Temple wouldn’t believe it, let alone the High Priest Fan Boyu of Primordial Saint Sect.
How could Jade Sun Temple, with its small capabilities, hold a character like that?
Yet, declaring war with Primordial Saint Sect is not an option!
Thus, negotiation is the only choice.
Taking advantage of the Dao Discussion Assembly to convene a few Daoist temples under Yizhou Prefecture, inviting Primordial Saint Sect to mingle, observe, make initial contact, and size up each other.
Lu Zheng, with an involuntary glance, understood Jade Sun Temple’s intention and couldn’t help but smile, "You aren’t merely benefiting from Primordial Saint Sect’s reputation, Primordial Saint Sect is benefiting from yours too."
If Du Yueyao hadn’t become the Saintess, the Sect Leader, Primordial Saint Sect would have been dominated by the New Sect, firmly rooted in the Southern Border and potentially disrupting the Central Plains, let alone establishing itself in the Central Plains.
"It’s fortunate Jade Sun Temple doesn’t know you’ve inherited Su Girl’s Dream Transmission Method, otherwise it wouldn’t be inviting Primordial Saint Sect to Yizhou to transmit techniques. The Jade Sun Temple Master would be visiting Pingtan County to pay respects." Lu Zheng laughed.
Primordial Saint Sect might not be as formidable as before, its might diminished, but a dying camel is bigger than a horse. If they receive dream transmission from an Upper Realm ancestor, reviving the sect is certainly possible.
Compared to Primordial Saint Sect, Jade Sun Temple is merely an ordinary small Daoist temple, although its cultivation technique claims to be inherited from Emperor Donghua, but Emperor Donghua already has a direct Pure Yang Palace lineage in this realm.
They count as a branch of Pure Yang Palace, but not direct lineage; their cultivation technique has traces of the Pure Yang Three Treasures Great Dao Scripture, known as the Jade Sun Spiritual Hundred Wisdom Scripture, about the same level as Pure Yang Palace’s foundational Lesser Yang Association Spiritual Inspiration Scripture.
It’s unclear how Jade Sun Temple’s ancestor acquired this cultivation technique.
Regardless of receiving Upper Realm Immortal dreams or perfecting an incomplete Immortal Technique, or creating their own based on Pure Yang Palace’s Daoist techniques, their foundation cannot compare to Primordial Saint Sect.
This is evident from Jade Sun Temple’s historical strength.
Du Yueyao hastily shook her head at Lu Zheng’s teasing, "It’s unnecessary, I didn’t intend that."
As she spoke, Du Yueyao asked expectantly, "Will you be attending, Brother Lu?"
Though Du Yueyao’s Dao practice isn’t weak now, possessing several formidable magical treasures of Primordial Saint Sect besides having experts like Fan Boyu and Feng Yiyin at her side.
Even if facing Jade Sun Temple head-on, it’s uncertain who would win.
Yet, Du Yueyao’s thoughts haven’t completely shifted when interacting with other forces; she still instinctively looks for support.
Could there be stronger backing than Lu Zheng?
On hearing her words, Lu Zheng smiled, preparing to jest further when Liu Qingyan chimed in, "Yes, of course, we’ll attend as friends of Primordial Saint Sect, making a visit too."
The Jade Sun Temple invitations didn’t have, let alone specify, restrictions on attendees. Even if the entire sect attended as guests, they’d be accommodated, though that wouldn’t be considered visiting.
Liu Qingyan tugged Lu Zheng’s sleeve, refraining from teasing Du Yueyao further, nodding reassuringly, "Don’t worry, besides having court connections, Primordial Saint Sect stands backed by White Cloud Temple."
Given Lu Zheng’s current age and Dao practice, representing White Cloud Temple, likely even Dongyangzi wouldn’t object.
Du Yueyao’s face blossomed with joy as she expressed her thanks, linking arms with Liu Qingyan, they entered Renxin Hall, greeted Elder Liu, petted Yang Caiyi’s hair bun, and began diagnosing cases.
Lu Zheng shrugged and turned, touching the gourd fondly, as he headed to White Cloud Temple.
"Yuan Zheng!"
"Junior Brother!"
"Master Uncle Ancestor! Senior Brother!"
Seeing Master Yue Chen fishing, Lu Zheng descended from his cloud afar, jokingly asked, "How’s today’s haul, Master Uncle Ancestor?"
Master Yue Chen chuckled, pointing at a large vat beside him, which was half-filled with water and contained three five-pound river fish.
Lu Zheng rubbed his hands, "Today I’ll surely enjoy a feast."
Master Yue Chen laughed heartily, "It’s us who will enjoy the feast!"
...
Moments later, within White Cloud Temple, Lu Zheng served a table spread with a platter of braised fish, steamed fish, boiled fish, plus braised beef, sauced pig trotters, crispy fried chicken, and a jar of Flower Carving wine.
"For this year’s Jade Sun Temple Dao Discussion Assembly, are you going, Senior Brother, or will Master Uncle Ancestor attend as well?" Lu Zheng asked.
"I won’t be joining the crowd." Master Yue Chen waved his hand, turning to ask, "I heard from Yuan Jing you never join such gatherings; what’s changed... Hmm, Primordial Saint Sect, Miss Du?"
Lu Zheng nodded, "Jade Sun Temple invited Yueyao, she’s feeling a bit unsure."
Master Yue Chen tugged at his beard, giving Lu Zheng an exasperated look, then shook his head, "Let Yuan Jing converse more with Miss Du; Master Xingrong will naturally understand."