Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds

Taoist He Xin didn’t go to Yangcheng right away. Instead, he took Gu Zhao to the Refining Truth Palace in a neighboring city.

"The Yuxian Sect doesn’t have a wide lineage, but the Namo Sect is quite good. Although it’s not as widespread as the Dragon Gate Sect, it has many temples and disciples in Yu Province," Taoist He Xin explained.

"The abbot of Refining Truth Palace is just an ordinary person, but his senior brother, old Taoist Zong Hua, has cultivated Inner Breath True Qi. He’s also a friend of mine." Taoist He Xin pointed to the distant Refining Truth Palace, where incense smoke billowed.

Taoist He Xin smiled smugly. "But even though the Namo Sect has many successors, not many of them are promising. In Refining Truth Palace, only Zong Hua is decent. The rest are all useless."

Taoist Fa Li put a hand to his forehead, then added, "Yellow Peak Mountain’s Shangqing Palace is part of the Namo Sect’s lineage. It has the three elders of the ’Zong’ generation: Taoist Zong Ran, Taoist Zong Wei, and Taoist Zong Hua. All of them are True Cultivators.

"Senior Uncle Zong Ran and Senior Uncle Zong Wei are still cultivating on Yellow Peak Mountain, while Senior Uncle Zong Hua cultivates at Refining Truth Palace, spreading the Daoist Techniques of the Namo Sect."

Gu Zhao nodded. He already knew this. The Namo Sect was registered with the Taoist Association, and the three Daoists of the "Zong" generation were on the True Dao roster in the Taoist Office.

Among the seven lineages passed down by the Quanzhen Seven Elders, the Dragon Gate Sect was head and shoulders above the rest, with the Namo Sect barely qualifying for second place.

The Yellow Peak Mountain branch was an important inheritance site for the Namo Sect. For a single branch to have three True Cultivators was quite rare, and one could say its fortune was flourishing.

"Senior Uncle He Xin, Senior Brother Fa Li, you’re here!"

The three of them didn’t use the main entrance, instead going to the back gate of the Refining Truth Palace. The middle-aged Daoist who opened the gate recognized Taoist He Xin and Taoist Fa Li, and from the way he spoke, it was clear the two of them often came by to visit.

"Junior Brother Zheng Shan." Taoist Fa Li returned the greeting, then explained to Gu Zhao, "My master can’t sit still. He wanders around from time to time."

Taoist Zheng Shan, who had come to greet them, had a surprised look in his eyes. He had assumed Gu Zhao was Taoist Fa Li’s junior, but to his surprise, Taoist Fa Li was explaining things to Gu Zhao. ’Judging by his age,’ he thought, ’could he be from the System?’

"Where’s Zong Hua?" Taoist He Xin asked.

"In the back courtyard." Taoist Zheng Shan led the way. "Master just woke up from his afternoon nap. He was just talking about you."

"What did he say about me?" Taoist He Xin asked.

"He said since you’re not dead yet, why has it been so long since you came to visit?" a hearty voice rang out, and an old Daoist who looked to be in his sixties or seventies walked out.

"Master!" Taoist Zheng Shan bowed. The newcomer was none other than Taoist Zong Hua of the Namo Sect.

Taoist Zong Hua nodded and looked at Taoist He Xin. "Last month, my disciple brought me two bottles of Maotai. I haven’t been able to bring myself to drink them. I’ve been waiting for you."

Taoist He Xin laughed heartily. "You treat me to Maotai, and I’ll bring you good news."

Taoist Fa Li was speechless. He put a hand to his forehead again.

"What good news?" Taoist Zong Hua asked. "Have those cold cases you’re always obsessing over finally been solved?"

At the mention of this, Taoist He Xin stopped smiling. "If I’d had today’s technology back then, would I have had to leave the force with so many unsolved cases?"

"That’s because your temper is too foul. Otherwise, if you’d waited until now, you’d at least be a deputy chief," Taoist Zong Hua said with a laugh.

Taoist He Xin waved his hand dismissively. "Let’s not talk about the old days."

Taoist Zong Hua chuckled in agreement. "Then what other good news could there be? Did your grand-disciple cultivate Inner Breath True Qi, or did those Daoist brothers from the New Grotto Heaven come looking for you?"

Taoist He Xin raised an eyebrow. "What? You don’t believe me?"

Taoist Zong Hua shook his head. "I don’t believe you."

"Huh?" Taoist He Xin was surprised that Taoist Zong Hua genuinely didn’t believe him. "On what grounds do you not believe me?"

"On the grounds that you’re a security officer who made mistakes," Taoist Zong Hua said without a shred of pity. "Hot-headed, acts rashly, and you don’t look like a Daoist Quanzhen at all. Who would come looking for you?"

Taoist He Xin’s eyes widened. "My friend! Xi Ning of the Quanzhen Huashan Sect has also gone missing, did you know that?"

"Is that so?" Taoist Zong Hua said nonchalantly. "Then congratulations to you."

Taoist He Xin asked, "You’re not jealous?"

Taoist Zong Hua said faintly, "I’m not jealous."

Taoist He Xin asked curiously, "Why?"

Taoist Zong Hua smiled faintly. "Because if they came looking for you, they would naturally come looking for me. If they’re willing to take in even someone like you, how could they possibly not take in a Daoist Quanzhen like me, who has helped the Taoist Sects flourish?"

Taoist He Xin’s beard bristled with anger. "What do you mean, ’take in even someone like me’?"

"I’ll have you know! I’m a former security officer, and I specialize in Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits. It’s a perfect professional match. If they don’t look for me, who would they look for?" Taoist He Xin said proudly.

A glint flashed in Taoist Zong Hua’s eyes, and he immediately looked at Gu Zhao.

Gu Zhao cupped his hands in a salute, a Daoist aura suffusing his body. "Gu Zhao of Daluo Palace. It is an honor to meet Taoist Zong Hua."

"Mr. Gu, an honor!" Taoist Zong Hua replied, respectfully cupping his hands.

Taoist He Xin stared. "How did you figure it out?"

"You’re a former security officer, the type to believe most in science. The various rumors about the New Grotto Heaven are mostly speculation, and I’ve never heard of any Demon Fiends inside a Grotto Heaven."

Taoist Zong Hua laughed. "For you to say things like ’Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits’ and ’perfect professional match,’ you must have received definite news. And the Grotto Heaven Master of the New Grotto Heaven is a young man..."

Taoist Zong Hua looked at Gu Zhao. "With that, isn’t it obvious?"

Taoist He Xin raised an eyebrow. "I didn’t think you were this clever."

Gu Zhao also looked at Taoist Zong Hua. "In that case, are you willing to join, Daoist?"

Taoist Zong Hua gave a deep bow. "Zong Hua of the Namo Sect thanks Mr. Gu for his trust."

Gu Zhao asked, "You’re not going to ask about the price of joining?"

Taoist Zong Hua laughed. "So many Daoist Quanzhen have been willing to join. How could I dare to doubt their character?"

Gu Zhao laughed, and with a point of his finger, a Thunder Seed was sent into Taoist Zong Hua’s Sea of Consciousness, helping him activate his Innate Qi and cleansing his entire body.

Hearing their conversation and seeing Gu Zhao raise his hand and point, causing his master to abruptly close his eyes and stand frozen, Taoist Zheng Shan was completely dumbfounded.

But he quickly came to his senses, instantly realizing what kind of fortuitous opportunity his master had received. A fervent glint flashed in his eyes, and his gaze toward Gu Zhao was filled with excitement.

"Cultivate well," Gu Zhao said to him. "When you achieve some success in your cultivation in the future, I will have your master come for you."

Taoist Zheng Shan nodded vigorously.

He was Taoist Zong Hua’s Direct Disciple. Although he had not yet cultivated Inner Breath True Qi, he was aware of these matters because he was always by Taoist Zong Hua’s side.

Now, having received Gu Zhao’s promise, his spirits soared, and he felt like his life had a new sense of purpose.

Just then, Taoist Zong Hua opened his eyes. A cool breeze rose from his body and swept through the back courtyard of the Refining Truth Palace’s Taoist House.

In Taoist Zheng Shan’s eyes, his master had suddenly become unfathomably profound.

"Master?" Taoist Zheng Shan asked tentatively.

"So that’s how it is." Taoist Zong Hua felt the effects of the Thunder Seed and recalled what Taoist He Xin had just said about Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits. ’No wonder they can fly through the sky and escape into the earth so quickly.’

At this thought, Taoist Zong Hua looked at Taoist He Xin, a smile playing on his lips. "You may be a former security officer, but I was in the militia!"