Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds

"Cultivators have reappeared deep in South Mountain!"

"According to a group of tourists who went into the mountains seeking immortals, they encountered the Cultivators on the mountain behind XX Village on the southern foot of South Mountain. These two Cultivators have lived there for years and never showed any unusual signs."

"They stayed on the mountain for a night, and early the next morning, they happened to see the two Daoists during their Cultivation. It’s said they were surrounded by a gentle breeze and enveloped in sunlight—a truly mystical sight."

"The two Cultivators helped clear their bodies, then sent them out of South Mountain, returning them to the spot where they had first entered."

"When others went to look for them later, the two Cultivators had already vanished."

"The relevant authorities have issued a reminder: Even Cultivators live near mountain villages. Those seeking immortals should not stray far from village roads or venture into uninhabited areas. The deep mountains are dangerous, and rescue is difficult."

...

「South Mountain. A certain mountain village.」

Gu Zhao didn’t take Taoist Fang De and Taoist Wu Zhi directly back to Yangcheng. Instead, he followed them to a mountain village as a guest, visited a small, nameless temple there, and met several of the disciples they were teaching.

"Our master lived in seclusion in this small temple back in the day," Taoist Fang De explained.

Taoist Wu Zhi pulled several very old, even damaged-looking books from a cabinet in the temple. "These are the scriptures our master passed down to us. They were already this old when we were children."

Gu Zhao accepted the scriptures, which looked to be at least two or three hundred years old.

Supreme Mysterious Dao Wen Shi True Scripture

Commentary on the Wen Shi True Scripture

Purple Mansion Shaoyang Pill Scripture

Secretly Transmitted Zhengyang Spiritual Treasure Technique

Gu Zhao looked up at Taoist Wu Zhi. "So you study the Shaoyang-Zhengyang lineage, Martial Uncle Wu Zhi?"

Taoist Wu Zhi nodded. "Fang De inherited the Wen Shi lineage, and I studied the Shaoyang lineage. Life was too hard back then, and it was just our master. When things got better, we found a few more children in the village. We had to pass down what our ancestors left us, no matter what."

Gu Zhao looked at the few teenagers gathered around.

"Their talent is only average. It’s incredibly difficult for them to cultivate Inner Breath True Qi," Taoist Fang De said with a sad smile. "But as long as the lineage continues, future generations will eventually produce someone who succeeds and finds their own opportunity. Our master didn’t live to see it, but haven’t we?"

"That’s also because Martial Uncle Fang De went to Louguan Platform and left a message. Otherwise, I would never have known there were masters hidden deep in South Mountain," Gu Zhao said with a smile.

Taoist Fang De’s sadness faded, and he couldn’t help but smile. "It is the Ancestral Court of the Wen Shi Sect, after all. I took my own handwritten copy to Louguan Platform, hoping to see if there were any other transcribed versions of the Wen Shi True Scripture and to exchange notes."

Gu Zhao asked, "There are others working outside the village, aren’t there?"

"A few tested their way out," Taoist Wu Zhi said with relief. "Life is getting better and better."

"Since they are the disciples of two Martial Uncles, they should naturally receive some benefits," Gu Zhao said, patting his gourd. Seven or eight streaks of black light immediately shot out, wrapping around the wrists of the teenagers at the temple entrance.

"These are Golden Gang Bracelets. They will protect you from all evil and save you from death in times of peril. From now on, read the Tao Scriptures diligently and carry on the Dharma Gates of the Wen Shi and Shaoyang lineages."

"Mm-hmm!" The teenagers all nodded in unison.

Gu Zhao waved his hand, and Spiritual Qi filled the air, clearing the bodies of the hundred or so villagers. Only then did he take the two old Daoists and soar into the sky. He then sought out their other disciples who were away, gave them some instructions, and finally returned to Yangcheng, passing through Daluo Palace.

...

"Welcome! Welcome!"

Taoist Qing Ye, Taoist Gu He, and the others had already been at Daluo Palace for a few days. When they heard that old Daoists from the Wen Shi Sect and Shaoyang Sect were crossing over, they hurried to greet them.

The current mainstream Taoist Sects were Quanzhen and Zhengyi. Even if other branches existed, their histories were more recent, not older. Aside from Quanzhen Chunyang and Zhengyi Shangqing, even the Inner Alchemy South Sect or the Fengyue Sect—which they had privately thought to be lost—wouldn’t have shocked them this much.

But the Wen Shi and Shaoyang were simply too ancient.

Not to mention, the Wen Shi lineage could be traced back to the time of Oldzi. Even the Shaoyang Sect’s founder, Wang Xuanfu, was from the Han Dynasty, making him a contemporary of the Celestial Master’s Mansion’s founder.

The saying in the Taoist Alchemy Sect, "Wen Shi is the highest, Shaoyang is the greatest," had established the status of these two lineages.

Everyone knew that Gu Zhao had gone out because he’d heard about an heir to the Wen Shi Sect, but they never expected him to bring back an heir to the Shaoyang Sect as well.

"Qin Province truly lives up to its name as the heart of Celestial Xia. Not only does it have numerous True Dao practitioners, but even the legacies of Ancient Daoism like the Wen Shi and Shaoyang have survived," Taoist Yan Qi remarked with emotion.

"Brother Yan Qi, there’s no need to be so modest. Qingcheng Mountain is also an Ancestral Court of the Taoist Sects, and its foundation is no less profound than that of Qin Province."

"Qin and Shu have been one and the same since ancient times, so there’s really no need for such formalities."

The old Daoists exchanged pleasantries and quickly became fast friends. Taoist Yuan He, as a direct heir of the Pure Yang Sect, made a special point to converse with Taoist Wu Zhi.

Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Ming Chong, who had the highest Dao Practice, took them to the warehouse to collect some Standard Magical Artifacts and also taught them Basic Skills like the Golden Light Curse.

Taoist Fang De rubbed his hands together and asked expectantly, "So, when can we go down the mountain?"

Taoist Qing Ye laughed heartily. "Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t envy us, Brother Fang De?"

Taoist Fang De wasn’t embarrassed at all. He laughed heartily and said, "That was then, this is now!"

Taoist Wu Zhi added, "We two old codgers were hiding away in South Mountain. We knew that opportunities had nothing to do with us, so of course we could be philosophical about it. But now that our chance has arrived, if we don’t work hard, wouldn’t we be wasting the Sect Leader’s Thunder Seed?"

Everyone clapped their hands and laughed.

...

Daluo Palace held a welcoming reception for the new Elders. As the disciples bustled about, Bai Ke sidled up curiously. "How many more Elders are there in the old Daluo Palace grounds? It feels like they’re never-ending."

Gu Zhao was lounging under the Purple Sandalwood Tree. He took the clear tea Zhuo Qingyan handed him and took a light sip. "If they all came out this quickly, would we be doing justice to the Immortals in the various halls?"

Zhuo Qingyan nodded seriously. "With so many Spirit Realm Upper Gods bestowing teachings through Dream Transmission, Daluo Palace is no ordinary Sect. It’s a legacy capable of supporting an entire world."

The Silk Embroideress asked in surprise, "Then why don’t you bring them all out at once, Young Master?"

Before Gu Zhao could answer, Ye Ruyan replied, "Even the Snow Maidens of Snow God Mountain can only descend after they come of age. The legacy of Daluo Palace is profound and mysterious. Naturally, the Elders can only emerge once they’ve achieved a certain level in their Cultivation."

Bi Yingying, sitting to the side, said with great envy, "The Elders have such profound Dao Practice and a deep understanding of divine techniques and the great path of cultivation. Sometimes, a single casual remark from them can lead me to a sudden enlightenment."

Miaoyun Princess, who was painting with Xu Sirou not far away, nodded upon hearing this. She had recently pursued the remnants of Lianshan Prefecture with Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Ming Yu, and their occasional conversations had indeed been very fruitful.

The women had explained it for him, so naturally, Gu Zhao didn’t have to.

He lay back and sipped his tea.