A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 181 Before Departure
Long Bo noticed the unusual behavior of the Spirit Gathering Pearl. With a thought, he quickly stepped out of the pavilion and respectfully bowed to Gu Xu, who was walking towards him.

"Greetings, Taoist Master."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xu glanced at Long Bo, then at the Heavenly Flood Dragon Sword and the Spirit Gathering Pearl he wore. He immediately knew the newcomer's identity and nodded, saying, "You are Long Bo."

“This junior is Long Bo. Daoist, I am here on my father’s orders. Please come into the manor for a chat.”

"Yes, lead the way. It's been a long time since I've been here."

"Taoist Master, please."

Long Bo's heart stirred, and he gestured to lead the way. At this moment, he was somewhat annoyed. He should have prepared a carriage. It was really improper for such an honored guest to walk to the manor.

Just as Long Bo was pondering, he saw a familiar carriage approaching in the distance, followed by a group of guards. Upon seeing this, Long Bo immediately apologized to Gu Xu and quickly went to greet it.

"Uncle Ming, did Father send you?"

The newcomer was none other than Long Ming, the manor's head steward. He was tall with piercing eyes and possessed considerable cultivation. His ancestors for four generations had served the Long family. Later, due to their great contributions, they were granted the surname Long. When Long Bo got into trouble as a child, Long Ming was the one who helped clean up the mess. Therefore, Long Bo respected him greatly.

"Young Master, it was you who sent me here. We cannot be too shabby to welcome such an honored guest."

Long Ming got off the carriage, bowed to Long Bo, and then explained that before he left, Long Ze had solemnly instructed him not to be too flamboyant and to be respectful. For this reason, he had specially taken out the five-colored dragon carriage.

Long Ming had followed Long Ze for many years and had never seen him like this before. He immediately became extremely alert and looked at Gu Xu not far away. There was clearly a person there, but he could not sense the other person's aura at all. Long Ming was shocked.

"This Taoist priest's cultivation must be extremely profound, beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals like myself."

"Greetings, Daoist Master. I am acting on the orders of the Patriarch. Please get in the carriage and proceed to the mountain villa."

"Thank you for everything." Gu Xu didn't stand on ceremony. He nodded to the two of them, turned around, and got into the carriage. Once inside, he found that the interior was extremely luxurious. It was covered with black fox fur, hung with gold silk curtains, and had a sandalwood table with a dragon-patterned tripod and burning incense. There were four mutton-fat jade cups surrounding a cold jade dragon pot, and three exquisite wooden boxes next to the sandalwood table containing various delicacies. The aroma was so enticing that it made one's mouth water.

Seeing Gu Xu enter the carriage, Long Bo also mounted a tall, fine horse, called out to Long Ming, and the group quickly and steadily returned to the manor.

Half an hour later, the carriage finally stopped in front of a stone gate tower, which was Longze Manor.

"Master, we have arrived at the villa. Please get out of the carriage and come inside."

Long Bo dismounted, clasped his hands in a respectful salute to the inside, and said in a respectful voice. Then he reached out and lifted the carriage curtain, and Gu Xu walked out from inside.

Looking at the magnificent gatehouse of the mountain villa in front of him, exquisite in every detail, Gu Xu couldn't help but admire it, especially the powerful couplet, which stirred his heart.

"The dragon soars across the five lakes and four seas, its blessings spreading throughout the nine provinces."

After reading it aloud, Gu Xu turned to look at Long Bo and chuckled, "It seems your father had high expectations for you. The four characters 'Bo Zhao Gu Jin' (博照古今) are indeed well-deserved."

"You flatter me, Daoist Master. I, Longbo, am unworthy of such praise."

"This is not an overstatement. I am somewhat knowledgeable in physiognomy and fortune-telling. You are destined for great things in the future. The signs of a hidden dragon have already appeared. You are just waiting for the right time to soar to the sky, and it is not just empty talk to make you a dragon that will roam the four seas and dominate the nine provinces."

Since his fate was altered, Longbo's prowess has grown day by day. Now he is a hidden dragon in the abyss, and nothing can stop him.

"Then I'll take your kind words to heart, Daoist Master. Please come into the manor for a chat. My father is surely already waiting."

Long Bo gestured and led Gu Xu into the manor. As soon as they passed through the gate, they saw Long Ze and the elders of the family lined up to greet them. When they saw Gu Xu appear, they all bowed down and were very respectful.

With a gentle wave of his sleeve, Gu Xu lifted everyone present up.

“Master Long, there’s no need for such formalities. I’ve come here on some private matters.”

Long Ze was shocked when he felt that effortless power. He was already one of the top masters in the martial arts world, but he was still no match for the Taoist priest. Such cultivation was truly something to aspire to.

"Master, please come in and have some tea."

Long Ze bowed again and led Gu Xu into the main hall. Knowing that Gu Xu disliked formalities, Long Ze had two elders accompany him, and only Long Bo stayed behind.

"The Dragon Manor Master is renowned, truly a case of a tiger father begetting a dog son. The young manor master is full of vigor and talent, and will surely surpass his master in the future."

Hearing Gu Xu praise Long Bo, Long Ze was very happy. His child was indeed a rare genius. No matter what he learned, he picked it up very quickly. In particular, he had already mastered the Dragon God Skill at the age of twenty.

You should know that when he was his age, he had only just reached the fourth level. Given time, Long Bo might be able to break through the nine heavenly barriers like his ancestor Long Teng and become a well-deserved Dragon God.

"Bo'er, haven't you always wanted to know the origin of the precious pearl on your body? This was made by Daoist Gu Xu. Why don't you come over and thank him?"

Upon hearing this, Long Bo's eyes widened in shock. It turned out that the Spirit Gathering Pearl was made by the Taoist priest. No wonder it had such miraculous effects. Tong Zhan had told him the name of the Spirit Gathering Pearl, but when he tried to ask for more details, Tong Zhan and the elders all remained silent.

"Longbo thanks you for your gift, Daoist Master."

The reason why my cultivation progress is so fast is because of this precious pearl; otherwise, I would have to slowly polish it over time, just like my father.

"This thing was destined for you. It chose you when you were born, and now it seems you have not let it down. Very good, very good."

Gu Xu told him to stand up. Looking at the increasingly transparent Spirit Gathering Pearl on his neck, he nodded repeatedly. When this thing was first made, it was purplish-blue in color, but now it has become like glass. This must be the result of daily diligent cultivation and the nourishment of true qi.

Pearls and people complement each other and benefit from each other. No matter how good a treasure is, if it falls into the hands of an unambitious person, it will be like a pearl gathering dust. This is not a waste of Gu Xu's painstaking efforts.

"Master, is there something important that you have come here? If you need anything, please feel free to give your orders, and Longze will do his best to help you."

Long Ze was eager for Gu Xu to stay at the manor for a few more days. There was also some selfish motive behind this. As Long Bo's cultivation improved, he could no longer help him much and could only rely on Gu Xu to comprehend things on his own. However, Long Ze was also worried that Gu Xu would go astray. Wasting time was secondary; the key issue was that Gu Xu would go astray on important matters, and if that happened, Long Ze would have nowhere to turn to for help.

"I have come here for two reasons: first, to borrow your manor's Divine Dragon Sword; and second, to complete a certain obligation."

"I see. The Divine Dragon Sword is enshrined in the ancestral hall. Whenever you need it, I will offer it to you. As for the other matter, please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything."

Long Ze didn't bother to find out what the bearing was, and readily agreed.

"Then thank you very much, Master Long. There's no rush. I can stay here for half a month. I see that Long Bo is currently at a critical juncture. If Master Long doesn't mind, I can offer some guidance during this time."

"Thank you, Taoist Priest!"

Long Ze hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply. This was a wonderful thing that he couldn't ask for. Long Bo also looked delighted and bowed down with his father.

"Bo'er, give the order to prepare Longteng Pavilion. From now on, the Daoist will live there."

Longbo immediately agreed and then left the main hall to prepare.

"You may leave as well," Long Ze said to the two elders, who bowed and then left one after the other.

"Master, may I ask why you have been using the Divine Dragon Sword for so long?"

Although they knew the Taoist priest's abilities, the Divine Dragon Sword was, after all, a legacy of the Dragon Clan. It was more than just a divine weapon; it was a symbol. If it were damaged, it would inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the people below.

"Since I need to borrow the Divine Dragon Sword, my purpose is naturally to explain to the Master of the Manor that I have searched all over Tianhua Prefecture for the dragon vein and have made some progress. However, this newly formed dragon vein is still very weak and is easily harmed by the polluted energy. Therefore, I wish to use the Divine Dragon Sword to protect it."

Gu Xu was also helpless. He originally wanted to forge a protective divine weapon himself, but each of his three attempts had flaws, which forced him to set his sights on the Divine Dragon Sword. This item was made of the rare Dragon Pattern Heavenly Steel, unsealed with the lifeblood of the Dragon Clan's ancestors, and later made even purer by the power of the Tong Clan's Spirit Mirror. After hundreds of years of nurturing, it had long been a spiritual object, and since this sword had always been close to dragon energy, it was the most suitable weapon to protect the nascent dragon vein.

"I see. You are so kind, Daoist Master. It is the sword's good fortune to be valued by you. I will now hand over the Divine Dragon Sword to you."

Long Ze was taken aback when he heard Gu Xu's explanation, but then he was overjoyed. The benefits of this dragon vein were self-evident, especially since it was a growing dragon vein. If the Long family could gain even a little bit of benefit from it, it would be enough to protect the Long clan for a hundred years.

After glancing at Gu Xu, Long Ze immediately understood that the Daoist was intentionally giving the Long family a chance.

"It is thanks to the early acquaintance of the Dragon Soaring Ancestor who gifted the Daoist the Dragon God Skill. Otherwise, the Daoist would not have achieved this. It is truly a matter of fate."

"Master, please wait a moment, I'll be right back." Long Ze stood up, apologized, and had tea and snacks brought to him before quickly walking to the ancestral hall.

There were four guards outside the ancestral hall. When they saw Long Ze coming, they all bowed respectfully, opened the door, and Long Ze nodded to them before stepping inside.

Inside the main hall of the ancestral temple, incense smoke filled the air. On the table in the center, the Divine Dragon Sword was placed. Long Ze reached out, picked it up, and drew the sword. A cold light flashed, and the frost-like gleam was dazzling. A dragon-shaped aura kept flowing within the sword.

Whether you can obtain this fortune depends on you.

After offering incense to his ancestors, Long Ze quickly returned to the main hall and presented the Divine Dragon Sword.

"Master, the Divine Dragon Sword is here."

Gu Xu accepted the sword with both hands. The scabbard was simple and unadorned, but it had an ancient charm. As he drew the sword, Gu Xu's eyes narrowed slightly. This sword was much more powerful than the one he had seen before. Not only was it spiritual, but even the quality of the blade had improved considerably.

Even though it's not as good as his own Azure Thunder Sword, it's still one of the top weapons in the martial arts world.

Returning the sword to its sheath, Gu Xu said to Long Ze, "Master Long, now that we have obtained this sword, let's seize the day. I will return it in three days. Farewell."

Although the dragon vein was marked with a secret symbol, things are unpredictable, so it's best to resolve it as soon as possible.

"Then I wish you a safe journey, Taoist priest."

Long Ze knew that Gu Xu would return sooner or later, so he didn't say anything about staying. Gu Xu nodded to him, walked out of the main hall, and disappeared in a flash of golden light.

"What incredible supernatural power!" Long Ze was extremely shocked.

After leaving Longze Manor, Gu Xu traveled by stealth for half an hour and arrived at a verdant valley. In the center of the valley was a lake, not large in area, but with clear water that could be seen to the bottom.

Gu Xu looked down at the lake below, reached out and summoned a small blue flag wrapped in lightning. The moment the flag was withdrawn, the lake seemed to boil, with fist-sized bubbles constantly rising and increasing until they quickly covered the entire lake.

"It seems this dragon vein has quite a temper. Let's go."

As Gu Xu drew the Divine Dragon Sword and poured his true energy into it, the sword suddenly shone brightly, as if a sword light had streaked across the sky and plunged straight into the lake. A tender dragon's roar came from the lake.

With a whoosh, the Divine Dragon Sword flew out of his hand and plunged into the lake. As soon as the sword entered the water, the bubbles that kept rising gradually decreased. In just a moment, all the bubbles on the surface of the lake disappeared. However, the color of the lake water suddenly deepened, turning completely black, making it impossible to see anything below.

Gu Xu frowned slightly as he watched the strange changes in the lake, but then relaxed. Although this dragon vein was newly born, it was already sentient. The more it was forcibly suppressed, the more it resisted. It was even possible that it would dissipate if it sensed danger.

"Looking across the entire Tianhua, only this place has the most vigorous dragon vein energy. If you want peace for the next few hundred years, this place is the best choice. As for what will happen a few hundred years from now, I can't control that. It depends on your own destiny."

After waiting for four hours, the lake water finally changed. The lake surface seemed to be cut open by a sharp blade, surging to both sides and revealing the lake bottom. Suddenly, a sharp beam of light flew out from it, heading towards Gu Xu like lightning.

"It seems they've gained quite a bit of benefit."

Gu Xu saw that the sword light was solid and sharp, yet also quite agile, which must be a benefit bestowed by the dragon vein.

With a wave of his hand, the Divine Dragon Sword circled around Gu Xu a few times before obediently falling and lying horizontally in front of Gu Xu.

Gu Xu reached out and clenched his fist, closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them. It turned out that the Divine Dragon Sword had cleared away all the impurities at the bottom of the lake and left behind six sword energies for protection.

In return, the dragon vein infused a wisp of earth spirit energy into the sword, enabling the Divine Dragon Sword to take its final step. Given time, it will surely manifest its spirit and become a true spiritual sword.

"It's time to leave."

Gu Xu had been in this world for far too long. Although the great calamity had been averted, it was not completely resolved. He sensed that another cycle would begin in a few hundred years, and the great calamity would reappear then, but that was no longer his concern.

The fact that this world could protect this nascent dragon vein to some extent was already the greatest tolerance this world could show him. Only after he cultivated to the primordial spirit realm did he realize that this great calamity of heaven and earth was actually to eliminate the hidden dangers of the world and bring about new life.

Because of its involvement, these hidden dangers were resolved in advance. Although this was good for the creatures of this world, it was very bad for the world consciousness. Without experiencing a calamity, it could not complete its transformation. If it could not complete its transformation, this world would become extremely fragile. Once external forces intervened, it might cause unforeseen consequences.

"Very well, consider this my debt to you, and I will give you this Life Spirit Stone as compensation."

Gu Xu took out a green crystal from his sleeve, glanced at it one last time, and threw it into the lake. The moment the crystal hit the water, a golden carp leaped out of the water, carrying the crystal in its mouth.

The golden carp then plunged into the water, splashing up a few sprays before disappearing from sight.

Gu Xu sensed that the dragon vein energy was beginning to absorb life force, so he casually set up a defensive array. After doing so, he vanished in a flash and headed towards Shangyuan Continent.

Tong Zhan had been staying at the Imperial Sword Manor for three days. On this day, Steward Li invited Tong Zhan to the main hall, saying that the manor lord had something to discuss with him.

After thanking Steward Li, Tong Zhan entered the main hall, where he saw four clan elders sitting on either side, in addition to Yin Hao and Yin Jun.

"Greetings, Master Yin, Second Master Yin, and all the seniors."

Tong Zhan bowed respectfully, and the others rose to return the greeting. The mere fact that he was the patriarch of the Tong clan was enough for them to take him seriously.

“Nephew, I have invited you here today to discuss your marriage with my daughter. I have already agreed, and we have set the date for the fifth day of next month, which is an auspicious day. You may go back and discuss with the elders of your clan to choose a date for the betrothal.”

Yin Hao had put in a lot of effort over the past three days, spending a great deal of energy to subtly and carefully verify Tong Zhan's identity and background. When he learned that Tong Zhan was the next clan leader, Yin Hao was very shocked, but then he felt relieved.

"Thank you, Uncle. I will go back and discuss it with my elders."

Tong Zhan was overjoyed upon hearing this, but he only smiled on the surface. This made the Yin clan elders beside him stroke their beards and laugh. "Not bad, not bad. He has a calm and unhurried personality, good character, and considerable cultivation. He is also handsome and comes from a prestigious family. He and Tian Xue are a perfect match. This is an excellent marriage."

"These are some things I prepared for you. Please pass them on to me, my dear nephew. I will be waiting here for your good news."

Seeing Tong Zhan's expression, Yin Hao nodded in satisfaction. He clapped his hands, and more than a dozen guards carried in seven or eight boxes. When they were opened, they didn't contain any gold or silver treasures, but rather some books, medicinal herbs, and ornaments. Although there was no trace of money in them, these items alone were worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.

"Thank you very much, Uncle. I am unworthy of your thanks. I will take my leave now."

After bowing respectfully, Tong Zhan reached out and took out a crystal. A flash of light appeared, and a vortex suddenly appeared in the sky above the courtyard, with lightning surging and wind and clouds rushing within.

As everyone was still in shock, Tong Zhan explained, "This is a teleportation array of my clan, so there's no need for you to panic."

As he spoke, Tong Zhan placed the seven or eight boxes one by one below. To everyone's astonishment, the wooden boxes were swept in one after another. After the last box was inside, Tong Zhan clasped his hands in a salute to everyone, leaped up, and quickly disappeared.

After Tong Zhan's figure disappeared, the vortex gradually shrank until it disappeared completely.

(End of this chapter)