A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 182 Ascending to Heaven
Water Moon Cave, Hell Rock
After Tong Zhan came out, he saw five elders waiting for him. He took the lead and stepped out of the formation, bowing respectfully.

"Thank you, elders."

"Clan leader, you flatter us. This is our duty." The elders all bowed again, saying they dared not accept such praise.

Then Elder Jin came out, looked at the eight wooden boxes neatly arranged on the ground, and said with a smile, "It seems that the clan leader's trip was quite successful. Has the Imperial Sword Manor agreed to this marriage?"

"Elder Jin is right. Master Yin has already agreed. I came back this time to discuss with the elders how to propose marriage?"

Tong Zhan didn't need to be formal in front of his own people, and a smile appeared on his face. Although he had only stayed at Yujian Villa for three days, his feelings for Tianxue had grown deeper and deeper, and he couldn't wait to marry her.

"Clan leader, this is not the place to talk. Let's go to the main hall to discuss this."

Seeing this, Elder Shui suggested that although a defensive array had been set up in this place, the Hell Rock was still churning from time to time, which was still frightening. It was best to be careful.

"Elder Shui is right. Elders, let's go to the main hall to talk."

Tong Zhan nodded upon hearing this, and had the wooden box carried away. He then led the five elders to the main hall. On the way, he also had someone summon the hermit, as this was an important matter and it would be inappropriate to leave him out.

Upon arriving at the main hall, the hermit was already waiting inside. After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats in turn. Tong Zhan looked at the crowd below and said earnestly, "I would like to ask the elders to make a decision on how to carry out the wedding. We must not wrong Tianxue, especially regarding the wedding process and steps. We should simplify as much as possible, but the ceremony must be grand."

Tong Zhan knew that there were many complicated details regarding the clan leader's marriage, which were quite different from those in the martial arts world today. He was worried that going through such a process would displease the Imperial Sword Manor, so he expressed his hope that the process could be simplified.

Upon hearing this, Elder Jin and the others stroked their beards in thought. The clan rules had been in use for hundreds of years, and many of them were no longer appropriate. Even if Tong Zhan hadn't said anything, they would have had to make changes in due time, but they were afraid of provoking opposition.

Now would be a good time to take advantage of Tong Zhan's wedding to cut down those inappropriate clan rules, so that the clansmen wouldn't have much to say.

Elder Jin pondered for a moment and said, "What the clan leader said makes sense. After all, the Tong clan's etiquette is quite different from that of the outside world. Moreover, the Imperial Sword Manor is a famous martial arts family, and they are probably quite tired of those complicated worldly etiquettes. In that case, I have a suggestion. The clan leader and everyone else may listen to it. If there is anything wrong, please point it out."

"Elder Jin, please speak frankly," Tong Zhan said solemnly. After all, two heads are better than one, and with everyone discussing it, they will surely be able to find the most suitable procedure.

Just as Tong Zhan was discussing the wedding process with the elders, Gu Xu had already arrived in Shangyuan Prefecture.

This place suffered from floods and bloodshed hundreds of years ago, causing great suffering to the people. Later, it was only after Gu Xu set up a great formation and passed down several cultivation techniques that it slowly recovered. Now this state is prosperous and thriving, especially the largest part of the state, where spiritual energy is evident, clearly indicating that there are cultivators here.

Moreover, Gu Xu was very familiar with that cultivation method; it was the "Qingyang Demon-Slaying Sword Technique" that he had passed on to Chu Qing.

With a flash, Gu Xu landed in a Taoist temple with an ancient and simple design in the city.

As soon as he landed, the chanting of scriptures in the temple suddenly weakened, and then a sharp sword light rushed over. This sword had no killing intent; it was intended to test him.

Seeing this, Gu Xu pointed his finger and made a stroke. The sword light was like a dragon trapped in shallow water. No matter how it struggled, it could not escape the binding light.

"Who are you, esteemed sir? What brings you to my Wuliang Temple?"

As soon as the voice fell, an old Taoist priest dressed in a black and white robe flew out, holding a gleaming magic sword upside down in his hand.

Qi Yunzi stared solemnly at the figure with his back to him. This person's aura was ethereal and unpredictable, and he was no match for him at all. However, there was no trace of killing intent on the other party, so he should not be here to cause trouble.

Just as Gu Xu turned around, Qi Yunzi's pupils shrank sharply, his expression changed drastically, and he excitedly asked, "Is that Patriarch Gu Xu?"

Qi Yunzi's body trembled uncontrollably. This person's appearance was exactly the same as the portrait of the patriarch enshrined in the temple. No one except the abbot had ever seen this portrait. Therefore, when Qi Yunzi saw Gu Xu, he could not fathom the depth of his cultivation. This was the only guess in his mind.

"Your swordsmanship is quite good. Who is Chu Qing to you?"

"He was indeed my great-grandfather, Daoist Master..."

Upon hearing Gu Xu's words, Qi Yunzi became even more certain that this person was the patriarch, and a questioning look appeared on his face. Gu Xu nodded and said, "Chu Qing is my disciple."

“Disciple Qi Yun greets the Ancestral Master.” Qi Yunzi immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"Get up."

Qi Yunzi felt a gentle force lift him up, and he was incredulous. He was considered one of the top experts in Yuanzhou, but under this force, he was like a naughty child. No wonder he was the founder of the sect.

"Master, please come inside for a chat, so that your disciple may fulfill his filial duty."

Qi Yunzi bowed and invited Gu Xu into the temple, but Gu Xu said, "There's no need for such trouble. I've come here for a private matter. Let me ask you, is the key point of the water vein in Shangyuan Prefecture located in the temple?"

Gu Xu came here for the Shangyuan River. Although the place was set up with a magic array, the array's power had weakened after hundreds of years of erosion. Before leaving, he should repair it.

"Reporting to the Ancestor, the largest water vein node in Shangyuan Prefecture is located within the forbidden area of ​​Wuliang Temple. Would the Ancestor like to go and take a look?"

Upon hearing Gu Xu's words, Qi Yunzi's face flashed with disappointment. However, after hearing about the water vein nodes, Qi Yunzi's expression turned serious, and he led Gu Xu into the forbidden area of ​​the temple.

Along the way, Qi Yunzi explained to Gu Xu that in recent decades, floods in Shangyuan Prefecture have suddenly increased. If Wuliang Temple had not done its best to stop them, there would probably have been considerable casualties.

"Well, back then, Chu Qing only excelled in swordsmanship and had only a superficial understanding of formations. It's already quite remarkable that you've managed to persevere until now. Besides your Wuliang Temple, didn't Song Wen and Ming Shi leave any legacy?"

Upon hearing the patriarch's inquiry, Qi Yunzi immediately replied, "Pavilion Master Song founded the Tianshui Pavilion lineage, but after his death, the Tianshui Pavilion began to decline. In the end, it was implicated in royal affairs and was wiped out a hundred years ago. Even the sect's treasure, the Thunder Spirit Pearl, has disappeared without a trace."

At this point, Qi Yunzi carefully considered his words and said with resentment, "Master Mingshi also founded the Sanyangfu lineage. Although it still exists, its behavior is now just like that of a demon."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xu frowned. After inquiring carefully, he learned that after Zi Mingshi used the Gathering Cloud Flag to cultivate supernatural powers, no one after him could master it. Therefore, later generations took a different approach and went to extremes, cultivating supernatural powers through blood sacrifice. Although their progress was rapid, the hidden dangers were great.

This has led to a situation where, in order to make up for their own deficiencies, they have to increase the intensity of blood sacrifices. Once the vicious cycle starts, it is impossible to stop. Blood sacrifices are prevalent in the areas under the jurisdiction of Sanyang Prefecture, and there is even a trend of spreading to the entire Shangyuan Prefecture.

"Master, please forgive me. This Sanyang Prefecture has a close relationship with the dynasty. Even Wuliang Temple can only try its best to protect half of the prefecture and maintain the water vein nodes. If it weren't for its large size and resources, Wuliang Temple would not have been able to hold on."

"I see. The younger generation's disrespect has tarnished the ancestors' reputation. Well then, let's deal with the water vein issue first."

The patriarch's indifferent tone startled Qi Yun. The Sanyang Prefecture was bound to be in trouble. However, he was also overjoyed. If the patriarch took action, the gloomy atmosphere in Shangyuan Prefecture could be swept away.

After a while, Qi Yunzi and Gu Xu arrived in front of a bronze gate, which was engraved with countless strange patterns that shimmered with a ghostly light and looked mysterious and unpredictable. In the center was a Tai Chi Bagua diagram, with two black and white jade beads inlaid in the eyes of the yin and yang fish.

Qi Yun bowed to Gu Xuxing, took out a jade token from his pocket, and held it up to the Tai Chi Bagua diagram. A ball of light appeared from the Bagua, and beams of silver light continuously gathered from the bronze door, finally pouring into the two black and white jade beads.

The two beads suddenly lit up, and with a click, the bronze door slowly opened to both sides. The moment the bronze door opened, a cold air rushed out from inside.

Despite being prepared, Qi Yunzi was still hit by the cold air, and his protective aura condensed into frost at a visible speed, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

Upon seeing this, Gu Xu flashed with golden light, and a ball of intense light enveloped the two of them. Qi Yunzi felt the chill in his body disappear, as if he were bathing in a hot spring, and even the true energy in his body became very active.

"Thank you, Patriarch."

Little did he know that he had actually benefited from this; in just a short while, he had already made up for several days of arduous training.

"go in."

Gu Xu gave a faint reply, and Qi Yunzi responded in agreement, holding the jade token in his hand and slowly moving forward. The interior of the bronze gate was originally dark and cold, but under the protection of Gu Xu's Hao Ri Golden Sun, no abnormality could be felt at all. Qi Yunzi used his true energy to activate the jade token in his hand, and a straight silver light shot straight ahead.

Gu Xu looked up and saw a huge spherical magic artifact there, which was still running, but at a very slow speed, and a thick layer of frost had condensed on it.

After a short while, the two finally arrived at a platform, below which was a bottomless abyss, and the spherical magic artifact was floating on it, with golden light flashing from time to time.

"This is the Water Element Celestial Instrument. The craftsmanship here is not only the work of Wuliang Temple, but also of Tianshui Pavilion and Sanyang Prefecture."

After examining it for a moment, Qi Yunzi quickly figured out the details. This thing was recorded in the temple's books. It was a special item used to dredge water veins and earth energy. It was very difficult to refine. The precious materials used were secondary. The key was that it required three top-level experts to refine it together, and there could be no mistakes during the process.

"This thing has existed for hundreds of years and has been eroded by the frost and cold energy of the water veins. If it is not stopped, it will surely collapse within a hundred years. You should step back."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunzi hurriedly retreated.

Gu Xu examined the "Water Element Celestial Instrument" closely and discovered that it used water to control water, while simultaneously gathering the spiritual energy of the earth's veins and using earth to overcome water. The two forces worked together, and with the array that Gu Xu had set up earlier, the water vein nodes had been suppressed for hundreds of years.

"Success is due to water, and failure is also due to water."

Over the past few centuries, the hydrological conditions have changed dramatically. If this object hadn't been supplemented by the earth's spiritual energy, it would have been difficult to accomplish anything with just a few undercurrents.

Gu Xu stretched out his hand, and a ball of golden sun rose above the Water Element Celestial Instrument. When the golden light of the sun shone on it, the frost that had not melted for years instantly melted away, turning into drops of deep black water that fell into the abyss.

At the same time, Gu Xu threw several fire crystals engraved with array patterns onto the celestial instrument, and made several hand seals to connect with the earth valley fire veins, using the earth abyss flames to evaporate water vapor.

"What incredible supernatural power! The patriarch's actions are truly extraordinary. If I could learn even a fraction of it, my life would be complete."

Qi Yunzi watched the golden light continuously blooming in the distance, and an astonishing aura kept shaking his mind. He didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly the depths of the abyss ahead became as bright as day. A roar entered Qi Yunzi's ears, causing his chest to tighten and his face to turn pale.

"It's an Abyssal Water Dragon!"

Gu Xu looked calmly at the water dragon formed by the water flow in front of him. Although the water dragon was powerful, it was still bound by its form. Once it left the abyss water vein, it would be reduced to its original form.

"If you stay put, I will not only spare your spirituality, but also give you some benefits. Otherwise, just in case, I will have to take action, lest you bring ruin to the entire Shangyuan Prefecture one day."

The water dragon, already possessing sentience, naturally sensed the astonishing aura emanating from Gu Xu. After he finished speaking, the faint killing intent made the water dragon very uneasy. After circling several times, the water dragon lowered its head and let out a soft howl, indicating its willingness to cooperate.

Seeing this, Gu Xu smiled slightly, reached out and drew a black divine rune. After the rune took shape, he threw it at the water dragon. The dragon neither dodged nor avoided it, but accepted it. After just one look, it knew the wonderful use of the rune.

This item is called the "Imperial Decree Talisman," which is specifically used to confer titles upon a deity. If this water dragon obtains this item and focuses on the well-being of the people, the talisman will naturally grant it unexpected benefits. In the future, it may even be able to break free from its shackles and become a true celestial dragon, transcending boundaries and ascending to heaven—this is not impossible.

"Go."

Gu Xu touched the water dragon's horns, and the water dragon raised its head and then plunged into the depths of the abyss.

Having resolved the issue of the water veins, Gu Xu finally accomplished his last remaining task.

"Qi Yun, I will not interfere in the affairs of Sanyang Prefecture. You will need to handle that yourself. However, this book contains many superior sword techniques. If you study them diligently in the future, it will not be difficult for you to overwhelm Sanyang Prefecture."

Gu Xu pointed his finger, and a blue book appeared in a ball of spiritual light, automatically floating in front of Qi Yunzi. The latter respectfully accepted it, and saw the four words "Slaying Gold Sword Technique" written on the cover, along with a sharp aura that could not be ignored.

"Thank you for your generous reward, Master. I will definitely dedicate myself to cultivation and live up to your expectations."

Gu Xu nodded, and with a flash of golden light, he disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already in the Imperial Sword Manor.

At this moment, the Imperial Sword Manor was very lively. Although the Tong family tried their best to avoid complicated procedures, after some discussion, there were still more than ten steps. Now they have finally reached the last step.

"Tong Zhan and Tian Xue can be considered to have achieved their goal, but Long Bo's marriage may encounter some twists and turns. As the young master of Longze Manor, he should at least choose a person of equal social standing. Although Dou Dou is clever and mischievous, she may not be noticed by Longze."

It was fate that allowed Dou Dou to be with Long Bo, but now that fate is over, there is no longer any connection between them. What's even more troublesome is that Dou Dou and Zhu'er broke into the manor to save Zhao Yun, killing and injuring several people. If it weren't for this joyous occasion, the two of them would definitely not have gotten away with it.

"Let's leave it to fate."

Gu Xu took one last look at the Imperial Sword Manor, then his figure flashed and headed towards Lianyun Prefecture.

Qingcha Peak, Zhenwu Hall

Gu Xu's figure landed in front of the hall, and several stewards hurriedly came over to pay their respects.

"I've met the palace master."

"Go and invite Elder Liu and the others over. Tell them I have something to tell them."

"Yes." A steward responded and hurriedly went to invite the elders.

After a short while inside the hall, Elder Liu and the others arrived together. Upon seeing Gu Xu, they exchanged glances, seemingly sensing an unusual aura.

"I've met the palace master."

"Please, everyone, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."

After Elder Liu finished bowing and took his seat, he asked first, "I wonder what instructions the Palace Master has given us?" In recent years, Gu Xu has either been in seclusion or traveling, and they have been handling all the affairs of the True Martial Palace. So, they were really puzzled by the sudden summons.

"I have called you here today because I have completed my merits and will soon ascend to heaven. There are things I need to explain to you."

Upon hearing this, Elder Liu and the others immediately stood up in shock, looking at Gu Xu at the head of the table with horrified expressions. Although they knew that their Palace Master had already achieved great success, they were still extremely shocked to hear these words.

"Congratulations to the Palace Master on the completion of your merits and attainment of immortality."

Elder Liu and the others offered their congratulations at the same time, but Gu Xu waved his hand and asked them to sit down.

"I don't have much time, so I'll just say three things. First, no one in the Zhenwu Hall is allowed to participate in martial arts disputes without a valid reason. Anyone who violates this rule will have their cultivation abolished and be expelled from the sect. Second, no one in the Zhenwu Hall is allowed to do anything perverse or rebellious. Anyone who violates this rule will be punished by heaven and earth. Third, anyone who has cultivated to the Tongxuan realm is not allowed to participate in the sect's mundane affairs. They must all go to the underground secret vault for secluded cultivation. Anyone who violates this rule will have their cultivation dissipated and their spirit destroyed."

Elder Liu and the others exchanged glances. These three conditions were not unacceptable to them, but since the Palace Master had done so, he must have his reasons. They immediately agreed.

Gu Xu pointed his finger, and a ball of spiritual light spread out, turning into a jade tablet on which were written the three rules he had spoken of. Then, Gu Xu cut his finger and dripped a drop of blood into it. A golden pattern appeared, and the jade tablet suddenly transformed into a palm-sized token, which, guided by Gu Xu, landed on the main beam of the Zhenwu Hall.

"Anyone who violates these three rules will have their name revealed by this card when it glows red. It's up to you then."

Upon seeing this, Elder Liu and the others all bowed respectfully and repeatedly said they dared not accept such a thing.

"The time has come."

Gu Xu spoke calmly, and Elder Liu and the others saw the Palace Master radiate a dazzling golden light. A golden pillar of light shot into the sky, visible even in other states. Half a moment later, the golden pillar of light dissipated, and the person on the jade throne had vanished. Only the jade tablet emitted a clear light.

(End of this chapter)