Controlling the Five Thunders and the Two Worlds

Chapter 245: Enjoying Tea and Playing Chess – A Touch of Ancient Style

When Gu Zhao traveled back to the Daluo Palace, he saw Bai Ke, Xiu Niang, He Cailian, and Bi Yingying surrounding Zhuo Qingyan. Just as he was thinking about how to get rid of them, he saw Daoist Jing Hong and Daoist Jing Fa leading another young girl up the mountain.

Gu Zhao: ???
"This is the daughter of the Chen family in Hongliu County, Baishi Prefecture. She's a very pretty girl," said Daoist Jinghong with a smile.

Master Jingfa added, "A wicked cultivator from the county who was in cahoots with ghosts wanted to forcibly marry her, but we saved her."

Chen Zhi bowed gracefully. "Gossip is a fearsome thing, and my family is in turmoil. I have requested to become a disciple of the Daluo Palace. Fortunately, the two elders have granted my request and have been kind enough to take me up the mountain."

Chen Zhi was taken away by Master Fang's wedding procession. Although she returned the next day, rumors circulated and some things were hard to explain. That's why Chen Zhi asked the two old Taoist priests to let her go up the mountain to learn Taoism.

Master Jinghong thought Chen Zhi was of good character and had a pitiful appearance, so he took her up the mountain.

"First, become a disciple in name only. If you have talent, you can cultivate Taoism; if you don't, you can practice martial arts," Master Jinghong instructed her. "There are plenty of female disciples in the palace; we won't lack you for a meal."

Gu Zhao turned to look at Chang Yi, only to see that Chang Yi's eyes were fixed straight ahead, his gaze not lingering on the female disciples in the Daluo Palace, but rather on the surrounding scenery, praising it repeatedly.

Gu Zhao asked the Daoist Qingyuan, who was staying at the Daluo Palace, "Has nothing been happening these past two days?"

Master Qingyuan nodded. “The friend that Yunyang and the others met at Yongning River last time has come to pay their respects. You were busy there, so we didn’t inform you. Senior Brother Yansong and Senior Brother Shenhao will take care of him.”

"Oh?" Gu Zhao was surprised.

On that day, Yun Yang led four old Taoist priests to exorcise demons and encountered a highly skilled spirit lord. They became acquainted after a fight and Yun Yang later invited him to visit the mountain.

Gu Zhao thought the two sides were just being polite, since the other party was a water monster who wouldn't come ashore unless absolutely necessary. He didn't expect the other party to come to visit after only a few days.

"I'll go see them." Gu Zhao nodded, then used his divine sense to inquire of Daoist Yansong, and learned that they were brewing tea, playing chess, and discussing the Dao behind the Daluo Palace.

"It really does have a bit of an ancient Chinese cultivation vibe." Gu Zhao shook his head and chuckled, then waved to Chang Yi, "Come on, let me show you around."

Changyi asked curiously, "Going down the mountain?"

"Let's go up the mountain." Gu Zhao casually pulled Chang Yi up with his true qi. A cloud of white mist gathered beneath their feet, and they leisurely rose into the air, flying towards the mountaintop.

Although it wasn't his first time experiencing it, Changyi was still thrilled. From an overhead view, he saw the magnificent Daluo Palace, Cuishan Town at the foot of the mountain, several surrounding villages and towns, the faintly visible Xiuyue County, and the endless mountains and rivers.

Before he could even get his fill of the show, Gu Zhao led him to a small hill behind Cui Luo Mountain.

This place is actually still within the planned area of ​​the Daluo Palace, and is considered to be on the edge of the Xuanwu Pond in the north. The hilltop has been repaired, a small open space has been cleared, the grass and trees have been trimmed, stone slabs have been laid, and several stone tables have been placed, as well as one with a chessboard carved in crisscrossing patterns.

The game of chess in this world is similar to Go. Although the rules have changed somewhat, the old Taoists quickly learned it. At this moment, Taoist Shenhao was playing chess with a burly man with a bushy beard whom Gu Zhao had never seen before.

Seeing Gu Zhao descend from the sky with Chang Yi, Daoist Yansong, Daoist Shenhao, and Huang Yuan and He Feng, who were accompanying them, all stood up.

"I've met the leader!"

"Good morning!" Gu Zhao greeted him with a smile, then bowed to the burly man who had also stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

Master Yansong introduced the two parties, and Gu Zhao learned that this man was named Lu Zhengtang, who lived in seclusion by the Yongning River, devoted himself to cultivation, and rarely came out of the mountains.

"Hello, Mr. Lu." Gu Zhao cupped his hands in greeting.
"Greetings, Sect Leader Gu." Lu Zhengtang returned the greeting with clasped hands, his voice booming. "I have been away from the palace these past two days on business. Please forgive any neglect."

"Sect Leader Gu is too kind. Master Yansong is highly skilled, Master Shenhao is knowledgeable, and Brother Huang and Brother He are also sincere and warm. I feel at home in the Daluo Palace."

Lu Zhengtang has a rough appearance, but his behavior is very polite, which is quite a contrast.

Gu Zhao gestured for them to continue playing chess, saying, "I won't stand on ceremony, and neither should you."

"Alright, alright!" Gu Zhao said casually, which meant that he considered him a friend. Lu Zhengtang smiled and sat back down at his chessboard. "Brother Shenhao's chess skills are extraordinary. I can't keep up anymore."

Master Shenhao stroked his beard and said, “Brother Lu, you are too modest. We are in the middle of a fierce battle, and I am only slightly ahead. I can’t tell that you are about to give up.”

Gu Zhao, who knew nothing about chess, transmitted his voice to Daoist Yansong, "Does Uncle Shenhao have a significant advantage?"

"It may not seem like much, but it's actually enough." Daoist Yansong nodded. "In chess, if you have an advantage of one or two pieces, as long as you don't make a mistake, it's very difficult for the opponent to recover."

Master Yansong added, "This game of Lu Qi is similar to our Go game. Senior Brother Shenhao is knowledgeable and experienced. This Mr. Lu should be no match for him."

Gu Zhao was relieved and greeted Chang Yi to Daoist Yansong, and also greeted Huang Yuan and He Feng.

Master Yansong chuckled, “You’ve got a good deal, arriving earlier than your master and uncle.”

Changyi scratched his head awkwardly. Master Zhiqing was his master, and Master Zhixiu was his uncle. These two were still diligently cultivating at the Celestial Master's Mansion, while he had come first because of the matter in the United States.

Although Changyi was young, Huang Yuan and He Feng did not dare to underestimate him at all.

As everyone knows, the disciples of the Great Luo Palace who came out of the secluded place of the sect leader did not have very high cultivation levels at the beginning, but their cultivation speed was extremely fast, even far surpassing that of the demons and monsters who were in harmony, which was amazing.

Although no one said it aloud, everyone guessed that the sect leader's hometown was a mysterious and blessed land, which could lay the most solid foundation for his disciples. Therefore, the day he emerged from the mountain would be the day he would shine.

Take Yun Yang for example. When he first arrived, his cultivation was only a few decades, but in just one year, he has already become comparable to Lou Jingou, the guardian star officer who joined the group at the beginning. This shows his potential.

but……

Gu Zhao glanced at Huang Yuan, raising an eyebrow. "Your aura faintly exudes a Daoist charm. Could it be that you have achieved success in your cultivation?"

Huang Yuan's face lit up with joy. "Elder Yansong taught me the methods of cultivation, and I started practicing the Supreme Midnight Breathing Method. I have the hope of breaking through realms and prolonging my life. It is all thanks to the grace of the sect leader and elders!"

Gu Zhao was very satisfied. The Daluo Palace was going to gain another expert, which was a good thing no matter how you looked at it.

A moment later, Lu Zhengtang indeed conceded defeat with two moves. Then everyone enjoyed tea and discussed philosophy until sunset, before returning to the Daluo Palace for a meal.

Lu Zhengtang invited the disciples of the Daluo Palace to visit his water mansion at any time, and then took his leave.

After learning about the recent situation at the Daluo Palace, Gu Zhao returned to his room and went to sleep.

As the moon rose high in the sky, a white shadow flashed by, and then a soundproof barrier rose in the courtyard, fulfilling its intended purpose.

(End of this chapter)