Chapter 231: 213 Scheming, Part 1

“My master’s unwillingness…?” Zhang Rongfang squinted his eyes, watching the other person continuously stuffing pieces of the spiciest stinky tofu into their mouth.

The bright red chili powder was wrapped around the golden yellow tofu pieces, like a burning hot iron.

Just looking at it made one’s gums ache.

But Yan Shuang didn’t mind at all, eating while huffing and puffing from the spiciness.

“Wait for it, it won’t be long before there’s news. But you have to be prepared mentally,” Yan Shuang said while eating.

She actually didn’t expect that this Zhang Ying would come this far.

Compared to the ordinary Spirit Envoy of the Golden Wing Pavilion months ago, his current identity as a Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching was much higher.

“…” Zhang Rongfang shook his head slightly.

With his current status, he couldn’t imagine what power could affect him to free him from the supervision of his master.

His master Chongxuan, in the Great Dao Teaching, was almost at the highest level.

With such a status and power, even if Zhenyi Sect or the Western Sect of Buddhism intervened, it would hardly make an influence.

Especially after understanding that the real Great Dao Teaching was far from the seemingly harmonious and ordinary sect it used to be.

Zhang Rongfang understood his situation even more clearly.

Unless…

Suddenly, his eyes moved, thinking of a possibility.

“Alright, I’m here just to inform you, so you won’t be too surprised when the time comes. Just remember to cooperate,” Yan Shuang said with a slight smile.

“…” Zhang Rongfang said nothing more, just watched as the other finished the stinky tofu, stood up, waved at him, and left.

Watching Yan Shuang walk out of the small shop and disappear into the crowd.

He also stood up, initially intending for a stroll, but now he no longer had the mood for it.

He just didn’t know.

As soon as Yan Shuang left the small shop, she quickened her pace, rushing towards the outskirts of the city.

Unfortunately, she didn’t get far.

On the pedestrian walkway ahead, amidst the coming and going of people, two strong figures in black Daoist robes were already blocking her path.

In the crowd, the two seemed to walk freely, but their direction was closing in on her.

And their eyes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, kept a close watch on her.

Yan Shuang’s mouth twisted slightly, and she slightly turned her head.

Behind her were also two black-robed men approaching.

To the left was a wall.

To the right, a man with a scarred face, indifferent expression, and hollow eyes, walked over slowly.

It was okay earlier, but seeing the scarred man now, Yan Shuang suddenly felt her hair stand on end; without thinking, she turned and fled.

She took a few steps along the wall to the left, flipped over, and climbed onto the window above.

The others didn’t expect her to escape the encirclement this way, and quickly sped up to follow her.

Yan Shuang swiftly flew past others’ houses, and dashed out of another window.

Her posture was graceful and swift, but although she appeared relaxed, she was quite tense inside.

The brief contact with Zhang Ying earlier seemed simple and ordinary, she maintained a mysterious, enigmatic demeanor.

Now it’s different… pretending to be cool was momentarily satisfying, but now it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

’I just knew that the task that no one else wanted, if given to me, there must be an issue!’ Yan Shuang sighed in her heart.

At this point, she fully realized Zhang Ying’s current status in the Great Dao Teaching.

Just a small encounter, and she felt a sharp, terrifying gaze watching her every moment.

Then after the encounter, not even ten seconds later, so many experts emerged to surround her…

Since the collapse of the Eastern Sect, the Great Dao Teaching seems to be starting to reveal their hidden strength.

Thinking about this, Yan Shuang’s body technique, inherited from King Yan and Yan Xi, allowed her to flip in mid-air, gracefully descending from the second floor, using her hand on the wall for leverage, and leaping more than ten meters away.

In the alley below, two women who were hanging clothes only saw a shadow flash above their heads, looked up, but saw nothing.

*

*

*

The stroll didn’t happen, Zhang Rongfang returned to the Celestial Treasure Palace, pondering over the information Yan Shuang mentioned.

Chongxuan treated him well, and he couldn’t leave the Great Dao Teaching, so how should he break free of the current restraints in this situation?

Originally, he thought that this matter might take a long time to gradually brew.

But unexpectedly, the opportunity mentioned by Yan Shuang came so quickly.

However, he wasn’t in a hurry; it was impossible for him to leave the Great Dao Teaching, but if there were other methods, he might accept them.

October 22nd.

In the Longsheng Hall of Celestial Treasure Palace.

An unexpected visitor forced Zhang Rongfang to drop everything and come to handle it.

In the evening, the sky outside was overcast, thick clouds like cotton, making it hard to breathe.

Under the guidance of a Daoist attendant, Zhang Rongfang quickly stepped into Longsheng Hall.

This was a small hall specifically for meetings with honored guests and internal members of the Dao Palace.

To be precise, most of the time, it received people from within the palace.

“Rumors don’t compare to reality; I thought it was just a false reputation, but seeing Daoist Qiankun in person truly surprises us,” said the speaker, in a sharp voice, white-faced without a beard, tall and slender, with a calm and gentle demeanor.

It was obviously a fire official from the palace.

“Eunuch, you flatter me,” Zhang Rongfang cupped his hands, he was practicing the Cultivation of Literature when suddenly summoned here.

He was told that someone from the palace wanted to see him.

Only, he didn’t expect it to be a fire official.

In the Great Spirit, only the close eunuchs serving the Spirit Emperor could be called initiates.

In other words, initiates in a certain sense represent the current sovereign’s henchmen and attendants.

Many things, the Spirit Emperor is unwilling to clearly decree, are conveyed secretly through initiates.

At this moment, an initiate sought out him, a mere non-authoritative figure in the Great Dao Teaching….

Zhang Rongfang, although somewhat guessing, quickly raised his vigilance at this moment.

“I am Daoist Qiankun, paying respects to Eunuch.

If I remember correctly, Daoist and Eunuch have never met, right? I wonder why you wish to see me…”

“Our family name is Li, given name Xuance. Just call me Eunuch Li.” The visitor responded straightforwardly.

“Isn’t it from hearing rumors that Old Yue of Celestial Treasure Palace has accepted an excellent disciple, happened to be free, so came to take a look?”

Li Xuance looks not old, apparently in his thirties, wearing red casual clothes, with white floral patterns on both arms, a black rhinoceros horn belt at the waist, not seeming like a Martial Artist.

“Not an excellent disciple, Qiankun’s talent is ordinary, you might laugh at that.” Zhang Rongfang said humbly.

“Laugh at? Qiankun, you truly underestimate yourself too much.” Li Xuance laughed. “If you successfully enter the later stage of Refining God, the Great Dao Teaching will inevitably prosper in the future. It can be said, the present you might decide the rise and fall of the whole Great Dao Teaching in the next few decades.”

Without waiting for Zhang Rongfang to reply, he continued: “Of course, whether it was the Eastern Sect before, or the Great Dao Teaching now, both naturally are towering trees.

But how can even the tallest tree compare to the sky beyond the tree?”

“You speak truly, Eunuch.” Zhang Rongfang nodded.

“Qiankun, Qiankun, it is evident how much hope Old Yue places in you. And your talent indeed does not disappoint.

Both cultivation in literature and martial arts have reached a very high degree at this age. Truly a paragon of both!”

In our Great Spirit, having someone of your natural capability, what worry is there for not prospering in the future?”

“Eunuch overly praises. I am just an ordinary person, even if with some talent, how can I represent the prosperity of the Great Spirit in the future?” Zhang Rongfang quickly replied.

“Qiankun, indeed, with your talent and conditions, wherever you go, you’ll be radiant like the sun.” Li Xuance smiled.

He walked slowly to Zhang Rongfang’s side, lowering his voice.

“Moreover, the realm of Supreme Bright Void Skill is not necessarily exclusive to the Celestial Venerable Yujing’s faction.

As the saying goes, birds choosing good trees, trees choosing fine birds. In this world, you must think clearly.”

Zhang Rongfang instantly understood his meaning.

This is the Spirit Court sending someone to entice him.

Since Supreme Bright Void Skill has no restriction on deifying, then why must it be Great Dao Teaching’s Celestial Venerable Yujing?

Since one must deify, why not worship the strongest one?

The meaning Li Xuance conveyed was very clear.

This is an unreserved recruitment effort.

“Thank you for your kindness, Eunuch. Great Dao Teaching is good, Celestial Treasure Palace is also good. Qiankun is simply a person without great ambition, such peacefulness and inaction, cultivating oneself and one’s nature, is not also life’s pleasure?” Zhang Rongfang answered without hesitation.

“Indeed, as they say, each person has their own aspirations, each has what they need. Self-cultivation and nature are naturally good. Of course…. people also change continuously as they age.” Li Xuance laughed.

“Daoist Qiankun only needs to remember, our family’s words are always valid.”

“Thank you, Eunuch.” Zhang Rongfang cupped his hands in salute.

“You’re welcome. By the way, one more thing, now that the Eastern Sect is in chaos and disintegrating, the regions it originally suppressed are also gradually experiencing turmoil.

Newcomers are needed to go and guard them. Great Dao Teaching has been allocated quite a few positions, by then….”

He did not finish his words, but the meaning was clear.

Following, the two spoke softly for a while in Longsheng Hall.

This time Zhang Rongfang clearly felt that the previous sense of being monitored was absent.

Evidently, this is a temporary change brought by Li Xuance.

From his side, Zhang Rongfang also understood what Yan Shuang previously meant about the departure timing.

Li Xuance spoke to him at length, much of which was about clarifying the Spirit Court worship.

As for whether what he said was true or false, Zhang Rongfang did not comment, but the other party mentioned that cultivating literature and martial arts is superior to simply cultivating martial arts, allowing a broader scope of choice.

Urging him not to abandon martial arts, but rather to focus more on martial arts, progressing in tandem.

Zhang Rongfang implicitly understood the purpose behind the forces backing Yan Shuang and the noble backing Li Xuance.

*

*

*

Main building of Golden Wing Pavilion.

Inside a damp cave.

Cheng Hui lightly tapped his foot, deftly leaping over the rocks, with guards on either side, returning to the main building’s mechanism entrance.

With a creaking heavy sound, the entrance opened.

He stepped inside slowly, observing the familiar arrangements on both sides, a trace of wistfulness appeared on his face.

Not too long ago, this place was bustling, the high-level echelon of Golden Wing Pavilion was filled with talent.

Now…. only he remains.

Behind him, the mechanism sounded, slowly closing the entrance.

Cheng Hui walked step by step through the spacious stone hall.

The newly changed official robe’s long boots, with metal embedded in the heels, struck on the stone floor, emitting cold clashing sounds.

“No shadows remain, guests scattered, people dispersed, times have changed…. now, there’s only me…”

He sighed, pausing briefly at the place where he personally killed Chongming last time.

Then continued walking to the deepest part of Golden Wing Pavilion, where confidential records are kept.

During this period, he has been searching for information about Eastern Sect species.

He knows very well, although he successfully joined the Western Sect now, if he wants to gain substantial utilization and promotion, and obtain more preferential cultivation resources, he must demonstrate more qualifications and value.

And from his current position, where is the most easily obtainable value?

It is naturally, the surviving species of Eastern Sect, and the Celestial Maiden’s hidden treasures.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep