"Say what you will, but the defense of this golden body is genuinely impressive." The Immortal Fairy was adept at finding silver linings. "If you were to attack your own golden body, aside from Village in the Palm being able to inflict damage, your other attacks would barely scratch the surface."
"It's that tough?" Lu Yang blinked. He had assumed his sword arts could breach its defenses, never expecting the Fairy to hold the golden body in such high regard.
"It was taught by this fairy, after all!"
"Using it as a defensive technique isn't such a bad idea." Lu Yang nodded. After spending an entire day studying the sixteen-foot golden body, he had at least gained something.
Now he had Village in the Palm for offense and the sixteen-foot golden body for defense—who could possibly beat him?
***
Inside a teahouse.
The gavel struck in the daoist's hand, and a tale began to unfold in measured cadence.
The daoist was shabbily dressed, with a horsetail whisk resting on the table. Though his eyes sparkled with spirit, his mismatched attire looked downright bizarre.
"In the Dao Seeking Sect, there is a prodigy named Lu Yang. This youth's talent is truly extraordinary! When he first set foot in the Dao Seeking Sect, he displayed world-shocking talent—an exceedingly rare single spiritual root! What does a single spiritual root mean? You all surely know: before the advent of the Golden Age, a single spiritual root was seen only once in a century!
"And Prodigy Lu's single spiritual root was the finest of the fine! Entering the sect alongside him was another disciple with a single spiritual root—the Eldest Young Master of the Meng Family! And who is the Eldest Young Master of the Meng Family? The Meng Family is the foremost aristocratic clan in the world, making its Eldest Young Master naturally the foremost scion under the heavens!
"Yet even with such status, the Eldest Young Master of the Meng Family burned with envy over the single spiritual root Prodigy Lu possessed!
"Upon learning that Prodigy Lu possessed a single spiritual root, countless prominent clans and sects proposed marriage alliances with him, only to be turned away by the Dao Seeking Sect.
"Look at the Eldest Young Master of the Meng Family by comparison: despite his exalted status and monstrous talent, not a single soul came forward to propose a marriage alliance! The disparity between the two is plain to see!
"After joining the sect, Prodigy Lu was taken in by Daoist Buyu as his closed-door disciple!"
The patrons gasped in low murmurs, amazed that this Prodigy Lu's single spiritual root was so incredible.
The shabby daoist was an itinerant storyteller. He had arrived at the teahouse only a few days prior. At first, the patrons had simply dropped by for their customary storytelling sessions without expecting much from him.
Yet the moment this shabby daoist opened his mouth, he astonished everyone in the room. He was recounting none other than the *Legend of the Dao Seeking Sect*, and these were tales no one had ever heard before!
It was the newest edition of the *Legend of the Dao Seeking Sect*!
The *Legend of the Dao Seeking Sect* was the most beloved tale among the common folk today. Its classic episodes were constantly relished and passionately discussed long after the performances ended.
Stories like "Daoist Xiantian Meets an Immortal Pointing the Way, Founding the Dao Seeking Sect," "The Nine Scions of the Dao Seeking Sect Descend the Mountain to Subdue Demons and Uphold the Righteous Path," "Daoist Buyu's Sword Splits the Heavenly Gate, Bringing All Heroes to Their Knees," and the like.
Anyone unaware of the Dao Seeking Sect's fame was hopelessly out of touch.
Naturally, the newest version recited by this shabby daoist was wildly sought after by everyone.
Over the past few days, the teahouse proprietor's face had creased into permanent smiles from ear to ear.
"Back then, a great fiend infiltrated the Dao Seeking Sect and suppressed Daoist Buyu. The fiend usurped Daoist Buyu's position, becoming the Sect Master, while everyone in the Dao Seeking Sect remained completely oblivious!
"Prodigy Lu was the first to realize the truth! Piercing through the great fiend's disguise, he sought out Daoist Buyu, overcame countless trials and tribulations, and finally broke Daoist Buyu's seal, allowing him to return to the mortal realm!
"Following that harrowing battle, Daoist Buyu saw through worldly attachments and chose to travel the world, entrusting the sect's affairs to his proudest eldest disciple!
"By rescuing Daoist Buyu, Prodigy Lu earned the sect's profound esteem and was hailed as a great hero!
"The Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect personally visited the Dao Seeking Sect to meet this young hero, Prodigy Lu! Upon seeing him, the Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect treated him with utmost courtesy, regarding him as an equal and according him the etiquette due a sect master!"
The listeners murmured in secret admiration. For the Five Elements Sect Master to treat Prodigy Lu that way just for rescuing Daoist Buyu—Daoist Buyu's standing was truly extraordinary!
"Prodigy Lu possessed exceptional foresight and an even more illustrious combat record! What kind of place is the Dao Seeking Sect? The foremost of the Five Great Immortal Sects! Which disciple there isn't a peerless prodigy, invincible among their peers?
"Yet Prodigy Lu dared to challenge above his realm! As a mere Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, he skipped three whole realms to challenge Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Soul Formation, winning every single bout! The entire Dao Seeking Sect was stunned by such feats!
"Though Prodigy Lu possessed immense talent, he was remarkably humble, maintaining wonderful relations with his fellow senior brothers and sisters. His senior brothers and sisters often sparred with Prodigy Lu to improve alongside one another in perfect harmony!"
The audience thus formed a general impression of this Lu Yang whom they had never met: high cultivation, great character—what a flawless cultivator!
The *Legend of the Dao Seeking Sect* made it clear: Daoist Buyu's fame spanned the world. Wherever he went, acquaintances eagerly invited him to lavish banquets featuring sword-dance performances. Daoist Buyu would say that friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water, with no need for such ostentation, and declined their invitations; those who knew him would be left looking thoroughly crestfallen and regretful.
What did this prove? It proved that Daoist Buyu had friends scattered under the heavens!
Lu Yang's humility and habit of making friends had undoubtedly been learned from Daoist Buyu.
As expected of Daoist Buyu's closed-door disciple—the mantle was passed down faithfully from master to disciple!
The shabby daoist spoke with eloquent fervor, recounting Lu Yang's deeds for an entire morning. Finally, he brought his gavel down with a sharp smack.
"Tomorrow, we shall recount the tale of another legendary disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect: Prodigy Meng! Prodigy Meng is singularly dedicated to the Immortal Dao—a man of unshakeable virtue who remains untempted by lust, possessing the resolute composure of an eminent monk!
"Until tomorrow, everyone!"
The shabby daoist drained his teacup in one gulp and stood up to take his leave.
"Here is your pay for today's storytelling." The teahouse proprietor personally came over and handed a pouch of silver to the shabby daoist.
In the proprietor's eyes, this shabby daoist was a money tree. As long as he remained, business would grow more roaring with each passing day!
The shabby daoist smiled, took the silver, and slipped it into his sleeve.
A paper crane flapped its wings and landed gently upon the shabby daoist's shoulder.
The shabby daoist paused in surprise. He recognized the paper crane—it was a letter from Xiaoyun.
*Xiaoyun needs something from me?* Daoist Buyu mused inwardly that this shouldn't be. Xiaoyun had only just arranged his release from prison a few days ago; why was she looking for him already?
In the letter, Yun Zhi's wording was cautious and polite. She explained Wu Youdao's confessed plans regarding Jizhou, and also clarified that Lu Yang was currently the one managing the Dao Seeking Sect, while she was merely assisting by penning the letter.
At the end of the letter, Yun Zhi wrote:
"Junior Brother is not one for words. He asked me to relay to Master that the matter in Jizhou has grave implications; please do not decline, Master, and proceed there posthaste."
"Jizhou, eh... I'm already in Jizhou." Daoist Buyu put away the paper crane and sighed softly.
*Just what realm is Xiaoyun at? A single paper crane could actually penetrate the [Rules] laid down by a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator and deliver the letter into my hands completely unscathed?*
Daoist Buyu looked up at the celestial canopy shrouding the entire city. In the airtight barrier, a tiny puncture had been poked through—made when the paper crane rammed its way in.
Chapter 462