"This humble Taoist came here only to return the ancestral relics of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion. (Adjourn?) " Jiang Wen handed over the things he picked up, which were Zhang Daoling's relics he had found earlier.
A cultivation technique called "Dragon Tiger Mystical Secrets", a Bagua bronze mirror, and Zhang Daoling's bronze token.
When the Taoists of Dragon Tiger Mountain heard this, their faces immediately turned pale with shock. One person quickly ran towards the temple, preparing to summon the Sect Leader. The others invited Jiang Wen into the temple to rest and to see if the relics he spoke of were genuine.
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Jiang Wen took out the bronze token and handed it to the Dragon Tiger Mountain Taoists, who carefully took it and examined it closely.
"Daoist friend, is what you said true?" The Taoist looked at Jiang Wen and couldn't help but ask. "The ancestor of Dragon Tiger Mountain was a figure from thousands of years ago. Even during the late Han, Tang, and Song dynasties, we never heard of any relics of the ancestor. Where did you get these relics from?"
"This humble Taoist obtained these by chance. As for where they came from, please rest assured, fellow Daoists. Even if this humble Taoist told you the place, you wouldn't be able to go."
That cave, thousands of meters deep underground, is not a place that ordinary people can go. The environment there is harsh, and even innate experts would find it difficult to survive. If one could step into the path of cultivation, perhaps they could go. It's just a pity that the path of cultivation is so difficult. Perhaps in the next few years or decades, it will be difficult to see a true worldly cultivator.
"Is that so?" The Taoist nodded and didn't ask any more questions, then looked at the "Dragon Tiger Mystical Secrets" and the bronze mirror.
Jiang Wen didn't have to wait long before the Sect Leader of Dragon Tiger Mountain hurried over. After all, the return of the ancestral relics was a great joyous event.
The Dragon Tiger Mountain Sect Leader was an old man with white hair and a long beard. His thin body was clad in a wide Dragon Tiger Mountain Taoist robe. He looked somewhat excited and was still panting when he arrived.
"Quick, let this old Taoist, let this old Taoist see!" The Sect Leader impatiently took the relics from the hands of the Taoists and examined them carefully, turning them over and over in his hands. The Bagua bronze mirror was originally a Han dynasty design, and the Sect Leader could faintly see the ancient characters of Zhang Daoling on the mirror's surface as he touched it.
After examining it carefully, the Sect Leader sighed, "This ancient artifact is indeed the legendary Subduing Demon Bagua Mirror of the ancestor. I never thought that this old Taoist would one day be able to see the relics passed down by the ancestor. I can truly die without regrets."
After the Sect Leader finished sighing, he looked at Jiang Wen, who was standing quietly to the side. He glanced at the "Dragon Tiger Mystical Secrets" in the hands of the disciple beside him and bowed to Jiang Wen, saying, "Thank you, young Daoist friend, for returning my Dragon Tiger Mountain's profound techniques and magical artifacts. Dragon Tiger Mountain will never forget your kindness. These are priceless treasures, and this old Taoist feels guilty for your selfless return. I wonder if there is anything this old Taoist can do to help you."
When Jiang Wen heard this, he felt a good impression of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Sect Leader. The other party was indeed someone he could get along with, not taking advantage of him for nothing. He had already thought that if the plot developed to the point of taking it for free, he would take back Zhang Daoling's relics and not return them to them.
Seeing the Sect Leader's kindness, Jiang Wen also had a good impression of Dragon Tiger Mountain.
The thought flashed through his mind, and Jiang Wen bowed to the Sect Leader, "These were originally the relics of Dragon Tiger Mountain. This humble Taoist is only returning them to their rightful owner. I have come to Dragon Tiger Mountain for two reasons. The first is to return the relics, and the second is to invite Dragon Tiger Mountain to participate in my Quiet Void Mountain's Dao Inquiry Assembly."
"Dao Inquiry Assembly?" The Sect Leader was somewhat puzzled.
"The Dao Inquiry Assembly is a martial arts tournament held by my Quiet Void Mountain, with the aim of exchanging and discussing the Dao. This assembly involves various regions across the country, and anyone with confidence can participate. Quiet Void Temple has prepared quite a lot of things for this assembly, including the alchemy materials needed for the 'Dragon Tiger Mystical Secrets'. If the Daoists of Dragon Tiger Mountain are interested, this humble Taoist will be waiting for good news at the Dao Inquiry Assembly." After Jiang Wen finished speaking, he didn't linger and left in the bewildered expressions of the Taoists.
By the time the Taoists of Dragon Tiger Mountain came back to their senses, Jiang Wen's figure was long gone.
The Sect Leader of Dragon Tiger Mountain looked at the "Dragon Tiger Mystical Secrets" in his hand, flipped through a few pages, and then sighed, "It seems that my Dragon Tiger Mountain has no choice but to participate in this Dao Inquiry Assembly. Quickly invite Sect Leader Sun to come and discuss matters. This old Taoist has important matters to discuss with him."
"Yes." Several disciples hurriedly left, while the Sect Leader looked in the direction where Jiang Wen disappeared, stroking his beard and muttering to himself. "It seems that the heavens of the Daoist sect are about to change."
Not to mention what the Dragon Tiger Mountain Sect Leader was thinking, after returning Zhang Daoling's relics, Jiang Wen went to visit the various mountain gates.
"You've taken another step?"
"The Immortal Platform is within reach," Jiang Wen said with a smile.
"You are truly going further and further away, and only I have no promising future," Yan Gongli sighed.
"What if you go far? The Dao also has a path. I will wait for you on the other shore," Jiang Wen said nonchalantly.
He looked at Yan Gongli for a while, then sat on the couch. He picked up the teapot, filled her cup with tea, and then said calmly, "Your heart is a little disturbed."
"My heart is indeed a little disturbed," Yan Gongli replied without concealing it. "I have cultivated the 'Sole Honored One' for ten thousand years, but I have always been stuck in this Dao Palace realm. That Immortal Platform is like a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water, within sight but unreachable. Yet, in less than a year since I met you, I have watched you step from the half-step of the Life Fire realm into the Dao Palace, and then from the half-step of the Dao Palace into the Immortal Platform. If I said that I had no thoughts in my heart, then I would definitely be deceiving myself."
"I can't help but think, is the gap between geniuses and ordinary people in this world so great? When I first met you, you were just a Life Fire child, but now you are a Dao Palace True Person. What I have struggled to achieve through ten thousand years of hard work is something you can easily obtain. This contrast makes me feel like a joke."
Jiang Wen listened to Yan Gongli's heartfelt words, drinking tea unhurriedly. When the other party finished speaking, he leisurely said, "For cultivators, what do you think is the most important thing?"
"Dao practice? Cultivation? Magic power? Or lifespan?"
"I don't know," Yan Gongli replied softly. "I am already a little lost."
"For me, none of these are important. A moment in time can be ten thousand years. Ten thousand years in time can be a moment. Living for ten thousand years only means that you have lived that long. If you don't see your true self, then even if you live for another ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years, or even a billion years, you will still be stagnant. It's better to first put down the obsession with escaping your master and face yourself. You have lived for so long, are you only living to escape your master?"
"โฆ โฆ" Yan Gongli didn't speak, but there seemed to be some understanding in her eyes.
"There is no completely flawless technique in the world, and it can't lock up a hundred paths forward. You are just walking with your head down on a hesitant path, searching and searching but unable to get out. It's better to lift your head and look into the distance, perhaps you can see a new path."
After Jiang Wen finished speaking, he drank the tea and stopped disturbing Yan Gongli, who had fallen into contemplation. He knew that Yan Gongli could understand these things. She was just too concerned about the past.
Although the 'Sole Honored One' technique is domineering, it is not without a way to break it. There is nothing perfect in the world, and everything has two sides. As long as you find the true meaning, you can naturally break free from it.
Closing the door of the main hall, Jiang Wen looked at the lively scene outside. It was almost New Year's Day, and he had to prepare the things needed for the festival.
