The Daoist Master Must Have a Plan!

Mingzhen froze.

The oppressive aura came and went quickly, in just an instant.

But his back was already soaked.

Peak of the tribulation.

That's right, it's definitely the peak of the Tribulation Transcending stage.

That hand gesture, that oppressive aura—who else could it be but a direct disciple of the Dao Venerable?

Mingzhen opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat was terribly dry.

Just then, a voice rang in his mind:

"Don't make a fuss."

Mingzhen's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at Yun Qingyao.

Junior Uncle has already transcended the tribulation!

That's incredibly fast!

Yun Qingyao lowered her head and continued practicing her palm techniques, as if nothing had happened.

But Mingzhen heard that voice clearly.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and forced a smile:

"Hmm, good job, keep it up."

After saying that, he turned and left.

The three elders followed behind him, looking completely bewildered.

What's going on?

Weren't you here to ask questions?

Why did you just glance at it and leave?

But they didn't dare ask any more questions and followed Mingzhen away from the training ground.

After walking a long way and making sure no one was around, the white-haired elder couldn't help but ask:

"Senior Brother Mingzhen, what was that just now...?"

Mingzhen waved his hand, signaling him to be quiet.

He stood there in silence for a long while before slowly speaking:

"It's Junior Uncle."

The three elders widened their eyes simultaneously.

"Then why did she...?"

"Don't ask," Mingzhen interrupted him. "If Junior Uncle doesn't want to be exposed, let's pretend we don't know."

The three elders nodded.

Mingzhen turned around, ready to leave.

After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

He turned to look in the direction of the training ground, his gaze landing on a figure.

That kid named Yuan Shu.

He stood right next to his junior uncle, demonstrating his palm techniques the whole time, looking completely harmless.

Mingzhen squinted.

This kid...

He felt like he had seen him somewhere before.

It wasn't at the Heavenly Dao Sect, it was somewhere else.

Mingzhen frowned and thought carefully.

Suddenly, an image flashed through his mind.

Blood Blade Sect.

At that time, he secretly followed his junior uncle, hiding in the clouds.

The righteous undercover agents below fought a fierce battle with the Blood Blade Sect members, and in the end, the Blood Blade Sect disciples self-destructed.

A boy stood up from behind the rock and dusted himself off.

Then, the kid said something.

"The young lady is right! Those lackeys of the righteous path, such as the Heavenly Dao Sect, the Lingxiao Sect, the Hundred Flowers Valley, and the Divine Body Sect, are all trash!"

Mingzhen's lips twitched.

Yes, that's the kid.

He cursed the Heavenly Dao Sect as trash, and he said it so fluently.

At the time, some elders on the cloud joked that they didn't know whose disciple it was, and that they would break his legs when they got back.

Is this kid now running off to the Heavenly Dao Sect?

Is he still with his junior uncle?

Mingzhen's mind raced.

Could this kid also be arranged by the Daoist Master?

But back then, he was cursing the Heavenly Dao Sect so enthusiastically; it didn't seem like he was faking it.

Mingzhen thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution.

He waved his hand and said to the three elders:

"Tomorrow, call that kid named Yuan Shu over. I want to ask him a few questions."

The white-haired elder was taken aback:

"That kid? Didn't he come with Junior Uncle?"

Mingzhen nodded:

"That's why I'm asking, because I came with my junior uncle."

The three elders exchanged a glance and asked no further questions.

On the training ground.

Chu Yuan continued to demonstrate the famous palm technique.

He caught a glimpse of the four old men walking away and breathed a sigh of relief.

Yun Qingyao stood beside him, head down, without saying a word.

Chu Yuan glanced at her.

He saw the look in that girl's eyes just now.

The pressure from the peak of the Tribulation Transcending Realm lasted only a moment, but the feeling was unmistakable.

Chu Yuan knew perfectly well what was going on, but he didn't say anything on the surface.

But judging from the look in that guy's eyes, it seems like he's coming to find me tomorrow.

Continue demonstrating the palm techniques.

Yun Qingyao suddenly raised her head and glanced at him.

Chu Yuan pretended not to see it.

Yun Qingyao bit her lip, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back.

The two remained silent and practiced until the event ended.

On the way back, Yun Qingyao suddenly spoke:

"Senior Brother Yuan."

Chu Yuan turned to look at her:

"Um?"

Yun Qingyao hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice:

"Did you...feel anything just now?"

Chu Yuan blinked:

"What do you feel?"

Yun Qingyao stared at him for two seconds, then shook her head:

"It's nothing."

......

The next morning, just as Chu Yuan got up, someone knocked on the door.

Upon opening the door, they saw an unfamiliar disciple, dressed in inner sect attire, whose attitude was fairly polite.

"Junior Brother Yuan Shu? The elders invite you to come with me."

Chu Yuan was stunned for a moment, but he knew perfectly well that what was bound to happen would happen eventually.

He nodded and followed the disciple outside.

Yun Qingyao peeked out from next door and blinked:

"Senior Brother Yuan, where are you going?"

Chu Yuan turned and glanced at her:

"I don't know, they might be asking questions."

Yun Qingyao said "Oh" and shrank back.

This is a good opportunity for Mingzhen and the others to ask around and find out whose disciple this guy really is.

Chu Yuan followed the disciple through the outer gate and headed towards the back mountain.

They walked further and further into the secluded area, finally stopping in front of a quiet temple.

The disciple pushed open the door:

"Go inside, the elders are waiting there."

Chu Yuan took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The palace doors creaked shut behind them.

The hall was dimly lit, and four old men sat at the head of the table.

Mingzhen sat in the middle, and to his left were three elders whom Chu Yuan had met yesterday; they were all at the Tribulation Transcending stage.

Four people, eight eyes, all staring at him.

This is quite a grand affair.

Chu Yuan, however, wore a perfectly measured expression of fear, standing at the doorway, hesitant to move forward, his voice trembling slightly:

"Your disciple, Yuan Shu, greets all the elders..."

Mingzhen waved his hand:

"Don't be nervous, come and sit down."

Chu Yuan swallowed hard, took a few steps forward cautiously, and sat down on the chair at the very end, half of his bottom touching the chair.

He looked exactly like a naive, unsophisticated rogue cultivator.

The white-haired elder on the left spoke first, his tone rather amiable:

"Yuan Shu, right? Don't be afraid, we just want to ask you a few questions."

Chu Yuan nodded repeatedly:

"Elder, please ask. This disciple will answer truthfully."

The white-haired elder nodded:

"Where do you come from? Who is your teacher?"

Chu Yuan paused for a moment, his eyes beginning to dart around:

"Brother, I don't have a fixed lineage... I'm just a wandering cultivator who has been practicing in the mountains with my master since I was a child."

"Who is your master?"

"Master... Master forbade me to reveal his name." Chu Yuan lowered his head, his voice growing softer and softer. "He said he was just an unknown rogue cultivator, with no reputation, and no one would know even if he said it."

Mingzhen frowned slightly:

"So, all your cultivation level was taught by your master?"

Chu Yuan nodded:

"Yes. Master taught me some basic techniques and a breathing method, which I practice every day."

"A breathing technique?" Mingzhen's eyes lit up. "Show me how you practice it."

Chu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then stood up, took a deep breath, and slowly circulated his spiritual energy.

A pale golden light appeared in his palm, warm and pure, it was the Vast Heart Sutra of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

The four elders sat up straight at the same time.

Mingzhen stared at the golden light, his pupils shrinking slightly.

That's right, it's definitely based on the Mind Sutra, though it's rudimentary, its foundation is extremely sound.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and tried to keep his tone calm:

"Who taught you this breathing technique?"

Chu Yuan withdrew his spiritual power and lowered his head:

"It was taught by my master."

"Where did you get your master from?"

Chu Yuan fell silent.

Mingzhen pressed further:

"Why, can't I say?"

Chu Yuan raised his head, a hint of conflict in his eyes. He opened his mouth, then closed it again.

The white-haired elder next to him couldn't hold back any longer:

"Say it then!"

Chu Yuan was startled by his shout, shrank back, and whispered:

"This disciple does not know."

"Is there anything special about your master?"

Chu Yuan bit his lip, as if he had made a great decision:

"The first time I saw my master was when he was fighting with someone at Tianya Mountain. The two fought for a long time, and my master protected me during the battle and finally accepted me as his disciple."

The words fell.

The hall was silent for three seconds.

Then the four elders stood up at the same time.

"What?!"

"Are you telling the truth?!"

Chu Yuan nodded, feigning innocence.

Mingzhen took a deep breath and slowly sat back down in her chair.

The other three elders exchanged glances and sat down again.

But everyone's eyes changed.

Dao Zun did indeed fight Demon Zun at Tianya Mountain a hundred years ago.

Moreover, the traces of that battle were only detected afterward, so it's possible to protect a mortal during the battle.

But this is too much of a coincidence.

Even more coincidentally, this disciple who had learned the Daoist Master's techniques happened to appear at the outer sect together with his junior uncle.

And why didn't the Daoist Master bring his disciple back?

Mingzhen's mind raced.

Why did Junior Uncle choose to come to the outer sect incognito?

Why should I be with this kid named Yuan Shu?

Is it...

He looked at the other three elders and found that they were all looking at him as well.

The four of them exchanged a glance, understanding each other without saying a word.

Chu Yuan sat at the very end, head down, looking apprehensive.

But inside, I was laughing like crazy.

Judging from their expressions, they're definitely imagining things again.

Use your imagination, the more complicated the better.

Mingzhen coughed lightly, his tone ten times more amiable than before:

"Um... Yuan Shu, did your master say anything else?"

Chu Yuan shook his head:

"No, that's all. Before Master left, he told me to cultivate diligently, and that if I had the chance in the future... I could visit the Heavenly Dao Sect."

As he finished speaking, his voice grew softer and softer, as if he were afraid of being blamed.

Mingzhen's eyes lit up:

"Did your master send you to the Heavenly Dao Sect?"

Chu Yuan nodded.

The four elders looked at each other.

The white-haired elder transmitted his voice to Mingzhen:

"Senior Brother Mingzhen, what do you think?"

Mingzhen relayed the message back:

"I think it's possible."

Another elder transmitted his voice:

"But what a coincidence. Junior Uncle just happened to come to the outer sect, and he just happened to be with this kid."

Mingzhen was silent for a few seconds, then slowly transmitted his voice:

"Do you think... this could be Dao Zun's arrangement?"

The three elders were stunned at the same time.

"arrange?"

"Before the Daoist Master went into seclusion, was it possible that he foresaw something? Why did he specifically send Junior Uncle to the outer sect, and then have this kid who learned the Daoist Master's techniques appear...?"

Mingzhen found it increasingly reasonable as she listened:

"Think about it, what's Junior Martial Aunt's status? She's a direct disciple of the Dao Venerable, and she inexplicably became a peak Tribulation Transcending expert. What's she doing in the outer sect? It can't really be just to experience life, can it?"

The white-haired elder slapped his thigh:

"That's right! It must be some secret mission assigned by the Daoist Master! Having this kid come along is to arrange an assistant for him!"

Another elder frowned:

"But this kid is only at the Foundation Establishment stage. What kind of helper can he be for a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator?"

Mingzhen glared at him:

"What do you know? Do you think we can fathom the Daoist's arrangements? Maybe this kid has something special about him, or maybe it's just a cover-up."

The third elder nodded:

"That makes sense. It would be too conspicuous for Junior Uncle to come to the outer sect alone. Bringing an inconspicuous rogue cultivator along would be a good cover."

The more the four of them imagined it, the more reasonable it seemed.

Finally, Mingzhen made the final decision:

"No matter what, since this kid has learned Dao Zun's techniques and appeared with Junior Uncle, he must be one of Dao Zun's people. We can't be negligent."

The other three nodded.

Chu Yuan sat below, watching the four old men's expressions change and occasionally exchange telepathic messages, and he was secretly delighted.

Is that enough?

Sure enough, Mingzhen spoke, her tone incredibly kind:

"Yuan Shu, since you come from a humble background as a rogue cultivator, you must not have many cultivation resources, right?"

Chu Yuan was taken aback, then nodded:

"Yes... I've figured it all out on my own all these years."

Mingzhen took out a jade bottle from her sleeve and handed it to him:

"This is a bottle of Foundation Establishment Pills; they will be helpful to your current cultivation level. Take it."

Chu Yuan was stunned, and quickly waved his hand:

"This...this won't do! This disciple has not performed any service and cannot accept such a reward..."

Mingzhen shoved the jade bottle into his hand:

"Take it if I tell you to. Now that you've come to the Heavenly Dao Sect, you're one of us. If you need anything in the future, just ask."

Chu Yuan held the jade bottle, looking flattered and surprised.

"Thank you so much, Elder!"

Mingzhen waved his hand:

"Alright, go back now. Cultivate diligently and don't let your master down."

Chu Yuan stood up, bowed deeply to the four elders, and turned to walk out.

As they reached the door, Mingzhen suddenly spoke:

"By the way, are you quite familiar with that girl named Yun Yao?"

Chu Yuan paused, turned around, and said:

"Junior Sister Yun? We met on the way. She was alone, so I brought her along."

Mingzhen nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Chu Yuan pushed open the door and went out.

Once the palace doors closed, the four elders simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.

The white-haired elder whispered:

"So, Junior Uncle deliberately approached this kid?"

Mingzhen nodded:

"It should be. It's Daoist Master's arrangement. Let's not ask too many questions, just keep an eye on things from the shadows."

Another elder scratched his head:

"Should we tell Junior Uncle that we know?"

Mingzhen glared at him:

"Are you stupid? Junior Martial Aunt is hiding her identity because she doesn't want anyone to know. If you go and tell her, won't you be ruining her plans?"

The elder awkwardly shut his mouth.

Mingzhen stood up:

"Alright, this is something only the four of us know, keep it to ourselves. As for Yuan Shu, keep an eye on him secretly and make sure nothing happens to him. As for the rest, don't worry about it."

The three elders nodded.

However, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as the Daoist Master is still alive!

No matter how arrogant the Demon Lord is, the righteous path still has the confidence!

Chu Yuan returned to his residence, pushed open the door, and entered the room, a smile playing on his lips.

Next, we need to figure out how to get the Heavenly Holy Water.

Items that only inner disciples can exchange for...

He squinted, calculating in his mind.