Chapter 288 - A Storm is Brewing
Ruoxi finally had a good look at the enormous figure. It was a giant ape with golden fur and eight limbs that could cover the sky and hide the sun. There was some pale blood stain in between its eyebrows that looked like blood colored eyes but it was tightly shut.
The giant ape stepped on a white serpent that had a pair of wings. The serpent was purging something red and its stomach was bulging as if something was about to pop out.
The roaring sound was made by the giant ape. The clouds and fogs were intimidated by it and avoided this place.
The old Daoist pointed at the creature and said to Ruoxi, "There are many demons in the Sea of Confusion and they are the descendants of ancient beings. They did not know anything about birth and only knew how to kill. As they do not take the initiative to evolve into their original Dao body like other psychic demonic race, they become a lot stronger. However, their population greatly decreased because us human cultivators would hunt and kill them while other shapes.h.i.+fted demonic race eyed them for their bloodline. The remaining creatures could only seek refuge at the Sea of Confusion and that was the reason why they hated any other living beings that came from outside."
As the old Daoist finished his sentence, the eight fist came striking towards them. It was a powerful force. Undoubtedly anything that was in its way would be crushed into powder.
The flying punches came striking like a giant meteorite that came cras.h.i.+ng down from outer s.p.a.ce. Before the fist arrived, strong waves could be felt and that cleared out the fog about ten miles radius from that area.
He held the Mark of Mountains and Rivers, that Shen Lian once, used in his hands and without any effort, a force of strength went charging towards the giant fist. Soon enough, the sound of bones cracking could be heard.
The roaring sound of the giant golden ape intensified as the blood stain in between his eyebrows split open to shoot out a dash of golden thread. The golden thread that looked like the first light of dawn was aimed at the old Daoist.
The old Daoist did not flinch as a transparent crystal mirror appeared in front of him and refracted the golden thread and it pierced through the giant ape"s chest.
The giant ape then exploded into gold light as its flesh and bones dismembered from its body. This showed that the power of the golden thread was really something.
The white serpent with wings was shaken as it curled up. Bits of the flesh and gold colored blood from the giant ape could be seen on the skin of the white serpent.
The old Daoist said, "This flying serpent carries the bloodline of a real dragon. We can use it as our mode of transportation. You will be in charge of taking us around."
He exuded endless pressure and killed the giant ape effortlessly. Although the white serpent displayed signs of evolution into a real dragon, it was so frightened that it looked more like a loach in front of the old Daoist.
The back of the serpent was as broad as an ark. The old Daoist and Ruoxi sat on top of it as the white serpent pleasingly arched it"s back to make it more comfortable for them to sit on, and that made it looked more like an ark.
Three days later, the old Daoist and the little girl riding on a flying serpent of the real dragon bloodline arrived at the Tianhua Continent. They traveled around the continent freely and collected spiritual medicine from spiritual mountains and prosperous lands. No one could stop them neither did anyone knew of their origins.
However, the Dao sects of the entire Tianhua Continent was intimidated as if an enemy was about to come by. They were afraid that the old Daoist would visit their territory.
It was the third time in two weeks Gu Caiwei came to the Taiwei Pavilion. However, the pavilion was empty and n.o.body knew where was the Grand Ancestor Master.
Shen Lian"s whereabouts were unknown while Ruoxi too was missing.
If it was not for his lighted Soul Lamp, Gu Caiwei would have been worried that something might have happened to him.
When she first entered Qing Xuan, the old Daoist was already a figure of the Taiwei Pavilion. It was said that when her master, Zhenren Biyun, and founding master, Fairy Ziling first entered Qing Xuan, the old Daoist had already been part of the Taiwei Pavilion and had looked as old as he was today.
n.o.body in Qing Xuan knew how long had the old Daoist lived and how senior he was.
If Shen Lian was the key person in reviving Qing Xuan, then the old Daoist would be the anchor of Qing Xuan. As long as he exists, Qing Xuan would survive.
But now that the old Daoist and Shen Lian disappeared at the same time, and although Shen Lian"s Soul Lamp was still lit, Gu Caiwei could not help but feel insecure about the situation.
She had to remain composed and announced to the world that Shen Lian was on a solitary retreat.
Gu Caiwei was occupied in the Qing Xuan hall with errands to process. She was able to work on them systematically as Shen Lian generally would only provide the general instructions, and leave it to others to take action.
The disciples were already suspicious of his last trip where he secretly went out; and now that he was back but would not show up. Although Gu Caiwei claimed that Shen Lian was on a solitary retreat, people could not help but feel dubious and that caused a rift in the peaceful atmosphere of Qing Xuan.
Gu Caiwei had to hold back her anxiety and practiced her Qigong as usual. She was a heartbeat away from achieving Huandan but it was so difficult for her to breakthrough. She even suspected that maybe she had to interfuse divine Qi with Shen Lian in order to achieve Huandan. But she was not willing to do that unless it was really necessary.
First of all, she did not know of Shen Lian"s whereabouts and secondly even if Shen Lian came back and interfused his divine Qi with her, it would be hard for her to accept it because this would mean that they"re Daoist partners.
The Bier Discussion of Dao would come soon and she wanted to contribute by breaking through as soon as possible.
Chen Jianmei and Yan Bugui had achieved Huandan while she was still stuck at this stage. She could not help but feel depressed.
With distractions on her mind, it was hard for her to stay calm and practice her Qigong. She put away the methods of martial exercises as the Tiandi Jian released a clear ray of light on the ground to show a puddle of clear water.
Gu Caiwei looked at the puddle of clear water and saw a Daoist heading towards the Taiyi Peak, and that person was Bai Suhuan.
She was surprised and wondered about his objectives of coming to the Taiyi Peak.
She used telepathy to inform Jing Qing to invite Bai Suhuan in.
Not long later, Jing Qing Tongzi brought Bai Suhuan into the hall. Bai Suhuan was as arrogant as usual. He oozes the aura of a bully and was very oppressive.
Gu Caiwei asked, "Doyen Bai, what is your purpose of coming here?"
Bai Suhuan answered, "I want to meet Shen Lian."
Gu Caiwei reb.u.t.ted him, "Doyen Bai, how could you address the Headmaster by his name?"
"He has yet to be born when I started cultivating. What"s wrong with addressing him by his name? Plus he was always so informal," Bai Suhuan replied sarcastically.
Gu Caiwei thought to herself, "Why is this old man being so aggressive?"
With a gentle voice, she replied, "The Chief is on solidarity retreat and refuses to meet any guests."
"I heard that you"re the only person Shen Lian has met after returning from his trip. Why don"t you tell me if something has happened to him or if someone with ill intentions has killed him," Bai Suhuan said coldly as he was hinting to Gu Caiwei.
Gu Caiwei calmly answered, "I don"t know what you mean by someone with ill intentions. Doyen Bai, please enlighten me."
Bai Suhuan responded, "You would benefit the most if Shen Lian is not around. So who do you think this ill-intentioned person is?"
Gu Caiwei replied coldly, "Doyen Bai, that is offensive. The school belongs to everyone. I wouldn"t dare to take anything for my personal benefits. Those words were pretty harsh on me."
Bai Suhuan sarcastically said, "If the school belonged to everyone, then why are there people who could take the celestial medicine to prolong their life? I have been waiting so long for that."
Gu Caiwei had a sudden hunch that things were about to go bad.