Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"I did not expect that Xue Wuyi, whom the Cultivators of Great Chen have been searching for everywhere, is actually the Sect Hierarch of the White Lotus Sect, a veritable White Lotus blossoming in the Sea of Blood. Have you come to kill me?" Xu Jianglin recognized the identity of the person before him and was curious about his purpose for coming.

"It's not yet time for our final battle, and such fine material as yourself should not be wasted!" Xue Wuyi sized up Xu Jianglin with a peculiar look, as if appraising a piece of clothing or a weapon.

"Whose deer will fall is yet to be determined, aren't you a bit too confident!"

"Haha, we shall see the true mettle under our hands in the future. I've enjoyed a good show today and am quite satisfied. Haha!" With a loud laugh, Xue Wuyi transformed into a shadow of blood, instantly disappearing into the horizon. Continue your adventure with empire

Just as Xu Jianglin was furrowing his brow, Lu Zhang in Yonzhou was also frowning.

"Are you saying that an unusual Array has appeared in front of Shencheng?" he asked, somewhat surprised.

"Reporting to my lord, that Array is at the city gate, blocking our attacking route completely," the Scout reported truthfully.

With Shencheng being easy to defend but hard to attack, only the main gate could accommodate a large army. Now that an unusual Array was blocking the way, Lu Zhang questioned his subordinates about what should be done next.

"My lord, do not fear. An unknown small Array, probably set by some Taoist found by the city's defenders, is nothing serious. Since I, Old Taoist, have recently joined, I'll go and investigate the Array myself!" A figure in the crowd stepped forward.

A lean Old Taoist with an otherworldly demeanor, clad in a Taoist Robe and holding a horsetail whisk, commanded admiration from those around him, all praising him silently: what a true Cultivator with genuine Tao!

This Taoist called himself Master Xiaoyao, a wild monk who had recently sworn allegiance to Lu Zhang. He was well-presented and good at marketing himself, quickly making a name for himself among Lu Zhang's followers.

Compared with Chang Chunzi, this Taoist seemed more like an immortal with his scholarly quotes and mannerisms, leading people under Lu Zhang to trust Master Xiaoyao even more as they believed he was a true master.

"Oh! Since the Taoist Priest is willing, let him go and investigate the Array first. If he can break it, he'll be credited as the chief contributor!" Lu Zhang said joyfully.

The Taoist Priest rested his horsetail whisk on his arm and bowed to Lu Zhang, saying, "This humble Old Taoist does not dare to take credit. Breaking this Array would be due to the lord's profound fortune and divine protection."

The surrounding commanders nodded, praising the Taoist's divine and refined nature. Although the Taoist verbally declined the praises, the joy on his face could not be hidden. During the conversation, he even sneakily sent a smug look towards Chang Chunzi.

The Old Taoist accepted the order and went on his way, and Lu Zhang dismissed everyone around him except for Hu Shengliang, Liu Qingyun, and Chang Chunzi.

"What do you think, will this Taoist Priest be successful?" Lu Zhang asked.

"This Taoist Priest is not ordinary. In just a few days, he's made quite the name for himself here, and many of our commanders trust him greatly. However, according to my investigations, this Taoist Priest is actually quite adept at deceptive techniques," Hu Shengliang said, frowning. He had not expected that this Taoist, who appeared more genuine than Chang Chunzi, was merely a facade.

"Old Hu, why look at me like that? Just because I'm a bit fat, where am I any worse than that fellow? Although that guy is a swindler, he has some capabilities that probably come from some Loose Cultivator's heritage. However, looking at the lax state of his cultivation, I guess he hasn't practiced properly before starting his tricks," Chang Chunzi said, patting his rotund belly and chuckling.

"Humph, it's outrageous that he dared to deceive me," Lu Zhang, who had been deceived many times before, was deeply disgusted by these swindlers.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"My lord, don't be angry. Since we are in a time of need, we shouldn't dampen the spirits of those who come to us because of this incident. Moreover, we haven't really lost anything. Now that he's even willing to take the lead to scout the Array, he's fulfilling his duty," Hu Shengliang quickly advised, aware of his lord's past experiences.

"This Taoist indeed knows no fear, ignorant of the true danger. When I stood beside that Array, I felt a chilling terror, definitely not some simple Deceptive Technique. I suspect it might be a Killing Array," Chang Chunzi recounted his findings when he had observed the Array from a distance, speaking with a heavy tone.

Having gained Lu Zhang's trust over a long period, Chang Chunzi's judgment made Lu Zhang slightly change his expression and say, "I wonder what kind of Array it is. Since Chang Chunzi feels this way, taking Shencheng might not be easy!"

"Since the situation is unclear and we don't know what kind of Array this really is, I fully support the idea of this Taoist going ahead to scout out the Array. I have already placed an enchanted Paper Crane on him, and once he enters the Array, we can spy on the situation through the Paper Crane," Lu Zhang stated.

After Chang Chunzi finished speaking, he had someone bring over a basin of water. He took out a Talisman, chanting softly, and as the Talisman burned itself without flame, its ashes fell into the basin. Suddenly, the ordinary surface of the water displayed an image, showing Master Xiaoyao entering the Array.

Master Xiaoyao, proud and complacent, was originally just a poor man who was not content with his lot. By chance, while farming, he discovered a cave from where he acquired some Cultivation Techniques.

He initially approached cultivation just to try it out, but soon discovered he had a gift for it. The complex jargon of cultivation seemed to have answers ready in his mind.

Once he possessed some skills, he could no longer focus on his cultivation, always aspiring to rise above his station. He left the place of cultivation and ventured into prosperous lands.

Armed with a few Techniques he had learned and adept at reading people, he soon gained a reputation, leading a life as smooth as a fish in water. However, as the sudden changes of the world plunged into chaos, the rich and powerful he relied on either died or scattered.

That's when he resolved to seek refuge with a powerful faction to avoid living in constant uncertainty, eventually choosing the reputable Lu Zhang.

Upon entering Lu Zhang's territory, he found that the living conditions of the locals were much better than in other places—not that it was a time of peace where doors remained unlocked and items unclaimed, but at least people had enough to eat during these war-torn times.

To create a favorable image of a true master, he changed from his usual mercenary self to a semblance of an immortal, winning Lu Zhang's trust.

This man, good in appearance and eloquent, quickly made a name for himself among the Yuzhou Army and gained an audience with Lu Zhang as he had wished.

Everything was going as he planned, but the only thing that displeased him was the obese man beside Lu Zhang, Chang Chunzi. The moment Master Xiaoyao saw Chang Chunzi, he regarded him as the greatest rival of his life.

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