Chapter 778 - 420: Gathering of Experts (Part 2)
Chapter 778: Chapter 420: Gathering of Experts (Part 2)
Not someone from the Southern Domain...
Chu Qing suddenly realized, Treasures Tower was extraordinary; every time it appeared in the Martial World, it was a grand event.
It’s inevitable that people from all over will come for their own purposes.
It seems that this gathering of Treasures Tower will allow me to meet many experts.
Huangfu Yixiao, being knowledgeable, casually pointed out to Chu Qing that in this small inn, there were numerous masters.
Besides the Northern Sword Celestial Eagle from the Southern Saber and Northern Sword, there was also the Fragrant Young Master from the Northern Domain; this person was just over thirty years old, yet his Martial Arts were top-notch in the Martial World.
And what Huangfu Yixiao referred to as top-notch was anything but simple.
However, what intrigued Chu Qing the most was Saint Monk Kaspa from the Great Sumeru Zen Institute in the Western Domain.
Huangfu Yixiao said that this person claimed to be the Reincarnated Buddha and was on his eighth reincarnation.
Moreover, the Great Sumeru Zen Institute was truly extraordinary; even though the Reincarnated Buddha was born without Cultivation, he was naturally well-versed in Buddhist philosophy, and his Buddhist Technique was extraordinarily profound.
Based on clues left by the previous Living Buddha before their passing, they could easily locate the reincarnation.
Once brought into the Great Sumeru Zen Institute, a single enlightening blow would awaken their past and present lives, and the accumulated Divine Powers of countless lifetimes would converge upon this one person.
Overnight, a person who knew nothing about Martial Arts could transform into an unrivaled master capable of easily roaming the world.
While the two discussed this person, Kaspa sensed it, looked up at Chu Qing and Huangfu Yixiao, smiled slightly, nodded at Chu Qing, then lowered his head to... drink wine and eat meat!
Chu Qing smacked his lips; the Buddhist Sect had precepts, but this Reincarnated Living Buddha apparently had no intention of following them.
Is it possible that wine and meat pass through the intestines, while the Buddha remains in the heart?
Just as he was marveling at this person’s unconventional nature, he heard a thudding sound as another group of people ascended the stairs.
Four people came up.
They embodied the characteristics of tall, short, fat, and thin.
Huangfu Yixiao slightly raised an eyebrow:
"They’re here after all."
"Who are they?"
Chu Qing glanced over and realized he didn’t know them.
Huangfu Yixiao pondered for a moment and said:
"Their origin is not easy to explain.
"Let’s just say, big brother, as you know, the Four Domains and One Province are all under the rule of the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns.
"But this really only applies to most people...
"There are always some inexplicable individuals among them, highly skilled in Martial Arts, ungovernable, yet even the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns can do nothing about them.
"After all, they remain neutral in the Martial World, neither committing crimes nor oppressing others, so you can’t just go and kill them simply because they don’t listen to the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, right?
"That way, it wouldn’t become the Demon Dao.
"Looking across the world, each of the Four Domains and One Province has such a place.
"The Southern Domain has the Bodhi Temple, the Northern Domain has the Wenjian Pavilion, the Western Domain has the Creation Court, and the Eastern Domain has the Fish and Insect Valley.
"As for the Central Province, it’s the First Dao!
"Each of these five places has its own origin; none are simple.
"These four people are from the First Dao of the Central Province."
Chu Qing slightly furrowed his brow; he wasn’t familiar with other places, but the Bodhi Temple in the Southern Domain... he knew of it.
The sisters Nianxin and Nian’an, who traveled the world from the Bodhi Temple, had already sworn allegiance to him, vowing to unify the Green Forest of the Martial World.
However, thinking back, since he had left them at the Blazing Hall, it had been a long time; he wondered how much progress they’d made in their grand unification.
At the time, he had instructed Beitang Zun to cooperate and play along with the sisters.
But since then, he had moved forward without stopping.
He had nearly forgotten about these two girls.
Unaware that Chu Qing’s thoughts had drifted away, Huangfu Yixiao continued speaking:
"The so-called First Dao is the first path since the beginning of time. They claim to study the foremost Dharma Gate of the world...
"But this group of people shuts their doors to research, neither offending nor provoking anyone.
"For many years, they were peaceful... yet mysteriously, about a dozen years ago... precisely how long, I don’t remember, but it’s been at least over ten years.
"The people of the First Dao suddenly burst from their mountain gates, causing chaos throughout the Martial World, seemingly searching for someone.
"There aren’t many sects in the Central Province, and they visited each one. If they were not allowed in, they would fight... after winning, they never dealt a deadly blow, but would rush in, wildly rummaging through the place before leaving abruptly.
"This chaos was only stopped when my father intervened.
"It was through this that they found out... their Daoist Master was missing."
"What?"
Chu Qing thought he had misheard:
"What do you mean by missing? Was he kidnapped?"
"...The chaos caused by the First Dao required my father’s personal intervention to resolve, do you think there are many in the Martial World who could have kidnapped their Daoist Master from their impenetrable mountain gate?"
Huangfu Yixiao smacked his lips:
"In short, the person is gone.
"There was no trace left... well, there was a trace, a pool of blood in the room where their Daoist Master was in seclusion.
"But it doesn’t explain whether the blood was caused by the Daoist Master himself or if someone harmed him...
"If it were foul play, there would inevitably be traces, yet there were absolutely none.
"This matter is exceedingly strange and bizarre.
"Most importantly, they somehow confirmed that their Daoist Master is still alive.
"Although my father suppressed the issue at the time, the search for the Daoist Master never ceased.
"Their visit to Treasures Tower this time is likely to try their luck, hoping to find clues about their Daoist Master."
Chu Qing found it all intriguing.
He wasn’t surprised that the First Dao would venture out to search for their Daoist Master, nor was he concerned about how the Daoist Master suddenly went missing without warning.
What amazed him was that more than ten years had passed since the incident, yet they were still searching and hadn’t appointed a new Daoist Master.
As it is said, "A snake can’t move without its head," yet they remained headless for so long and still persevered, which made the sect sound remarkably united.
They did not collapse due to the absence of a Daoist Master, nor did they fight for the position.
Instead, they single-mindedly searched, which was truly interesting.
With Huangfu Yixiao providing continuous commentary, the meal turned out to be flavorful and enjoyable.
Huangfu Yixiao was happy while eating, but less so when it came time to pay, mainly due to his lack of funds.
With a sheepish grin, he asked Chu Qing to lend him some money. Chu Qing, in good spirits after gaining insights today, generously asked the innkeeper for brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, having Huangfu Yixiao write an IOU.
Huangfu Yixiao was dumbfounded:
"Big brother, I just need to borrow some silver taels... this, this is unnecessary, right? Surely, I wouldn’t borrow money and not repay it?
"My father is Huangfu Changkong!"
"Even if your father were the Heavenly King, borrowing money requires an IOU."
Chu Qing rolled his eyes:
"Of course, you also have the option not to borrow."
"...I’ll borrow!"
Left with no choice, Huangfu Yixiao said through gritted teeth:
"Might as well borrow more, then I’ll borrow more.
"I’ll borrow a thousand taels of Patterned Silver from you!!"
"Nine out of thirteen returned."
Chu Qing casually said.
Huangfu Yixiao nearly spat blood:
"Big brother... is that necessary?"
"Brother, you don’t understand."
Chu Qing patted his shoulder and said earnestly:
"My money is hard-earned, every bit of it fought out with my life.
"This money can be spent, can be lent, but one must know where it’s being spent, where it’s lent?
"You can’t leave a bad debt behind, unclear and unfounded, right?"
"...Then I’ll borrow five thousand from you, do you have it!"
"Write it."
Chu Qing pointed at the paper on the table:
"If you can’t repay it, I’ll ask your father."
With a fierce stroke of the pen, Huangfu Yixiao succeeded in borrowing forty-five hundred taels.
The agreed nine out of thirteen return meant Chu Qing naturally deducted ten percent.