I Seek Immortality Through Serendipity

Zhang Guangcheng spoke, and then bowed to Gu Yuan as a sign of apology.

Gu Yuan was indifferent, keeping silent.

Ding Zhichong, however, was seething with anger, clenching his fists tightly, but Zhang Guangcheng merely cast a cold glance, suppressing Ding Zhichong.

Zhang Guangcheng was renowned for a long time, with mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, his strength far superior to Ding Zhichong; how could he fear him?

”Then I’ll lend the Daoist Technique to Fellow Daoist Gu, allowing him to enter the hall!”

Ding Zhichong took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, then spoke coldly again.

”Cultivating with borrowed Daoist techniques is certainly permissible; this is also a rule set by the ancestors.”

”If the Daoist technique is sufficient, passing the Dharma Seal to others is not impossible.”

”However, what merit do you have for the sect to lend to Fellow Daoist Gu?”

Zhang Guangcheng immediately sneered.

”Senior Brother Zhang, do not bully too much!”

Ding Zhichong said through gritted teeth.

”It is not I who bully you. The merits of Golden Core cultivators lie in seeking mountains and opening meridians, slaying demons and seizing pills, pioneering the Dao fields, and raising the prestige of our sect. Which of these have you done?”

Zhang Guangcheng asked coldly.

Ding Zhichong was immediately stunned, speechless.

The Ding Clan is also a major family within the Thousand Waves Sect, with generations of Golden Cores continuously, amassing a vast foundation. Ding Zhichong, born with endless resources, never needed to strive, only following the routine cultivation.

Occasionally exploring the world is also an act of slaying demons and seeking pleasure, with the obtained demon pills and corpses all kept for himself, never submitted to the sect.

To be honest, he indeed did not have much merit for the Thousand Waves Sect.

With Ding Zhichong unable to retort, Zhang Guangcheng turned away, just apologizing to Gu Yuan: ”Fellow Daoist Gu, if you want to enter below the eighth layer of the Scripture Hall, you may now enter, but if you wish to enter the eighth layer and above, selecting Dharma Seals for cultivation, you will need the Daoist Technique of our Thousand Waves Sect for exchange.”

Gu Yuan glanced at Ding Zhichong.

Ding Zhichong, ashamed and unable to speak, could only say softly: ”Fellow Daoist Gu, don’t worry, it was merely my laziness before. Obtaining Daoist Technique is not difficult, it’s merely the matter of slaying two heads of demon beasts. Please go to my Ding Family’s Spirit Hall to rest for a while, and once I slay a Great Demon and seize demon pills, I’ll gift them to you!”

Hearing this, Gu Yuan sighed slightly, feeling somewhat helpless.

The situation had progressed to this point, and he had already discerned.

The Ding Family’s power was entirely outmatched by the Zhang Clan.

He was suppressed viciously.

And the Zhang Clan used this Daoist Technique matter to hinder his cultivation, likely intending to use this opportunity, have him convey this back to the Daoist School, using their tactics against Ding Zhixiu.

Such convolutions, how bothersome!

Gu Yuan did not anticipate such intense struggles within the Thousand Waves Sect, with major families clashing against each other, nearly like fire and water, leaving no room for compromise.

”May I ask, Fellow Daoist, where in your sect can one obtain the Daoist Technique the fastest?”

Gu Yuan turned to ask Zhang Guangcheng.

He was somewhat annoyed, unwilling to wait any longer, wanting to acquire the Daoist Technique as quickly as possible, exchanging for those two opportunities within the Thousand Waves Sect.

Waiting for the Ding Family to act might not be as expedient as doing it himself.

”Seizing a Tier Three Spiritual Vein, slaying Great Demons, contributing demon pill corpses, all are merits. Junior Brother Gu may go to the Thousand Waves Sect’s Daoist Merit Hall, and check tasks himself. As long as you can complete tasks, naturally you can obtain Daoist Technique.”

”However, if Fellow Daoist Gu wishes to quickly accumulate Daoist Technique, there’s indeed a method.”

Zhang Guangcheng stroked his beard and smiled, though a flash of light passed through his eyes.

”Is it related to the Thousand Peaks Sect’s Vermilion Fruit Dharma Assembly?”

Ding Zhichong’s expression changed upon hearing this.

”Exactly, the Thousand Peaks Sect’s Vermilion Fruit Dharma Assembly is in three days, Fellow Daoist Gu, now a Golden Core cultivator of our Thousand Waves Sect, naturally can represent our sect in battle.”

”If victorious, not only can you elevate our sect’s prestige, gaining great merit, but you may also acquire the Blood Sandalwood Vermilion Fruit, enhancing cultivation.”

Zhang Guangcheng replied with a smile.

”Impossible!”

”The Dharma Assembly of the Thousand Peaks Sect, our Thousand Waves Sect has lost three sessions. Previously, to probe Su Chengyin’s cultivation, our sect even dispatched three Golden Cores to invite him to magical combat, all defeated. You let Fellow Daoist Gu participate, are you attempting to deliberately humiliate him?”

”Senior Brother Zhang, do you truly intend to disregard the millennial friendship between our two sects, becoming hostile to the Cyan Peak Daoist School?”

Ding Zhichong said sternly.

Perhaps Ding Zhichong’s words were too severe, Zhang Guangcheng too collected his thoughts, his tone softened a bit: ”Junior Brother is overthinking, it was merely Fellow Daoist Gu asking, and I just responded. How could I insist Fellow Daoist Gu to go?”

Yet Gu Yuan pursued the question: ”May I ask, Fellow Daoists, what’s the story behind this Dharma Assembly?”

Hearing this, Ding Zhichong bitterly smiled, somewhat unwilling to answer, but under Gu Yuan’s questioning, he could only reluctantly say: ”Letting Daoist know, the Thousand Peaks Sect is another major sect adjacent to our Thousand Waves Sect.”

”Due to numerous Spirit Peaks within its domain, the Thousand Peaks Compete in Majesty, hence the name.”

”This sect established six thousand years ago, almost simultaneously with our Thousand Waves Sect. Originally, the relationship between the two sects was still alright, but eight hundred years ago, a small Secret Realm was discovered near the boundary between the two sects.”

”Within this Secret Realm, there’s a Tier Three Treasure Tree, bearing Blood Sandalwood Vermilion Fruit.”

”This Fruit, when consumed by early-stage Golden Core cultivators, can increase dozens of strands of Gold-Attribute Magical Power, it’s a rare cultivation treasure, so both sects eye it like tigers, but ultimately with six thousand years of being neighbors, overturning face for a Vermilion Fruit was unlikely.”

”Thus, both sides agreed, on the day of Vermilion Fruit maturation, each side could dispatch one early-stage Golden Core cultivator for magical combat, also known as the Vermilion Fruit Dharma Assembly.”

”Whoever wins would seize the Blood Sandalwood Vermilion Fruit.”

”However, this Dharma Assembly has been held consecutively for three sessions, and our Thousand Waves Sect consistently experienced defeat, losing face.”

”To be frank, for this Dharma Assembly, our Thousand Waves Sect even secretly dispatched several Golden Cores, to test the skills of the Thousand Peaks Sect’s current Golden Core disciple, Su Chengyin.”

”But the result...”

After speaking, Ding Zhichong helplessly shook his head, feeling greatly embarrassed.

This matter within the Thousand Waves Sect is also an embarrassing affair, and when disciples encounter the Thousand Peaks Sect, they seem to lose face pointlessly.

”What Dharma Gate does the Thousand Peaks Sect practice, for such profound foundation, yet they are unable to overcome this sect?”

Gu Yuan’s eyes flickered, asking again.

”This sect absorbs mountain Spiritual Mechanisms, shaking heaven and earth, most skilled in suppressing Water Techniques, and this sect’s cultivation differs from others, their Golden Cores are few, only six, but each possesses exceptional combat power, far from ordinary Golden Cores.”

Ding Zhichong said with resignation.

Seeing Gu Yuan’s thoughtful expression, he seemed to realize something, turning softly to warn: ”Fellow Daoist Gu, rest assured, it’s merely some Daoist Technique, I will gather them for you. As you’ve just arrived, it is best not to involve yourself in this matter, Su Chengyin is not an ordinary Golden Core, even my elder brother wouldn’t necessarily triumph.”

Even Ding Zhixiu can’t surpass them?

Could it be that this person changed sects for cultivation, also to avoid this person?

Gu Yuan’s gaze flashed, instantly associating many things.

The Thousand Waves Sect seems to have a grand reputation, yet evidently it is overrated, continuously suppressed by the Thousand Peaks Sect?

Is it possible, that the proposal to change sects for cultivation was also out of necessity? Master Shenyi’s reclusion wasn’t just to let oneself muddle the waters?

Gu Yuan arrived at the Thousand Waves Sect for just a day, seemingly observing the sect’s many ”unsavory aspects”.

Family feuds, constant internal strife, yet when external conflicts arise, they are weak.

Like a decaying elder.

But this Blood Sandalwood Vermilion Fruit, can enhance dozens of Gold-Attribute Magical Power strands?

Gu Yuan’s eyes flickered, then inquired further of Zhang Guangcheng: ”Fellow Daoist, if victorious in the Dharma Assembly, how much merit could be gained?”

Zhang Guangcheng was slightly taken aback, seemingly surprised that Gu Yuan would ask so, but after reconsideration, if Gu Yuan voluntarily participated in the Dharma Assembly, the Thousand Waves Sect need not dispatch someone, saving a round of ”humiliation”, and could additionally obstruct the sect-switching journey.

Most crucially, Gu Yuan willingly participating, not forced, also would not overly offend the Cyan Peak Daoist School.

It satisfies all aspects.

He immediately said: ”If victorious in this battle, one can earn six great merits, allowing entry to select six Dharma Seals from the hall!”

To incentivize Gu Yuan further, he added: ”Among them, the spiritual materials needed for the Dharma Seal can also be provided for Fellow Daoist!”

Though words are such, internally he absolutely did not believe Gu Yuan could win.

The Thousand Waves Sect couldn’t contend with the Thousand Peaks Sect, could impoverished regions like the South Mountain Domain have cultivators capable of victory?!

These promises were certain to remain unfulfilled dreams.

”Impossible!”

”How could there be a rule for an outsider disciple to fight for our sect!”

”Absolutely not!”

Ding Zhichong hurriedly said.

But Zhang Guangcheng paid him no heed, directly producing a Jade Seal, asking Gu Yuan: ”Junior Brother Gu, you already have our sect’s Golden Core Jade Talisman, naturally you can represent our sect. If willing to participate in the assembly, you may now leave your name!”

Ding Zhichong anxiously tried to intervene.

But Gu Yuan merely smiled lightly, flicked his fingers, leaving his name upon the Jade Seal.