Chapter 184: Chapter 152: The Old Man Sells His Looks, the Young Master Becomes a Live-in Son-in-law (Part 2)

’If I can break through to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer and condense my Innate Qi within two years...’

’Then even if I enter an Ancestral Sect, I should be considered to have ’Inner Sect aptitude,’ right?’

Jiang Yi mused to himself. He definitely couldn’t stay in the Qianji Sect for long. When the time came, he’d have to discuss it thoroughly with True Master Xuanmiao.

It was rather strange. In the past, every time he begged the Celestial Book, asking about ’the Opportunity to enter an Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineage,’ the answer was either decades away or simply wouldn’t appear.

Recently, however, it had been able to give him a direct answer: an Opportunity in an Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineage could be divined in just three months.

’Once I’m back at the Qianji Sect’s Merit Supervision Institute, I can beg the Celestial Book for the specific details.’

Jiang Yi sorted through his thoughts. According to the Cat Master, with the [Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven] suppressing his Perfect [Saint King] destiny, his fortune wouldn’t be exposed.

’Then I’ll hide my achievements and renown, blend in with the crowd to enter an Ancestral Sect, and immediately charge forward from the Lower Courtyard, advancing unstoppably until I rank among the Ten Great True Inheritance disciples!’

’Wouldn’t it be wonderful to astonish all the True Monarchs and Great Powers!’

At this thought, the corners of Jiang Yi’s mouth curved into a smile.

The mere thought of such unparalleled style was captivating!

"What wonderful thing is Xiao Jiang thinking about, to be smiling so happily..."

True Master Xuanmiao was lying beside him, his belly stretched taut and round after swallowing that butcher Fierce Fiend.

He eyed the usually composed Jiang Yi, who was showing an undisguised smile, and couldn’t help but mutter to himself:

’Is the boy lovesick? In his lifetimes after achieving Foundation Establishment and Dao Entry, the former master already had several beautiful female confidantes by Xiao Jiang’s age.’

’There was the fated senior sister from a Major Sect, the legitimate daughter of an Immortal sect from an arranged marriage, and he was even entangled with a female Bodhisattva from the Ximizhou Continent.’

’Unfortunately, Xiao Jiang is so dense. He’s thoughtful, but he lacks a certain romantic flair. When I have time later, this True Master will teach him a few tricks.’

True Master Xuanmiao thought to himself.

After all, compared to the former master’s world-shaking Dao Inheritance, which was heavy with karma, what the many True Masters and even the Daoist Lineage True Monarchs of the Yanfu Vast Land truly coveted...

...what made them flock to him, willing even to switch sects just to learn his secrets, was his unprecedented, legendary "peach blossom luck."

After all, winning the heart of a female True Monarch wasn’t the greatest skill; the former master wasn’t the only "pretty boy" True Monarch among the Daoist Lineages of the four corners of the world.

But as a True Monarch to have almost formed a bond with a female Daoist Monarch... in the five thousand years before or after, there was probably only [Shao Yang].

’As his "successor," Xiao Jiang can’t be too shabby.’

True Master Xuanmiao’s thoughts began to wander now that he was full. If he brought Jiang Yi before [True Monarch Longji Ruizhu] of the Beiju Continent, would that direct descendant of a Dragon Monarch, whose love had turned to bitter hate, treat him as a priceless treasure, or imprison him as a plaything?

Just thinking about it for a moment made the calico cat’s neck feel cold.

’Forget that crazy woman! Xiao Jiang can’t afford to provoke her, but he can still afford to hide!’

’Let this True Master ponder for a moment... which of the "master’s wives" are easier to get along with.’

True Master Xuanmiao was bored and idle, and the thought of finding a "master’s wife" to be Xiao Jiang’s backer came to him.

’Hmm, True Monarch Nong of the Taifu Sect? She’s incredibly wealthy, but has a fiery temper. The former master’s Daoist body in his first life was completely destroyed by a single stab from her sword.’

’True Monarch Ye of the Juechen Sect? She’s gentle and considerate, but she’s deeply afflicted by the Three Calamities, so she probably can’t help.’

’True Monarch Lu of the Innate Sect... she doesn’t seem easy to deal with either...’

True Master Xuanmiao sighed deeply. Looking at it this way, the former master’s romances were all over the world, but they were all complicated "ill-fated connections."

Some had even transformed into "love tribulations," escalating to the level of "enemies."

’Even this True Master doesn’t know how to explain this mess to Xiao Jiang.’

’I can only hope that before he reaches the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm, he absolutely does not expose his identity as the new monarch of [Shao Yang].’

’Otherwise, whether he joins the Taifu Sect or the Innate Sect, it’ll probably be a disaster!’

...

...

Vast were the Hong Shui, with white waves crashing to the sky.

Boundless clouds of vapor boiled and surged, partially concealing the Innate Sect, one of the great powers of the Demon Dao.

Beyond the "Positive and Negative Nine Palaces Myriad Transformation Dust Grand Array," personally laid down by a Daoist Monarch-level expert, massive Spirit Caves inhaled and exhaled celestial Essence, nurturing unique and exquisite Feng Shui landscapes.

Ancient mountains reached for the heavens, and pillar-like peaks crossed the sky. As far as the eye could see, they were countless, to say nothing of the densely scattered private manors and Meditation Houses, or the blessed Grotto-Heavens of Immortals held aloft in the sky.

Of course, the most striking sights were the famous Eight Peaks of the Innate Sect, arranged according to the positions of the stars. Encircled by wind and fire, they flickered between substance and illusion, almost like a minor heaven unto themselves.

Today, the main hall of Zhen Peak was exceptionally lively.

Streaks of brilliant light galloped across the sky—some riding dragons or cranes, some shifting star palaces, some driving clouds—all converging on Zhen Peak.

Numerous Foundation Establishment True Masters made their appearances, stirring up the Spiritual Energy until it surged and manifested all sorts of phenomena.

An eight-foot-tall bronze drum stood in the center. A middle-aged Daoist with a gaunt face and water-like patterns on his forehead was the first to speak.

"The position of Daoist is tied to our sect’s thousand-year destiny! How can it be given away so lightly? Old Master Drum, are you truly certain this was decreed by the Ancestral Master himself?"

Atop the eight-foot-tall bronze drum, an old man with snow-white hair and eyebrows, two small golden mallets hanging from his waist, lay sprawled out with his legs crossed:

"You juniors are so rude! Do you think I would ’falsify an imperial edict’? Your Cultivation is too low, you’re unable to achieve Sympathy with the Celestial Lord, so of course you don’t know the situation!"

"This matter was decided by your Ancestral Master himself using the ’Grand Sage’s True Words of the Mystic Monarch’s Prayer.’ His golden words are like jade; they cannot be overturned."

Hearing this, the True Masters all fell silent, their expressions varied. The Innate Sect had its Eight Peaks True Inheritance, two seats fewer than the ten offered by the Taifu Sect.

Unlike the Taifu Sect, which had long since designated a "Crown Prince," the Innate Sect had left the position of Daoist vacant, and until now, no one had seemed poised to take it.

In other words, all eight True Inheritance disciples had a sliver of a chance to become the master of the "Everlit Celestial Pool."

But now, news had suddenly spread that the Ancestral Master had chosen an outsider to take the great seat of their sect’s Daoist!

This immediately sent the Innate Sect into an uproar. Countless rumors and a million speculations surged and swirled, and even many Foundation Establishment True Masters who had been in seclusion for years could no longer sit still and came out to investigate.

"The Sect Leader hasn’t even made a decision, how can a Daoist have been chosen!"

A handsome Daoist wearing a Daoist Crown and a feathered robe shook his head and said:

"Even if it is the Ancestral Master’s choice, I’m afraid it will be difficult to win over the masses."

These words resonated deeply with everyone. If this weren’t a major affair for the sect, how would Foundation Establishment True Masters dare to question a Daoist Monarch Great Power? How would a Lower Cultivator dare to defy an Upper Cultivator?

It was precisely because this was the position of Daoist, precisely because it concerned the thousand-year destiny of the Innate Sect, and precisely because they were all a part of it!

That the many True Masters dared to voice their opinions, dared to comment!

"Perhaps the Ancestral Master performed a divination and uncovered some karmic connection."

A beautiful Female Cultivator standing to the southwest said slowly:

"What a Great Power sees is naturally different from what we juniors can perceive."

These words also won the nodding approval of some of the True Masters.

The clamor of discussion in the main hall of Zhen Peak immediately subsided.

"[Shao Yang]’s position has already been struck down!"

But a cold-faced young man in a black robe spoke up, his voice high and clear, like the clang of metal striking the ground.

"Yu Shenxiu was indeed astonishingly talented, the greatest prodigy of the Nanzhan Continent in five thousand years! But the [Shao Yang] he proved has already been defeated by [Tai Yang]!"

"The previous master failed, so how can his successor possibly win?"

The gaunt-faced, middle-aged Daoist chimed in:

"Junior Brother Wang is absolutely right. Yu Shenxiu, who held the position of [Shao Yang], could dominate the Yanfu Vast Land, but his successor may not have the same ability."

"If we bet the Innate Sect’s entire thousand-year fortune on this, and the Daoist dies, our Dharma Lineage will inevitably decline!"

"The cautionary tale of the Hidden Origin Sect is still fresh in our minds!"

The main hall of Zhen Peak, where the disputes had just been quelled, instantly became noisy again.

Atop the eight-foot-tall bronze drum, the white-haired old man turned a deaf ear, adopting the posture of a bystander on a wall, as if he couldn’t be bothered to listen to these juniors argue.

Suddenly, dense water clouds drifted in. A misty haze floated through the air, bringing with it a bone-chilling cold.

It silenced every Foundation Establishment True Master in the grand hall. Their Heart Spirits were frozen, trembling as if a basin of ice water had been poured over their heads—a cold so intense it frosted their Life Essence and solidified their Furnace Cauldrons.

"Greetings, True Monarch Lu!"

The greeting rose and fell in waves. Even the white-haired old man lying on the bronze drum sat up.

"So it’s True Monarch Lu! A message must have come from the Sect Leader’s side, right?"

The dense water clouds that filled the sky swirled and flowed, gradually contracting to form a cold, aloof figure.

"By the Sect Leader’s decree: Open the main gates! Welcome the Daoist’s return to his rightful place!"