Martial Cultivator

Daoist Wuyang slowly ascended the mountain. On the mountain path, snowflakes fell one after another, accompanied by the constant sound of footsteps.

No one knew how many daoists in yellow and purple robes there were, but at this moment, all of them were devoutly descending the mountain, every one of them extremely excited.

The closer they drew to the mountain foot, the more they could feel the dense Dao rhythm upon the mountain path. That dense Dao rhythm immediately made them think of the legendary Dao Ancestor.

They had cultivated the Dao for so many years, yet truly, they had never sensed such a dense Dao rhythm before.

At the Infatuation Daoist Temple, many young disciples had originally been watching the heavy snowfall. But when they saw that many elders of the temple were descending the mountain, they were all stunned.

“Senior Brother, that seems to be Grand Martial Uncle Wu Qing, right? I remember seeing his elderly self only once when I first ascended the mountain, but hasn’t he been in seclusion all these years, attempting to break through to the end of Nepenthe?”

“That really is Grand Martial Uncle Wu Qing... but look at the one beside him.”

“Senior Brother, I’ve never seen that elder before.”

“Don’t just say you haven’t, neither have I. But do you remember, over at the Bixiao Palace, those portraits hanging there? That one looks very much like someone in those portraits!”

“Eh?”

The young daoists of the temple widened their eyes, watching as figure after figure appeared from somewhere behind them, hurrying past toward the mountain path.

If it were merely the elders they often saw on ordinary days, that would be one thing. But these elders, either only one or two people had ever seen them before, being those who usually stayed in deep seclusion, or they were those who had long since ignored worldly affairs, having been in closed cultivation for many years, the old daoists whom no one had ever seen, and whose seniority was unimaginably high.

It could be said that the old daoists appearing now were, within the entire Daoism, among the most senior and highest-ranked of them all.

These people could be said to be the true foundation of the Infatuation Daoist Temple.

However, it was obvious that even though many old daoists had exited their seclusions because of the Dao rhythm, this group was definitely not all of them. In the few most hidden caves at the back of the mountain, places that had shown no sign of movement for many years, it had always been believed that the true foundation of the Infatuation Daoist Temple lay there.

The daoists descended the mountain in a continuous stream, and soon, at mid-mountain, they met the daoist who was ascending.

The leading daoist in yellow and purple looked first at the daoist before him, whose temples were faintly graying. He froze for a moment, somewhat incredulous as he said, “Temple Master?”,

As soon as this daoist spoke, the crowd behind him all involuntarily furrowed their brows. From afar, though they could not see the face clearly, the daoist before them was definitely not young—how could he be Yun Jianyue?

But after a brief moment, many people widened their eyes.

Because at that moment, they clearly saw the face of the person before them.

In the current ancestral hall, the portrait of that very person was still hanging there. There was no way they could mistake it.

”Temple Master?!”

Voices rose one after another.

A daoist burst into hearty laughter, then quickly became tearful. “Heaven has eyes! The Temple Master is unharmed and has now returned to the mountain!”

Daoist Wuyang had sat in the Temple Master’s seat for countless years, and there were countless loyal followers within the Infatuation Daoist Temple. When they first heard that Daoist Wuyang had died at Yinli’s hands, who knew how many of them sighed in grief and regret.

Daoist Wuyang stopped his steps and looked at the group of daoists before him, smiling as he said, “Everyone, it has been a long time.”

A daoist in yellow and purple robes took one step forward and tightly grasped Daoist Wuyang’s sleeve, tears streaming down his face. “Senior Brother, when I heard of your death that day, this junior brother was truly heartbroken.”

Daoist Wuyang glanced at him, then reached out to wipe away his tears. “Youyun, you are already a daoist sage, so why are you still like a child? Will you never grow up?”

Before him, this Daoist Youyun was the youngest martial brother of Daoist Wuyang’s generation. Though they were not taught by the same master, they had shared a deep friendship since youth. Later, for the sake of pursuing the Great Dao, Youyun had spent long years cultivating in seclusion in the mountains, so their meetings had grown fewer and fewer.

The last time he emerged from seclusion, he heard that his senior brother Wuyang had been harmed by Yinli, and he had wept bitterly in the mountains for three days. At that time, the disciples of the temple all said that Daoist Youyun was truly a man of genuine feeling.

Daoist Youyun nodded, smiling as he said, “It is enough that Senior Brother has returned safely... it seems Senior Brother’s cultivation realm has advanced once again...”

This group of people had all come because they sensed the Dao rhythm upon the mountain path. But upon arriving and discovering that the Dao rhythm originated from Daoist Wuyang, they naturally found it strange.

Daoist Wuyang looked at the many daoists before him and said calmly, “This penniless daoist has gained fortune through misfortune and taken one step forward.”

“Hmm?!”

Daoist Youyun was stunned, but before he could speak, a white-haired old daoist beside him had already opened his mouth. “Sage, could it be that you have taken another step forward and broken through the threshold of Nepenthe?”

Be it Nepenthe or the end of Nepenthe, though there was a difference in level, they both belonged to the realm of Nepenthe. The Daoist Wuyang before them had long ago been a great daoist sage at the end of Nepenthe. Now that he had returned, and with such dense Dao rhythm surrounding him, anyone would naturally suspect this.

Moreover, the realm above Nepenthe was not necessarily unreachable. Just recently, there had been a rumor that the Sword Sect’s Sect Master had reached perfection in his comprehension of the sword during seclusion, and had already crossed into that realm.

Daoist Wuyang smiled faintly. “My luck was rather good. I have already stepped into that realm.”

Once these words were spoken, all the daoists along the mountain path were shocked. Someone curiously asked, “Sage, did you obtain your opportunity beyond that Immortal Sea? Is it true that there are hidden experts residing there?”

That day, the image within the demon bead had indeed recorded that the daoist before them had been swallowed by that Immortal Sea. If not only had he not died, but had even taken a step forward, then it must certainly have been connected to that Immortal Sea.

Daoist Wuyang did not answer this question, but smiled and said, “Above Nepenthe, the realm is called the Fuyun Realm. You may record it in the register, so that future generations will know of it.”

Fuyun?

An old daoist muttered to himself, his eyes unknowingly growing moist. Among them were some who had not yet reached the end of Nepenthe, but in truth, they no longer held much hope for cultivation or eternal life. After all, even those at the end of Nepenthe could not attain immortality, and none of them had ever seen an existence beyond Nepenthe. Sometimes, they even thought, if reaching the end of Nepenthe was also useless, then what meaning was there in bitter cultivation?

“Sage, can you speak to us about the mysteries above Nepenthe, and enlighten us?”

A daoist quickly opened his mouth. Since now there was an existence above Nepenthe before us, naturally it was necessary to have him properly speak of the mysteries. Such an opportunity was absolutely not to be missed.

Daoist Wuyang said calmly, “Of course. It is only that before this, there should be a small matter to do.”

A small matter? This phrase, whether casual or deliberate, caused the daoists on the mountain path to slightly furrow their brows.

After that, Daoist Wuyang slowly ascended the mountain. The daoists on both sides of the mountain path did not move, but spread to either side of the path, watching this great daoist sage whose realm is such that within Daoism no second can be found.

It was said that since the Dao Ancestor, Daoism no longer had anyone worthy to be called ancestor. But the person before them, perhaps he had the chance, right?

Daoist Youyun, who held onto Daoist Wuyang’s sleeve, was an exception, able to ascend the mountain side by side with his senior brother.

Daoist Youyun smiled and said, “Back then, when that dog Yinli took the seat of temple master, most of us could not believe he would personally harm Senior Brother. It was A’Yue alone who eliminated him, avenging Senior Brother. Later, A’Yue also lived up to expectations. After taking the position of temple master, he soon became a great daoist sage. We old fellows truly could not compare to him.”

Daoist Wuyang nodded and said, “A’Yue’s dao heart was firm, his talent was not lacking. Such achievement was within my expectations.”

“Also thanks to Senior Brother’s patient instruction over these years. Who on this mountain does not know that Senior Brother has always regarded A’Yue as your final disciple?”

Daoist Youyun smiled and said, “A’Yue is probably in seclusion now. If he knew Senior Brother has returned, he would certainly be overjoyed.”

Daoist Wuyang gave a faint smile, and did not comment on these words.

Then Daoist Wuyang suddenly asked, “Junior Brother, if I were to return to the mountain and take up the position of temple master again, what would you think?”

“Senior Brother... you were already the temple master. It is only that before, everyone mistakenly believed you dead, so they thought to select a new temple master. Now that Senior Brother has returned, if you want to take the position again, I suppose there would be no problem. Even A’Yue would not oppose it. It is just that at Senior Brother’s current realm...”

Daoist Youyun was somewhat puzzled. In truth, many daoists on the mountain were unwilling to concern themselves with such matters. Otherwise, there would not be so many daoists in the rear mountains in seclusion, ignoring worldly affairs.

Since Daoist Wuyang had already gone beyond the end of Nepenthe and became a more remarkable existence, logically speaking, whether he was temple master or not should no longer matter.

Moreover, with Daoist Wuyang’s present realm, even without the title of temple master, whoever he met in the world would show him respect.

So whether he became temple master or not made no difference at all.

Daoist Wuyang glanced at Daoist Youyun. He originally intended to say something, but thinking that this junior brother often secluded himself for cultivation, caring little for worldly matters, he let it go.

He simply stepped slowly onto the snow-covered stone steps, one step at a time.

For some reason, at that moment, this great daoist sage who had presided over the Infatuation Daoist Temple for countless years suddenly recalled the first time he ascended the mountain.

His master walked in front, steps slow.

He walked behind, looking at his master’s tall figure, only thinking that one day he would become a great daoist sage like his master.

That day, he did not look at any of the scenery along the mountain path.

Later, one day, he was already the temple master, a great daoist sage, a figure revered by all in Daoism, and he came to the mountain to see a daoist of extremely poor cultivation bringing a boy up the mountain.

The boy was looking around at that time.

The daoist and he were of the same generation, but the daoist’s talent was far inferior, so that even if the daoist went up first and he went up after, their realms soon diverged greatly, to the point where the daoist would never be able to catch up in his lifetime.

And the luckiest thing in his life was that he had indeed taken a very good disciple.

In the following years, he had, consciously or unconsciously, shown the boy that if he wanted to change clans and become his disciple, he could handle everything, ensuring that outsiders would not notice anything wrong and no one would be dissatisfied.

But the boy, whether unable to perceive his intention or deliberately playing dumb, had never shown the slightest sign of intention.

He did not force it.

So, in the years that followed, many young boys came to the temple. Many had fine talent, yet none were ultimately taken in by him.

He himself was a peerless genius beneath the heavens, and after having met such an outstanding youth, since that youth was unwilling to become his disciple, would he then lower himself to take in someone inferior?

That would be meaningless.

Although he had not taken the boy as his disciple, afterward he still treated him as one, imparting all his knowledge and guidance.

Though there was no title of master and disciple, there was the reality of it.

The reason was simple: for someone like him, Daoist Wuyang, the disciples he taught could only be the best.

Only the best were worthy of being taught by him.

Taking a deep breath, Daoist Wuyang returned to his senses. At the end of the mountain path ahead, a young daoist stood there, smiling at him.

Wearing a dark red daoist robe and possessing an exceedingly handsome face, none would doubt it if one said this person was an immortal descended from the heavens.

Daoist Wuyang stopped in his tracks and smiled. “A’Yue, have you become this petty? You won’t even let your martial uncle return for a visit?”

Yun Jianyue said, “If Martial Uncle is merely returning to visit, then there is no issue. But this time, is Martial Uncle only here for a visit?”

At these words, the daoists behind Daoist Wuyang were suddenly startled. None of them had imagined that this martial uncle and martial nephew, once so close, would speak to each other in such a way.

Could it be that just for the two words ‘temple master,’ they were now to turn against each other?

Daoist Youyun, who stood closest, furrowed his brows deeply.

Daoist Wuyang remained silent for a long time, looking at the young man before him. No one knew what he was thinking of again, but he extended his hand.

He opened his palm, demanding an item.

“A’Yue, give it to me. I do not wish to kill you. “A’Yue, give me the thing. I do not wish to kill you. Imprison yourself in the Soul Locking Prison. After I die, you will still be the temple master.”

Hearing this, everyone was once again shaken.

Yun Jianyue shook his head. “Forgive me, but I cannot comply.”