Walker Of The Worlds

2731  Handing Duties To Daoist Chu

Daoist Chu watched carefully as the talisman Meng Bai had made finally stabilized.

”Itʼs done!” Meng Bai exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

”Letʼs see.” Daoist Chu stepped forward, inspecting the talisman closely before finally activating it.

SHUA

The runes glowed briefly before the talisman transformed into a cloud of thick smoke, shimmering with faint shimmering particles.

POOF

Daoist Chu extended his hand into the smoke, testing its properties with a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he nodded.

”Pass,” he declared firmly.

”Really? Was that good?” Meng Bai asked, his voice tinged with both excitement and nervousness.

This was his first time meeting another formation master besides Lin Mu, and he was anxious to receive a fair evaluation.

”Yes,” Daoist Chu affirmed. ”For someone with no formal training, this is quite good. Youʼve got talent, boy. Keep refining your skills, and youʼll do great.”

Meng Baiʼs lips curled into a proud smile.

”Thanks!” he said cheerfully.

”Alright, you can return to your spear training now,” Lin Mu instructed.

”Okay,” Meng Bai replied, retrieving his spear and positioning himself for practice. He began following the movements of the Nine Strikes Mountain Piercing Spear Technique, executing each strike with careful precision.

Daoist Chu observed for a moment before raising a brow.

”You gave him the Nine Strikes Mountain Piercing Spear Technique?” he asked.

”Yeah,” Lin Mu responded. ”We tested different weapons, and he showed some natural talent with spears. This technique seemed like the best choice for future progress.”

”I see... I suppose weapon training is essential too,” Daoist Chu nodded. Then, after a pause, he turned back to Lin Mu.

”So, this is what youʼve been doing all these days?” he asked.

”Pretty much,” Lin Mu answered.

”Oh yeah, werenʼt you going to explore the forest to meditate on your technique?” Daoist Chu recalled.

”I was, but then I got busy with Meng Bai,” Lin Mu admitted.

”Does he still need active guidance, or is it just practice now?” Daoist Chu inquired.

”Aside from occasional pointers, he mostly just needs time to practice,” Lin Mu replied. ”For formations, his penmanship still needs improvement before he can advance further.”

”Well, if thatʼs the case, I can handle it,” Daoist Chu offered.

Lin Mu raised an eyebrow.

”If you want to work on your technique, go ahead,” Daoist Chu continued. ”We still have a month until we move out anyway. I can oversee things here in the meantime.”

”You sure?” Lin Mu asked, his voice filled with consideration.

”Yeah, itʼs no problem,” Daoist Chu assured him. ”Besides, itʼll be good practice before I return to the sect. Teaching disciples will be easier after this.”

Lin Mu pondered for a moment before nodding.

”Alright, Iʼll take you up on that offer,” he decided.

With the River Bending Axe Sect taken care of, there were no immediate threats, and Daoist Chu was trustworthy.

”Iʼll oversee Meng Baiʼs training and give him pointers where needed,” Daoist Chu continued. ”Take some time for yourself. Youʼve been quite busy these past days.”

Lin Mu exhaled deeply.

”Yeah... Iʼll go then,” he said.

He turned to Meng Bai.

”Iʼll be away for a while to cultivate. Daoist Chu will guide you in the meantime,” Lin Mu informed.

”Oh?” Meng Bai blinked.

It made sense—his master had been focusing entirely on him, leaving little time for his own cultivation.

”I wonʼt be gone long. Probably a month. If anything happens, I can return quickly with Little Shrubby,” Lin Mu explained.

”Sure!” Meng Bai agreed readily.

With that settled, Lin Mu and Little Shrubby took off, soaring over the vast Ram Orchard Forest.

The deeper they ventured, the denser and wilder the landscape became. Towering ancient trees stretched high, their gnarled branches forming a thick canopy that filtered the golden sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air was rich with the scent of damp earth, mingled with the fragrance of wildflowers and the occasional tang of resin.

Massive roots snaked across the ground, some as thick as a manʼs torso, creating natural barriers and hidden pathways. Exotic fungi, glowing faintly in the dim undergrowth, sprouted from decaying logs, while vines heavy with unknown fruits draped over twisted trunks. The hum of life was everywhere—in the chirping of unseen birds, the rustling of small creatures darting through the brush, and the distant call of something large and unseen prowling deeper within.

Lin Muʼs eyes flickered as he scanned the ever-changing landscape.

”Thatʼs where the power of nature should be strongest,” he murmured. ”The trees should be ʼlouderʼ there.”

To cultivate Litany of the Verdant Forest, one needed a serene environment. The deeper he went, the more the pulse of the forest resonated within him.

After several hours, they found an ideal spot—a secluded clearing barely a hundred meters wide.

In its center stood the remnants of a once-mighty tree, its trunk split in two, charred black from an ancient lightning strike. Though the ground had been scorched, time had healed the wound, and now, a lush carpet of emerald grass had reclaimed the earth. Small flowering plants nestled among the treeʼs remains, their petals trembling in the soft breeze.

”This will do,” Lin Mu said.

He easily moved the fallen trunk, revealing a broad, weathered stump. Flattening it further with his bare hands, he sat cross-legged upon it.

”You can explore for now, Little Shrubby,” Lin Mu said.

”Iʼll go search for ingredients,” Little Shrubby responded before vanishing into the trees with a swift motion.

With solitude embracing him, Lin Mu closed his eyes and began reciting the mnemonic of Litany of the Verdant Forest. His breathing slowed as he attuned himself to the whispers of nature.

The leaves rustled like a whispered melody. The branches creaked, shifting ever so slightly with the wind. Birds called to one another, their songs blending into a chorus of the wild. Insects skittered across the bark of ancient trees, their minuscule movements adding to the grand symphony of the forest.

Hours blurred into days. Unlike the Evergreen Pillars Forest, where the unified bamboo resonated in harmony, the Ram Orchard Forest was chaotic—a thousand voices speaking at once.