Chapter 596: Chapter 416: Celestial Master Xu’s prestige, a hundred responses to a single call!
Lunar November 15th, clear weather.
10 o’clock in the evening.
Wu City, Funeral Shop.
The front door of the Funeral Shop was wide open. The first floor was bustling with activity, as a large group of people gathered around tables, drinking tea and discussing matters of the martial world. If those from the martial world saw this scene, their eyes might pop out in shock!
That’s because every single person in the Funeral Shop was a well-known expert in the martial world, top-notch in their skills!
Like the Patriarch of the Western Frontier’s Bloodblade Sect, Patriarch Cui of Qing He, Patriarch Zheng of Xingyang, Patriarch Lu of Fan Yang, Patriarch Wang of Taiyuan City, and Patriarch Ma of Fufeng.
On top of that, there were five Daoist True Monarchs, including the current Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, Master Yimei of the Maoshan Sect, and Celestial Master Zhao Wuji of the Quanzhen Sect.
“I heard that Master Xu’s immortal tea helped Master Yimei reach the Daoist True Monarch Realm, and today we also get to taste it.” Patriarch Lu of Fan Yang said with a smile.
The six great families of Da Xia are now keeping a low profile, especially the Li Clan. After all, the entire Li Clan’s ancestors have perished, and three generations of their leaders have died. Their clan no longer has any experts… It’s said that many of Li Clan’s businesses have been divided among the other five great families.
While the six great families always shout the slogan “united as one, advancing and retreating together”, what do a few slogans matter in the face of absolute interests?
Xu Yang laughed, “That’s an exaggeration. Master Yimei’s breakthrough into the Daoist True Monarch Realm was due to years of accumulation and had nothing to do with the immortal tea…”
He personally got up and poured tea for everyone.
Celestial Master Zhang of Dragon Tiger Mountain laughed, “Master Xu, you said you invited us to Wu City for tea… I suspect there’s more to it than just drinking tea, right?”
Everyone looked over.
Xu Yang had previously approached them only to invite them for tea in Wu City and did not mention dealing with the Ghost Market.
“I boldly invite everyone here today, as I indeed have a request.”
Xu Yang stood up, raised his cup of tea as a toast to everyone, and began, “Since ancient times, our Da Xia land has been plagued by Yin spirits and malevolent beings. Some of these ferocious ghosts harm the people, commit countless evil deeds, and even turn entire cities into Ghost Realms, as recorded in some historical texts.”
The people’s expressions turned serious.
Celestial Master Zhang of Dragon Tiger Mountain nodded in agreement.
Since ancient times, the common people have suffered hardships; they have been exploited by gentry and landlords, and faced wars, natural disasters, and man-made calamities. On top of that, they often faced harassment from demons, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures. Human lives were as fragile as straw!
Xu Yang continued, “Since the spiritual aura revitalized more than forty years ago, numerous bizarre incidents have occurred across the country, and countless people have died tragically. Now, with three waves of spiritual aura revitalization, ghosts are rampant throughout Da Xia. If not for the cooperation between the Spirits Management Bureau and the ghost officials in capturing Yin spirits and malevolent beings, there would have been even more casualties.”
“However, many powerful ghosts have taken refuge in the Ghost Market, evading capture by the Supernatural Affairs Bureau and the ghost officials.”
“Everyone knows that the Ghost Market doesn’t belong to the realm of the living, nor is it under the jurisdiction of the Underworld. According to the rules of the Underworld, even the ghost officials and grim reapers are not allowed to enter the Ghost Market to capture ghosts at will…”
Master Yimei caught on and asked, “By Master Xu’s meaning… are you planning on attacking the nine Ghost Markets?”
Xu Yang laughed, “Not all nine Ghost Markets, but rather the seven remaining ones. Now that I control Da Xia and Fengdu City’s Ghost Markets, I’ve gained some experience in managing them. If we can capture the other seven and manage them in the same way, the people of Da Xia will be free from the threat of Yin spirits and evil ghosts forever!”
“This is a beneficial act for the country and the people. Successfully accomplishing it will be considered a great merit for all of us!”
Master Yimei was the first to express his stance, “We, Maoshan Sect, are at Master Xu’s disposal… Our Sect still has several Patriarchs alive. If needed, the Patriarchs can come out of seclusion to help in the battle!”
Celestial Master Zhang of Dragon Tiger Mountain and Celestial Master Zhao Wuji of the Quanzhen Sect subsequently expressed their positions.
Patriarch Bloodblade of the Bloodblade Sect and Patriarch Cui quickly chimed in as well.
At this moment, a sword light streaked across the night sky outside, and a voice reverberated into the Funeral Shop—
“How can Wudang Sect be absent for such a grand event?”
Sect Leader Chen of Wudang Sect entered the Funeral Shop, wearing a Daoist robe and carrying an ancient sword on his back. He bowed and greeted the crowd, “Greetings, seniors, I am Chen Shixing of Wudang Sect.”
Then, he greeted Xu Yang separately, “Celestial Master Xu.”
“Sect Leader Chen!”
Xu Yang welcomed him with a smile, sizing up Chen Shixing and said, “Congratulations on Dao and martial breakthroughs, Sect Leader Chen. From now on, Da Xia will have one more formidable figure.”
Everyone looked over, their eyes flashing with surprise.
Compared to Sect Leader Chen of Wudang, these people were all considered “seniors”, even Master Yimei. Although he was not from ancient times, he was quite older and had been practicing for a longer time.
However, it wasn’t until two days ago that he too broke through to the Daoist True Monarch Realm.
Sect Leader Chen said, “Without Master Xu’s immortal tea and his Sword Aura Grand Canyon, my martial arts wouldn’t have advanced in such a short time… If not for the breakthrough in my martial arts, I wouldn’t have gained a deeper understanding of nature, and I most likely would not have been able to reach the Daoist True Monarch Realm.”
Wudang Sect disciples are usually dual practitioners of Dao and martial arts.
And Sect Leader Chen was the best among them!
He was an interesting person. Before the Spirits Management Bureau officially announced that martial arts and Daoist skills really existed in the world, he often shared videos of his “exercises” online, held live broadcasts to interact with fans, and even participated in some unofficial “martial arts competitions”, winning the title of “Martial Arts Champion” several times.