After seeing off the Bu Sword Master, Xu Zhuang was a little upset, so he simply asked the boy to close the door and stopped seeing any visitors. He returned to the quiet room, cleared away all distracting thoughts, and concentrated on practicing.
After refining the gold mercury, Xu Zhuang's cultivation progressed rapidly, and he also refined the ice essence. However, after half a year of practice, the combination of spirit and energy has begun to show results, and the movement of elixir and magic power is much more flexible.
According to Xu Zhuang's own estimation, if Taoist training was not included, he would be able to refine the Nascent Soul in about thirty years.
He is not slow in his Taoist training now. The Five Elements Escape Technique and Qianjun Faqi Liang are just one step away from reaching the sixth level. The Xu Xingxuan Creation Dragon Taoist Technique was created by him, and it is progressing by leaps and bounds...
If the results of practicing "Yin Yang Gong Dao" are gratifying, and you can become a Nascent Soul within thirty years, it seems that it is indeed not an empty talk.
Thinking of this, Xu Zhuang's image of the Bujianshi appeared in Xu Zhuang's mind. After leaving that day, it was not until three days ago that the Bujianshi sent a letter asking him to make a decision as soon as possible.
Xu Zhuang is not really a very troubled person, nor is he really heartless and desireless, but from the bottom of his heart, this method is not what he wants.
But there is no doubt that compared with getting involved with aristocratic families, it is completely better to participate in yin and yang with the swordsman. Otherwise, he would simply refuse it instead of giving it another thought.
In fact, since Xu Zhuang had been in seclusion for half a year, he had not opened his house to welcome guests or interacted with aristocratic families, and his heart was obviously leaning towards the choice of sword master Yixiabu.
"Since I no longer want him to choose, it's better to reply to Senior Sister as soon as possible." Xu Zhuang made a decision, but his heart was not very light. He couldn't feel any charm at the moment. He shook his head, walked out of the quiet room, and came to the lobby. In the middle of the day, I happened to see the boy returning from outside the house.
Xu Zhuang's mind suddenly changed and he knew that he was going to the General Affairs Hall to get the true religious artifacts.
When the boy saw Xu Zhuang leaving the customs, he hurriedly came up to salute and reported: "Sir, today the boy went to the general affairs hall, but there is still no Yuanyuan Jade Gui and furnace sand to redeem."
Every time when I went to pick up the ritual objects, I would ask about the Yuanyuan Jade Gui and the sand in the furnace. This was also what Xu Zhuang had ordered. For half a year, there had been no news. The boy was quite speculative.
Xu Zhuang raised his eyebrows, but felt strange in his heart. The sand in the furnace is a commonly used item, and there is no reason why it will be in short supply for a long time.
Naturally, Xu Zhuang had no intention of blaming Tong'er. He waved his hand to make him retreat. After thinking for a moment, he left the cave, set up the escape light and went straight to the general affairs hall.
Time has passed and things have changed. Deacon Zhu, who was familiar to Xu Zhuang in the past, has resigned from the General Affairs Hall and seems to have taken a casual position to teach his children to practice Taoism. Now the person on duty in the General Affairs Hall is a deacon named Liu.
Upon hearing the news of Xu Zhuang's arrival, Deacon Liu hurriedly appeared and welcomed Xu Zhuang into a side hall. After sitting down, he asked Xu Zhuang why he was here.
Xu Zhuang was not polite and asked directly: "If I want to refine the magic weapon, I need a handful of sand from the furnace. I have sent the boy to the general affairs hall several times but still can't get it, so I made a special trip to ask about it." .”
"Ouch." Deacon Liu said with a grimace, "Now the hall may indeed have been short of furnace sand for a long time. Please forgive me, Senior Brother Xu."
Xu Zhuang asked: "Sand in furnaces is a commonly used item, why is it in such short supply?"
Deacon Liu had a grimace, looked around, dismissed several Taoist boys, and whispered: "Brother, I also know that in Yunmeng Ze, the water vapor is heavy and the fire vapor is light, and there is no fire that can produce high-grade cinnabar." pulse."
"In the past, the cinnabar in the sect was mined from Tianwai and traded with foreign sects. Later, the Chen family and the Tianhuo Yang family were married and received two volcanoes as gifts. The cinnabar output was very large, and they gradually took over the supply of cinnabar."
"Later, the Chen family and the Tianhuo Yang family had a very unpleasant quarrel, and the two families kept arguing. Until they officially fell out not long ago, the Yang family actually made a surprise attack and took back the volcanic sand field..."
"Huh?" Xu Zhuang's expression changed.
Deacon Liu coughed a few times and said: "In short, the supply of cinnabar in the door has been temporarily stopped since then. Although the Tianwai sand field and trade have been restarted in the door, it is still in short supply in a short period of time."
"Now that all the sand in the furnace in the door has been scraped away by Tiangong Hall, Danxia Courtyard, Fangchen Courtyard... there is nothing left to distribute to the General Affairs Hall."
"I see." Xu Zhuang muttered: "I can't blame Deacon Liu for this. However, the sand in the furnace is indeed what I need. If there is a share of supply in the future, please ask Deacon to pay attention to it for me."
Deacon Liu hurriedly said: "This is what it should be." After hesitating for a moment, he said cautiously: "Actually, the Chen family has been dealing with cinnabar for a long time, and there must be a lot of surplus in the family. If senior brother is really in urgent need of it, why not..."
"Oh?" Xu Zhuang glanced at Deacon Liu and suddenly asked, "Is the deacon a relative of the Chen family?"
Deacon Liu was startled for a moment, then he replied: "Yes, my wife is from the Chen family." He then explained hurriedly: "Brother, please don't misunderstand me. This is my own opinion. It's because I heard that among the Chen family, now I only said this because I wanted to express goodwill to my senior brother."
In fact, what he said was true. In the past year and a half, Xu Zhuang did receive many invitations and letters of greetings from the Chen family, but Xu Zhuang always ignored them.
Xu Zhuang pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Junior brother, don't be anxious. Your suggestion is very good. I will just go to Chen's."
"Huh?" Deacon Liu was stunned, and then he saw Xu Zhuang stood up, cupped his hands, strode out of the General Affairs Hall, and left in the form of a rainbow.
——
Chen Zonghe hurriedly entered the hall and saw Chen Zong sitting on the main seat with his face sinking like water, and several brothers had already taken their seats.
Chen Zonghe found a place to sit down and heard someone say: "After taking back the volcanic sand field and sending people to attack the Yunsha Tianchi, the Yang family is too arrogant. Do you really think you can compete with me, the Chen family?"
Another person said coldly: "Old Ghost Yang has inherited the Earth Fire Dharma, and Yang Huaizun has always relied on his own soul. How can the Yang family not be arrogant?"
Chen Zonghe said calmly: "So what about the Earth Fire Dharma Appearance? If Old Ghost Yang dares to provoke my Chen family with the Earth Fire Dharma Appearance, will the sect turn a blind eye? As for Yang Huaizun, I would like to compete with him."
Chen Zonghe's attitude is tough, but some people are worried: "The Yang family is attacking properties that my Chen family has not registered in the sect. The sect may not pay attention to this matter."
Someone said in a deep voice: "The Earth Fire Dharma is not something belonging to the Yang family, so why should fourth brother worry about it? Besides, the Yang family has the Earth Fire Dharma, so I, the Chen family, don't have the Patriarch's Dharma Treasure?"
The man still said: "Having said that, it is not an important foundation, so there is no need to fight with the Yang family..."
Chen Zonghe raised his brows and said in a deep voice: "No matter how important it is, it is an industry that my Chen family has been running for a long time. There is no reason to give it away easily."
Everyone obviously had their own opinions, and there was some confusion in the palace for a while. Chen Zongzheng was sitting on the front seat and kept silent until his eyes suddenly fell outside the palace door. He saw a guard with half of his body exposed and gently knocked on the door. .
Everyone suddenly stopped discussing and looked at each other. Chen Zongzheng frowned slightly and nodded, and the guards stepped into the hall and whispered to him in a low voice.
Chen Zongzheng raised his brows and whispered to himself: "Xuzhuang..." Then he waved his hand and ordered: "Invite him to the Boxin Ship Building, and I will receive him personally."
The guard responded: "Yes." He hurriedly retreated. Chen Zongzheng looked around and said calmly: "It's just a small gain, but it's worth getting so angry. Where have you been practicing?" He waved his sleeves and said. : "I still have important matters to deal with. I will send additional tribesmen and Taoist soldiers to guard the property outside the door. We will discuss the rest another day."
——
Xu Zhuang followed the guard to a lake with rippling blue waves. He crossed the covered bridge and climbed onto the covered bridge in the center of the lake. When he reached the top floor, the guard said, "Please, the master of the house is already waiting inside."
Xu Zhuang nodded, walked alone through the aisle, opened the bead curtain, and saw a middle-aged Taoist with good facial features sitting inside. He was pouring tea. When he noticed Xu Zhuang entering, he nodded and said: "Junior Brother Xu, please sit."
Junior brother?
Xu Zhuang raised his eyebrows, cupped his hands and said, "Master Chen." Without being polite, he sat down next to Chen Zongzheng.
Chen Zongzheng said: "You're welcome, junior brother. You and I, who are the same generation as true disciples, call each other senior brother."
Xu Zhuang did not know that the head of the Chen family in front of him was also one of the twelve generations of true heirs. However, even among the same generation, except for a few people who were promoted to true heirs at the same time, they were separated from the true heirs by hundreds or thousands of years. It is difficult for disciples to say that they have any feelings of brotherhood.
Therefore, Xu Zhuang was a little surprised by Chen Zongzheng's words. He pondered for a few breaths and then called out: "Senior Brother Chen."
Chen Zongzheng nodded, kept moving his hands, poured the tea and pushed it over. Without saying much else, he said bluntly: "I wonder why junior brother came to visit suddenly today?"
Xu Zhuang had already made preparations. Seeing Chen Zongzheng's direct question, he didn't bother to beat around the bush and said directly: "I heard that there is some sand left in the furnace in the Chen clan, so I came here to see if I can get a handful of dendrobium."
Chen Zongzheng seemed a little surprised. He moved the tea cup to his mouth. After thinking for a few moments, he said, "This is a small matter. I'll just ask someone to prepare it for junior brother."
After saying that, he lightly buttoned the table, and a Taoist boy entered the inner room. Chen Zongzheng gave a few instructions, and the Taoist boy hurriedly took the order and left.
This was much smoother than Xu Zhuang expected. Xu Zhuang's heart suddenly changed a few times, and he asked calmly: "I came here specially to visit today, but there is another matter. Senior brother has sent people to my house many times to deliver greetings and invitations. I don’t know what the reason for the kindness is?”
Chen Zongzheng gently stroked his short beard and said slowly: "On behalf of Mr. Chen, I would like to support my junior brother in obtaining the quota offered by the Xiantian Taisu realm."
Xu Zhuang raised his eyebrows and said in surprise: "I wonder what your conditions are, senior brother?"
Chen Zongzheng smiled and said: "I hope to resolve the misunderstanding between Mr. Chen and his junior brother."
"Oh?" Xu Zhuang said with a faint smile, "It seems that there is no misunderstanding between me and Mr. Chen."
Speaking of this, Xu Zhuang narrowed his eyes and continued: "Because of this, I was troubled by evil spirits. Because of this, my senior brother lost his younger brother, had an affair with his sister, fell out with his in-laws, and caused losses to the family... Between Chen and me, Is it just a misunderstanding?"
Chen Zongzheng's expression changed slightly, he put down the tea cup, and after a long silence he said, "This is a mistake that I, as the head of the family, have made."
Xu Zhuang frowned. He knew that the Senior Brother Chen in front of him was indeed not saying all his words against his will, but he was definitely not so cold and absolute in his heart. He couldn't help but ask: "Senior Brother, do you think such behavior is worthy?"
Chen Zongzheng said calmly: "I am just leading the Chen family to the most correct path."
The most correct path? Xu Zhuang felt a little shocked in his heart when he looked at the man in front of him, who had been born for more than 800 years.
At this time, the bead curtain rolled up, and the Taoist boy came into the inner room with a handful of bright red cinnabar, which contained spiritual light, and respectfully placed it on the table.
Neither of them was in a hurry to pay attention to this matter. Chen Zongzheng seemed to have recovered his mood in a moment and asked again: "Junior brother, how are you thinking about it?"
Xu Zhuang said: "Senior Brother's condition, is that all?"
Chen Zongzheng affirmed: "That's all."
There is no doubt that the most correct path also appeared in front of Xu Zhuang at this time, but Xu Zhuang sighed softly and replied: "Thank you, senior brother, for your kindness."
Chen Zongzheng frowned and asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean, junior brother?"
Xu Zhuang said calmly: "It's just a trivial matter to clear up the old grudges. There is no need to worry about quotas."
Chen Zongzheng said in surprise: "Junior brother, isn't he now seeking to enter the realm of Xiantian Taisu to practice?"
Xu Zhuang suddenly stood up and said with a big laugh: "Being in love with my senior brother is indeed the most beneficial choice for me, but it is not what I want."
What is the true nature? It's not good, not evil, it doesn't matter whether it's correct or not, it just points directly to the original heart.
Many people understand this principle, but why can’t many people truly practice it? Without it, just because I am trapped in this mountain.
The right roads were laid out one after another in front of Xu Zhuang, but Xu Zhuang had doubts.
Why is it so difficult for me to make these choices?
Are you afraid that you will be involved in the cause and effect and will not be able to repay it in the future? no!
Are you afraid that your heart will be restrained and you will have no love or sex? no!
You must retaliate for your anger, are you absolutely unwilling to settle the feud with Mr. Chen? no!
I feel that I don’t have much grudge against the Chen family, so why can’t I accept this gift? no!
Everything is just because it is not what I want and does not suit my heart.
Yes, no matter what interests or causes and effects, they are never as important as what I want.
"I only take this amount of sand from the dendrobium furnace to put an end to the old grudges. Let me go." After saying this, he flicked his sleeves, collected the sand from the furnace, cupped his hands slightly, and strode out.
"Not what I want?" Chen Zongzheng was stunned on the spot, but it had nothing to do with Xu Zhuang.
After coming out of the inner room, he looked up at the blue sky, and Xu Zhuang felt a sense of openness in his heart.
With a decision in his mind, the worries of the past were swept away. Xu Zhuang suddenly jumped up and turned into a rainbow light that rushed into the clouds. He figured out the direction and escaped. Not long after, a column of peaks as steep as a sword edge came into view. eye.
"This is Senior Sister Bu's cave." Xu Zhuang stopped his escape light and stood on top of the clouds. No longer thinking about it, he flicked his fingers and dropped a talisman, which floated to the top of the cliff and disappeared into the restriction.
Xu Zhuang waited for a moment, and then he saw the restricted hole opened, revealing an open door on the cliff. A sword light shot up from the sky, and in a moment it was in front of Xu Zhuang, revealing the slim figure of the swordsman.
"Senior sister." Xu Zhuang cupped his hands slightly.
The Bu Sword Master curled a strand of hair on his temples, nodded, and said coldly: "Junior brother, please think about it."
Xu Zhuang said: "Yes, I have thought about it for a long time and decided to reject Senior Sister's kindness. Please forgive me."
Perhaps Xu Zhuang's answer was different from what she expected. The swordsman-in-arms tightened his fingertips and straightened his temple hair, and then said after a while: "Why?"
Xu Zhuang replied: "This is not what I want."
The Bu Sword Master wondered: "Is it because I am ugly?"
"...cough." Xu Zhuang never expected that Bu Jianshi would ask such a question. He almost choked out and said hurriedly: "Senior Sister's appearance is excellent, don't misunderstand me."
Bu Sword Master asked again: "Junior brother, have you cut off your love and sex?"
"That's not the case." Xu Zhuang sighed: "It's just that such behavior is too utilitarian and not what I want."
The Bu Sword Master finally frowned and asked, "Isn't it utilitarian to trade with aristocratic families?"
Xu Zhuang said: "I don't want to trade with aristocratic families. After today, I will let out the news and refuse all invitations from aristocratic families."
Bu Jianshi opened his eyes slightly and asked, "Junior brother, don't you want to enter the realm of Xiantian Taisu to practice?"
Xu Zhuang smiled and said: "My little brother just wants to concentrate on practicing. If you can succeed, you will succeed. If you can't, then give up. Although the innate Taisu realm is good, it will not mess up your true intention. Otherwise, how can you practice?"
The step sword master was shocked.
Seeing that Bu Jianshi didn't say anything, Xu Zhuang didn't say much either. He cupped his hands and said goodbye, then cut through the sky and left.
Only the sword master was left standing in the wind, not knowing what to think.
Ps (free word count, because some readers won’t read the author’s words): My brain is still a bit mushy after two days of fluid infusion. I feel like my writing is a bit messy, but I really don’t want to delay it any longer. I may revise the word order later, and the content It won’t change, the fire forgives.
(End of chapter)
