Chapter 136: A Glance into the Past

The sunlight was brilliant and scorching, yet as it fell into the valley, it seemed to be swallowed by some force, its boundless heat instantly extinguished. Within the Wuzhuang Temple, it felt as though one had stepped into a different realm; sheltered from the sun's glare, one could look up at the sky from within the grounds without the slightest hint of discomfort. The light filtered through the leaves of the towering tree that stood inside the temple, casting dappled, serene shadows upon the grey-stone floor, where not a single speck of dust was visible.

The Master of Wuzhuang Temple asked Liuli with a gentle, elegant smile if he would be willing to become his disciple. His ethereal demeanor was such that anyone could see he was a master of the Dao. Liuli, possessing a keen and intuitive mind, was certainly not blind to this.

Liuli’s furry, grey paws scratched incessantly at his head. He seemed to be weighing the words of this transcendent sage, studying him from head to toe, while the crystalline light in his eyes flickered with every blink. Though Liuli had hesitated at the temple gates, once inside, he showed no nervousness or fear before the Master of Wuzhuang Temple. Beyond observing the master, he would occasionally turn his head to look at Nanluo, tilting his head and scratching his scalp, his gaze carrying a silent question, as if asking why Nanluo would not take him in himself.

"Heh, it seems you are unaware of my capabilities and find it difficult to decide. You are gifted with supernatural perception, able to observe the winds and clouds of heaven and earth and hear many of the world's secrets. You should know of the four realms—Immortal, Divine, Dao, and Saint—as spoken of by the Demon Master Kunpeng beneath Mount Buzhou, should you not?" The Master of Wuzhuang Temple wore a robe of Yin and Yang, his elegance unparalleled. A wisp of a black beard did not make him look aged, but rather added to his distinguished and refined air.

Liuli continued to scratch his head slowly, the crystalline light in his eyes flashing with every blink.

The Master of Wuzhuang Temple flicked his wide sleeves and clasped his hands behind his back, speaking in a resonant voice: "I was born alongside heaven and earth, existing beyond the Great Thousand Worlds, and am not contained within the Five Elements... The path of the Immortal is uncertain, the realm of the Divine is hard to find, the Great Dao is endless, and the Saint’s heart is clear! Since the evolution of heaven and earth, I have comprehended the Great Dao. If one were to use Kunpeng’s classification, I would be considered one of the Dao realm. Surely this is worthy of being your master? Can this compare to your friend Nanluo?"

If anyone else had spoken such words, it would have undoubtedly sounded arrogant and overbearing. Yet, from his lips, it remained clear and ethereal, devoid of any oppressive weight.

Nanluo smiled, his expression indifferent. It seemed as if he had no connection to Liuli at all, or perhaps he was encouraging the creature to accept the Master of Wuzhuang Temple as his master. Liuli’s scratching slowed, his eyes filled with deep thought.

Appearing deep in contemplation, his gaze kept shifting toward Nanluo’s face.

"Heh, it seems you need more time to consider. In any case, Fellow Daoist Nanluo should not be leaving anytime soon, so you may stay here and think it over well," the Master of Wuzhuang Temple said with a smile.

Hearing this, Nanluo also smiled and replied, "I have traveled along the spiritual veins of the mountains and rivers, attuned to heaven and earth. There are very few in this world capable of tracking my movements. Yet, I have stumbled upon Wuzhuang Temple; it seems the Master was waiting here specifically for me."

"Heh, the Heavenly Emperor of the Celestial Court secretly sealed the three hundred and sixty-five stellar lords, and you alone escaped. While this is not a secret in the world, few know of it... I merely took advantage of my ability to calculate that you would pass through here, and I wished to ask for clarity, that is all."

Nanluo gave a faint smile. "I never imagined my escape was already known. I wonder, when the rest of us three hundred and sixty-five were sealed, did you know of that as well?" He spoke with a smile, his emotions impossible to discern. Unbeknownst to him, the small human who had once struggled through the mountain forests could now remain calm and converse freely before one of the greatest divine beings in the world.

"Di Jun is deep in his schemes, holding the Hetu and Luoshu to calculate the fate of the world... Who in this realm could have foreseen his plans before the signs appeared?" The Master of Wuzhuang Temple looked toward the sky, as if gazing at its very edge, toward the Celestial Court atop Mount Buzhou. He continued, "I do not know how others learned of it, but your sudden disappearance required much effort for me to calculate, and it was only after many years that I discovered you were trapped within the spiritual vein."

Nanluo was puzzled and asked with a smile, "Your powers of calculation are unfathomable, Master. Why would you take an interest in me?" He knew well that despite his former status as the premier stellar lord of the Celestial Court, in the eyes of such masters, he was likely nothing. Even now, compared to the Master of Wuzhuang Temple, his own realm of power was vastly inferior. The further he progressed, the more Nanluo realized that the slightest gap in cultivation meant a chasm in strength.

The Master of Wuzhuang Temple smiled and looked at Nanluo’s garments. Nanluo realized and laughed, "So it was this 'Heaven-Concealing, Moon-Reflecting, Wind-Bathing Robe.' I truly owe you my gratitude for this gift, Master. Had it not been for this robe, I might have died in the mountain forests on my journey back all those years ago."

Back then, descending from the Undying Palace on Phoenix Mountain to search for the Yangping tribe, he had faced countless perils, hovering constantly on the edge of life and death. The robe had not granted him a massive increase in raw power, but it had significantly accelerated his recovery and spellcasting, and most importantly, when he sought to hide, it allowed him to conceal his presence without a single trace.

The Master of Wuzhuang Temple laughed. "My ability to track you was not entirely due to that robe. It is simply that I can calculate the location of anyone who has visited this Wuzhuang Temple, unless their power is not beneath my own, in which case they become untraceable."

Nanluo responded, "Then I wonder, Master, why did you suddenly think of me?" He had assumed that even if one could track those who had visited the temple, there was no reason to monitor or focus on him.

"It is as you say. I intended to remain in seclusion, hidden beyond the world, ignoring its affairs. But one day, Di Jun came to visit, which led me to take an interest in the affairs of the Celestial Court. Naturally, I sought to calculate the state of the Court, and when I found no other way to begin, I turned my calculations toward you. Heh, I hope you do not take offense."

Hearing this, Nanluo finally understood why the master had suddenly started monitoring him and the Celestial Court. Though the master did not say why Di Jun had visited, Nanluo could guess the reasons. Still, he frowned and asked, "Since you live in seclusion and ignore worldly affairs, surely Di Jun knew this. Did he come to invite you to join the Celestial Court?"

"No, that was not it. He came only to sit and discuss the Dao, taste tea, talk of the world, and discourse on supernatural powers. He never once mentioned the conflict between the Celestial Court and the Wu clan. That is precisely what puzzled me," the Master of Wuzhuang Temple said calmly. Even when speaking of such matters, he remained poised and quiet; it was impossible to imagine him ever flying into a rage.

"Oh, is that so? Then what was it you wished to learn from me?" Nanluo asked.

The Master of Wuzhuang Temple suddenly waved his wide sleeves, and the sky grew hazy and indistinct, as if one were looking up from beneath the surface of the water. Nanluo felt a sudden sensation of being severed from the world; for so long, he had maintained a subtle connection with the heavens and earth, but in that instant, it vanished completely.

He was secretly startled by the unfathomable nature of the master’s power, realizing how far he still had to go. He was also puzzled by the master’s intent, though he sensed no malice.

The Master of Wuzhuang Temple smiled. "I intended to ask, but upon seeing you, everything became clear. Come, let us sit within the hall. Other guests will be arriving soon to discuss the Dao... Qingfeng, Mingyue, go quickly and gather some Ginseng Fruit to entertain Fellow Daoist Nanluo."

Nanluo was stunned that the master claimed to have understood everything just by seeing him. He knew nothing of the art of calculation; although his power was growing and he had developed a sense for certain things, the mysterious and eerie path of divination remained a mystery to him. It seemed that those born with the world possessed these arcane arts.

Thinking of this, he asked no further questions, keeping a faint smile on his face. He thought to himself, "The art of calculation may be mysterious and eerie, but in the end, it still comes down to raw power. If one day I reach the pinnacle of this world, why should I fear such schemes? Let them plot and calculate as they please; as long as they do not provoke me, fine. But if they dare to cross me, I shall simply sever it with a sword. Why bother with such trouble?"