Zhongwen spoke softly, “At that time, the senior apprentice saw the Master subduing Zhang Yuchong. He was still worried and was about to step forward and greet the Master when suddenly that Ah Nu sent out something unknown from behind. Immediately afterward, he quickly retreated.
“The senior apprentice only felt that as soon as that object appeared, it drained all the surrounding true energy. At the spot where the Master and Zhang Yuchong stood, colorful lights simultaneously emerged from all directions, clearly indicating some kind of formation was in place. My senior apprentice grew anxious in his heart and shouted loudly, ‘Master, be careful!’
“The Master was startled, but at that moment, Zhang Yuchong, who had been subdued, suddenly flew into a rage, exclaiming, ‘Despicable coward! So you were plotting against me all along!’ Before anyone could react, he broke free from the restraint and immediately slapped a talisman directly onto the Master!”
Zhong Wen whispered, “At that time, my senior brother saw that our master had subdued Zhang Yuchong and was still worried. Just as he was about to step forward to greet our master, he suddenly noticed that Anu, from behind, launched something unknown and then quickly retreated.”
“My senior brother felt that as soon as that thing appeared, it drained the surrounding spiritual energy. The area where our master and Zhang Yuchong were standing suddenly radiated with multicolored light, clearly indicating some kind of setup. My senior brother, filled with anxiety, shouted, ‘Master, be careful!'”
“Our master was momentarily stunned, but Zhang Yuchong, who had been subdued, suddenly erupted in fury, ‘You shameless scoundrels! So, you were here to scheme against me!’ Seizing the opportunity, he broke free from the restraint and immediately cast a talisman directly onto our master!”
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped. It seemed that Zhang Yuchong had mistaken Anu’s sneak attack as a direct assault on him, leading him to risk his cultivation and life to severely injure Master Plum Blossom. The Heavenly Master Talisman is renowned for its righteousness and overwhelming power. Being directly struck by Zhang Yuchong’s talisman, even a celestial being would be severely wounded, losing half their vitality.
“Our master roared in anger, immediately activating his protective thunder, which shook the five elements. But at that moment… the multicolored array beneath him began to rotate, and our master’s protective thunder… exploded!”
Tao Zhongwen paused to catch his breath and continued, “When my senior brother mentioned this, I understood everything. It must have been that scoundrel Anu who had preemptively set up a Yin Five Elements Thunder Array underground. When our master and Zhang Yuchong were locked in a stalemate, he suddenly activated it. Unaware of the situation, both sides ceased to hold back. Our master’s protective thunder was also activated, and at that moment, with the Yin and Yang elements in conflict, Anu manipulated the situation, causing our master’s protective thunder and the underground array to explode simultaneously…”
Mei Qing, upon hearing this, calculated in his mind. As Tao Zhongwen had described, it was indeed feasible. The Divine Thunder Technique divides into the five elements, which both restrain and balance each other, controlled purely by one’s spiritual energy. However, if someone with malicious intent had set up a Reverse Yin Five Elements Thunder Array underground beforehand, and with both techniques sharing the same origin and similar properties, a slight manipulation could trigger the explosion of all surrounding spiritual energy. Such power would force even a Great Luo Golden Immortal to retreat.
However, the person setting up the array must be extremely familiar with the Divine Thunder Technique and must know Fan Wentai’s cultivation level and exact location. These points are indispensable. Unless it was someone very close to him, it would be impossible to use this array to ambush him.
Tao Zhongwen said with hatred, “My senior brother was shocked and immediately sent a message to me. But the surrounding spiritual energy was in chaos, making it impossible to transmit. At that moment, Anu also noticed my senior brother and immediately launched a magical artifact towards him. Caught off guard, my senior brother was forced to hold on desperately. By the time I arrived, I witnessed the scene.”
Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. Although few knew about Shao Yuanjie’s cultivation level, as a national preceptor, he was undoubtedly formidable. Moreover, knowing that his brother was one of the ‘Six Plum Blossoms,’ many sects had experienced their power. Now, hearing that even with the combined strength of the two brothers, they barely managed to break Anu’s magical artifact, with Shao Yuanjie sacrificing his cultivation, Anu’s power was truly astonishing.
Tao Zhongwen continued, “We chased after him and found that he had returned to his sect’s mountain. However, during the pursuit, my senior brother’s injuries flared up, forcing us to slow down. By the time we returned to our sect, we learned that Anu had already been there and fled to an unknown location. Our third junior brother had just arrived and witnessed it firsthand.”
Everyone knew that the “third junior brother” Tao Zhongwen referred to was Liu Xing, the host standing nearby. All eyes turned to him.
But he remained expressionless, seemingly deep in thought, his gaze fixed on the backyard as if he hadn’t noticed everyone looking at him.
“Since then, there has been no news of that villain,” Tao Zhongwen sighed. “My senior brother eventually passed away, unable to recover, and I don’t know where he is now. I, entrusted by the emperor as the national preceptor, have never forgotten our master’s grudge. But that Anu seemed to have vanished into thin air. Despite my relentless search, there has been no trace of him.”
After a long silence, Wu Ding Zhenren Li Daoding finally spoke, “Zhenren Tao, what is the sect’s case you mentioned today that needs to be resolved in front of all fellow practitioners? Have you finally found Anu?”
“Exactly,” Tao Zhongwen nodded. “I have searched day and night, and with the virtue of the Three Pure Ones and our master’s protection, I have finally found the hiding place of that villain!”
“Who is it?” Wu Ding Zhenren Li Daoding frowned. “Please clarify, Zhenren Tao.”
Tao Zhongwen suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Mei Qing, and pointed directly at him, “It’s him—Mei Qing!”
Everyone turned to look at Mei Qing. Mei Qing was also greatly surprised, but after a moment of thought, he remained silent, calmly watching Tao Zhongwen.
“Zhenren Tao, what do you mean by this?” Wu Ding Zhenren Li Daoding couldn’t help but ask. “We have just learned that Mei Qing is a disciple of Daoist Zhang and Master Ku. Although his cultivation is quite high, he is probably only in his early twenties. When your master passed away, he was likely only five or six years old? This…”
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, feeling that Tao Zhongwen’s words were somewhat alarmist.
Tao Zhongwen laughed, “Fellow practitioners, I once thought the same as you all. Otherwise, how could this scoundrel have remained hidden under our noses for so many years without being noticed? Perhaps you are not very familiar with this Mei Qing. Let me introduce him to you, if I may.”
Lu Bing and Liu Xing both looked at Mei Qing. Zhang Shisan remained silent, but Master Ku chanted a Buddhist mantra, “Amitabha.”
Seeing that Master Ku seemed to have something to say, Mei Qing laughed and said, “I didn’t expect Zhenren Tao to have taken the trouble to investigate my background. I am truly flattered. Zhenren Tao, please speak frankly. Perhaps this will bring me some fame, and I would be extremely grateful.”
Tao Zhongwen sneered, “Indeed, you are quite cunning, still so arrogant at this moment! Very well, fellow practitioners, this young man is named Mei Qing, also known as San Qing, from the capital. His ancestors were hereditary fifth-rank military officers. However, Mei Qing was born under an unlucky star, as his parents passed away shortly after his birth.”
He then looked at Mei Qing and continued with a cold smile, “Although Mei Qing inherited the title of military officer from his ancestors, he was not fortunate enough to enjoy it. Because Mei Qing was actually an idiot!”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces showed surprise. But they all knew there must be more to the story, so no one interrupted, waiting for Tao Zhongwen to continue.
“Of course, you must have already guessed that the Mei Qing back then is not the Mei Qing standing before us now,” Tao Zhongwen’s voice grew louder. “This young man, suddenly four years ago, overnight ceased to be an idiot—not only that, he seemed to have become a completely different person. First, he became well-versed in various classics and skilled in appraising antiques, gaining some fame in the capital’s antique circles. Then, somehow, last year, he joined the Imperial Guards and became a high-ranking officer! However—”
Here, his voice dropped, and he looked at Lu Bing, saying slowly, “At that time, Mei Qing still appeared no different from an ordinary person, neither having entered the Dao nor having laid the foundation for cultivation. Commander Lu, I assume you wouldn’t deny that, would you?”
Lu Bing’s face darkened, but he did not deny it.
Tao Zhongwen nodded and continued, “This Mei Qing, who had never cultivated nor apprenticed under any master, this Mei Qing who had been an idiot since childhood, suddenly, at the age of twenty, overnight, comprehended the Dao and laid the foundation for cultivation.
Moreover, his progress was astonishing. Wu Ding Zhenren, with your insight, you can probably see what level Mei Qing’s cultivation has reached, can’t you?”
Wu Ding Zhenren Li Daoding’s face showed a mix of surprise and doubt. He slowly nodded and said softly, “Although Daoist Mei is still young, he has already condensed his spiritual energy into the three origins, formed the infant in the Purple Mansion, and his vital energy is lively yet restrained… Moreover, purple flames appear at the crown of his head, indicating that he has already passed the stage of refining Qi into spirit and achieved the path of a true person.”
As soon as Li Daoding finished speaking, the crowd erupted in astonishment.
In terms of cultivation level, Mei Qing was already among the top few in the gathering. Therefore, few could discern his true level. However, given his young age, although some might not match his cultivation, they were all seasoned practitioners and could tell that he had not used any Daoist techniques to alter his appearance; he was genuinely young.
Thus, when most couldn’t discern his cultivation level, they assumed he might have been given some artifact by his sect’s elders to conceal his cultivation or had practiced a similar technique. However, no one could have imagined that Mei Qing’s cultivation had surpassed most of those present, making it difficult to gauge his depth.
“One year, just one year…” someone murmured, and everyone shared the same thought: one year to go from laying the foundation to refining Qi? Such speed was not only unheard of but also unimaginable.
“Even so, it doesn’t necessarily prove that Mei Qing is that Anu, does it?” Li Daoding said softly. “Although Mei Qing’s cultivation speed is astonishing, it only suggests that he has had some extraordinary experiences beyond ordinary people’s imagination, but it doesn’t necessarily link him to Anu.”
Lu Zeyou also interjected, “Exactly, didn’t the Mongolian shaman gain his current cultivation by sleeping in a tree? How can we say others can’t do the same?”
At this point, Lu Bing couldn’t speak, so Lu Zeyou, seeing the situation turning against Mei Qing, immediately added a few words to defend him.
Tao Zhongwen nodded, “If it were just that, I could only marvel at Mei Qing’s extraordinary fortune or perhaps being possessed by some divine entity. However… heh, if this Mei Qing happens to use the Plum Blossom Sect’s Daoist techniques, then it becomes rather hard to explain, doesn’t it?”
“At that moment, the Master roared in anger and immediately unleashed the protective body thunder of the Five Elements. However, just at that moment… the colorful formation beneath his feet began to rotate simultaneously. The Master’s protective thunder… suddenly exploded violently!”
Zhongwen spoke softly, “At that time, my senior brother saw that our master had subdued Zhang Yuchong and was still worried. Just as he was about to step forward to greet our master, he suddenly noticed that Anu had launched something from behind and then quickly retreated.”
“My senior brother felt that as soon as that thing appeared, it drained the spiritual energy from the surroundings. The area where our master and Zhang Yuchong were standing suddenly radiated with colorful lights, clearly indicating some kind of setup. My senior brother, anxious, shouted, ‘Master, be careful!'”
“Our master was startled, and Zhang Yuchong, who had been subdued, suddenly erupted in fury, ‘You shameless scoundrels! So, you were here to scheme against me!’ Seizing the opportunity, he broke free from the restraint and immediately cast a talisman directly onto our master!”
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped. It seemed that Zhang Yuchong had mistaken Anu’s sneak attack as a direct assault on him, and thus, he must have decided to risk his own cultivation to severely injure Master Plum Blossom. The Heavenly Master Talisman is renowned for its righteousness and overwhelming power. Being directly struck by Zhang Yuchong’s talisman, even a celestial being would suffer a life-threatening injury.
“Our master roared in anger, and his protective thunder erupted in all five elements. But at that moment… the colorful array beneath him began to rotate, and our master’s protective thunder… exploded!”
Tao Zhongwen paused to catch his breath and continued, “When my senior brother mentioned this, I immediately understood. It must have been Anu who had secretly set up a reverse Five-Element Thunder Array underground. When our master and Zhang Yuchong were locked in a stalemate, Anu suddenly activated it. Both our master and Zhang Yuchong, unaware of the setup, naturally ceased to hold back. Our master’s protective thunder was also triggered, and with the reversal of yin and yang, Anu manipulated the situation, causing our master’s protective thunder and the underground array to explode simultaneously…”
Mei Qing, upon hearing this, calculated in his mind. As Tao Zhongwen had described, it was indeed feasible. The Divine Thunder Technique divides into five elements, which both restrain and balance each other, controlled purely by one’s spiritual energy. However, if someone with malicious intent had set up a reverse Five-Element Thunder Array underground beforehand, and with both techniques sharing the same origin and similar properties, a slight manipulation could trigger an explosion of the surrounding spiritual energy. Such power would force even a Great Luo Golden Immortal to retreat.
However, the person who set up the array must be extremely familiar with the Divine Thunder Technique and must know Fan Wentai’s cultivation level and exact location. These points are indispensable. Unless it was someone very close to him, it would be impossible to use this array to ambush him.
Tao Zhongwen said with hatred, “My senior brother was shocked and immediately sent a message to me. But the surrounding spiritual energy was in chaos, making it impossible to transmit. At that moment, Anu also noticed my senior brother and immediately launched a magical artifact towards him. Caught off guard, my senior brother was forced to hold his ground. By the time I arrived, I witnessed the scene.”
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this. Although few knew about Shao Yuanjie’s cultivation level, as a national master, he was undoubtedly formidable. Moreover, knowing that his brother was one of the ‘Six Plum Blossoms,’ many sects had experienced their strength. Now, hearing that even with the combined efforts of the two brothers, they only managed to barely destroy Anu’s artifact, it was clear that Anu’s cultivation was truly astonishing.
Tao Zhongwen continued, “We chased after him and found that he had returned to his sect’s mountain. However, during the pursuit, my senior brother’s injuries flared up, forcing us to slow down. By the time we returned to our sect, we learned that Anu had already been there and had fled to an unknown location. Our third junior brother had just arrived and witnessed it himself.”
Everyone knew that the “third brother” Tao Zhongwen referred to was Liu Xing, the host of the gathering, who stood nearby. All eyes turned to him.
But he remained expressionless, seemingly deep in thought, his gaze fixed on the backyard, as if completely unaware of the attention directed at him.
“Since then, there has been no news of that villain,” Tao Zhongwen sighed. “My senior brother eventually succumbed to his injuries and reincarnated, and I have no idea where he is now. I, burdened by the emperor’s trust and serving as the national master, have never forgotten our master’s grudge. But Anu seemed to have vanished into thin air. Despite my relentless search, there has been no trace of him.”
After a long silence, Wu Ding Zhenren Li Daoding finally spoke, “Master Tao, what is the sect’s unresolved case that you mentioned today, to be settled in front of all the fellow practitioners? Have you finally found Anu?”
“Exactly,” Tao Zhongwen nodded. “I have searched day and night, and with the virtue of the Three Pure Ones and our master’s protection, I have finally found the hiding place of that villain!”
“Who is it?” Li Daoding frowned. “Please enlighten us, Master Tao.”
Tao Zhongwen suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Mei Qing, and pointed directly at him, “It’s him—Mei Qing!”
Everyone turned to look at Mei Qing. Mei Qing himself was greatly surprised, but after a moment of thought, he seemed to understand something. However, he did not argue, only quietly looked back at Tao Zhongwen.
“Master Tao, what do you mean by this?” Li Daoding couldn’t hold back and asked, “We have just learned that Mei Qing is a disciple of Master Zhang and Master Ku. Although his cultivation is quite high, he seems to be only in his twenties. At the time of your master’s passing, he would have been only five or six years old? This…”
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, feeling that Tao Zhongwen’s words were somewhat alarmist.
Tao Zhongwen laughed and shook his head, “Fellow practitioners, I once thought the same as you. Otherwise, how could I have allowed this scoundrel to hide under my nose for so many years without noticing? Perhaps you are not very familiar with this Mei Qing. Let me introduce him to you, if I may?”
Lu Bing and Liu Xing both looked at Mei Qing. Zhang Shisan remained silent, but Master Ku chanted a Buddhist mantra, “Amitabha.”
Seeing that Master Ku seemed to have something to say, Mei Qing laughed and said, “I didn’t expect Master Tao to have taken the trouble to investigate a nobody like me. I am truly flattered. Master Tao, please speak freely. Perhaps this will bring me some small fame, and I would be deeply grateful.”
Tao Zhongwen sneered, “Indeed, you are cunning. Even at this moment, you remain so arrogant! Very well, fellow practitioners, this young man is named Mei Qing, courtesy name Sanqing, from the capital. His ancestors were hereditary fifth-rank military officers. However, Mei Qing was born under an unlucky star, as both his parents died shortly after his birth.”
After saying this, he looked at Mei Qing with a cold smile, “Although Mei Qing inherited his ancestors’ title as a military officer, he was not fortunate enough to enjoy it. Because Mei Qing was actually an idiot!”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces showed surprise. But they all realized there must be more to the story, so no one interrupted, waiting for Tao Zhongwen to continue.
“Of course, you must have already guessed that the Mei Qing of that time is not the Mei Qing we see before us now,” Tao Zhongwen’s voice grew louder, “This very person, suddenly four years ago, overnight ceased to be an idiot—not only did he cease to be an idiot, he became a completely different person. First, he became well-versed in all classics, skilled in appraising antiques, and gained some fame in the capital’s antique circles. Then, somehow, last year, he managed to join the Imperial Guards and even became a commander! However—”
At this point, his voice dropped, and he looked at Lu Bing, saying slowly, “At that time, Mei Qing still behaved like an ordinary person, neither having entered the Dao nor having established his foundation. Commander Lu, I assume you wouldn’t deny this, would you?”
Lu Bing’s face darkened, and he snorted but did not deny it.
Tao Zhongwen nodded and continued, “This Mei Qing, who had never cultivated the Dao, nor had he ever apprenticed or joined any sect, this Mei Qing who had been an idiot since childhood, suddenly, at the age of twenty, overnight, comprehended the Dao and established his foundation.
Moreover, his progress was astonishing. Wu Ding Zhenren, with your insight, you can probably tell what level Mei Qing’s cultivation has reached, can’t you?”
Li Daoding’s face showed a mix of surprise and doubt, and he slowly nodded, saying softly, “Although Mei Qing is still young, his spiritual energy has condensed into the three origins, his infant spirit has formed in the Purple Mansion, and his vital energy is lively yet restrained… Moreover, purple flames appear at the crown of his head, indicating that he has already passed the stage of refining qi into spirit and achieved the Dao of a true practitioner.”
As soon as Li Daoding finished speaking, the crowd erupted in murmurs.
In terms of cultivation level, Mei Qing was already among the top in the gathering. Therefore, few could discern his true level. However, he was indeed very young. Although some of the practitioners present might not match his level, they were all seasoned cultivators and could tell that he had not used any Daoist techniques to alter his appearance—he was genuinely young.
Thus, when most could not discern his cultivation level, they assumed that perhaps his master had given him some artifact to conceal his cultivation or that he had practiced a similar technique, making it difficult to see through him. However, no one had imagined that Mei Qing’s cultivation had surpassed most of those present, making it impossible to gauge his depth.
“One year, just one year…” someone murmured, and everyone shared the same thought: one year, from establishing the foundation to refining qi? Such speed was not only unheard of but also unimaginable.
“Even so, it doesn’t necessarily prove that Mei Qing is that Anu, does it?” Li Daoding said softly, “Although Mei Qing’s cultivation speed is astonishing, it only suggests that he has had some extraordinary experiences that ordinary people cannot imagine. It doesn’t necessarily mean he is related to Anu.”
Lu Zeyou also chimed in, “Exactly, didn’t the Mongolian shaman gain his current cultivation after sleeping on a tree? How can we say that others can’t do the same?”
At this point, Lu Bing could not speak, so Lu Zeyou, seeing the situation turning against Mei Qing, quickly interjected a few words to defend him.
Tao Zhongwen nodded and said, “If it were only this, I could only marvel at Mei Qing’s extraordinary fortune or perhaps some divine possession. However… hehe, if this Mei Qing just happens to use the Plum Blossom Sect’s Daoist techniques, then it becomes somewhat inexplicable, doesn’t it?”
Zhong Wen whispered, “When my senior brother saw that our master had subdued Zhang Yuchong, he was still worried. Just as he was about to step forward to greet our master, he suddenly noticed that Anu had launched something from behind and then quickly retreated.”
“My senior brother felt that as soon as that thing appeared, it drained the spiritual energy from the surroundings. Where our master and Zhang Yuchong were standing, a multicolored light suddenly emerged, clearly indicating some kind of setup. My senior brother, anxious, shouted, ‘Master, be careful!'”
“Our master was startled, and Zhang Yuchong, who had been subdued, suddenly erupted in fury, ‘You shameless scoundrels! So you came here to plot against me!’ Seizing the opportunity, he broke free from the restraint and immediately cast a talisman directly onto our master!”
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped. It seemed that Zhang Yuchong had mistaken Anu’s sneak attack as a move against him, and thus, he must have decided to risk his own life to severely injure Master Plum Blossom. The Heavenly Master Talisman is renowned for its formidable power, and being directly struck by Zhang Yuchong’s talisman would have been a devastating blow, even for an immortal.
“Our master let out an angry roar, and his protective thunder erupted in full force. But at that moment… the multicolored array beneath him began to rotate, and our master’s protective thunder… exploded instantly!”
Tao Zhongwen paused to catch his breath and then continued, “When my senior brother told me this, I understood everything. It must have been that scoundrel Anu who had set up a reverse Five Elements Thunder Array underground in advance. When our master and Zhang Yuchong were locked in a stalemate, Anu suddenly activated it. Neither our master nor Zhang Yuchong knew what was happening, so they both unleashed their full power. Our master’s protective thunder was also activated, and at that moment, with the reversal of yin and yang, Anu manipulated the situation, causing our master’s protective thunder and the underground array to explode simultaneously…”
Mei Qing listened and calculated in his mind. As Tao Zhongwen had said, it was indeed feasible. The Divine Thunder Technique divides into the Five Elements, which both restrain and balance each other, controlled purely by personal spiritual energy. But if someone had set up a reverse Five Elements Thunder Array underground in advance, and with both techniques sharing the same origin and similar nature, a slight manipulation could cause the surrounding spiritual energy to explode. Such power would make even a Great Luo Golden Immortal retreat.
However, the person who set up the array must be very familiar with the Divine Thunder Technique and must have known Fan Wentai’s cultivation level and location. These points were indispensable. Unless it was someone very close to him, it would be impossible to use this array to plot against him.
Tao Zhongwen said with hatred, “My senior brother was shocked and immediately sent a message to me. But the surrounding spiritual energy was in chaos, and the message couldn’t be delivered. At that moment, Anu also noticed my senior brother and immediately launched a magical artifact towards him. Caught off guard, my senior brother was forced to hold on desperately. By the time I arrived, I witnessed the scene.”
Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. Although few knew about Shao Yuanjie’s cultivation level back then, as a national master, he was undoubtedly formidable. Moreover, knowing that his brother was among the ‘Six Plum Blossoms,’ many sects had experienced their power. Now, hearing that even with the combined strength of the two brothers, they could only barely break Anu’s magical artifact, and Shao Yuanjie had to sacrifice his cultivation to do so, Anu’s cultivation must have been truly astonishing.
Tao Zhongwen continued, “We chased him all the way back to his sect’s mountain. However, during the pursuit, my senior brother’s injuries flared up, forcing us to slow down. By the time we returned to our sect, we learned that Anu had already been there and then fled to an unknown location. Our third junior brother had just arrived and witnessed it all.”
Everyone knew that the “third brother” Tao Zhongwen mentioned was Liu Xing, the host standing nearby. Their gazes turned towards him.
But Liu Xing remained expressionless, as if deep in thought, his eyes fixed on the backyard, seemingly oblivious to the looks directed at him.
“After that, there was no more news of that villain,” Tao Zhongwen sighed. “My senior brother eventually passed away, and I don’t know where he is now. I, entrusted by the emperor as the national master, have never forgotten our master’s vengeance. But that Anu seemed to have vanished into thin air. Despite my relentless search, there has been no trace of him.”
After a long silence, Wu Ding Zhenren Li Daoding finally spoke, “Zhenren Tao, what is the sect’s case that you mentioned would be resolved in front of all fellow practitioners today? Have you finally found Anu?”
“Exactly,” Tao Zhongwen nodded. “I have searched day and night, and with the virtue of the Three Pure Ones and our master’s protection, I have finally found the hiding place of that villain!”
“Who is it?” Li Daoding frowned. “Please clarify, Zhenren Tao.”
Tao Zhongwen suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Mei Qing, and pointed directly at him, “It’s him—Mei Qing!”
Everyone turned to look at Mei Qing. Mei Qing was also greatly surprised, but after a moment of thought, he remained silent, calmly watching Tao Zhongwen.
“Zhenren Tao, what do you mean by this?” Li Daoding couldn’t help but ask. “We just learned that Mei Qing is a disciple of Daoist Zhang and Master Ku. Although his cultivation is quite high, he seems to be only in his early twenties. When your master passed away, he must have been only five or six years old? This…”
Everyone nodded in agreement, feeling that Tao Zhongwen’s words were somewhat exaggerated.
Tao Zhongwen laughed and shook his head, “Fellow practitioners, I once thought the same. Otherwise, how could this scoundrel have been hiding under our noses for so many years without us noticing? Perhaps you are not very familiar with this Mei Qing. Let me introduce him to you, shall I?”
Lu Bing and Liu Xing both looked at Mei Qing. Zhang Shisan remained silent, but Master Ku chanted a Buddhist mantra, “Amitabha.”
Mei Qing, seeing that Master Ku seemed to want to speak, laughed and said, “I didn’t expect Zhenren Tao to have taken the trouble to investigate an unknown person like me. I am truly flattered. Please speak freely, Zhenren Tao. Perhaps this will bring me some fame, and I will be deeply grateful.”
Tao Zhongwen sneered, “Indeed, you are quite composed, still so arrogant at this moment! Very well, fellow practitioners, this young man is named Mei Qing, courtesy name Sanqing, from the capital. His ancestors were hereditary fifth-rank military officers. However, Mei Qing was born under an unlucky star, as his parents died shortly after his birth.”
He then looked at Mei Qing and continued coldly, “Although Mei Qing inherited his family’s military title, he was unable to enjoy it. Because Mei Qing was actually an idiot!”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces showed surprise. But they all knew there must be more to the story, so no one interrupted, waiting for Tao Zhongwen to continue.
“Of course, you must have already guessed that the Mei Qing back then is not the Mei Qing we see now,” Tao Zhongwen’s voice grew louder. “This very person suddenly, four years ago, overnight, ceased to be an idiot—not only did he stop being an idiot, he became a completely different person. First, he became well-versed in classical texts and skilled in appraising antiques, gaining some fame in the capital’s antique circles. Then, somehow, last year, he managed to join the Imperial Guards and even became a commander! However—”
At this point, his voice dropped, and he looked at Lu Bing, saying slowly, “At that time, Mei Qing still appeared to be an ordinary person, neither practicing Taoism nor having built a foundation. Commander Lu, I assume you won’t deny this, will you?”
Lu Bing’s face darkened, and he snorted but did not deny it.
Tao Zhongwen nodded and continued, “This Mei Qing, who had never practiced Taoism, nor had any master or sect, this Mei Qing who had been an idiot since childhood, suddenly, at the age of twenty, overnight, achieved enlightenment and built his foundation.
Moreover, his progress was astonishing. Wu Ding Zhenren, with your insight, you can probably tell what level Mei Qing’s cultivation has reached, can’t you?”
Li Daoding’s face showed a mix of surprise and doubt, and he slowly nodded, saying softly, “Although Mei Qing is still young, he has already condensed his essence into the Three Origins, formed an infant in the Purple Mansion, and his energy is lively yet restrained… Moreover, purple flames appear at the crown of his head, indicating that he has already passed the stage of refining qi into spirit and achieved the path of a true practitioner.”
As soon as Li Daoding finished speaking, the crowd erupted in murmurs.
In terms of cultivation level, Mei Qing was already among the top few in the gathering. Therefore, few could discern his true level. However, his age was simply too young. Although some present might not match his cultivation, they were all seasoned practitioners and could tell that he had not used any Taoist methods to alter his appearance—he was genuinely young.
Thus, when most couldn’t discern his cultivation level, they assumed he might have been given some artifact by his sect’s elders to conceal his cultivation or had practiced a similar technique. But no one could have imagined that Mei Qing’s cultivation had surpassed most of those present, making it difficult to gauge his depth.
“One year, one year…” someone murmured, and everyone shared the same thought: one year to go from foundation building to refining qi? Such speed was not only unheard of but also unimaginable.
“Even so, it doesn’t necessarily prove that Mei Qing is that Anu, does it?” Li Daoding said softly. “Although Mei Qing’s cultivation speed is astonishing, it only suggests that he has had extraordinary experiences, not necessarily related to Anu.”
Lu Zeyou also chimed in, “Exactly, didn’t the Mongolian shaman achieve his current cultivation after sleeping in a tree? Why can’t others do the same?”
Since Lu Bing couldn’t speak at the moment, Lu Zeyou immediately interjected a few words to defend Mei Qing when he saw the situation turning against him.
Tao Zhongwen nodded, “If that were all, I could only marvel at Mei Qing’s extraordinary fortune or perhaps some divine possession. But… heh, if this Mei Qing happens to use techniques exclusively from the Plum Blossom Sect, then it’s hard to explain, isn’t it?”
Zhong Wen whispered, “At that time, my senior brother saw that our master had subdued Zhang Yuchong and was about to step forward to greet him when suddenly, that Anu released something from behind and quickly retreated.”
“My senior brother felt that as soon as that thing appeared, it drained the spiritual energy from the surroundings. Where our master and Zhang Yuchong were standing, a multicolored light suddenly emerged, clearly indicating some kind of setup. My senior brother, anxious, shouted, ‘Master, be careful!'”
“Our master was startled, and Zhang Yuchong, who had been subdued, suddenly erupted in fury, ‘You despicable scoundrels! So, you were here to plot against me!’ Seizing the opportunity, he broke free from the restraint and immediately cast a talisman directly onto our master!”
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped. It seemed that Zhang Yuchong had mistaken Anu’s sneak attack as directed at him, and thus, he must have fought with all his might, even at the cost of his cultivation, to severely injure Master Plum Blossom. The Heavenly Master Talisman is renowned for its righteousness and overwhelming power. Being directly struck by Zhang Yuchong’s talisman, even a celestial being would be severely wounded.
“Our master roared in anger, and his protective thunder of the five elements surged violently. But at that moment… the multicolored array beneath him began to rotate, and our master’s protective thunder… exploded instantly!”
Tao Zhongwen paused to catch his breath and then continued, “When my senior brother mentioned this, I understood everything. It must have been that scoundrel Anu who had preemptively set up a Yin Five Elements Thunder Array underground. When our master and Zhang Yuchong were locked in a stalemate, he suddenly activated it. Both our master and Zhang Yuchong, unaware of the situation, naturally ceased to hold back. Our master’s protective thunder was also activated, and with the reversal of Yin and Yang, Anu manipulated it from the side, causing both our master’s protective thunder and the underground array to explode simultaneously…”
Mei Qing, upon hearing this, calculated in his mind. As Tao Zhongwen said, it was indeed feasible. The Divine Thunder Technique divides into the five elements, which both restrain and balance each other, controlled purely by one’s spiritual energy. However, if someone with malicious intent had set up a Reverse Yin Five Elements Thunder Array underground beforehand, and with both techniques sharing the same origin and similar properties, a slight manipulation could trigger the explosion of all surrounding spiritual energy. Such power would make even a Great Luo Golden Immortal retreat.
But to set up such an array, one must be very familiar with the Divine Thunder Technique and know Fan Wentai’s cultivation level and location precisely. These points are indispensable. Unless it was someone very close to him, it would be impossible to use this array to plot against him.
Tao Zhongwen said with hatred, “My senior brother was shocked and immediately sent a message to me. But the surrounding spiritual energy was in chaos, making it impossible to transmit. At that moment, Anu also noticed my senior brother and immediately launched a magical artifact towards him. Caught off guard, my senior brother was forced to hold on desperately. By the time I arrived, I witnessed the scene.”
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this. Although few knew about Shao Yuanjie’s cultivation level back then, as a national master, he was undoubtedly formidable. Moreover, knowing that his brother was part of the ‘Six Plum Blossoms,’ many sects had experienced their power. Now, hearing that even with the combined strength of the two brothers, they barely managed to break Anu’s magical artifact, it was clear that Anu’s cultivation was truly astonishing.
Tao Zhongwen continued, “We chased after him and found that he had returned to his sect’s mountain. However, during the pursuit, my senior brother’s injuries flared up, forcing us to slow down. When we returned to our sect, we learned that Anu had already been there and had fled to an unknown location. Our third junior brother had just arrived and witnessed it himself.”
Everyone knew that Tao Zhongwen’s “third junior brother” referred to Liu Xing, the host of the gathering, who stood silently to the side. They all turned their gazes towards him.
But he remained expressionless, seemingly deep in thought, his eyes gazing towards the back garden as if completely unaware of the attention.
“Since then, there has been no news of that villain,” Tao Zhongwen sighed. “My senior brother eventually passed away, his spirit reincarnated, and I have no idea where he is now. I, burdened by the emperor’s trust and serving as the national master, have never dared to forget our master’s grudge. But that Anu seemed to have vanished into thin air. Despite my relentless search, there has been no trace of him.”
After a long silence, Wu Ding Zhenren Li Daoding finally spoke, “Dian Zhenren, what is the sect’s case that you mentioned today, to be resolved in front of all fellow Taoists? Have you finally found Anu?”
“Exactly,” Tao Zhongwen nodded. “I have searched day and night, and with the virtue of the Three Pure Ones and our master’s protection, I have finally found the hiding place of that villain!”
“Who is it?” Li Daoding frowned. “Please, Dian Zhenren, enlighten us.”
Tao Zhongwen suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Mei Qing, and pointed directly at him, “It’s him—Mei Qing!”
Everyone turned their gaze towards Mei Qing, who was also greatly surprised. He pondered for a moment but remained silent, calmly looking at Tao Zhongwen.
“Dian Zhenren, what do you mean by this?” Li Daoding couldn’t help but ask. “We have just learned that Mei Qing is a disciple of Master Zhang and Master Ku. Although his cultivation is quite high, he seems to be only in his twenties. When your master passed away, he must have been only five or six years old? This…”
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, feeling that Tao Zhongwen’s words were somewhat alarmist.
Tao Zhongwen laughed heartily and shook his head, “Fellow Taoists, I once thought the same. Otherwise, how could this scoundrel have hidden under our noses for so many years without being noticed? Perhaps you are not very familiar with this Mei Qing. Let me introduce him to you, if I may.”
Lu Bing and Liu Xing both looked at Mei Qing. Zhang Shisan remained silent, but Master Ku chanted a Buddhist mantra, “Amitabha.”
Seeing that Master Ku seemed to have something to say, Mei Qing laughed and said, “I didn’t expect Dian Zhenren to have taken the trouble to investigate my background. I am truly flattered. Please, Dian Zhenren, speak your mind. Perhaps this will bring me some fame, and I would be deeply grateful.”
Tao Zhongwen sneered, “Indeed, you are quite cunning, still acting so arrogant at this moment! Very well, fellow Taoists, this young man is named Mei Qing, also known as San Qing, from the capital. His ancestors were hereditary fifth-rank military officers. However, Mei Qing was born under an unlucky star, losing both parents at birth.”
He then looked at Mei Qing with a cold smile, “Although Mei Qing inherited his ancestors’ title as a military officer, he was not fortunate enough to enjoy it. Because Mei Qing was actually an idiot!”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces showed surprise. But they all knew there must be more to the story, so no one interrupted, waiting for Tao Zhongwen to continue.
“Of course, you must have already guessed that the Mei Qing back then is not the Mei Qing standing before us now,” Tao Zhongwen’s voice grew louder. “This young man, suddenly four years ago, overnight ceased to be an idiot—not only that, he seemed to have become a completely different person. First, he became knowledgeable in various classics and skilled in appraising antiques, gaining some fame in the capital’s antique circles. Then, somehow, last year, he managed to join the Imperial Guards and even became a commander! However—”
At this point, his voice lowered, and he looked at Lu Bing, saying slowly, “At that time, Mei Qing still behaved like an ordinary person, neither having entered the Taoist path nor having built his foundation. Commander Lu, I believe you wouldn’t deny that, would you?”
Lu Bing’s face darkened, and he snorted but did not deny it.
Tao Zhongwen nodded and continued, “This Mei Qing, who had never practiced Taoism, nor had a master or entered any sect, this Mei Qing who had been an idiot since childhood, suddenly, at the age of twenty, overnight, achieved enlightenment and built his foundation.
Moreover, his progress was astonishing. Wu Ding Zhenren, with your insight, you can probably see what level Mei Qing’s cultivation has reached, can’t you?”
Li Daoding’s face showed a mix of surprise and doubt, and he slowly nodded, saying softly, “Although Mei Qing is still young, he has already condensed his spiritual energy into the three origins, his infant spirit has formed the Purple Mansion, and his vital energy is lively yet restrained… Moreover, purple flames appear above his crown, indicating that he has already passed the stage of refining Qi into spirit and achieved the path of a true man.”
As soon as Li Daoding finished speaking, the crowd erupted in murmurs.
In terms of cultivation level, Mei Qing was already among the top in the gathering. Therefore, few could discern his true level. However, his youth was undeniable. Although some might not match his cultivation, they were all seasoned practitioners and could see that he had not used any Taoist methods to alter his appearance—he was genuinely young.
Thus, when most couldn’t discern his cultivation level, they assumed he might have been given some artifact by his master to conceal his cultivation or had practiced a similar technique. However, no one could have imagined that Mei Qing’s cultivation had surpassed most of those present, making it difficult to gauge his depth.
“One year, just one year…” someone murmured, and everyone shared the same thought: one year to go from foundation building to refining Qi? Such speed was not only unheard of but also unimaginable.
“Even so, it doesn’t necessarily prove that Mei Qing is that Anu, does it?” Li Daoding said softly. “Although Mei Qing’s cultivation speed is astonishing, it only suggests that he has had some extraordinary experiences, not necessarily connected to Anu.”
Lu Zeyou also chimed in, “Exactly, didn’t the Mongolian shaman gain his current cultivation by sleeping on a tree? How can we say others can’t do the same?”
At this moment, Lu Bing couldn’t speak, so Lu Zeyou, seeing the situation turning against Mei Qing, quickly interjected to defend him.
Tao Zhongwen nodded, “If it were just that, I could only marvel at Mei Qing’s extraordinary fortune or perhaps some divine possession. But… heh, if this Mei Qing happens to use the Plum Blossom Sect’s Taoist techniques, then it becomes rather hard to explain, doesn’t it?”
Tao Zhongwen took a deep breath and said, “As soon as my senior brother mentioned this, I immediately understood everything. It must have been that Ah Nu had secretly laid an Yin Five Elements Thunder Formation underground in advance. When the Master and Zhang Yuchong were locked in a stalemate, he suddenly activated it. Since neither the Master nor Zhang Yuchong understood what was happening, they naturally held nothing back. The Master’s protective thunder must have been triggered. At that moment, with Yin and Yang in opposition, Ah Nu, manipulating from the side, instantly caused the Master’s protective thunder and the underground formation to explode together…”
Mei Qing listened carefully and mentally calculated the scenario Tao Zhongwen described. Indeed, it was feasible. The Divine Thunder Method (Shenxiao Leifa) originates from the Five Elements, which mutually restrain and balance each other, controlled purely by one’s own true energy. However, if someone had planned this in advance, secretly laying an inverted Yin Five Elements Thunder Formation underground, and given that both the formation and the Shenxiao Leifa share the same origin and similar nature, a slight guidance from someone on one side could cause the Five Elements’ Yin and Yang to transform and generate energy, instantly triggering all surrounding true energy. The resulting power would be so immense that even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would have to retreat in fear.
However, there were strict conditions for the person setting up the formation. They must be extremely familiar with the Divine Thunder Technique and accurately know Fan Wentai’s cultivation level and the exact location of his appearance. These conditions were indispensable. Only someone very close to Fan could possibly use such a formation to ambush him.
Tao Zhongwen said bitterly, “Upon seeing this, my senior brother was greatly alarmed and immediately tried to send me a message. However, the surrounding true energy had become chaotic, making it impossible to transmit any signal. At that moment, Ah Nu also noticed my senior brother and immediately released a magical artifact to attack him. Taken by surprise, my senior brother was forced into a desperate struggle. By the time I arrived, I witnessed the scene firsthand.”
After hearing this, everyone was shocked. Although few knew the exact cultivation level of Shao Yuanjie back then, he was a national master, so his abilities were naturally formidable. Moreover, many sects had encountered and experienced the power of the “Six Plum Blossoms” brothers. Now it was revealed that even with the combined strength of the two brothers, they barely managed to break through Ah Nu’s magical artifact, with Shao Yuanjie sustaining injuries in the process. Thus, Ah Nu’s cultivation must indeed be extraordinary.
Tao Zhongwen continued, “We pursued him, only to find that he had actually returned to his sect’s mountain. However, during the chase, my senior brother’s injuries flared up, forcing us to slow down. By the time we returned to our sect, we learned that Ah Nu had already come and gone, leaving no trace of where he had fled. Our third junior brother had just arrived by then, and it was he who witnessed all this with his own eyes.”
Everyone knew that Tao Zhongwen’s “third younger brother” referred to Liu Xing, the host standing nearby. All eyes turned toward him.
But Liu Xing remained expressionless, as if deep in thought. His gaze drifted far toward the back garden, completely ignoring the glances from the crowd.
“Since then,” Tao Zhongwen sighed, “there has been no news of that evil man. Eventually, my senior brother could no longer recover and had to undergo soul liberation and reincarnation. I do not know where he is now. I have been entrusted with great responsibility by the Emperor and have served as the national master, yet I have never forgotten my master’s vengeance for even a single day. However, Ah Nu vanished as if he had disappeared from the world. Despite my exhaustive searches, I have found no trace of him whatsoever.”
Everyone fell silent for a long time. Finally, Wuding Zhenren Li Daoding slowly spoke, “Master Dian, what exactly do you mean by the ‘sect matter’ you mentioned earlier that you wish to resolve publicly before all the Daoist friends here today? Could it be that you have finally found Ah Nu?”
“Exactly,” Tao Zhongwen nodded. “After years of relentless searching, with the blessings of the Three Pure Ones and the protection of my Master, I have finally discovered the hiding place of that evil man!”
“Who is it?” Li Daoding furrowed his brow. “Please, Master Dian, enlighten us.”
Tao Zhongwen suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Mei Qing, pointing his finger directly at him and declaring, “It’s him—Mei Qing!”
Everyone turned their gaze toward Mei Qing. Mei Qing himself was greatly surprised but remained silent, contemplating the implications. He did not immediately refute the accusation, merely watching Tao Zhongwen calmly.
“What do you mean by this, Master Dian?” Li Daoding, unable to contain himself any longer, asked.
“Earlier, we all learned that Mei Qing is a disciple of Master Zhang and Master Ku. Although his cultivation is high, he appears to be no more than twenty years old. At the time of your Master’s passing, he would have been only five or six years old. How could this be possible?”
Everyone nodded in agreement, feeling that Tao Zhongwen’s claim was somewhat sensational.
Tao Zhongwen chuckled and shook his head. “Esteemed Daoist friends, the thoughts in your minds are exactly what I once thought myself. Otherwise, how could I have allowed this scoundrel to hide under my very nose for so many years without realizing it? I suppose most of you don’t truly understand this Mei Qing. Perhaps I should take this opportunity to introduce him to you all. Would that be acceptable?”
Lu Bing and Liu Xing both turned to look at Mei Qing. Zhang Shisan remained silent, but Master Ku recited a Buddhist chant, “Amitabha.”
Seeing that Master Ku seemed about to speak, Mei Qing laughed aloud and said, “I never imagined that Master Dian would have taken the time to investigate me, a mere nobody. I feel truly honored. If Master Dian has something to say, please go ahead. Perhaps this will even grant me a bit of minor fame, for which I would be deeply grateful.”
Tao Zhongwen sneered coldly. “Indeed, this one is cunning and full of schemes. Even now, he still dares to act so arrogantly! Esteemed Daoist friends, this young man is named Mei Qing, styled Sanqing, from the capital. His ancestors were hereditary military generals of the fifth rank. However, his fate was unfortunate—he was born an orphan.”
He paused and looked at Mei Qing again, continuing with a cold smile, “Although Mei Qing inherited his family’s title and position as a hereditary military general, he was unable to enjoy it. Because Mei Qing, in truth, was an idiot!”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces showed surprise. However, they all realized there must be more to the story, so no one interrupted. They simply continued watching Tao Zhongwen.
“Of course, you must be thinking that the Mei Qing back then is not the same Mei Qing standing before us now,” Tao Zhongwen’s voice grew louder. “Indeed, this very young man suddenly changed overnight four years ago—no longer an idiot, but completely transformed. He suddenly became well-versed in all the classics, skilled in identifying ancient artifacts, and gained some reputation in the antique trade in the capital. Later, he suddenly joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard and became a commander within their ranks! However—”
Here, his voice dropped lower as he turned to look at Lu Bing and continued, “At that time, Mei Qing still appeared to be an ordinary person, neither cultivating the Dao nor having established a foundation. Commander Lu, I suppose you won’t deny this, will you?”
Lu Bing’s face darkened as he grunted but did not deny it.
Tao Zhongwen nodded and continued, “So here was a Mei Qing who had never practiced cultivation, nor had he studied under any master or joined any sect. This same Mei Qing, who had been an idiot since childhood, suddenly, at the age of twenty, comprehended the Dao and established a foundation overnight.
Moreover, his progress afterward was astonishing. Wuding Zhenren, with your discerning eyes, perhaps you can tell us all what level of cultivation Mei Qing has now reached?”
Wuding Zhenren Li Daoding’s expression turned astonished and hesitant. Slowly nodding, he softly said, “Although Mei Qing is still very young, his clear energy has already gathered in the Three Primordials, his spiritual infant has achieved the Purple Mansion, and his energy is lively yet restrained… Moreover, purple flames have appeared at his crown, indicating that he has already passed the stage of refining energy into spirit and has become a true Zhenren.”
As soon as Li Daoding finished speaking, a great commotion arose among the crowd.
Mei Qing’s cultivation level was already among the highest present. Therefore, very few among the crowd could discern his exact level. However, due to his extremely young age, although some cultivators present might not have been as advanced as him, they were all seasoned practitioners who had long walked the cultivation path. Thus, they could tell that Mei Qing had not used any Daoist techniques to alter his appearance but was genuinely very young.
Therefore, when most could not determine his cultivation level, they generally assumed that perhaps his sect elders had given him some artifact to conceal his abilities or that he had practiced some similar technique. They never imagined that Mei Qing’s cultivation level had actually surpassed most of them, making it impossible for them to gauge his true depth.
“One year… just one year,” someone murmured, and everyone shared the same thought: in just one year, from establishing a foundation to refining energy? Such a speed was not only unheard of but even unimaginable.
“Even so,” Li Daoding said softly, “this still doesn’t prove that Mei Qing is Ah Nu, does it? Although Mei Qing’s cultivation speed is indeed astonishing, it merely indicates he has had some extraordinary experiences. It doesn’t necessarily link him to Ah Nu.”
Lu Zeyou also interjected, “Indeed, didn’t that Mongolian shaman gain his current cultivation level after sleeping on a tree for a while? How can we say others couldn’t do the same?”
At this point, Lu Bing could not speak openly, so as soon as Lu Zeyou saw the situation turning unfavorable for Mei Qing, he immediately interjected a few remarks in an attempt to defend him.
Tao Zhongwen nodded and said, “If it were only this, I could only marvel at Mei Qing’s extraordinary fortune or speculate that he might have been possessed by some divine entity. However… heh heh, what if this Mei Qing friend happens to wield nothing but Plum Sect Daoist techniques? That would be somewhat difficult to explain away, wouldn’t it?”
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