Chapter 710 216: Arrival from the Salvation Society (4)

Some people also said this Daoist was Shen Bai in disguise, acting because the Three Great Demonic Forces had brought too many disasters upon Lingyun Dao.

In a fit of rage, Shen Bai annihilated all the Demonic Forces.

Legends, by their very nature, tend to grow more outrageous the more they are told.

Eventually, the legend was exaggerated to the point where Shen Bai could annihilate the Three Great Demonic Forces, turning them to dust and smoke with a single breath.

In response, Wang Teng from the Observatory stepped forward and quite naturally claimed the credit on behalf of his Lord Shen.

Because of this, Shen Bai's reputation in Lingyun Dao grew ever more mysterious and powerful.

The title of Ten Extremes Young Master was becoming increasingly famous throughout Lingyun Dao.

...

「Inside a restaurant in Lingyun Dao.」

On the top floor of the restaurant, a storyteller rapped a wooden block in his hand and began to speak with great eloquence.

"Let me tell you, our Lingyun Dao has recently earned a rather famous new title. Do any of you know what it is?"

Upon hearing this, some customers eating in the corner immediately shouted out in jest.

"What is it? What's the title? We have no idea!"

The storyteller picked up a folded fan, snapped it open with a sharp SNAP, and began to gently fan the air.

"This famous new title is 'The Safe Dao'!"

"The Safe Dao?"

Some looked perplexed, others showed a glimmer of understanding, and a few even felt the name was perfectly fitting.

The storyteller then lowered his folded fan and continued his tale.

"The Safe Dao! The 'safe' in its name means that our very own Lingyun Dao has become the safest of all the Daoist-level Cities."

Upon hearing the storyteller's explanation, those who were initially confused immediately understood.

Someone asked, "So doesn't that mean this whole 'Safe Dao' moniker came about because of Lord Shen?"

The crowd nodded in unison, all in agreement.

The storyteller took a sip from his teacup before continuing, "Correct. It is all because of Lord Shen. As everyone knows, Lord Shen holds the title of Ten Extremes Young Master in the Jianghu. He is the preeminent figure of the younger generation, overshadowing all the other young prodigies in the Great Zhou Country."

"Why, back when the Celestial Pride Hall opened in Xuanjing City, even the prodigies from other nations dared not challenge him."

Someone immediately interjected, "But it seems none of the prodigies from the supreme powers of those other nations were present."

The storyteller shook his head. "Even if prodigies from the supreme powers had come, it likely would have made no difference against Lord Shen. You mustn't forget that in addition to his title of Ten Extremes Young Master, Lord Shen also possesses the ability of Overcoming Adversity and Attacking Upward."

Hearing this, the person who had first voiced his doubts nodded, seemingly convinced.

The storyteller continued, "After Lord Shen arrived in Lingyun Dao, he worked tirelessly to restore order. In one fell swoop, he uprooted the Three Great Demonic Forces. The other Demonic Forces fled Lingyun Dao overnight like stray dogs, scattering in every direction."

"And that's why, aside from a few Demonic Forces just barely hanging on, most have been completely wiped out in Lingyun Dao. That's where the 'safe' in our new name comes from."

"And now, there's another matter. The people of the Jianghu are in the process of deciding on a new title for Lord Shen."

As soon as he said this, many people in the crowd perked up with interest.

The storyteller cleared his throat and fell silent, deciding to keep his audience in suspense.

In his line of work, this was the trick he used to make a living.

So when it was time to build suspense, he was anything but careless.

Besides, building suspense is a technique that requires exquisite timing. Drag it on too long, and you'll ruin the mood.

But if it's too short, the buildup won't be as effective.

The storyteller's timing was perfect.

Only when everyone was craning their necks in anticipation did he finally continue.

"Rumor has it in the Jianghu that Lord Shen has revealed two new abilities. Now, they're considering giving him the title of Twelve Unparalleled Young Masters, though I don't know if it's official yet."

A wave of understanding passed through the crowd; now they knew why his title might be changed again.

The storyteller continued his narrative.

And every subsequent matter was inextricably linked to Shen Bai.

This included the incident with Zhang Dao Ling and the death of the Marquis of Ren De.

Through the storyteller's embellishments, all sorts of strange and fantastical tales were woven, painting Shen Bai as a righteous, principled man of immense power.

The audience listened, completely captivated, and the tips were not in short supply.

The storyteller was overjoyed.

At a table by the window on this same top floor, a man and a woman sat looking out at the bustling street below.

The man was divinely handsome, with features as fine as jade.

The woman was stunningly beautiful and poised, a beauty capable of toppling nations.

The woman, dressed in a yellow gown, listened to the storyteller's grand tale and then looked at the man across from her. "This Shen Bai has certainly made quite a name for himself in Lingyun Dao. It's no wonder the higher-ups had him join the Celestial Pride Salvation Society on two separate occasions. Qu Yongfeng, it seems his potential might even be greater than yours."

The man, whose white robes made him seem all the more otherworldly, lifted his wine cup and took a sip.

He seemed unbothered by her words, replying calmly, "We are all members of the Celestial Pride Salvation Society. The stronger our members are, the stronger the Society becomes. I feel no jealousy. You, on the other hand, Xue Caixiang... you seem rather dissatisfied with the mission the higher-ups have given you."

Xue Caixiang sneered. "Our organization has a traitor, and a precious treasure has been lost. The task of retrieving it should fall to those of us who joined earlier."

"Why do they need to involve this Shen Bai?"

"I am indeed dissatisfied, and I've never tried to hide it."

Qu Yongfeng shook his head. "You can voice that dissatisfaction to me, but you must not reveal it to Shen Bai."