Chapter 80 - 50: Huang Bamboo’s Invitation

Chapter 80: Chapter 50: Huang Bamboo’s Invitation

In Xuanzhen Temple.

Qi Jiushan descended from the sky, landing in the courtyard, and stowed away the Demon-Slaying Pestle magical artifact he had used for flight. In just a moment, he concealed the surprise that had surfaced on his face after receiving the Divine Sense transmission, though his demeanor clearly carried a bit more solemnity.

"I am Qi Jiushan, Steward of the Demon Suppression Hall at Huang Bamboo Temple. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Li," he said, cupping his hands toward Li Yinsheng. His manner was solemn and businesslike, as if he had never met Li Yinsheng before.

Li Yinsheng thought for a moment before remembering that he had been wearing a conical hat when he met this Fellow Daoist Qi at Baoguang Temple.

"Fellow Daoist Qi, speaking of which, we have crossed paths once before. I even owed you a favor back then, so there’s no need to be such strangers," Li Yinsheng said with a smile.

Qi Jiushan was taken aback. The surprise he had suppressed resurfaced on his face. "Fellow Daoist, do we know each other?"

When the person in front of him had transmitted his voice earlier, his words indeed implied they were acquainted. But after seeing Li Yinsheng, Qi Jiushan truly had no impression of him. It made no sense—if he had actually met someone with such a handsome face, it definitely would have left a deep impression.

Li Yinsheng didn’t keep him guessing. He took a conical hat out of his Qiankun Bag and placed it on his head. "Fellow Daoist Qi, take another look. Do I seem more familiar now?"

Qi Jiushan was suddenly enlightened and clapped his hands together. "Are you the fellow Daoist who was looking for an Array Master at Baoguang Temple three months ago?"

Li Yinsheng put away the conical hat and nodded with a smile. "That was indeed me."

"No wonder you wore a conical hat back then. I thought you were trying to hide your identity, but now it seems you were probably just worried about being surrounded by young female cultivators?" Realizing they were old acquaintances, Qi Jiushan immediately relaxed a bit and joked.

"That’s a minor issue," Li Yinsheng also smiled. "You should be aware of the situation at Xuanzhen Temple. My identity is rather special. If I were truly recognized, it wouldn’t just be female cultivators gathering around."

"Speaking of the situation at Xuanzhen Temple... I had heard quite a few rumors before, and at that time, I really thought I had some understanding of it," Qi Jiushan said, his face full of amazement. "However, after hearing Fellow Daoist Meng mention it a few days ago, and seeing you today, Fellow Daoist Li, I finally know that rumors truly cannot be trusted!"

"Oh? What rumors?" Li Yinsheng asked curiously.

"There is a widespread rumor outside that the Daoist of Xuanzhen Temple has been crippled, and its only cultivator is someone with mediocre talent. People say that Xuanzhen Temple has no possibility of a comeback, so the Dharma Vein intends to disband it..."

Speaking up to this point, Qi Jiushan shook his head repeatedly. "Seeing you today made me realize that these are nothing but alarmist claims!

"Your age and cultivation are extremely rare, not just among the various Daoist Temples, but even within the Dharma Vein. How could you be considered as having mediocre talent?

"As for the claims that the Dharma Vein wants to disband Xuanzhen Temple because they see no hope for it, those are naturally pure nonsense!

"With you here, saying Xuanzhen Temple has no chance of revival is simply lying through one’s teeth." Qi Jiushan spoke these words with absolute sincerity.

A genius in his twenties with cultivation profound enough to transmit messages through Divine Sense was someone the Dharma Vein would only produce once in many years. Such a person would be heavily nurtured as an Immortal Dao Seed!

"If you ask me, these rumors were likely spread by Shouyi Temple. They have always loved doing these kinds of underhanded deeds!" Qi Jiushan scoffed coldly.

Li Yinsheng thought to himself that although Shouyi Temple always had a bad reputation, they were probably being wrongly accused this time. These were not rumors.

"Let’s not talk about this anymore. Regardless, the day you reveal your cultivation, Fellow Daoist, these rumors will naturally fall apart."

Qi Jiushan’s gaze shifted, catching sight of Mu Xiaoyu practicing her cultivation not far away. He said, "Look, Xuanzhen Temple has even started taking in new disciples. How is it on its last legs like they claim?

"Hey, little girl over there!"

Qi Jiushan called out to Mu Xiaoyu. Since Xuanzhen Temple had a new disciple, it stood to reason that he should give the junior a meeting gift. He wiped a hand over his Qiankun Bag, pulling out a thick stack of yellow talismans, and sent them all over using the Artifact Manipulation Skill. "These are talismans I painted during my free time. Take them as a meeting gift."

Mu Xiaoyu stopped her practice and caught the flying stack of talismans. She took one look, and her head filled with question marks, wondering what in the world was drawn on them. They looked all crooked and squiggly.

The cinnabar seal script writhed across the yellow talisman paper, looking just like a cluster of overlapping, tangled earthworms. However, she reasoned that the heavily bearded cultivator looked quite formidable. Not only could he fly, but he also knew her senior brother, so he surely wouldn’t trick people with fakes. Perhaps... this was just how talismans were supposed to look?

After a moment of hesitation, Mu Xiaoyu bowed in thanks, stored the stack of talismans into her Qiankun Bag, and immediately resumed her practice without pausing.

She wasn’t far from the Fourth Layer! She just needed to be diligent and work hard! Once she reached the Fourth Layer, she could cultivate simply by meditating!

Watching the diligent Mu Xiaoyu, who refused to slack off for even a moment, Qi Jiushan nodded in approval. With a disciple like this at Xuanzhen Temple—one who had both talent and diligence—why worry about the sect failing to revive?

He wished those lazy, gluttonous, and slippery disciples of his at Huang Bamboo Temple could work as hard as that little girl! If every single one of his disciples could make something of themselves, why would he need to swallow his pride and go around begging for help during the Cultivation Fruit harvest season?!

Thinking of the serious business concerning his own Daoist Temple, Qi Jiushan’s expression instantly grew a bit more solemn. "Fellow Daoist Li, I came here to request your help with an important matter," he said. "I wonder if you might have some free time over the next half month?"

"Hmm..." Li Yinsheng stroked his chin. "Fellow Daoist Qi, why don’t you tell me what it’s about first?"

Truth be told, he didn’t have anything he absolutely had to do. Lately, he had just been watching his junior sister cultivate.