I Have A Dual World Seal-Chapter 663: Daoist Mingzhang Issues a Task

What follows is rather uneventful.

After touring the Great Wall, he spent another day in Beidu to visit the Forbidden City. Only then did he bid farewell to Zhao Xiaodao and Zhang Weili, who were reluctant to let him go, and boarded the high-speed train heading south to Hai City.

... 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

In the days that followed, when Lu Zheng had no tasks on either side, he shuttled between both time periods—nurturing his flying sword in ancient times, and shopping and dining in the modern era.

Perhaps in the morning, he would be in ancient times, listening to a storyteller while refining his flying sword with True Qi hidden in his sleeve. Come noon, he'd return to modern times to join Lin Wan for a nap and a meal before heading back to ancient times in the afternoon, either to help at Renxin Hall or to relax in the Peach Blossom Forest.

Dinner plans varied based on his mood and circumstances: sometimes he cooked in ancient times, sometimes in the modern world. As for evening activities, he had to manage his time even more judiciously.

Oh, and after being away for a month, he returned to Shaotong Mountain a few days later. Although there was no Red Centipede Three Elements Wine this time, he did have Qingqi Spirit Tea gifted by Yi Qingtian.

Upon reaching the temple on the mountain, he happened to run into Yuan Jing, who was on his way down.

"Where are you heading, Senior Brother?"

With the Cloud Pattern Sword at his waist and a small bundle on his back, Yuan Jing nodded and smiled at Lu Zheng, "The Zhao family in Yingshan Town is troubled by ghosts. They sought help from the temple, so I'm going to check it out."

Lu Zheng nodded, "Is the Master here?"

"Yes!" Yuan Jing nodded, "Both the Master and Uncle Master Ming Jun are in the backyard."

After saying goodbye to Yuan Jing, Lu Zheng quickly made his way to the backyard, where he presented Daoist Mingzhang with a pound of Qingqi Spirit Tea. Using Stalactite Spring and Deep Mountain Spring water to brew it, the aroma of the tea permeated throughout the White Cloud Temple.

Daoist Mingzhang inhaled deeply and instantly felt his True Qi stir within him, while Daoist Ming Jun, with his lower cultivation, nearly entered a state of enlightenment.

Unfortunately, not having enough talent, he walked to the verge of enlightenment only to step back out. Daoist Ming Jun could only sigh resentfully, drink the tea all at once, and choose to enhance his cultivation.

"Such a spiritual tea must undoubtedly have an owner. Whom have you encountered this time?" Daoist Mingzhang inquired.

"Master, please observe wisely!" Lu Zheng bowed. "This spiritual tea is known as Qingqi Spirit Tea, belonging to Brother Yi Qingtian from Qingqi Mountain in Lu State on Chuandong Dao."

"Qingqi Mountain? Yi Qingtian?" Daoist Mingzhang seemed to have never heard of it.

Though Yi Qingtian is a thousand-year-old Great Demon residing deep within Great Jing, he seldom ventures out, hence his lack of renown. Those far from him are unaware of his existence. Feiyu Mountain only knows of him because of the Jade Fall Cyan Mist found in Qingqi Mountain.

"Brother Yi is friends with Brother Hu Yijun from Southern Border Dingfeng Mountain, who is also the father of Hu Zhou, my Martial Dao student. Hence, I was able to establish a connection."

Lu Zheng offered a brief explanation before recounting his trip to Feiyu Mountain to seek the Sword Scripture.

"Feiyu Mountain barely has enough Sword Qi and Radiance for itself, while Qingqi Mountain houses Jade Fall Cyan Mist. I thought to establish a connection, so on my return, I took the Chuandong route south and made a visit to Qingqi Mountain." Lu Zheng explained.

"You sure have some nerve!" Daoist Mingzhang felt a pang of fear in retrospect. "After all, you're dealing with a thousand-year-old Great Demon. Who knows what kind of temperament he has, yet you dared to go up the mountain seeking Radiance?"

Lu Zheng chuckled, "I was fortunate. Brother Yi was very amiable and polite. Not only did he give me ample Jade Fall Cyan Mist, but he also gifted Qingqi Spirit Tea, which Qingqi Mountain is famous for. Hence, as soon as I returned, I came to pay my respects to you, Master."

Daoist Mingzhang couldn't help but laugh, though inwardly pleased, he remarked, "Surely it was on account of Hu Yijun the Tiger King's face. You mustn't take it for granted."

Daoist Mingzhang figured that Lu Zheng's ability to address Yi Qingtian as "Brother Yi" obviously owed somewhat to Lu Zheng's commendable cultivation too, as respect is earned. Otherwise, regardless of both being friends with Hu Yijun, Lu Zheng would have had to refer to Yi Qingtian as "Yi Yingwang."

Lu Zheng blinked, "Well, it wasn't solely for Brother Hu's sake. Mainly, I helped Brother Yi slay a demon."

Daoist Mingzhang: ⚆_⚆?

Daoist Mingzhang was not easily fooled. Though Lu Zheng spoke lightly of it, the demon capable of matching Yi Qingtian in battle must surely possess considerable power. Since Lu Zheng was not one to boast, using the word "help" implied he did indeed contribute.

"What happened?"

"Here's how it went..."

Lu Zheng began recounting the story to Daoist Mingzhang, not trying to boast but rather because the disciple of Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor had infiltrated Great Jing and even targeted Yi Qingtian, who usually lived alone. He thought it was something White Cloud Temple should know.

If he weren't so lazy, he supposed he should report it to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, too. After all, witnessing wrongdoing and reporting it was the mark of a good citizen.

"...Brother Yi was really too courteous. Hence, my wife and I took our leave and then immediately made our way back." Lu Zheng concluded.

Daoist Mingzhang, "..."

Daoist Ming Jun, "..."

After Lu Zheng finished speaking, the two Daoists stared at him as if he were a monster.

Daoist Mingzhang, "Black Heart Demon?"

Daoist Ming Jun, "One of the four main disciples of Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor?"

They were, of course, familiar with the Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor. They just hadn't expected Lu Zheng to have grown to the level where he could get involved in such battles.

"Mainly thanks to Brother Yi's strength; otherwise, my wife and I definitely wouldn't have dared to intervene."

"Alright, alright, I understand." Daoist Mingzhang waved his hand, implying he was too weary to hear any more from Lu Zheng.

He took a sip of tea to calm down, and after a moment's thought, remarked, "The Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor, Celestial Demon descending to the Lower Realm, although there are many experts in the Central Plains, demons remain public enemies. This matter indeed needs to be made known to the temple."

"Hmm." Lu Zheng nodded in agreement.

"While you're at it, since one task shouldn't trouble two masters, you should go to White Cloud Mountain."

"Huh?" Lu Zheng abruptly looked up.

The reason I shared this with you was to avoid going to White Cloud Mountain again. But since Daoist Mingzhang had already spoken, what choice did he have?

Lu Zheng could only bow in compliance.

Daoist Mingzhang instructed, "While you're there, also brief the temple on the techniques and magic of the Black Heart Demon. Last time, during the battle with Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor, none of our temple's seniors were involved."

"Yes!" Lu Zheng nodded in agreement.

...

Who would've thought going up the mountain would result in another assignment? Lu Zheng felt speechless.

Fortunately, everyone had become accustomed to his frequent comings and goings, so Lu Zheng returned home, informed Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying, and then took off on the cloud heading straight for Sanjiang Dao in the north.

The next morning, he arrived at Jizhou's White Cloud Mountain.

After ascending the mountain, he informed the uncle responsible for receiving guests about the Black Heart Demon incident. The uncle then led him to a side hall where he verbally detailed the Black Heart Demon's magical techniques for the temple's disciples to record.

By the time everything was concluded, it was already the afternoon of the second day.

Lu Zheng had every reason to believe that Daoist Mingzhang didn't make the trip purely out of laziness, nor did he even care to hear what strange techniques the Black Heart Demon possessed.