Chapter 107: The Reason Why the Silent Daoist is Imprisoned

Even disregarding its status as one of the Five Immortal Sects, the Dao Seeking Sect is a renowned presence in the cultivation world. Just as parents warn their children not to associate with bad kids, elders frequently advise their disciples to avoid the Dao Seeking Sect.

However, there are always disciples who defy warnings and mingle with the Dao Seeking Sect, which is truly regrettable.

For example, Lan Ting.

Fortunately, the higher echelons of the cultivation world know that the Dao Seeking Sect is not beyond redemption. Since the previous sect master disappeared and the new sect master, Yun Zhi, took over, the sect's atmosphere has significantly improved—primarily evidenced by the Dao Seeking Sect no longer harming others, but only its own members.

If the Dao Seeking Sect were a mental hospital, then Yun Zhi would be its director, one of the few sane people.

Yun Zhi's visit was always preferable to anyone else's.

A hearty voice came from beneath the Heavenly Strategy Sect, and in the blink of an eye, an elderly figure appeared before Yun Zhi.

"Reverend Daoyan," Yun Zhi greeted with cupped hands.

Reverend Daoyan, Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Strategy Sect, is an ancient figure in the cultivation world; few have lived longer than him. He is low-key and has never revealed his true cultivation level.

"Fellow Daoist, what brings you here?" Reverend Daoyan asked, not daring to slight Yun Zhi and addressing her as "Fellow Daoist."

"I have a question concerning Immortals."

"Please."

"Please."

Reverend Daoyan invited Yun Zhi into a secret chamber within the sect and poured her tea.

"May I ask what aspect of Immortals you wish to inquire about?"

"How much does Reverend know about the Undying Immortal?"

Reverend Daoyan showed a troubled expression and said with a wry smile, "The Undying Immortal? Fellow Daoist has certainly asked a good question. The Undying Immortal is the most mysterious existence among the five ancient Immortals. If it weren't for the Undying Sect's adamant claim of discovering ruins containing records of the Undying Immortal, I wouldn't even know of the Undying Immortal's existence."

"Moreover, even if there are ruins, it doesn't necessarily mean they are real. I remain skeptical about the existence of the Undying Immortal."

"How so?"

"Ruins discovered over ten thousand years ago are indeed ancient for people today, but does ancient mean true?"

"I heard the ruins are a product of the Great Qian era, but what about the Great Qian era? It's already a new epoch, tens of thousands of years away from the ancient times."

"Someone with ulterior motives could completely fabricate a nonsensical ruin during the Great Qian era, wait for a hundred or two hundred thousand years until someone accidentally discovers it, and upon seeing it's a ruin, exclaims in surprise, believing whatever is recorded there to be true."

"If there truly were an Undying Immortal, then why is there no other corroborating evidence apart from this ruin?"

"Numerous Grotto-Heavens from the Great Qian era have been unearthed, so why are there no records of the Undying Immortal in them?"

Yun Zhi nodded; Reverend Daoyan's explanation had some merit. "You also know that I just found the headquarters of the Undying Sect. Unfortunately, they fled too quickly, and not a single person was caught. However, I did learn a few things from the information they left behind."

In truth, Yun Zhi had not obtained any intelligence from the headquarters; for safety reasons, she did not want to reveal Lu Yang's situation.

"I'd be glad to hear the details."

"According to the Undying Sect, the characteristic of the Undying Immortal's Dao Fruit can be called 'indestructible'. As long as someone utters the Undying Immortal's title and Immortal name, the Undying Immortal can be resurrected."

Reverend Daoyan's pupils constricted in great shock. This characteristic was truly extraordinary, practically making it impossible to die even if one wished to.

"It is indeed true that every Immortal Dao Fruit has different characteristics," Reverend Daoyan sighed. Then he continued, "However, this is ultimately just the Undying Sect's assertion. I maintain my view that this is about creating an Immortal."

"The method is similar to how the Great Xia Dynasty's national fortune leads to becoming an Immortal. A mastermind fabricated a non-existent Immortal, utilizing the faith of the Undying Sect. With daily and monthly accumulation, the Undying Immortal gradually manifests. When the power of faith accumulates to a certain level, the Undying Immortal will appear out of thin air, from nothingness."

Yun Zhi did not refute; she quietly listened to Reverend Daoyan's theory. The Undying Immortal had already revived, so it certainly wasn't a created Immortal. However, the theory of creating Immortals had its merits, and perhaps the other three demon sects were indeed creating Immortals.

Yun Zhi thanked Reverend Daoyan and gracefully departed.

The Sect Master of Heavenly Strategy Sect approached Reverend Daoyan, still shaken by the scene of Yun Zhi casually tearing through the formation earlier. "Patriarch, just how strong is Yun Zhi? Has she become an Immortal?"

"Don't ask, I know nothing."

Yun Zhi had visited many people, and Reverend Daoyan was the last one. Once the matter was concluded, she returned directly to the sect.

At this time, Lu Yang returned to Tianmen Peak and once again sought out his master.

"Well, what did your senior brothers say? Did they all say the Dao Seeking Sect is growing stronger under my leadership?"

Daoist Buyu was smug, believing he had made indelible contributions to the development of the Dao Seeking Sect.

Lu Yang looked at his master with a complicated expression: "Indeed, your contributions are great, but everyone hopes for Senior Sister to manage the sect."

Daoist Buyu hung his head in dejection, looking utterly disheartened: "Is that truly the case? So be it, let her take the Sect Master's position then. A new generation replacing the old is only natural."

"For a disciple to imprison their master in a struggle for power is ultimately not good to spread around and would harm the reputation of our Dao Seeking Sect."

"If you let me out, I'll go far away, never mention the Sect Master position again, and never return to the Dao Seeking Sect, how about that?" Daoist Buyu negotiated.

Lu Yang hesitated, thinking Daoist Buyu's words made sense. His master didn't seem like someone who would vie for power. Just as he was considering whether to release his master, a clear, cold voice came from above.

"Master, do you really want to get out that badly?"

Upon hearing this voice, Daoist Buyu's expression drastically changed.

Lu Yang looked up and was pleasantly surprised to see his Senior Sister had returned: "Senior Sister!"

Yun Zhi calmly acknowledged him, gently descending without a speck of dust clinging to her.

"Master, you're trying to deceive Junior Brother just to get out?"

Yun Zhi's words were devoid of any emotional flourish, yet to Daoist Buyu, they sounded like a terrifying, erupting volcano.

Deceit? Lu Yang's heart stirred. Could everything his master told him have been a lie?

What was the truth then?

Lu Yang's mind raced, and he quickly thought of a highly probable possibility!

His master had suffered qi deviation, and Senior Sister, prioritizing justice over family, suppressed him here. Considering it a family shame that shouldn't be publicized, she hadn't informed the elders about his master's qi deviation.

His master took advantage of Senior Sister's absence to send him a telepathic message, trying to trick him with sweet words into removing the talismans and wreaking havoc upon the world?

How close a call! Fortunately, Senior Sister arrived.

He then heard Senior Sister continue:

"Look at the sect masters of other Immortal sects; they are all diligently cultivating. Then look at you, idling away your days. Have you completed the daily cultivation tasks I assigned you? Have you broken through your cultivation level?"

"You haven't completed anything, yet you want to go out and play?"

Daoist Buyu stammered, unable to utter a single word.

Lu Yang: "..."

What the hell was I just thinking? How could such melodramatic nonsense happen in the Dao Seeking Sect!