Chapter 9

"Looks like you're not much of a junior after all!" Liu Wujì said with a smile, his peripheral vision sweeping over the two people below who were engaged in a battle of illusions.

"Just an outer sect disciple," Chen Huò said calmly. A fully cultivated outer sect disciple defeating a Water Moon Grotto Foundation Establishment cultivator was certainly a good thing. But even if he lost, it would still be an honorable defeat, and he might even be criticized for the Water Moon Grotto bullying a junior. Moreover, an outer sect disciple couldn't even practice the true secret techniques of the immortal sect, so how could he be considered a face of the Tai Xu Dao Sect?

"Be careful!" Chen Huò's voice suddenly appeared in the air above the tavern, and Chen Huò himself was surprised to hear his own voice. Then, a sword aura appeared out of nowhere and slashed toward the tavern where Jiang Yuanchen and the others were.

Suddenly, Li Jian and the others saw a blur before their eyes, followed by a sudden gust of wind and a bright moon in the sky. It seemed as if the world only existed with that solitary, cold moon, and a chill invaded their hearts. After a moment, the cold moon illusion disappeared, but the sword light still slowly slashed toward the tavern.

Li Jian and Duan Yan exclaimed simultaneously, "The Bright Moon Piercing Wind Sword Aura?"

The two didn't dare to directly withstand the residual attack of the Golden Core cultivator and quickly used protective divine blessings to shield themselves. The Confucian-capped man also crushed a protective jade talisman, and a pale yellow crescent moon shadow shield protected him.

But then, the brilliant sword aura landed on the defensive barrier above the tavern and instantly vanished.

"Old friend, you lost," Jiang Yuanchen suddenly sat down and panted.

Everyone was stunned, then realized they had been deceived by Jiang Yuanchen's illusion.

"This little trick is quite interesting," Chen Huò chuckled, then sent another sword aura toward Liu Wujì, "Fellow Daoist, take this third sword!"

The sword aura sliced through the sky, and threads of golden lightning tore through space, firmly locking onto Liu Wujì, forcing him to wave the duster in his hand and use his own life essence to forcibly block the sword.

Inside the tavern, the Confucian-capped man frowned and examined Jiang Yuanchen, "You actually deceived both sight and hearing? Using illusions to affect two senses?"

"You started by provoking me with a green snake, showcasing your profound skill in illusionary eyes,诱导我与你比试幻术。后来故意用幻香之法制作一团无法成型的鲜花暗示我，让我以为你不能同时进行两种幻术蒙蔽。再后来那只白猫也是如此，你使用的各种幻术除了幻目之术和幻香之术外，最多施展了干涉触觉的幻身之法。你是在诱导我造成你不会幻音之术的印象？使得刚刚那一声大喝顺利分去我的注意力，让你的幻术凝结剑意？"

"Illusions, for our level, are originally a means of诱导 and deception," Jiang Yuanchen said, exhausted after tricking the Confucian-capped man. "Old brother, because my cultivation is a notch lower than yours, you had a slight contempt in your heart. If I didn't take advantage of this opportunity to deepen your impression and counterattack, the Tai Xu Dao Sect wouldn't be the top illusion sect, would it?" At the end, Jiang Yuanchen praised the Tai Xu Dao Sect in front of Li Jian and the others.

"Good kid, this illusionary technique is enough to qualify you for the inner sect," Chen Huò's voice drifted down from above, and the outcome of the battle between the two Golden Core cultivators was already decided.

The sky was dyed golden, and a sword intent soared, suppressing the entire city. The earth deities had to fully mobilize their divine power to block his aura, so as not to affect the many mortals. As for Liu Wujì, holding a duster broken in two, he walked back to the second floor of the tavern with a grim face. The second floor of the tavern had already opened a skylight, and the roof had completely turned into wood chips without anyone noticing.

The Confucian-capped man sighed inwardly, indeed, once the golden core is formed, there is no regret. He never thought that forming a golden core on one's own would be so much better than using a pill to form a core. This eighth-generation true disciple of the Tai Xu Dao Sect, with only 70% of his original power, could still overpower Liu Lao?

Then, the man bowed to Chen Huò, "This junior was wrong to joke about the three prohibitions of your sect. I apologize for my rudeness, and I hope you will forgive me."

"Do you have the surname Zhang?" Chen Huò suddenly asked, "What is your relationship with the current cave master of the Water Moon Grotto?"

"This junior is Zhang Miao, and the current Illusory Moon True Person is my grandfather," he quickly changed his stance, as a descendant of a prestigious family of the Water Moon Grotto, he knew how to act in this situation.

In the current five immortal paths, the Earth Immortal and Human Immortal paths are almost extinct, but coincidentally, the Water Moon Grotto is the inheritor of the Earth Immortal path. Each generation of the Water Moon Grotto master would use the power of the grotto to connect with the earth veins and achieve the state of a spirit, passing down the name "Illusory Moon True Person" generation by generation.

Chen Huò's face was unhappy, but he didn't dare to push too hard against the descendant of a spirit. The Tai Xu Dao Sect was currently in a period of rest and recuperation and couldn't casually start a life-and-death battle with the Water Moon Grotto.

"This junior has just recently achieved Foundation Establishment and was planning to go out for training. Coincidentally, my grandfather was preparing to send a challenge to your sect, so he sent me with Liu Lao to take a look. Just now, I was inspired to test your sect's illusions, so I turned a bowl of ginseng turtle soup into a plate of tofu. I apologize for my rudeness and hope you will forgive me."

With the Water Moon Grotto lowering their attitude so much and the Tai Xu Dao Sect not suffering any losses, Chen Huò didn't bother to argue with Zhang Miao. He reached out, used his power to take the challenge scroll from Zhang Miao's chest, and said, "There's no need to send the challenge to the Tai Xu Dao Sect. I'll take it. You two can return to where you came from."

The order to leave was given, and Zhang Miao's face changed slightly. He quickly said, "This junior has been living in the grotto for a long time. Now, I'm going out to train and see the prosperity of the Chu Kingdom, which will help me cultivate the Water Moon illusions. I hope the senior will be lenient and allow me to travel in the Chu Kingdom."

Traveling in the Chu Kingdom? Chen Huò looked deeply at Zhang Miao, "I am now cultivating the divine path as the Luo River Water God, overseeing the divine path of the Chen and Chu kingdoms. If you travel and cultivate here, you must not use extraordinary powers to interfere with the human world, or my Clear Chime Sword will not care if you are the descendant of a true person."

"This junior understands," Zhang Miao said, and exchanged glances with Liu Wujì before leaving the tavern.

After walking a distance, Liu Wujì secretly transmitted a message, "Are we giving up just like that?"

"Not in a hurry. That thing in the Chen Kingdom isn't going anywhere. Let's wander around the Chu Kingdom for a while," Zhang Miao's face also turned grim after leaving the tavern. "That sword immortal actually turned to the divine path. It seems the Tai Xu Dao Sect suffered a severe blow. I wonder what the situation is with the other eighth-generation true disciples?"

"Master Zhang, if the Tai Xu Dao Sect can't even produce a reincarnation pill and can only let Chen Huò turn to the divine path, the rumor of the spirit's death might not be false," Liu Wujì said.

In the current Shen Zhou, celestial immortals are extinct, and only many spirit immortals suppress the sects and dominate the nine regions. Every major force, whether Daoist, demonic, or demonic, has a spirit immortal to suppress the fortune. Unlike the Water Moon Grotto, which has only one spirit immortal, the Tai Xu Dao Sect, with three spirit immortals, ranks among the top five forces in Shen Zhou. Now, with the loss of one spirit immortal, the entire Tai Xu Dao Sect's power will drop significantly, and it might have to move back in the ranking of the nine immortal sects.

"Send a message to the Jingyang Dao Sect. We have already investigated for them, and the Tai Xu Dao Sect has indeed suffered a severe blow. The rest is up to them to act," Zhang Miao's lips curled into a sly smile. "And the Blood Sun Demon Sect, they all come from the same source. Let them fight now."

"But, that kid's illusionary skills are quite good. He might be a key observation target for the ninth-generation disciples of the Tai Xu Dao Sect," Zhang Miao thought about Jiang Yuanchen's actions. "This time, he tricked me. In the future, when he becomes a ninth-generation disciple, I'll get my revenge."

After all, he is from a prestigious family. Although he suffered a temporary defeat and lost his momentum, he could accept his failure openly and not look for excuses to secretly kill Jiang Yuanchen. To win back his dignity in the future, that is the true spirit of a major sect's disciple.

At the Wan Hui Tavern, Chen Huò stared at Jiang Yuanchen for a while.

"Where did you learn this Bright Moon Piercing Wind Sword Aura? It seems to have a hint of the Cold Moon Intent?"

Although the sword aura was extremely weak and completely formed by illusion, without the Cold Moon Sword Intent, it wouldn't have shocked Li Jian and Duan Yan.

"That sword aura is a simulation of Elder Sikong's sword aura. As for the Cold Moon Sword Intent, it came to me while watching the moon last night."

Jiang Yuanchen's sword skills were not high, but he had also learned the three sets of sword techniques of the outer sect and watched Elder Sikong Changming use sword aura. Combined with his lonely mood last night, he entered a state of Dao and observed the cold moon in the night sky, thus comprehending a bit of the Cold Moon Intent. It was natural for him to simulate the Cold Moon Sword Intent for a moment using illusion.

"Is that so? That guy Sikong Changming? Is he doing well in the outer sect?" Chen Huò rubbed his chin. "I remember he was injured by a Golden Core cultivator from the Blood Sun Demon Sect and had to hide in the outer sect to recuperate. I wonder how his injuries are now?"

"This..." Jiang Yuanchen hesitated, and Li Jian helped, "Elder Sikong used the Golden Spring Spirit Water to heal his injuries. Although he can't completely remove the blood demon qi, he has firmly suppressed the injuries and prevented them from worsening."

Nodding, Chen Huò took out a yellow spirit banner from his bag and threw it to Jiang Yuanchen.

"You used your Qi Cultivation to use illusions to suppress a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Water Moon Grotto. This act that brings glory to the sect cannot go unrewarded. I once confiscated a Dust Banner from an outsider, so I'll give it to you for protection."

Jiang Yuanchen took the Dust Banner, unable to suppress his joy. After all, this was his first magical treasure. He examined it, seeing only various patterns on the earth-colored banner, but nothing else.

"This Dust Banner is just a magical tool, but its three Yin prohibitions are complete. Once you achieve Foundation Establishment, you can use true essence to refine it."

Magical treasures, according to the Daoist definition, are divided into four levels: magical tools, treasure tools, spirit tools, and immortal tools.

Magical tools have three Yin prohibitions and six Yang prohibitions. When the nine prohibitions are combined, they can be considered one treasure prohibition. This magical tool has its three Yin prohibitions complete, saving Jiang Yuanchen years of hard work. In the future, he only needs to refine the six Yang prohibitions to turn the Dust Banner into a treasure tool.

Chen Huò, being a divine being, left after a brief conversation with Zhang Miao and Liu Wujì.

After Chen Huò left, the serious atmosphere disappeared. Li Jian patted Jiang Yuanchen on the shoulder, "This time, you've really shown your face. As long as you achieve Foundation Establishment, you can smoothly enter the inner sect and become a candidate for a true disciple!"

To be able to use illusions to defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the Qi Cultivation stage, although there was an element of trickery, if such an illusionary genius were not valued by the sect, the Tai Xu Dao Sect would not be one of the nine immortal sects. Not to mention, illusions are one of the top techniques of the Tai Xu Dao Sect.

"Junior Duan, the Wan Hui Tavern is in a mess. The aftermath is up to you to handle."

"I understand," Duan Yan looked at the innkeeper crouched under the counter on the first floor, feeling guilty. After all, they were old friends, and this time, they caused such a huge loss to his family, even losing the roof of the tavern. He needed to compensate them properly.

In the distance, a group of soldiers rushed over and surrounded the entire Wan Hui Tavern.

Li Jian frowned, "Junior, you still have some influence with the government. Let these people be handled by you as well." After saying that, a beam of light wrapped around Li Jian, Li Wen, and Jiang Yuanchen, and they returned to the Tai Xu Dao Temple.

In the following days, Jiang Yuanchen and the others diligently practiced and meditated in the temple. The impact of the battle between the two Golden Core cultivators was left to Abbot Duan Yan to handle. The secular power of the Tai Xu Dao Sect was significant, and as long as Duan Yan explained the situation to the ruler of the Chu Kingdom, there would be no major issues. Duan Yan was so busy because he had to gather the items on Li Jian's two lists.

But three days were enough for Duan Yan to use his connections to prepare everything, allowing Li Jian and Li Wen to return to the mountain gate to complete their tasks. As for Jiang Yuanchen, who needed to go out to find the opportunity for Foundation Establishment, he parted ways with them and set out on his own to train.

Since Zhang Miao and the others said they would train in the Chu Kingdom, to avoid meeting them and causing trouble, Jiang Yuanchen deliberately went to the Chen Kingdom on the other side.