Chapter 75

As usual, Gu Xuyao helped in the shop while practicing meditation. Over the three months, the things he possessed had greatly improved. Although the daily reward of one yuan stone was considered low in Meteor City, it was enough to equip him with some basic cultivation treasures and magical artifacts.

With a legitimate income, Gu Xuyao could openly purchase the Hundred Treasures Gourd. After that, he also bought a series of daily necessities such as medicinal pills and talismans. Now, the palm-sized gourd was filled with treasures.

"Little brother, do you have any new styles of Daoist robes?"

When the man walked in, he greeted Gu Xuyao respectfully, like the others. Gu Xuyao opened his eyes and saw a clean and tidy young man in a light green robe. Having worked in the fabric shop for a long time, he could tell that the robe was not ordinary. A quick mental scan revealed that he could not determine the man's cultivation level, indicating that the man was more advanced than Gu Xuyao.

"Ah, yes, we do. Look at this one. It's made from the resin of the needle silk tree. The color matches your气质 perfectly."

Since he was helping in the shop, Gu Xuyao had to know these basic things, and he didn't mind learning more.

The man glanced at the yellow robe hanging on the wall, nodded slightly, and then turned to Gu Xuyao, changing the subject.

"Little brother, do you know of a sect called Taiheng Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Xuyao remained calm on the surface but was inwardly alert. It seemed the man was not interested in the robe.

"Sir, this is a fabric shop. If you have any inquiries, I believe someone at the Drunken Hall in the southwest of Meteor City can help you."

The man didn't say anything else but took out a square object wrapped in a silk handkerchief from his sleeve.

"Little brother, you may not believe me now, but I know you are the person I'm looking for. I was followed when I came here, so it's not safe to talk here. Look at this object. If you believe me, there's a small pavilion on the grassland a hundred miles outside Meteor City. I will be there at midnight tonight. I hope you can come."

After saying this, the young man looked around cautiously, handed the object to Gu Xuyao, and hurriedly left.

Feeling somewhat puzzled, Gu Xuyao wondered if he had exposed something. He put the square object into the Hundred Treasures Gourd and pretended nothing had happened until the shop closed at night.

The fabric shop was quite large, with a back area that could accommodate five people. Aunt Xu and Su Yun both lived there.

Back in his room, Gu Xuyao closed the doors and windows, then took out the square object given to him by the man.

Unwrapping the smooth silk handkerchief, he found a black wooden board. As soon as it appeared, Gu Xuyao felt a familiar sensation.

"Heavenly Evil Pearl!" The Heavenly Evil Pearl inside the Hundred Treasures Gourd also began to stir upon sensing this power!

However, apart from the Heavenly Evil Pearl's aura, the wooden board had no other special qualities. Gu Xuyao quickly put it away and fell into deep thought.

"This man doesn't look malicious, but in the cultivation world, one cannot judge by appearances. He claims to recognize me as someone related to the Taiheng Sect and gave me this wooden board with the Heavenly Evil Pearl's aura..."

The Heavenly Evil Pearl's aura on the wooden board was very strong, but the board itself was already rotten. Gu Xuyao knew it definitely didn't come from the Taiheng Sect.

"The senior mentioned that he once entrusted someone to try to melt the Heavenly Evil Pearl in the World-Refining Furnace. Could this person be someone the senior knew who found me?"

The man's identity was hard to guess, but Gu Xuyao still wanted to see what he intended. The man didn't attack him in the city, which meant he either had limited strength or feared the power of the Flying Fire Sect. The Zhenxuezi of that day wouldn't have feared the small Flying Fire Sect.

After checking the emergency items, medicinal pills, talismans, and small magical artifacts in the gourd, Gu Xuyao left the shop and headed for the grassland outside the city.

At night, Meteor City was quiet except for places like the Heavenly Maiden Tower and the Drunken Hall. Other small shops had closed, as most people were cultivators who needed time for cultivation.

The area near Meteor City was extreme. To the south, close to the Taiheng Sect, it was all cold sand and rocks. To the north, it was an endless grassland. Gu Xuyao had been there a few times during the day, and the green grass was very refreshing.

However, the grassland at midnight was somewhat desolate.

A hundred miles to the north, there was a small pavilion. Gu Xuyao had been there before. As he approached, he saw someone waiting in the pavilion.

As he got closer, the man sensed Gu Xuyao's presence, turned around, and smiled at him.

"Little brother, I didn't make a mistake. You are indeed a survivor of the Taiheng Sect!"

Gu Xuyao didn't admit it but returned the wooden board to the man.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I just came to return this wooden board. Now that the matter is settled, I'll be going back."

In the cultivation world, one must be cautious. Gu Xuyao wouldn't reveal everything right away.

"Little brother, please wait. Hear me out."

Seeing Gu Xuyao about to leave, the man became anxious.

Gu Xuyao stopped, knowing that if the man was a friend, he would explain himself.

"Almost forgot to introduce myself. I am Xiang Yunshan. As for my identity, you might not believe me, but we are both from the Taiheng Sect."

This statement sent shockwaves through Gu Xuyao's mind. There were other survivors of the Taiheng Sect?

"However, I am not exactly a disciple of the Taiheng Sect. My ancestor was a disciple of the Taiheng Sect. At that time, the Taiheng Sect was very powerful. The sect leader, Tong Ruhai, had lofty ambitions and led the disciples to seize a treasure called the Heavenly Evil Pearl. Due to the loss of many disciples, the entire sect was shaken, and my ancestor's brother also died in this incident. In his anger, he betrayed the Taiheng Sect and went out on his own.

Speaking of the past, Xiang Yunshan's tone became melancholic.

"But when his anger subsided, he deeply regretted it. However, the damage was done, and he could not return to the sect. He had to bear the name of a traitor and work hard to establish his own territory. He never forgot the Taiheng Sect's kindness, which taught him the cultivation techniques that allowed him to stand in the cultivation world. Therefore, he always reminded himself not to forget his roots. He wrote down many things about the Taiheng Sect in a thick book and made his descendants memorize it. The clothes in our family are designed based on the Taiheng Sect's robes. As for me, since I was sent on a mission, I knew your situation was not good, so I didn't wear the family robe."

Gu Xuyao listened, thinking that if what the man said was true, this senior Xiang was indeed admirable.

"I know you must be wondering why I have a wooden board with the Heavenly Evil Pearl's aura. The truth is, before his death, Sect Leader Tong found my ancestor and told him about the Heavenly Evil Pearl. Sect Leader Tong was far-sighted and knew the Taiheng Sect would eventually be destroyed by the Heavenly Evil Pearl. He also saw my ancestor's loyalty to the Taiheng Sect. He decided to re-accept my ancestor into the Taiheng Sect but could not announce it publicly. Instead, he gave him the authority to teach the Taiheng Sect's cultivation techniques. In return, my ancestor had a responsibility: to find the survivors of the Taiheng Sect after its destruction and restore the Taiheng Sect to its former glory in the Lingxiao Realm."

Tong Ruhai, Gu Xuyao finally knew the name of the person in the tomb. This name should be remembered by all Taiheng Sect disciples, as he was the strongest sect leader in the Taiheng Sect's history and the one who made the sect the most powerful. Although he made a mistake that led to the Taiheng Sect's downfall, his foresight was truly admirable.

"Little brother, I have told you so many secrets of the Taiheng Sect. Don't you believe I am your friend? My family values loyalty and righteousness. My father, influenced by our ancestors, has an even greater longing for the Taiheng Sect. Although we are in the northern part of the Lingxiao Realm, we still spend a lot of money to keep track of the Taiheng Sect's movements. When he learned that the Taiheng Sect was completely destroyed, he immediately sent people to the southern part of the realm to find the descendants of the Taiheng Sect. Little brother, please believe me. I, Xiang Yunshan, swear that if what I said is false, may my family be destroyed!"

Gu Xuyao turned around and looked at the solemn Xiang Yunshan. Although Xiang Yunshan's cultivation level was higher, his experience was less than Gu Xuyao's, who had seen many partings and reunions.

"Even if what you said is true and I believe you, and even if I am the person you're looking for, what do you want me to do?"

One must always be cautious. While other times might not matter, when it came to the Taiheng Sect, the stakes were too high. Gu Xuyao couldn't afford any mistakes.

"Little brother, have you forgotten what I said? Our family's goal is to restore the Taiheng Sect's glory. If you are willing, please come with me to the northern part of the realm. All the descendants of my family practice the Taiheng Sect's cultivation techniques. Now that the Taiheng Sect has only you left, you will be the sect leader. If you agree, our family can immediately abandon everything and rename ourselves as the new Taiheng Sect!"

Logically, this was a huge temptation, but Gu Xuyao didn't fully trust Xiang Yunshan. Looking at the sky, Gu Xuyao bowed.

"Brother Xiang, I have something to attend to. I'll take my leave for today. I can't fully understand what you said, but I will think about it and give you a definite answer later."

With that, Gu Xuyao turned and headed back to Meteor City.