Chapter 1681 Meeting the Xuanhuang Daojun
She gently pushed the sycamore leaf toward Zhang Xuan, her gaze slightly lowered, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath her eyelids.
Zhang Xuan took the paulownia leaf; it was cool to the touch, and a calming, serene Daoist aura flowed into his palm.
A thought struck him, and he took out an item, which was a rare eighth-order star-patterned stone even in the outside world.
This stone contains the power of the stars and has a remarkable effect on nurturing musical instruments and enhancing the clarity of sound.
“I have nothing of value, but this stone may be of some help to your musical skills, Fairy. I hope you will not refuse.” He handed over the star-patterned stone.
When Fairy Miaoyin saw the star-patterned stone, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She did indeed need such a spiritual object to nurture her ancient zither.
She extended her fair, jade-like hand, and the moment her fingertips lightly touched Zhang Xuan's palm, she paused slightly as if electrocuted, before accepting the star-patterned stone.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist." Her voice was even softer.
Zhang Xuan returned to the stage, and the Qinghe steward beside him bowed slightly and said respectfully, "It was my old eyes that failed to recognize Daojun. You should now address me as Senior Zhang."
"It is fate that we have met. We can treat each other as equals," Zhang Xuan said nonchalantly.
"When Lord Xuanhuang asked about your background just now, I told him the truth. Senior Zhang... Fellow Daoist Zhang doesn't mind, does he?"
“I don’t mind. I came to this realm because I have important matters to discuss with Daoist Xuanhuang. If you explain my background to him, it will save me a lot of trouble.”
"That's fine, that's fine..."
The discussion did not end with Zhang Xuan's arrival, but continued.
The other Mahayana masters took turns going on stage, either to preach, demonstrate, or leave behind tests and opportunities.
It encompasses everything from formations and talismans to spiritual plants, beast taming, divination, and medicine, showcasing the profound and diverse arts and crafts of the Xuanhuang Great Realm.
As the Daoist discourse drew to a close, the last and most mysterious of the Ten Great Vehicles, Xuanhuang Daojun, who specializes in the Dao of Cause and Effect and the Dao of Heavenly Secrets, took to the stage.
He did not describe the specific techniques, but instead his gaze swept across the entire room, finally pausing briefly on Zhang Xuan before revealing a meaningful smile.
"Guests from all realms, you have come by the law of destiny. All arts are not arts, but the path of the Way. Today, at this grand gathering, I will bestow upon you a rain of opportunity."
Having said that, he gently flicked his sleeves toward the sky.
In an instant, the Daoist energy condensed above the entire Yingxianping, transforming into countless crystal-clear raindrops that fell in a flurry.
These raindrops are not real water, but are formed from pure insights into the laws of nature, flashes of inspiration from skills, and even a trace of the primordial energy of the universe!
The raindrops fell on the cultivator, but did not wet his clothes; instead, they directly merged into his sea of consciousness.
Some people suddenly had a breakthrough in solving the long-standing problem of the formation.
Some people have improved their mastery of spiritual plant techniques to a higher level.
When someone was forging a weapon, a certain key point was suddenly opened...
Standing amidst this miraculous rain of opportunity, Zhang Xuan felt as if the tens of thousands of leaves on his Great Dao Tree were receiving timely rain after a long drought, greedily absorbing the raindrops containing countless Daoist arts!
Those leaves that came from the True Spirit's inheritance, which were originally just solidified but lacked sufficient comprehension, now seemed to be infused with souls, becoming more vivid and lively, and their connection with their own core path became even closer.
To his even greater surprise, a particularly dazzling raindrop, containing the swirling of stars within, fell directly into the center of his forehead.
In an instant, a profound and mysterious method called "The Weaving Principles of All Things" appeared in his mind.
This method is neither a cultivation technique nor an offensive or defensive supernatural power, but a supreme auxiliary secret technique that guides the causal threads of all arts!
From the smallest blade of grass to the grandest magical formations, everything has its own inherent logic and cause and effect.
Mastering this method will make learning alchemy, weapon crafting, array formation, talisman making, and comprehending the laws of cause and effect in the universe much easier!
This "The Principles of Weaving All Things" can be considered the key to the general outline of all arts!
Its value, for Zhang Xuan who possesses the foundation of ten thousand paths, even surpasses that of a Mahayana-level killing technique!
The rain of chance lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before gradually stopping.
All the cultivators wore joyful expressions, having reaped a bountiful harvest, and bowed deeply to Xuanhuang Daojun in gratitude.
Xuanhuang Daojun nodded slightly, and his figure slowly faded away.
Deacon Qinghe looked at Zhang Xuan with a radiant face: "Fellow Daoist Zhang, how do you feel? Is the grand feast of a hundred arts and the Dao discussion of my Xuanhuang Realm worthy of your attention?"
Zhang Xuan let out a long sigh of relief and sincerely praised, "Incredible, I have benefited immensely! The ways of your realm have broadened my horizons and made me realize that I was previously like a frog in a well, only seeing the sky from the bottom of a well."
He realized that although obtaining these opportunities in various arts in this world did not directly improve his cultivation and combat power, it greatly enriched his Daoist knowledge and had a profound and immeasurable impact on his path of cultivation.
His mission in this world—to relocate the Ascension Platform spatial threads and establish trade—seems to be accomplished peacefully.
After all, the Xuanhuang Great Realm, a world of simple and honest immortals who are obsessed with all kinds of arts, may not be entirely opposed to the Myriad Phenomena Merchant Alliance, which connects all realms and facilitates the exchange of goods and services.
The clamor of All Souls' Day and the lingering echoes of the discourse gradually subsided, and Xuanhuang Mountain returned to its former tranquility.
Under the arrangement of Steward Qinghe, Zhang Xuan temporarily stayed in a secluded courtyard halfway up the mountain.
He was sitting cross-legged, meditating on the profound mysteries of "The Weaving Principles of All Things" and the immense gains from the rain of opportunity, when suddenly he sensed something, and a peaceful yet irresistible thought entered his mind:
"Fellow Daoist Zhang Xuan, please come to the Xuanhuang Hall for a chat."
It was a divine invitation sent by the Xuanhuang Daojun.
Zhang Xuan opened his eyes, unsurprised.
His display of Mahayana cultivation and his public discussion with Fairy Miaoyin inevitably attracted the attention of the ruler of this realm.
He straightened his robes, and in a flash, he appeared atop the main peak of Xuanhuang Mountain.
The palace doors opened silently, revealing an interior that was not as magnificent as one might imagine, but rather simple and natural.
The ten figures, some sitting and some standing, possessed auras that were either as deep as the sea or as gentle as spring. They were the ten Mahayana Dao Lords of the Xuanhuang Great Realm!
Xuanhuang Daojun sat in the main seat, his face ancient and his eyes deep.
Fairy Miaoyin sat on a jade stool a little further away. When she saw Zhang Xuan enter, she slightly raised her clear eyes, met his gaze for a moment, and then gently lowered them again.
The other Dao Lords also focused their attention on Zhang Xuan.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, please have a seat." Xuanhuang Daojun's voice was calm as he pointed to an empty futon in the hall.
Zhang Xuan calmly took his seat, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings to all the Dao Lords of the Xuanhuang Realm."
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such formalities," Xuanhuang Daojun said slowly. "Fellow Daoist has come through the mouth of the Endless Ruins, bearing the myriad Daos and possessing vast knowledge. Moreover, you have reached a rapport with my fellow Daoist Miaoyin of my realm. May I ask where you come from and what brings you to my Xuanhuang Realm?"
At this point, Zhang Xuan knew that telling the truth was the best course of action.
His expression turned serious, and he solemnly said, "I dare not conceal this from you fellow Daoists, but I am a guest elder of the Myriad Elephants Merchant Alliance."
"The Myriad Manifestations Merchant Alliance?" Upon hearing this, several Dao Lords showed some surprise on their faces, clearly having heard of this massive commercial organization that spanned many divine realms.
“Exactly.” Zhang Xuan nodded. “I have come here today to undertake a mission from the Merchant Alliance’s Heavenly Rank. My purpose is to find and connect your realm, relocate the Ascension Platform’s spatial threads, and establish a stable spatial channel here to facilitate communication and trade between the Xuanhuang Realm and all the myriad realms.”
