Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, but Thunderbolt Taoist Sect

Having spent a long time with Xiantianren, Xiaocui had become accustomed to this behavior of reciting poetry before even seeing the person, and her reaction was simply to change from slumped on the table to sitting properly.

If we disregard the time and safety of her entrance, she would actually like to try reciting poetry as she enters, which would be far more impressive than simply creating a whirlwind or emitting black smoke.

As Xiao Cui straightened up, the newcomer was already standing in front of her. For some reason, Xiao Cui's first attention was not to the other person's attire or appearance, but to their hair.

To be more precise, it was about hair color. After seeing so many Taoist priests with white hair and youthful faces, she finally met a black-haired adult male. It turns out that the so-called innate people are not all associated with white hair.

Lingziling: What about me? I also have black hair!

Xiao Cui: I was talking about black hair that matches the age of "youth". You are obviously a teenage girl, so you are not in the scope of consideration.

The Taoist priest, who appears to be a young girl but has experienced a long childhood, says: ...

"Sword True Illusion, Cloud Traces Free, greets Senior."

The newcomer first bowed to Zhao Shimingdeng, who had stood up. He held a long flute and wore a blue and white Taoist robe, the two colors matching the yin and yang of Tai Chi. There was a darker blue on his Taoist crown, and two strands of his tied-up black hair stretched out from his forehead. In the breeze, they were neat yet somewhat elegant.

When the other person straightened up, Xiao Cui noticed that there were many auspicious cloud patterns on the other person's Taoist robe, which, combined with the color of the clothes, resembled blue sky and white clouds.

Although the other party's attire still possessed the exquisite and luxurious characteristics unique to innate beings compared to the local Taoist priests, Xiao Cui was suddenly moved when she looked at the handsome Taoist priest in front of her, who exuded an air of otherworldly grace and righteousness, clearly a truly upright person.

That's great, he's a Taoist immortal who perfectly fits the "stereotype," and I feel somewhat gratified for some reason.

It's not that the others are bad, but so far, all the Daoist innate beings Xiao Cui has met have some abrupt characteristics, either in appearance or personality. Even Jian Feidao, who looks equally ethereal and aloof but has a touch more coldness, sometimes does some strange things that are seriously inconsistent with his outward appearance. It's unclear whether he was influenced by the people around him or if he just has some white-on-black traits.

Ling Ziling is similar to the local Taoist priests in terms of ability, but in terms of appearance... well, she still doesn't understand why Ling Ziling makes her whisk and Tai Chi diagram pink while wearing all pink.

The Taoist priest in front of her spoke seriously and politely, behaved with composure, dressed in a dignified and otherworldly manner, and his appearance matched his age with his hair. Xiao Cui was truly moved by such a serious and normal Taoist person.

What does this prove? It's not her problem that she thinks others don't look like Taoists; it's their style. After seeing the uniqueness of the innate people for so long, she would feel a moment of disorientation when she occasionally saw an ordinary Taoist in the city.

Ren Yunzong's appearance told Xiao Cui that there were Taoists with proper appearances in the Bitter Realm. Although the sword on his back was a bit too exquisite and gorgeous, and his attire was more like that of an immortal than that of an ordinary Taoist, none of that mattered. Compared to others, Ren Yunzong was really "normal" and someone who could tell at first glance that it was perfectly reasonable to call someone "Taoist Master".

"Although Kenji and I had guessed that Tōdōan would come looking for someone sooner or later, we didn't expect it to be you."

Upon seeing Ren Yunzong, Zhao Shimingdeng showed more concern than surprise.

"Your body..."

"Although my cultivation level is not as high as before, it will not have any other impact. Thank you for your concern, senior."

"That's good. It's just that you've come at an inopportune time. Ling Ziling and Jianzi went to the East Sea together and don't know when they'll return."

"I'm sorry to have troubled my seniors."

From their conversation, Xiao Cui realized that the person in question was related to Ling Zi Ling. Remembering what was said before, that Ling Zi Ling had run away, Xiao Cui, in her fox form, jumped off the table and ran to the other person's side, transforming into human form.

"Does this Taoist priest know Lingling?"

Her intention was to scare the other party. At first, the Taoist priest named Ren Yunzong did not look at her on the stone table. She thought that the other party thought it was an ordinary fox on the table.

"Yes, Lingling and I... are both Daoists who have reached the shore of the Dao."

In fact, Ren Yunzong knew from the beginning that the creature on the table was a fox demon. When he saw the fox suddenly turn into a beautiful young girl at his feet, he did not show any unusual behavior.

In fact, given his background, he had seen many terrifying demons and monsters since childhood, so the scene of the fox turning into a human was not even that strange.

"From the same sect... is the Taoist priest Lingling's senior brother?"

Xiao Cui stroked her chin thoughtfully. The name Ren Yunzong sounded somewhat familiar; she seemed to have heard Ling Ziling mention it before.

"Do not."

Upon hearing this, the blue-robed Taoist in front of him chuckled and shook his head, his laughter seemingly tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"If we're talking about seniority, I should call Lingling 'Shishu' (a term of respect for one's seniority).

This one sentence successfully stumped Xiao Cui, but it wasn't because of this "uncle-master." It's not uncommon for someone to be younger in seniority or younger in age than someone else. What stumped her was realizing why the name Ren Yunzong sounded familiar through that sentence.

"...Are you Ah Zhen?"

The fellow disciple, isn't that Ah Zhen, whom Ling Ziling often talks about?

"Yes."

"..."

Xiao Cui began to retreat, retreating until she was behind Zhao Shimingdeng. During this time, her mind kept replaying the various pieces of information that Ling Ziling had said about this junior disciple A Zhen.

Demon cultivator, young lord of the Demon City... But Lingling, you didn't say that your junior nephew's appearance is so different from his background. Such a standard Taoist priest, you told her he was a demon in disguise?

In other words, although Ren Yunzong looks serious and normal, he is actually of demonic origin, which is quite different from his appearance. He is definitely among the abnormal Taoist priests.

Xiao Cui: ...Damn it, I was careless.

"Please sit down. I will inform Jianzi about your matter."

Before anyone returned, Zhao Shiming invited Ren Yunzong to sit down.

"Thank you."

After being moved and then shocked, Xiao Cui didn't know what to say. She just hoped that Ling Ziling would come back soon. She remembered that the other party had said that this junior disciple A Zhen had taken good care of Ling Ziling. Although this person was probably here to arrest her, Ling Ziling would be very happy to see the person she had been talking about all along.

However, Master Lingling was not very happy.

"Lingling, what are you doing?"

Just as everyone was about to set off for home, Ling Ziling suddenly started doing some calculations, then exclaimed in surprise, and then began muttering to herself incessantly, while also unfolding a map.

Liu Qingyuan: ?

Liu Qingyuan: How come you still have a local map? Where did you get it?

Lingziling: something you can just buy on the street.

Having good looks is an advantage; you can freely stroll through all kinds of markets.

"Senior, I won't go back with you for now."

Ling put away the map and started packing her luggage, although no one knew where she had gotten so much luggage halfway through the journey.

"not going back?"

All eyes fell on Ling Ziling. They had already traveled nearly halfway and left the East Sea long ago. Except for Tian Shanzi, who was willing to go all the way, everyone was here, planning to return to the Realm of Openness together.

"If you don't go back, where will you go?"

Watching Ling Ziling pack her luggage, Liu Qingyuan asked this question. Judging from her posture of preparing for a long journey, it couldn't be that she had left something in the East China Sea and was only now thinking of going back to get it.

"I, Daoist Lingling, am going to roam the martial world, slay demons and monsters, and uphold justice!"

Ling Ziling spoke with great passion, but in her heart she felt guilty. Just kidding, if she went back now, she would be caught. Lingling Daoist's journey had only just begun.

"Oh, right, here's a letter. Could you please take it back for me, senior? You'll find out who it's for when you get back."

Ling Ziling handed the letter to Liu Qingyuan. She had anticipated this situation and had prepared the letter well in advance. She didn't really expect to keep it a secret for long.

After handing over the letter, Ling Ziling distanced herself further and further from the main group as she spoke. By the time she finished speaking, she was already standing far away with her pack on her back. At that distance, it would be too late to pull her back.

"Well then, Lingling is off. Farewell, seniors... no, I misspoke. That's a phrase used when someone leaves the finale. Goodbye, seniors."

Ling Ziling, carrying a package she had packed at some point, stood in the distance waving goodbye to everyone. She turned around and disappeared, leaving in a swift and decisive manner, as if she couldn't wait to leave.

……

"These are Master Lingling's original words."

After reminiscing, Liu Qingyuan took out the letter and handed it to Ren Yunzong.

"When I saw you after returning, I knew this letter was for you. But I remember you rebuilt your body, didn't you? You directly crossed realms, can your body handle it?"

It can only be said that Ling Ziling left at a very opportune time; if it had been any later, he would have received the notification from Zhao Shimingdeng about the people coming to Dengdaoan.

"Although Dengdaoan has escaped the annihilation of his family, he is still short-handed, and Wuhuan's body needs more rest. Therefore, I will go to find Lingling."

Ren Yunzong wasn't angry when he didn't see the person he was looking for. In fact, he wasn't surprised that Ling Ziling would do such a thing. She had run away secretly, and although she had a criminal record and had failed before, it was normal for her to be smarter now that she was older.

Ren Yunzong opened the letter, which was actually a letter to let everyone know that they were safe. It also included some information about how the people here were all weak and there was no danger. Ling Ziling planned to use this letter to fulfill her childhood dream of being a chivalrous woman who slayed demons and monsters, so that everyone would not worry and could go back and recuperate.

"Excuse me, senior, which direction did Lingling go when she left?"

Going back is impossible. Although Ling Ziling has grown up and become stronger, and her magic no longer works intermittently, there's always a chance of something going wrong. While the people here are indeed weak, there are other species besides humans.

"I went to the south."

Regarding this, Ling Ziling did not say that she could not disclose her whereabouts, but since someone asked, she naturally had to answer.

Having found his direction, Ren Yunzong bid farewell to capture his troublesome junior uncle. Xiao Cui thought that the other party and Ling Ziling were likely to have a chase in the south.

Watching Ren Yunzong's departing figure, Xiao Cui couldn't help but ask Liu Qingyuan a question that she had been wondering about ever since she learned Ren Yunzong's identity.

"Immortal Master, is he truly a demon?"

No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem right. Ren Yunzong is polite and has a decent appearance. Although he doesn't seem to be of a high generation, he fits the image of a highly accomplished person perfectly. He can be matched with "Junior Sister Zhen" whom Ling Ziling often takes care of. But Xiao Cui can't match his identity as another "demon" at all.

"Ren Yunzong is the Daoist form he created by suppressing his demonic body and cultivating it using Daoist martial arts. You can't see the demonic figure just by looking at this side."

If he could be easily identified, why would Ren Yunzong even bother going to Dengdao Shore? He'd probably be kicked out as soon as he walked in.

"Sword True Illusion, Ren Yunzong, is also the name of his Dao body. His real name as a demon is Duanmie Chanti. Oh right, Chanti is his surname, which is the royal emblem of the Heavenly Yama Demon City."

"So, this Taoist priest has broken through racial limitations and entered the Taoist path from the demonic realm?"

At first, Xiao Cui understood that cultivating the Tao with a demonic body meant cultivating without changing oneself. Entering the Taoist sect as a demon was like an animal that had gained intelligence going to a Taoist temple to cultivate. Although one's cultivation had achieved some success, one's essence was still that of a demon.

Judging from Liu Qingyuan's description, Ren Yunzong must have suppressed his demonic body while simultaneously using cultivation to create a body that conformed to Daoist practices, and then cultivated a different Dharma form. The difficulty of this process is unimaginable.

Here, many monsters dream of becoming human or immortal, but very few actually achieve it. Those who want to become human either cultivate diligently and travel through human society to try to look more and more like a human, or they use some means to take a crooked path. One method is reincarnation, where one can bribe the underworld officials to reincarnate as a human with their memories intact, but this is extremely risky.

Becoming an immortal is even more difficult. One must not only cultivate diligently, but also calculate one's own karma and karmic obstacles, whether or not to kill, when to repay a debt of gratitude, whether or not to come into contact with humans, and for how long. All of these are technical tasks that require a lot of headaches.

"You could say that, but what you're seeing now is his second time rebuilding. He lost all his cultivation due to some grudges and tribulations before, and I never expected that he could rebuild it again."

A breakthrough is difficult enough, let alone a second one.

"So, Lingling isn't coming back?"

I was just waiting for Ling Ziling to come back out of boredom, but I never expected that she would break away from the group halfway and not come back at all.

"If Ren Yunzong catches her, you will be able to see Lingling again. After all, this is the only safe and convenient way to connect the two worlds."

"We know where Lingzi Ling went, but what about Shuangxiu?"

Zhao Shiming asked, "Logically speaking, everyone should return together. It's understandable that Tian Shanzi doesn't like crowds and doesn't want to travel together. Ling Ziling turned south halfway to avoid Ren Yunzong, but what about Juan Shoutian and Yuan Wuxiang? Where did they go?"

There were three people when they left, but only two came back. In a sense, this fits the innate law that unexpected situations will occur whenever a person goes out.

"They also left the group halfway through; after all, they came here to have fun."

They bumped into Xi Fangping after walking only a few steps. They helped him all the way to the underworld. Now that everything was settled, Shuangxiu resumed their original plan to travel together.

As I said before, there aren't many people here who can beat them, so there's absolutely no need to worry about safety. Plus, there are all sorts of bizarre and fantastical ghost stories, making it perfect for tourism.

Liu Qingyuan: Forgive my bluntness, but from the other person's perspective, the two of you are probably more bizarre and outlandish.

"It's really torturous to keep fighting and killing each other. It's good to play like this for a while, but afterwards, there might be some troublesome rumors."

"What rumors?"

"Hmm... something like Golden Horn or Silver Horn?"