Chapter 734: Cautious
Chapter 734: Cautious
The strength of a Daoist practitioner primarily depends on their mental power.
The stronger one's mental power, the more potent the Daoist secret techniques they can employ.
They can also harness more of the elemental forces of heaven and earth.
As for the physical body? That is something martial artists in the secular world focus on.
In this world, even the most powerful physical constitution remains that of an ordinary mortal.
It cannot withstand potent toxins or sharp blades.
When a dozen heavily armored soldiers surrounded them, they were directly chopped into mincemeat.
Therefore, when Daoist practitioners face off against each other, they often first sense the strength of the other's mental will.
This helps them decide whether to fight or flee.
The man in the golden robe standing to the side had disregarded Lin Yuan because he couldn't sense any fluctuations in Lin Yuan's mental power.
However, the man in the golden robe standing in the middle thought more deeply about the situation.
If Lin Yuan was truly just an ordinary mortal, why would he dare to meddle in the affairs of Daoist practitioners?
Whether it was the four Daoist mages or the hunched old man nearby, they were all Daoist practitioners.
The latter, although just an ordinary Daoist practitioner, had drawn the attention of the four Daoist mages, personally pursuing and trying to kill him.
This was a testament to his strength.
Thus, the man in the golden robe standing in the middle realized something was amiss.
He subconsciously activated a Daoist secret technique to investigate.
In this world, activating Daoist secret techniques always consumes mental power.
Unless necessary, no Daoist practitioner would casually activate their techniques.
"Such a well-concealed mental power," the man in the golden robe standing in the middle was startled.
He secretly activated the Golden Dragon Sect's investigative technique and faintly sensed that Lin Yuan was not without mental power fluctuations.
Instead, all of his mental power was contained within his body, like an endless ocean.
On the surface, it appeared utterly calm with no ripples.
But beneath the surface, it was a seething torrent.
"Brother?"
The man in the golden robe standing to the side looked puzzled but stopped, looking at the man in the golden robe standing in the middle.
"Are you the force behind him?"
The man in the golden robe standing in the middle looked at Lin Yuan and said gravely.
"Hmm."
Lin Yuan nodded.
"Since that's the case, this time it is my Golden Dragon Sect that has wronged you."
"Leave now."
The man in the golden robe standing in the middle, after much thought, finally spoke.
He had no confidence in subduing Lin Yuan, who gave him an alarming feeling.
Moreover, the Golden Dragon Sect was about to undergo significant changes, so the man in the golden robe did not intend to force the issue.
His earlier aggressive stance toward the hunched old man, Uncle San, was based on the assumption that he had the upper hand.
The other men in the golden robes, hearing their senior brother's decision, though unsure of the exact reason, understood that their senior brother must have discovered something.
The man in the golden robe who had started to leave even stepped back.
"Leave?"
Lin Yuan looked at the four men in the golden robes.
He had come this time not just to save Uncle San.
He had plans for the entire Golden Dragon Sect and the vast territory of the Manchu State.
The Golden Dragon Sect's Daoist High Priest was about to pass away, and this was the perfect time to strike and control them secretly.
There would be no risks involved.
This was the result of Lin Yuan observing multiple future timelines.
As for the Manchu State, it had a strategically advantageous location.
Originally, Lin Yuan had only planned to establish trade routes.
Then, through decades of gradual influence, he would eventually bring it under his control.
But now, a shortcut had appeared.
If he could take control of the Manchu State early on, it would greatly benefit his future plans.
"I don't intend to leave."
Lin Yuan said.
"You don't intend to leave?"
The men in the golden robes standing to the side looked displeased.
Their senior brother had already shown such respect, and the other party was still so disrespectful?
He didn't intend to leave?
"Since you don't intend to leave, then—"
"We'll leave."
The man in the golden robe standing in the middle felt more and more uneasy.
After re-evaluating the situation, he suddenly realized that he had no idea when Lin Yuan had appeared.
Daoist practitioners have strong mental power and are very sensitive to changes in their surroundings.
But he couldn't determine when Lin Yuan had appeared.
"Let's go."
The man in the golden robe standing in the middle turned and left directly.
The other three men in the golden robes, seeing this, exchanged glances but did not further challenge Lin Yuan's arrogant words.
Instead, they closely followed their senior brother.
They knew their senior brother well.
Though he appeared indifferent, his personality was extremely dominant.
His current reaction indicated there was a problem.
"Master," the hunched old man, Uncle San, looked at Lin Yuan.
He felt a slight relief.
The Golden Dragon Sect was the sky of the Manchu State.
Apart from the official authority of the Da Feng Dynasty, the Golden Dragon Sect was the strongest.
Even the Da Feng Dynasty was unwilling to clash with the Golden Dragon Sect in the Manchu State.
Now that the four men in the golden robes had voluntarily retreated, it was clearly the best outcome.
"You won't be able to leave either."
Lin Yuan's expression remained calm.
In an instant, threads of mental power emerged from the surrounding void.
They intertwined and collided, rapidly spreading in all directions.
Buzz~
With Lin Yuan at the center, mental power flowed within a hundred-zhang radius. The four men in the golden robes within this range were trapped as if in a spider's web, unable to move.
The leading man in the golden robe's expression changed drastically, his heart trembling in disbelief as he looked around, "Prison of Heaven and Earth? A prison of such a vast range?"
The other three men in the golden robes also felt their legs go weak, filled with fear, "Taoist Celestial Master?"
Those who have entered the Dao use mental power to communicate with heaven and earth. However, ordinary Dao practitioners have weak mental power and cannot manifest it externally.
Only when one reaches the Daoist Mage realm can they barely manifest their mental power, but the range is limited to a few feet around them.
A Taoist Celestial Master, with extremely powerful mental power, can form a prison purely from mental power to suppress enemies.
This is the Prison of Heaven and Earth.
Forming a prison purely from mental power is a technique only a Taoist Celestial Master can use.
"Is that young man a Taoist Celestial Master?"
The few men in the golden robes looked terrified.
How many Taoist Celestial Masters are there in the entire world?
Excluding those cultivated by the Da Feng Dynasty, among the other ninety-eight states, a prosperous large state might have one or two, two or three Taoist Celestial Masters.
More than half of the large states do not have any Taoist Celestial Masters.
On average, among the ninety-nine states, excluding the Central State, the combined number of Taoist Celestial Masters in the other eighty-eight states is only about forty to fifty.
Forty to fifty Taoist Celestial Masters? Despite the large number, this is the total accumulation of the entire world.
Each of the ninety-eight states has a population exceeding ten billion, meaning on average, one Taoist Celestial Master is born from a population of twenty billion.
Considering that Taoist Celestial Masters typically live over 120 years, while the average lifespan of ordinary people is around fifty to sixty years, the actual probability of a Celestial Master being born is even smaller.
A Taoist Celestial Master, if they wish, can dominate several states and rule as a king, and as long as they do not oppose the court, the court is willing to pacify them.
"Prison of Heaven and Earth with a hundred-zhang range." Compared to the terror of the other men in the golden robes, the leading disciple was even more terrified.
He held a high position in the Golden Dragon Sect and had accompanied the Celestial Master within the sect. He knew that even a powerful Celestial Master could only form a Prison of Heaven and Earth within a radius of twenty to thirty zhang.
The mental power of a Taoist Celestial Master is not infinite.
But the Prison of Heaven and Earth formed by Lin Yuan exceeded a hundred zhang?
What kind of overwhelming mental power would that require?
How could such a powerful Taoist Celestial Master have never been heard of before?
After dealing with the four disciples of the Golden Dragon Sect, Lin Yuan looked at Uncle San and said, "Uncle San, go back first. I'll take care of the Manchu State."
"Okay, okay."
Uncle San hurriedly responded.
In the past twenty years, this was the first time he had seen his young master truly take action.
Although he had always known that his young master was very strong, a Taoist Celestial Master?
Even at its peak, the Red Lotus Sect only had a few Dao practitioners in residence.
As for a Taoist Celestial Master?
It was something they dared not even dream of.
If the Red Lotus Sect had a Taoist Celestial Master in residence back then,
it wouldn't have had to flee from state to state.
Although the Red Lotus Sect had established several branches,
those branches were mostly like rats in the street.
They could not operate in the open.
With a Taoist Celestial Master,
the Red Lotus Sect could have dominated a state and developed slowly.
In the rear mountain of the Golden Dragon Sect,
Taoist Celestial Master Jin Yi sat in meditation.
His physical body was weakening, even though his mental power was strong, it originated from his physical body.
Once his physical body aged and died, even the strongest mental power would quickly dissipate.
"The Golden Dragon Sect has yet to produce a new Celestial Master."
Jin Yi opened his eyes, his expression filled with worry.
The Golden Dragon Sect dominated the Manchu State and had significant influence, and its relationship with the Da Feng Dynasty was good.
Even without a Taoist Celestial Master for a short period, there wouldn't be too many problems.
Not every state among the ninety-eight states has a Taoist Celestial Master in residence.
But it is ultimately a hidden danger.
Losing the stabilizing influence of a Taoist Celestial Master,
the confidence would definitely be shaken.
"I hope I can cultivate a new Celestial Master before I pass away."
"Even if not, at least a promising candidate."
Jin Yi thought silently.
Decades ago, the Golden Dragon Sect began to concentrate resources to cultivate a particular disciple.
But a Taoist Celestial Master cannot be cultivated solely with resources.
Just then—
Jin Yi's expression changed, "Who is it?"
"It's me."
Before Jin Yi could react,
a young man stood beside him with a smile.
"You are—"
Jin Yi's pupils constricted, and he immediately felt his mental power being suppressed and sealed.
The young man easily walked in front of him, looking down at him from above.
"Which Celestial Master are you?"
Jin Yi's expression was one of despair.
From the brief encounter just now,
Jin Yi had confirmed one thing.
He would absolutely not be a match for the young man.
The other party had appeared silently not far from him,
and without any warning, sealed his mental power.
Either point alone demonstrated that the young man could kill him
without much difficulty.
Although Jin Yi was about to pass away,
his physical body was decaying and withering.
But the battles between Daoist Celestial Masters
relied not on physical strength,
but on mental power.
In this aspect, Jin Yi, the Daoist Celestial Master, was completely outmatched.
"You don't need to know who I am."
Lin Yuan smiled and looked down at Jin Yi, "Now you have two choices."
"Two choices?"
Jin Yi's heart trembled.
"First, give up resistance, let me search your soul, and then cooperate with me to take over the Golden Dragon Sect."
"I will ensure that the Golden Dragon Sect's legacy continues."
Lin Yuan said.
After twenty years of cultivation,
Lin Yuan's current strength surpassed that of an ordinary Daoist Celestial Master.
Jin Yi, an old veteran Celestial Master, had no resistance against him.
But fundamentally, Lin Yuan was also a Daoist Celestial Master,
on the same level as Jin Yi.
The only difference was that his mastery of mental power far exceeded the other's.
However, to search the soul? If it involved completely receiving all of the other's memories,
it would require cooperation.
At the very least, there should be no intense resistance.
"Search the soul?"
Jin Yi's lips twitched.
Daoist Celestial Masters, who specialize in mental power,
can indeed perform soul searches.
But for a Daoist Celestial Master to be searched?
No Daoist Celestial Master would willingly allow their soul to be searched.
That would expose all their secrets and hidden knowledge to the enemy in excruciating detail.
"What about the second choice?"
Jin Yi's voice was hoarse.
"I will forcefully search your soul, and the Golden Dragon Sect will be completely destroyed, its legacy severed."
Lin Yuan said directly.
A forced soul search would result in memory loss and other issues.
"Two choices."
"Choose one."
Lin Yuan looked down at Jin Yi.
"I..."
Jin Yi fell silent.
He had no doubt that Lin Yuan's second option was possible.
With the strength Lin Yuan had displayed,
annihilating the Golden Dragon Sect would be simple.
"I choose the first."
Jin Yi sighed inwardly.
He didn't know if Lin Yuan would keep his promise,
but he had no other choice.
He was going to die anyway.
Even if he was searched, it would only make his death more painful.
"Very well, the Golden Dragon Sect can continue its legacy."
Lin Yuan nodded.
In fact, he had already seen through Jin Yi's ultimate decision
by observing future timelines.
"Golden Dragon Sect?"
Lin Yuan's face broke into a smile.
By thoroughly absorbing Jin Yi's memories and with the cooperation of this Daoist Celestial Master,
he could take over all the Golden Dragon Sect's power and influence in the most stable manner.
As for forcibly purging and then installing his own people?
That would be the worst approach.
First, it would easily expose flaws.
Second, it would be wasteful.
The Golden Dragon Sect had over ten thousand disciples, with more than two thousand reaching the Daoist realm.
Such a high-quality group of followers, all purged?
In the capital of the Da Feng Dynasty, within the imperial palace,
the young emperor sat on his throne, frowning in thought.
"Over the past twenty years, I have successfully become a Daoist Celestial Master."
The young emperor muttered to himself, "The most powerful force in this dynasty is now in my hands."
"Within this capital, there are over ten thousand Daoist mages, more than a hundred Daoist Celestial Masters, and hundreds of thousands of the most elite imperial guards."
"With such a vast force, as long as I am willing, I can easily overwhelm the other ninety-eight states."
"Furthermore, this palace is entirely constructed from special materials that suppress mental power. Even a Daoist Celestial Master would be severely restricted if they entered, their strength reduced to a fraction of its original."
"Thus, the palace is patrolled by the most elite imperial guards. Even a powerful Daoist Celestial Master, if they dared to infiltrate the palace, would be easily killed by a coordinated attack from dozens of guards. And there are a hundred thousand such guards within the palace."
The young emperor's thoughts grew increasingly heavy: "In this situation, the requirement of this trial is merely to let me live for a hundred and fifty years?"
"Or rather, a hundred and thirty years now."
"Just to let me live?"
The young emperor did not take it lightly. If the requirement was as such, it meant that the trial he faced would not be something he could easily withstand with his current strength.
If he could easily survive this trial without doing anything,
it would not be worthy of being the final trial he had to face.
"Enough."
The young emperor looked at the palace,
the safest place in the world.
He had made his decision.
"I cannot continue to stay in the palace."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
