Chapter 2: Reshaping Creation, Meteor Dojo
That day, Xuzhuang flew his escape light to the Merit Hall, where the Good Deeds Hall Steward was already waiting with eight Inner Sect Disciples.
Three days prior, Xuzhuang had received the Master’s decree. As a True Disciple, he was to represent the Tai Su Orthodox Sect at the Taixuan Sect’s Golden Core ceremony. As the representative of an entire sect, he couldn’t possibly go alone; he needed an entourage of attendant disciples and a ceremonial escort of Dao Soldiers and Warriors.
The sect would handle the arrangements for the Dao Soldiers and Warriors, so that was of no concern. As for the disciple attendants, Xuzhuang could have chosen them himself. However, his few friends were not currently in the sect, and he couldn’t be bothered with the selection process. He simply sent a message to the Merit Hall, ordering them to issue a mission to choose eight Inner Sect Disciples for his entourage.
He wasn’t concerned with which disciples the Merit Hall selected or how they were chosen. Having come up through the ranks of the Inner Sect himself, Xuzhuang knew that such an assignment wouldn’t be random. It wasn’t the kind of mission one could get just by wanting it.
After all, a holder of the Tai Su True Inheritance was someone who had formed a Top-grade Golden Core and had a chance to reach the Primordial Spirit realm—a figure capable of carrying on the legacy of a Daoist lineage. To travel with such a Top-Grade Golden Core Mage... if one performed well, received a bit of guidance, or even earned their favor and was taken in as a personal disciple, wouldn’t that be a chance to soar to the heavens in a single leap?
An assignment like this was something countless Inner Sect Disciples could only dream of. No doubt they had all used their own unique connections and skills to secure a spot.
Xuzhuang landed before the Merit Hall. The Good Deeds Hall Steward stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Junior Martial Uncle Xu, the Merit Hall has gathered eight Inner Sect Disciples here."
Xuzhuang gave a slight nod. A quick glance told him that all eight had respectable cultivation. ’They must be either disciples from prominent families or standout individuals from the Inner Sect.’ Suddenly, Xuzhuang noticed one person with his head bowed, looking as if he wanted to shrink back into the crowd, and was taken aback.
Vietnam’s heart was in turmoil. The other seven disciples on this trip were all promising newcomers. Not recognizing Xuzhuang, they simply assumed he was a True Disciple they had never met before. Vietnam, however, knew better. Xuzhuang was from his own generation, and they’d had their share of disagreements in the past...
He never imagined it would come to this. So, the new True Disciple from three days ago—the one announced by nine tolls of the bell across the entire Tai Su Sect, yet for whom no formal ceremony was held—was actually Xuzhuang. Vietnam was so afraid of being recognized that he even considered giving up this precious opportunity, one he had fought tooth and nail to obtain.
What he didn’t know was that the thought of him merely flickered through Xuzhuang’s mind before being dismissed with a casual smile. ’I never expected to see someone I quarreled with in my youth here. I left to travel the world, and years passed. I’ve advanced by leaps and bounds, while this old acquaintance has been standing still all this time.’
’The path of the Dao is long indeed. If I can’t achieve the Primordial Spirit and true longevity, then the pride I feel today for forging a Top-grade Golden Core will one day be forgotten by others, just like this.’
’I seek my own Dao, and I will never allow that to happen!’
"Alright, these eight will be the disciples for this mission," Xuzhuang said, then addressed the group. "Are you all prepared? This is an urgent matter. If there are no issues, we will depart immediately."
The journey to the Meteor Dojo spanned half the Divine Continent. The sheer distance aside, they would also need to pass through several Teleportation Arrays. Xuzhuang had been assigned this task on short notice. After making his own preparations and waiting for the Merit Hall to gather the disciples and the Warrior Hall to assemble the ceremonial escort, he could not afford any more delays.
"We are ready to depart at any time, Junior Martial Uncle," the eight disciples responded in unison.
Wasting no more words, Xuzhuang flicked his sleeve. A small boat shot into the air, spinning as it grew into a colossal ship over a hundred zhang long. Its deck was adorned with pavilions and towers, and its hull was wreathed in mist. This was a Magical Artifact, a Cloud Boat of the Tai Su Orthodox Sect, specially refined with the Little Celestial Cloud Prohibition for ceremonial travel. It could carry hundreds, even thousands, of cultivators with ease.
He immediately led the eight disciples aboard, then proceeded to the Warrior Hall to pick up the ceremonial Warriors before setting off.
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The Dongsheng Continent was vast, bordered by boundless mountains to the west and the Vast Sea to the east.
Its lands were rich and its resources plentiful, a place where spiritual energy gathered to nurture exceptional individuals. A place where geniuses gathered like soaring phoenixes, it was also known as the Central Continent, the Divine Continent of the Profound Yellow Realm.
It was the fourth day since the Tai Su Cloud Ship had departed. After passing through several Teleportation Arrays, they were now on the final leg of their journey to the Meteor Dojo. The Cloud Boat sailed through an azure sky, surrounded above and below by white clouds that drifted and reshaped themselves in the wind. Looking down through the mist revealed a spectacular panorama of mountains, forests, and rivers—a sight some of the disciples, who had never before left the Yunmeng Marsh and the Tai Su Grotto Heaven, were witnessing for the first time.
As the auspicious purple qi of dawn rose from the east, several disciples were on deck absorbing it, attended by the Warriors. The scene was one of peace and serenity. At the bow, a disciple named Li Changfeng was practicing with his Flying Sword. A streak of azure sword-light danced through the clouds, darting up and down, left and right, its movements as unpredictable as a fish playfully weaving through the sky. It was a truly ethereal sight.
"That’s a decent swordsmanship set. Quite interesting." A voice suddenly spoke from behind him, startling Li Changfeng so badly he flinched. The streak of sword-light wavered as he lost control, and it began to plummet outside the Cloud Boat’s Little Celestial Cloud Prohibition. But just then, a flawless, jade-white hand reached out and effortlessly plucked the Flying Sword from the air, where it came to a spinning rest in its grasp.
"Junior Martial Uncle Xu." Li Changfeng turned to see Xuzhuang standing behind him, having appeared without him noticing. A flush of shame crept over his face. ’I was making good progress and was so focused, yet I got startled and lost control of my Flying Sword. If Junior Martial Uncle Xu hadn’t stepped in, it would have flown past the Cloud Prohibition and been lost for good.’
"Mm," Xuzhuang nodded. "Are you fond of swordsmanship?"
"Yes, Junior Martial Uncle Xu! Ever since I joined the sect, I’ve loved swordsmanship," Li Changfeng replied, his voice filled with an immediate excitement, as if he were desperate to share his passion.
"Your swordsmanship isn’t bad. It’s unpredictable and fluid," Xuzhuang acknowledged with a nod. Then, his tone changed. "However, swordsmanship is, at its core, the art of killing. Fluidity is a form it takes, not its essence. Your swordsmanship has an excess of variation, but it lacks a piercing, deadly edge."
"That..." Xuzhuang’s words struck him like a thunderclap, leaving his mind ringing. "The essence of swordsmanship?"
"Correct. Since you’re fond of swordsmanship, you must have heard of the sect’s true inheritance, the *Tai Su Sword Qi of Form and Formlessness*," Xuzhuang said calmly. "Within that technique, there is a profound realm called ’Ultimate Substance.’ It refers to the most extreme substance, the most powerful killing force. Once you master Ultimate Substance, your Sword Qi becomes indestructible. It can cleave mountains, sever rivers, and do anything... Do you understand?"
"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Junior Martial Uncle Xu." As Li Changfeng nodded, he couldn’t help but feel a secret yearning for such a realm.
"Of course, the path of variation in swordsmanship..."
Over the past few days, Xuzhuang had offered guidance to all the disciples, making no exception for Vietnam, the one he had quarreled with in his youth. In just four days, every disciple had benefited greatly, and Xuzhuang, in turn, had come to know them better. Caught up in the moment, he was about to elaborate on Li Changfeng’s swordsmanship when his eyebrows suddenly shot up and he gazed into the far distance.
The other disciples, who had gathered around to listen to Xuzhuang’s teachings, had no idea what was happening. Confused, they followed his gaze and saw a scorching flare of light in the distance. A fiery streak was racing toward them from the horizon, closing in on the Cloud Boat in the blink of an eye.
In their days of travel, the Tai Su party had encountered their share of unfamiliar cultivators. But ordinary Loose Cultivators, no matter how ignorant, would never dare to cause trouble after seeing a magical artifact as massive and grand as the Cloud Boat. As for those with any real insight, they would instantly recognize the famous Tai Su Cloud Ship. So, while the fiery escape light was fast, the disciples initially thought nothing of it. It was only when the light charged brazenly toward their ship that they realized something was wrong and immediately went on high alert.
The fiery light shot past the Cloud Boat like a meteor before circling back abruptly. A cold, mocking voice emanated from within the blaze. "Oh? I hadn’t heard the Tai Su Sect had produced a new True Disciple. For a moment, I thought it was my old friend, Fellow Daoist Yue Junlan."
Xuzhuang’s brow twitched. "I am Xuzhuang of Tai Su. What business do you have with us?"
"Hehe... The Tai Su Sect. Putting on quite the show, aren’t we?" The man in the flames chuckled sinisterly. Suddenly, the firelight erupted, and raging crimson flames wove together into a colossal hand that blotted out the sky, reaching down to snatch the Cloud Boat from the air.
’As expected, an unwelcome guest.’ Xuzhuang’s sharp brows straightened. He pointed a finger, and a streak of cold light shot out, piercing the cloud prohibition and vanishing into the mist. An instant later, it reappeared directly above the massive flaming hand. The cold light flared and slashed downward, cleaving the fiery palm—and the very clouds behind it—in two, revealing the blue sky beyond. Only then did a thunderous BOOM roll across the heavens.
With the spell maintaining it broken, the flaming hand disintegrated. Wisps of fire drifted away on the wind, dissipating into tiny sparks in the distance. The attacker did not continue the spell. Instead, he snorted coldly. "So you’ve also mastered Sword Qi Thunder Sound. Very good."
Then, his fiery aura retracted, and he once again became a streak of fire, shooting up into the sky and disappearing.
The sudden fight ended as abruptly as it began. Xuzhuang considered for a moment but decided against abandoning the Tai Su Cloud Ship and his official mission to give chase. He simply frowned, wondering about the reason for this unprovoked attack.
’Judging by his techniques, he should be from the Celestial Fire Sect, right?’
"That should be Yang Lian, the current True Disciple of the Celestial Fire Sect." It was Vietnam who suddenly spoke up. "He and his younger brother were both True Disciples of the Celestial Fire Sect, and I heard they were exceptionally close. But fourteen years ago, his brother fought a duel with our sect’s True Disciple, Junior Martial Uncle Yue Junlan, and was slain. Ever since then, Yang Lian has harbored a deep grudge against Junior Martial Uncle Yue. They’ve been bitter enemies."
"Oh?" Xuzhuang nodded slightly. "No wonder he was so aggressive. But does Yang Lian really think I’m a pushover just because I’m a new True Disciple?" A small smile played on his lips. "I imagine he’s also on his way to the Meteor Dojo. It seems this trip to the Taixuan Sect for the Golden Core ceremony won’t be a peaceful one."
"Junior Martial Uncle, I can’t believe you’ve mastered the Unparalleled Swordsmanship of Sword Qi Thunder Sound! Was that last strike the realm of Ultimate Substance?" Li Changfeng asked excitedly. Another disciple chimed in, "That’s the first time I’ve seen you attack, Junior Martial Uncle! Was that our sect’s *Tai Su Sword Qi of Form and Formlessness*?"
Xuzhuang simply smiled without a word. While the technique he had just used was indeed a form of swordsmanship from the *Tai Su Sword Qi of Form and Formlessness*, the truth was that this wasn’t the true inheritance he cultivated—or at least, not the only one. But these were matters not to be shared with outsiders.
As the disciples chattered excitedly, the Cloud Boat continued its flight, silently nearing its destination. The Warriors steered the vessel downward, descending through the cloud layer. As they emerged from the mist, a breathtaking scene unfolded before them.
No wonder it was called the Meteor Dojo! A sanctuary forged by the Taixuan Profound True Monarch from a star plucked from the heavens themselves. So this was what it looked like—
A gargantuan meteor, as vast as a continent with no visible end, hung suspended in the sky. Its surface was dotted with countless Spirit Peaks and dense clusters of grotto-abodes, crisscrossed by gurgling springs and rushing mountain streams.
This colossal meteor reached up into the void. With his divine sense, Xuzhuang could feel the power of the cosmos pouring down like a waterfall, washing over the celestial body. Below, the meteor was connected to the mountain ranges on the ground. The Spirit Veins there had been harnessed by a Great Divine Technique into a massive Array, which sent a ceaseless torrent of Spiritual Qi billowing upward like steam onto the Meteor Dojo.
A creation of such divine power was tantamount to reshaping existence itself. Xuzhuang could even sense that the Meteor Dojo contained an infinite might. This entire dojo was, in itself, a magical treasure of unimaginable proportions!
Such a divine technique was simply beyond imagination.
If even Xuzhuang was stirred by the sight, the eight disciples and the Warriors on the ship were utterly stupefied. Perhaps only now, at this very moment, did they truly comprehend what kind of place the Meteor Dojo was.