Chapter 1705 The Scheme Unveiled!
"So that's how it is."
Chen Xuan nodded.
Long Zhentian glanced at the people present and said, "Everyone here has been to Wuwang Mountain. They originally had jade pendants, but their pendants were either stolen or went missing."
"They were all taken by the Dragon Gate?"
"Based on my understanding, it should be the Dragon Gate."
"It seems the Dragon Gate has been planning this for a long time," Chen Xuan said solemnly, his expression growing more serious.
"We'll discuss this later. Let me introduce you. This is Master Qianyuan, one of the three great Taoist masters, and beside him is Fuyu, a Taoist disciple."
Long Zhentian pointed to an elder Taoist and a young man nearby and introduced them.
Chen Xuan glanced at them. The elder's gaze was fine, but the Taoist disciple Fuyu's face was filled with venom, as if he wished to cut Chen Xuan into a thousand pieces. Chen Xuan didn't think he knew this person.
"Greetings, senior Taoist masters, and senior brother Taoist!"
Chen Xuan cupped his fists with a humble expression.
"As expected of the Chen family. At such a young age, to possess such skill, your father will have something to brag about again." Master Qianyuan said with a smile.
"Thank you for your praise, Master Qianyuan."
Chen Xuan then asked, "Do you know my father?"
"Your father and I are old friends," Master Qianyuan said with a smile.
He glanced at the young man beside him. "Fuyu, why haven't you presented the gift we prepared?"
"Yes!"
Fuyu held a scroll and said, "This was painted by a distinguished Taoist master during his travels. Although it is just an ordinary scroll, if one can comprehend the principles within, their cultivation can advance by leaps and bounds."
"A painting? Has the Taoist sect declined so much that this is all they can offer?" Nun Jingyin scoffed.
Fuyu, angered, retorted, "What do you know? This is a very precious painting. We aren't even allowed to look at it normally."
"Do you have the right to speak here?" Nun Jingyin snapped.
"I..."
"Silence!"
Master Qianyuan said, "How can you speak to your senior aunt like that?"
"I was wrong!" Fuyu quickly replied.
Master Qianyuan smiled and said, "Senior sister Jingyin, the child is ignorant. It is just a painting, a token of our good wishes."
"That's more like it," Nun Jingyin pouted.
Chen Xuan was greatly surprised. Master Qianyuan, one of the three elders of the Taoist sect, actually addressed Nun Jingyin, who was less than thirty years old, as senior sister.
He had some understanding of the bickering between Longhushan and the Taoist sect. Longhushan and the Taoist sect were originally one, but due to an ancient grievance centuries ago, one branch left the Taoist sect and took root in Longhushan.
"Could this be the 'Diagram of Absolute Freedom' painted by Qingyangzi during his travels, capturing all his insights?"
Suddenly, Long Zhentian said in surprise.
"The Diagram of Absolute Freedom? It is rumored that a genius from the Taoist sect, after studying the Diagram of Absolute Freedom, broke through five realms in a single day and reached the Divine Transformation realm!"
"The Taoist sect is truly generous, to even bring out the Diagram of Absolute Freedom!"
Everyone was astonished.
Even Nun Jingyin frowned, feeling a slight warmth in her cheeks.
"Indeed, it is the Diagram of Absolute Freedom," Master Qianyuan said.
"This is truly too precious. This Diagram of Absolute Freedom is a treasure of the Taoist sect. We truly cannot accept it," Long Zhentian said decisively.
Nun Jingyin pouted, "The Taoist sect truly has no shame, to even bring out the Diagram of Absolute Freedom."
This was the contradiction: if you brought something good, you'd be mocked; if you brought something not as good, you'd also be mocked.
Chen Xuan frowned.
He knew his former leader better than anyone. The fact that the leader was refusing now showed how precious the Diagram of Absolute Freedom was.
"This is what my senior brother wanted to give. Please, Lord Long, do not make things difficult for me," Master Qianyuan insisted.
"Then... alright," Long Zhentian relented.
Since the Taoist sect had even offered the Diagram of Absolute Freedom, they couldn't refuse to help them now.
"Hurry up and present it," Master Qianyuan urged.
Fuyu quickly carried the Diagram of Absolute Freedom to Chen Xuan. "Let me open it for you to see."
Saying this, he slowly unfurled the Diagram of Absolute Freedom.
Chen Xuan's eyes burned with focus, all his attention fixed on the Diagram of Absolute Freedom.
He also wanted to catch a glimpse of the true appearance of this Taoist treasure.
The others also looked over.
They were too embarrassed to crowd around directly, but their line of sight was unobstructed.
Just as the Diagram of Absolute Freedom was about to be opened, Fuyu grabbed a dagger that could cut through iron, hidden at the bottom of the scroll, and roared, "Die!"
With that, he lunged with the dagger towards Chen Xuan's chest.
"The map reveals the dagger?"
Seeing this, Chen Xuan sneered.
He had felt Fuyu's intense killing intent from the beginning. It was only moments ago that Fuyu had successfully concealed it, which surprised Chen Xuan. Thus, while looking at the scroll, he had been on guard.
However, even after seeing this, Chen Xuan did not act, allowing Fuyu to stab towards his chest.
Clang—
Just as the dagger was about to touch Chen Xuan's body, it suddenly encountered a barrier, preventing Fuyu from advancing any further.
"How can this be?"
Fuyu could hardly believe it. He exerted more force.
With a crack, the dagger broke on the spot.
Fuyu also fell to the ground with a thud.
"No! I will kill you!"
Fuyu scrambled to his feet and charged at Chen Xuan.
"Stop!"
Master Qianyuan of the Taoist sect lunged forward and grabbed Fuyu's wrist.
"Uncle Master, I want to kill him, I want to kill him!" Fuyu shouted.
"Silence!" Master Qianyuan reprimanded him.
"Master Qianyuan, why do people from your sect wish to harm me?" Chen Xuan asked, frowning.
"Master Qianyuan, what is the meaning of this? You must give us an explanation!" Long Zhentian roared.
"Hmph, you deserve to die! You killed my master, you deserve to die!" Fuyu yelled.
"Your master? Who is your master?" Chen Xuan asked.
"My master is Master Fahua!"
"Master Fahua? When did I kill Master Fahua?" Chen Xuan asked, bewildered.
He hadn't expected Fuyu to be Master Fahua's disciple.
He had encountered Master Fahua and helped him resolve his inner demons, and Master Fahua had also helped them deal with that corporation.
When had he killed Master Fahua?
"Kid, stop pretending! Disgusting!" Fuyu spat.
Master Qianyuan sighed and said, "To be honest, after I learned that my junior brother Master Fahua had resolved his inner turmoil, he was very happy. I originally wanted to see my junior brother, so I wrote a letter to the Dragon Soul Team."
"However, unexpectedly, my junior brother Master Fahua refused."
"Later, when my junior brother Master Fahua was on a mission with the Dragon Soul Team, he died in an accident, so Fuyu has always believed that it was because of you that my junior brother joined the Dragon Soul Team and consequently died."
"Actually, I know this is not your fault. It was my junior brother's decision. However, this child still holds a grudge against you, which led to this incident. I am truly sorry."
"Master Fahua is dead?" Chen Xuan said in surprise.