Chen Kuang suddenly pressed both hands against the stringless zither, his expression was completely blank.
Qingpingzi... Lu Zhexuan?
From the name to the Daoist title, everything matched. There was no possibility of a mistaken identity.
Wasn't she the master of Shen Xingzhu, the Earth-Spirit Dao Lord of the Mysterious Divine Path Sect?
Two thousand three hundred years into the future, if Shen Xingzhu was the undisputed number one below the third rank, then Lu Zhexuan was the number one under the Saints.
Compared to Shen Xingzhu, who skyrocketed to Grandmaster rank in just a few years, Lu Zhexuan's journey was far more arduous and winding.
For cultivators, there were two major thresholds on the path of cultivation, milestones that also signified an increase in lifespan:
One was reaching the twelfth step of the Tower-Climbing Realm and opening the Sea of Consciousness. This granted an additional 800 years of life, making one an earthly immortal, the type mortals would revere as true gods.
The second was becoming a Grandmaster, achieving Dao-recognition between Heaven and Earth, and thereby attaining 3,000 years of lifespan. This marked the entrance to the Profound Realm.
It was said that both times, Lu Zhexuan succeeded in breaking through only when her lifespan was nearly exhausted.
But precisely because of that, her cultivation and her experience were rock-solid, earned step by painful step. She was a strict and solemn person, and her prestige within the Mysterious Divine Path Sect was immense.
She and her disciple had completely opposite personalities.
Yet, perhaps it was Shen Xingzhu's good fortune to have been taken as a disciple by Lu Zhexuan.
Shen Xingzhu was like a peerless sword unsheathed, piercing the mortal realm with unmatched brilliance. She didn't need guidance in cultivation, but she did need someone to teach her how to be human.
Otherwise, if her temperament failed to keep up with her cultivation, arrogance would become her downfall.
Just like back in the Heavenly Prison, Chen Kuang had easily shattered her Dao Heart by exploiting her pride and carelessness.
Without him, perhaps one day, someone else might have become her stumbling block.
Then again... that was only a possibility, and a slim one at that.
After all, not everyone had Chen Kuang's "cheat", his ability to instantly know when Shen Xingzhu was lying.
But what surprised Chen Kuang most was meeting Lu Zhexuan now.
Judging by the timeline, they were indeed from the same era. But he hadn't expected that at this very moment, Lu Zhexuan would be establishing a Daoist temple on the mountain near Xi Mengquan's home.
Perhaps... this was the beginning of a magnificent age?
Chen Kuang remembered that during the final downfall of the Great Qi Dynasty, Lu Zhexuan had contributed significantly, her sword had played a decisive role.
He just hadn't expected her acquaintance with Xi Mengquan to stretch so far back.
Although judging from appearances, she seemed to have come here for him...
Of course, Chen Kuang could never meet Lu Zhexuan in his true identity.
Judging from Xi Mengquan's attitude, it was very likely that the future him two millennia later knew everything. But Lu Zhexuan clearly did not. If he met her openly, the butterfly effect would be far too serious.
So, he took out the Mist-Petal Silk, draped it over his eyes, and with a wave of his hand, the courtyard gate swung open on its own.
Xi Mengquan, now frequently out on his travels to avoid Chen Kuang attracting enemies to their home, had taken the Dragon Gums Zither with him. Currently, only Chen Kuang remained in the house.
Naturally, he would never let Xi Mengquan's journey go smoothly.
He had already dispatched illusions such as Wu Man, born from his own Transformations, to lie in wait on the road ahead, even linking up with demonic tribes to trip Xi Mengquan up and add some "fun" to his journey.
, Chen Kuang was now capable of creating near-perfect human illusions from the Wujian Between.
Ever since he'd realized Iron-Bark Yuan and Little Red were real people, he'd wanted to test this out.
But back then, his cultivation wasn't strong enough, and the Karmic Power within Wujian Between wasn't sufficient to support such a feat.
Now, having already reached the Moon-Embracing Realm, and having glimpsed the sixth aspect of the Mud-Forged Gold Body Technique, the Supreme Dao Fruit, a year ago, things naturally progressed.
This Supreme Dao Fruit had first made itself faintly known five years ago, when Chen Kuang used the Void-Slicing Sword to tear open the sky.
In fact, the so-called Supreme Dao Fruit was a strand of "Wisdom" Dao Resonance originating from the Buddha himself.
But not all Dao Resonances were created equal.
For example, the Dao Resonance left behind by the Martial Sage on the Stone of Enlightenment was very shallow. It could only serve as inspiration for cultivators to visualize and comprehend on their own.
But the Dao Resonance within the Yu (羽) character, and that contained within the sixth aspect, was of a deeper tier. They represented true inheritances, containing the meditative insights and realizations of their originators, allowing one to directly step onto the path of Dao-realization.
In other words, if the Dao was a ship, then Dao Resonance was the ticket to board.
And at this point, Chen Kuang already held three tickets:
Music, Space-Time, and Wisdom.
But for now, he didn't want to board any of them.
If other cultivators, who spent their entire lives chasing even a glimpse of Dao Resonance, learned of this, they'd probably want to murder Chen Kuang on the spot...
But Chen Kuang wasn't just being picky. Before he fully understood the truth, he feared these ships might very well be black ships, doomed vessels.
The first time Lu Zhexuan laid eyes on Chen Kuang, the youth before her perfectly embodied everything she imagined a Daoist master should be.
Dressed in white, with long black hair and his eyes covered by misty gauze, cradling a stringless zither, the young man descended lightly from the rooftop.
Three distinct types of Dao Resonance layered upon him, neither purely Daoist nor Buddhist, merged into an exquisitely profound and otherworldly aura. He looked as though he had long transcended the mortal realm.
His facial features were in distinct, any impression would fade in moments. But those covered eyes made people feel regretful.
What kind of eyes must he have to match such an extraordinary temperament?
Lu Zhexuan was momentarily stunned, unable to suppress a spark of curiosity.
Still, what she felt more was astonishment. She hadn't expected such a master to be so humble and unpretentious. She had come as a junior seeking an audience, and even if he had received her with aloofness, she would not have found it strange.
In her expectations, just a few words of guidance from him would already be a great blessing.
Yet Chen Kuang had personally come out to receive her.
A true master's demeanor...
Lu Zhexuan became even more respectful, bowing again: "Greetings, Senior."
Chen Kuang gave a couple of dry coughs and replied evenly, "You and I are both cultivators, merely children stumbling along the path to the Dao. What's the point of calling someone 'Senior' just because they've chewed a few more old bones and taken a few extra steps?"
If Shen Meinan ever joined the Mysterious Divine Path Sect, she would likely become Lu Zhexuan's disciple. If Lu Zhexuan now called him "Senior," the generational order would become absurd. He had no desire to take advantage of that...
Even someone as thick-skinned as Chen Kuang had his limits.
Especially since, in Chen Kuang's memory, Lu Zhexuan was someone upright and serious.
It felt... awkward. Like starting a new school year and discovering your bald homeroom teacher was actually your elderly nephew.
Of course, having Xi Mengquan call him "Senior," now that was something Chen Kuang accepted with ease. In fact, he thought Xi Mengquan still lacked enough reverence toward him and clearly needed more tempering.
Chen Kuang gave a soft laugh and continued, "We are peers on the path of cultivation. No need for such formality."
"This..." Lu Zhexuan actually felt somewhat overwhelmed by the honor.
The man's cultivation was clearly far superior to hers, yet his demeanor was unexpectedly gentle.
At this point in time, Lu Zhexuan was merely a wandering cultivator in the Tower Ascension Realm, without any backing or exceptional talent. She was also a beautiful woman, naturally, she had always conducted herself with utmost caution.
If it hadn't been for the profound quality of the zither music, she would never have initiated this visit.
Over the past few days, as she listened again and again, she found her mental state calm like still water, and her cultivation rose by a noticeable margin!
But now, the other party's strangely courteous attitude made Lu Zhexuan start to overthink.
Could it be that... he had ulterior motives?
However, that suspicion flashed by only briefly. Recalling his ethereal bearing, she shook her head inwardly, mocking herself for her paranoia.
Before coming, she had already asked the local villagers and learned that this cultivator had been playing the zither almost daily for five years without pause.
Xi Mengquan had sold the land, but of course had not appeared in person. Instead, he had sent one of the elderly villagers to handle the transaction.
As a result, Lu Zhexuan still believed she had bought this mountain directly from a villager.
Playing the zither was simply a habit, and she had made the purchase entirely of her own accord,it had nothing to do with the man before her, so how could he possibly harbor any ill intent upon first meeting?
Clearly, her years of wandering and witnessing the filth behind those in high positions had left her overly guarded...
Lu Zhexuan said, "Then I shall obey rather than defy. May I ask... your name, Daoist friend?"
Chen Kuang smiled and replied, "Just a nameless recluse dwelling in the wilderness. My name matters not. You may call me however you please."
Behind the veil of her white gauze hat, Lu Zhexuan's beautiful eyes blinked softly, her long lashes casting delicate shadows, fluttering like butterfly wings.
She pondered for a moment and then said:
"Since Daoist friend is so skilled in the zither, might I call you Tongjun?"
Paulownia wood was the finest material for crafting zithers.
Thus, Tongjun, Lord of Paulownia, naturally served as a poetic title for one devoted to the zither.
Chen Kuang nodded without objection. "Of course."
He continued, "Daoist friend, please come in. No one has visited this courtyard in a long time. I hope you won't mind its plainness. There isn't much to offer, but as it happens, I do have some fine tea we may enjoy together."
The tea, of course, was Xi Mengquan's.
Chen Kuang himself had no fondness for tea-making... but it served nicely now as a borrowed courtesy.
Surely the esteemed Lord of Music wouldn't mind making the acquaintance of a future high-ranking figure of the Mysterious Divine Path Sect, would he?
Even if it was Chen Kuang doing the befriending on his behalf, while the man himself was still out there suffering on the road, well, it all evened out.
Lu Zhexuan followed with light, graceful steps into the courtyard, glancing around with mild curiosity.
The house had rooms on three sides, forming a square around an open sky well, the central courtyard. The eaves extended to shelter the corridors, and beneath them stood a tea table bearing an unfinished black-and-white game of Go.
At the center of the courtyard was a lotus pond, where the blossoms bloomed in eternal perfection. Plump koi swam lazily through the water, bloated like tiny balloons.
The whole layout was exquisitely elegant.
Chen Kuang placed his zither onto a stand to one side, walked to the tea table, and gestured politely before producing the treasured tea from Xi Mengquan's collection.
Lu Zhexuan offered a polite bow and then quietly sat down across from him, removing her bamboo hat and setting it aside. In a soft voice, she asked:
"Tongjun, do you dwell here in seclusion?"
One does not simply begin discussing Dao upon meeting. A degree of familiarity and comfort must first be established.
Her voice rang clearly in the courtyard. Though she tried to sound solemn and serious, the natural softness in her tone could not be concealed.
Her long hair was simply gathered into a bun. Under the dappled light from the pond's reflection, her radiant face shimmered faintly.
Her phoenix eyes held a natural touch of red at the corners, as if slightly intoxicated, enhancing her allure. With each glance, she unwittingly drew others in.
Her Daoist robes, though plain and loose, still managed to outline a slender waist and the soft curves of her body the moment she sat down.
...Shen Xingzhu often dressed similarly, yet on her it exuded a cold arrogance that repelled all. But on Lu Zhexuan, it somehow transformed into a more dangerous charm, a flirtation half-denied, half-promised.
Chen Kuang was stunned for a brief moment. A wave of heat suddenly spread up from the base of his ears.
This was not right.
Chen Kuang immediately activated his Spiritual Energy, calming himself down.
He was not someone ruled by lust. Whether before or after his transmigration, he had never experienced such uncontrollable impulses.
So clearly, the problem did not lie with him, it lay with Lu Zhexuan.
The next moment, Chen Kuang felt a passive activation take place.
"Heavenly Demon Mimicry."
That meant someone had used a particular technique on him... and he had successfully replicated it in return.
Chen Kuang briefly examined it, and his expression turned strange.
The technique copied by "Heavenly Demon Mimicry" was:
"Physique of Celestial Allure."
This was an extreme yin constitution that created an innate charm and attraction toward the opposite sex. While Chen Kuang couldn't duplicate the physique itself, he could replicate its effects.
In other words, this woman before him, the future second-in-command of the Mysterious Divine Path Sect, renowned as the first beneath the Saints, was someone born with the Physique of Celestial Allure!
This didn't mean such a constitution was incompatible with cultivation... but typically, women born with it never had the chance to follow a proper path.
Because the Physique of Celestial Allure made one the perfect furnace.
Once discovered by a cultivator, it almost always meant being reduced to a forbidden plaything.
The cultivator would of course grant the furnace a modest level of cultivation, just enough to be siphoned from, but the furnace herself would wither over time, finally consumed and destroyed.
Thus, to be born with this physique was to walk a path filled with misfortune.
For Lu Zhexuan to have cultivated solo to the Tower Ascension Realm was already astonishing.
Even more incredible, she would one day ascend to the Profound Realm!
No one ever knew she possessed the Physique of Celestial Allure.
But... that might explain why she eventually chose to join the Mysterious Divine Path Sect.
Although that sect had a reputation for being righteous in appearance only, they at least enforced rules, and strictly upheld them.
Fortunately, the current gap in cultivation between them was vast. The effects of her physique were relatively weak.
Suppressing his astonishment, Chen Kuang sat down, began steeping the tea, and replied casually:
"Not exactly... I go out from time to time. It's just that this place is quiet, and I prefer peace."
Peace, and the opportunity to throw wrenches into Xi Mengquan's journey.
He passed a teacup across the table.
Lu Zhexuan reached out with both hands to receive it. "Many thanks," she said, hiding her face slightly behind her wide sleeve as she brought the tea to her lips.
In truth, she first slipped out a silver needle she'd hidden beneath her tongue to test the tea for poison.
...No issues.
She glanced at Chen Kuang secretly. His expression remained calm, and his movements were fluid and natural. She relaxed.
Of course, such a gesture could never escape Chen Kuang's divine perception. He chuckled to himself but was more intrigued by something else.
After all, Chen Kuang had spent ten years in the imperial palace. From her subtle movements, he immediately inferred something deeper, she had received excellent training in etiquette.
He asked, "Daoist friend, are you from a noble family?"
Lu Zhexuan looked slightly surprised, but then nodded. "I was born to a merchant family in Yangzhou. As a child, I was raised in the inner chambers, studying and practicing calligraphy. But later, the family declined..."
As she spoke, her gaze dimmed.
If not for that, her family wouldn't have lacked the money to hire guards. Out of pride, they didn't sell their ancestral home, and this led to a massacre by mountain bandits.
She was the only one who escaped with her life, and by a twist of fate, she became lost in the mountains and fell off a cliff, landing directly inside the abode of a powerful cultivator, where she obtained a genuine Daoist cultivation manual titled:
"Fenggang Jing"- The Phoenix Codex Sutra.
At the time, she knew little of cultivation and failed to realize that the Phoenix Codex Sutra was... in fact, a dual-cultivation technique.