Chapter 34: Chapter 25: Extraterrestrial Demon Dao Art, The Wondrous Zhong Shenxiu

Though they paled in comparison to the three great True Inheritances, the five alternative inheritances were still remarkable. Any other sect in the Divine Continent would have considered them true inheritance skills. Therefore, it wasn’t rare to find disciples, or even True Disciples, cultivating them, and the sect never treated them differently. It was even rumored that several past patriarchs had reached the Primordial Spirit realm through these alternative inheritances.

The corners of Sun Suzhen’s lips curled up in a self-satisfied smile. "That’s right, it’s that very method. You might not know this, Junior Brother, but a hundred years ago, our Tai Su Sect only had four alternative inheritances. It was I who contributed the *Supreme Method of Myriad Rivers Returning to the Sea* to the sect. Only after I used it as my foundation to forge a Top-grade Golden Core did the *Supreme Method of Myriad Rivers Returning to the Sea* officially become one of the alternative inheritances."

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. He had never interacted with this Senior Brother Sun Suzhen before, so this was the first time he was hearing this story. He was quite surprised. ’Still,’ he thought, ’I doubt Sun Suzhen is telling me this just to show off.’ So, he listened patiently.

Seeing Xuzhuang remain silent, Sun Suzhen felt a bit awkward. He composed himself and continued, "The *Supreme Method of Myriad Rivers Returning to the Sea* is something I obtained in my youth through a fortuitous immortal encounter. It’s from the lineage of the Ancient Dharma Origin Sect. However, the inheritance I received is incomplete, and so the *Supreme Method of Myriad Rivers Returning to the Sea* also has its shortcomings."

"As a True Inheritance Dao Skill of the Ancient Dharma Origin Sect, the *Supreme Method of Myriad Rivers Returning to the Sea* is actually a Superior Daoist Scripture that points directly to the Pure Yang Dao and Immortal Merits. If the full inheritance could be restored, it might even be added as the fourth great True Inheritance of our Tai Su Orthodox Sect."

Hearing this, Xuzhuang knew they had reached the heart of the matter. He played along and asked, "That may be so, but that ancient inheritance is from a time long past. Where would one even begin to look for it now?"

"There’s no need to look! Although the method I obtained is incomplete, it is indeed the fundamental inheritance of the Ancient Dharma Origin Sect."

Sun Suzhen smiled faintly and flipped his hand over, revealing a strange Token that was neither gold nor wood. "With this, I can open the Dharma Origin Sect’s Daoist Treasury and receive its lineage. At that time, forget just the *Supreme Method of Myriad Rivers Returning to the Sea*—all the other Daoist Scriptures, Spells, Divine Techniques, magic treasures, and Spiritual Objects from the Dharma Origin Sect’s inheritance could be ours for the taking, all for the Tai Su Sect."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang said with a smile. "In that case, Senior Brother, why don’t you just open the Daoist Treasury and claim the inheritance?"

"COUGH, COUGH... Junior Brother Xu, you really don’t know how to spare a guy’s pride." Sun Suzhen wiped his forehead. "Alright, it’s not that I don’t want to open the treasury. The thing is, there are five of these Decrees in total. They are hidden within five separate inheritances left behind by the Ancient Dharma Origin Sect. Only by gathering all five can the Dharma Origin Sect’s Daoist Treasury be opened."

"Oh? And how many have you collected so far, Senior Brother?" Xuzhuang asked.

"Actually, perhaps the original intention of the Dharma Origin Sect in leaving behind five inheritances was not for a single inheritor to gather them all."

Sun Suzhen’s brow furrowed slightly as he spoke of it. "These five Decrees each have their own master. They also have the ability to communicate with one another. Perhaps the Ancient Dharma Origin Sect left five inheritances in the hope that future generations would work together, open the Daoist Treasury, and re-establish the Dharma Origin Sect’s lineage?"

"However, as someone of the Tai Su True Inheritance, it’s absolutely impossible for me to join forces with other inheritors to carry on some ancient lineage." Sun Suzhen gave a wry smile. "And the other Commanders clearly feel the same way. Every time we communicate, it’s just to probe each other for information. On the rare occasion someone brings up opening the treasury, it always ends up going nowhere."

"That is, until a short while ago. By a stroke of fate, I happened to save the life of another Commander. He was willing to give his Decree to me and follow my lead."

"He actually used the Decree to call for help that day. The funny thing is, the person trying to kill him was yet another Commander." Sun Suzhen sneered. "Because of that, the whole affair became common knowledge among us. Even the final Commander, who had never once shown themself, couldn’t resist making an appearance. After a lot of squabbling back and forth, it unexpectedly pushed us all to agree on opening the Daoist Treasury."

By this point, Xuzhuang had already guessed what Sun Suzhen was going to say.

Sun Suzhen didn’t keep him in suspense. "We’ve agreed to open the Daoist Treasury together in ten years. When the time comes, we’ll fight for the opportunities inside. May the most capable win."

"From what I know, after the Daoist Treasury is opened, each inherited Decree can bring three people inside. So, I rushed back to the sect to find help."

"This is why I came looking for you specifically, Junior Brother Xu. Are you willing to lend me your aid? If we succeed, I will be sure to reward you generously."

Xuzhuang didn’t agree, asking instead, "If that’s the case, Senior Brother, why not seek the sect’s support?"

"I had the same idea. The moment I returned to the sect, I went to see the Master. But the Master’s attitude was quite noncommittal. He just said I could find fellow disciples to help me," Sun Suzhen said frankly. "I’ve already sent messages to a few other senior brothers, and when I heard you were still in the sect, Junior Brother, I came to find you immediately."

Xuzhuang pondered for a moment. "There’s nothing wrong with fellow disciples helping each other, but I have an urgent matter I need to resolve right now. This matter... it’s hard to say how difficult it will be, and whether it can be solved within ten years is uncertain..."

Xuzhuang cupped his fists. "My apologies, Senior Brother Sun. I’m afraid I can’t help."

Sun Suzhen didn’t press the issue. "In that case, your urgent matter is of course more important," he said readily. "However, I should still be in the sect for the next ten years. If you manage to return in time, Junior Brother Xu, I’ll ask for your help again."

"It’s not even clear if my own affair will be resolved successfully. Why don’t you find someone else, Senior Brother?" Xuzhuang said.

"Haha, absolutely not!" Sun Suzhen flashed a brilliant, eight-toothed smile and laughed. "I am determined to get four of our True Disciple brothers to help. With me included, that will be all five of the Tai Su Sect’s True Disciples going out together. What inheritance difficulties? A clash of Commanders? It’ll be a piece of cake, a sure victory! Wouldn’t that be grand?"

"Well... if that’s the case, it would indeed be a foolproof plan." Xuzhuang couldn’t help but feel a little abashed.

"Hahaha, surely you don’t think I’m just messing around, Junior Brother?" Sun Suzhen laughed. "Not at all. You must understand, my identity is already exposed, and I have two Decrees in hand. This will surely make the other Commanders wary. It’s even possible they’ll team up against me."

"Besides, there is one Commander who I am particularly wary of."

"I’ve been hearing a lot recently about a new Divine Technique in the Upper Profound Sect, one of infinite might and incredible wonder. It sounds very similar to a Daoist art recorded in the inheritance I received. If I’m not mistaken, one of the Commanders must be one of the Upper Profound Sect’s current True Disciples."

At this, his smile faded slightly. He reached up and stroked his chin. "I don’t know which one it is, but we must be on guard. Besides, each Decree can bring three people... It’s possible we might even get to see for ourselves just what kind of Divine Techniques that Zhong Shenxiu possesses."

"Zhong Shenxiu?" Hearing that name, both familiar and distant, Xuzhuang’s brow twitched. He suddenly felt a flicker of interest.

Ever since Xuzhuang had begun his cultivation, he had been forced to hear that name time and time again.

His story was the stuff of legend. It was said that when an elder of the Upper Profound Sect brought Zhong Shenxiu back to the sect, a great master known as the Immoral Taoist was visiting. And how great a master was he? In the Cultivation Realm of the Divine Continent, where Zhenren were as elusive as dragons and seemed to exist only in tales of Immortal Gods, the Immoral Taoist was one of the few Primordial Spirit True Men known to the world. He was notoriously flamboyant, a lover of gossip, and extremely famous.

It was this very master who, upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu, was stunned as if seeing a celestial being, proclaiming, "Creation’s grace is gathered in him; a born Dao Zhen."

And just like that, the name Zhong Shenxiu spread like wildfire across the Shen Zhou Land, becoming known throughout the world. And he did not disappoint. The moment he set foot on the path of cultivation, he skyrocketed, his progress unbelievably fast, which only made his fame grow even greater.

Some said he was a natural-born Dao Seed, that his comprehension of the Dao was lightning-fast, and that he encountered no bottlenecks in Foundation Establishment or practice. Spells and Divine Techniques came to him as easily as breathing.

Some said he was the reincarnation of an Immortal, that his every move—walking, sitting, lying down—was a form of cultivation, and that he could comprehend the Great Dao even in his dreams.

Some said he was the most gifted genius the Profound Yellow Realm had seen in millennia. If all the talent in the world were divided into ten parts, he alone possessed eight...

To this day, Zhong Shenxiu was already the most famous True Disciple of the Upper Profound Sect, widely hailed as the number one cultivator of his generation. Even those with no interest in such things couldn’t help but wonder:

’Just who is this Zhong Shenxiu?’

Xuzhuang, naturally, was no different.

"Zhong Shenxiu... I haven’t met him either." Sun Suzhen laughed. "I know you must be eager to meet him, Junior Brother Xu. So am I. And I’m sure our fellow True Disciple senior brothers feel the same. With a chance to test our skills against someone like him, I’m certain I won’t have any trouble finding True Disciple brothers willing to help. You should really consider it carefully, Junior Brother Xu."

Xuzhuang’s interest was indeed piqued. But he was also level-headed enough to know that solving his own problems was the top priority. He sighed softly. The words of refusal he was about to say took a detour on his tongue, and he said instead, "If I can make it back within ten years, and you are still in need of help, Senior Brother, I will definitely lend you my aid."

Sun Suzhen laughed heartily. "Excellent, excellent! In that case, I won’t delay your important business any longer."

He flicked his sleeve, stepping aside and gesturing for Xuzhuang to pass. Xuzhuang didn’t stand on ceremony. He gave a final nod with cupped fists, then summoned an escape light and flew out of Langhuan.