Shen Bai nodded. "I see. Now I have a better sense of things." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

This time, he had wanted to ask Elder Mu just how strong he was. Now that he had tested it, he was naturally satisfied.

Elder Mu looked at the surrounding Observatory members and glared. "The show’s over. What are you still looking at? Scram."

He disliked being watched, but the recent fight had been so exhilarating that he hadn’t bothered with them.

The surrounding Observatory members exchanged glances, unable to hide the shock in their eyes, and quickly dispersed.

For them, today’s battle had been a real eye-opener.

It was the first time they had ever seen someone in the Five Organ Realm fight Elder Mu to such a standstill.

It would likely leave an indelible mark on them for the rest of their lives.

After sending the crowd away, Elder Mu said, "Come on. Let’s go back to my resource room for a cup of tea."

Shen Bai nodded, not refusing the offer.

There were still many things he wanted to learn from Elder Mu, including the matter of the internal assessment.

The two didn’t linger and quickly left the Martial Arts Arena.

The Martial Arts Arena was covered in rubble and debris, but they didn’t need to worry about it. It would be rebuilt before long.

...

While Shen Bai was testing his strength, on a mountain peak about a hundred li from Fenglin State...

Nestled on this mountain was an ordinary-looking Daoist temple.

The mountain peak soared into the clouds, a truly magnificent sight.

If ordinary people were to pass by, they would just shake their heads at the sight of the peak, not even thinking of climbing it.

The mountain was simply too high.

Amidst the grandeur of the peak, the Daoist temple itself seemed rather plain.

The temple was large, with many rooms, and filled with an air of ancient simplicity.

Because it was built into the mountainside, it possessed a certain charm of the Daoist School.

However, the temple appeared somewhat old and worn.

But if any Cultivator were to pass by, they would surely pay a visit with the utmost respect.

The reason was simple: this was the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple.

Back when the Bloody Night of Fenglin State occurred, the Temple Master of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple led all of its disciples to heroically sacrifice themselves, ultimately resolving the crisis that would have annihilated Fenglin State.

It could be said that throughout all of Fenglin State, the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple was regarded as a heroic institution.

Yet the nine remaining members of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple had never recruited disciples on a large scale.

No one knew why, and the temple never spoke of it to anyone. It became one of the secrets of Fenglin State.

At this moment, within the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple, Daoist Chongling was holding a palm-sized mirror as he packed his bags, preparing to leave.

Outside, eight men in Daoist Robes were waiting with eager anticipation.

When Daoist Chongling walked out, the eight men immediately gathered around him.

"Senior Brother, are you setting out today?" one of them, a Daoist with shoulder-length eyebrows, asked.

Daoist Chongling nodded. "For all these years, the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple has never recruited any disciples, always adhering to the last words left by the Temple Master."

"This time, someone who fits the Temple Master’s description has finally appeared. I must see this through."

"The Celestial Purity Daoist Temple cannot be allowed to decline in our hands."

Chang Mei Daoist contemplated for a moment. "Then we’ll have to trouble you to make this trip, Senior Brother."

The other Daoists said nothing, clearly in agreement with Daoist Chongling’s course of action.

Daoist Chongling nodded. "Junior Brothers, you must watch over this temple. Although the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple has fallen on hard times, this is where we will carry on our legacy."

Chang Mei Daoist, along with his junior brothers, clasped his hands in a salute. "Rest assured, Senior Brother. We will guard it well."

"In that case, I will take my leave."

Daoist Chongling nodded, said no more, and left through the main gate of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple, heading toward the Observatory.

His mind was filled with many thoughts along the way.

He felt a sense of bitterness, especially when he thought about the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple’s recent situation.

During the Bloody Night of Fenglin State, the entire Celestial Purity Daoist Temple had marched to their deaths, leaving only the nine of them behind.

Daoist Chongling had no complaints about this.

After all, even he would have been willing to make that same sacrifice back then.

The principle of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple was to protect the peace of the common people; this was the code they had always lived by.

But ever since that time, a single sentence from the Temple Master had caused the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple to remain dormant until now.

Daoist Chongling still felt a pang of sorrow over it, but they had persevered all this time.

Now, someone who met their requirements had finally appeared.

Although Daoist Chongling didn’t show his inner joy, his various actions in recent days had made it obvious to his junior brothers.

After all, everyone wants their faction to be prosperous and influential, and they were no exception.

As Daoist Chongling walked along the forest path, he looked toward the Observatory, his thoughts growing deeper.

’I hope that this time, Lord Shen can completely release the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple from its shackles. Then I will not have failed the trust the Temple Master placed in me.’

With this thought in mind, Daoist Chongling pulled two sheets of Talisman Paper from his robes and stuck them to his legs.

After the Talisman Paper burned away, Daoist Chongling instantly transformed into a blur and sped toward Fenglin State.

Before long, he vanished amidst the cloud-piercing mountains.

...

Daoist Chongling of the Celestial Purity Daoist Temple had descended the mountain. Elsewhere, in a hidden location...

At that moment, a Daoist and a Monk were sitting on cattail cushions, lost in a long silence.

The Daoist was very old, his hair graying, and his eyes filled with exhaustion.