C7 He Said That He Wanted to Talk about the Dao and the Daoist Scriptures but He Did Not Fight

As Yue Yang looked up, he couldn't help but notice how strikingly handsome Murong Xuanzang was. Adorned with a crown that symbolized the balance of yin and yang, Murong Xuanzang wore his hair in a bun, yet allowed his locks to cascade over his shoulders. On anyone else, such a style might be deemed mad or foolish, but on Murong Xuanzang, with his noble features, it lent an air of otherworldly grace.

Murong Xuanzang was draped in a snow-white cloak of crane feathers, with a belt of the finest jade cinched at his waist, and his feet were shod in soft boots with golden embroidery. These were no ordinary garments; he seemed as though he had arrived on a breeze, approaching Yue Yang without stirring a single particle of dust.

"Is this the young apprentice you've found for me, Senior Brother Skull?" Murong Xuanzang asked with a smile, appraising Yue Yang from head to toe.

Yue Yang, equally intrigued by Murong Xuanzang, who appeared to be a celestial being yet exuded an aura of opulence, could sense from the reverent demeanor of the surrounding disciples that Murong Xuanzang was indeed extraordinary.

"Yue Yang, it's time to pay your respects to your Senior Brother Le You," Old Monster Skull interjected, ostensibly instructing Yue Yang but also subtly informing Murong Xuanzang that Yue Yang was not his junior but rather his equal in terms of seniority within the Order of Duality. Le You was the daoist name by which Murong Xuanzang was known.

"Uncle-Master, there's something I'm unclear about, and I wonder if you could enlighten me," Yue Yang ventured.

Despite the dangerous undertones in his words, Murong Xuanzang's handsome face remained the picture of courtesy, making it impossible to discern his malevolent intentions.

"Ask your question, nephew, and I shall answer to the best of my ability," Murong Xuanzang replied graciously.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle," Yue Yang responded with gratitude.

Murong Xuanzang then turned to Old Monster Skull, giving a respectful bow before striding confidently to stand before the Divine Clock, addressing the gathered disciples with clarity and poise, "I, Le Youzi, am puzzled by something. In our Order of Duality, a Daoist name is bestowed only upon those who have achieved the Foundation Building Stage and not to those without significant merit. I have been a member of the Order for thirty-four years, fortunate enough to have reached the Foundation Building Stage, and have devoted my wealth to the service of the Order, thus earning the Daoist name Le You."

Murong Xuanzang spoke with a fervor that was a far cry from the disciple who had been bested and brought to the ground by Le Yang. Without resorting to any spells, his words resonated with the assembled disciples, who nodded in agreement as if they were standing in his shoes, fully endorsing his sentiments.

Then, Murong Xuanzang shifted the conversation.

"Yet, I am at a loss to understand how this child, who has not even begun Foundation Building, has managed to win the favor of our sect master and receive a Daoist name?"

Murong Xuanzang's query echoed the collective uncertainty of everyone present.

How many are truly gifted enough to embark on the path of cultivation? Once innocent children, they now face the inevitability of aging, their hair turning white. Even those disciples who had not yet achieved Foundation Building, despite being nourished by Spiritual Qi, could not escape the ravages of time.

This sentiment was most acutely felt by those disciples whose mastery of their arts was lacking and who had long since lost their zeal for the Dao.

"Why him? What makes him so special?"

The outcry rose like a gusty wind, as if their collective voices could strip Le Yang of his Daoist name.

"Silence, please. Let us hear what Martial Uncle has to say," Murong Xuanzang commanded, raising his hand to quell the clamor and bowing respectfully to the skeletal elder.

"Look at the fine disciple you've taught," he chided his fellow senior sister, who, trailing a step behind, couldn't help but show a trace of pride. With such an exceptional disciple, she had little to complain about.

"Master," Le Yang began, stepping forward to offer his own explanation, only to be halted by the skeletal elder.

"Do not engage him in dispute. You will need to depend on him for your vengeance in the future," the skeletal elder advised, his teeth clacking together with a grating sound as he spoke.

"This decision was made after careful deliberation among the elders and the sect master. Does anyone object?" The fire in the skeletal elder's eyes blazed as he surveyed the prostrate disciples.

"I object," declared a disciple, emboldened by a glance from Murong Xuanzang. Yet his bravery was short-lived; he barely lasted three seconds against the ghostly flames before being reduced to ashes with a pitiful scream.

"Very well. Any others?"

The skull of the old skeleton monster bore no expression, yet the grating sound of his bones sent shivers down the spines of all the disciples present. Every person cherishes their life, and those on the path of cultivation are no exception.

On the long journey of cultivation, ultimate achievement has little to do with innate talent. Countless prodigies have fallen; only those cultivators who survive can ascend to the heavens and command the forces of the world.

"Since the Martial Uncle insists on going his own way, I must assume the Junior Brother possesses some remarkable abilities. Perhaps I could spar with the Junior Nephew to learn a thing or two?"

Le Yang hadn't anticipated that Zhuge Xuanzang would confront him directly. Fearless as he was, he was well aware that he was no match for Zhuge Xuanzang.

Le Yang couldn't discern which stage of Foundation Building Zhuge Xuan had reached, but even if it were only the initial stage, he, being in the early stages of Qi Refining, stood no chance. It was sheer luck that he had managed to defeat someone in the later stages of Qi Refining. To think of defeating someone in the Foundation Building state was nothing short of a fantasy.

In the ten thousand years of this world's history, filled with extraordinary talents, there has never been a tale of a Qi Refining cultivator defeating one in the Foundation Building state by sheer force alone.

"Quick Moon, is this the fine disciple you've trained? His cultivation may soar, yet his magnanimity dwindles, resorting to bullying the weaker?"

Old Monster Skull cackled malevolently.

"Well then, allow me to test his cultivation first. I'm curious to see the extent of his abilities."

Despite his lack of facial expressions, Old Monster Skull was seething with anger. It was as if he had found a disciple who was a precious gem, yet here was his own student, attempting to bully Le Yang right in front of him, showing complete disregard for his mentor.

"Martial Uncle, I've heard you've broken through to the Golden Core realm. I have a treasure I'd like to offer you, but I must retrieve it with my own hands."

As Old Monster Skull was about to make his move against Zhuge Xuanzang, Zhuge Xuanzang produced an item from his storage ring.

The item was nothing short of extraordinary. The moment it was revealed, a delightful fragrance filled the air, reminiscent of a spring bloom. In Zhuge Xuanzang's hands, the treasure shimmered with radiant light. Already strikingly handsome, Zhuge Xuanzang appeared even more dashing with this treasure in hand.

"Master, what is that?"

Yue Yang watched as Old Monster Skull came to a halt, and although he didn't recognize the object in Zhuge Xuanzang's hand, the unique fragrance and colorful glow were clear indicators of its extraordinary nature.

"It's a Fragrance Beast Inner Core. Even the lowest-grade, single-colored one can elevate a Golden Core by one level," Old Monster Skull explained. Golden Cores are ranked from low to high: low grade, medium grade, high grade, perfect grade, and flawless grade. No Golden Core expert would pass up the chance to enhance their Golden Core by a grade, not even those who have achieved a high-grade core.

"Uncle-Master, this is a Five-colored Fragrance Pill. Used correctly, it could even help one achieve a flawless Golden Core. How about this? If you spar with me and win, I will hand over this Five-colored Fragrance Pill to you," Zhuge Xuanzang proposed, pocketing the pill. He was confident Old Monster Skull wouldn't turn down his challenge. Cultivators may seem detached from desire, but in their pursuit of power, they can be fiercely competitive. Some would even sacrifice their kin for the sake of enhancing their magical weapons or cultivation.

Yue Yang could sense his master's reluctance, yet he knew he stood no chance in a fight. Despite this, his youthful spirit, nurtured under the old monster's tutelage, was still full of fiery passion, untainted by cynicism.

"Master, it's just an inner core. Allow me to retrieve it for you," Yue Yang declared, stepping forward without waiting for Old Monster Skull's consent. His clothes were tattered from a recent brutal fight, and standing next to Zhuge Xuanzang, he looked as humble as dust on the ground compared to the bright moon in the sky.

"The challenge is acceptable, but you must agree to one condition," Yue Yang called out, his cultivation not yet fully restored. But that made little difference; he knew he stood no chance in a real confrontation.

"Oh? Sure. But what do you have to wager in this bet?" Zhuge Xuanzang asked with a smile, unconcerned with Yue Yang's stipulation. From his perspective, the young man had no chance of victory, unless the contest was about who was younger—a notion that was, of course, laughable.

"If you're willing to wager with me, I'll put up anything I have," Yue Yang declared.

"You don't possess what I seek, but your master does. Are you in a position to make decisions on your master's behalf?" Zhuge Xuanzang asked, his smile tinged with the playfulness one might use with a child, which was fitting for the situation.

The Sect Leader and the Skull Monster exchanged glances, finally grasping why Zhuge Xuanzang insisted on taking the initiative. They turned to the female cultivator beside them, their expressions conveying a silent pride.

"I'm aware of your desire, but let's not endanger Yue Yang's life," the Skull Monster whispered to Zhuge Xuanzang through a private transmission.

"My master thanks you for your consideration, Martial Uncle," Yue Yang responded gratefully.

The stakes of the duel remained, and the disciples gathered around watched with bated breath. They were curious about the treasure Martial Uncle Zhuge would reveal, yet they knew it was beyond their reach. What truly captivated them was Zhuge Xuanzang's forthcoming display of skill—a genuine demonstration of Foundation Building prowess. They could only hope that Yue Yang wouldn't be defeated too swiftly.

"My young fellow, let's do this: I will restrain my power to the initial stage of Foundation Building and refrain from using any Dao techniques beyond that level. Does that sound fair? This way, I'm not taking advantage of you. If you emerge victorious, it will prove your own strength at the Foundation Building stage, and the Dao name will rightfully be yours," Zhuge Xuanzang proposed, his sleeves billowing as he spoke. The disciples quickly cleared a large space in the arena, their eyes fixed on Zhuge Xuanzang and his newly accepted disciple.

"Hold on, who said anything about a physical confrontation? I challenge you to a contest of knowledge in the Dao Library," Yue Yang interjected, cutting through Zhuge Xuanzang's presumptuousness. He had barely managed to triumph over a Qi Refining cultivator; the thought of engaging with someone at the Foundation Building level hadn't even crossed his mind.

"Hehe, my dear junior disciple, are you trying to make a fool of me? Despite my youthful appearance, I have been alive for fifty-six years. I began studying the Dao Library at the age of sixteen. While I wouldn't claim to have read every text, I certainly have the advantage of age and experience. You probably don't even understand the concept of 'I am not the right person,'" Zhuge Xuanzang chuckled, gently chiding the younger cultivator.

Zhuge Xuan couldn't help but laugh. If he were to engage in combat with Le Yang, there might be a slim possibility of defeat if Le Yang used the "Summoning of Spirits" technique, capable of calling forth a ghostly servant more ferocious than a malevolent spirit, giving him a fighting chance. However, when it came to matters of the Dao, Zhuge Xuan was at a loss as to how he could possibly be bested by a youngster who likely hadn't even finished reading the "Tao Te Ching."

"The concept of 'neither good nor evil' is derived from the third chapter of the 'White Bone Scripture,' titled 'The Indistinction of Good and Evil,'" Le Yang elaborated confidently. "It posits that humans are born as mere skeletons walking the earth, inherently devoid of good or evil. Without these moral distinctions, there can be no true right or wrong. This chapter speaks to the notion that good and evil are not innate but rather shaped by external influences."

Le Yang's explanation was so clear and concise that it eclipsed the annotations of the 'White Bone Scripture' itself, enlightening the previously perplexed disciples in an instant.

"Impossible! How could you possibly know this?"