Chapter 359: Chapter 359 Chuandong Dao
The opponent didn’t engage in close combat with Lu Zheng at all, and as soon as they fell slightly at a disadvantage, they decisively vanished, retreating swiftly.
Lu Zheng gently tapped on the water’s surface, and his body lifted into the air as the old turtle swam beneath him, allowing him to land on its back.
"Fellow Daoist Lu’s Dao practice is profound, and his swordsmanship is intricately marvelous; the old turtle is truly impressed."
"Fellow Daoist Gui is too kind. May I ask, what kind of power is Pan Shui Cave?" Lu Zheng inquired.
Just a moment ago, there was a magical combat, and then the opponent escaped. Listening to his words, Lu Zheng couldn’t tell whether they were empty threats or if things weren’t truly over, so he had to ask clearly.
"Pan Shui Cave is also a cultivation sect, with a long heritage, venerating the ancient Master Gu as their patriarch, and has always been based in Chuandong."
The old turtle explained, "Later, an ancestor of Pan Shui Cave emerged, accepted an offer from the previous dynasty, and became the national preceptor of the former dynasty."
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, "How does this seem unusual?"
The cooperation between cultivation sects and the court is quite normal. Doesn’t the White Cloud Temple also share incense and candle qi with the court? They even have disciples working at the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, as long as they aren’t completely bound to it.
"The problem arises when that ancestor accepted a prince from the former dynasty as a disciple, and then that prince became the cave master of Pan Shui Cave," the old turtle said, "Later, when the former dynasty declined and the Great Jing Dynasty rose, Pan Shui Cave didn’t sit idly by; instead, they participated in the grand change of dynasties... Thus, after Emperor Jing ascended the throne, he ordered the extermination of Pan Shui Cave, which then disappeared without a trace, not appearing in the mortal world."
"Uh... I see..."
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, thinking, no wonder. Probably many sects withdrew into the Southern Border because of similar situations, huh.
After some contemplation, Lu Zheng let out a sigh of relief, "So Pan Shui Cave also retreated to the Southern Border? Did they send some disciples to stir up trouble?"
The old turtle shook its head, "No, Pan Shui Cave is a sect with ancient heritage, possessing its own Grotto Heaven Blessed Land. After the establishment of the Great Jing Dynasty, they sealed their own grotto heaven and have not appeared in the mortal world."
Lu Zheng was bewildered, "Then that person just now..."
"Pan Shui Cave naturally retains gateways for their disciples to enter and exit," the old turtle stated matter-of-factly.
Lu Zheng, "..."
"The Great Jing Dynasty didn’t send people to exterminate them?" Lu Zheng curiously asked.
With so many experts in the Great Jing Dynasty, if they truly desired, they could naturally track down Pan Shui Cave disciples and locate the grotto heaven of Pan Shui Cave.
The old turtle shook its head, "Pan Shui Cave is not a heterodox sect, and with many ancestors inside, since they have already closed their mountain gate and grotto heaven, the Great Jing Dynasty naturally didn’t press them excessively.
However, this is also a tacit agreement in secret, at least Pan Shui Cave disciples cannot walk openly in the territory of the Great Jing Dynasty, and once the Great Jing has difficulties, Pan Shui Cave does not hesitate to lend a hand."
Lu Zheng frowned and asked, "Even if it means increasing rainfall, causing the people to suffer?"
The old turtle fell silent, then after a moment replied, "This matter has indeed gone too far. I will report it to the River God."
Lu Zheng nodded, understanding that sects located in the Central Plains did not necessarily oppose the Great Jing Dynasty.
Additionally...
Pan Shui Cave actually has its own Grotto Heaven Blessed Land?
Amazing!
Up to now, Lu Zheng only knew that there was a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land behind the White Cloud Temple, he didn’t know if the Jinhua Sect had one, but the Southern Border Dingfeng Mountain certainly didn’t have one.
Grotto Heaven, Blessed Land, Secret Realm.
A Secret Realm is the smallest, for example, the small secret realm at Jiming Temple, which is merely a mountain peak with a range of only about three to five li.
A large Secret Realm has a diameter of twenty to fifty li.
A Blessed Land usually ranges from about fifty to one hundred li.
A diameter exceeding two hundred li makes it a Grotto Heaven, basically equivalent to a little world.
Of course, to sound better, people usually refer to it as a Grotto Heaven so, apart from their own people, Pan Shui Cave’s Grotto Heaven Blessed Land’s level is unknown.
Hmm, the Netherworld doesn’t count since it’s a conglomerate of countless Yin Netherworld grounds, and is not much smaller than the mortal world.
The White Cloud Grotto Heaven behind White Cloud Temple is the temple’s most significant foundation; only ancestors and core direct lineage members can enter, it’s said to be filled with spirit medicines and a cultivation haven.
Yes, anyway, Lu Zheng hasn’t been in there. Maybe he will have a chance to see it in the future.
The famous Grotto Heaven Blessed Lands in the Central Plains of the Great Jing Dynasty are all in the hands of renowned sects from ancient times.
There isn’t a single unowned Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.
Or rather, as soon as one is discovered, it quickly gets an owner.
"So, Fellow Daoist Lu can rest assured. Although Pan Shui Cave does not get along with the Great Jing Dynasty, it won’t take the initiative to feud with other cultivation sects. Since you are a disciple of the White Cloud Temple, they won’t bother you again," the old turtle said.
Lu Zheng thanked him, "I see. Thank you, Fellow Daoist Gui, for enlightening me."
"Young Master Lu, you’re too kind!"
Liu Qingyan and the others had listened along the way to the gossip about the Great Jing Dynasty and Pan Shui Cave, and they listened with bright eyes, very intrigued.
As they spoke, the old turtle swam upstream and soon reached a shallow beach.
Going ashore, it lay down.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, Doctor Liu, this place is already within the Junzhou territory of Chuandong Dao. From here, twenty li northward is Yuejiang County Town."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Gui, for escorting us and saving us at least five days of travel," Lu Zheng cupped his hands in gratitude.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, you’re too kind. Doctor Liu is benevolent, healing the sick and saving lives. I, old turtle, only accompanied you for a while, what’s that worth."
After everyone got off the turtle’s back, the old turtle retreated a few steps, then slipped back into the Yuejin River, sank down, and disappeared.
Du Yueyao and her maid Yu Lan, along with the two guards, gazed at the river, feeling that this journey had truly broadened their horizons, as though in a dream.
"Twenty li, huh," Lu Zheng nodded, "But it’s quite a walk."
He formed a seal technique in hand and cast a divine movement curse on everyone, "Let’s go!"
...
Upon reaching Yuejiang County Town, they found the town had basically restored order.
The group found an inn to stay at, learning that there was still an outbreak of plague in Chuandong Dao and some sporadic flooding hadn’t stopped, they decided to stay in the county town for a night and set out again the next day.
The following day, they purchased some supplies in the county town and then left the town.
...
The mountain path was difficult to traverse.
"No wonder Chuandong Dao’s issues haven’t been resolved even after two months. This area is full of mountains and waterways, with huge surges in rainfall, landslides, it’s naturally very dangerous, isn’t it?"
Du Yueyao watched as a waterfall cascaded down a cliff beside them, clearly a mountain stream that flowed with the vigor of a great river.
"I heard that ten days ago, a physician went to Wushi Village and then there was no further word," Liu Qingyan said, "It seems they must have been cut off by this river, preventing their return."
"That must be it," Lu Zheng said, "If so, Wushi Village must have been without communication with the outside world for ten days."
Lu Zheng raised his hand to lift Du Yueyao and others, and then floated across the mountain stream.
Liu Qingyan and the other women from the Five Beauties Manor crossed without assistance.