/
Chapter 161 – Meeting the Spirit Master
In just the span of one hour, Xu Disheng managed to acquire 3,000 mortal souls. After putting the wooden box away, he flew off on a sword light and returned to the tall mountain peak.
He pierced through the mist and clouds and arrived directly atop the platform above the mountain peak. It was deathly silent. All that remained there was the debris from the big fight that occurred there not long before.
After getting on the Realm-Cross Wooden Boat, Xu Disheng didn’t even spare another glance back at the Zhao Territory before activating the realm-cross token and riding the boat into the stormy vortex.
Back at the great hall of Cangming Peak, Xu Disheng handed over the realm-crossing wooden token and said, “Peak Director Yu. Intermediary Disciple Xu Disheng of the Secret Realms Office hereby returns the realm-crossing token to you.”
Yu Jia hinted for a disciple standing by his side to walk up and take it. “Okay. After we make the records, you can go.”
Clearly, he didn’t care that much about the tasks that an ordinary intermediary disciple like him was carrying out in the Secret Realms.
After they made the record in a jade slip, Xu Disheng began to walk out of the great hall. But all of a sudden, he felt a gaze fixated on him.
He turned his head and saw that it was Qin Gang.
There were too many emotions flashing through his gaze. Confusion, bewilderment, doubt. It was as if
 he didn’t know how Xu Disheng managed to make it out of the Zhao Territory alive.
Walking out of the great hall, Xu Disheng forced down the killing intent that threatened to boil over in his heart. He lifted his hand and sent out a water-blue colored message jade slip, then got on the Dharma Breaking Sword and flew towards Morning Dew Peak.

 

Weng.
The sound of something vibrating resounded outside Xu Disheng’s courtyard. He stopped cultivating and opened up the barrier of light surrounding the courtyard to let a water-blue colored jade slip fly in.
“Come to Falling Moon Peak to see me immediately.”
It was the dignified voice of Celestial Tide Spirit Master that entered his ears.
Falling Moon Peak was the 3rd ranked Mountain Peak in the Mingxin Mountain Range. The Peak Master was Celestial Tide Spirit Master He Wenshu, who was also one of the Spirit Masters with authority in the Mountain Range.
Xu Disheng rode on the Dharma Breaking Sword and landed on Falling Moon Peak. As soon as he arrived, several Sea of Qi stage disciples came forward, their expressions solemn and respectful.
One of them asked, “Who are you? What business do you have?”
“I think this might be Senior Martial Brother Xu Disheng. I think I’ve seen his image in a jade slip before,” one elite disciple among them who was at the peak of the Sea of Qi stage said in a hesitating tone, as if he didn’t dare to confirm.
In the image recorded in the jade slips that were circulating around, Xu Disheng was wearing a black and gold robe, which had long since been confirmed as a Magic Treasure-grade robe.
At the moment, Xu Disheng was only wearing a black Spirit Tool Daoist robe. That was why although his facial features looked extremely similar to the image, this elite disciple didn’t dare to say for certain.
“I am Xu Disheng of Morning Dew Peak. I came to have an audience with Celestial Tide Spirit Master,” Xu Disheng said in a mild tone, trying not to make things difficult for these disciples.
“So it really is Senior Martial Brother Xu.”
The expressions on the disciples’ faces immediately became more respectful, and their tones warmed up a bit. “If Senior Martial Brother Xu wants to have an audience with Celestial Tide Spirit Master, just take the Falling Moon jade slip up to the domain at the summit of Falling Moon Peak.”
Everyone knew that Xu Disheng was someone who belonged to Celestial Tide Spirit Master’s influence. Thus, as soon as he revealed his identity to them, they immediately considered him as an insider, so their speech loosened up quite a bit.
“Thank you, Junior Martial Brothers.”
After Xu Disheng thanked them, he got on the Dharma Breaking Sword once more and flew off towards the domain at the summit of Falling Moon Peak, which was shrouded in clouds and mist.
“I heard that Senior Martial Brother Xu had a cold temperament. But looking at him now, it didn’t really seem that way, did it?” the disciple who spoke with him earlier said, watching as Xu Disheng flew off atop a sword light.
“Senior Martial Brother Xu is modest and approachable. Those rumors are all false,” the disciple who recognized Xu Disheng earlier said. His face was proud as he said, “I personally witnessed Senior Martial Brother Xu use his secret ghost Dao technique. He was in desperate straits against Kou Zun, but he suddenly turned the tides! It was so impressive!”

 

The Falling Moon Domain was located at the peak of Falling Moon Peak, but it was an extremely vast, isolated area where exotic birds and rare beasts were being raised. It was the area where Celestial Tide Spirit Master He Wenshu usually spent his time cultivating.
Xu Disheng took out the water-blue colored jade slip and held it in his hand. When he landed on the summit of Falling Moon Peak, he felt like he had passed through a screen of water and entered an entirely different world.
The jade slip in his hand emitted a dull glow. After his vision shifted, he found himself on an island floating in the middle of the water.
Xu Disheng looked around him at the azure sky that expanded off into the distance as far as he could see. A light breeze blew across the water, gently lifting his long black hair. Every tree and blade of grass here seemed extremely real.
“Come on in.”
A dignified voice echoed out from a palace at the center of the island.
“Yes, Spirit Master.” Xu Disheng didn’t hesitate. He put away the Dharma Breaking Sword and began to walk towards the palace on foot.
The primordial energy here was extremely rich. In just a few breaths of time, Xu Disheng felt the Soul Force and profound qi in his body recover quite a bit. After revolving his cultivation method, the speed of recovery increased by many times more.
After arriving at the front gates of the great hall, Xu Disheng bowed and said, “Xu Disheng of Morning Dew Peak requests an audience with Celestial Tide Spirit Master.”
“Come in and speak. No need to be overly courteous.”
Celestial Tide Spirit Master’s tone was peaceful. There wasn’t the slightest hint of rippling emotion within.
Xu Disheng entered the great hall. Celestial Tide Spirit Master was seated next to an enormous pill furnace, controlling the true fire of his Divine Core to refine a batch of pills.
The faint pill aroma that wafted over was extremely alluring. Next to the pill furnace, there were two pill assistants standing by respectfully. They acted in a restrained manner, making themselves scarce. Even Xu Disheng’s entry into the hall wasn’t enough to draw their gazes.
After Xu Disheng stood there quietly for around an hour, Celestial Tide Spirit Master retracted his Divine Core True Fire and instructed the pill assistants, “Keep a close eye on the pill furnace.”
“Yes, Spirit Master.” The two pill assistants bowed. Then, they began to cast some special technique, causing profound qi to constantly pour towards the pill furnace.
“Come in and talk,” Celestial Tide Spirit Master said. He was wearing a pale white robe that was the color of the moon, and his hair was casually coiled up into a bun. He led the way into a side hall with his hands behind his back.
For a moment, Xu Disheng continued to look at the pill furnace, which was still trembling, before following after him.
“Spirit Master.”
“Why did you activate the Falling Moon jade slip that I gave you before?” Celestial Tide Spirit Master said, taking a seat on a prayer mat. With a flick of his sleeves, a platter of spirit fruits and a pot of spirit tea appeared on the table.
Clearly, Celestial Tide Spirit Master regarded Xu Disheng, a genius that recently rose to fame, with a fair amount of importance, and he showed him a level of respect that fit that status.
However, Xu Disheng didn’t touch those courteously placed spirit fruits and tea. Instead, he came forward and began in a heavy tone, “Ghost Controlling Peak, the Zhao Clan, and the Secret Realm of the Zhao Territory.”
“Hmm?” Celestial Tide Spirit Master’s originally somewhat casual gaze suddenly became more vigilant, giving off an aura more characteristic of a Divine Core stage Spirit Master. “Continue.”
“Disciple went to the Secret Realms Office to pick up a task, which ended up being to go to the Zhao Territory to gather souls. But there, Disciple ran into an ambush devised by the Vice Peak Master of Ghost Controlling Peak and the Realm Master of the Zhao Realm. By sheer luck, Disciple managed to escape and flee back to the sect,” Xu Disheng said, handing over the wayfaring token and affairs jade slip.
Celestial Tide Spirit Master picked up the affairs jade slip, but didn’t touch the wayfaring token. He carefully examined its contents, and when he spoke again, his tone seemed to reveal a change in mood. “I see,” he said.
After a while, the Spirit Master lifted his gaze. He swept his eyes over Xu Disheng, his gaze as deep as the ocean. “There were three Evil Spirit stage ghosts, the equivalent of Dao Foundation stage cultivators, in the Zhao Territory, on top of the peak Dao Foundation stage Zhao Yan. How did you manage to escape?”
“By relying on my secret ghost Dao technique. A ghost escape spell,” Xu Disheng said flatly as he brought up the secret ghost Dao technique that everyone already knew of. “And now, those four are all dead.”
For the first time, a clear hint of surprise appeared in Celestial Tide Spirit Master’s eyes. A smile appeared on his face as he cast another assessing look at Xu Disheng. “Slaying four Dao Foundation stage cultivators at only the Sea of Qi stage
 Not bad. Not bad at all. The Shangqing Sacred Sect allows their disciples to have their own secret techniques. The sect considers that a good thing. You don’t have to be too concerned about that.”
Xu Disheng nodded, but didn’t continue.
“Ghost Dominion went too far this time,” Celestial Tide Spirit Master said, flicking his sleeves once more. “You can go now. I have my own arrangements in mind regarding this matter.”
“Yes, Spirit Master,” Xu Disheng said, cupping his hands respectfully. He turned around and was about to leave the great hall when Celestial Tide Spirit Master spoke again.
“Do you still have the Demon Punishing Array Diagram with you?” the Spirit Master’s indifferent-sounding voice resounded from behind him.
Xu Disheng stopped. After a moment, he replied, “I do.”
“Mmm. The Demon Punishing Array Diagram’s offensive power is extremely strong, but you need to be at the Dao Foundation stage before you can demonstrate the bulk of its might. But right now, you lack defensive power, so I will give you this for your protection. Also, take good care of this jade pendant. There are three attacks of my Overflowing Ocean Technique in it,” Celestial Tide Spirit Master said.
After he finished speaking, a jade pendant and a gorgeously exquisite blue and white Daoist robe appeared before Xu Disheng.