48: Revised: Chapter 48 Discovery 48: Revised: Chapter 48 Discovery In an instant, the noise within the banquet fell silent.
Then it quickly grew boisterous again.
“Daoist Wutong, I didn’t expect even Daoist Wutong to come.”
“Daoist Wutong is an Immortal Cultivator.
It’s said he has mastered magic, able to touch stone into gold and create something from nothing…
Many have sought his presence to no avail, yet he has come to attend Old Master Yang’s birthday banquet and even gifted such valuable items like the Nourishing Spirit Pill and the Nourishing Essence Pill.”
“Old Master Yang is seventy years old, a time when his spirit and energy are waning.
These gifts, the Nourishing Spirit Pill and Nourishing Essence Pill, are just fitting and are highly valuable.
They’re probably the heaviest gifts in the celebration this time, right?”
Amidst bustling discussions, everyone fixed their gaze on the entrance, eager to admire the style of Daoist Wutong.
Even the one guarding Yang Zhengling, along with the host of this banquet, Old Master Yang, quickly stood up and greeted him at the entrance of the restaurant.
Bai Ziyue had long heard of Daoist Wutong’s renowned reputation, so naturally, his curiosity was piqued.
Quickly, a man in a green Daoist robe, with a face as ruddy as that of a child, a Daoist pin stuck in his hair, and a long goatee, walked in alongside Yang Zhengling and Old Master Yang.
Following them were two Daoists, one plump and one lean.
The plump Daoist appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with a thick mustache and small, nearly invisible eyes.
The other, seemingly only in his twenties, wore a purple-black Daoist robe and had a sallow complexion, appearing somewhat tall and thin.
These two were evidently the disciples of Daoist Wutong.
From others’ discussions, Bai Ziyue found out that among the two, the middle-aged plump Daoist was Daoist Wutong’s first disciple, named Zhang Yuchang, while the young man was the second disciple, named Wu Hao.
While observing them, the young Daoist Wu Hao’s gaze suddenly turned to Bai Ziyue, pausing for a moment before looking away.
*Bai Ziyue’s heart skipped a beat, and his pupils contracted sharply.*
*Just as the other party turned his head, Bai Ziyue saw a large black mole beside his ear.*
*He suddenly recalled the description of the ghost-nurturing evil cultivator mentioned by the two hoodlums he taught a lesson a while ago: a sallow complexion with a large black mole beside the ear…*
*Did it correspond with Wu Hao?*
Especially when Bai Ziyue’s gaze shifted down and he saw a yellow gourd hanging from Wu Hao’s waist, he immediately confirmed the other party’s identity.
“Disciple Wu Hao of Daoist Wutong is that ghost-nurturing evil cultivator?!”
*Bai Ziyue’s heart shook, and he slightly lowered his head, his gaze flickering.*
*”Wait, he also looked in my direction just now and paused, could he have recognized me?”*
*Bai Ziyue’s heart tightened slightly.
He glanced at Wu Hao again, finding that Wu Hao wasn’t looking his way but was instead following Daoist Wutong, meeting with various key figures.*
Soon, Daoist Wutong and his followers arrived at the banquet.
Bai Ziyue’s master, Liu Dong, also stood up and greeted them, not too enthusiastic but not too indifferent either.
Both sides introduced their disciples.
Bai Ziyue greeted the young Daoist Wu Hao and completely confirmed that the other had recognized him.
“However, he seemed unaware that I’d recognized his ‘identity’ as well.”
*Watching him act as if nothing was out of the ordinary,* Bai Ziyue thought silently, showing no unusual expression on his face.
“Master, who exactly is this Daoist Wutong?
Why does everyone seem to greatly respect him?”
Once they had gone far enough, Bai Ziyue asked his master Liu Dong with a look of curiosity.
“Daoist Wutong is an Immortal Cultivator skilled in dealing with all kinds of evil abnormalities.
Ordinary ghosts and monsters can be handled by us martial artists, though it’s not our forte.
That’s when we need someone like Daoist Wutong, an Immortal Cultivator, to intervene.
Over the years, various family powers in Qinghe Town have benefited from Daoist Wutong to some extent, thus respecting him greatly.” Liu Dong said with a complex tone.
“Then the Immortal Cultivation Method, how does it differ from our martial arts training?
I’ve heard that immortal cultivation grants eternal life.
Bai Ziyue asked with a frown.
“The Immortal Cultivation Method naturally has its wonders.
I don’t know much, but I do know that the more powerful among them can indeed extend life, but saying it grants eternal life is exaggerated.
Moreover, our martial arts training, strengthening our own bodies, can also lead to longevity.
From what I know, martial artists who live beyond one hundred fifty years are not uncommon.” Liu Dong hesitantly replied after a moment.
“Are there really that many ghosts and monsters in Qinghe Town?”
Now, he understood that in this world, martial arts and immortal techniques coexisted, and from his master’s tone, he could glimpse some strength comparisons between them.
Martial artists seemed to lack confidence when facing immortals.
Yet, he hadn’t heard much about ghosts and monsters in Qinghe Town.
There was the haunted incident at the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall’s Tang Liansan family, reportedly resolved by Daoist Wutong.
Another was when his cousin encountered a ghost.
Though he struck down the ghost, he consequently attracted the attention of young Daoist Wu Hao and uncovered his ghost-nurturing secret.
*Due to this, he had to wonder if there was something more behind the ghostly disturbances.*
*Of course, he already knew ghosts truly existed, but why they appeared, was it not possibly under Daoist Wutong’s control?*
“Not many, but not few either.
One needn’t fear ordinary ghosts; the real terror lies in the spirit monsters, or even ‘demons’.
However, the area around Qinghe Town is remote, and resources are scarce, so while such entities exist, they don’t appear frequently.
When they do, the government will step in to have someone eliminate them, so you don’t need to worry too much.” Liu Dong explained calmly without further elaboration.
*Hearing this, Bai Ziyue’s heart shook once more.*
*He had initially suspected these ghostly matters might be orchestrated by Daoist Wutong, but now, learning that spirit monsters and even demons exist near them, he realized his understanding of this world was still too shallow.*
*What he had seen was only a surface fragment, failing to glimpse even a fraction of the iceberg beneath.*
It’s evident that ghosts are relatively more prevalent since people, or even animals, upon their deaths might transform into ghosts.
Thus, encountering ghosts is quite common.
But beyond ghosts, there are other species, evidently more powerful and frightening.
Like spirit monsters and demons…
Existences like these pose great harm to humans.
Once they appear, it’s usually the government who steps in, sending people, or even hiring outsiders, to suppress them.
Perhaps to avoid causing panic among the populace, such matters are often kept secret, making Bai Ziyue seldom hear about spirit monsters and demons.
And since his master Liu Dong was the Sect Leader of the Sunburst Gang, he naturally had broad experiences, potentially even being enlisted by the government to deal with spirit monsters and other extraordinary beings, thus his understanding of such existences.