38: Qingyang Crisis, Mysterious Taoist

Just as Chu He was filled with joy and set out on his return journey...

A massive crisis targeting the Chu Family was quietly descending.

Qingyang City.

On this day, a Green-robed Taoist who appeared to have the air of a transcendent immortal arrived in the city.

The Taoist had white hair and a beard, a kind face, a horsetail whisk in his hand, and a wine gourd hanging from his waist. As he walked down the street, he would occasionally laugh with the children by the roadside or offer a few words of advice on Feng Shui to the street vendors.

He looked like an enlightened master traveling the world to save all living beings.

No one knew that this amiable-looking old Taoist was none other than the Nascent Soul Stage old monster—Heavenly Secret Master! Not long ago, on the Star Observation Platform in Tianfeng Prefecture City, he had sensed the birth of an "Innate Dao Body" and felt a covetous desire for it.

After Heavenly Secret Master arrived in Qingyang City, he did not charge directly at the Chu Family.

He was very cautious.

A Family capable of producing a "Top-grade Innate Dao Body" could absolutely not be as simple as they appeared on the surface.

Especially when he cautiously swept his Divine Sense over the Chu Family Mansion, waves of shock surged in his heart.

"Destiny Golden Dragon!!"

In his Divine Sense perception, a giant dragon over a hundred zhang long, composed entirely of condensed golden destiny, was coiled above the Chu Family Mansion!

Although the giant dragon was slumbering, the imperial majesty and the vast aura of protection for all living beings radiating from its body caused even him, a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, to feel a surge of palpitations!

"This... how is this possible?!"

Heavenly Secret Master's mind went blank.

How could a small Family in a remote town, one that didn't even have a formal rank, condense such terrifying Family destiny?!

Even the imperial Family of the Great Yan Dynasty fell far short of a Destiny Golden Dragon of this scale!

"No wonder! No wonder an 'Innate Dao Body' could be born!"

Heavenly Secret Master understood instantly.

With such powerful destiny protecting them, he would believe it even if they birthed a true Dragon or a Phoenix, let alone an Innate Dao Body!

In an instant, his greed for the infant he had yet to meet climbed to its peak!

An Innate Dao Body, plus such a massive amount of Family destiny!

If... if he could take both for himself!

Refining the infant's Dao Body and seizing the Family's destiny!

Then he, Heavenly Secret Master, would absolutely be able to break through the Bottleneck that had troubled him for centuries in one go!

It might not even be impossible to spy upon the legendary "Soul Transformation" realm in the future!

This thought burned like a demonic fire in his heart!

However, he also became even more cautious.

That Destiny Golden Dragon gave him a feeling that was far too dangerous.

He could feel that if he forcibly attacked the Chu Family, that golden dragon would definitely launch a counterattack against him at any cost.

Although he was confident he could eventually suppress the golden dragon,

doing so would cause too much of a commotion.

It might attract some old monsters he didn't want to provoke.

"I must find a way to take it by strategy."

Heavenly Secret Master's eyes darted as a plan came to mind.

He restrained all of his aura, disguising himself as an ordinary traveling Taoist with only a Qi Gathering Realm cultivation.

Then, shaking his horsetail whisk, he walked toward the main gate of the Chu Family with leisurely steps... At the Chu Family's main gate.

Two guards, who were already at the Qi Gathering Realm, saw the immortal-looking old Taoist approaching and showed a hint of respect in their eyes.

"Taoist Master, please wait. This is the Chu Family Mansion. May I ask what business you have?"

"Hoho, Infinite Longevity to you." Heavenly Secret Master bowed with a warm smile on his face. "No need to be nervous, young men. This humble Taoist was traveling through and happened to observe purple air rising and auspicious colors swirling above your residence—a sign of great fortune."

"I calculated with my fingers and learned that your residence must have had a celestial being descend recently, triggering phenomena between heaven and earth. This humble Taoist is not very talented but has some insight into the art of physiognomy. I have come specifically to visit and hope to catch a glimpse of this favored child of heaven. I wonder if you could grant me this convenience?"

His words were mystical yet filled with goodwill.

The two guards were left stunned.

They also knew that some time ago, when the Second Madam gave birth, it had indeed caused a massive commotion.

Could it be that this Taoist Master had truly calculated it?

Looking at his transcendent appearance, he didn't seem like a bad person.

"Taoist Master, please wait a moment. We need to go inside and report this." One of the guards didn't dare make the decision himself and turned to run into the mansion.

Soon, the news reached the back courtyard.

By this time, Chu He had already been gone for over a month.

All affairs in the mansion were managed jointly by the two mistresses, Lin Waner and Qing'er.

Lin Waner handled external affairs, being responsible for the Pill Hall and the Chamber of Commerce.

Qing'er handled internal affairs, being responsible for the various chores and matters within the mansion.

Hearing the guard's report, Lin Waner, who was playing with her daughter, furrowed her elegant brows slightly.

"A traveling Taoist? Wants to see Yuning?"

A sense of vigilance immediately rose in her heart.

The fact that her daughter Chu Yuning possessed an Innate Dao Body was the Chu Family's greatest secret.

Although the birth had triggered phenomena between heaven and earth, no one except Chu He and herself knew exactly what those phenomena represented.

Now, a Taoist had suddenly appeared, asking to see the child the moment he opened his mouth.

No matter how she looked at it, this matter felt eerie.

"Sister Qing'er, what do you think?" Lin Waner looked at Qing'er beside her, who also had a protruding belly.

After spending more than a year together, the relationship between the two had long since become like that of sisters.

"I... I don't know either." Qing'er shook her head, a hint of worry on her face. "However, Husband instructed before he left that everything at home should be handled with caution. How about... we don't let him in?"

"Yes, I was thinking the same thing."

Lin Waner nodded and made her decision.

Holding her daughter, she went to the front courtyard hall with Qing'er.

"Go and tell that Taoist Master that the child is still young and her body is delicate, so it is not convenient for her to see guests," Lin Waner said to the guard who had come to report.

"Yes, Madam." The guard took the order and turned to leave.

However, he hadn't even reached the door.

A warm yet penetrating voice that carried an unquestionable power came directly from outside the main gate.

"Hoho, this humble Taoist has come uninvited. I hope the two Madams will forgive me."

Before the voice had even faded,

the green-robed, immortal-looking old Taoist actually ignored the guards at the door and passed right through, appearing in the hall like a ghost!

Seeing this scene, the expressions of Lin Waner and Qing'er changed instantly!

Especially Lin Waner; she was horrified to find that as a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, she hadn't sensed how the other party had entered from beginning to end!

This person's cultivation was unfathomable!

He was absolutely an existence they could not afford to offend!

"Who... who exactly are you?!" Lin Waner immediately shielded her daughter tightly in her arms and shouted sharply.

Qing'er was also pale with fright and instinctively pulled her son, Chu Tian, behind her.

"Hoho, there is no need for the two Madams to panic."

Heavenly Secret Master still wore that amiable smile, but his gaze was like two sharp swords, locked dead onto the infant in Lin Waner's arms!

"This humble Taoist only wishes to see that child."

His eyes were filled with undisguised greed and heat!

At that moment, Lin Waner and Qing'er suddenly felt a massive fear and trembling from the depths of their Souls!

They seemed to see the slumbering Destiny Golden Dragon above the Chu Family Mansion suddenly snap its eyes open and let out a silent roar filled with anger and fear!

Waves of despair and dangerous warnings flooded frantically into their minds!

Danger!

Extreme danger!

The old Taoist before them was an unprecedented, cataclysmic disaster for the Chu Family!