bookbashuk Chapter 227 The Taoist priest sought an image, which was then exchanged for a legal one.
Chapter 227 The Taoist priest sought an image, which was then exchanged for a legal one.
Upon seeing Zhang Nanshan and the others arrive, Chen Anran and Su Wan stood up to greet them.
"Master Zhang, Daoist Tianbao, what brings you two seniors to the mountain today?" Chen Anran asked with a smile and a cupped-hand salute.
Zhang Nanshan smiled and waved his fan, "I'm quite comfortable staying down the mountain. I was hoping to stay a few more days, but there are a lot of mundane matters waiting for me at the mountain gate. I have to take the servants back tomorrow. Before I leave, I'd like to ask for a cup of tea and also discuss something with you."
Master Tianbao nodded with a smile: "Indeed, there is something to discuss."
Everyone took their seats. Wang Rui, ever observant, went to fetch the tea set, while Zhang Hao and Sun Wei helped arrange the chairs. Xiao Ling'er glanced curiously at the two elderly men, then lowered her head to continue drawing.
Su Wan personally poured tea, saying, "Please speak, esteemed seniors."
Zhang Nanshan took the teacup, but didn't drink it immediately. Instead, he looked at Chen Anran, his expression more serious than usual: "Young friend Chen, you should know why we've come up here, right?"
Chen Anran gave a wry smile; he definitely knew what it was about.
Just a few days ago, Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao went up the mountain to the halfway point and visited those side halls.
While others might not have noticed anything, these two Daoist masters, who were in the late Foundation Establishment stage or even at the Perfection stage, naturally sensed the extraordinary nature of those statues.
They were quite astonished at the time. Although they couldn't fully understand all the mysteries of the statues, they vaguely sensed that the statues seemed to contain some kind of extremely ancient and obscure spiritual charm.
After that, Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao relentlessly questioned Huiming about the origins of these statues.
When Huiming spoke of the names of the statues, which neither of them had ever heard of before, and the stories behind them, even they, with their extensive experience, were quite shocked.
"I have come here today without permission, precisely because of those statues of deities." Zhang Nanshan finally took a sip of tea. "Young friend Chen, I would like to ask your friend in the cultivation world in Guangzhou to bring these statues of the Three Pure Ones to my Longhu Mountain."
Zhang Nanshan put down his teacup, his expression solemn, his eyes revealing undisguised anticipation. The Taoist priest Tianbao beside him, though silent, clearly shared the same sentiment.
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Wang Rui, Zhang Hao, and Sun Wei were completely confused, but the words "divine statue" and the solemn attitude of the two Taoist masters made them realize that this was no ordinary thing. They held their breath and their eyes darted back and forth between Chen Anran and Zhang Nanshan.
Su Wan put down the teapot, looked calmly at Chen Anran, and handed over the decision to him.
Chen Anran pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "They came from a friend in Guangzhou, but the circumstances surrounding them are quite special, and they are not things that can be obtained in ordinary times."
These statues evolved quickly and required only ordinary stones; Bin Dasheng and his team could carve them with minimal effort.
But as long as the incense is offered, this statue becomes a powerful tool for protecting the clan.
So if you want it, then trade it for some good stuff from your sect.
Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao were notorious figures, and the meaning behind Chen Anran's words was immediately clear to them.
Zhang Nanshan stroked his beard and smiled, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "Young friend Chen is right. Such a statue naturally cannot be exchanged for ordinary objects. I wonder, what does that friend... have in mind?"
Master Tianbao also put down his teacup and said gently, "These statues are sculpted in an ancient and simple style, containing spiritual energy. They may seem inconspicuous, but upon closer inspection, they subtly possess the power to protect the region and harmonize spiritual energy. If we could bring back three of these statues and enshrine them in the main hall of our mountain gate, it would benefit our disciples' enlightenment and the sect's fortune. Our Maoshan sect is willing to exchange them for something of equal value."
As they spoke, their eyes were fixed on Chen Anran, awaiting his response.
The courtyard was quiet for a moment.
Although Wang Rui, Zhang Hao, and Sun Wei didn't quite understand the deeper meaning, they were secretly astonished to see the two leaders of prestigious sects being so serious: Just who is Master Chen's friend? Even Longhu Mountain and Maoshan have to be so polite in requesting the statue?
"You two are too kind," Chen Anran said with a gentle smile. "Regarding the statue, I can relay the message and inquire. As for the conditions..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao: "To be honest, my friend is a bit eccentric. He doesn't like gold, silver, or worldly things, nor does he care for ordinary rare and precious materials. However, he has mentioned that he is quite interested in the unique methods and ingenious cultivation notes passed down through various schools in recent years, as well as some basic techniques that have been lost to time but are still quite meaningful."
Chen Anran spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about an ordinary little thing, but the meaning behind his words made Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao sit up straight at the same time.
"Cultivation techniques?" A glint flashed in Zhang Nanshan's eyes, followed by a thoughtful expression. "Your friend... wants to combine the strengths of various schools and observe the evolution of Daoist methods?"
Master Tianbao adjusted his glasses and pondered, "Unique methods, ingenious ideas, nearly lost basic techniques... This scope is both broad and narrow. Young friend Chen, could you be more specific? Are you seeking techniques for killing or self-defense, methods for guiding and refining qi, or insights into unorthodox techniques such as talismans, formations, alchemy, and mechanisms?"
"Master Tianbao's questions are very detailed." Chen Anran put down his teacup, his tone still gentle. "My friend didn't have any particular restrictions. He's interested in everything, from the unique basics of guiding qi to the basics of talisman formations, to some... minor methods that are no longer applicable due to the changing times but contain the ingenuity of our predecessors."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the two Taoist priests: "Rather than seeking techniques for killing or self-defense, it's more about collecting those overlooked 'possibilities' on the path of cultivation. After all, there are countless paths to enlightenment, and various schools have been passed down for thousands of years. Some things have been simplified, lost, or shelved because they are no longer 'practical.' But those ideas themselves have value."
Zhang Nanshan and Daoist Tianbao exchanged a glance, both seeing deep thought in each other's eyes.
"Collecting 'possibilities'..." Zhang Nanshan stroked his beard, slowly repeating the phrase, "Your friend has quite the ambition."
Master Tianbao adjusted his glasses and pondered, "This is quite ingenious. Instead of directly demanding profound techniques, he is interested in basic and obscure methods... It sounds like he is filling in some kind of cognitive gap, or rather, he is looking for an unconventional path."
Chen Anran smiled without saying a word, picked up the teacup and gently blew on it.
No matter how much they imagined it, they could never have guessed that Chen Anran wanted to use these cultivation methods to accelerate his own cultivation speed.
Su Wan said gently from the side, "If the two seniors have any difficulties, it is fine to let this matter go. The matter of worshipping the statue is ultimately a matter of fate."
"No problem, no problem." Zhang Nanshan waved his hand, a smile returning to his face. "You just need to think about what you can offer that will also please your friend."