The next day.
The first light of dawn broke through the sky, and the morning light appeared.
Jiang Yuechu, dressed in a brand-new set of black robes, asked Thirteen Wu where the old Daoist was and headed toward her destination alone.
As soon as she stepped through the main gate, she smelled the mellow scent of wine dregs.
The slovenly Old Daoist Priest was lying flat on a chair in the courtyard, one leg crossed over the other, swaying back and forth.
Hearing footsteps, the Old Daoist Priest didn't even open his eyes, muttering, "If you're here to give thanks, there's no need."
Jiang Yuechu stopped three paces away, cupped her hands in a salute, and said calmly, "Senior, you misunderstand. This Junior did not come to find Senior."
"Oh?"
Thirteen Wu's leg stopped swaying, and he finally deigned to open his old eyes, glancing at her with some curiosity.
Not looking for him... then what was she doing here?
Could it be she was looking for his disciple?
"I am looking for Wang Ziyu."
"..."
The expression on Thirteen Wu's face became rather colorful.
He sized Jiang Yuechu up from head to toe, muttering to himself in his heart.
If she was here to ask about matters regarding Cultivation, instead of consulting him, the Master, she was running off to find that half-baked kid who was only at the second level of Ascending the Tower?
What kind of logic was that?
Or was it... the Old Daoist Priest smacked his lips, his gaze becoming somewhat strange.
Although his disciple looked like a child, he wasn't actually that young.
Could it be that after going out together once, these two had developed some unspeakable relationship?
"Ahem."
Thirteen Wu cleared his throat, his expression somewhat subtle. "Little girl, although I don't care much for formalities, that boy is, after all, a direct descendant of my Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven. In some matters... we still have to consider matching social status. Furthermore..."
Jiang Yuechu's brow furrowed slightly as she said coldly, "Senior is overthinking. I am looking for him because I have important matters to ask."
Thirteen Wu was even more amused. "Ask what? If you're asking how to flee for your life or how to shirk responsibility, then you've certainly found the right person. That boy has no other skills, but he truly inherited those two from me."
Even so.
The Old Daoist Priest still casually picked up a pebble and flicked it with his finger.
Whoosh!
The pebble cut through the air and accurately struck the window of the side room.
"You little brat, stop playing dead, someone's looking for you!"
Wang Ziyu poked half his head out, eyes bleary with sleep.
When he saw the Girl in Black Robes standing in the courtyard, his sleepiness was instantly scared away to the nine heavens. His small face turned pale, and he instinctively tried to shrink back.
They had returned in a hurry last night, and he hadn't thought of how to explain things to his Master yet.
How did this death star find her way to the door so early in the morning?
"What are you hiding for?"
Thirteen Wu snorted coldly. "She's calling for you by name, get out here!"
With a bitter face, Wang Ziyu dawdled his way across the threshold.
He glanced at Jiang Yuechu, then stole a peek at his Master.
What else could this girl want from him besides that matter of the incense golden body?
But this matter... couldn't be spoken of in front of Master.
He himself had no prejudice against the Way of Incense.
But Thirteen Wu was different.
Thirteen Wu usually seemed lighthearted and carefree, but when it came to discussing such unorthodox paths, he became a completely different person.
If Master knew that he now intended to pass this path to Master's homeland... he would likely never agree.
But since he had already promised her... Wang Ziyu's eyes darted around, and he quickly stepped forward. Before Jiang Yuechu could speak, he shouted, "Your Highness! About... about that... the local customs and traditions of the Eastern Region, I haven't finished explaining yet. Shall we go somewhere else to continue our chat?"
As he spoke, he winked frantically at Jiang Yuechu.
Jiang Yuechu looked at him expressionlessly.
Although she didn't know what the little Daoist was plotting, seeing his guilty look, she could guess a thing or two.
She nodded slightly and cooperated, "Very well, this place is indeed inconvenient."
Thirteen Wu looked suspiciously at these two clever individuals, one big and one small, exchanging glances right under his nose.
Local customs and traditions?
Who was he kidding?
However, seeing their secretive behavior, it wasn't easy to force an interrogation, so he could only wave his hand impatiently.
"Get out, get out, it's annoying to look at you."
"Will do!"
The two of them left the courtyard and turned past two corridors.
Only then did Wang Ziyu let out a long breath and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
"That was close, I almost got found out by that old thing."
Jiang Yuechu said flatly, "Is the Way of Incense so shameful?"
"It's not really that..."
Wang Ziyu gave a bitter smile and lowered his voice. "I told you before, many people in the major Grotto-Heavens even pass this path down within their own families... but my Master is different. That old thing suffered some kind of trauma back then. If he finds out, he'll never agree to me passing this path to you all."
Jiang Yuechu's expression remained unchanged after hearing this.
She had no interest in exploring why the old Daoist was so secretive about the Way of Incense or what kind of trauma he had suffered.
Everyone has their own fate and their own heart-knots.
She only wanted results.
The girl didn't stop walking, continuing along the gallery as her voice rang out coldly, "Since you know the method, then tell me, what preparations are needed to enter the Way of Incense?"
"Preparations, naturally, there are some."
Wang Ziyu thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Incense is ethereal and elusive. To intercept this ethereal Qi, one needs a vessel to carry it."
Jiang Yuechu glanced sideways. "A vessel?"
"Exactly."
Wang Ziyu nodded. "If the Great Tang is to switch to this path, the first priority is to build temples widely and repair divine statues."
"With temples, Qi is gathered; with statues, the spirit is fixed."
"In this way, the Power Of Will of the masses can converge in one place, no longer dissipating into the heavens and earth."
At this point, the boy paused, his tone becoming a bit more solemn.
"With these Foundations, whether it's cultivating the Way of Incense or condensing that legendary Golden Body Technique, it can be considered to have a Foundation, and everything will fall into place."
"In fact, when it comes to who plays with this path of incense and golden bodies the most extravagantly, it has to be those baldies."
Jiang Yuechu paused slightly.
"The Buddhist Sect?"
"Correct."
Wang Ziyu curled his lip. "Those bald donkeys have compassion and the salvation of all living beings on their lips, but in truth, they are the most skilled at gathering the Power Of Will of all beings. Once this incense Power Of Will reaches their hands, they can not only cast golden bodies but also perform various Divine Abilities."
Jiang Yuechu was lost in thought.
There were many Buddhist temples within the Great Tang.
If it were truly as this boy said, those monks should also have similar legacies in their hands.
As if seeing through the girl's thoughts.
Wang Ziyu stopped, turned sideways, and shook a finger.
"Don't even think about it."
"Master and I have traveled this way and seen several great temples. The Buddhist Sect in this region has long since lost the Legacy of the Way of Incense. They're just using the Buddhist name as a front to swindle incense money from foolish men and women."
"Never mind forging golden bodies, they can't even achieve the most basic refinement of Power Of Will."