World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 20: Daoist Arts, Blooming Flowers on the Stage

At precisely 1:30 PM, two Daoist masters from Mount Mao led the group of nine up the mountain path. They entered through the Gate of Mysteries—the western gate of Mount Mao—and stepped onto the Sacred Bridge.

The tranquility of the mountain forest was mesmerizing. The trail was dotted with pavilions for rest, and the scenery along the way was extraordinary. Though they were on a mountain, its beauty was completely different from that of the Wudang Mountains. It was so captivating that it could make one want to linger and live here freely for a while.

While their destination was called the Moonlit Terrace, in reality, it was just the area outside Chongxi Palace.

Disciples from various sects had already gathered outside the palace, each seated according to Mount Mao’s arrangement. Meanwhile, the leaders, like Li Shiwu, entered Chongxi Palace for discussions.

Over a hundred disciples of Mount Mao bustled about, finalizing the venue arrangements. The setup was quite simple. Mats and benches were arranged on both sides of the open central area, and signs marked the seats of each sect.

There were many Daoist priests cultivating on Mount Mao—a testament to the profound heritage of their Daoist sect. Wang Sheng had never seen so many young disciples with notable cultivation levels back on the Wudang Mountains.

The area’s remoteness was its strength, shielding it from the mundane world’s prying eyes. Disciples had also been instructed not to record or take images of the place in any form, allowing the cultivators to freely showcase their abilities and discuss matters of cultivation.

Wang Sheng mused that the banner hanging high above, which read "Daoist Sect Exchange Meeting," would be better titled "Daoist Sect Evaluation Meeting."

Despite the gathering of over a hundred people, the venue remained orderly. The Daoist masters meditated with closed eyes, while the younger disciples discreetly observed one another.

Mu Wanxuan and Wang Sheng sat on the same bench. She had a task to fulfill today. After taking her seat, she closed her eyes and meditated quietly, clearly preparing for her upcoming performance.

Most attention was directed at her. Wang Sheng would occasionally get looks, but only briefly. After all, young Daoist priests like him, whose charm lay in their aura, were common here.

At 1:45 PM, serene Daoist music played from the palace. Eight Daoist elders from Mount Mao emerged, clad in light-yellow Daoist robes and Daoist ritual crowns. Their white hair and flowing auras emanated a profound Dao Rhythm, making their presence appear extraordinary.

Li Shiwu and the other sect leaders followed behind, courteously finding their respective seats on the benches prepared in front of the palace. Wang Sheng couldn’t help but sneak out his phone to capture a few group photos of the "immortal-like elders" and send them to his master.

The anticipated speech segment followed soon after. It traced the history of Daoist sects and envisioned their brilliant future.

The cultivation of the elder Daoist priest representing Mount Mao was so profound that Wang Sheng couldn’t fathom it no matter how hard he tried. Although there were no microphones set up at the venue, everyone could clearly hear him. His voice-transmission technique alone was enough to demonstrate his extraordinary mastery of the Dao.

However, Wang Sheng had no recollection of him. It seemed that much of what he had read online in his past life had been significantly exaggerated.

If the opening speech had a flaw, it was the usual issue with many Daoist masters: a thick regional accent. Fortunately, his deliberate and measured tone allowed the audience to grasp the essence of his words with some effort.

"Nowadays, peaceful times are hard-earned and precious. To prolong it, cultivators must devote themselves to protecting and preserving the Dao, never using Daoist arts to bring harm to the world.

"Bound by precepts, disciples of Daoist sects should understand that even with profound cultivation, recklessness is forbidden. Misusing Daoist arts for personal desires may seem inconsequential now, but as one’s cultivation deepens, the unfulfilled heart will obstruct progress.

"We must not forget the admonitions of our forefathers. In times of chaos, we emerge to act as chivalrous protectors; in times of peace, we abide by the law, safeguarding the people and the heavens under this vast sky!"

Many young cultivators found the teaching intriguing. While Daoist masters often emphasized virtue and respect for tradition, they rarely elevated the discourse to the level of national and worldly responsibility.

Wang Sheng found himself reflecting on his master’s teachings.

The elder’s emphasis on protecting the nation and its people wasn’t just rhetoric. Looking back seventy to eighty years ago, before the Hua Republic's establishment, foreign invaders used to ravage the Great Divine Land. Hence, Daoists who had been in seclusion stepped forward and drove them back.

Repelling the invaders cost and injured many disciples of different Daoist heritages. Some sects were even left with only a handful of elderly Daoists, making it difficult for them to preserve heritages that were already thousands of years old.

The Daoist pursuit of non-action was meant for times of peace, but in moments of national crisis, one had to rise to the occasion. That was why the ideals of protecting the nation and its people were not at odds with the Daoist pursuit of tranquility and non-action.

Unfortunately, the resurgence of primal qi came a century too late. Otherwise, the Daoists could have overturned the invaders’ strongholds.

The heavens and earth were unyielding; in turbulent times, immortals had to take up the mantle of heroism.

After the elder finished, a slightly younger Daoist master from Mount Mao stood up. The elder who had spoken earlier was likely the senior-most figure of the sect, no longer involved in day-to-day affairs, while the Daoist master who was standing now seemed to be the sect’s leader. He seemed to be in his fifties, and he exuded an unspoken authority.

He began, "Today, we are honored to have Daoist sects of sacred mountains convene here, representing the orthodox heritage of Daoist traditions and their ancient teachings. While cultivating the Dao emphasizes tranquility and non-action, we must still engage in discussions and exchanges. After all, one cannot succeed in isolation, correct?

"The purpose of this conference is to facilitate the sharing of insights into cultivation, helping each sect address its uncertainties. Now, let us begin by having each sect showcase its traditions. To set the stage, we at Mount Mao will go first."

Two Mount Mao disciples, one male and one female, stepped forward. The handsome and poised man was clad in light-yellow Daoist robes and a five-peak crown; while the woman donned a lotus crown, her beauty radiating a gentle charm.

Standing side by side, the pair bowed to the gathering. Then, they summoned their true essence. Primal qi swirled around them as they unfurled yellow papers—talismans.

Wang Sheng’s interest was piqued. Mu Wanxuan fixed her eyes on the scene, unblinking.

These were things that they had never seen before since their master was not well-versed in the Dao of the Talismanic Arts and had never demonstrated them.

The two disciples simultaneously clasped the yellow talismans. In unison, they chanted, "Swift!"

The red inscriptions on the talismans flared to life, sending two flames bursting forward.

The performers reached out and pulled mahogany wood swords from the flames. They then stepped back, turned around, and swung their swords. Every move was practiced to perfection, as though they had rehearsed countless times.

As the wooden swords settled in their grasps, they began chanting incantations. The residual tongues of flame coiled around the blades, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. After a few elegant sword stances, they subtly shook their wrists, making their wooden swords and the fiery serpents vanish simultaneously.

They returned to their initial positions, stood side by side, and performed Daoist salutations to the surrounding audience.

That's it?

Wang Sheng blinked in disbelief. Why did he feel like he was just watching a roadside juggling act?

None of the sects seemed willing to display their actual Daoist arts in earnest.

Scattered applause began to ripple through the audience. Only then did the people start to realize that they should clap.

"That's it? That's the famed Daoist arts of Mount Mao?" someone asked in a deliberately exaggerated tone, making them sound as though they were pinching their nose. "Wow, so impressive! When I was a kid, I could watch seven tricks similar to that at the street market for one yuan, and they even gave me some change! What a fantastic way to represent the esteemed talisman sects."

The atmosphere instantly tensed up. The Daoist masters in attendance straightened their postures, their spiritual senses scanning for whoever was bold enough to make such snide remarks.

Noting down the speaker's relatively youthful tone, Wang Sheng also scanned the crowd for the culprit.

Shortly after, Mu Wanxuan lightly tugged on his arm and pointed discreetly toward a spot nearby. There, reclining on a long bench, was a young cultivator whose face was partially obscured.

"Interesting," Wang Sheng murmured with a faint smile.

Most of the attendees were young Daoist priests who had their hair neatly tied up, like Wang Sheng. Hence, the man's unconventional style stood out—ripped jeans; a light-blue T-shirt adorned with a skull design; and short, bristly hair.

Did he have some grudge against Mount Mao?

He had intentionally said "talisman sects," suggesting that he could be a disciple of the Longhu Mountains or Mount Gezao.

Wang Sheng regretted not paying attention earlier to identify the sect that the person represented. Now, he could only guess.

Hearing such blatant mockery, some of the cultivators from Mount Mao flushed with anger, while others merely furrowed their brows. Only a few elderly Daoist masters remained calm and indifferent. The Daoist elder who had spoken earlier lightly swished his fly-whisk, signaling the host to continue. Hence, despite his livid expression, the host had no choice but to ignore the taunts of the provocateur.

After all, what could Mount Mao do in response?

Like Mu Wanxuan, the highly experienced elders and even those at the Seed Formation Realm had already pinpointed the culprit. They could clearly see the young Daoist lounging on the bench. Several Daoist masters from Mount Mao even recognized him. Still, to confront a young member of Longhu Mountains so publicly would seem petty, especially before so many sects.

Moreover, the particular individual had recently gained notoriety within the Daoist community as a brazen troublemaker. Any action taken against him would likely backfire on Mount Mao, tarnishing their reputation further. Besides, they had truly given a lackluster demonstration. They didn't have much moral ground to stand on. For now, they could only silently note the incident. Perhaps later, they could send their younger disciples to "reason" with him.

Choosing to turn a blind eye, the Daoist masters of Mount Mao let the exchange meeting proceed as planned.

The two disciples who had demonstrated Mount Mao's Daoist arts retreated, their expressions tinged with embarrassment as they scanned the crowd for the source of the ridicule.

Maintaining a composed demeanor, the host smiled politely. "Which sect would like to demonstrate their Daoist arts next?"

"Mount Hua will go next," a Daoist master announced from the front of the hall. Several Mount Hua Daoist masters gathered their disciples, gave them a few brief instructions, and sent two of them into the arena.

The pair assumed their positions. One stood motionless, while the other approached slowly and then touched their companion's forehead with a finger.

An extraordinary sight followed: their expressions and movements became completely synchronized, making it seem as though they shared a single consciousness. Every subtle action was mirrored with uncanny precision.

Puppeteer arts?

With a flash of insight, Wang Sheng quickly realized that he was mistaken. His experience as a Daoist arts enthusiast in his previous life had broadened his horizons.

The technique that the Mount Hua disciples were supposedly demonstrating was Paper-Cut Shadow Puppetry, a legitimate Daoist technique. In its original form, it involved cutting out a paper figure, animating it into a human-like entity, and controlling it through spiritual means.

The technique required a high level of cultivation, making it impractical in this era. Hence, the pair had taken a clever shortcut. One relaxed their defenses and focused their mind, pretending to be a puppet; while the other used a manipulation technique. Still, their performance turned out to be great, albeit unsettling and eerie.

Several other sects in attendance also had the technique in their archives. Still, Mount Hua at least made an effort to showcase a secret technique.

Following Mount Mao and Mount Hua's lead, other sects began sending their disciples to demonstrate their Daoist arts. Most performances were superficial, revealing little of their true essence. Even so, the sects' array of techniques dazzled the crowd.

One cultivator held several small triangular flags. His hands danced with precision as he swayed, swiftly planting the flags around him one by one to create a formation that drew in the surrounding primal qi into a torrential surge.

Another cultivator had their fellow sect members carry over two wooden stakes with intricate formation patterns carved into them. After forming a hand seal, he chanted toward one of the stakes. With a loud puff, he vanished and then reappeared with another puff next to the other stake two meters away.

He had just showcased one of the legendary teleportation arts' techniques, handed down through generations of Daoist tradition.

All rights reserved. Imitators will be prosecuted.

Given the low cultivation levels of the Daoist masters' disciples, they couldn’t fully unleash the true power of the Daoist arts. However, it hardly mattered.

This was merely a demonstration—a glimpse into their profound Daoist heritage.