Mutated Tao

Chapter 775: Underground

Lu Xiucai wasn’t quite sure about what they wanted. However, he recognized the Profound Records in the man’s hands, so he had a good guess about who they were. He was no longer a youngster who knew nothing about the world. “You guys are… from the Ao Jing sect?”

“Pleased to meet you. I am Zu Yi.” Zu Yi shook Lu Xiucai’s hands.

“I am Lu Xiucai. Is there a reason you were looking for me? And what did you mean by ‘fated’?”

Zu Yi smiled and sat down next to Lu Xiucai with the other Ao Jing Sect members. He looked at Lu Xiucai’s battle-worn body and said, “That’s not the proper way of using the Profound Records, but your talent is undeniable. Did someone teach you how to use the Profound Records?”

“My Master.”

“I don’t think your Master is from the Ao Jing Sect, is he?” Zu Yi probed.

Lu Xiucai didn’t answer. He was unsure what they were trying to do, so he didn’t want to reveal too much.

“You’ve used the Profound Records and show no signs of stopping despite your body already being like this,” Zu Yi explained. “That means your potential is very high. I am here to invite you to join us. That’s what I meant by fate.”

Lu Xiucai thought they were bluffing since they were very direct. “I am happy you wish to recruit me, but I must respectfully decline. I am currently a disciple of the White Lotus Sect.”

Lu Xiucai remained silent. Only then did Zu Yi reveal some benefits to him.

“You’re already like this. Are you afraid of someone taking advantage of you? Have you ever wondered why I still have all of my limbs while you only have a single arm left? As I said before, you’re not using the Profound Records correctly. We have methods to regenerate your limbs in our sect. Have you ever seen any of us missing a limb?"

Lu Xiucai's eyes widened in realization. He still remembered how his Master regenerated his wounds and severed limbs. It must’ve been a technique of the Ao Jing Sect!

“Will you teach me?” Lu Xiucai wanted that power. If he could use it just like his Master did, he could regenerate his wounds and kill more members of the Dharma Sect. His power would increase too.

Zu Yi chuckled when he heard Lu Xiucai’s sincere plea. “You need to ascend. The Profound Records is the martial technique of Immortals. If you retain your mortality and do not ascend, you can only use the methods listed in it for a limited amount of time.”

“Ascend? Do you mean the Cang-Qiang Ascension?”Lu Xiucai recalled seeing it in the Profound Records before, but the conditions were too harsh.

Zu Yi shook his head. “It’s not limited to that. While the Cang-Qiang Ascension is useful, you might not be able to do it. There are different levels of ascension. The Profound Records is a versatile technique, but it’s not the only one we have in the sect.”

“Oh, then what other techniques do you have, if I dare ask?” Lu Xiucai was intrigued. He knew too little about the Ao Jing Sect. The only thing he knew about the Ao Jing Sect was that it was unlike other sects—its members didn't need to read or have good comprehension skills. This was very helpful for him.

Zu Yi didn’t tell him. “As long as you join us, we will naturally tell you.”

Lu Xiucai frowned. He looked down, noting his own battered appearance. He decided to join the Ao Jing Sect.

He was already so broken that there was nothing the others could want from his body. The only thing he could do now was kill more Dharma Sect members, and he was ready to pay any price to do so. “Fine, I will join the Ao Jing Sect!”

“Talking here isn’t convenient. Let’s go back to the Cross Temple and discuss more.”

Lu Xiucai grabbed his modao and was about to stand up when Zu Yi stopped him. “Since you want to join us, you cannot move around like that anymore. You’ve used the Profound Records before, so you should know how we do things, right?”

“But senior… I don’t have legs. How should I walk?”

Lu Xiucai screamed when a sharpened wooden stick was stabbed into him to act as his amputated left leg.

After that was the right leg.

Lu Xiucai, who had lost both legs, stood up once more with wooden sticks as legs instead. The pain was unbearable, causing him to tremble and his face to turn pale.

They were looking at Lu Xiucai when he gritted his teeth. “You go first. I will follow you!”

Lu Xiucai had just taken a step with his right leg when the wooden stick sank deeper. Blood flowed down the stick.

However, Lu Xiucai did not hesitate. He saw it as a trial.

“Alright, we will wait for you in the temple.” Zu Yi had no intention of waiting for Lu Xiucai. He brought the others and exited the screen before leaving the Surveillance Bureau.

Just then, one of the individuals behind Zu Yi asked, “Elder, are you sure about this? He may be Li Huowang’s disciple, but it’s possible that Li Huowang doesn’t favor him.”

Zu Yi glared at him. “Just do your job. You have no right to question the grand elders.”

The man lowered his face and remained silent.

Unbeknownst to them, Li Huowang was walking through a narrow corridor just fifteen meters below them.

Even with no one around, Li Huowang could still clearly feel the gazes of others. This was the core of the Surveillance Bureau’s temporary base. Their sentries and traps were merely invisible, not absent.

As Li Huowang reached a bamboo door, it opened by itself. On the other side of the door was a spacious underground hall with torches on the side.

Li Huowang found the person he was looking for in the middle of the hall. It was Zhang Tan, the Chief who temporarily took on Xuan Pin’s mantle.

Several burly men were holding up four bamboo poles wrapped in red cloth. They held it in a way that made the poles cross each other in the middle.

Zhang Tan was jumping on the poles as he performed a Nuo Opera with music.

Li Huowang had seen a lot of operas and performances thanks to the Lu family, but he couldn’t bring himself to think that the one Zhang Tan was performing was a show.

Zhang Tan was still wearing a large wooden mask, which covered his body. He twisted his body in a way that no normal person could do. He effortlessly hopped onto an elastic bamboo pole.

Sometimes, Zhang Tan brought both arms together behind him. Sometimes, he hooked his right foot on the bamboo pole and twirled.

Just then, the drum sounds became faster. Two figures, one black and one white, hopped onto the bamboo pole.

Li Huowang was surprised since he recognized them. They were the Lion Dances that he had fought before!