Beware Of Chicken Chapter 296 v7c43: A Tao Tale

Tao the Traveller, a seasoned aficionado of tournaments, a worldly wanderer, and certainly no mere fabulist—though he did occasionally polish the details of his more tedious accounts—found himself anchored at a Chao Baozi stall in the aptly named Dueling Town of the Azure Hills. He awaited his contact while his gaze swept across the bustling eatery. The establishment was adorned with intricate carvings depicting cultivators demonstrating feats of immense strength, mirroring the diverse assembly of practitioners from various sects who mingled and conversed throughout the room.

Ordinarily, the atmosphere would be thick with hostility. Rival sects would cast venomous glares from across the floor, where a solitary slight might ignite a conflict that threatened to escalate into a broader skirmish.

Such moments birthed the most gripping sagas. The ebb and flow of animosity, the clandestine maneuvers orchestrated by Elders—this was the crucible where luminaries among the budding generation emerged or faded into obscurity. These were the chronicles he relished weaving, commanded by rapt audiences in silent inns, where every word of his dramatic narration held listeners captive.

Yet, today, no tension permeated the air, nor were there rivalries smoldering toward a violent outburst. Here, tranquility reigned.

And frankly, that nuance provided its own fodder for a compelling narrative.

Tao had always harbored a preference for lower-rank cultivators; one could track their movements with the naked eye, rather than struggling to parse flashes of motion that required playback via recording crystals. Watching their maneuvers in real-time rendered the tournaments immensely more satisfying.

He found equal fascination in observing their tactical designs. While a grand masterstroke spanning five centuries possessed a certain majesty, there was an visceral quality to the immediate, shifting landscape of the weak. Their maneuvers unfolded within a mortal lifespan, allowing Tao to analyze, forecast, and immortalize their exploits in tale.

This curiosity had drawn him back to the Azure Hills. Things were occurring here; significant, intriguing developments. Many observers had anticipated open warfare given such a dense gathering of cultivators.

Instead, they found harmony. A peace rooted in a clandestine reason, guarded from the public eye. But Tao was privy to the facts: led by Cai Xiulan, the sects had forged an alliance and commenced a period of cooperation.

Coalitions among sects were not unheard of, particularly in the shadow of events like the Shrouded Mountain Sect disaster, yet they were usually fleeting affairs, inevitably undone by petty fractional discord.

And yet, this alliance had flourished well beyond its inaugural year. If anything, their synergy only deepened. Their patrols moved with an interlocking grace, akin to a youthful dancer shedding inhibition to synchronize perfectly with their partner.

It possessed a certain sweetness, observing those tentative initial steps blossom into confident coordination; the outcome was indisputable. Every soul he interviewed echoed the same sentiment: the Azure Hills had never been more secure.

Had it ended there, the tale would have been reduced to simplistic "virtuous cultivators shielding the common folk." Yet, a far more compelling shift was underway.

They were ascending in power.

At first, Tao had discarded the thought. The occasional banquet in honor of a disciple reaching a breakthrough was hardly a rarity in more prosperous provinces. Then, the reality of the Azure Hills dawned on him. Some sects were so meager they accepted mortals as disciples. A breakthrough usually warranted a celebration encompassing the entire sect. During his previous tour, Tao had noted only three such gatherings.

Now, having returned to the Azure Hills for six months, he had heard of nearly twenty. While most occurred at the transition from the First Stage of the Initiate's Realm to the Second, the fact that such progression transpired at all in this Qi-starved region was staggering.

It exuded the scent of a legendary story. Through his customary sources, Tao heard murmurs of demonic incursions and the involvement of not only the Cloudy Sword Sect but also the Soaring Heaven's Isle Sect.

It was utterly fantastical! Anyone else relaying such a tale would be dismissed as a charlatan, yet every indicator suggested the reality. Rumors even persisted of an Elder from the Cloudy Sword Sect visiting the Dueling Peaks. Tao would have dismissed it as nonsense, but the locals were clearly readying themselves for an arrival of grand importance. It felt like a convergence of the most formidable figures.

Tao could hardly wait to witness the spectacle. What an extraordinary and wondrous era this was!

"Apologies! I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long, Tao!" A voice severed Tao's train of thought. He flashed a smile as he turned to his contact—or rather, his friend.

"It is no bother at all, Gou Ren! Consuming fine bao and whiling away the hours is hardly an inconvenience!" He gestured to the youth, who took the seat beside him. A few monkeys, having entered with the boy, approached the counter to place their own orders. The proprietor, now well-versed in the quirks of these primates, prepared their preferred vegetarian buns, which clearly possessed excellent flavor.

"Helps that I am buying, naturally," the youth replied with a good-natured jab.

Tao chuckled, raising a meat bun in a salute. "Has it ever served as a hindrance?" he inquired.

"Not in my experience," Gou Ren replied, claiming some buns for himself. They exchanged pleasantries for a few moments before the youth produced a journal, shifting the talk to the purpose of their meeting.

Tournaments.

Specifically, tournament venues.

Tao had first crossed paths with Gou Ren two years prior during a tournament, back when the lad possessed absolutely zero knowledge of the Realms of Cultivation.

He had remained remarkably polite and gracious throughout their initial meeting, and his brother held a fascinating recording crystal that only showed still images. Tao had eventually acquired one himself, though he had initially dismissed the encounter as a fleeting, ordinary exchange.

However, upon Tao's return to the Dueling Peaks, they encountered each other by chance. The young man, now markedly taller and broader than before, treated him to a meal in gratitude for the guidance Tao had once offered.

Tao accepted, and their talk spanned many subjects, with Gou Ren listening with intense focus to descriptions of tournaments elsewhere. It was a pleasant dinner, leading to subsequent invitations, each time deepening the dialogue. It encompassed not merely the grand battles, but the smaller, human side of the events and the spectator experience.

Initially, Tao assumed he was simply enlightening an enthusiast, until Gou Ren brought along Tie Delun, the Ironskin, to one of their sessions. It was then that Tao discovered Gou Ren was a fixture of the Dueling Peaks Restoration Commission and the husband of Liu Xianghua, Sect Master of the Misty Lake Sect.

The leap in status was utterly absurd. From a man ignorant of cultivation to the partner of a Sect Master!

More astonishing was that those responsible for reconstructing the Dueling Peaks were soliciting his council on their design.

What an incredible feather in his cap! He, Tao the Traveller, served as a consultant for cultivators. A consultant! How magnificent!

To think, his passion for lower-tier competitions would result in this. Tao understood he wasn't permitted unlimited access to the heart of the mountain, yet through his dialogues with Gou Ren, he gleaned fascinating tidbits about the goings-on within the Dueling Peaks. Mostly minor matters—fortifications being erected or repairs conducted following a Qi Anomaly—yet today, Tao intended to test his luck.

"And then they route the visual feed from the recording crystals to remote locations beyond the arena. It is immensely popular, though such formations and crystal arrays are rather costly," Tao concluded.

Gou Ren gave a solemn nod. "Yes, we were fairly certain that was the purpose of those lines, but having confirmation is useful," he murmured before shaking his head. "My thanks again, Tao."

Tao nodded. "Always a pleasure. Though… I must confess, the pervasive tension makes the atmosphere quite uneasy. Is this all regarding an important visitor?"

Gou Ren hesitated. "Oh, indeed. Jin is arriving. Practically here, in fact."

Tao's mind raced. That name again—the individual responsible for halting the Shrouded Mountain Sect! The man about whom the Plum Blossom's Shadow remained so tight-lipped! Was this Hidden Master truly an affiliate of the Cloudy Sword Sect?

"I assume he will prefer all outsiders cleared from the town? He seems a recluse, after all…" Tao probed.

Gou Ren mulled the question over. "Unlikely, to be honest. He dislikes disrupting the lives of others. If the choice were his, he would likely arrive without fanfare… but Xiulan insisted that at least a modicum of ceremony is necessary."

"It seems like an unprecedented event!" Tao exclaimed. A powerful cultivator visiting the sects here? Could he be the catalyst for their sudden increase in potency? Oh, what an enthralling riddle!

"Is it really?" Gou Ren asked, sounding amused. "Well, you are welcome to observe, if you like. Your insights regarding the latrines spared us significant headaches…"

Tao beamed.

Truly, luck was the ultimate commodity.

==============================

And thus, the following day, Tao stood amidst a dense assembly within the Earthly Arena. Members of the Framed Sun Sect had arrived before dawn with a singular notification.

"He approaches."

Consequently, massive swaths of fabric, emblazoned with the character for Azure, were unveiled. They cascaded down the slopes of the Dueling Peaks and adorned the interior of the Earthly Arena.

The western road was cleared, and representatives from every sect stood in silence, hands clasped behind their backs, awaiting his arrival.

The arena was packed to capacity. Virtually everyone was in attendance. Disciples, the Spiritual Ascension Affairs personnel, and even the Elders of every sect. They formed a united front, waiting for the arrival, led by none other than Cai Xiulan herself, the Grand Marshal.

The wait did not persist long.

A long, undulating form descended from the firmament, leaving Tao utterly breathless.

A dragon! An actual dragon, here in the Azure Hills! His scales shimmered in a regal, majestic blue; four toes graced each foot, signaling his princely lineage. The arena erupted into murmurs and gasps as cultivators gawked in reverence.

Tao had encountered three dragons in his lifetime. This specimen was undoubtedly the smallest, yet witnessing a beast of such caliber not as a mere dark omen in a storm, but in clear daylight, was profound.

The dragon alighted with effortless precision, his dominance over the air absolute. His noble gaze fixed upon Cai Xiulan, whiskers rippling in the breeze.

"I convey a message from my Master to the Sects of the Azure Hills. He respectfully requests permission to grace your mountain with his presence."

The words resonated throughout the arena, despite his lack of shouting.

"He is most welcome. Let no obstacle impede his path," Cai Xiulan proclaimed. The dragon offered a regal nod. "Would you care for some refreshment, Master Dragon? We have wine and water, though I fear the main feast must wait until all have arrived."

The dragon, initially quite enthusiastic, seemed to deflate, appearing… mildly disappointed. Tao furrowed his brow, a surge of concern taking root, yet Cai Xiulan remained composed. In fact, her lips twitched as if she were wrestling to conceal a smile at the sight of the sulking dragon. A whispered remark from the woman seemed to salvage his mood, if only partially.

The wait was brief but charged with intense anticipation. The air crackled with electricity. Tao wondered how the master would make his descent—from the clouds, or perhaps on a stroke of lightning?

Neither proved accurate.

A silhouette materialized down the road: a carriage. A grand vehicle, to be sure, pulled by a remarkably sturdy ox. Yet it appeared rather mundane compared to the ostentatious arrivals favored by cultivators elsewhere. There were no soaring swords or spectral manifestations.

The assembly raised their instruments. Lady Xinling of the White Water Sect commenced play on her guzheng. Flutes and drums joined in, each note rendered with mastery.

Initially, Tao felt a flicker of disappointment that such grand fanfare heralded a man arriving in such humble style. There sat a man, presiding over the reins of his cart. He appeared distinctly mortal. Without the heraldry of a dragon, he would be entirely unremarkable.

That impression vanished the moment the carriage crossed the threshold of the Earthly Arena.

The entire structure shuddered. Ancient characters inscribed upon the Thunder of the Earth ignited of their own volition, the burnished disk glowing like a second sun. Luminescent lights, unique to each element, suddenly flared along the arena walls, radiating with growing intensity.

Every eye turned toward him. The total focus rested on a man who, at first glance, appeared so simple.

He descended from the carriage and gazed upon the assembled cultivators of the Azure Hills.

The gong, struck by the Elders, reverberated across the arena. It sounded different than any strike Tao had heard before. It was deeper, richer, and flooded the soul with a tranquil strength that left Tao feeling as if he were capable of tackling the world.

The arena floor itself shifted. Flagstones gave way to earth—and from that earth, grass took root and flowers bloomed. Tao noticed no sign of Bao Wen manipulating his control rod to coordinate these transformations. How was this possible?

Several Elders appeared utterly dazed. The Master of the Grand Ravine Sect looked on the verge of collapsing to his knees, prevented only by the support of his son and grandson.

Cai Xiulan stood unwavering.

The carriage door swung open. A woman reached out to take the Master's hand. A dainty woman… whose gaze was sharp and piercing. She was joined by another, adorned with fox ears and a tail, cradling a babe. Three others followed—a man in the regalia of a Lord Magistrate alongside two more women, one possessing her own fox ears—as the ox unhitched himself to stand at the side of the formidable Expert.

For a heartbeat, total silence reigned.

Every cultivator present bowed their heads in unison.

"We pay our respects to Master Rou!" they collectively declared, a simultaneous tribute from every power within the Hills.

The Great Expert received them with grace.

"Grand Marshal. Esteemed Elders of the Azure Hills. I thank you for your hospitable welcome. It is gratifying to convene under such circumstances, rather than the nature of our previous encounter."

His voice filled the arena, warm and sonorous. His commentary was light and grounding, drawing genuine chuckles from the crowd. They had previously met when the Shrouded Mountain Sect nearly provoked a war; this was a significantly more pleasant meeting.

The man possessed immense skill. Just as one would expect from an ancient, legendary expert!

Tao frantically cataloged every detail. The gravitas was palpable, the moment truly profound… yes, this was the fabric of a legendary narrative.

The singular tragedy was that no one would believe him. As always!