294: Chapter 0294 I'll Chop You Up First

The Daoist landed as light as a feather, as if he possessed no weight at all.

Lin Xiao's gaze narrowed. Even with his hundred-plus years of cultivation in the Dragon Soaring Steps, he could not achieve such exquisite finesse.

[Daoist Cang Zhu, 61 years old, Acting Sect Leader of the Daoist Sect. Aptitude: Heaven Grade, Wood Element Body]

[Cultivation Method 1: Green Wood Qi-Nurturing Formula (91 years of cultivation), one of the Five Great Mystic Arts of the Daoist Sect. Grade: Heaven Grade]

[Cultivation Method 2: Pure Void Shadow-Treading Steps (81 years of cultivation), a breath of pure void air, hiding one's shadow in the formless. Grade: Heaven Grade]

[Cultivation Method 3: Thunder-Fire Mystic Blade Art (79 years of cultivation), a top-tier blade technique of the Daoist Sect, exceptionally overbearing. Grade: Heaven Grade]

[Attributes: Pseudo-Grandmaster (Special), Daoist Sect Leader (Special), Gluttonous Disciple (Special)]

Lin Xiao remained expressionless on the surface, but inwardly, he was greatly shocked!

What's the situation? This Daoist's status panel is a bit overpowered!

He checked the system's explanation for the attributes:

“Pseudo-Grandmaster”: Has touched the threshold of the Grandmaster Realm and can forcibly use some of a Great Grandmaster's abilities through certain means.

“Gluttonous Disciple”: An obsession with fine food that far exceeds that of ordinary people.

Damn! The head of the Daoist Sect is a foodie!

"General Lin, I hope you won't be angry. This humble Daoist was just traveling through and happened to sense someone performing my sect's ultimate technique, 'All-Encompassing Phenomenon', so I approached out of curiosity."

Taoist Master Cangshuzi looked at Zhao Caiwei with a beaming smile. "I truly didn't expect such a young heroine to be able to cultivate the All-Encompassing Phenomenon to the Perfection Realm."

"It seems the heroine must be exceptionally gifted, possessing an aptitude for the Way of Object Manipulation that is hard for ordinary people to match."

Lin Xiao thought to himself that the head of the Daoist Sect lived up to his reputation; his eyesight was indeed sharp.

If it weren't for the system, he never would have imagined that a general's daughter would have a talent for flying daggers.

However, his claim that he just happened to be traveling through was definitely nonsense. How could there be such a coincidence in the world?

He had clearly been wanting to approach Lin Xiao all along. Seeing a 'reasonable' opportunity, he drew attention to himself to take the chance to enter the courtyard.

Zhao Caiwei stood up at this moment. Although her cultivation had increased greatly, the Daoist before her still seemed unfathomable, causing her to be secretly alarmed.

"Looking at your attire, Daoist, you wear the purple robes of the Daoist Sect. Those in purple robes are already the highest-ranking elders of the sect."

Zhao Caiwei asked curiously, "May I ask... which expert of the Daoist Sect are you?"

Taoist Master Cangshuzi stroked his beard and revealed a humble smile. "The heroine is too kind. This humble Daoist is Cang Zhu; I hardly deserve the title of 'expert'."

"What!?"

Zhao Caiwei exclaimed, "You are the current Sect Leader of the Daoist Sect, Daoist Cang Zhu!?"

It was no wonder she was so surprised. The leaders of the Five Great Sects were already pivotal figures in the martial world.

Their every word and action could decide the life or death of many martial artists, and even the survival of small and medium-sized sects.

Cang Zhu smiled and nodded, his eyes simultaneously looking toward Lin Xiao.

But he soon discovered that Lin Xiao's face was indifferent, as if he were looking at just some minor character in the martial world.

Cang Zhu felt a chill in his heart. What a God of War of the North; he truly lived up to his reputation.

Although he hadn't deliberately hidden himself just now, for Lin Xiao to discover him, his perception must be extremely high.

It was truly strange. How could someone so young have such cultivation?

"Your 'Pure Void Shadow-Treading Steps' are practiced quite well, Daoist. It would be better to use the front gate in the future; climbing over walls is, after all, the behavior of a petty thief."

Lin Xiao's mind was racing now. He had a feeling this guy was here for the white emperor thunder-fire seal.

That thing was not only related to lightning cultivation but was also a Heaven Grade treasure; there was no way he would hand it over easily.

In any case, it was hidden in his storage space, so the Daoist wouldn't find it. At worst, he would just play dumb.

Cang Zhu was shocked again. Just from his single jump, Lin Xiao had seen through the origin of his movement technique!?

"General Lin has good eyesight."

Lin Xiao still didn't look pleased. "Since you're just passing through by chance, if there's nothing else, you can leave. This General has official business and no time to entertain guests."

Cang Zhu was suddenly a bit embarrassed. As the dignified Sect Leader of the Daoist Sect, who wouldn't be polite when meeting him, or even kneel and kowtow?

This young general was something else, trying to drive him away as soon as he arrived?

Zhao Caiwei, on the other hand, looked at the man, her beautiful eyes sparkling with admiration.

The only person in the world who could speak to Daoist Cang Zhu like this was her husband!

"General Lin, this humble Daoist knows you have just taken the Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory and must have many things to attend to."

"But I have one matter I would like to consult the General about."

Lin Xiao looked impatient. "Since you have business with me, why bother with the nonsense about 'happening to travel through here'?"

"You're so old, how can you be so full of lies?! With behavior like this, do you even deserve to be a sect leader?"

Cang Zhu's face turned red from being scolded. He had been a prodigy since childhood, a Daoist child prodigy, a martial arts genius at eighteen, and entered the Grandmaster Realm at forty...

He had always been surrounded by people praising him. When had he ever been so humiliated!?

"General Lin is absolutely right. It was a lapse in this humble Daoist's speech just now. I hope you will forgive me."

Cang Zhu knew he was in the wrong, and since Lin Xiao clearly had extraordinarily high martial arts, he could only swallow his pride.

Lin Xiao thought to himself, this old Daoist can really endure, can't he?

He was hoping the guy would lose his temper so he could 'act in self-defense' and then kill him to silence him legitimately...

"Speak then, what is it?"

Cang Zhu's expression turned serious. "May I ask General Lin, did you see a slovenly Daoist in Yu Prefecture City a few days ago?"

"If there's no mistake, this Daoist should have been following the General in secret."

Lin Xiao put on a look of confusion. "What Daoist? Why would he follow me?"

"It's embarrassing to say, but this person is named 'Gou Qizi', known in the martial world as 'Daoist Mad Dog'. He is my fellow disciple."

"In order to practice a certain technique, he stole a treasure from our sect."

"However, this treasure went missing while he was passing through Jingmen. And coincidentally, General Lin's Zhenbei Army was in Jingmen at that time..."

Daoist Cang Zhu observed Lin Xiao's reaction as he spoke...

"Son of a bitch! You stinking Daoist! Who are you calling a thief?!"

Lin Xiao didn't even wait for him to finish before he started cursing!

"I, Lin, may come from a humble background, but I have read the books of sages since childhood. I only abandoned the brush for the sword to protect my country!"

"You didn't guard your own Daoist treasure well and let someone steal it, and now you're saying I stole it!?"

Zhao Caiwei was also very unhappy hearing this. In her heart, her husband was a great hero and a man of integrity!

During the battle of Jingmen, Lin Xiao had used his noble character and invincible martial power to conquer countless soldiers of the White King's Army and the Yan King's Army.

That was a glorious and unforgettable memory in Zhao Caiwei's heart. How could it be allowed to be defiled!?

"Daoist, you have no evidence. How can you make such wild conjectures!?"

"My husband went to Jingmen to help us fight against the rebel Prince Bai. Why would he steal your things!?"

Cang Zhu hurriedly smiled and explained, "General Lin, heroine, please do not be angry. This humble Daoist was only..."

"No need for more words!! You are just making things up to ruin my, Lin Xiao's, reputation!!"

Lin Xiao gave him no chance to explain. His eyes were wide with anger and filled with killing intent as he directly pulled out his black blade!

"A mere martial sect dares to slander me, the officially appointed General of the North!?"

"You are not only insulting me, Lin Xiao, but you are also insulting the current Emperor and the more than two hundred thousand soldiers of the Zhenbei Army!!"

"Stinking Daoist, I'll cleave you to death first, then report to the imperial court to wipe out your Daoist Sect!!"