Chapter 77 Invitation

"By the way, has that Disciple from the Shangqing Sect arrived in Chang'an yet?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Jiang Chen entered Chang'an five days ago and is currently residing in Changshou Ward," an Imperial Agent stepped forward to report.

"Summon him to the palace tomorrow. I want to take a good look and see what kind of extraordinary qualities this little Disciple of the Immortal Master possesses."

Although he was honored as the ruler of the nation and had assembled talented and extraordinary people from all over the world, he had to admit that when it came to the refinement of Daoist arts and high levels of cultivation, the people in the imperial court still could not compare to these practitioners of the Mystic sects, let alone the Maoshan Sect.

"Your Majesty, this action may be inappropriate," Gao Lishi said.

"What is inappropriate about it?"

"Right now, extraordinary people and masters from all over the world are gathering in Chang'an. If Your Majesty summons only the Disciple of the Maoshan Sect into the palace, it will inevitably draw the attention of the world, and at that time, there may be controversy."

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang thought for a moment and nodded.

"That is indeed true. Then first go and ask if he has any needs in Chang'an; satisfy all of them. As for other matters, let us wait until the banquet begins to see."

The next day, an unexpected person arrived at Jiang Chen's door. It was Zhang Zhongjian.

Zhang Zhongjian's spirits appeared somewhat low, and even his red beard had not been well-groomed.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, have you finished meeting your old friend?"

"I have finished meeting them. The voice and appearance of the old friend still linger."

Jiang Chen was startled, realizing something, "My condolences."

"It is nothing. Who in the end is not just a handful of yellow earth?" Zhang Zhongjian appeared very carefree, as if the previous depression had been swept away.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, is there something you need today by coming here?"

The two walked into the courtyard, and Jiang Chen poured a cup of tea for Zhang Zhongjian.

Zhang Zhongjian looked at the old locust tree with some surprise.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, this old locust tree has really benefited from your light!"

With his cultivation, he could naturally see at a glance that this old locust tree had been tainted with quite a lot of Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence over these days, and even possessed the Dao rhyme from when Jiang Chen Cultivated.

If it did not die midway, it would have hope of turning into a demon in the future.

Since ancient times, spirits of plants and trees were naturally harder to turn into demons than those born from moisture or eggs.

Even if this large locust tree had obtained an Opportunity, it would take at least several hundred years before it could open its spiritual wisdom and turn into a demon.

Zhang Zhongjian drank a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I came here because there are two things I would like to ask for your help with."

"Please speak freely."

Zhang Zhongjian picked up the long sword in his hand and stroked it with a sense of reminiscence.

"The first matter is this sword. This sword is named Jinghong. Its original owner was also a person who was half in the Mortal World and half in the Dao. Now that she is gone, when I leave Chang'an, I would like to leave it with you to find a suitable owner for it in the future."

Jiang Chen understood clearly. Saying it was for him to keep was actually a disguised way of giving it to him.

Although the quality of this sword was far inferior to the Maoshan Dharma Sword, it was still extraordinary and was a fine Magical Artifact.

"As for this second matter."

Speaking of this, Zhang Zhongjian's gaze suddenly became sharp, as if in an instant he had become that great hero walking the Mortal World, cutting down traitors and eliminating evil.

"In a few days, I would like to invite you to go with me to eliminate a demon!"

Jiang Chen's gaze immediately became deep.

One who could make Zhang Zhongjian ask for help, unexpectedly, this demon should be in or near Chang'an, and its strength was definitely not trivial.

"To tell you the truth, Fellow Daoist Jiang, this demon has extraordinary strength, has a grudge against me, and is good at playing with human hearts. I asked you to go with me, also harboring a selfish motive. If it goes against your principles, Fellow Daoist, I will absolutely not force you!"

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, you speak too seriously. Eliminating demons and subduing monsters is the duty of our generation, which we cannot shirk. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will go with you, Fellow Daoist."

"Good, at that time I will respectfully await your arrival, Fellow Daoist!"

Jiang Chen watched Zhang Zhongjian leave, looking at the sword left on the stone table.

"Clang!"

He unsheathed a section, and saw the sword body flashing with black light, unstained by dust. The sharp sword blade, even across the air, could faintly sting one's skin.

A fallen leaf dropped from the treetop and gently grazed the blade of this sword.

It was seen that the fallen leaf was split into two from the blade without any resistance, and then slowly drifted down, with the process being as smooth as flowing clouds and water, without the slightest stagnation.

"Jinghong, it really is a good sword!"

The grade of this sword was probably not lower than the sixth grade, and its main characteristic focused on sharpness.

But Jiang Chen suddenly shook his head, sighing in his heart.

No matter how heroic a person was, they occasionally appeared less than upright.

Zhang Zhongjian asking him to eliminate the demon together, Jiang Chen did not think it was because of his own strength.

Regarding strength, Zhang Zhongjian's Mystic Light was at the peak, and he had entered the Dao through martial arts; although he was confident he could suppress him, it was not an absolute crushing, and Zhang Zhongjian had never fought him, so naturally, he could not know Jiang Chen's depth.

Although the two had interacted, strictly speaking, it was just a chance encounter; handing the sword to him and asking him to eliminate the demon was already crossing the line of their shallow acquaintance.

However, regardless of what calculations Zhang Zhongjian had, if it was just calculating against him alone, that would be fine, but if he wanted to drag the Maoshan Sect into it, then he would have to ask if he agreed.

Jiang Chen had just started to Cultivate when he opened his eyes again.

Immediately after, a knock on the door sounded again at the main gate outside the room.

As his consciousness flowed, a scene flashed through Jiang Chen's mind.

Outside the door stood a line of guards and ceremonial attendants, and the leader was an old acquaintance.

Wang Chongxian, who had previously come to the Maoshan Sect to deliver the imperial edict, was now standing outside the door, quietly waiting for Jiang Chen to come out.

Creak!

Jiang Chen opened the main gate, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw that on the road outside the courtyard, quite a few households were poking their heads out, looking over here.

"Official Wang, what is the matter?"

"His Majesty heard that Daoist Priest Jiang has arrived in Chang'an and specially sent this servant to ask you, Daoist, if there are any items you need to prepare in Chang'an; just hand it over to this servant to handle."

"No need, thank you on my behalf for the Saint's kindness."

Wang Chongxian was annoyed in his heart, but his face did not show any anger.

"Since that is the case, this servant will go back to report to His Majesty first."

"I will not see you out."

After Wang Chongxian turned and left, his face became slightly twisted and ferocious.

This person was indeed as rude as those madmen of the Maoshan Sect, not putting him, an imperial envoy, in his eyes at all.

However, when he returned to the palace, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang asked Wang Chongxian to recount the situation at that time in detail, and he did not dare to add oil or vinegar, just reporting it truthfully, not daring to change even a single word.

"Oh? Did he really say that?"

"It is absolutely true, Your Majesty."

After Wang Chongxian finished speaking, he secretly observed Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's expression.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had no expression on his face, and his eyes were also calm, showing no emotion.

However, as a close minister of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Wang Chongxian knew quite a lot about Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

With Emperor Xuanzong of Tang looking like this, he might not necessarily be angry in his heart, but it was definitely not a sign of happiness.

So he deliberated for a moment before saying: "Your Majesty, this person is indeed rude."

Gao Lishi, standing beside Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, was somewhat surprised. This Wang Chongxian usually seemed quite smart, so why was he so ignorant of propriety today?

Sure enough.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang took a meaningful look at Wang Chongxian, which immediately made Wang Chongxian break out in a cold sweat.

He quickly knelt down: "Your Majesty, this servant misspoke, this servant is guilty!"

"You are indeed guilty. Are Disciples of the Maoshan Sect someone you can criticize?"

Wang Chongxian was completely terrified, crying with tears and snots, knocking his head against the ground with a clanging sound: "Your Majesty, spare my life, this servant knows his guilt, this servant knows his guilt!"

"Alright, get up. Do not say these words again."

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's gaze was deep as he looked at a memorial on the dragon desk, not knowing what he was thinking.