Ch. 1090 - Zhou Ming, The Dao Gathering

“If you keep this up, I’ll report you to the tower master,” the maid said impatiently. “I’ve never seen anyone cause trouble inside the Primeval Tower.”

“Perhaps my words sound forceful, but I’ll give you two choices,” Xu Zimo replied calmly. “Either you give me a jar of Immortal Brew and I’ll owe you a favor. Or I’ll simply take it.”

“If Immortal Brew Chamber doesn’t have any, then there’s none. Even if you try to rob us, you won’t get it,” the maid said, taking a deep breath. “At this time, Immortal Brew Chamber isn’t brewing wine at all.”

“Don’t trouble her, friend,” just then, the door of a nearby private room opened.

On its plaque were the three characters: Imperial Crown Island.

From inside walked a middle-aged man who carried an air of authority, with two attendants following behind him.

“Immortal Brew Chamber hasn’t been peaceful lately. They don’t have any Immortal Brew. If you want to drink, go upstairs and look. If someone has stock, you might be able to trade with them.”

“Do you have any?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I don’t,” the middle-aged man shook his head, “but I can take you upstairs.”

“Thanks,” Xu Zimo replied.

Together, they walked up to the higher floors of the Primeval Tower.

The maid snorted coldly and slammed the window shut.

“Brother, how should I address you?” the middle-aged man asked.

“Xu Zimo.”

“Zhou Ming of Imperial Crown Island,” the man said with a smile, introducing himself.

Xu Zimo gave a slight nod.

“Brother Xu has never heard of my name?” Zhou Ming chuckled.

Xu Zimo shook his head. “Is it supposed to be famous?”

“Then it seems this must be your first time in North River,” Zhou Ming said with a smile and a shake of his head.

While they talked, the two of them had already arrived at the upper floors of the Primeval Tower.

Xu Zimo glanced around. This floor looked more like a gathering hall.

Many tables were laid out, each filled with spiritual fruits and wondrous pills.

All around, people were engaged in conversation.

Each one carried powerful cultivation; their spiritual energy was unfathomable, immeasurable.

“In North River City, many people know one another. They often host Dao Gatherings like this, a place for exchanging insights, debating, and discussing the Grand Dao,” Zhou Ming explained with a smile.

Xu Zimo nodded slightly.

The higher one climbed in cultivation, the more it depended on enlightenment.

And enlightenment came in many forms, listening to the Dao of others, or exchanging Daoist methods.

All of it had benefits.

There were even legendary examples.

In the Middle Ages, it was said that the Holy Progenitor of the Heavenly Court once gave a Dao sermon on Sacred Ancestor Mountain. For three days he spoke. The skies rained down boundless radiance, blazing suns rose into the heavens, celestial cranes flew in from afar, and divine dragons soared through the world. On the ground, plants and trees blossomed wildly. What had been an ordinary mountain became, within three days, a fairyland and cave-dwelling.

When the sermon ended, all directions bowed in reverence, the four seas celebrated, and endless celestial rain fell from the heavens. That Dao Gathering reportedly helped tens of thousands break through, with thirty thousand members of the Abyss Devil Race kneeling in worship.

The Holy Progenitor’s might spread across the Nine Heavens in an instant.

Further back still, in the era before the Middle Ages, the Ancient Times, the God-Devil Saint Sovereign attained the Infinite Dao Realm, and thus ruled that age.

When he achieved his Dao, he too spoke for three days.

The Primal God Race and Abyss Devil Race alike stood in silence for three days, their blood dyeing the sky red to form a barrier, forbidding other races from approaching. For them, those three days were worth more than a thousand years of cultivation.

Of course, this so-called “Abyss Devil Race” was not the same as Xu Zimo’s Ancient Demon Race, another tale for another time.

………

At that moment, Xu Zimo looked toward the crowd gathered at the center.

He and Zhou Ming sat off to the side, with Zhou Ming introducing people one by one.

Most present were wanderer cultivators, rogue cultivators who resided in North River City.

The great powers were not allowed to rule here.

Nor could they.

This place was like ownerless land, yet everyone lived in harmony.

“Island Master Zhou,” someone came over to greet Zhou Ming.

“Sage of Fortune,” Zhou Ming rose with a smile.

“It’s been a long time. Your Calamity-Avoiding Fortune Technique seems to have improved.”

“I hear Imperial Crown Island has been making moves toward Tranquil. Don’t forget me when the time comes,” the Sage of Fortune laughed.

Zhou Ming nodded slightly, then gestured to Xu Zimo with a smile: “Allow me to introduce, this is Brother Xu Zimo. He’s here in search of a jar of Immortal Brew. Sage of Fortune, would you happen to know where one might be found?”

“If I hear anything, I’ll be sure to tell you,” the Sage of Fortune said with polite courtesy, though his interest in Xu Zimo was clearly minimal. Still, he offered a smile out of respect.

After the Daoist left, Xu Zimo looked at Zhou Ming and asked, “Why are you helping me?”

“I want to make you my friend,” Zhou Ming said with a smile. “I’ve wandered far and wide for many years. I can read most people at a glance. To be frank, I believe befriending you is no loss.”

“Gentlemen, apologies for being late,” just then, someone strode up from the stairway.

A young man in white robes, his voice carrying loudly enough to overshadow the chatter in the hall.

“Brother Golden-Wheel, this Dao Gathering was your idea. Coming last is hardly proper!”

“That’s right! You owe us a few cups as punishment!”

“I’ve heard Brother Golden-Wheel has been busy with official matters lately. I wanted to pester you but didn’t dare disturb.”

The crowd greeted the newcomer with smiles and laughter.

It was obvious this young man held high status. Everyone was eager to show goodwill.

“Who is that?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.

“Prince Golden-Wheel,” Zhou Ming said with little enthusiasm. “Just a street commoner.”

“A street commoner can enter a place like this?” Xu Zimo chuckled.

“He was a street commoner in Tranquil, mingling with the lowest rungs of society. Later, he turned out to be the illegitimate son of an almighty being. Naturally, his status rose,” Zhou Ming explained with a smile.

He didn’t spell it out, but the meaning was clear.

Ultimately, he was still not a figure of true substance.

Some attached themselves to him, hoping to curry favor with the great man behind him.

Others, like Zhou Ming, looked down on him.

“Then that so-called great figure must be extraordinary,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.

“He carries an Imperial Title, what do you think?” Zhou Ming replied.

An Imperial Title. That meant a Grand Emperor.

………

“Does anyone know where Senior Mist Prime is now?” someone asked.

“My father is at Grand Mist Mountain. He asked me to tell you all, one month from now, he will preach the Dao there,” Prince Golden-Wheel announced with a smile.

Though his tone was not overtly arrogant, the sense of superiority was unmistakable.

Having a Grand Emperor for a father was something others could envy, but never match.

“Please thank Senior Mist Prime for us. We’ll certainly attend,” someone replied with a smile.

A Grand Emperor’s sermon might not rival that of a Saint Sovereign, but it was still a rare and precious opportunity.

Even for them, it would bring great benefit.

“Does anyone know where Fairy Moon-Pluck is now?” Prince Golden-Wheel asked as he scanned the room.

“Fairy Moon-Pluck isn’t here. We don’t know either,” someone nearby replied with an awkward smile.

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