This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 252 Clash of the Ancient and the Modern
The next morning, Xiong Xuguang, who had stayed up very late the night before, still got up early with his senior brother.

Now that he has officially begun his cultivation, Xiong Xuguang feels that his energy is becoming more and more vigorous, and staying up late has no effect on him.

Before dawn, dozens of people had already rushed to the location of the crater, including Taoist priests from other temples and the dozen or so warriors.

The others had already split up and gone in different directions, while on Xiong Xuguang and Du Jinxuan's side, a dozen soldiers jogged over, and Wu Le'an was the first to arrive, stand still, and salute.

"Reconnaissance platoon is complete. Requesting instructions!"

Du Jinxuan was already used to it, while Xiong Xuguang looked helpless, but he respected the soldiers' training habits, just as his teacher respected him.

Unless absolutely necessary, maintaining routine training initially can reduce soldiers' anxiety.

Xiong Xuguang also bowed and gave instructions.

"Wu Le, please follow me. The rest of you, disperse and prepare to search for the spiritual dew after the rooster crows. Be sure to pinch green leaves to use as containers!"

"Yes!"

Wu Le'an agreed, then looked at the dozen or so people behind him.

"Dismissed, students in their respective classes, free to move around as you wish!"

In a flash, more than a dozen people scattered and ran away, leaving only the two from Tai Chi Temple and Wu Le'an.

"Let's go too!"

Xiong Xuguang said something and left with his senior brother and Wu Le'an. Although they were also holding a teacup made of a leaf, they were not going aimlessly. It took them almost half an hour to reach the edge of the cave.

During this process, the rooster crowed and the sky brightened.

Xiong Xuguang took out a folded hard-covered book from his bosom. This was a special permission granted by the Master to enter and exit the cave. With this, the three of them left the cave and traveled all the way, eventually climbing the mountain to reach the small house on the mountaintop.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with one of the Li brothers who was guarding the area, Xiong Xuguang dialed the headquarters of the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations once again.

Although it was only a short time before dawn, and it wasn't yet time for most people in the Bureau of Investigation to start work.

However, in order not to affect attending classes at the academy during the day, making a phone call so early was inevitable, and Xiong Xuguang could imagine how many people would be woken up from their sleep after this call was made.
-
As Xiong Xuguang had predicted, after he reported the matter of Hidden Immortal Valley "spanning ancient and modern times" to the senior officers on duty at the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations, there was a brief silence and repeated confirmations before the emergency button was pressed directly.

All senior personnel of the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations, including Duan Kang, were woken up by emergency calls at the same time, and many people outside the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations were also woken up.

Xiong Xuguang not only informed them of that matter, but also verbally submitted a draft of a verification plan. This level of information was beyond what the remaining staff of the Bureau of Investigation could handle on their own.

In less than ten minutes, everyone who could prepare quickly was online, and many people immediately started discussing.

If Ru Xian's statement is accurate and Xiong Xuguang's relay is also accurate, then the shocking nature of today's news is unimaginable.

Hidden Immortal Valley is not only a secluded immortal grotto, but it also connects to the present-day Dharma-ending Age and the ancient times with astonishing power.

The Confucian immortal used his ability to steal the sky and change the sun to make up for the present by borrowing from the past.

Only in this way can one have the confidence to ascend in the modern world and break through the barrier between heaven and earth!
At this point, many of the previous doubts have been answered to a considerable extent. The reason why immortal cultivators are relatively calm and optimistic about the crisis of the world's ultimate limit is not only because Confucian immortals still exist, but also because they know this backup plan.

This is also the underlying logic behind the existence of Hidden Immortal Valley Grotto-heaven despite the depletion of spiritual energy in the Dharma-ending Age.

However, these speculations are not urgent. What is most urgent now is to demonstrate the feasibility of Xiong Xuguang's proposed plan.

This opportunity to cultivate in Hidden Immortal Valley is extremely rare, and the fact that there is a reconnaissance platoon member among them makes the plan more feasible.

Therefore, Xiong Xuguang believes that this opportunity must be seized.

Because no one knows how long it will take for anyone else in the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations to be qualified to enter Hidden Immortal Valley after Xiong Xuguang and his group are released.

The call lasted only about half an hour before Xiong Xuguang hung up and returned to the valley with the two people beside him. When they got back, Wu Le'an was still unable to calm down. It was only at that moment that he realized that Hidden Immortal Valley spanned the past and present, and the purpose of having him come along was to give him a prior understanding.

Xiong Xuguang gave the Bureau of Investigation twenty-four hours to discuss the matter.

It wasn't that Xiong Xuguang did this intentionally, but rather because there wasn't enough time.

The planned study period at Hidden Immortal Valley is about two months. This wasn't something Zhuang Lin explicitly stated, but rather something he told Lin Chunming and Wu Bolan. He said that after the summer vacation, he would go back with a dozen or so Taoists and not let his family worry.

From this, Xiong Xuguang deduced that he and his group had only two months, but now a month and a half has already passed.

If a verification plan needs to be implemented, there are only about ten days left to operate. Considering some factors in between and travel time, the overall time is actually very tight.
-
The next day at the same time, Xiong Xuguang dialed the number and was immediately answered, showing that the other end was prepared.

At the same time, in an office of the Bureau of Investigation, besides Duan Kang answering the phone, there were many other people around the landline, and it was even connected to some other departments.

"Hello, this is Xiong Xuguang."

"I am Duan Kang, Xu Guang. We have conducted a detailed analysis of your plan. Next, Comrade Li Kai will explain the points to note. Please pay attention to the following points to avoid the possibility of causing historical turmoil. First point..."

After the call connected, Duan Kang didn't waste any time and went straight to the point, while Li Kai, who was also online, immediately and clearly expressed the results of his analysis that night.

Of course, the most important thing to pay attention to is the consequences of changing history. This was discussed for more than ten minutes, and after each point was finished, time was left for Xiong Xuguang to memorize or take notes.

Please repeat it!

After Li Kai finished speaking, he asked Xiong Xuguang to repeat it, and the latter patiently repeated all the contents.

During this process, the eldest brother of the Li family watched with great interest from inside the small house, without disturbing them, only feeling that these people were truly meticulous in their work. After Xiong Xuguang finished recounting the story, Li Kai asked another question.

"Comrade Xiong, how do you obtain the authority, or rather, how do you get Master Zhuang to approve of your actions?"

Xiong Xuguang laughed. People like Li Kai, who do things in a very methodical way, are most likely to get caught up in this kind of cognitive process that is devoid of emotion and only based on logic. He just smiled and said.

“I will frankly explain the general situation to the Master, only stating the actions. After all, it is impossible for us to know the details of the actions among ourselves. Based on my understanding of the Master, he should agree.”

However, Li Kai seemed unsurprised.

"The second question is how you ensure your personal safety, since carrying modern weapons is absolutely prohibited."

"That depends on our own abilities!"

Xiong Xuguang spoke casually, but he was clearly already aware of the situation. However, he added a sentence.

“We are not that fragile, and perhaps the Master will take care of us.”

"Then, if Master Zhuang were to inquire, is it possible that the verification might be distorted?"

Upon hearing the voice on the phone, Xiong Xuguang frowned slightly and even subconsciously glanced at Li Dong beside him, somewhat afraid that the other party would misunderstand.

Although Li Kai spoke in a very veiled manner, the meaning behind it was actually quite obvious.

This is exactly what Xiong Xuguang was worried about. Judging others by one's own standards, the petty person may not be pleased, but the virtuous person will most likely keep their distance.

This is not to say that Li Kai is a villain, but rather that the degree of this kind of thinking is easy to dislike, and the fact that Li Kai was able to ask this question means that he does not only represent himself.

“Dr. Li, I think you should understand that if a basic premise of trust cannot be maintained, then no matter how the verification process is conducted, it may become distorted, because with my capabilities, or rather with our capabilities, we simply cannot know whether Master Zhuang will be involved.”

"So if we are worried about whether it is distorted, then the basic logic of verifying the action does not exist, because the action itself may not be true."

Xiong Xuguang was also quite frank about it this time.

Li Kai nodded on the other end, and many people around him also agreed with the content of the phone call.

"Alright, I misspoke. I wish you all the best in your mission!"

Based on what we've learned over this period, Confucian immortals themselves wouldn't have such motives. Rather than saying we're carefully understanding and observing immortal cultivators, it's more accurate to say that immortal cultivators are re-examining and observing us.

We are being very cautious, while the Confucian scholars are more open and honest.

"Thank you!"

Xiong Xuguang thanked him and then hung up the phone.

At the same time, the Bureau of Investigation was inexplicably upset, giving many instructions that also imposed many restrictions on their personnel.
-
After class that day, Xiong Xuguang approached Zhuang Lin privately and expressed his thoughts to him.

On one side of the school, Zhuang Lin listened patiently to Xiong Xuguang's explanation and roughly understood what he wanted to do.

Xiong Xuguang plans to lead all or part of the reconnaissance platoon into ancient times, then divide them into several groups to find suitable places to leave appropriate "historical markers".

These "historical markers" are known only to the individuals involved, and even to the other groups involved in the operation. After they are buried, every means is used in modern times to see if those markers, which have survived for thousands of years, can be found.

"So when do you plan to do this?"

"Master, you agree? The sooner the better!"

Although Xiong Xuguang was inclined to believe that the Master would agree, he felt more confident telling others than asking himself, so this was a relief.

Zhuang Lin smiled and nodded.

“It’s not a big deal, there’s nothing to restrict. You’ve made it very clear, and I know you know what you’re doing.”

Sure enough, it was no big deal for the Master, but the Bureau of Extraordinary Investigations was quite nervous for a long time.

"Master, we're not entirely confident either. Could you send someone to lend us a hand?"

Just now, Li Kai asked about the issue of interference distortion on the phone, but now that Xiong Xuguang has verified the Master's attitude, he hopes even more that the other party will take action.

However, Zhuang Lin shook his head and smiled.

"Does this matter really require my instructions? It just shows that you're still clueless about human relationships after all this time you've been in the valley. If you rely on me for everything, you might as well not have me at all. Figure it out yourself."

After saying that, Zhuang Lin went straight back to his room.

Xiong Xuguang glanced at the teacher heading towards the dormitory, paused for a moment, and then realized that although the teacher hadn't offered to help, he had pointed out the way.

In Confucius's view, such a "trivial matter" could be easily resolved by simply asking someone for help, given the abundance of people in the valley!

The first person Xiong Xuguang thought of was Liu Hongyu, his "senior brother," who was the master's personal disciple. He was kind, approachable, and willing to help younger generations. Then there were some of the original students from the academy, whom he had called "senior brother" and "senior sister" a few times.

So Xiong Xuguang immediately rushed to various places in the valley, and his first stop was the medical clinic.

Things went more smoothly than expected. Liu Hongyu agreed almost immediately after learning about it, and he seemed to find it quite interesting. With his approval, everything was naturally fine.

(End of this chapter)