A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 344 People from the Imperial Court
A month later, at the summit of Tianshan Mountain, Ni Qingfeng sat cross-legged, gazing at the rolling sea of ​​clouds before him.

"Junior brother, you're observing the sea of ​​clouds again. Have you gained anything?"

Xue Wanshan, dressed in a black and white Taoist robe, walked slowly in, holding a whisk.

Half a month ago, he had already passed the position of sect leader to Fu Tianjiao. Without any trivial matters to worry about, he had been living a very comfortable life during this time, and even the innate energy in his body had become stronger.

"Senior brother, the sea of ​​clouds is like a tide, one wave after another. No one knows how much force will come from behind. The strongest now may not always be the strongest. Things rise and fall in their time, which is the ultimate truth of the universe. The martial arts world is almost desolate now. Apart from our sect, which still has vitality, the rest are all weak and helpless."

Ni Qingfeng stood up and looked at Xue Wanshan, saying in a low voice, "The Tianshan Sect has reached its peak with Tianjiao and the others. Whether it can maintain its title as the number one sect in the world is not something we need to consider."

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanshan sighed. He knew all too well that the Tianshan Sect was currently at its peak, but he also understood the principle that prosperity must eventually lead to decline. Tianjiao and her generation were all ambitious and enterprising, and within ten years they would surely dominate the martial arts world and make the name of the Tianshan Sect known to the world.

Although Xue Wanshan had resigned from his position as sect leader, he still hoped that the Tianshan Sect could continue to exist for a long time. Therefore, he came to Lingyun Peak to ask Ni Qingfeng for a plan. However, judging from his junior brother's words, he was afraid that his trip would be fruitless.

“Junior brother is right. I was being presumptuous. Looking at the development of various sects in the martial arts world, no sect has ever been able to remain prosperous for a long time. Even the once-famous Shaolin Temple was destroyed by a bunch of villains. If a thousand-year-old temple can be destroyed like this, how long can the Tianshan Sect, which has a history of only a hundred years, survive?”

Hearing the sigh in Xue Wanshan's words, Ni Qingfeng slowly said, "If a sect is to survive for a long time, it must adapt to the times and to people. These two things are indispensable. Senior brother, the Tianshan Sect has no rivals now, which is an advantage in the short term, but a disaster in the long term. As the saying goes, forgetting war will lead to danger, and loving war will lead to destruction. We may be able to remain humble for one or two generations, but after that, it is hard to say."

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanshan flicked his whisk and nodded, saying, "That's right. Leaving aside the future, just looking at the present, several disciples in the sect have become restless and arrogant. They haven't practiced their swordsmanship properly for a month. When I came over just now, my second junior brother was throwing a tantrum. It's time to clean up the atmosphere in the sect."

Ni Qingfeng was not surprised at all. Zhongxin Hall was the biggest rival of Tianshan Sect. Now that the rival had been crippled and could not recover in a short time, this greatly boosted the morale of the disciples, who then looked down on the other sects.

"So, handing over Zhongxin Hall to He Yanrong is a good thing. Although it can't pose a threat to Tianshan within ten years, things might change after that. There are plenty of people who don't want Tianshan Sect to dominate the martial arts world. They are allies now, but when our generation passes away, they could very well become enemies. Times change, people's hearts change, and who can say for sure?"

After Ni Qingfeng finished speaking, he turned to look at the sea of ​​clouds. With a flick of his sleeve, a fierce wind, like a sword, cleaved through the clouds and mist, revealing a deep valley below, pitch black and indistinct.

Xue Wanshan walked slowly to the edge of the abyss, looking at the sea of ​​clouds that was constantly closing inward. He swept his whisk, and then a gust of wind blew, causing the surging sea of ​​clouds to pause. Then, with even greater force, it gathered inward. Xue Wanshan loosened his grip, and the sea of ​​clouds instantly closed up, and the valley floor was once again covered by the sea of ​​clouds.

"The more you try to stop it, the more likely it will have the opposite effect. So be it, let nature take its course. If I can cultivate to the Innate Realm, I can at least take care of Tianshan for more than twenty years. Junior brother, are you ready?"

Half a month ago, at the handover ceremony of the Tianshan Sect Leader, the mysterious aura emanating from Ni Qingfeng was almost impossible to conceal. Everyone who came to participate in the ceremony witnessed Ni Qingfeng riding the wind through the air, surrounded by colorful rays of light, with his divine energy soaring straight into the sky. The entire Tianshan was instantly enveloped by this extraordinary phenomenon, and even those thousands of miles away could see it clearly.

"Five days from now will be the best time. Senior brother, we are fellow disciples, and I don't have much to give you. These are some of my insights on cultivation after reaching the Innate Realm. Perhaps they can help you consolidate your foundation after reaching the Innate Realm."

Ni Qingfeng reached into his robes and took out a thin book, handing it to Xue Wanshan. Upon seeing this, Xue Wanshan immediately put away his whisk, solemnly accepted it with both hands, and gave Ni Qingfeng a deep look. Xue Wanshan did not flip through the book, but instead bowed respectfully.

"Junior Brother's gift is worthy of my humble opinion." Xue Wanshan knew his junior brother's abilities; anything he could carry with him must be extremely precious. Xue Wanshan made up his mind to discuss with Tianjiao when he returned, and that only Tianshan disciples who had advanced to the Innate Realm would be allowed to glimpse this book.

Ni Qingfeng did not refuse Xue Wanshan's bow. This book was written by Ni Qingfeng stroke by stroke, which can be considered as settling a debt with the Tianshan Sect. With this book in hand, as long as the Tianshan disciples can advance to the Innate Realm, one or two outstanding figures may emerge in the future, and they may even be able to break through the void.

Ni Qingfeng walked to the side, continued to sit cross-legged, closed his eyes, communicated with his true self, and silently comprehended the mysteries of this world.

Seeing this, Xue Wanshan didn't dare to disturb him any further. He quietly walked to the side, sat down, and opened the book. He saw that it was covered with densely packed small regular script characters. Xue Wanshan took a deep breath, silently regulated his breathing, and raised his spirit to its peak before looking at the book.

As he continued to recite the words in his mind, Xue Wanshan gradually felt his body becoming lighter and lighter. His mind was as if it had been irrigated by a clear spring, cleansing away all impurities and leaving him feeling completely refreshed. Even his breath had a sweet taste. He didn't know how much time had passed when he awoke from that mysterious state. He opened his eyes and looked at the star-studded night. He was startled and realized that four hours had already passed.

Turning around, one could see Ni Qingfeng sitting motionless, with only a five-colored glow around him standing out conspicuously in the darkness. The stars and moon cast their light into him, but Ni Qingfeng seemed like a bottomless abyss; no matter how much light entered him, the glow around him remained almost unchanged.

Just as Xue Wanshan was admiring the sight, he suddenly had a thought and his figure disappeared from Lingyun Peak in an instant. When he reappeared, he was already halfway up the mountain, where he saw Shen Henian and Li Dengping walking up the mountain.

"Senior brother."

Upon seeing Xue Wanshan, the two men bowed respectfully. Xue Wanshan nodded, flicked his whisk, and asked in a deep voice, "What urgent matter has brought you two here together?"

It was common knowledge in the Tianshan Sect that Ni Qingfeng was cultivating in seclusion on Lingyun Peak, so few people came here. Shen Henian and Li Dengping must have come up the mountain overnight, something big must have happened.

"Senior brother, the imperial court has sent someone to invite you to the capital to receive your title. The sect leader is currently speaking with the envoy in the main hall and asked us to come and inquire about it."

Shen Henian was also quite helpless. The arrival of the imperial envoy was sudden and caught them off guard. People in the martial arts world are most wary of getting involved with the imperial court.

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanshan's expression darkened. After pondering for a while, he said to Shen Henian, "Junior Brother Ni is at a crucial moment in his cultivation and must not be disturbed. I will go and see that envoy first to see what he means."

Shen Henian and Li Dengping had no objection upon hearing this. The two followed Xue Wanshan down Lingyun Peak and returned to the outside of Hongyi Hall.

Meanwhile, in the Hongyi Hall, Fu Tianjiao sat calmly in the head seat, while Zhao Kai and the other six stood on either side. The first seat on the left was occupied by a eunuch with a delicate face, fair skin, and narrow eyes, who was holding a teacup and savoring it.

"Excellent tea, Master Fu. This must be the unique Snow Ridge Cold Mist of Tianshan. It is smooth and refreshing, and drinking it regularly will surely benefit your cultivation." "Envoy Zhao is too kind. This humble tea is not worthy of such refined taste. If you like it, I can send you some."

Although Fu Tianjiao smiled, she was wary of Wan Fei. This envoy Zhao, regardless of his official status, possessed unfathomable skill that Fu Tianjiao could not ignore.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guan smiled nonchalantly, put down his teacup, looked at Fu Tianjiao with a smile, and said in a calm voice, "Then thank you very much, Sect Leader Fu."

"This Fu Tianjiao truly lives up to her title as the top disciple of Tianshan. Her skill level is not far behind that of the older generation. The other six would also be among the best in the palace. As a result, the prosperity of Tianshan is unstoppable. If even the disciples are like this, I wonder what kind of people Xue Wanshan and Ni Qingfeng are."

Zhao Guan pondered in his heart. He had come to Tianshan this time on the orders of his superiors. One reason was that he hoped the Tianshan Sect could maintain the stability of the martial arts world, and the other was to invite the renowned Taoist Master Ni to the palace to preach to the Emperor.

Just as Fu Tianjiao and Zhao Guanyan were laughing and chatting, three figures appeared in front of them. When Fu Tianjiao saw Xue Wanshan appear, she was first surprised, then delighted. She hurriedly walked down the steps, and the other six people followed her.

"Master."

Fu Tianjiao bowed first, followed by Zhao Kai and the other six.

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanshan nodded. Just then, Xue Wanshan frowned slightly and looked in the direction where Zhao Guan was. Fu Tianjiao seemed to sense something and also looked over.

Zhao Guan, who was sitting comfortably, unconsciously stood up when Xue Wanshan and his two companions appeared, his eyes fixed on Xue Wanshan.

"Such profound skill!"

Zhao Guan felt a chill run down his spine as he watched Xue Wanshan's gaze sweep over him. Just now, he had only made a light test, and the hidden move had dissipated before it even got within three feet of Xue Wanshan, yet Xue Wanshan had still noticed it.

"Greetings, Master Xue. My name is Zhao Guan, and I am the head of the Zhenwu Division. I am a disciple of Zhao Hu. I have long admired your great name, and it is truly an honor to meet you today."

Zhao Guan hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Xue Wanshan. Although he was arrogant by nature, he greatly admired strength. He believed that his martial arts skills were among the best in the martial arts world. Even if he was not as good as Xue Wanshan, he should be close. However, he had just suffered a blow.

The closer Zhao Guan got to Xue Wanshan, the more he sensed the unfathomable aura emanating from the other man, a aura that seemed capable of swallowing everything. He had also seen this aura in his master, Zhao Hu.

"So it's you, Manager Zhao. It's a pleasure to meet you."

When Xue Wanshan heard Zhao Guan introduce himself, a slight smile appeared on his face, but his heart sank suddenly. He had heard of Zhao Hu's name before. This man had become famous more than forty years ago. At the Sword Debate Conference, he single-handedly suppressed the nine major sects at that time, and then disappeared without a trace. It turned out that he had entered the imperial court.

As for the Zhenwu Division, Xue Wanshan had never heard of it. It was supposed to be established soon, but judging from the name, the word "Zhenwu" was not very friendly to people in the martial arts world.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Fu Tianjiao invited everyone to take their seats. Xue Wanshan sat in the first seat on the right, while Shen Henian and Li Dengping sat in the second seat on the left and right, respectively. The rest of the people also sat down in turn.

"Master Xue, your arrival is timely. I was just discussing with Sect Leader Fu how to stabilize the martial arts world. The matter has been almost settled, but there is one more thing that I need your help with."

After Zhao Guan finished speaking, he looked at Xue Wanshan. On the way here, Zhao Hu had told him that if he wanted to invite Ni Qingfeng to the palace, he should not force him, but should persuade him with kind words. There was no conflict of interest between the two parties, so why make things unpleasant?

"To persuade Ni Qingfeng, we need to convince Xue Wanshan."

Upon hearing this, Fu Tianjiao remained unmoved, merely glancing at Zhao Guan before saying, "Envoy Zhao, please speak frankly. If it is within my power, I will certainly assist you."

"This matter is not difficult. As you Taoist masters should know, His Majesty enjoys discussing metaphysics and Taoism with people, as well as expounding on etiquette and the Dharma. Hearing that your sect's Taoist Master Ni has mastered the Taoism of both heaven and man, His Majesty admires him and has specially sent me to invite Taoist Master Ni to the palace."

After Zhao Guan finished speaking, everyone's expressions varied. Fu Tianjiao, now the sect leader, remained expressionless, her emotions hidden. Zhao Kai and the others, however, changed their expressions, but knowing that there was no place for them to speak for the time being, they all kept quiet. Shen Henian and Li Dengping, with their keen eyes, quickly realized that Zhao Guan's focus was on his senior brother.

"I am grateful for Your Majesty's kindness in inquiring about this matter. However, Junior Brother Ni is currently in seclusion at Lingyun Peak, and his cultivation has reached a critical stage. I am afraid he will not have time to enter the palace. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Xue Wanshan earnestly explained his reasons. Zhao Guan was not discouraged upon hearing this, since he had no intention of succeeding in one go anyway. He continued, "Master Xue, I wonder when Master Ni will emerge from seclusion? I can wait. When I came here, the Lord and my master repeatedly instructed me not to return to the capital with Master Ni. There is no need for me to go back."

Seeing Xue Wanshan's slightly changed expression, Zhao Guan said seriously, "Daoist Xue, this matter is also a good thing for the Tianshan Sect. Please think it over carefully."

Hearing Zhao Guan's words, Fu Tianjiao clenched her right hand tightly, but quickly loosened it. Xue Wanshan, on the other hand, looked thoughtful. After thinking it over, Xue Wanshan said to Zhao Guan, "This matter needs to wait until Junior Brother Ni comes out of seclusion. The specific time is unknown. Why don't you stay in Tianshan for now, Master Zhao?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guan stood up, bowed to Fu Tianjiao, and then cupped his hands to Xue Wanshan, saying, "Then I will trouble you for a few days."

"Manager Zhao, please."

At Fu Tianjiao's signal, Zhao Kai got up and walked to Zhao Guan's side. He gestured for Zhao Guan to leave, and Zhao Guan nodded. Then, he and his entourage followed Zhao Kai out of the main hall.

(End of this chapter)