Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 438 Rewards
—Sannam Province, Ungak Prefecture
As the saying goes, ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring. The first place to be bustling with visitors after Kang Da Sect Leader's victory in the round battle was not Xiao Huan Mountain, where Chongming Sect was located, but Fei Shuhe's Qinghan Academy.

Logically speaking, the Fei family's daughter was already considered to be of very high social standing in the southern part of the mountain. Even under normal circumstances, the legitimate daughters of these families who had migrated south might not be qualified to associate with her. However, things were different now. Every woman who came to pay her respects had several letters sent by powerful families in the capital.

Even though Empress Wei was the mother of the nation, she was still required to appear before the Lady of Imperial Decree on the Emperor's birthday every five or ten years, unless there were exceptions.

Compared to Fei Shuhe, what is he? These women holding letters should not be treated with disrespect.

Only Fei Shuhe could properly receive these envoys sent by the wives of the first-rate nobles of the Celestial Dynasty within the inner quarters. No matter how outstanding Zhang Qingran and Yuan Xiyue's appearances were, they could only sensibly stay in the inner quarters at this time and not show their faces.

As for how to build good relationships and find opportunities for her husband's family, that is something a head wife should think about carefully.

After all, most of the time, it's easier to gain favor with a benefactor than to spend years in seclusion, hoping to rise to prominence overnight.

However, Fei Shuhe was clearly quite skilled in this area, and thanks to her family's scholarly background, she got along quite well with the visiting noble ladies.

Leaving aside the dazzling jewels and lush flowers in Qinghan Courtyard, the Chongming Sect was still filled with joy as always.

Kang Dabao was left in Xuanwei City by Jun Tianqin, and Jiang Qing, who also became famous in the battle of the rotation, was also unable to return alone.

The old bird seemed quite pleased with his victory, and did not release any of the nine fighters from Fu Neng's team, intending to keep them in Xuanwei City to reward them properly.

However, as long as the various factions that were close to Chongmingzong were even slightly well-informed, they would all know to come and pay their respects.

Ye Zhengwen and Yuan Jin were extremely busy, and even Pei Yi, despite his illness, came out to greet the guests. Although the latter was only a mere Qi cultivator, he still received countless flattering words.

However, with the sect leader Kang absent, it was difficult for the group to make many promises. The visiting families understood the situation and, after paying their respects, tactfully took their leave.

Even so, Chongmingzong's residence remained bustling with visitors for ten days before finally quieting down.

On this day, Yuan Jin was checking the gift list with Ye Zhengwen when Duan Anle, whose injuries had recently improved, also came over to listen in.

It must be understood that the exchange of gifts among people is a complex art. One must clearly distinguish which families' gifts can be accepted directly, which families' gifts need to be remembered and returned next time, and which families' gifts need to be returned intact with some local produce.

Otherwise, it would be fine if this good relationship were not established, but it would be undesirable if it created discord with other families.

The three of them were halfway through writing when they saw He Chang, who was guarding the archway, come in with a letter in his hand.

Whether it was intentional or unintentional on the part of Elder Ye Zhengwen, the Foreign Affairs Elder, He Chang had been taking on this duty alone for quite some time.

However, once these busy days are over, He Chang will have to hand over his post. After all, the benefits he received from the various guests during these ten days are probably equivalent to the annual salary of a disciple of the Chongming Sect for sixty years.

During the bustling days at Chongming Sect, He Chang's discernment also improved. Even when the fake alchemist visited recently, he had never seen this kid so flustered.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Jin became interested and asked with a smile, "Chang'er, what's wrong? Has a Golden Core cultivator arrived at our sect?"

He Changjun was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Second Uncle, please don't joke. I saw this letter from Taiyuan, the capital, and it has a talisman from Xuanqiong Palace on it. I was afraid of making a big mistake, so I came to see you in a hurry."

He Chang was surprised that after his words, the three people in the hall seemed even more relaxed. Yuan Jin and Ye Zhengwen simply stroked their beards and laughed for a while before ignoring him. Only Duan Anle, who was always cautious, stepped forward to greet him.

But upon seeing the familiar, delicate handwriting and smelling the faint, ethereal fragrance of the letter, Duan Anle lost all his nervousness. He simply said to He Chang, "Junior Brother He, don't be anxious. Just hand it to Third Uncle's courtyard and ask him to keep it safe with Uncle Jiang."

He Chang looked surprised, but since his uncles and fellow disciples remained silent, he didn't press further. After bowing and taking his leave, he followed Duan Anle's instructions.

After He Chang left the hall, Yuan Jin put down the gift list in his hand, his relaxed tone largely disappearing, and said, "Senior Brother Ye is perhaps too kind to Chang'er. Such care may be detrimental to the atmosphere of the sect."

Ye Zhengwen didn't take it to heart. After hearing Yuan Jin's words, he pointed at Duan Anle and teased, "There are juniors here. Junior Brother Yuan, aren't you afraid of embarrassing me?!"

When suddenly called upon by his elders, Duan Anle was speechless for a moment, revealing a helplessness he hadn't shown in many years.

Yuan Jin, on the other hand, smiled and shook his head, saying, "Senior Brother Ye knows how steady An Le is. Why worry?"

Ye Zhengwen did not refute, but instead nodded in agreement, saying, "Anle's temperament is indeed exceptionally steady. I'm afraid even the sect leader at his age might not be so composed."

"Junior Brother Yuan's words are not without reason, but have you considered that fairness is inherently difficult to find in this world? If what you think is true, even if we don't show any consideration to the descendants of our former sect leader, and treat Junior Nephew He the same as any other disciple, we might actually chill the hearts of the disciples in the sect."

Yuan Jin was taken aback; Ye Zhengwen's perspective was one he hadn't considered before. However, after pondering for a while, he insisted:
"Senior Brother Ye is mistaken. The Good Deeds Hall missions are, after all, public resources, and there are always limits. For every extra point a disciple from a family like Chang'er receives, the number of truly needed disciples from humble backgrounds may decrease."

As for our master's kindness in nurturing and educating us, the three brothers will never forget it. Following the sect leader's words, Xiao Sanzi and I have already prepared all the necessary resources for Chang'er before he reaches Foundation Establishment, and we will certainly not hinder his path. Maintaining a clear distinction between public and private matters is the right thing to do.”

Yuan Jin's remarks impressed Ye Zhengwen.

It seems that many years have passed, and the sect has produced more than just Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing. The three disciples of Elder He are indeed as those flatterers who just left said, none of them are easy to deal with.

Ye Zhengwen thought for a moment, then smiled again. This time, he didn't argue with Yuan Jin, but simply said, "Junior Brother Yuan's words make sense, but I don't think I've done anything wrong. Let's leave it at that for now, and discuss it further when the sect leader returns, shall we?"

“That’s only right,” Yuan Jin said, knowing that arguing with Ye Zhengwen any further would be pointless. After agreeing, he turned to Duan Anle and asked, “Anle, which company are we checking now?”

"It's time to go to Shishanzong in Puzhou."

"Oh, I don't quite remember. Did their sect leader, Bian Hu, come in person this time?"

"I heard that Master Bianhu is currently in seclusion and rarely comes out. This time, it is his family's Flying Snow Peak Master, Huang Mingzhen, who has brought gifts to congratulate him." "Heh, this old fox, he's certainly calculated a good favor." Yuan Jin and Ye Zhengwen exchanged a smile, then shook their heads and instructed Duan Anle, "Report the gift list. If his family has any matters to attend to later, return a valuable gift of equal value."

"Hey, Second Martial Uncle, this gift list includes two pairs of second-grade high-quality Eastern pearls, six bushels of second-grade low-quality Iron Essence Sand, and..."

————Xuanwei City
The old master Juntian Qinzong was quite pleased with the victory of the rotating Khenpo. When the old master was happy, his subordinates naturally dared not be oblivious and cause trouble.

Although the prize money for the nine contestants has not yet been determined, skilled physicians have already come to treat their injuries.

This was the first time Kang Dabao had met Luan, the third-level alchemist from the Fei family. It was said that Luan was an elder from a reclusive medical family who married into the Fei family in hopes of achieving the Core Formation stage.

The expert's skill was indeed extraordinary. Although Master Kang had only been in contact with this Elder Luan for two or three days, his not-so-light injuries had already been completely healed in just those two or three days.

While Luan Gongfeng's superior skills certainly played a part, Fei Nanying's lavish spending and unrestrained use of his treasury were also undeniably a contributing factor. After all, in the world of cultivation, injuries that are difficult to heal even with large amounts of spirit stones and rare spiritual items are rare indeed.

Kang Dabao, who surpasses Fu Neng, has been quite popular these days. Not only have the children of all branches of the Fei family, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, put aside their grudges with him, but even many female Taoists who are considered quite beautiful in the vicinity no longer shy away from Kang Dabao's reputation for "being good at bullying women" and have been flocking to him in hopes of making friends.

However, the Fei family could not stand such things, so they didn't bother to give them a kind look. They summoned some governesses and sent these shameless vixens away, either by gentle persuasion or by force.

Kang Dabao didn't regret losing these romantic encounters. Now, all the outstanding talents from the five states who had taken turns fighting were here, and they could all be considered the pillars of their families for the next hundred years. Rather than indulging in romance with those plump and slender female Taoists, it was more important to do some serious work and make good friends with his peers.

Master Kang honed his social skills while traveling and selling goods. Before the appearance of Black Bone and Gourd, this skill was his greatest asset in the cultivation world.

Therefore, dealing with these ascetic practitioners who are skilled in spiritual practice but clumsy in human relationships can be considered quite easy for them.

Under the influence of several Daoist gatherings held over the past ten days, not only did high-ranking disciples like Yang Wuwei, who were already quite close to Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing, become even more enthusiastic, but even military figures like Cao Xianlu, who were arrogant and self-important, were able to drink and chat with the Great Master Kang.

Soldiers are quite concerned with their reputation, and the skill of Master Kang was already evident in his battle against Fu Neng, clearly surpassing Cao Xianlu's by a significant margin. Moreover, he was humble and polite, without a trace of arrogance. Having gained a way out, Cao Xianlu was naturally happy to associate with such a person.

After all, his current goal remains unchanged: to marry the eldest daughter of the Fei family and earn enough resources to form a Core Formation in the Fei family in the future.

Given Cao Xianlu's outstanding performance in the Eighth Formation, achieving these two goals should not be difficult. In this case, his future situation will be very similar to that of Master Kang, and it would be very beneficial for them to be on good terms.

However, Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing had only enjoyed a life of debauchery for less than a month when they received a summons from Fifth Master Fei Nanfeng:

"Young Master Kang, Elder Zong has summoned you."

Master Kang had met this uncle-in-law several times before, but only this time did the latter's expression of disgust completely disappear.

He didn't have many feelings, but it was inevitable that he felt a sense of pride and satisfaction.

After thanking Fei Nanfeng respectfully as usual, Kang Dabao, under the latter's guidance, led Jiang Qing to the depths of the mansion.

Although Jun Tianqin felt that the Fei residence in Xuanwei City was so cramped that it had to go to the Cold Crow Mountains to find those shallow-rooted third-tier demon schools to cause trouble, in the eyes of Sect Leader Kang, it was indeed a first-class luxurious place.

Not only is it incomparable to its own small mountain village, but even the ancestral home of the Yue family in Hancheng, which has been established for thousands of years, is far inferior to this branch family that has been renovated by this grand mansion.

Given Kang Dabao's pragmatic nature, he felt it was a great pity that the countless treasures he had seen along the way were being used as useless decorations. However, as soon as he saw the Juntian Bird sitting cross-legged with its eyes closed, he completely extinguished these useless thoughts.

Although everyone could see that this old bird, who had not yet reached the fourth level and had not yet regressed from its avian form, was imitating the movements of a cultivator in a rather comical way, no one dared to show any of it.

Upon entering the courtyard, Fifth Master Fei Nanfeng was the first to bow and say, "Grandfather, I have brought Mr. Kang and Young Friend Jiang here."

Jun Tianqin opened his eyes and instructed, "Hmm, go down and summon your elder brother as well."

Fei Nanfeng respectfully agreed. Jun Tianqin didn't even look at him. With a thought, he threw two extremely rare third-grade futons in front of him.

The old bird flicked its feathers, glanced at Kang and Jiang, and said in a low voice, "Aren't you coming over? Do I have to come and invite you?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Ancestor." Kang Dabao quickly pulled Jiang Qing down to sit.

This magic treasure-grade futon is indeed extraordinary. The moment his buttocks landed on it, Sect Leader Kang felt a sense of clarity.

"I wonder how much smoother my cultivation would be if I could use this treasure to assist my cultivation all year round?! I've come at the right time today. I'm afraid many Golden Core cultivators will never have to endure this again in their lifetime."

Juntianqin seemed to see through Kang Dabao's worthless thoughts and felt some displeasure at this stingy behavior. However, the old bird still remembered the great contribution the latter had made, so even though harsh sarcastic words were already on the tip of his tongue, he forcibly swallowed them back.

He coughed lightly for a while, which brought Master Kang back to his senses, before finally speaking to him in a reprimand:
"You only won by luck for a while. Look at how ridiculous you've become these days! You spend your days drinking and having fun instead of cultivating yourself properly. If you lose even this little bit of perseverance, with your poor aptitude, what future do you have?"

Even though he had just defeated Fu Neng, the direct descendant of the great temple, Kang Da Bao wouldn't dare utter a single word in front of this old bird, even if he had twice the courage. Besides, what it said made sense, so Kang Da Bao had no choice but to lower his head and agree.

Fortunately, not long after Jun Tianqin finished teaching them a lesson, Fei Nanying, whom he had summoned earlier, arrived. The old bird seemed unwilling to waste too much time talking to the two juniors, and simply nodded slightly to Fei Nanying.

As Fei Nanying began to move, Jun Tianqin spoke up again: "I, the ancestor, have always been generous."

Hearing only half of the sentence, Sect Leader Kang nodded in agreement quite naturally. In his heart, he had already made up his mind that even if this old bird only bestowed a fragment of spirit material upon him, he would prepare eloquent words to praise it as something that was rare in the world.

Unexpectedly, the moment Fei Nanying opened the jade box, a surge of pure energy filled the room, causing Kang Dabao to widen his eyes in astonishment. After a long pause, he pulled up the equally excited Jiang Qing and exclaimed in a trembling voice, "The Azure Jade Spiritual Root?!"

(End of this chapter)