Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 443 Five Years Later

On the ninth day of the eleventh month of the 462nd year of the Qianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, the tenth anniversary of the Chongming Alliance was celebrated. It was an auspicious day for divine virtue and sacrifices.

The small mountain was quite lively that day, with guests and friends coming and going in addition to the various families attending the alliance. It was said that even the two patriarchs of the Yang family from Yezhou, Wu Feng Shangxiu, and a group of Golden Core cultivators had sent gifts.

Upon seeing this scene, He Yuanhe, who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage, had a completely different expression from his sect leader Bian Hu and master Huang Ming, whose expressions were complicated. He could not hide his pride, which was almost reflected on his face.

Today, the two people welcoming guests under the Chongming Sect's archway are Duan Anle and Mingzhe. Both of them established their Daoist foundations one after the previous year, which became a popular topic of conversation in the neighborhood.

Seeing that Master Bian Hu had come in person, the two, who were already humble and amiable, became even more impeccable in their manners. This made Bian Hu feel a little better, and he still said a few words of praise, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

With his sect elders by his side, He Yuanhe couldn't talk to his two sworn brothers for too long, so he quickly entered the Chongming Sect's main formation.

Over the years, Chongming Sect has also earned a lot of spirit stones from the offerings of various families in Hanya Mountain, and the grand formation that was set up not long ago has been replaced.

According to the rumors circulating in the market, the Three Talents Returning to Origin Formation, which was forged by a formation master from the capital region, is of the highest grade, second rank. Even if the sect leader Kang Dabao is not in the sect, with the true cultivators of Chongming Sect guarding it together, it should be able to withstand an ordinary alchemist.

He Yuanhe knew from Bian Hu's expression that the rumor was true, and then he was also delighted. As soon as they entered the Chongming Sect, Ye Zhengwen came out to greet them.

This elder of the Chongming Sect, who was in charge of foreign affairs, had not made any progress in his cultivation in recent years, but he had done a lot of welcoming and seeing off people, thus earning a lot of favors. Within the Chongming Alliance, he was considered a prominent figure. Even Bian Hu, a dignified pseudo-core cultivator, had to put on a happy face and exchange pleasantries upon seeing him.

Bian Hu was warmly pulled to the main table by Ye Zhengwen, while Huang Ming benefited from He Yuanhe's presence and was seated at a table with his relatives and old friends from the Chongming clan.

As always, Sect Leader Kang was a pragmatic and down-to-earth person. Today, he prepared a feast where every table looked to have the same spiritual dishes, but the ingredients used were of completely different years and grades.

The relatives and friends from marriage and old times naturally eat better at this table compared to others, since the meat is already cooked and there's no need to worry about wasting it.

Besides He Yuanhe and his apprentice, sitting at the table were Shan Shijie, the head of the Shan family, Ma Yansong, the head of the Ma family, Xiu Ming from Qiaogongbao, and others. Except for Xiu Ming, all of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators, which shows that it is indeed beneficial to be close to Chongming Sect.

Huang Ming was quite embarrassed at this table. He was clearly a master, a prominent figure in the Shishan Sect, yet the people at the table were much closer to his disciple He Yuanhe.

Apart from the younger generation, Qiaogongbao Xiuming, who struck up a conversation with him when he felt awkward, everyone else paid him no attention.

Fortunately, he was able to recognize his own position. If it weren't for Bian Hu's insistence on making He Yuanhe, an insignificant true disciple, his disciple after Jue Kang Da Bao lost power, he probably wouldn't have been able to even enter the Chongming Sect with his initial cultivation level.

In addition, since He Yuanhe was framed back then and he, as her teacher, had not done anything to help, their relationship was now quite strained. It was already kind of He Yuanhe not to make trouble in front of outsiders, so why would she help him mediate at the banquet?

However, Xiu Ming is also very close to several powerful figures in the Chongming Sect, and he is now a Foundation Establishment seed in Qiaogong Fort. Huang Ming thought that if he could get along well with him, it would be beneficial to him in the future.

Xiu Ming had only chatted with him for a short while when he was called to the main table by Jin Shilun, who was also serving as a host at the banquet.

That table was filled with either the direct descendants of the group or fake alchemists. Huang Ming dared not look too closely, so he could only prick up his ears and listen to the lively discussions of the people at the table without saying a word.

Ma Yansong had only recently achieved Foundation Establishment. Although the Ma family held a place within the Chongming Alliance, as the head of the Ma family, he mostly dealt with the stewards and true disciples of the Chongming Sect, rarely encountering elders or the sect leader. Therefore, he was the most isolated from information and asked first:
"I heard that the Alliance Leader's eldest son also reached the Foundation Establishment stage a month ago, so why haven't I seen him today?"

As soon as Ma Yansong finished speaking, He Yuanhe leaned over to listen. He had only emerged from seclusion three months ago, and if he hadn't come to this banquet, he would probably still be consolidating his cultivation within the sect. That's how he heard about this matter.

Shan Shijie was much more informed than the two of them. He unfolded his folding fan and slowly waved it: "Fellow Daoist Ma, you may not know this, but the Alliance Leader's wife was worried and asked the Young Alliance Leader and Fellow Daoist Changyi to go into seclusion and change their cultivation methods. That's why we couldn't make it."

"A Golden Core cultivator, thirty-two years old, a legitimate mother, the eldest son of a major sect leader, and possessing two spiritual roots—that's hardly fast." He Yuanhe muttered to himself for a moment before scoffing, "If others aren't considered fast, then what is my newly established Foundation Establishment at over sixty years old?"

"If Father were still alive, there would surely be a place for our family at the Chongming main table, wouldn't there?" He Yuanhe mustered his courage and glanced in that direction before turning back, where he saw a handsome young man in brocade robes standing beside him.

The young man was unpretentious and, after taking his seat, bowed with his hands clasped and said, "Fei Enhua from Yingzhou greets fellow Daoists."

"Ah, fellow Daoist, you are a direct descendant of the Fei family!"

"I am fortunate to have met you, and seeing your elegant demeanor, I cannot help but feel ashamed of my own appearance!"

"Shishan Zong Huangming, my humble name is unworthy of your kind ears, fellow Daoist."

Unlike the other three people at the table who immediately fawned over Fei Enhua upon hearing that he came from a noble family, He Yuanhe simply greeted them with a polite "He Yuanhe of Shishan greets fellow Daoist."

"Fellow Daoist's surname is He. It seems that before the New Year, Fellow Daoist Yuan of the Chongming Sect acquired a new true disciple named He Yuanyi. May I ask if you are related to him?"

“Yuan Yi is my cousin.”

"Oh, fellow Daoist, your cousin is quite capable. Half a month ago, my brother-in-law even asked someone to inquire whether the Fei family had any suitable weapon-refining manuals. Such a young, top-grade weapon master is indeed rare."

Given Fei Enhua's background, there was no need for him to exchange pleasantries with the others at the table. His praise was genuine, and He Yuanhe's face lit up with joy upon hearing it. He humbly replied, "Fellow Daoist flatters me. Compared to the talents of the Fei family, my cousin still has many shortcomings."

“That’s natural,” Feinhua said with an air of arrogance, yet it was hard to feel any disgust towards him, as if it were the natural order of things.

Seeing how easy he was to talk to, the others at the table also dared to strike up a conversation, until Xiu Ming returned from the main table, at which point the conversation finally stopped.

"Junior craftsman Bao Xiuming greets Senior Fei."

"Oh, fellow Daoist, do you recognize me, Fei?"

Xiu Ming nodded for a while and replied with a laugh, "Two years ago, when I accompanied my wife on her homecoming visit, I saw you once from afar, senior."

Fei Enhua raised his eyebrows slightly, a smile appearing on his face: "Oh, I remember now, two years ago Shuhe came home to arrange a marriage for my brother-in-law's close relative, wasn't that you?"

"Indeed, I am a junior."

"If I remember correctly, you married the Twenty-Nine Maidens of Wuhua Hall, is that right?"

"It's rare that you still remember my wife, senior."

"I will never forget. If that's the case, you should call me Uncle."

“Uncle, please accept my bow.”

"Very well, I have no use for this top-grade magic artifact. You may take it."

This scene was witnessed by more than just He Yuanhe, and those who envied it were not only the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, Shan, Ma, and Huang.

The story of Xiu Ming, the true master of Qiaogongbao, marrying a woman from the Fei family had been circulating in the neighborhood for a long time.

Although Wuhua Hall is only a minor branch of the Fei family, and in recent generations only one or two False Dan masters have been in charge, Xiu Ming's wife is an illegitimate daughter born out of wedlock in this minor branch. In terms of status, she is far inferior to Fei Shuhe.

However, this woman was skilled in cultivation. She was only twenty-four years old when she was in her prime, and she was already a late-stage cultivator. Given time, she would become a true cultivator, which would make others envious.

Although He Yuanhe had already become a true cultivator, he was still somewhat envious of Xiu Ming's brother in this life, just like everyone else.

Anyone with eyes can see that Master Kang has paved a broad road for Xiuming.

Although Master Mo Wen of Qiaogong Fortress has more than just Xiu Ming as his disciple, if he had the resources to establish a Foundation Establishment, he wouldn't dare to give them to someone else. As long as Xiu Ming can achieve Foundation Establishment, the position of the next Master of Qiaogong Fortress will not be taken by someone else.

Who wouldn't be tempted by such a bright future?

However, as long as they think about the contributions Xiu Ming has made to the Chongming Sect over the years, the cultivators feel much more at ease.

Then his mind started to wander. So what if he risked his life to earn a future? If others can do it, why can't he? After all, selling his life to Chongmingzong still gave him hope, which was much more reassuring than those families that didn't keep their promises.

He Yuanhe was always quite thoughtful. Seeing this scene, he secretly turned his gaze to the main table, and a bold idea suddenly arose in his mind.

Meanwhile, the burly man at the main table, who had changed his name to Fei Enwen, sighed upon seeing the commotion. He thought to himself that his brother-in-law was quite shrewd, manipulating people's hearts without regard for the timing.

He raised his glass in a toast, whispering, "You knew all along that Eun-hwa wouldn't sit at the head table, didn't you?"

Master Kang smiled and replied, "He never fought for the Fei family against Fu Neng back then, and he's arrogant, so naturally he doesn't want to sit at this table and face you."

“If that’s the case,” Fein murmured for a moment, and was about to speak again when he heard Yang Wuwei beside him say, “I heard that Fellow Daoist Zhou fought a battle in Dingzhou last time and encountered a fake elixir from the Hongyi Sect. I wonder if he was in any danger?”

As soon as Yang Wuwei finished speaking, Kang Dabao's gaze also turned to Zhou Yun. Zhou Yun's master, Wu Feng Shangxiu, had been recruiting soldiers and horses in Dingzhou in recent years, and it seemed that he was preparing to establish a sect.

This is actually a good thing for the various families in Dingzhou. After all, the Hongyi Sect, which is detached from the outside world, still has the leader Jieyi Shangxiu. The two sides have been fighting each other for years, and there have been occasional deaths of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Overall, the families of Dingzhou were indeed at a greater disadvantage. Although Wu Feng Shangxiu was notoriously bad at warfare, he was still a genuine Golden Core cultivator and wouldn't be afraid of Jie Yi Shangxiu, whose skills were equally lacking.

Having gained experience in helping Wu Feng Shang Xiu accumulate wealth over the years, Zhou Yun appeared much more composed than before. After hearing Yang Wuwei's words, he shook his head and said, "More than ten disciples perished, and it was only by chance that we were not defeated because the talisman was sent quickly."

"It's alright. After all, he is a Pill Master. It's already a blessing that Fellow Daoist Zhou was unharmed." Yang Wuwei said with a carefree smile. Bian Hu felt strange and wondered why the former had brought up this topic out of the blue.
Zhou Yun shook his head with a wry smile and sighed, "It was only because of my lack of skill that the wicked and unruly man was able to run rampant. If Brother Dao or Sect Leader Kang had been there at the time, that fellow would not have been able to escape."

The sect leader, Kang, who was not fond of showing off, immediately waved his hand: "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. How could I, Kang, have such ability?"

Yang Wuwei laughed again, "If even Brother Kang doesn't have that ability, then I, Yang, am even less capable. Perhaps only when Fellow Daoist Cao, who is in seclusion and forming his core, comes out can we easily capture him."

Bian Hu was so shocked by Yang Wuwei's words that he could no longer remain silent and immediately asked, "Fellow Daoist Cao has already entered seclusion to form his core? And he has already completed his treatise on alchemy? Considering he is only a little over a hundred years old, how could he have achieved such a feat?!"

"Master Bian, you may not know this, but last time Elder Tianqin of the Fei family not only bestowed pills and talismans, but also promoted the eldest daughter of the clan to a higher rank in the Yingshan Army, and also sent a message to the Barbarian Ghost Sect in Huangzhou. Fellow Daoist Cao is the true disciple of the Barbarian Ghost Sect's leader. After hearing about this, he sent a portion of Three Dew Flowers via the Wanbao Trading Company's post ship."

Yang Wuwei's explanation made Bian Hu murmur for a moment: "Three Dew Flowers?"

This item is indeed quite ordinary among Core Formation spiritual objects, however...
"If I had possessed such a spiritual object back then, I might have tried it myself, right?" The old cultivator murmured to himself, and his gaze toward Master Kang became even more solemn.

"So now, those who associate with this fellow are all people like him?"

Bian Hu's gaze swept over Ming Hui, Xu Liuxian, and the others sitting at the same table. Although the two seemed somewhat reserved in this setting and dared not speak freely, they possessed qualities that the old cultivator envied: "If we hadn't deliberately become estranged back then, our family might still have a place in the Chongming Alliance!"

This matter cannot be blamed on Bian Hu, that old cultivator. Although Puzhou was indeed a remote and inaccessible place, back then, Bian Hu, who had not yet achieved the false core, was able to use ten true cultivators as a base and rely on distant alliances and close attacks, as well as alliances and counter-alliances, to almost seize Puzhou and make it the domain of the Shishan Sect. This is enough to show that he was quite good at managing his family.

Who could have imagined that Kang Dabao, who had been disliked by the Fei family and lost the trust of the Marquis of Nan'an, would be reinstated in just a few short years? Moreover, not only has Kang Dabao regained the trust, but his skills have also greatly improved compared to before.

Bian Hu was also present when Jiu Xiu fought Fu Neng. To be fair, even though he had achieved the pseudo-core for some time, he might not be able to defeat Kang Dabao, who was the final opponent in the last battle.

What's even more remarkable is that this fellow is only seventy years old, which is far too young for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. His future prospects are simply unimaginable to ordinary people.

"I wonder if I offended He Yuanhe back then? Oh well, if he insists on making a fuss here, I'd better not put up with it. At worst, I'll just have to pay back two or three sets of Foundation Establishment resources. Otherwise, if I provoke all of you here to attack me, I'm afraid I won't be able to get back unscathed."

Aside from Bian Hu, whose thoughts were complicated, everyone else remained calm. Three bells rang, and Pei Yi stepped to Kang Da's side to announce that the ceremony had begun.

As soon as Pei Yifu appeared, many people in the room turned their attention to this elder of the Chongming Sect who had been living a secluded life in recent years.

The news that Luan Gongfeng had rescued Pei Yi from his demonic possession during his last medical visit had already spread far and wide. Chongming Sect could not stop him; on the contrary, they had to help him spread the word. Otherwise, wouldn't they be letting down the medical treasures that Luan Gongfeng had given them?

However, Pei Yi's foundation-building process was still not going smoothly.

The sect leader Kang made a special trip to Tengwen Prefecture and spent a lot of money to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, Pei Yi's merits were not enough. Even after his three disciples offered their respects, it was still far from enough. So, several fellow disciples borrowed from each other to make up the difference.

After Pei Yi had perfected his preparations, he tried again about two years ago. Fortunately, although he failed this time, he was at least unharmed. Pei Yi stopped abruptly before his spiritual energy could be liquefied.

Even the sect leader Kang was at a loss, and even took Pei Yi to the Qi residence to meet Madam Qi and ask for a solution. The beautiful woman simply shook her head, saying that Pei Yi's mind was not yet clear and the time was not yet right.

Kang Dabao was anxious, but he also knew that haste makes waste. So he asked Yuan Jin to help Pei Yi recite scriptures to calm his mind, hoping that in time, Pei Yi could let go of his worries and achieve success together.

After all, Pei Yi is already in his seventies. If things don't go through with this soon, he might end up like Qi Buxiu back then. The current Sect Leader Kang doesn't have the ability to find an evergreen vine like Chu Yanran did back then.

Keeping these thoughts to himself, Kang Dabao put down his wine cup upon hearing Pei Yi's words and politely bowed to the guests at the banquet, saying, "Please, fellow Daoists, move to the training ground."

The cultivators readily complied. By the time they arrived, riding various magical artifacts and beasts, the disciples of all the sects under the Chongming Alliance had already lined up in formation.

A nine-zhang square stele, crafted from a hundred kinds of spiritual gold jointly contributed by various families within the alliance over the past ten years, stands in the center. The stele is engraved with the Dao seals of the four sects of Chongming, Hanshan, Qiaogong, and Hemu, as well as the family emblems of the five families of Shan, Ming, Ma, He, and Lu. The six-leaf blue lotus Dao seal of the Chongming sect hangs high at the top, shining brightly under the sun.

When Kang Dabao invited guests from all sides to the stage to watch the ceremony, Kang Rongquan made a hand gesture, and the edelweiss seeds that fell from his sleeve ignited upon contact with the wind, burning out the seal script "Sharing the same boat" in front of the stele.

At noon, Xu Liuxian, the leader of the Hanshan Sect, walked out carrying the iron scroll of the alliance agreement.

This scroll was made rather hastily back then, and seems somewhat unworthy of its status.

The scroll bears the fingerprints of the leaders of each faction; on the day they formed the alliance ten years ago, they swore an oath of blood upon this iron scroll.

As he unfurled the scroll, thirty-six array flags suddenly rose on the east side of the training ground. The runes drawn on the flags formed a light screen, reflecting the scenes of fighting together against powerful enemies and cultivating spirits in the land over the past ten years, which moved many of the disciples in the alliance who had experienced it.

The subsequent martial arts demonstration showed a solid foundation.

The most eye-catching force is still the Qingjue Guard, personally led by Yuan Jin. In recent years, as generations of disciples have grown up in Yulin Hall, the number of Qingjue Guards has increased to three hundred.

However, while the number of people has increased, it has lost some of the solemn and orderly atmosphere of the past. This is an unavoidable growing pain. After experiencing more major battles and being tempered, it will be able to reach a higher level.

However, the subtle differences are difficult for ordinary people who are unfamiliar with military affairs to discern.

As usual, most of those invited to the Chongming Alliance Grand Ceremony were from Foundation Establishment sects. The leaders could only see six-leaf lotus platforms suddenly rising in the training ground. The Qingjue Six-Leaf Lotus Formation, originating from Fenli Prefecture, had been mastered by the Chongming disciples, with more than three hundred people operating as one.

After the shout of "Zhan Bing" was uttered, streaks of sharp light flew out one after another in the training ground, one after another; after the command "Yu Ling" landed, a large area of ​​azure spiritual mist appeared, full of vitality and wonderful beyond words.

It's worth mentioning that the person serving as Yuan Jin's deputy in this martial arts demonstration was none other than Zhang Qingran, the concubine of the sect leader Kang Dabao. Having given birth to Kang Dabao's only daughter, this descendant of the sect leader was barely trustworthy.

Although Zhang Qingran, as a second-tier array master, does not possess much of a murderous aura, she handles mediating matters with remarkable efficiency, making her an excellent candidate for on-the-spot command and advisory support.

Under Yuan Jin's painstaking training over the years, the Qingjue Guard has finally become worthy of the title "prototype of a Taoist army".

This might not seem like much in the beautiful and fertile capital region, but in the area around Yunjiao Prefecture, where Tie Liuyun could roam freely with just his Xiezhi Iron Guard back then, even just a glimpse of his strength in the training ground was enough to make the leaders of various families tremble with fear.

Bian Hu wasn't exactly an expert in military affairs, but he could tell that the Qingjue Guards were not a rabble.

Compared to that, Bian Hu's always proud Stone Mountain Sect's joint formation practice, even though the disciples' cultivation levels were far superior, paled in comparison.

The impact of this martial arts exercise on Bian Hu went beyond that.

Following the Azure Jade Guard is the Crimson Jade Guard.

This team, formed by Yuan Jin recruiting various families from Hanya Mountain and independent cultivators from other places, has already grown to a considerable size. Unlike the Qingjue Guard, which adheres to strict discipline, the Chizhang Guard practices small formations and scattered formations, making it a true elite combat tactic.

The nearly two hundred Crimson Guards were all at least at the late stage of Qi Refining. They were all fierce and, in addition to wearing full red armor, their Taoist techniques and magical artifacts were all varied and unsystematic.

However, others dared not underestimate them. Apart from Bian Hu's Shishan Sect, there was probably no other family present who dared to say that they could withstand the onslaught of these fierce men.

After the Crimson Guards, various teams made their appearance.

After suffering a great loss, the Hanshan Sect developed a method for selecting disciples. Although the cultivation level of the disciples in the formation had dropped significantly, most of them came from respectable families. With independent cultivators like Xu Liuxian, Zhou Zhaoyi, and Ji Yunsheng interspersed among them to direct and coordinate, the process was still orderly and respectable.

Since Ming Hui established his foundation, the Ming family has had many more descendants, and their sword formation of over a hundred people is quite impressive. The mechanical puppets of Qiaogong Fort have always been stable, and various new spiritual tools have also appeared. Mo Wen's command is effective, which has drawn a lot of applause.

The four families of Hemudao, He, Ma, and Shan have slightly weaker foundations and are not particularly outstanding, but there is nothing particularly wrong with them either. Moreover, those familiar with these families can see just how much their strength has improved over the past decade.

The He family members were skilled in commerce, while the Lu family had the least profound foundation. The martial arts performances of the two families were somewhat lacking and were relegated to the back, not making an appearance.

After the eight families' martial arts demonstration, it was time for the local soldiers of Ping and Jin counties. The county magistrates of the two counties were naturally disciples of Chongming, and those who served as military officers at various ranks were also disciples of various families of Chongming Alliance.

These local soldiers weren't particularly outstanding, but their strength lay in their sheer numbers. Over two thousand of them stood in formation on the drill ground, and with each breath they exuded spiritual energy, they still managed to draw the eye.

The martial arts exercise continued until evening before it ended. It was then that Bian Hu realized that, without realizing it, Sect Leader Kang had actually gained several thousand combat-ready cultivators at his disposal.

With the great power of the Shishan Sect, which monopolizes Puzhou, they could probably muster that number, but if they were to fight, they would likely collapse in one battle and be difficult to quell.

The difference in skill is obvious; one has no choice but to admit it!
At the end of the martial arts competition, a thousand cultivators celebrated together, their spirits soaring to the heavens!
"May the Ming Dynasty prosper forever, and may the Alliance Leader live ten thousand autumns!"

The sound made even the alchemist Bian Hu frown slightly. Just as he was about to take action, he saw the sect leader Kang casually say, "You've all worked hard."

Turning back, he asked with a smile, "I have a vice-leader position waiting for me here. I wonder what Senior Bian thinks?"

"This"

Bian Hu's expression changed, realizing that something seemed amiss. Just as he was about to offer a perfunctory reply, he noticed that Yang Wuwei and the others were also looking at Kang Dabao.

The old man, the words of refusal that had just risen to his throat, could not be uttered. He could only say in a hoarse voice, "That is indeed my wish."

After the martial arts demonstration ended and the banquet began, once Bian Hu had stamped his mark on the iron scroll, Headmaster Kang thought to himself, "Do you really think it's so easy to take the Taoist priest's spiritual stones?"

(End of this chapter)