Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 453 Various Matters Concerning Xuanwei
"Kang Xiaoyou?"

"I am willing to serve you, senior!" Kang Dabao raised his head and respectfully replied. He raised his eyebrows and looked at the beautiful woman who was only a foot away from him. Even though he had seen a lot, he still felt a little tremble.

"It really is her!!!"

If one had to describe it, it would be similar to the state of mind that Master Kang had when he first saw Fei Shuhe sitting in a sedan chair.

It was at this moment that Kang Dabao was able to confirm that the fearless master in front of him was indeed She Fuyi, the one on the last page of the picture book he had obtained in the cave at Guanyu.

It was at this moment that Kang Dabao was able to truly understand the meaning of the eight characters "as beautiful as a lotus, shaming even a peony" written by Guan Yu Shangxiu.

It was only at this moment that Kang Dabao dared not even think of that breathtakingly beautiful scene of "a fair body exposed, delicate bones and plump muscles".

Little did She Fu know that she had been seen through by this tall and imposing man many years ago. Hearing the latter agree to the matter, she smiled and said, "Please, young friend. Wuwei Tower will never let its friends go to work in vain."

"Senior is too kind!" Headmaster Kang showed no change in expression, remaining as respectful as ever.

This performance pleased She Fu greatly, because while talented people are not uncommon in this world, such a person without any sharp edges is truly rare and can definitely be considered a scarce commodity.

It was clear that She Fu also held considerable prestige in the Fearless Tower. When she spoke, the two old cultivators, Yang Jue and Jiang Hongdao, dared not utter a word. They stood there woodenly, their solemn expressions comparable to the two puppets guarding the door.

"Qingwei, see Kang Xiaoyou off for me." She Fu said no more and returned to the brocade tent.

Yan Qingwei, who hadn't spoken for a while, responded cheerfully, "Yes, Grandmother!" After speaking, she moved closer to Headmaster Kang. The latter didn't know how to react, and simply thanked her humbly.

When Master Kang emerged from the fortified village, he was stopped by the puppet guarding the entrance. The puppet, armed with a spear and clad in armor, approached him and, before Kang could react, took something from a leather pouch at his waist and handed it to him.

The latter didn't bother to look at him, but bowed to the dull-witted creature in gratitude before walking out of the white jade steps under Yan Qingwei's guidance.

Neither of them noticed that the puppet holding the spear had another pair of eyes behind its pupils. Only after the Grand Master Kang had completely left the fortified village did She Fu withdraw her pupil technique, change into a smart military uniform, and step out of the gauze tent.

Her attire, while lacking much of her femininity, exuded a greater sense of heroism. Her words, ironically, made the two old cultivators, Yang Jue and Jiang Hongdao, even more serious.

"What Deacon Jiang said is true. Kang Dabao is a decent junior. We should get to know him better in the future. It would be good if Qingwei could get closer to him in the future. However, we shouldn't be too demanding. Let things take their natural course."

"What I have done is merely my duty, and I dare not accept the praise from the host." Jiang Hongdao's humility was tinged with a sense of aloofness, which greatly displeased Yang Jue beside him.

However, he had no time to argue with Jiang Hongdao about such trivial matters. He stepped forward and respectfully asked, "Master, we've leaked the information Pu Honggu gave us. If that brat Kang tells the Fei family or even the Yunjiao Prefecture court, and if that old man Pu Honggu finds out, then our Wuwei Tower is in serious trouble."

She Fu glanced at him with her beautiful eyes and said in a low voice, "I have never met any Kang Dabao. Who knows who told Peng Daoren about this in Pingrong County? And that Blood Dao Golden Pill is so valuable, would Kang Dabao really be willing to tell his in-laws?"

Yang Jue paused, unsure what to say, but then heard She Fu speak up again: "Besides, how do you know whether I want that old bird from the Fei family to know this news or not?"

The beautiful woman's words did indeed confuse Yang Jue somewhat. Jiang Hongdao, standing beside him, quickly understood, glancing at Yang Jue's expression and inwardly scoffing.
"No wonder he became a fake core cultivator, still just a steward, unable to become the deputy head of the building. The Liangyi Sect has been able to nurture blood-path golden core cultivators for hundreds of years, how can we associate with such a sect? Unfortunately, the strength of the building itself is insufficient, so it always has to put on a show to avoid affecting the branch buildings in other places."

She Fu's actions were quite straightforward: firstly, to use one force to devour another, and secondly, to instigate conflict between the two families so she could profit from the chaos. It wasn't particularly clever; how could Yang Jue not even see through this?

Perhaps sensing Jiang Hongdao's disdain for Yang Jue, She Fu also glanced at him and thought to herself, "This old man is quite clever."

The thought flashed through her mind for only a moment before she put it aside. She Fu also reconstructed the words personally written by Li Yun, the head of the Liangyi Sect, in her mind. Her lips parted again, but her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Your family's Golden Core is tempting, but I dare not take it."

After speaking, a hint of resentment welled up in the beautiful woman's heart: "He Guanyu, are you dead or alive?!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

When Master Kang left the fortified village where Wuwei Tower had settled, he took with him two wisps of fragrant breeze and also carried in his bosom a "Songxi Pill" given to him by the puppet holding a spear on behalf of She Fuyi.

Not only is She Fuyi a beautiful woman, but she is also a generous person. With this pill, the time it will take Kang Dabao to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment will be shortened considerably.

Of course, while these pills were precious, they were worthless compared to a Golden Core cultivator like Peng Daoren. Sect Leader Kang wouldn't truly believe that the Fearless Pavilion Master would place all his hopes of finding Peng Daoren on him.

Because everyone has their own expertise, Kang Dabao knew that at most he could only act as a landlord, provide some manpower, and do She Fu a favor. If it really came down to finding the Blood Dao Golden Core cultivators potentially lurking in Pingrong County, the Fearless Tower had plenty of talented people to do it.

However, a lone, seriously injured Golden Core cultivator was indeed quite tempting. Even a cautious person like Headmaster Kang couldn't help but have some thoughts he shouldn't have.

However, after a struggle between his conscience and his will, Kang Dabao still followed his heart and rode the Kui Xing Shuttle to Xuanwei City.

The Fei family mansion was even more lively than usual today. The headmaster Kang met Cao Xianlu, who had just emerged from seclusion. The latter, who was rumored to have completed his core formation in seclusion, had not succeeded. However, judging from his expression, he did not seem too disappointed.

Unlike the perilous journey of Qi Refining cultivators during Foundation Establishment, the Foundation Establishment stage is also known as "Transformation into Mortals," as recorded in ancient books: "It is the beginning of ascending to immortality and the foundation for attaining the Dao."

Therefore, if a cultivator fails during the Foundation Establishment stage, they are unlikely to have a good ending.

However, attempting to form a core is different. While the difficulty of forming a core is undoubtedly much higher than that of establishing a foundation, if one fails, the Dao Lotus in the dantian can protect the true cultivator.

Therefore, even if one fails to form a core, it is rare for a true cultivator to perish. Not to mention that Cao Xianlu has the Core Formation artifact sent by the Barbarian Ghost Sect to protect him this time. Even if things go wrong, it will only be a minor ailment for a while, so there is no need to worry.

Although Cao Xianlu's attempt to form an elixir was unsuccessful, he did discover many errors in alchemical theories during the process, which could be considered a blessing in disguise.

He is still young, and even after this retreat, he will only be a little over a hundred years old. He can reflect on himself, revitalize himself, and look forward to the future.

Fei's family also thought of this. Fei Nanfeng had a daughter who was beautiful, virtuous and kind, and was of marriageable age. According to Tang, the wife of Gun Sima who came to act as matchmaker after hearing the rumors, Cao Xianlu was indeed a good match for him.

Cao Xianlu, who had been looking forward to this day, was naturally overjoyed. The Huangzhou Barbarian Ghost Sect was also quite enthusiastic upon hearing the news. Cao Xianlu's sect leader even sent a Pill Master over, who was discussing the marriage between the two with Granny Fei in the inner room.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they should get married within the year.

Marrying off a daughter, especially a legitimate daughter, is a troublesome affair, and it is indeed extremely rare for someone as hasty as Fei Shuhe.

Normally, according to the elaborate rituals recorded in the "Imperial Guard Rituals," three to five years of preparation wouldn't be considered long. But this time, it seems the wedding will take only half a year, which shows how highly Cao Xianlu is regarded by the Fei family.

Kang Dabao sensed from the tone of his words that there would be a position reserved for Fei family members in the Yingshan Army camp stationed in Yunjiao Prefecture.

Kang Da, the sect leader, had a good impression of Cao Xianlu. Although he was a little jealous, he still sincerely congratulated his soon-to-be brother-in-law.

However, after offering his congratulations, he couldn't help but wonder if the latter would steal his thunder as the "Number One Son-in-Law of Sheshan Hall" once he achieved the Golden Core stage.

After hastily dealing with the beaming Cao Xianlu, Kang Dabao, under Fei Enwen's warm hospitality, entered Fei Nanying's hall, where a guest was being received. Before entering, Kang Dabao was unaware that Fei Nanying had guests, so seeing someone sitting opposite Fei Nanying brewing tea, he was initially surprised. However, upon reflection, he realized this guest must have a close relationship with Fei Nanying; otherwise, given Fei Nanying's personality, he wouldn't have summoned him at this time.

After Kang Dabao thought it was approved, he immediately straightened his clothes, composed himself, and bowed deeply: "Your son-in-law Kang Dabao greets Boyue and senior."

Fei Nanying was in high spirits today. He beckoned to Kang Dabao and said in a cheerful voice, "You have a good nose, kid. How did you know that a distinguished guest had come to visit? Come up quickly, let me introduce you. This is General Shu Zhengde, a member of the Imperial Guard. He is currently on the Emperor's orders to inspect the entire northern route. Hurry up and pay your respects."

The position of "Imperial Guard General" is no simple matter. One-fifth of the Imperial Guards guarding the Xuanqiong Palace are under his command. This position has always been held by the most intimate nobles of the Kuang family clan. He is someone who is always in the Emperor's presence and can be considered to have a high position and great power.

Although Kang Dabao was in a border state, he had come into contact with many cultivators and his horizons were not narrow. Therefore, he had heard of the name "Shu Zhengde".

However, among so many important figures, the reason why Kang Da Sect Leader was so impressed with Shu Zhengde was because he had learned from Fei Shuhe that before the incident with Kuang Liuting, Shu Zhengde had been chosen by Han Ningyue to marry into the prominent Shu family of Zuojiang. The person she was interested in was the eldest son of this General Shu.

When Kang Dabao learned of this, he did not show any reaction on his face, but when the sun was blazing, he directly embraced the noblewoman of the Fei family and carried her back to the bed.

Thinking back, it was during that time that Kang Changxi was supposed to have conceived the seed.

Seeing that Shu Zhengde was looking at him, Master Kang dared not be negligent and immediately bowed again: "Junior Kang Dabao greets Master Shu!"

"Well done, what a fine young man! He is indeed a promising young man. No wonder he was able to defeat Fu Neng, the current abbot of Benying Temple," Shu Zhengde said with a friendly expression. After praising him, he turned to Fei Nanying and said, "If I had received help from young friend Kang when I was quelling the rebellion in Shanbei Road, Wang Liao would have been destroyed much sooner."

Fei Nanying just laughed after hearing this. The Blood Sword Sect's War Hall Elder Wang Beixing, who had caused trouble in Shanbei Road before, was probably as capable as the General Affairs Sect Leader of Zhaixing Tower, who was very likely to reach the Nascent Soul stage.

Even though Wang Beixing had been seriously injured by the Northern King before he fled, Yao Gu, the chief administrator of Shanbei Road and Marquis of Changshun, still couldn't hold out until Shu Zhengde led his troops from Taiyuan to come to his aid, and was killed by Wang Liao.

Even though Yao Gu was not very capable, the troops of Shanbei Road had not been trained for a long time, and the military equipment of the General's Mansion was in disarray, it was still a proper and well-organized army. Under the leadership of several superior cultivators, it still suffered defeat after defeat. In the end, even Marquis Changshun Yao Gu himself became Wang Beixing's sword-forging material, which shows how strong his abilities were.

If it weren't for the Wumu Mountain cultivators obeying the orders of Master Yueyin and, with the Immortal Dynasty's army in the north of the mountain wiped out, leading their disciples to keep Wang Beixing locked up in the north of the mountain, the latter might have already escaped. At that time, Shu Zhengde, who was ordered by Emperor Wei to lead the army, would have really made a wasted trip.

Therefore, when facing someone like Wang Beixing, even Fei Nanying, who personally went to the battlefield, had to be careful to protect his life and dare not be reckless. Not to mention that Master Kang was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so what role could he play in it?
Fei Nanying naturally understood the principle that everyone should carry a sedan chair, but he also knew that Shu Zhengde, who came from a prominent family and rose to a high position, rarely showed kindness to younger cultivators, yet he praised Kang Dabao highly, which was also strange.

Fei Nanying immediately changed the subject, saying, "Brother Shu, you flatter me. This lad is no match for your praise."

Shu Zhengde's smile remained unchanged: "Brother Fei is too modest. Before I left, His Majesty praised me in the same way in the Xuanqiong Palace. He also specifically instructed me not to forget to look out for talented people in the countryside when I come to Shannan Road."

"Today?!"

Upon hearing this, Kang Dabao and Fei Nanying were both startled. The latter reacted faster, tugging at Kang Dabao's sleeve to bring him back to his senses. The Emperor's words were the golden rule, and he, a mere cultivator, dared not utter a single word. He could only bow deeply again and say, "This junior is most honored!"

Shu Zhengde was quite satisfied to see the respectful demeanor of Master Kang. When his eyes met Fei Nanying's, he knew that the latter also understood.

"The Emperor's desire to cultivate the common people has grown stronger, to the point that he's almost too lazy to put on a show of it. Given the impending upheaval in the world, I wonder if this is a good thing or a bad thing?!"

As Fei Nanying sighed again, Shu Zhengde had already gotten up to take his leave.

Since the guest was leaving, the host had no reason not to keep him. However, before Fei Nanying could even speak, Shu Zhengde preemptively said, "The King of Shanbei Road has just been defeated, and I was originally unable to leave. But I really missed Brother Fei dearly, and I was also concerned about His Majesty's instructions, so I made a special trip to Shannan Road. Now that I have had tea and met with the person, I must return to Shanbei Road to share Your Majesty's burdens."

Since Shu Zhengde had said so, Fei Nanying naturally couldn't keep him. Together with Master Kang, they escorted him out of Xuanwei City. Only after seeing Shu Zhengde board his half-dragon carriage parked outside did the two of them turn back.

The father-in-law and son-in-law no longer had any grudges. After seeing Shu Zhengde off, Fei Nanying asked in a relaxed tone, "What brings you here? Shuhe hasn't even returned home to pave the way for you yet, and you've already come to our house to beg for our money?"

"Well, so even I, Boyue, have figured out the pattern?" Master Kang's face could withstand the test, and he didn't even blush. He simply said respectfully, "Boyue, I've received some very important news."

Fei Nanying barely lifted his eyelids: "Stop beating around the bush, what's the news? Just tell me!"

"Boyue, did Ancestor Tianqin defeat a heretical Golden Core cultivator in the Cold Crow Mountains recently, and is there still no trace of this fiend?"

"Oh?" Fei Nanying was also hearing this for the first time. He immediately frowned and said in a deep voice, "Continue speaking, don't stop!"

"I've gathered information from outside that the Golden Core cultivator is seriously injured and is currently hiding somewhere in Pingrong County! The reason why Mo Hegu and the other cultivators from the Liangyi Sect risked entering the jurisdiction of the state government just now was also to find out where this villain is!"

"Snapped!"

Fei Nanying suddenly clapped his hands together, a look of sudden realization on his face: "So that's how it is!! No wonder that scoundrel Li Yun refused to admit it, it turns out he's been tricked into giving us a genuine Golden Core!"

He grabbed the thick wrist of the Great Master Kang and lifted him up, his hands forming incantations rapidly: "The Ancestor said that he will set off today to return to the Cold Raven Mountains. Come, I will take you to pay your respects first."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

When the two of them reached Fei Tianqin, the old bird had just finished inspecting the armory with Governor Zhu Tong.

Having learned from the previous experience of the Shanbei Circuit General Administration, the Yunjiao Prefecture government also needs to assign special personnel to handle matters such as inspecting troops and preparing the armory. They must not allow another Wang Beixing to emerge and cause chaos in the Shannan Circuit.

Otherwise, not only would the Zhaixing Tower and its three subordinate departments want to watch the spectacle, but even after Kuangliuting returns, the entire Yunjiao Prefecture government would still suffer the consequences.

After finishing his business, Fei Tianqin was about to set off. Xuanwei City was considered one of the top immortal cities in the surrounding states, but in the eyes of this old bird, it seemed extremely cramped and difficult to stay in for long.

Perhaps it will be able to adapt once it advances to the fourth-tier spirit beast level, becoming comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator and capable of transforming into human form. But for now, Fei Tianqin still wants to return to Cold Crow Mountain as soon as possible.

Firstly, he felt relieved; secondly, he could search for the whereabouts of the Blood Path Golden Core along the way; and thirdly, the Fei family patriarch still owed the Great Master Kang a beast core, and being a nimble bird, he was unwilling to linger for too long.
Fei Tianqin had just made up his mind to thoroughly search Cold Crow Mountain to see if there were any escaped or untraceable third-tier demons when he saw Fei Nanying carrying Kang Dabao walk up to him and bow deeply.

"Is this young Kang here to collect a debt? The ten-year period hasn't ended yet!" The old man was displeased but also somewhat embarrassed. Although he was an elder, he was still insecure when in debt. He said softly, "What brings you two, father-in-law and son-in-law, to me?"

Fei Nanying pushed Kang Dabao forward, and the latter spoke solemnly for a while. Fei Tianqin's sharp eyes then showed a thoughtful look: "If that Blood Dao Golden Core came from the Liangyi Sect, then this matter is indeed not simple!"

The old bird recalled the Myriad Soul Banner and the various blood techniques used by Peng Daoren, and slowly said: "Back then, when Shen Lingfeng returned to the capital from Shannan Road, he told me that he had discovered that the Liangyi Sect and the border areas were lawless and allowed the barbarians to grow up so as to supply the evil cultivators in the sect with blood essence."

This is a heinous matter, but honestly, in this remote border region, far from the emperor's reach, how many families haven't done such things?! It's just that Peng Daoren's blood magic is truly exaggerated; the number of lives he's taken is probably countless, even he himself can't count them all!

Kang Dabao's heart sank. He had come to the Fei family only to be on the safe side, hoping to easily obtain the Golden Core with the help of his elders. But after hearing what Fei Tianqin said and remembering that the fellow was in Pingrong County, he immediately became much more nervous.

"You're quite the filial son. You didn't even test the temperature of the fatty meat before taking it to offer as a gift."

Sect Leader Kang wasn't sure if the old bird's words were a compliment or an insult, and was pondering how to respond when Fei Tianqin made the final decision: "Dispatch manpower for a massive search, dig three feet into the ground to find him! We absolutely cannot let him be found and taken back by the Liangyi Sect first!"

(End of this chapter)