Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 485 Invitation to the Closing Auction of the Pill Gathering

Taking advantage of their rare free time, Headmaster Kang and Jiang Qing brought many disciples with them on their trip to Hong County.

However, since the Ascension Ceremony had just concluded, disciples with important duties naturally could not move around easily. But outstanding juniors like Tang Jiu, Jin Tanglu, and Duan Yunzhou could go out and broaden their horizons.

However, Fei Shuhe surprisingly showed some interest in this small family ceremony. Kang Changxi had other matters to attend to and did not want to leave the sect, so she had to ask Zhang Qingran to bring Kang Lingyi along, which would also help relieve her boredom.

In addition, Pei Zhu'er's granddaughter, Pei Xiangcao, was found to have three spiritual roots during the Ascension Ceremony. After hearing this, Headmaster Kang told the girl to suspend her cultivation at Yulin Hall and stay with her generous great-grandmother, Fei Shuhe, to gain some benefits before leaving.

On the day of departure, a cursory glance revealed that, even excluding the maids, servants, guards, and attendants serving Fei Shuhe, there were still nearly fifty people.

Judging from what Master Kang said in his previous jokes, he really does seem to be planning to go to Hanshan Sect in Hong County and bankrupt Xu Liuxian.

Kang Dabao, who was used to a life of hardship, did not know how to put on a show. He did not know that ordinary people would be dissatisfied with such a situation. This was because a distinguished guest had come from afar, and it was the host who was adorned with fine food and wine. How could they be as stingy as some head of the household with a little bit of food and wine?
Kang Dabao had not been on tour for a long time, and when he finally led a large entourage out of the mountains, it was quite a big deal for the surrounding families.

Rumors have circulated that a high-ranking official has advised that Xuanwei City is only considered a good place in Yunjiao Prefecture, a remote military prefecture. In the past, when Kuang Liuting first arrived, it was already inappropriate for him to condescend to make it the location of the prefectural government. Now that this member of the imperial family has been promoted to Duke and is almost like an imperial heir, it would be undignified for him to stay in this place any longer.

In fact, most of the Fei family's Sheshan Hall members had already moved to the third-tier spiritual vein. Currently, only some noblewomen and younger generations holding positions in the state court reside permanently in Xuanwei City.

Fei Nan-ying, who often secluded himself for spiritual practice, also frequently asked for leave, only returning at crucial moments.

There are quite a few gatekeepers in the capital region who follow the same practices as the Fei family. Xuanwei City is ostensibly the base of the Duke of Qin's mansion, but in reality, it is difficult to even find a high-ranking official there under normal circumstances.

However, the question of where Kuang Liuting cultivated after returning to Shannan Dao remains a mystery to the outside world, with many different opinions circulating. However, there is a general consensus that he is not in Xuanwei City.

Therefore, the Qin State Duke's Mansion should be moved to a new location to reflect its prestige and for convenience.

However, among the five prefectures of Jing, Yun, Ye, Pu and Ding in Shannan Road, which are actually governed by the Duke of Qin, Pu Prefecture is even more barren than Yunjiao Prefecture. Otherwise, it would not have been able to accommodate only a pseudo-dan sect like Shishan Sect.
Jingnan Prefecture's resources are comparable to those of Pu Prefecture, and it cannot be considered wealthy. Moreover, it is on the front lines of both countries, so it should be excluded.

Dingzhou is not a fertile land, and it has only recently been granted a gateway to Wufeng Shangxiu, so it is not worth considering.

As for Yezhou, after the battle between the legitimate and illegitimate sons of the Yang family concluded, the two superior cultivators of the Yang family, relying on the gains from their conquests over the years, had restored most of the previously devastated state, making it resemble a paradise. However, it was actually the Yang family's fiefdom, and the Yang family members naturally treated it with utmost respect and could not act rashly.

In other words, the location for the Qin State Duke's Mansion might still have to be chosen from the northern mountain road.

However, according to well-informed sources, Master Yueyin does not seem to object to this matter; on the contrary, he is quite happy about it.

It is said that the Duke of Qin's mansion has also received his petition. This generous Nascent Soul cultivator is willing to build a brand new Duke of Qin's mansion in Fengming Prefecture, which is sandwiched between Santing Prefecture and Yuan Prefecture, where Wulao Mountain is located.

As for the Golden Core sects within Fengming Prefecture that are very close to Mount Wumu, they certainly wouldn't dare utter a single word to a Nascent Soul cultivator. At most, they would simply choose another place to live a peaceful life. After all, the choice between staying close to one's homeland and offending a true cultivator is something no one needs to teach one.

In the early years of the dynasty, Fengming Prefecture was one of only two superior prefectures among the thirteen prefectures of Shanbei Circuit. Although it is now far less prosperous than the heartland of the Immortal Dynasty, it is still one of the few remaining fertile lands under the control of True Immortal Yueyin.

Others hadn't expected him to be so willing to do so. In terms of mere obedience, Master Yueyin's actions were perhaps even inferior to those of Wei, the Grand Eunuch who frequently served the Emperor.

I wonder if, after Master Yueyin's death, this subservience will bring a few more years of peace to Mount Wulao.

However, judging from the current situation, the Emperor still relies on Master Yueyin to some extent. The news that the Ministry of Personnel has prepared a decree for him to become a Duke has already spread far and wide, and it should be issued soon.

If the Duke of Qin's mansion were to grant the request of Master Yueyin and relocate to Fengming Prefecture, then a huge power vacuum would emerge in Yunjiao Prefecture.

In other words, the power structure in Yunjiao Prefecture is about to undergo a minor reshuffle.

On the surface, the two most powerful families in Yunjiao Prefecture are the Yue family of Hancheng and the Chongming clan of Pingrong County. In recent years, due to Kuang Liuting, some respectable families from the capital and poor families have moved to the prefecture, but in terms of strength, none of them can compare with the two families mentioned above.

At first glance, the former is a descendant of the founder of the Liangyi Sect, a member of the same family as the Holy Maiden of Wumu Mountain, and has been running rampant in Yunjiao Prefecture for hundreds of years, with great prestige.
The latter, though his reputation as a rising star in the state and a respected elder in the sect was mixed, managed to revitalize a declining sect by virtue of his status as the son-in-law of a noble family.

However, if one thinks about it for a while, one will realize that the Yue family of Hancheng, which has been split into three parts, is no longer a match for Chongmingzong.

Yue Lin is indeed formidable; even among those from both the southern and northern mountain regions, it would be difficult to find another pseudo-alchemist who can match him.

However, even a novice cultivator can only live to be five Jiazi (60 years old). With Yue Lin's future path blocked, he will gradually decline as he ages. After another one or two more cycles, he may no longer be a match for the venerable Master Kang in his prime.

As for the other younger generations of the Yue family, it's hard to say they were outstanding either. This was because the Liangyi Sect had excessively restricted these families within its jurisdiction back then. Outstanding members like Yue Lan and Yue Feng all died outside the sect, leaving Yue Lin without a successor for a short period of time.

Yue Hongguo, who had become a holy maiden at Mount Wulao, was no longer favored by Kuang Liuting due to the burdens of her family. Seeing that even their own Nascent Soul ancestor was trying to discern the emperor's intentions, the disciples of Mount Wulao naturally wouldn't choose to be close to Yue Hongguo.

Thus, this woman not only became the first person in the history of Wumu Mountain to become a saint without achieving the Golden Elixir, but also the first saint who could not even be worshipped by her senior master, making it difficult for her to gain any real influence.

There's no need to elaborate on Chongmingzong's side; all Jiang Sanye needs to do is hold his sword in front of the battle lines, and the already weakened Yue family of Hancheng will not dare to make any rash moves.

Anyone with eyes to see this situation clearly. So, once the Duke of Qin's mansion moves to Shanbei Road, it goes without saying who will be in charge of Yunjiao Prefecture.

As the Grand Master Kang's flying boat traveled along the way, wherever the local authorities had some prestige, they would naturally send out visiting cards, hoping to offer some "small gifts" as a token of their respect.

When receiving gifts, Kang Dabao remained as approachable as ever, treating people with a warm and welcoming demeanor. He never missed an opportunity to try and improve his public image.

Kang Lingyi was quite perceptive of her father's intentions, and always obediently pulled Pei Xiangcao to stand aside when the head of the Kang sect received guests. With a slightly more shrewd mind, she would not forget the extra benefits of these two precious daughters when giving gifts.

Under these circumstances, the journey was at least twice as long. Correspondingly, the Kui Xing Shuttle became considerably heavier. Even Pei Xiangcao, a little girl who hadn't yet entered spiritual cultivation, possessed a wealth that would likely astound even seasoned rogue cultivators. Since the little girl couldn't be stored in a storage bag, she had to entrust it to her grandmother, Kang Lingyi, for safekeeping. Fortunately, among the disciples of the Chongming Sect, regardless of status, storage bags were not in short supply. Kang Lingyi had already prepared one for Pei Xiangcao, hanging it at her waist, ready for her to use once she entered spiritual cultivation.

Having received plenty of gifts, Sect Leader Kang was in high spirits, and he became much more low-key when he arrived at the Cold Mountain Sect. Even as the leader of the alliance, he couldn't overshadow Xu Liuxian, the host.

He sent his disciples to refuse any further requests to board his boat for conversation or to offer gifts and intimacy, saying only that they could discuss the matter at a more suitable time after this matter was settled.

Xu Liuxian, who had been waiting at the mountain gate archway, was immediately very friendly upon seeing the Six-Leaf Green Lotus Dao Banner of the Chongming Sect.

Those who are family know their own situation. When the four sworn brothers met Jiang Qing, it was only because they saw that the latter was highly skilled and had a straightforward personality that they became friends with him.

Objectively speaking, at that time, the Four Friends of Hanshan were considered to have been quite generous in promoting younger generations and treating them with respect. However, the relationship between these two families began to slowly change after Xu Liuxian obtained the qualification to enter Guanshan Cave from Jiang Qing.

When Xu Liuxian received the news from Chongming Sect and learned of the unexpected death of Lang Yi, he received an immense favor.

The four brothers had previously claimed to be living a carefree life, but in reality, if they had a place to settle down and build a home, why would they have to endure the hardships of being wandering cultivators?

If Xu Liuxian had always been a rogue cultivator, where would his disciples have come from, risking their lives to earn enough military merits for him?! And whose blood would be used to obtain the resources for him to form a false core?!

Therefore, Xu Liuxian felt a genuine sense of gratitude towards Chongming Sect. However, seeing that the sect leader Kang, who always believed in traveling light, had brought so many attendants for the first time, he felt that he was being valued, and his smile deepened.

His current demeanor surprised Lai Hebinpeng, who sighed inwardly at the sight of the usually aloof and unruly Sect Leader Xu displaying such a fawning expression.

Xu Liuxian disregarded all of this. He too had come from a humble background and had risen from a minor cultivator to a pseudo-elixir master by overcoming numerous obstacles. Naturally, he understood the principles of being pragmatic and down-to-earth, which the Great Master Kang had always advocated.

For him, obtaining the false elixir was already the fulfillment of his lifelong wish, and he would no longer devote much attention to the path of immortality. As for how to manage a sect well, Sect Leader Kang was a role model in the surrounding area, and he would need to learn a lot from him in the future.

After forming the false core, Xu Liuxian also needs to consider whether to expand his family. If so, he should take the opportunity to get closer to the increasingly prosperous Chongming Sect in order to seek future assistance.

Furthermore, Sect Leader Kang is a first-rate figure below the Golden Core stage and also the leader of the alliance. Xu Liuxian has always been extremely respectful of him, so how could he possibly humble himself and become a lowly servant?
Just as Xu Liuxian led a group of key members of the sect, along with his wives, concubines, and children, to welcome the guests from the Chongming Sect off the flying boat, he saw that Fei Shuhe, who usually didn't accompany Headmaster Kang, had also come with a group of beautiful women from her household.

This scene startled the fake alchemist so much that a few drops of cold sweat broke out on his back. He quickly made a gesture behind his back. The quick-witted disciple behind him immediately understood and hurriedly turned around to remove the gift that Xu Liuxian had prepared long ago.

At this moment, no one cared about the whereabouts of a minor character. Sect Leader Kang smiled and bowed to Xu Liuxian, saying, "Brother Dao, your promotion to Pill Master this time has greatly enhanced the prestige of our Chongming Alliance. Your contribution is truly outstanding!"

The latter also repeatedly said he dared not accept such praise, "Alliance Leader, you flatter me. I, Liu Xian, am truly unworthy of such accolades! Please, please!"

The Hanshan Sect has put a lot of effort into preparing for Xu Liuxian's fake elixir ceremony, and the decorations and arrangements are quite outstanding for this humble place in Yunjiao Prefecture.

However, Fei Shuhe didn't see much to commend her. She simply chatted intimately with the noble ladies of the Hanshan Sect with great skill. Judging from her generous demeanor, compared to the very reserved women of Hanya Mountain, this noble lady from the Fei family seemed more like the hostess of the place.

Fei Shuhe was always adept at handling such situations, so Kang Dabao had no worries. He simply gathered with Xu Liuxian to catch up.

After the banquet was set out, Xu Liuxian's meticulous preparations were rendered useless due to Fei Shuhe and others' unexpectedly spontaneous arrival. However, he was quite shrewd. Seeing that Headmaster Kang had brought many juniors, he took a piece of Yi Wood Green Willow Heart as a prize, intending to set up a fighting arena under the banquet stage for his disciples to perform martial arts while drinking.

Without female entertainers to serve them, the heads of the various families sitting in the audience also felt bored and echoed each other, and Master Kang, of course, would not spoil the fun.

Jiang Qing selected a group of Chongming disciples to descend from the stage. Zhou Zhaoyi, who was already prepared, quickly organized and arranged things, and the makeshift arena immediately became lively.

Master Jiang's judgment was certainly not bad; all of Chongming's disciples immediately stood out as soon as they stepped onto the stage.

Jin Tanglu is the eldest son of Jin Shilun, who was already very handsome. With the addition of Mo'er, Jin Tanglu's appearance is even more outstanding than his father's.

This handsome young man practices a wide-ranging and powerful sword technique. Compared to his father, Jin Tanglu's talent in swordsmanship is far superior. Although his current cultivation level is only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, he has already mastered a low-grade Hong-rank sword technique, something his father has yet to achieve.

Combined with his enviable magical artifacts and equipment, few could rival him.

As Duan Anle's eldest son, Duan Yunzhou naturally had many spirit beasts by his side. Moreover, his maternal grandfather, Zhou Yixiu, doted on him. Duan Anle also did not slacken his discipline, so his foundation was extremely solid, allowing him to shine brightly in the arena.

Tang Jiu is the first grand-disciple of Sect Leader Kang, and has already reached the peak of Qi Refining, on the verge of Foundation Establishment. Furthermore, this young man is the only disciple among all the true disciples of the Chongming Sect who can learn the Bright Moon Visualization Technique, naturally making him even more favored by Kang Dabao.

Tang Jiu has now raised a swarm of first-tier sand wasps to defend against enemies. These kinds of spirit insects are notorious among first-tier spirit insects, and are extremely violent, so few people can control them.

Tang Jiu, through perseverance and powerful spiritual sense, was able to control these thousands of sand wasps with ease, making him virtually unmatched among his peers and far more prominent than his two junior brothers. This was something that Sect Leader Kang had always been quite pleased with.

At this time, Chongming Sect is striving for progress, and it is perfectly normal for some disciples to have the protection of their fathers and a smooth path in their cultivation. Kang Dabao has no grounds to criticize this. However, the sect leader still hopes that more disciples from humble backgrounds like Tang Jiu can stand out from the crowd. Only then can we see that Chongming Sect is constantly producing new blood and has a promising future.

The arena battle raged until the eve of the False Core Ceremony, but somewhat surprisingly, Tang Jiu failed to win.
The author's first point. The Yi Mu Qing Liu Xin that Xu Liuxian promised was won by Yang Qun, the eldest grandson of Yang Xun, the head of the Hongshan Yang family, which made an impression on all the heads of the families present.

Xu Liuxian had invested heavily in setting a reward, but it was snatched away by another family. He wasn't angry, but he still went on stage to preach as usual.

This time, Xu Liuxian was exceptionally generous, revealing many crucial points without reservation, which drew continuous praise from the audience. Even Master Kang seemed to have gained something from it.

After the three-day Daoist assembly concluded, Kang Dabao was about to head home when Xu Liuxian stopped him. Seeing that Kang had produced something, Kang asked in surprise, "An invitation to the Wanbao Trading Company's auction? How did you obtain it, fellow Daoist?!"

(Thanks to Huanshi for the 5,000 points)

(End of this chapter)