Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 514 Return to the clan
"We have to leave now," Fei Shuhe said with a hint of regret. This was because there was a Fei family daughter-in-law from the Li family of Xihe in the Qishui Hall. She was from a proper Nascent Soul clan and had said last time that she wanted to come and meet Kang Changyi.

While the chances of this marriage falling through are slim, such opportunities are rare. In Fei Shuhe's view, if she could stay in Yingzhou for a while longer, she might actually be able to achieve some great fortune for Kang Changyi.

No wonder Fei Shuhe was so concerned. After all, since the eldest son of the family had the opportunity to climb the social ladder and easily obtain a large amount of rare resources, why should he bother to sit in meditation like those poor people with only a worthless life?
This principle applies everywhere.

However, she was also sensible. Because the Grand Master Kang was at a critical moment in forming his core, the heads of the household did not inform Chongming Sect of its recent situation, as Fei Nanying had suggested.

That's why he realized that his own sect had offended a Nascent Soul male concubine. Given Kang Dabao's personality, it would be strange if he wasn't anxious.

Fortunately, Patriarch Ye was as kind as ever. After understanding the intentions of Headmaster Kang, he not only did not get angry, but also summoned back Fei Tianqin, who was out handling some business, and asked this patriarch with the flat hair to bring Kang Dabao and his family back to the sect.

Even the sect leader Kang could see the intense resentment seeping from the old bird's eyes, but he could only smile bitterly and bow for a while as an apology.

Just as Elder Ye Su had previously arranged, the group also included Fei Donggu, an elder of the Fei family, Fei Wanqing, who had traveled to the south of the mountains to find her parents, and a blood-robed Taoist priest who had been locked deep inside the palace by Fei Tianqin.

The blood-robed Taoist priest was hiding something of great importance, but Sect Leader Kang couldn't bear to see him.

However, Fei Donggu, the elder of the Fei family, was truly kind to everyone. Whether it was Kang Dabao, who had just achieved the Golden Core stage, or Kang's second son, who was still in the realm of true cultivation, he would never hesitate to teach them if they asked questions sincerely. He treated them as if they were his own close relatives.

Such an opportunity was something that Headmaster Kang, who was still living in Yunjiao Prefecture, could never have imagined. However, after achieving the Golden Core stage, he found that the malice in the world seemed to have decreased significantly.

The Fei family members who used to secretly mock my background have all disappeared without a trace.
The matter of taking a concubine was mostly handled by Fei Shuhe, the eldest wife. However, over the years, Kang Dabao has suffered a lot of criticism in the Fei family because of this.

However, even Fernand, the elder of the Fern family who was in charge of the family's external affairs, seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally hinting that if they wanted to take concubines in the future, they could ask the Fern family for permission again.
To be honest, the titles "Golden Core Cultivator" and "Marquis of Wuning Prefecture" do add a lot to the prestige of Headmaster Kang. After all, the Fei family's cultivators know which is more valuable: several outstanding daughters or a Golden Core son-in-law.

If it weren't for the truly dazzling brilliance of Master Kang's mid-grade Golden Core, and the fact that Fei Donggu had already largely repaid the favor of rescuing Fei Nanxin from the Xie Zhi prison by taking care of the two Kang family sons in the Hundred Fruit Secret Realm, there would be no need to ask for another favor here.

After several days of preaching on Fei Tianqin's back, Fei Donggu calculated with his fingers and determined that it would only take another three or four days to reach Shannan Road. He then concluded his journey and took out a token, handing it to Headmaster Kang.

"What's going on, Elder Zong?!"

Fei Donggu stroked his long beard lightly and said in a calm voice:
“I have a good friend named Gu Rong, who is one of the most outstanding craftsmen of the Chen Gong School. Not long ago, he was recruited by the Duke of Qin to serve as the chief craftsman of the Duke’s mansion. Young Master Kang has just achieved the Golden Core stage and may still be lacking some suitable magical artifacts. If he cannot find a suitable one in the market, he may be able to have one custom-made by him.”

Upon hearing this, Kang Dabao showed some gratitude on his face. Just as he was about to thank him, Fei Donggu spoke up again, saying, "His skills are good, but his prices are a bit high. Mention my name, and I can give you a discount."

After speaking, Fei Donggu saw that the gratitude on Master Kang's face had become visibly more genuine, so he smiled and went to talk to Fei Tianqin.

Not long after Fei Donggu left, Fei Wanqing also got up to take her leave. Unlike Fei Shuhe, the latter never missed a single Daoist gathering.

He heard that the Fei family's top cultivators had bestowed upon him a set of resources for forming his core upon his journey to Shannan. It seems that once he returns to his parents' side, he will also need to begin the process of forming his core.

Compared to her exceptionally talented younger sister, the matriarch of the Kang family was far inferior.

Fei Shuhe had heard countless lectures on alchemy since childhood, especially after Fei Nanying achieved a middle-grade alchemy, he never hesitated to personally teach Fei Shuhe. However, the latter simply couldn't grasp the principles, and after many fruitless attempts, he simply gave up on such opportunities.

For him, it's more practical to honestly refine his resources and cultivate simply. Let's see if, when the time comes, he'll have a chance to compete for a future with a fake elixir.

With only the father and his two sons remaining in the arena, many things became much easier to discuss. Kang Changxi, with a strange expression, hesitated for a moment before finally asking in a questioning voice, "Father, is that Master Lian truly the Crimson Snow Immortal?"

"Silence!"

This rebuke was not unexpected for Kang Changxi, so he fell silent and remained bowed. Kang Dabao's anger had not subsided, and he was about to continue questioning when he saw Kang Changyi come over to smooth things over:

"Father, please calm down. My second brother just misspoke and meant no harm."

Enraged, Sect Leader Kang scrutinized his eldest son, who had come to his rescue, for a moment before letting out a cold snort and speaking in a chilling voice towards Kang Changxi:
"If you haven't truly forgotten that you are a descendant of the Kang family, then don't think that you have noble blood flowing through your veins. Some things are not things you want to do, but things you have to do, things you can't not do, things you dare not not do! In this world, how many people are as fortunate as you, with a choice?!"

Kang Dabao's words were a bit harsh, causing Kang Changxi, who was hanging his head in silence, to droop even lower. However, the former did not think that what he had done was excessive.

This was because after going to Yingzhou, Kang Changxi's body was even more reeking of rich food.

Even though the two brothers were more knowledgeable than the sons of minor families in the border states, they still couldn't help but feel a sense of longing when they actually arrived at the prosperous places in the capital region.

This was to be expected and beyond reproach, but after hearing what his eldest son said today, Headmaster Kang was shocked to realize that Kang Changxi had already been corrupted to such an extent.

"To avoid offending one's elders" is the duty of juniors. Even if the status of one's senior uncle is truly somewhat unworthy, outsiders may laugh, but the Chongming Sect must not criticize it in the slightest, otherwise it would be an act of forgetting one's ancestors.

It took Kang Dabao a while to calm down his anger. After he had lectured the two brothers for a while, he turned and left.

Kang Changxi hadn't seen the Great Master Kang in such a rage for many years. Only when he could no longer detect Kang Dabao's figure with his divine sense did he dare to raise his head and let out a long sigh: "Father is still terrifying when he gets angry. My brother and I have suffered together because of him."

"Not at all," Kang Changyi said with a faint smile. He and Kang Changxi were different in status. Although he was the eldest son, he was born out of wedlock. He had learned to read people's expressions from his birth mother, Huo Ying, since he was a child.

It was thanks to Kang Changyi's ability that she was able to do this; otherwise, even if Fei Shuhe, the matriarch of the household, was broad-minded, she wouldn't have placed such importance on the former.

Kang Changyi was not very ambitious and had no intention of competing with Kang Changxi.

Compared to his elder brother, Kang Changxi was more confident and lived a much more carefree life. In addition, he could not hide any sinister or treacherous thoughts, and Kang Changyi was raised by Fei Shuhe since childhood, almost like a biological son, so the two had a very deep relationship.

This is certainly a good thing. At least for now, Headmaster Kang doesn't have to worry about future internal strife like many other families, which is quite reassuring.

After this lecture, the two still had much to digest and digest, so instead of going their separate ways, they gathered together to ponder and analyze it.

Several more days passed. Only after clarifying the last issue at hand did Kang Changyi look up, a hint of relief appearing in his eyes: "We've arrived at Shannan Road." — Lei Huashan
Jiang Qing had no idea that the Golden Core cultivator who led the army to Leihua Mountain was indeed an acquaintance.

According to what the opposing disciple said, Gu Chengsen, the disciple of the Red Heart Sect, and Honggu Shangxiu, the sect leader, had become the Supreme Elders of the Three Immortals Cave at some point.

Most of those under his command were also disciples of the Red Heart Sect. This was a good opportunity to settle accounts with the Chongming Sect.

This matter is reasonable and logical, and it can be said that Chu Han, the Spring Breeze Envoy, had a good plan. With each step linked to the next, he left Lian Xuepu, who had agreed with him that "the two families should decide for themselves and outsiders should have no say," speechless.

Anyone with even a basic understanding of military affairs knows that in this situation, running away is unlikely.

It is true that the various teams of the Chongming Alliance are all well-trained, but if they were to be attacked from behind by two cultivators led by superior cultivators during their retreat, it would be strange if these thousands of troops did not immediately collapse.

At that time, even the Qingjue and Chizhang Guards, which were directly under the Chongming Sect, might have few survivors.

Fortunately, thanks to the news that Jiang Qing had just received, the array masters of the Chongming Alliance, led by Wei Gu, had already taken action.

However, this was also because the original formation of the Three Immortals Cave was not of a high grade, which allowed Wei Gu and other formation masters to spend a lot of resources to restore it in such a short time.

When the two cultivators returned to Leihua Mountain with a portion of the original Chixin Sect and the hundreds of defeated soldiers from the Sanxian Cave who had just been taken in, it was clear that Chongming Sect had only been operating here for a short time, but in that short period of time, it had almost erected an impregnable fortress.

Wei Gu, who was selected into the sect by the discerning eyes of the sect leader Kang, has been so exhausted these days that he is almost half-dried up. His whole body has been scorched so badly that there is no trace of blood left.
However, all their hard work was not in vain. Even though the other side had two superior cultivators leading them, the cultivators in the Lei Hua Mountain inner alliance worked hard and risked their lives to keep them out.

The only regrettable thing is that many more lives were lost. However, the generous reward offered by the Chongming Sect's Grand Master Kang before the recruitment was enough to make the cultivators guarding the formation fearless of death.

Hong Gu Shangxiu's injuries have not yet fully healed. One reason he came out to work for Chu Han was to earn some money to pay for his treatment.

He and Gu Chengsen took turns probing for a while, but apart from causing the cultivators in the Chongming Alliance formation to fall like seedlings, the Taoist techniques they used did not force out any flaws in the Three Immortals Cave's protective formation.

The two immediately stopped fighting and handed over their disciples to charge into the enemy lines and wear down the morale of the defenders.

Jiang Qing and the three alchemists looked at the scene before them with some regret, because in the eyes of these two so-called Supreme Elders of the Three Immortals Cave, the disciples who originally belonged to the Red Heart Sect were indeed much more valuable than the defeated soldiers of the Three Immortals Cave.

The two alchemists from the Three Immortals Cave who had just abandoned their sect could only watch helplessly as their disciples, whose armor was poorly made and whose drums were in disarray, temporarily forgot their fear and held various magical artifacts.

Then came waves of charging, followed by waves of collapse, and a look of sorrow appeared in his eyes.

This wasn't because he felt sorry for his disciple, but because he felt sorry for himself, who would now have no resources left and would have to start all over again, just like those rootless cultivators.

Therefore, the two of them also hated the suddenly emerging Chongming Sect. When the battle reached a critical moment, they even dared to take the lead, which was quite a sign that they were at their wits' end.

Seeing this, Jiang Qing was eager to take advantage of the chaos and rush out to gain an advantage. In his opinion, as long as he acted quickly and killed one of the two stray dogs outside, even with two Golden Core cultivators by his side, he could escape in time.

But this idea was only mentioned to Yuan Jin before the latter shook his head and rejected it: "Judging by the time, Senior Brother Sect Leader should be back soon. If you have someone to protect you then, there might be a chance."

At this moment, Jiang Qing did not do anything rash. Instead, he listened carefully to what his senior brother said. He then joined forces with the three alchemists, Bian, Xu, and Hu, and occasionally released a sword light to snatch back the lives of true cultivators.

The number of defeated soldiers from the Three Immortals Cave that Honggu Shangxiu and Gu Chengsen had taken in was eventually exhausted. After a day of fierce attack on Leihua Mountain, only about 30% of them were still able to catch their breath.

Even among these 30%, a large number were wounded, a sight that evoked endless sighs.

The two alchemists of the Three Immortals Cave requested a day's rest before resuming the battle the following day. They should have been overjoyed after receiving permission, but they never expected that as soon as evening fell, a disciple of the Three Immortals Cave would secretly escape!

"This military camp is guarded by Golden Core cultivators and Pseudo-Gold Core cultivators. How could an ordinary person possibly escape?"

Although the logic was simple, the disciples of the Three Immortals Cave, having witnessed the despair of the daytime scene, disregarded it. Their fate was predictable: most were killed on the spot by the disciples of the Crimson Heart Sect. Of the remaining few, a portion were selected by the Red Bone Cultivator for future use.

The next day, when they attacked the formation, the two alchemists from the Three Immortals Cave finally understood why they had kept the people behind.

Given the limited resources left by the Red Heart Sect, the two cultivators would not be willing to waste them on a formation that would require the sacrifice of many lives.

Hong Gu clenched his teeth and used his palm as a knife to slice off another piece of his left finger bone. The pale yellow finger bone leaped into the air, its flesh and blood completely gone, becoming crystal clear.

At the same time, the fist-sized black bead in the hands of more than a thousand Red Heart followers had been refined and melted into a pool of molten iron.

This finger bone, though only an inch long, absorbed all the molten iron from the thousands of pools below, and even coated itself with a bright outer shell. Before anyone in the formation could even react, the red-boned cultivator furrowed his brow and uttered a spell; the finger bone, like an arrow released from a bow, pierced through the numerous obstacles in its path and struck the great array's mystical light outside Leihua Mountain.

"Boom"

After a soft sound, Wei Gu, who was running the formation, immediately sensed something was wrong and exclaimed, "It's using this finger bone as a formation-breaking bead!"

However, Wei Gu's call was too late. The finger bone that had absorbed the essence of more than a thousand first-order array-breaking beads landed on the Xuan Guang as easily as brine curdling tofu.

The thick, mysterious light rippled outwards like waves, then quickly dissipated. As the array flags exploded one by one, the relaxed expressions on everyone's faces disappeared; they all knew the great array was about to break.

All the leaders of the Chongming Alliance were ready to fight to the death to buy their disciples some room to maneuver, but unexpectedly, they heard a high-pitched scream and a mournful cry from the enemy's ranks.

"Brother!!"

(End of this chapter)