Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 516 Funeral
—Shanbei Road, Santing Prefecture, Hehuan Sect
"Senior Brother Chu, shall we leave it at that? If we continue to make trouble, it may be difficult to explain to the Master."

As he spoke, Lian Xuepu picked up the newly arrived message and tossed it towards Chu Han. The latter, having his own sources, already knew that all the schemes had been thwarted, so he had no need to look at the message.

The latter extended a finger and pointed it in the air, instantly turning the silver talisman to ashes. A gentle breeze swirled within the hall, carrying the talisman back to Lian Xuepu's feet, and also carrying Chu Han's words:

Whether this matter succeeds or fails, it will not affect the overall situation. Neither my junior brother nor I need to worry about it.

Chunfeng, a member of the Hehuan Sect, spoke without any emotion, but his eyes became much more serious as he spoke:
“Junior Brother Lian, the position of the Fei family in Yingzhou is not something I want to compete for alone. This time you didn’t understand the principles and interfered without permission, so I’ll let it go. But if there is a next time, don’t blame me for disregarding my reputation. Even if you are trusted by the Master, we will still go to the Master together to complain about you.”

After pondering these words for a while, Lian Xuepu did not rush to reply. Considering that it was not yet time to compete with Chu Han, he replied in a low voice, "Senior Brother Chu, you flatter me. I am only here to protect an old friend. As for the so-called imperial heir, I do not care about it."

Upon hearing this, Chu Han glanced at him with her phoenix eyes, her tone revealing a hint of disdain: "That would be for the best. Even your former junior brothers have had close ties with the Fei family, and it's hard to sever all ties. You may be able to save them today, but you might not be able to tomorrow. You'd better think carefully about what you do."

Seeing Chu Han leave the hall with a flick of his sleeve, Lian Xuepu showed no fear on his face. He just grinned and said, looking at the black ash on the ground, "He's still just a cowardly coward. I don't believe that a mid-grade Golden Core cultivator and a title bestowed by the Emperor are not enough to make you, a mere wretch, fear him."

Gradually, Lian Xuepu's smile faded, and the words on the talisman came back to mind. He thought to himself, "They really lived up to expectations. Even all the backup plans I prepared failed. If my senior brother were still here, I wonder how happy he would be?"

Just then, another young, handsome Taoist boy with delicate features entered from outside. Lian Xuepu snapped out of his reverie, and upon seeing the newcomer, he showed no disrespect, but instead smiled and asked, "Senior Brother Chi, what brings you here?"

This young Taoist boy, whom Lian Xuepu called "Senior Brother Chi," was no ordinary child. Although he looked like a child, he was actually over two hundred years old. This was because he had gone astray while practicing unorthodox techniques many years ago, which gave him the appearance of being young again.

Since his great-grandfather, his family has been loyal servants serving by the side of the Crimson Snow Immortal. Now, four generations have passed, and even though no one has yet produced a genuine Golden Core cultivator, their status within the Joyful Union Sect is considered extraordinary.

Lian Xuepu and he were both fake cultivators and served under the same master, Jiang Xuezhen. Over the years, their relationship had become quite close.

When Senior Brother Chi saw Lian Xuepu, he laughed and said, "I saw Senior Brother Chu Han's face when I came here just now. Junior Brother, you really angered him this time. He is known for his pettiness. Why did you provoke him? The Lord ordered you to come and ask questions. He specifically asked me to come and invite you."

Senior Brother Chi usually serves by the side of Master Jiangxue, so he wouldn't usually come out. Lian Xuepu understood this immediately, and his heart warmed. He then bowed deeply to the former with a serious expression as a way of thanking him.

Senior Brother Chi chuckled and shook his head for a while before accepting the bow. If others didn't know his age, they might even find him somewhat innocent and adorable.

The two landed hand in hand on a red cloud. As they talked along the way, Senior Brother Chi was still concerned and advising them: "I heard from some well-informed senior brothers that your junior brother has some strength."

First, he beheaded the abbot of Benying Temple in the Xiezhi Prison; then, he achieved the middle grade of Dan in the Fei family of Yingzhou; next, he was granted the title of Marquis of the Prefecture in the Dulong Hall; and finally, he returned to Leihua Mountain and annihilated the two superior cultivators of the Chixin Sect.

"At only a hundred years old, he already possesses such extraordinary fortune; his path to immortality is bound to be incredibly smooth. Even my junior brother, a figure like him is hard to find even within the entire Great Wei Immortal Dynasty; it seems there's no need for us lowly people to protect him."

Lian Xuepu's smile froze upon hearing this. He simply bowed in thanks without responding. Senior Brother Chi, who had known Lian Xuepu for many years, understood his meaning with just a glance and offered no further persuasion, only whispering a reminder:
"The lord is in a bad mood. Just bear with what he says and don't throw a tantrum."

"Thank you, senior brother."

Because of their special status, the Hehuan Sect, who were waiting outside Jiangxue Zhenren's bedroom, only conducted a simple inspection before letting them pass. Lian Xuepu was familiar with every plant and tree in the bedroom, but this time, he still felt a little uneasy.

Since becoming the Peach Burning Envoy, he had been favored by True Person Jiangxue, yet he remained honest and dutiful. He never dared to contend with Golden Core cultivators, and he was always extremely polite even when interacting with his disciples.

Therefore, when Xiao Wan'er, who had previously served as the sect leader, saw him, she would praise him for being sensible and well-behaved.

Unexpectedly, the very first move thwarted Chu Han's elaborate schemes, causing quite a stir. To be honest, regardless of who was right or wrong, this could be considered collusion with outsiders, and if Jiangxue Zhenren were truly dissatisfied, there would be no fault in pointing it out.

This sleeping quarters was much smaller than the one that Master Jiangxue used in Guandong. The two of them walked for a short while before entering the main hall.

The interior furnishings are simple. A hexagonal glass lamp hangs on an ebony flower stand by the window, its blue flames burning silently within a hollowed-out gilded cover, reflecting a shimmering starlight on the entire glass wall.

At each of the four corners of the hall, a snow-white gauze ribbon hangs down, with spirit-gathering talismans drawn in cinnabar floating on the ribbons. When the dragon blood amber at the end collides, it emits a clear and melodious sound, which is an indescribable calming and profound sound.

The bronze censer with the Eight Treasures Lingzhi pattern, located in the center, emits wisps of smoke. This is the "Jade Marrow Tranquility" treasure, meticulously crafted by the Imperial Palace in the capital. Even the one from the Hehuan Sect in the palace received a small share, and could not possibly be more extravagant than the Crimson Snow Immortal.

The fine mist of sandalwood outlined and circled the twelve-panel sandalwood carved lattice fan several times, and then added a layer of haziness to the surface of the six-leaf golden thunderwood lattice fan.

This is a superior material for refining a natal magic weapon during the Golden Core cultivation process. It is already rare. True Person Jiangxue has kept it in her bedroom for nearly ten Jiazi (60 years), firstly for decoration, and secondly to nurture it with Daoist energy, thus adding to its profound meaning.

If one were willing to part with it now, it wouldn't be too difficult to attract one or two years' worth of elixir-making to serve one's life for sixty years.

On the floating sandalwood shelf, a seven-stringed scorched-tail zither and a gilded divination plate were scattered about, both magical artifacts used by Master Jiangxue in his early years. Although they were no longer usable, the Master, being sentimental, did not bestow them upon anyone else, and they remained as ornaments in this room.

The emperor's bedroom was also adorned with flowers and plants. Three nine-leaf evening primroses were growing in the crystal lotus cup beside the table. The fluorescent petals changed from blue to silver with the phases of the moon, which was quite beautiful.

A five-colored spiritual flower, called "Five Rainbows Twisted Fat," floats on the outer side of the nine-leaf evening primrose.

Its leaves are as thin as cicada wings and can let in sunlight. Where the branches droop, a string of emerald bell-shaped flowers bloom. When there is no wind, the clear sound shakes off the dew. Consuming it can delay the passing of youth. It is one of the spiritual plants most often cultivated by high-level female cultivators.

These flowers and plants are all beautiful, but they are not easy to maintain.

To ensure that the residence of the true immortal remains undisturbed, even if the true immortal Jiangxue might not glance at it for years, Senior Brother Chi also keeps two fake alchemists in this palace, who take the essence of the true immortal's heart and blood to nourish it in the middle of each month, truly doing their best.

Inside the niche in the sleeping quarters, a nine-aperture exquisite water mirror floated and rotated in the air. The mirror reflected the purple energy escaping from the cracks in the void. It was locked in a small space by four sealing spiritual patterns. It was the vital point that the True Person would only reveal to close friends and family.

The definition of "closeness" varies from person to person. For ordinary female Taoists, being able to whisper sweet nothings to each other is considered very close. But for the experienced and knowledgeable Master Jiangxue, even being intimate on the bed is not necessarily the case.

Lian Xuepu had seen him countless times, but he kept his mouth shut and suppressed his curiosity, which is why he never lost the emperor's favor.

As Lian Xuepu entered, he looked up and saw a chilling aura emanating from behind the jade screen in the hall. The bed, carved entirely from a piece of cold jade, shimmered with a frosty glow. The silk curtains moved without wind, revealing a captivatingly beautiful figure. He immediately bowed deeply in greeting.

Senior Brother Chi also glanced at the jade screen, and after a moment of preparation, he spoke in a perfectly timed tone: "My lord, Junior Brother Lian has arrived."

Unexpectedly, the graceful figure behind the jade screen remained silent. Senior Brother Chi had not prepared for this scene beforehand. He glanced at Lian Xuepu, who was lying on the ground, and hesitated for a moment before speaking in a softer, gentler tone: "Master, Junior Brother Lian has come to pay his respects."

"Do you think I'm old and senile, blind and deaf?!"

The question sounded somewhat gentle and sweet, but it startled Senior Brother Chi so much that his face fell, and he pounded his head on the ground with a thud: "This humble servant wouldn't dare!"

"Get out!!!"

Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Chi felt as if he had been granted a pardon. In this situation, even if he and Lian Xuepu were close friends, he didn't dare to glance at them with concern as he left.

It was clear that Master Jiangxue had made preparations beforehand. After Senior Brother Chi left, there was no one left in this huge sleeping hall, only her and Lian Xuepu, who were still kneeling in front of the steps.

"Come in."

The former's tone was languid and alluring, so Xuepu responded and slowly walked around the jade screen. There he saw a naked beauty lying in a cold jade bathtub.

The expression on Jiangxue Zhenren's face showed no anger as it appeared; instead, it held a hint of a half-smile. Her appearance didn't quite live up to the word "beautiful," but her skin was as white as mutton fat jade, still alluring.

Her jade-like legs stretched out, and five slender toes reached towards Lian Xuepu's handsome face. The tips of the two longest toes were each inlaid with a piece of bright red jade. With a nimble pinch, they clamped down on Lian Xuepu's left ear and pulled it in as well.

While the latter's fighting skills were not particularly impressive, his mastery of winning a woman's heart was certainly commendable. Lian Xuepu's anxiety was instantly washed away by the splash of water as he observed the expression on Jiang Xue Zhenren's face.

Feeling the warm, delicate golden lotus against his face, he even showed a hint of enjoyment, took a deep breath, and said, "You frightened me just now, Master."

Upon hearing this, Master Jiangxue looked embarrassed and annoyed. Jinlian slapped Lian Xuepu's face twice and said, "Heh, you can be scared too? I just thought you were unwilling to lower yourself to be a male concubine anymore and wanted to go back to your sect to become a Supreme Elder."

"So that's what's troubling you?!" Lian Xuepu suddenly realized, but before he could explain, he heard Master Jiangxue interject:
"If you really want to protect your descendants, just tell me. Why bother arguing with those worthless cowards? Since you don't like Chu Han, I could have sent him out later to find a pretext to kill him."

But he did it on Wan'er's orders, which is why he wanted to cause trouble around the Duke of Qin's mansion. That way, I couldn't act on his behalf, and you had to suffer this injustice.”

Lian Xuepu laughed upon hearing this, secretly thinking that the beautiful woman before him was as good at making empty promises as ever. While his heart warmed, he did not take what the Immortal Jiangxue had said to heart.

Zuo You Chu Han is also a late-stage cultivator, and his age is suitable. To be honest, it's not impossible for him to become a True Person in the future. So how could he be easily killed because of something as trivial as jealousy? True Person Jiang Xue saw the mockery in Lian Xue Pu's eyes, but he was not ashamed or angry. He simply added a little more force to her jade toes, pulled her in front of him, and said softly, "Take off your clothes and practice."

Lian Xuepu was already very familiar with this task, and his actions were performed with practiced ease. However, as the two were whispering sweet nothings to each other, the sticky moans of the Crimson Snow Immortal also reached Lian Xuepu's ears:

"And also, don't even think about going back to Chongming Sect. If you leave, I won't let them go."

"Phew, I'm not going. If I don't go, I can't go back."

Not long after, Senior Brother Chi, who had been prepared, slowly entered carrying a bowl of medicinal food. Lian Xuepu didn't stand on ceremony or care about manners, and quickly finished the food.

"Being a male concubine is no easy task."

Even though Senior Brother Chi had seen a lot, he still felt a pang of sadness. As he sighed inwardly, he gently advised, "Wait, wait. The Master personally instructed a third-tier cook to add demon root powder. If you eat it whole, it won't be easy to refine!"

Lian Xuepu, who was about to be chewed up, could not listen to anything else. Only after he finished eating did he feel a little strength return.

At this moment, after collecting the dishes, Senior Brother Chi took out a spirit ring and handed it to Lian Xuepu.

"This is?"

"The master said that the junior has achieved the middle grade of alchemy. As his senior uncle, how can you not bring gifts to congratulate him? Also, that old bird from the Fei family who was invited by the master has been released. When you go back, remember to ask the Fei family to repay your kindness."

"what?"

Seeing Lian Xuepu's surprised expression, Senior Brother Chi said, "The Lord is considerate and would not bear to let you truly sever this relationship. But when you go there, don't forget to remind him not to interfere too much in the affairs of the Fei family in Yingzhou, and to take good care of himself."

When Lian Xuepu heard these words for the second time, and it was from Master Jiangxue who relayed them to Senior Brother Chi, he naturally took them much more seriously than before. He immediately felt a sinking feeling in his heart and nodded in agreement.

After tidying up carefully for a while, he rode on the red clouds again and headed towards Pingrong County.

—Lei Huashan
"Big Brother!"

"Master!"

"Head!"

"Alliance leader!"

A cacophony of greetings surged forth, and the Grand Master Kang took a deep breath, knowing that now was not the time for pleasantries. He simply dealt with them briefly before sending the leaders of each faction to take stock of the spoils and casualties and to pursue the remaining remnants.

Objectively speaking, if it weren't for the timely intervention of Sect Leader Kang, the Chongming Sect would have truly suffered a great loss this time. With the combined efforts of the two superior cultivators from the Chixin Sect, not only could the pseudo-core cultivators of the Chongming Alliance not withstand them, but even a Golden Core cultivator like Wufeng, if unlucky, might not have survived.

While the finger-shaving technique practiced by Hong Gu was indeed somewhat bizarre, its power was considerable. If Kang Dabao hadn't taken the initiative and ripped out his heart, dealing with him would have required even more effort.

I wonder if there are any jade slips inscribed in his storage bag. If I could take them and study them carefully, I would benefit greatly.

And the broken arrow that Gu Chengsen threw out in his moment of crisis was clearly a trump card for saving his life.

That ancient demonic remnant may seem ordinary, but in reality, it already possesses the spiritual strength of a top-tier mid-stage Golden Core cultivator. If it weren't for the fact that Sect Leader Kang's spiritual strength had also increased significantly after he formed his Golden Core, he might have actually been defeated by it.

To be honest, even if someone like Fei Nanying or Chu Yanran were to face that ancient demonic remnant, they would most likely suffer a great loss. Even if they had rare treasures to save their lives, it wouldn't be as easy as Kang Dabao suppressing and annihilating it with the Bright Moon Visualization Technique.

The fact that the Hehuan Sect would take in the remnants of the Chixin Sect for its own use suggests that even though the Nascent Soul Sect appears to be very submissive to the Dawei Immortal Dynasty, this "submission" is not as simple as it seems to ordinary people.

Fortunately, Yuan Jin and Jiang Qing fought bravely, and the entire Chongming Alliance was of one mind. This allowed them to hold on until Master Kang returned, resulting in not only avoiding disaster but also achieving a great victory.

Within half a day, Yuan Jin's military tent was packed with leaders from various families. In addition to the families of the Chongming Alliance, meritorious individuals such as Yang Xun, the head of the Yang family of Hongshan, were also fortunate enough to be invited to discuss matters here.

Although this victory could be considered a major triumph, not all the cultivators were overjoyed. This was because the Red Heart Sect was not a rabble, and although the Three Immortals Cave was disorganized, it held its ground on home ground and inflicted considerable casualties on the other factions.

It would be an exaggeration to say that every family was in mourning, but the fact that many promising disciples and students had died is truly heartbreaking.

Master Kang could certainly empathize with this state of mind.

All the clan leaders of Chongming Sect took the lead in this battle. Not only did the Qingjue Guard suffer heavy losses, but the local militia of the two counties and the military officers of Songfeng Righteous Army also suffered many casualties. Even Yuan Changsheng, whom they regarded as their own son, went to the front line to personally carry the banner and has not yet woken up.

However, he knew how to distract himself from these heavy thoughts. Having received his instructions, Zhou Yixiu temporarily took on the role of the master of ceremonies and read aloud the regulations that Kang Dabao had just arranged.

Old Xiu's cultivation level wasn't high, but his voice was quite loud, and he could still maintain a strong voice for a short time:
"All households belonging to the local militia and Songfeng militia of Ping and Jin counties shall be exempted from taxes for three years. Those who have rendered meritorious service shall be dealt with separately. Special personnel shall be assigned to prepare notices in all towns and markets to inform all parties."

"The spoils seized this time, along with those hidden by the two Golden Core cultivators, will all be gathered together. Within ten days, the spoils will be distributed according to each family's contribution; the Chongming Sect will not conceal anything."

"When we have a subsequent audience with the Duke, we will also petition for rewards and honors for those who have rendered meritorious service today."

These arrangements were made in accordance with the fairness and generosity that Headmaster Kang has always upheld. The more the cultivators listened, the happier their expressions became, and the sadness they felt earlier gradually dissipated.

For most cultivators, spirit stones are more precious than their own children, which is perfectly normal.

However, for Sect Leader Kang, the aftermath of this matter still needed to be properly handled. This time, they had wiped out a major sect's vassal state; it couldn't be as trivial as Zhou Yixiu and the other cultivators had described!

Those in the hall who were vigilant knew about these things, but they did not speak of them at this crucial moment, lest they displease Kang Dabao, who had already become a high-ranking monk.

Things are different now. Even Bian Hu, who previously had some desire to compete with Master Kang, is now meek and obedient, showing no sign of arrogance.

However, Master Kang didn't really care about his current mood.

It took another ten days to disband the troops and distribute the spoils before Kang Dabao finally returned to the sect with his now much dwindling number of disciples.

During this time, he also received letters from Fei Nanying and Chu Yanran. The two of them had made some moves before, which was because Chu Han had a lot of influence. He was even able to invite Lan Xin, a cultivator under Jiang Xue Zhenren who could rival Pu Honggu, the Grand Elder of Liangyi Sect.

Fei Tianqin was also invited by Master Jiangxue to visit the Hehuan Sect, but the two had their own difficulties and could not make any moves.

After putting away the letter, Master Kang felt a mix of emotions, including a sense of melancholy.

After all, in the past, even if these two elders had actually done these things, they wouldn't have written to explain them to me. They would have just let me understand.

It seems that the arrogance of a Golden Core cultivator is only displayed in front of lower-level cultivators; those of the same level would find it hard to see.

This principle applies everywhere, and for Kang Dabao, this change is a good thing, so he has nothing to be annoyed about.

Along the way, Sect Leader Kang searched through the storage bags of the Red Bone Cultivator and Gu Chengsen again. After all, he had killed both of these cultivators by himself. Even though the cultivators from various sects had put in some effort, in terms of actual merit, they only received some scraps.

That's why Kang Dabao made Zhou Yixiu say those nice words; otherwise, given his honest and pragmatic nature, how could he bear to do that?

The finger-shaving technique cultivated on the red bone was nowhere to be found, but the origin of Gu Chengsen's broken arrow piqued the interest of Sect Leader Kang. There was a seal script character on it that bore an eight-tenths resemblance to the one on the black bone!

After returning to the sect, Headmaster Kang was still pondering the matter, but there were still many things to do, so he rarely had any free time.

Just as he had finally sorted out most of the complicated matters, he heard a message from a disciple outside.

"Is it Uncle Lian who's back?!"

(End of this chapter)