Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 524 I will take it myself
————Beyond Hongshan Mountain

The weapon, Tu Li, was covered in burn marks from a fierce battle. After all, it had just taken the life of a genuine Golden Core cultivator. Even the Great Sect Leader Kang felt that the top-grade spiritual weapon in his hand was too hot to handle.

To be honest, this killing weapon, which Kang Dabao once treasured, has become rather unusable. Kang Dabao should find a suitable time to use the token that Fei Donggu just gave him.

He then made a hand seal, causing a chill to rise from his palm before the burning sensation in his hand gradually subsided.

Afterwards, Kang Dabao only glanced down at the Yang family members who had crawled all the way, and then paid them no further attention. He simply flicked his fingers, and a gust of evil wind swept a tall Taoist priest over.

"Fellow Daoist Xie went to great lengths, even neglecting Dingzhou, to come and cause trouble for my Chongming Sect. It is truly an honor for me."

This mocking tone naturally filled Jieyi Shangxiu, who was bound and locked within his dantian, with shame and anger. To be honest, although he had some experience of being captured alive, he was still a dignified Golden Core cultivator, and it was difficult for him to accept such humiliation.

However, after Kang Dabao finished speaking, he didn't allow the enlightened cultivator to say anything more. Instead, in front of all the cultivators present, he raised his finger and made a gesture of gusts of wind. He then took this renowned cultivator, whom he had only just met, to a secluded place and entrusted him to careful guards.

Despite being the most famous elder of the Hongyi Sect, Xie Yi was only known for being captured alive by Kuang Liuting, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. However, he was still a senior cultivator who had been cultivated for many years. Even after being forced out of Dingzhou by the Yunjiao Prefecture Court, he still managed to fight Wu Feng, a senior cultivator, to a standstill.

To outsiders, even if Jieyi were truly no match for Kang Dabao, who had just achieved the Golden Core stage, he would at worst have to retreat in a sorry state. At the very least, Jieyi still possessed some legitimate lineage, had been bestowed with a natal magic weapon, and the Hongyi Sect had once been a long-established Golden Core sect that dominated a province.

Therefore, as a supreme master, even if the understanding of the upper realm is truly no match for Master Kang, he can still manage to deal with the latter to some extent, so that Huang Li and his group can achieve their goal and then make further plans.

But beforehand, none of them had considered that this cultivator of the Yi Jing would be so useless that he could be captured alive without being investigated!
Ultimately, it was because Gu Chengsen, who had just achieved the Golden Core stage, and Honggu Shangxiu, who was seriously injured, were not considered significant enough by outsiders. This caused the Grand Master Kang, who had just begun to show his abilities, to have his own skills underestimated by outsiders.

Those idle people outside have no idea that the former has ancient demonic arrows by his side and the latter also has a set of fierce Dao techniques to rely on. Even ordinary mid-stage Golden Core cultivators might not be able to win against them.

To be honest, while it didn't take a lot of effort for Master Kang to deal with Gu and Hong, it was still far more difficult than dealing with these two useless upper cultivators in front of him.

However, Huang Li and Jie Yi, the two cultivators who were unaware of their own shortcomings, also suffered. If the sect leader Kang had killed two of their peers at their peak, they probably wouldn't have taken such a risk this time.

It's understandable that they're used to being poor, and while many cultivators have learned that the Yang family possesses a Golden Core storage bag, only the two of them have come.

Everyone knows that Chongming Sect's strength within the Qin State Duke's jurisdiction isn't particularly outstanding, yet its relationships are quite complex. Ordinary cultivators wouldn't be so easily swayed by rumors, and would deliberately invite trouble for a Golden Core storage bag whose contents are unknown!

We can ignore the five pseudo-elixir masters who were just reduced to minced meat, and we'll also set aside the freshly encoffined superior cultivator for the time being.

However, seeing a living Golden Core cultivator being treated so casually and simply by their alliance leader, the more than a thousand cultivators of the Chongming Alliance couldn't suppress their pride. Who among them could not be filled with admiration?
Amidst the vast retinue of volunteers, You Xiaobao, who had just been conscripted to serve, still wore the white mourning clothes on his head. Upon seeing this scene, a hint of admiration appeared on his face: "A true man should be like this."

Kang Dabao was slightly satisfied with the reaction in the room, but he did not show it on his face. He only turned his gaze back to Yang Xun, who was kneeling in front of him.

The latter trembled, his face already showing a blank expression: "Yang Xun is guilty, guilty."

Kang Dabao flicked his long sleeves and asked in a calm voice, "What crime have you committed?!"

Yang Xun's spine seemed to snap at the weight of those two light words, and he suddenly bowed down. Before he could utter a sound, the Yang family cultivators, some filled with grief, some with sorrow, and some with fear, began to weep bitterly.

Jiang Qing, who had been on high alert, glanced around and even saw a flash of ruthlessness in the eyes of several of the Yang family's core members, clearly indicating that they were considering a fight to the death.

Today, Third Master Jiang was in the throes of murderous intent. With a single spiritual incantation, his flying sword, still dripping with blood, was revealed once more. The murderous aura caused the fear on the faces of many Yang family cultivators to intensify, and some were even so frightened that they cried themselves to death.

"The third child,"

As usual, those two light words saved the lives of many Yang family cultivators. Kang Dabao only gave Jiang Qing a gentle word of advice, his gaze fixed on Yang Xun's words.

"Alliance Leader, Yang Xun was originally a defeated and destitute man, only able to find a place to live thanks to the refuge of the Upper Sect. However, Yang Xun has betrayed the kindness of the Nine Tripods and the generosity of the Three Families. He has received great treasures but has not offered them as tribute, and he has forgotten the great kindness and is taking chances. He deserves to be punished with a thousand arrows piercing his tongue!"
Yang Xun shamelessly pleaded again, begging the Alliance Leader to consider the Yang family's past bravery in battle and their unwavering courage in the charge, and to spare the lives of his bloodline, refraining from such ruthless measures!

"I've been working on this for quite a while now, and it must have been quite a struggle."

The sarcasm in Kang's tone was undisguised. With a flick of his finger, a gentle breeze lifted Yang Xun up again. But then he asked coldly, "When did I, Kang, establish a rule that subordinates who obtain valuable treasures must hand them over, or face confiscation of their property and extermination?"

This question caused the cultivators present to pause for a moment, wondering, "No family has ever mentioned these rules, but I've also never heard of any family not having them."

Yang Xun looked stunned, almost exclaiming in surprise. But after asking the question, he didn't wait for a reply. Instead, he picked up the black storage bag that had fallen to the ground along with Huang Li's corpse and said calmly:
"Heh, it's just a Golden Core storage bag. If I wanted it, I would take it myself. Why would I need you to forcibly take it? Since today's matter was caused by your family, we will prepare a list of the losses suffered by each family and have your family pay for them."

The tone was calm and unremarkable, yet it caused gasps of surprise to rise from the crowd.

Yang Xun, who was standing in front of Kang Dabao, realized what was happening. He thought that Kang Dabao was worried about his reputation and couldn't do something like forcibly taking things, so he hurriedly tried to cooperate with the act. But then he saw that Kang Dabao had already turned his back and whispered to the various teams whose formations had not yet dispersed: "Disperse."

After uttering those four words, Master Kang actually left without looking back.

As soon as he left, the crowd erupted in an uproar that was difficult to quell. Several cultivators, who had initially been watching the Yang family's cultivators with predatory eyes, saw that Yuan Jin had also ordered his disciples to strike the gong, as if he had truly come only to defend the Yang family against a powerful enemy.

Only when the Chongming Sect's forces began to move, and the Songfeng Righteous Cavalry they had summoned dispersed along with the various military academies, were the cultivators able to confirm that the Chongming Sect's Grand Master Kang truly had no intention of demanding the Yang family's treasures this time.

"The Yang family is truly fortunate. In my 300 years of cultivation, I have never seen a high-level cultivator more benevolent than the Alliance Leader. Although a bunch of Pill Masters died today, we only lost a few lives. The Yang family is wealthy; how could they not afford to compensate us?!"

"Goodness, if I ever get a valuable treasure in the future, I won't hand it over."

"Haha, the way you say that makes it sound like you, like the Yang family, would really hand over any valuable treasure you obtained in the past." The bursts of laughter and discussion gradually dissipated the bloody smell in the room. After the Chongming Sect team withdrew, the other teams looked at the Yang family members in front of them, but they also put away the wolfish thoughts in their hearts.

After all, this was a piece of fat meat that Chongming Sect had given up its grip on, so how could they dare to bite the hand that fed them? You must know that Chongming Alliance strictly forbids private attacks.

If anyone is so stubborn as to defy the law, the remaining Qingjue Guards will soon be annihilated by Yuan Jin's forces.

The large procession arrived quickly and dispersed just as fast. Before long, only the Yang family remained outside Hongshan Mountain. It was only at this moment that Yang Xun, whose robes were already soaked with cold sweat, dared to stop bowing and turn around.

Having just survived a calamity, the Yang family was unsure whether to be afraid or happy. They simply returned to their battleground with their patriarch, their faces still sticky with grime.

Regardless of what becomes of the Yang family in the future, at least they've survived this time. It's good that they've survived, it's good that they've survived.
—One day later, in France, at the Fearless Tower
At this moment, Deputy Building Master Yang Jue stood in the council hall, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Although Jiang Hongdao was a true cultivator, he still dared to tease from the side: "Since Vice Master Yang's disciples acted so swiftly, they must have brought back an extraordinary treasure from the Chongming Sect, right?"

The beautiful woman in purple shook her head and advised, "Alright, Old Jiang, which family doesn't have a few good-for-nothings among its members?!"

A hint of shame appeared on Yang Jue's face, but he had no way to refute her. He could only bow deeply to She Fu, who was sitting alone on the jade throne: "That unfilial and unworthy disciple, I have already personally bound him outside the hall. He is just waiting for the Lord's order to be executed!"

The woman at the head of the table, She Fu, showed no anger. She simply read in a low voice, "Since Vice Master Yang's disciple has broken the rules of the building, Vice Master Yang can deal with it himself. There is no need to ask me. However, the Nine-Flower Grass obtained in exchange for the information must be put into the storeroom."

Yang Jue dared not argue in the slightest. Even though a decent Golden Core spiritual item had slipped through his fingers, he still had to thank She Fu for her great generosity.

Seeing Yang Jue suffer a setback, Jiang Hongdao, who was also in the hall, felt even more pleased:
"Haha, you old codger, you were just watching from the sidelines back then. If you had listened to me and intervened earlier to save the Chongming Sect from the beast attack, wouldn't you be a Golden Core benefactor now?! Why are you still so angry now, regretting that you didn't keep this news to yourself and repay the Chongming Sect for their favor?"

The former looked even more ashamed and angry, but had no way to refute it, so he could only lower his head and sulk.

The beautiful woman in purple gave Jiang Hongdao a look to advise him, and then said, "Mother, my family has been on good terms with Marquis Wuning for many years. Even if we are careless this time and something goes wrong, it will not ruin the friendship between our two families, so it will not be a problem."

She Fu, seated on the jade throne, nodded for a moment. After all, the purple-clad beauty's words weren't necessarily wrong. She merely glanced at the token she had acquired some time ago, carefully reviewed Kang Dabao's words and actions outside Rainbow Mountain, and then silently recited in her heart:
"In the past, I only heard Old Jiang's constant praise and didn't realize it. But now it seems that the old man's judgment is indeed good. This young Kang has some ambition and may really become someone important in the future."

Thinking of this, and recalling the marriage that she hadn't put much effort into promoting before, even She Fu felt it was a pity that she had accumulated so many golden pills over the years.

In terms of cultivation and combat skills, She Fu was only average among her peers. However, having been in the business of buying and selling information for two or three hundred years, she could roughly guess which information would be valuable in the future.

After a moment's thought, she spoke again in a soft voice, instructing, "From now on, all matters of importance related to the Marquis of Wuning's residence will be raised one level, just like the Fei family's story. Also, if you find out what matters the Chongming Sect is concerned about, you can put in more effort."

Jiang Hongdao had offered similar advice in this hall before, but at this time, no one in the hall felt that She Fu was also doing something futile.

After speaking softly, the beautiful woman gave instructions on various matters, and the three people in the hall bowed and accepted her orders.

Yang had no desire to linger, much less to witness Jiang Hongdao's mocking gaze. After enduring the meeting with great difficulty, he immediately covered his face and left, carrying the disciple who had caused him such humiliation at the palace gate.

The beautiful woman in purple had to stay and serve, so she couldn't leave immediately. Jiang Hongdao bowed, turned around, and strode out of the hall, only to see Yan Qingwei, who had come to pay her respects.

Old Xiu has been busy lately and hasn't seen the latter for some time. But seeing that Yan Qingwei's complexion hasn't diminished in the slightest, and she even has a more mature and delicious look, Jiang Hongdao still clicked his tongue in regret.

Just as Yan Qingwei was bowing deeply to him, the old man continued to speak lewdly: "Girl, you only need to spread your legs to have a bright future. I, Old Jiang, have also put in a lot of effort to plan for you. But you threw this away yourself, so you can't blame me now."

After Jiang Hongdao finished speaking, he left with a burst of laughter. Yan Qingwei could easily understand his meaning, and her expression became so complex that no one could explain it. After letting out a soft sigh that even she herself could not hear, she gracefully stepped into the hall.

At the same time, in Fengming Prefecture and the Duke of Qin's Mansion

Kuang Liuting examined the letter in his hand for a long time, his expression remaining calm. After all, in his view, there was nothing surprising about Kang Dabao doing something unusual.

He reached out and the talisman transformed into a stream of light and landed in front of Fei Tianqin. The latter had no interest in it, only glanced at it briefly, and then ignored it.

However, Fei Nanying, who was behind him, had a glimmer of interest in his eyes after hearing the few words spoken above.

After seeing the reactions of the man and the bird, Kuang Liuting finally spoke up: "The Marquis of Gucheng is truly a talent scout."

Upon hearing this, Fei Nanying hurriedly replied, "It was merely a foolish insight of a junior; Your Excellency is too kind."

After he finished speaking, he saw the Duke at the head of the table chuckle softly, but he didn't say anything more. Instead, he talked to the man and the bird about the military affairs of the Duke's mansion.

Recently, there have been some unusual developments at Zhaixing Tower. For some unknown reason, there have been frequent bloody incidents within the jurisdiction of Liangyi Sect. No matter how you look at it, it all seems rather strange, and Kuang Liuting needs to take some time out to discuss some preparations with his capable subordinates.

Zhu Tong, the chief clerk in charge of supplies preparation, narrowed his eyes, seemingly indifferent, but his ears hadn't missed a single word spoken in the hall from beginning to end. At the same time, he was also making calculations in his mind, naturally calculating the major issue of supplies depletion.

As for human life? It's as worthless as ever and doesn't require his attention for long, since more people will die in this place in the future.

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.

Just as these carnivores were plotting their schemes, Yang Xun, the head of the Yang family, with bloodshot eyes, arrived at the gate of the Chongming Sect.

(End of this chapter)