Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 529 Kang Clan's Bloodline Escape

—Emperor Chongming, Council Hall
Kang Xiangyi, the head of the Chenjiang Kang family in Huangpi Daosi Prefecture, sat upright in the guest seat, his heart filled with trepidation, yet his face remained warm and friendly. He spoke very cordially with Han Xundao, who had come to entertain him.

Han Xundao thought that the alchemist in front of him had a good personality, so he didn't think anything was wrong. However, not long after he spoke with this kind senior, he saw his sect leader and Kang Changxi and his son step in.

This time, Kang Dabao did not speak to Han Xundao, but simply made a gesture to send him away.

After the palace doors closed, Kang Xiangyi, with his full head of white hair, bowed deeply and said, "This unworthy descendant, Kang Xiangyi, pays respects to the Ancestor."

The Grand Master Kang did not dodge, nor did he show any extra expression on his face. After Kang Xiangyi stood up, he spoke in a low voice: "I am a man of shallow virtue and shallow conduct, how can I be worthy of such a great courtesy from you, fellow Daoist? As for the title of 'Ancestor,' I am even more unworthy of it."

Kang Xiangyi, who was about to make his move, was clearly prepared. Even after hearing what Kang Dabao said, he did not change his respectful tone: "The Kang family of Chenjiang migrated to Sizhou more than 800 years ago. 800 years ago, they were indeed of the same lineage as the Kang family of Chongming and lived and multiplied together in Pingrong County."

Hearing this, Kang Changxi's face twitched. He took the mottled jade slip that Kang Xiangyi had taken out. Without even examining it, he knew that she must have used a lot of tricks to curry favor.

However, he couldn't stop his actions. Kang Changxi scanned the jade slip with his divine sense while sighing inwardly, "This guy is really shameless."

Kang Xiangyi knew that this matter was somewhat blatant, but she had no choice but to accept it.

The Chen Jiangkang family was living a fairly prosperous life in Sizhou. Even though the glory of the father and son who had both received titles and ranks in the previous generation was gone, they could still enjoy wealth and honor by relying on the foundation laid by their predecessors and the relationships they had cultivated.

However, an unexpected turn of events occurred. A Foundation Establishment sect called Huogangmen, under the jurisdiction of the Chenjiang Kang clan, suddenly received a divine mandate and a high-level cultivator emerged, which suddenly strained the relationship between the two sides.

Although the cultivator's cultivation level was not high, his skills were not weak. Chen Jiangkang spent a lot of money to hire several rogue cultivators who had reached the Golden Core stage, but they all lost to him. As a result, his family lost all prestige and his subordinate forces were all out of balance.

In desperation, Kang Xiangyi finally remembered the distant relative, the Kang family of Chongming, whom he had no connection with at all.

Several years have passed, and even in a different sect like Huangpi Dao, Master Kang has gained some reputation. This is naturally due to the many Golden Core cultivators he has killed and the countless heads he has taken in Shannan Dao.

Therefore, according to Kang Xiangyi, if they could rely on Kang Dabao's name, even if the Kang family of Chenjiang would still be at a disadvantage in the confrontation with the Huogang Sect, they could at least stabilize their capital and avoid being driven out of Sizhou like a stray dog.

Sizhou is adjacent to Shannan, and Kang Dabao had heard about the affairs of the Kang family of Chenjiang over the past few years.

However, Sect Leader Kang was not a chivalrous person. Why would he lend a helping hand to a non-Taoist sect leader and offend a Golden Core sect for no reason?

Just because they share the same surname? That's a joke. Back when Kang Dabao was secretly doing business behind Jiang Sanye's back, why didn't this head of the Chenjiang Kang family ever come to visit him?
Since you've come for profit, don't expect to rely solely on this vague and ethereal kinship. No matter how humble Kang Xiangyi is, even if he calls himself his grandson, in the eyes of the consistently pragmatic and down-to-earth Headmaster Kang, he's not as substantial as a Shattered Spirit Child.

Seeing that Kang Xiangyi had started talking about the uncertain lineage of the sect again, Kang Dabao coughed lightly and said, "Fellow Daoist, you have come a long way and have had a long journey. Today we have a seasonal vegetarian meal. If you are not in a hurry, please have dinner before you leave."

After speaking, Master Kang felt that he had done his job in making a good impression, so he gave Kang Changxi a wink, signaling the latter to deal with the white-haired old monk. He was about to nod and leave.

"Ancestor, please wait!! Ancestor, please wait!!"

Seeing that Kang Dabao was about to leave, Kang Xiangyi's excited expression made him frown, feeling displeased. Even Kang Changxi, standing to the side, frowned repeatedly, cursing inwardly, "This fellow is so clueless!"

"Fellow Daoist?!"

Kang Dabao's tone was not harsh, but the moment those two words landed, Kang Xiangyi trembled. He hurriedly kowtowed and presented another item, pleading, "Grandson has a treasure map here, which I wish to present to Grandfather."

"A treasure map?" Headmaster Kang showed little interest, but Kang Changxi, who was standing to the side, was quite curious. He reached out and beckoned, and the map in Kang Xiangyi's hand was taken into his grasp.

"What is Chixiao Cave?" Kang Changxi asked doubtfully. Kang Xiangyi, who was standing beside him, did not dare to be negligent and immediately answered:
"It was left by my grandson's grandfather, Duke Changping, before his death. It contains half of Duke Changping's life's treasures. More than three hundred years ago, he was sent by the Southern King to Liangxi to quell the demons and never returned. His descendants also lacked the ability to enter the cave to retrieve the treasures, which is why it has been delayed until now."

Only upon hearing this did Master Kang's eyes show any interest. He took the map from Kang Changxi's hand and examined it closely, a strange light appearing in his eyes. After scrutinizing it for a long time, he walked up to Kang Xiangyi and asked in a low voice:
"I, Kang, am not a man of good temper. If you are trying to coax me, you should think carefully about what I might do next."

Kang Xiangyi was overjoyed, and his respectful expression deepened. He earnestly said, "Ancestor, you are wise beyond measure. How could I dare to deceive you in the slightest?! Lord Changping was a renowned third-tier alchemist in our Huangpi Dao sect during his lifetime. He possessed a wealth of knowledge and skills, including the ability to form a Golden Core. I will certainly not disappoint you!"

The white-haired old monk spoke while his heart ached terribly. He knew that to secure powerful allies, he hadn't lied this time. Even the map he presented was the genuine article.

In other words, if Headmaster Kang were to travel directly according to the map without giving Kang Xiangyi any promises, the latter would be helpless.

In other words, the reputation that Kang Dabao had cultivated over the years was as deeply ingrained in people's minds as his reputation for "being good at bullying women." Otherwise, if he had switched to another Golden Elixir Sect, Kang Xiangyi would not have dared to take the gamble.

The descendants were unworthy, but there was nothing that could be done. The Kang family of Chenjiang was a well-known and powerful family in the border region since the time of Emperor Taizu, but after only one or two generations, they gradually declined.

If it weren't for the fact that the Fire Gang Sect had already bullied him so badly, Kang Xiangyi would have been reluctant to hand over this map of the Chixiao Cave, which no one in the Kang family of Chenjiang could enter.

After all, no one has been able to enter this cave for three hundred years, so a few more days won't make a difference. Kang Changping can indeed be considered an unparalleled figure in the Kang family of Chenjiang, and his inner strength is indeed profound.

Kang Xiangyi felt uneasy, but seeing no greed in the eyes of the Grand Master Kang, she felt much more at ease. The latter pondered for a moment, and after finishing tidying up the map, turned to Kang Changxi and said:
"I have drafted a letter on silk, bearing my name. It is to remind the person in charge of the Fire Gang Sect not to cause trouble. My Kang family is indeed a kind family, always upholding the virtue of cherishing life and not easily making enemies, but we are not people they can humiliate."

Kang Xiangyi was overjoyed, but she forced a show of composure and suppressed her excitement. However, she noticed that when the Great Sect Leader Kang spoke to her again, his tone had become considerably more intimate.
"Xiangyi, you haven't been here for many years. If you have time, you might as well stay a few more days. Afterwards, the Fei family's patriarch Tianqin will be coming to visit. At that time, I will be able to introduce you to him."

"Thank you, ancestor!"

—In the prison cell of Bearfall Peak, unlike the bustling scene at the alchemy training ground of Chongming Sect, Peng Daoren, who was still locked up on Bearfall Peak by Fei Tianqin with various means, was unaware that the hustle and bustle mentioned earlier was all caused by him.

Even for a cultivator at the Golden Core stage, enduring such humiliation for an extended period is a detrimental thing to their very foundation.

Peng Daoren was unable to cultivate in his daily life and spent his days dozing off at the foot of the mountain wall. Only the occasional soft sigh he let out could confirm that Fei Jia, the fake elixir master guarding the place, was still alive.

Even he himself couldn't explain why the Fei family spared his life, yet neither killed him nor released him—what was their intention? You must understand, a Golden Core peak cultivator like him always possessed some extraordinary abilities.

Whether it's skinning and dismembering them for food or imprisoning them as slaves, it's still more worthwhile than locking them up here and letting them eat spirit rice for free.

Logically speaking, someone who has cultivated to the level of Master Peng should have been able to endure the loneliness of living in seclusion, but after living in this place for a long time, he began to recall, quite unusually, faces filled with fear.

Even though he had already reached the Golden Core stage, he could only remember these faces.

As for the stories behind the human lives he collected, even if Peng Daoren were to attain the status of a True Person at this very moment, it would be difficult to explain clearly.

That day, as usual, Peng Daoren leaned against the mountain wall, feigning sleep. He was feeling anxious as he sensed the increasingly weak energy within the Wanhun Banner in his dantian. But only a moment later, he heard the footsteps of the Fei family's fake dantian outside suddenly stop.

Peng Daoren endured the excruciating pain and used his divine sense to probe outwards. He saw that the body of the Fei family alchemist was already stiff as iron, and his whole body was placed on the ground like a log.

The newcomer, Peng Daoren, recognized Xiang Tianxing, the head of general affairs at Zhaixing Tower. This time, he was not carrying a halberd or wearing a cloak, but was dressed simply. After using his movement technique, he arrived outside Peng Daoren's cell in just a few steps.

"Sect Leader Xiang?"

Peng Daoren forced himself to chant in a low voice, but as he opened his mouth, a huge gash suddenly split open on his chapped lips, from which flowed a stream of black blood, making him look even more miserable.

Xiang Tianxing simply made a shushing gesture, and Peng Daoren understood. It was clear that the former was at least a top-tier Golden Core cultivator, and having risked being caught by the old Fei family members to venture alone into this dangerous place, he couldn't possibly have been completely unprepared.

The two did not engage in idle chatter at this moment. Instead, Xiang Tianxing raised his hand, and a colorless jade tablet emitted a burst of spiritual patterns, creating large ripples.

The formation, which even the mighty Peng Daoren found incredibly sturdy, instantly collapsed. Then, the light shield above his head also broke off. In just a few breaths, the formation that had tightly bound Peng Daoren's freedom for so many years had completely vanished.

Xiang Tianxing was well-prepared before coming. He gave Peng Daoren a pill, without explaining its purpose, but said that as long as he took it quickly along with the spiritual liquid that was handed to him at the same time, he could break the deadly restrictions that Fei Tianqin had left in his body.

Peng Daoren was decisive; without even asking any questions, he tilted his head back and swallowed the pills and elixir bestowed by the Daoist.

They couldn't stop moving along the way, otherwise they would be intercepted by Fei Tianqin, who had just broken through the barrier.

As the pill dissolves into the meridians, soon one will be pleasantly surprised to find that the restrictions within the body begin to gradually dissolve, at a speed so fast that even the master, Fei Tianqin, is unaware of it, which is quite rare.

You should know that if the array in the prison is not of great importance to the Fei family, Fei Tianqin might not have come to see it in person in order to focus on his cultivation.

However, the restriction on Peng Daoren's body was indeed placed by Fei Tianqin himself. Therefore, if this old bird still had any respect for the former, he would not let go of any old rival who came here to help the enemy.

Before Peng Daoren could even settle down on Xiang Tianxing's flying boat, he heard two whooshing sounds behind him. This caused Xiang Tianxing to disregard the flying boat's potential and immediately begin to recklessly urge it on, ignoring the future of the magical artifact.

But then his hand gesture changed, and the bronze flying boat skimmed across the water, brushing against a clump of reeds, the river wind carrying damp moisture slapping against the back of Peng Daoren's neck.

His right hand, gripping the incantation seal, began to tremble. The bronze decorations at the stern were scorched by the exploding air, while the distant glimmer of gold continued to approach rapidly—Fei Tianqin flapped his wings, piercing through layers of clouds, his sharp eyes filled with ferocity:
"Xiang Tianxing! You really have guts!!"

"Hurry! Hurry!!" Knowing he was no match for Xiang Tianxing, he roared. His words seemed to be just to encourage himself, but before they could even land, they were shattered by the wind in the sky.

The bronze sparrow-shaped bow shattered the ever-surging clouds ahead. Xiang Tianxing pressed his left hand against the outer wall of the cabin, channeling spiritual energy. The jade-colored magic array, the core of the magical spirit boat, was gradually receding along the cracked lines. With a flick of his right hand, he flung out seven yellow talismans. The moment the talismans were soaked in spiritual energy, they burst into orange flames, blocking the two wind wings that Fei Tianqin shot from the side.

The jade-colored magic array emitted another crisp sound, but Xiang Tianxing's spiritual power increased instead of decreasing. Although this magic treasure looked precarious, its speed suddenly increased in a truly unreasonable way.

As a result, Fei Tianqin, a spirit bird known for its speed, was unable to catch up with it for a while, and even Xiang Tianxing, who was determined to fight back, was able to neutralize all of its attacks.

Peng Daoren was still considered valuable in Fei Tianqin's eyes, so the latter did not give up. However, after chasing for another half a day, it discovered that after an unfamiliar spiritual energy fluctuation appeared ahead, the flying boat had disappeared.

"Such a superb concealment technique, far superior to ordinary magic weapons."

Fei Tianqin frowned. This person who came might not be considered meticulous, but at least he thought things through. He had planned ahead but was caught off guard, and he actually managed to intercept Peng Daoren.

However, he was not afraid. He merely frowned, recalling the Fei family's arrangements, and sighed softly, "In that case, who will the demon officers and soldiers of Cold Raven Mountain use to make connections?!"

Sweat poured down Xiang Tianxing's forehead as he wielded several borrowed magical treasures. After traveling for about half a day, he was finally able to remove the third-tier peak magical treasure that concealed its aura. He then whispered to Peng Daoren:
"What are your plans now that you've come out, fellow Daoist?!"

At this point, there was no other answer. Upon hearing this, Master Peng immediately kowtowed and said, "I am entirely at the behest of Sect Leader Xiang!"

Xiang Tianxing finally had a moment to breathe a sigh of relief: "You should rest for a while. After some time, take me to Cold Crow Mountain to find some demon officers and have a good talk with them."

(End of this chapter)