Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 535 Liu Yun Arrives at the Door
————Xiao Huanshan, Chongmingzong
Tie Liuyun stood beneath the Chongming Sect's archway, his expression naturally calm and composed.

He had just seen the disciple who delivered the message receive the token, but he didn't say anything or urge him on. He simply watched calmly as the entire Chongming Sect prepared for the arrival of the Golden Core cultivator.

If he were to act according to his true intentions, he wouldn't have come specifically to cause trouble for Chongming Sect. Especially after Sect Leader Kang achieved a mid-grade elixir, Tie Liuyun had already completely cast aside any resentment he might have harbored.

However, his newly appointed superior did not get along well with the Fei family of Yingzhou, so as a subordinate, he naturally had to be tactful.

This is to be expected. Since the fall of the Great Ancestor, from the imperial court to the prefectures and counties, from True Immortals to Lesser Cultivators, even the internal forces that are equally close to the Immortal Dynasty have never stopped their open and covert battles.

In the last two or three hundred years, as the David royal family has declined, resources within the Immortal Dynasty have become increasingly scarce, which has further contributed to the formation of this internal strife.

As the Shannan Dao faction that was closest to the Fei family of Yingzhou, Chongming Sect of Pingrong County was seen by many important figures as an excellent target to test the Fei family's bottom line. Tie Liuyun, who was eager to offer his pledge of allegiance, could not easily overlook it.

You must understand, his success in achieving the elixir was entirely due to the guidance and support of a powerful cultivator behind him. Although he didn't ask for even a single fragment of spirit essence, the favor he owed was even harder to repay. Therefore, even though he truly didn't want to provoke Kang Dabao, the Demon Suppression Division's investigation team had never disappeared from Yunjiao Prefecture.

Objectively speaking, rather than saying that the Demon-Slaying Division was just used to being arrogant, it would be more accurate to say that they were instructed by their superior, Tie Liuyun, and that his lackeys insisted on provoking this Golden Core sect.

However, Tie Liuyun deliberately chose a good time to provoke them this time.

It must be said that this iron commissioner became much more composed after experiencing the upheaval of that year.

He specifically sought out a time when both Headmaster Kang and Third Master Jiang were absent, and the Chongming Sect truly had no one of sufficient stature to challenge him, before finally making his visit.

Before leaving, Tie Liuyun was still a little uneasy, thinking that perhaps the Peach Burning Envoy of the Hehuan Sect would take the time to come.
With this identity, Tie Liuyun might be able to keep his distance.

However, he then thought again and realized that the Hehuan Sect was far away in Santing Prefecture. The title of Burning Peach Envoy sounded good, but what kind of assignment was it? How could Tie Liuyun not know?

Therefore, after Tie Liuyun thought about it for a while, he stopped taking the matter to heart.

Moreover, when he came to visit today, he never thought that he could cause Chongmingzong any great loss.

In his view, it was already a good outcome that he was able to force Kang Dabao and his fellow disciples to back down and hand over the person; at least he could give some explanation to those behind him.

However, he didn't expect that after he led his troops to invade the border, Yuan Jin and Ye Zhengwen, who came out to greet him, were still neither humble nor arrogant. He couldn't help but think to himself, "This place is indeed strange. It's truly remarkable!"

Yuan Jin stepped forward before Ye Zhengwen, and after Ye Zhengwen bowed deeply to Tie Liuyun, he asked seriously, "May I ask, Vice Commissioner Tie, what is the purpose of your invasion of our borders today?"

Upon hearing this, Tie Liuyun frowned, then spoke calmly:
"I, Tie, serve as a minister in the same court as Marquis Wuning, and Yunjiao Prefecture remains the king's territory. Therefore, it is my duty to patrol the borders with the Juemo Division. May I ask, young friend Yuan, where have I gone wrong?"

"If you can answer, that's fine; I, Tie, will leave immediately. But if you can't, you'll have to hand over all my soldiers from the Demon-Slaying Division and your gate on the spot. Then I, Tie, will have to stand here for a while until your Chongming Sect releases its people and apologizes."

Ye and Yuan knew that now was not the time to reason. After all, what kind of reason could compare to the magic ruler in Tie Liuyun's hands? It was hard for others to say.

The latter's purpose in coming here was not for those few demon-quelling officers, but rather to undermine the prestige of the Chongming Sect.

Therefore, as soon as Yuan Jin listened carefully to what Tie Liuyun said, he completely ignored the warnings Ye Zhengwen had given him before the trip.

But the latter's face darkened, and he stepped forward without the slightest hesitation, arguing again:
"Ah, I am indeed clumsy with words and cannot answer what you say, Vice Commissioner. However, since you truly have doubts and believe that the Red Tiger climbing the mountain is afraid of the pack of wolves, then we might as well stay a few more days until my senior brother, the sect leader, returns. Then I can personally come forward to clear up your doubts."

It was no easy task for Yuan Jin to finish this speech; he did so almost entirely under the watchful gaze of a Golden Core cultivator.

The gazes that fell upon him were hard to describe as sharp or piercing, yet they still caused cold sweat to spread across his back, and the golden cudgel in his hand seemed to melt into Tie Liuyun's burning eyes.

"What a coward! What a beast!"

Tie Liuyun's mind went from praise to curse. The magic ruler in his hand emitted a large amount of spiritual light, clearly indicating that he was preparing to take action. Before he left, he had not expected to encounter such a tough opponent, but a Foundation Establishment cultivator as strong as Yuan Jin was something Tie Liuyun had never seen before after he reached Core Formation.

Tie Liuyun was pressing closer and closer, but Yuan Jin remained unyielding. The former wanted to curry favor with his master, while the latter wanted to protect his senior brother's life's work.

The various noble families who had just been conscripted by the Fei family of Yingzhou and moved from the capital region have all arrived in succession these days.

At this critical moment, if the main family of Chongming Sect were to be humiliated and lose face, how would they manage to win over the hearts of these vassals who are used to grand occasions? It would probably take a lot of effort from Headmaster Kang.

Yuan Jin was protecting his senior brother's business, so he couldn't possibly sit idly by and watch this happen.

Ye Zhengwen, who had been trying to persuade Tie Liuyun, saw that Tie Liuyun's aggressive stance hadn't softened at all, and immediately gave up any thought of mediating the situation. He then began to take stock of the disciples remaining in the sect, trying to figure out what kind of lineup they would form.

Tie Liuyun remained silent for a long time, but the Xie Zhi Iron Guards behind him began to stir. As Tie Liuyun's followers, these people had recently become accustomed to seeing upper-level cultivators bowing their heads and golden core cultivators concealing their true colors.

Having experienced few life-or-death battles, his arrogance had been fully cultivated, almost rivaling that of the elite imperial guards under the command of Shu Zhengde, a trusted general of the Imperial Guard.

Logically speaking, this team was built by Tie Liuyun, but since Cheng Dan, this team of only a few hundred people has been mixed with too many interests.

This certainly facilitated Tie Liuyun's regaining of Kuang Liuting's trust, but it wasn't without its downsides. The fact that even Tie Liuyun himself was now surprised to find himself struggling to control the Xie Zhi Iron Guards was a clear indication of this.

However, Tie Liuyun was a Golden Core cultivator, and he was not so easily instigated or coerced by his subordinates.

The Chongming Sect's grand formation had been painstakingly constructed, with ample disciples guarding it, making it difficult for outsiders to gain any advantage. Kang Dabao was still roaming outside, and no one could say for sure when he would return.

Even though Tie Liuyun was the mastermind behind the Kangda Sect, he couldn't say for sure that he could survive the spirit halberd in the latter's hand. Even with the help of Dao soldiers, he could only feel slightly more at ease.

Given the circumstances, Tie Liuyun was somewhat perplexed about what to do. However, after a moment's thought, he still swung his silver ruler, his target still the seemingly unyielding Yuan Er of Chongming.

"Capture them first, then demand that the younger generation surnamed Ye be brought back in exchange. They shouldn't dare disobey!"

Compared to Tie Liuyun's previous plans, this action might displease Kang Dabao, but it would also achieve the goal of restoring Emperor Mingzong's prestige.

Therefore, in Tie Liuyun's view, there was not much wrong with this.

However, he did not expect that the short, stocky cultivator opposite him, upon seeing the Golden Core cultivator make a move, did not sit idly by and wait for his death.

Suddenly, Yuan Jin let out a loud shout, and the talisman he was clutching lit up. A flesh and blood puppet several feet tall rushed out of the pouch at his waist. The movement was not particularly fast, but it at least repelled Tie Liuyun's ruler magic weapon, which had been charging up for a long time, protected Yuan Jin, and frightened the Xie Zhi Iron Guards behind him.

"The Chongming Sect actually still has Golden Core techniques preserved?"

"His family was only a Foundation Establishment sect not long ago, where did they get such a strong foundation?"

"If your sect leader could be as capable as his, he wouldn't be lacking in resources either!"

Tie Liuyun, standing to the side, looked on with a mixture of surprise and panic. With his experience, he could tell that the flesh puppet before him was a third-tier spirit slave forged from a third-tier military token.

The third-tier military token is not something that any Golden Core cultivator can obtain; at least Tie Liuyun has never obtained it.

"Kang Dabao certainly trusted this short man under his command, but unfortunately, he's unlikely to achieve anything this time!"

Tie Liuyun was sighing inwardly when he saw a battalion of Qingjue Guards already standing ready at the Chongming Sect's archway. Behind them, dust seemed to be rising, though it was quite far away, and he couldn't tell whether the approaching forces were friend or foe.

(I had some busy things to do tonight and couldn't update in time, please forgive me. I'll try to catch up on the part that's less than 4,000 words during the day when I have a chance to relax.)
(End of this chapter)