Great Red Immortal Sect

Chapter 454 Elders
Luoqing, Dangxia Peak.

The peak is ablaze with flames all day long, turning the clouds crimson. At the very top stands the magnificent, vermilion Flame Hall. Standing at the entrance of the hall, one can have a panoramic view of the Fire Waiting Hall below, which contains many chambers and furnaces for drawing upon the earth's fire.

The former forging chamber has been incorporated into this peak, its interior now filled with brilliance. The Jingyang furnace is now burning at full power, its red flames billowing as it continuously forges and refines objects.

Beside the furnace stood a bright-eyed young man, handsome and spirited, wearing a white robe with cloud patterns and a small red jade hammer at his waist. He was none other than Wang Chengyan.

He is currently the busiest person on the mountain, with several unfinished artifacts to take care of almost every day. He not only has to refine artifacts for his disciples, but also sells many to people outside the mountain.

Among the several prefectures of Tianzhou, the sect is considered the foremost holy land for refining magical artifacts. It sells standard magical artifacts and also accepts custom orders, attracting many cultivators who come from far and wide.

Wang Chengyan stared intently at the crimson flames in the furnace, activating his immortal foundation. The purple primordial fire leaped and spread with an aura of order and discipline, gradually shaping the vessel within the furnace.

It was a pair of dark gold maces, square with four sides, carved with dark patterns of blue sky and mountains, gleaming with light.

The spiritual objects used are all at the Qi Refining level, and the refining techniques are extremely sophisticated. They are based on Wutu and Shengjin, and twelve small arrays are carved on them, which can be used for bursts of energy and weight increases.

This magical artifact was perfectly crafted in just one hour in his hands. He held it in his hand, quite satisfied. Then, looking towards the door of the room, he smiled and said:
"The ritual implements are complete. Now, you may come and take a look at the Ganoderma lucidum tree."

A young man stood quietly at the entrance, dressed in a simple blue robe. His eyes were calm, his face was handsome, and his figure was slender, reminiscent of a crane in the mountains.

He seemed to have just broken through to the Qi Refining stage, and his demeanor was quite disciplined. He hadn't spoken until now, when he finally stepped forward, took the pair of maces, and after sensing them slightly, a smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you, Elder."

"Don't thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank your Xu family elders. It was those elders who asked me to help."

Wang Chengyan turned his gaze to the young man in front of him and nodded slightly.

The other party's name is Xu Zhishu. He is from the Xu clan of Baigang. He has excellent talent and an eight-inch spiritual root. With the resources and cultivation provided by the sect, he is already on the verge of establishing his foundation.

Moreover, he cultivates the Earth element technique, making him the only one in the sect to practice this method.

"Now that you've broken through to the Qi Refining stage, what responsibilities have you taken on within the sect?"

As he asked the question, the young man beside him had already put away his double maces, and with great courtesy, replied respectfully:
"I am currently an outer disciple, helping to manage the mines in Golden Robe Valley. I can return to Luoqing once a month."

"From today onwards, there is no need to go anymore. You will accompany Protector Liang to safeguard the trade. You only need to go out once a month. The rest of the time, you can go to the spiritual land on Dajing Plain to cultivate."

Wang Chengyan had already secured a leisurely position for the other party, as he possessed considerable talent and should be carefully nurtured.

Those below the sixth level of Qi Refining are considered outer disciples unless they have made enough contributions and are not allowed to enter Luoqing Sect. Those above the sixth level of Qi Refining can only enter the true sect if they can break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The young man has good talent, but he still needs to persevere. Wang Chengyan couldn't help but think of promoting him.

"Thank you, Elder."

Xu Zhishu responded respectfully, his expression unchanged, neither arrogant nor impatient, his heart at peace, which made Wang Chengyan nod slightly.

"You should leave now. I will inform Protector Liang. You can go there in three days."

"Yes, thank you for your promotion, Elder."

The young man thanked the elder again, then got up and left.

He walked along the bluestone path for a while and saw a middle-aged man waiting under a bamboo grove. He was dressed in a blue robe, looked like an alchemist, and had a tired face, as if he had just finished his work.

"uncle."

The other party was Xu Chenming, one of the earliest alchemists of Houhuo Hall, and now a pillar of the Xu family, who had already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"Have you obtained the artifact?"

He looked at this junior with loving eyes. The Xu family, as a prominent family in Baigang and the head of the sect, had developed rapidly in recent years, but had not produced any outstanding figures.

Xu Chenming's skill in weapon crafting wasn't particularly high, and his cultivation level had been stuck at the sixth level for many years. Over the years, he had worked tirelessly for his clan, and finally, Xu Zhishu emerged.

The young man stepped forward, presented the double maces, and respectfully informed Wang Chengyan of his arrangements.

Xu Chenming nodded slightly upon hearing this, but didn't pay much attention to the pair of precious maces, only sighing:
"Elder Chengyan is very kind. He is kind and generous, like his father, and even more considerate. I will repay him in the future. I can also refine this magical artifact. Do you know why I specifically asked the elder to help me?"

Xu Zhishu remained calm as he looked at the pair of dark gold maces. The azure mountain and peak patterns on them shone brightly. Although they were wondrous, they were still Qi-refining magic weapons and were not worth the elders' attention.

Nowadays, the three elders in charge of weapon crafting only appear when crafting foundation-building magic weapons; the rest of the miscellaneous tasks are handled by the people in the Houhuo Hall.

"It's to let me make an appearance in front of Elder Chengyan and leave an impression."

Xu Zhishu immediately grasped the key point, and Xu Chenming, standing beside him, nodded slightly, saying only:

"Among the three elders in the hall, Master Wen Guang is unruly and aloof, so he naturally won't pay attention to us. Elder Qi Yun is kind and generous, but he doesn't care much about things outside of weapon crafting."

"Only Elder Chengyan still cares about the sect's affairs. If he sees you, he will definitely have the idea of ​​promoting you. Things are different now. There are no longer examples of people being directly accepted as true disciples. Everyone has to go through the process step by step. This is all I can do to help you."

"Yes."

A glint appeared in the boy's eyes, and he immediately agreed.

"Although the sect leader is from the Xu family, he has supernatural powers and has transcended the mortal world. The Xu family has hundreds of members, but only three or four are cultivators. We are not as good as other families in the sect."

"A few years ago, some fools in the clan thought that since the sect leader's surname was Xu, the sect belonged to the Xu family. In the end, Elder Xingfang dealt with them. Do you remember what happened to them?"

Xu Chenming's words carried a hint of warning. As a clan of True Immortals, the Xu Clan had naturally received many benefits, but if anyone dared to abuse their power, their fate would be extremely tragic.

"Zhishu understands. The closer the kinship, the more cautious our clansmen must be, and they must not commit any crimes."

"exactly."

Xu Chenming led the boy beside him forward, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Focus on your cultivation and establish your foundation as soon as possible. You are the only one in the sect who cultivates the Earth element, and you will surely be useful in the future."

This cultivation method was also chosen by him for his juniors. He did not choose the most complete Bing Fire, which has rich experience in cultivation from predecessors, but instead chose Wu Earth, which no one had ever mastered.

'If you want to stand out, you have to be different from others.'

His thoughts grew heavy as he looked at the young man beside him. Only when the young man reached the Foundation Establishment stage could the Xu family of Baigang perhaps catch the eye of the sect leader, instead of ending up in such an awkward situation.
-

Inside the palace at Frost Returns Peak.

As the sunlight began to dance, Liu Xiaowen sat in the main seat, a pile of files laid out on the jade table in front of him. His gaze sharpened slightly as he looked down.

Inside the hall was a woman in a black robe, tall and slender with heroic features. Her overall demeanor was like that of a bird soaring in the mountains, and the tattoo on her wrist that originally symbolized barbarians had been removed.

It was Xiong Min who was now in charge of the Dongchen Wilderness, which bordered Luoqing and Wuhuang.

This place was once the territory of Dongmi Mountain after it was leveled. It was occupied by the people of the three tribes of Qingque, Yuhua and Xiangli under Qionghe, numbering as many as a thousand.

This woman's cultivation level was already at the Foundation Establishment stage, but her profound spiritual phenomena were not yet stable, and there were signs of heavenly fire falling.

The Bing Fire Immortal Foundation, [Heavenly Seeking Flame].

This technique, after being supplemented by the "Yangsui Inheritance of Fire God Scroll," is now without any flaws. 【Flame Immortal】 is the highest-ranking technique in the sect and will not be easily passed down.

If we talk about the most complete lineage in the sect, it is Binghuo. Not only is the Daoist canon complex, but there are also many records from predecessors and guidance from elders, making cultivation a smooth journey.

"Now that you have broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, according to the old precedents of the Wuhuang Kingdom, you are qualified to become a king."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Min looked somewhat alarmed and hurriedly replied, "Xiong Min has already entered the path of immortality, and all the past events are gone."

"The barbarians' old customs, what is a king? The people of the wilderness, superstitious about ghosts and gods, worship the [Ji Xiang] transformed by that stupidity, are truly unbearable."

Liu Xiao's gaze was intense. Upon hearing the name Shu Chun, he felt a sense of displeasure. This man had schemed against many people before and, under the instruction of the Song family, had successfully converted to the path of gods, becoming a sorcerer.

If we're talking about skill, it's only at the mediocre Vajra realm. His own master could have killed him with a single sword strike. It's just that, because of his divine status, he couldn't find an excuse.

In recent years, Shu Chun has become much more disciplined, even banning blood sacrifices. He spends most of his time hiding in the incense and sacred paths, never showing his face, for fear that the sword immortal next to him might suddenly attack.

'Wait until the situation becomes more chaotic, and this villain reveals a weakness, then inform the Thunder Department and he can be executed.'

Liu Xiaowen felt a stirring in his heart. Now that the sect had incorporated all of the Crimson Clouds, it was nearing the limit of its development. The number of cultivators in the sect had increased considerably, reaching several thousand.

Once the Wuhuang is conquered, the sect can expand further east to Jiangyang County. In the event of border conflicts in the future, the sect will have much more room to maneuver.

He then turned his gaze to Xiong Min, sensing her slightly. He noticed that her bloodline seemed somewhat extraordinary, with a natural aura hidden within, causing the [Zhao Xiong] within his immortal foundation to stir. He immediately asked:

"You belong to this branch, mostly surnamed Xiong. Have your ancestors always lived here?"

Xiong Min's eyes flickered, and her words carried a hint of reminiscence.

“Our clan originally lived in the Chu region. We were driven here by the immortals of Tiandu Mountain. We migrated across Yunmeng, crossed the Qinling Mountains, and then went west to Wuhuang.”

"To elaborate, our shamanic people have some blood of the King of Chu. We originally cultivated the 'Heavenly Questions,' and the deity we worship is the Lord of the Clouds. We can borrow his power to cultivate divine arts, and our path is close to 'Ren Water' and 'Sky Thunder.'"

Liu Xiaowen understood. No wonder this group of witch people had such good talent. There were now about several dozen cultivators in the sect. They were indeed descendants of the king.

As for "Tianwen," he had heard his master talk about it; it was one of the three witches who worshipped the gods.

“Recently, there have been many changes in the earth veins on the east side of the plain, and monsters have frequently appeared. It is also close to Dongchenye. Now that you have completed your foundation building, take a magic weapon from the sect and go to accompany Elder Fang to guard it.”

"Yes."

Upon receiving the order, Xiong Min withdrew, a hint of joy on his face, and then performed a deep farewell ceremony to the cultivators.

Liu Xiaowen watched silently, feeling that the other party seemed quite determined to get rid of his identity as a witch.

He didn't have any particular opinion on this. As long as Dongchenye could remain peaceful, whether to change customs or preserve traditions was up to the shamans to decide.

A short while later, another sound came from outside the hall. Liu Xiao, upon hearing the sound, smiled sincerely and quickly stepped down from his seat, saying:

"Uncle Fan Qing".

A cultivator dressed in a gray-blue robe strode in. His face was weathered and his energy was waning. It was Liu Fanqing. He had been trapped in the Qi Refining stage for many years and had suffered from numerous injuries and illnesses, causing him to age very quickly.

"Elder."

Liu Fanqing bowed respectfully to stop the other person, then turned to look behind him and called out:

"Yingxue, why haven't you come to pay your respects to the master yet?"

A young girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, walked in from outside the hall. She had already reached the Qi Refining stage, with almond-shaped eyes and wore the blue robe of an outer disciple. Crimson lightning could be seen emanating from her side.

With the help of the Spirit Thunder Path and the Crimson Chaos Realm Lock Scripture, he cultivated the Immortal Foundation [Penetrating Void Lock].

Liu Xiaowen had a deep impression of this dish, having suffered quite a bit from it back then. At a glance, he knew who the newcomer was and simply smiled:
"Uncle Fan Qing's offspring is quite outstanding; she is the only one in the sect to have mastered this Spirit Thunder Technique."

Liu Yingxue is Liu Fanqing's granddaughter. She has an eight-inch spiritual root, which is quite good. She has also cultivated this spiritual lightning, and she is expected to establish her foundation in the future. If we were to discuss this in detail, this woman should call Liu Xiaowen "uncle".

This woman's demeanor was so gentle and delicate, as if she could withstand any wind, yet she had cultivated such an extremely violent Daoist lineage as Spirit Thunder, which surprised Liu Xiaowen somewhat.

"I've met my lord."

Liu Yingxue stepped forward and bowed respectfully. Liu Xiaowen helped her up and simply smiled, saying:

"No need to be polite."

He shifted his gaze to Liu Fanqing on the other side, seemingly already guessing the other's purpose, and simply asked:

"May I ask, Uncle Fanqing, what brings you here?"

Liu Fanqing hesitated for a moment, then turned his gaze to Liu Xiaowen beside him and said in a low voice:
"Elder Xiaowen, in my younger days I was short-sighted and spread rumors, which made me look foolish. Today I am here to apologize to you."

The old man's voice was filled with emotion as he touched the ground with both knees, about to kneel down.

Liu Xiaowen, who was standing to the side, did not make any move. He simply circulated his magic power, and a bright light lifted the other person up. He sat back down in the main seat. At this time, his aura changed and he was no longer as amiable as before.

“Uncle Fan Qing, I don’t remember these things. You don’t need to do this. Just tell me what’s wrong. If it’s in accordance with the rules, I can help you.”

"But if I break the rules, I won't be swayed by past favors."

Seeing the other party's fair attitude, Liu Fanqing showed a hint of disappointment, but quickly concealed it. He pulled his granddaughter forward and said respectfully:

“Yingxue has good talent and has mastered this spiritual lightning. I would like to have her join Frost Return Peak and cultivate under your guidance, Elder.”

"This matter."

After pondering for a while, Liu Xiaowen understood what the other party meant. So far, no disciple had joined his peak, although many people in the sect had come to ask for his services, but he had refused them all.

Unlike many cultivators in the mountains, he valued family ties quite a bit. Seeing the other party's earnest words, he sighed and simply said:

“I will be going into seclusion in the future, which will take at least several decades. I’m afraid I won’t have time to teach her. If I can wait, I can come to Frost Return Peak when she reaches the sixth level of Qi Refining.”

"Thank you, Elder."

Liu Fanqing was visibly excited and quickly gestured for his granddaughter to step forward, saying only:

"You should thank your master."

"She is not her master yet. We should wait until she reaches the sixth level of Qi Refining before discussing this further. We must not break the rules of the sect."

Liu Xiaowen frowned slightly and asked the two to leave for the time being. The affairs of the sect were complicated, and he was in charge of managing them whether his master was present or not. Now he was feeling a little tired.

'They've all come to make demands.'

The number of talented cultivators in the sect is increasing, and things are gradually getting back on track. However, the thoughts of all parties are no longer as pure as before.

Now that Chiyun is safe and secure, protected by Zifu, and free from external enemies, he can sense the various large and small hills within the sect, each harboring its own thoughts and secretly vying for power.

'When I go into seclusion, Xingfang will take care of these affairs again, given his temperament.'

Liu Xiaowen knew his junior brother's temperament well; he was extremely arrogant and acted ruthlessly. Over the years, as the head of the law, he had instilled fear in almost everyone in the sect.

He closed the scroll in his hand, then took out a black wooden token and silently sensed it. He had already placed the [Li Yan Yin Gen] in the Scripture Pavilion and announced it to all cultivators. Anyone who could sense it could cultivate Guangmu.

However, over the past few days, no one has been able to make this object respond, which has put Liu Xiaowen in a difficult position.

He silently gazed at the black wooden token, when a dark red light suddenly rose from it, causing him to focus his gaze on the distant scripture pavilion.

coming.

(End of this chapter)