Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 372 The Yellow Springs Sect is Different

Yunlu Immortal Sect, Guiyun Hall.

Yu Shenxing listened to the entire bizarre negotiation.

On one side is the new leader of the Incense Burning Sect, and on the other side is the former head disciple of the Incense Burning Sect... who is also the current head disciple of the Yellow Springs Sect.

Just looking at the two sides in the negotiation made Yu Shenxing feel awkward.

I thought Tie Shengrong would be furious when he saw Fang Hao. After all, he had requested a face-to-face meeting with Chen Ye, but instead, it was Chen Ye's apprentice who came, which was already a humiliation.

But when he saw Fang Hao, Tie Shengrong was stunned for a moment, and then burst out laughing.

"As expected of you, Fang Hao, you will always be the sect leader's eldest disciple. When it comes to opportunism, the Burning Incense Sect respects you the most."

These sarcastic words should have pierced Fang Hao's heart like a sharp sword. There were already many rumors in the Burning Incense Sect that Fang Hao had used countless schemes and tricks to become the sect leader's eldest disciple.

In the past, when Fang Hao heard these things, he could only try to maintain an elegant smile and act as if nothing was wrong, but in his heart he could not calm down for a long time, because he had indeed used a lot of tricks and schemes to win this position.

The truth is always a sharp knife, and it always pierces the heart.

This time, however, Fang Hao was truly nonchalant, casually replying, "Sect Master Tie is joking. The Yellow Springs Sect is not the same as the Incense Burning Sect."

These words caused Tie Shengrong's expression to change.

Tie Shengrong was extremely familiar with Fang Hao, after all, he was the future sect leader, so naturally he wanted to be close to him. The Fang Hao of the past had never been so sharp-tongued, and his words had never been so confrontational.

Whether he was acting or not, he was always gentle and polite to everyone on the surface, and even if others spoke rudely, he would just laugh it off. Tie Shengrong knew that this was not Fang Hao's natural gentleness, but rather because he knew what he wanted and how he needed to act to please Lu Xingzhou.

What Lu Xingzhou wanted was a successor who appeared refined and easygoing on the surface, but was ruthless and cruel on the inside.

Lu Xingzhou appears dignified and imposing on the surface, but is indecisive when it comes to actually doing things, which leads to various troubles for the Burning Incense Sect.

Lu Xingzhou knew his weaknesses, which is why he needed a different kind of successor, a new leader who could solve the hidden dangers of the Burning Incense Sect.

Fang Hao fits the bill perfectly, but unfortunately the Incense Burning Sect was destroyed first.

But now, Fang Hao is a different person. Tie Shengrong can only guess that the sect leader of the Yellow Springs Sect likes this type of person now.

Fang Hao is always very good at acting; he can portray whatever look others like.

Tie Shengrong sarcastically said, "It's only been a few days, and Nephew Fang has already completely severed ties with the Incense Burning Sect. The Yellow Springs Sect and the Incense Burning Sect may be different, but you've been in the Incense Burning Sect for so many years, and you've only been in the Yellow Springs Sect for a few days. Isn't that too cold-hearted? This time, it was you who took action to capture your former fellow disciples. You were a bit too hasty in proving your loyalty."

Fang Hao's smile remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Sect Leader Iron has misunderstood. As I have said, the Yellow Springs Sect is not the Incense Burning Sect. My master will not favor me because of my loyalty, nor will he hold a grudge against me because of my status as a disciple of the Incense Burning Sect. As for my taking down the Incense Burning Sect disciple, you are well aware of the cause and effect. This matter was provoked by the Incense Burning Sect first."

"Let me ask you a question in return. If someone had dared to block the path of the Burning Incense Sect Leader back then, what would have happened to them? My Yellow Springs Sect has only captured them, which is already very polite."

Tie Shengrong was speechless.

Because this did indeed happen, and it was a problem within the Incense Burning Sect itself.

Many years ago, when the Incense Burning Sect first began to expand its membership, it abolished the regularly held Heart-Searching Ceremony.

As a result, Lu Xingzhou encountered an accident while out and about, and returned to the Incense Burning Sect in a sorry state, only to be stopped by the gatekeeper's disciple.

They didn't believe that the disheveled, blood-covered cultivator in front of them was the leader of the Incense Burning Sect. They thought they had encountered an imposter and attacked him on the spot.

They couldn't harm Lu Xingzhou in the slightest. Even if he was seriously injured, Lu Xingzhou was still at the Dao Integration Realm, and he could easily dismiss the two of them with a wave of his hand.

However, after this incident, the two were stripped of their cultivation and imprisoned until their lifespans were nearly over. During this time, countless people were implicated, and those implicated went to the prison to give the two extra "care." Fang Hao didn't need to describe the details; Tie Shengrong had already heard some of them.

It was fate, really. The reason Lu Xingzhou was injured was because Mo Suixin had cast a divination that concerned the life and death of the sect leader.

At the time, no one knew that Mo Suixin's three daily divinations were so accurate. If Pang Duoduo hadn't repeatedly reminded Lu Xingzhou to be careful, he probably would have died by then.

Now that Fang Hao has brought this up, Tie Shengrong really can't refute a single word.

In comparison, the Yellow Springs Sect only captured the Incense Burning Sect disciples alive, which was already quite lenient.

Fang Hao was still the same Fang Hao as before. Tie Shengrong knew he couldn't gain any advantage in words, so he simply went straight to the point: "This matter was a misunderstanding. I apologize to the Huangquan Sect and ask the Huangquan Sect to release my Burning Incense Sect disciples."

Fang Hao nodded, then flicked his long sleeves, and several disciples of the Burning Incense Sect, who were completely wrapped in talismans, rolled out from his sleeves.

Elder Tie Xianrong was relatively unharmed, landing steadily on the ground, but the other disciples of the Burning Incense Sect tumbled and rolled around in a heap, causing the sect leader and elders to frown deeply.

This is truly embarrassing.

However, Tie Shengrong obviously did not expect Fang Hao to release the person so easily; he thought Fang Hao would make many demands.

It seems that Fang Hao still has some affection for the Incense Burning Sect and won't go too far.

Tie Shengrong said to Fang Hao, "Nephew Fang, I will remember this favor."

Fang Hao shook his head and said, "Sect Leader Tie, you've misunderstood again. Releasing them was Master's idea. He only wanted a sincere attitude from the Burning Incense Sect, not to truly humiliate you all. After experiencing such a great calamity, it's time for the Burning Incense Sect to change its style."

Seeing Fang Hao's sincerity, Tie Shengrong couldn't tell for a moment whether he was acting or genuine.

But upon closer examination, Fang Hao was absolutely right.

The Incense Burning Sect is now destroyed, and its original strength is less than one-tenth. If it still considers itself one of the five major sects, then offending the Yellow Springs Sect is just the beginning.

Tie Shengrong couldn't help but recall the rumors about Chen Ye, starting from Baihai Valley and continuing through his many deeds in the Northern Frontier. This man's way of doing things was not much different from that of the Qinghe Sword Sect.

If the Incense Burning Sect does not seriously rectify its conduct, it may one day have to face the sword of the Qinghe Sword Sect.

Even though Zhang Qi of the Qinghe Sword Sect is gone, the swordsmanship of the Qinghe Sword Sect is still the best in the world. If the two sects really come to blows, Tie Shengrong can't guarantee that he can suppress Sheng Huai'an. As for the others of the Fenxiang Sect... they might as well admit defeat as soon as possible.

Tie Shengrong sighed and said to Fang Hao, "Please convey my apology to the Sect Master of Huangquan Sect. I will make up for it later."

"Master Iron is too kind."

Fang Hao also breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Incense Burning Sect was destroyed, it did not change Tie Shengrong's character. He was a pragmatic person. He would never stubbornly insist on saving face if a few words from Tie Shengrong could secure the safe return of the Incense Burning Sect disciples.

Taking this opportunity, Fang Hao spoke again: "Uncle Tie, although I have now joined the Yellow Springs Sect, the Incense Burning Sect has been kind to me after all, and I cannot stand by and watch the Incense Burning Sect become isolated and helpless. I know that the Incense Burning Sect is currently lacking resources for its disciples to cultivate, so I have asked my master for permission to give away this secret technique."

Fang Hao presented the Azure Dragon Body Refining Method to Tie Shengrong and quietly waited for him to examine it.

Tie Shengrong was full of doubt. Was the Yellow Spring Sect being too polite? They released the person without saying a word and even gave them gifts? Who exactly had made a mistake?
Could it be that the Yellow Springs Sect is truly completely different from the Incense Burning Sect?
But when Tie Shengrong finished reading the Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique, he immediately frowned and asked Fang Hao, "Junior Nephew, are you kidding me? This is a demonic body refining method. How many living people would it take to master it?!"

Fang Hao said, "Please rest assured, Uncle-Master. The Yellow Spring Sect has Beast Blood Pills that can replace human blood for cultivation. Moreover, the Yellow Spring Sect is willing to provide enough Beast Blood Pills to help the Incense Burning Sect overcome its difficulties. This matter is not against the will of Heaven. The disciples of the Incense Burning Sect can at least steadily cultivate to the Gang Sha realm. As for the Tong Xuan realm, that requires opportunity and comprehension, and has little to do with resources."

Tie Shengrong remained silent, but he was moved.

(End of this chapter)