Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 340 Jiangtian Night Banquet
Southern Chu, Qin clan.

In the meeting hall.

Qin Feiyu, the head of the Qin family, sat in the main seat, with the other elders standing on both sides, each with a different expression on their face.

Most people remained calm and composed, but a few were rather gloomy.

"What tricks is that old bastard Nangong Ming playing?"

What was originally a peaceful matter suddenly took an unexpected turn, which angered the clan elder.

"Perhaps it's because my clan has been making too many moves lately that the Nangong family has noticed it, which is quite normal."

One of the elders remained calm, seemingly unconcerned about the matter.

"It's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; laughable and overestimating its own strength."

Qin Feiyu remained silent, listening to the opinions of the elders on the matter without saying a word.

"In my opinion, there is no need to do anything. Just follow the original plan and seize control of the Nangong family."

"The Nangong family is naturally nothing to fear."

One of the elders looked worried: "I'm afraid that this time, that old bastard Nangong Ming will use an empty bait to catch a rich and powerful man."

“A few days ago, her eldest daughter, Nangong Wang, returned to Jiangxian Pass. We originally sent people to kidnap her, but we didn’t expect to encounter Li Yi of Dongyuan Sect who interfered.”

"Not only did we fail, we almost lost three Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"If Nangong Ming is determined to marry his daughter to Li Yi and the two become Daoist partners, thus connecting the Nangong family with the Dongyuan Sect, wouldn't we have to wait for several more years?"

"This……"

A moment of silence fell over the council chamber.

"Snapped!"

An elderly clan elder suddenly flew into a rage and slammed his fist on the table.

"If you ask me, all these messes are the fault of the clan for raising an ingrate like Qin Xijun."

"If she had even the slightest sense of gratitude or willingness to help the family, we wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths to plan this!"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, and his voice grew louder and louder.

"All right."

Qin Feiyu finally spoke up, stopping him from cursing.

"It's pointless to say more to this person. Let's think about how to deal with the Nangong family's actions."

His voice was calm: "Controlling the Nangong family means controlling most of Jiangxian Pass. This matter still needs to be handled prudently."

"Master, what should we do now?"

Qin Feiyu remained silent for a moment, then released his divine sense to sense the soundproofing barriers around him.

Then he slowly said, "That young master Shi from the Demon Ruins..."

Those sitting here are all intelligent people. Qin Feiyu only mentioned one name, and several elders present immediately understood the meaning of the patriarch.

But then a deep sense of worry arose.

"Master, do you mean to send Young Master Shi to the Jiangtian Night Banquet?"

"good."

A mocking look appeared on Qin Feiyu's face as he said, "Doesn't the Nangong family want a prodigy with powerful backing?"

"Heh, Demon Ruins Dao Child, is he powerful enough?"

"But……"

The elder still looked somewhat worried.

If this move can be made smoothly, it would be absolutely brilliant.

With Young Master Shi's abilities, no matter what the Jiangtian Night Banquet is about, he will surely come out on top.

When the Nangong family was overjoyed and tried to recruit this young master, they discovered that he was a guest of honor of the Qin family. At that point, they were truly left with no one to turn to for help.

However, although the elder did not say it aloud, everyone had their own concerns.

If Young Master Shi were to realize that Madam Qin was using him, and then he were to become enraged...

Even if a hundred members of the Qin family came, it wouldn't be enough for the Demon Ruins to kill.

"There is no need for you to worry."

Qin Feiyu chuckled: "I think this young master Shi is getting bored here. We're just informing him that there's a grand event at Jiangxian Pass."

"The grand prize is still a wisp of sword energy left behind by a senior in the Nascent Soul Realm. Whether he goes or not is his own decision."

"If we don't go, then we can just follow the established procedures and wait another year."

"..."

In the council chamber, the elders looked at each other and finally nodded in agreement.

The Qin clan's territory is located on Qiwu Mountain.

The Guest Pavilion at Jinghong.

Far from the desolate and gloomy Demon Ruins, the scenery here is beautiful and refreshing.

Unfortunately, a small place is still a small place.

It's fine everywhere, but it's a bit too boring.

Shi Yunhao was leaning lazily against the window, outside which were the damp and lush mountains and forests unique to the Chu region, but he seemed rather bored.

He toyed with a small communication jade talisman, which contained news from the Demon Ruins about the newly promoted elder of the Yellow Springs Path successfully forming his Nascent Soul.

No matter how talented Chen Linyuan is, he is only a Golden Core cultivator at present.

Sending out several Nascent Soul cultivators again, and waiting for the nameless being from the Yellow Springs Path to form a Nascent Soul—isn't that being far too cautious?

Hey……

"Chen Linyuan..."

Shi Yunhao muttered to himself, his tone tinged with impatience: "The grand drama of the former number one genius of the Central Region collapsing and dying is dragging on and on, it's so unpleasant."

I thought that once I arrived here, I would immediately be able to watch a good show and witness the end of an old era, but to my surprise, the main characters of this play were reluctant to take the stage.

Did they deliberately travel all the way to this remote and impoverished place in the State of Chu just to watch him linger on and slowly decay?

Utterly boring.

Just then, a report came from outside the pavilion.

The voice was deliberately softened, but it still couldn't hide the reverence in it: "Young master, I am Qin Sheng, an elder of the Qin family. I have been ordered by the family head to request an audience."

Shi Yunhao didn't even bother to lift his eyelids: "Hmm."

The voice was flat and emotionless, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet it made Qin Sheng, who was waiting outside the door, feel a tightness in his heart, and a thin layer of sweat instantly seeped out from his back.

He took a deep breath, carefully pushed open the door, and walked in with extremely light steps, bowing deeply.

"I apologize for disturbing your peaceful cultivation, young master."

Qin Sheng adopted an extremely humble posture, almost not daring to look directly at the young man on the bed.

Shi Yunhao then turned his head slightly, his eyes casually sweeping over Qin Sheng.

Even though the other party was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, an invisible pressure made this Qin family elder's breath catch in his throat.

"what's up?"

Qin Sheng dared not be negligent in the slightest and quickly and clearly repeated the instructions given by the family head, Qin Feiyu.

"Reporting to the young master, the Nangong family of Jiangxian Pass is planning a grand gathering soon and has invited many talented individuals from the Chu region."

The Nangong family?

Although Shi Yunhao remained expressionless, a thought flashed through his mind, as if he had just realized something.

"The patriarch knows that in this region of Chu, the small Qin clan has nothing to offer for your amusement, young master."

“A little bit of rouge and powder is naturally disliked by you, young master. Even the so-called rare and precious materials are hard to catch your eye.”

"It just so happens that the Nangong family possesses a sword aura that may have been left behind by a Nascent Soul cultivator."

"At this Jiangtian Night Banquet, if one can stand out among these many young cultivators, one can comprehend that sword energy under the protection of several elders of the Nangong family."

When Qin Sheng mentioned the sword energy of the Nascent Soul Realm, he cautiously raised his eyelids, wanting to observe Shi Yunhao's reaction.

However, nothing could be seen.

"The head of the family heard that the young master was meditating here and might be feeling bored, so I have taken the liberty of coming to report this matter."

"That sword energy is a rare and precious thing in the Chu Kingdom. Perhaps it can be of interest to you, young master. Whether you go or not is entirely up to you."

After Elder Qin Sheng finished speaking, he bowed deeply and awaited the other party's reply.

Shi Yunhao stopped what he was doing and put the jade talisman away. The sword energy of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator…

These days have indeed been quite boring in the State of Chu, and I've learned about the situation of the cultivation world in Chu.

He did have some impression of the Nangong family.

Whether the legend of Jiangxian Pass is true or not is unknown, but the wisp of sword energy left in the pass is already said to be the sword energy of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Although this thing could not be called a supreme divine object to Shi Yunhao, it was still quite interesting that there was still a legacy of the Nascent Soul Realm in this barren Chu Kingdom.

"understood."

Shi Yunhao didn't say whether he would go or not, but Qin Sheng didn't care about that. His task was simply to inform the young man in front of him about this matter.

"get out."

Shi Yunhao closed his eyes, as if he were extremely tired.

"Yes! I'll take my leave!"

Qin Sheng felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately got up and left.

Only after leaving the attic did I dare to let out a long breath; the back of my clothes was already soaked.

He dared not linger, and immediately summoned his flying sword, which transformed into a streak of light as he sped toward the Qin Clan Elders' Council.

Inside the attic, a fierce glint flashed in Shi Yunhao's cold eyes.

"Qin Feiyu, a man of great courage."

"How dare they set their sights on me..."

Shi Yunhao was precocious and insightful, even though he was unaware of the Qin family's many plans. Just by listening to these few words, he could guess what the Qin family head was thinking.

but……

The land of Chu was so boring that his frustration grew day by day.

In his eyes, the Qin family and the Nangong family were nothing more than pawns on a chessboard.

A casual touch might stir up some ripples in this stagnant pool, providing some relief from the boredom.

It's much more interesting than sitting here idly, waiting for a decaying person to breathe their last.

……

Jiangxian Pass, on the banks of the Lingyang River.

Nangong clan territory.

But then they saw a secluded valley where a burly young man was wielding a black and red halberd, seemingly practicing a common martial art.

This martial art has extremely simple moves, with wide and sweeping movements. Even ordinary martial artists would find it rudimentary.

Not far away, two pretty girls were sitting under a tree, and they looked somewhat alike.

One of the girls gazed at the young man practicing martial arts not far away, her expression full of admiration.

"Sister..."

Nangong Shu looked at her sister with a strange expression and called out softly.

However, the older sister did not react.

"Sister!"

"Huh? What's wrong?" Nangong Wang finally came to his senses.

"Sister," Nangong Shu looked at the person not far away with some suspicion and said, "What's so interesting about this?"

"You wish you could gouge your eyes out and stick them on Senior Li Yi right now."

"What do you know, you brat?"

Nangong Wang looked a little embarrassed, but he didn't hold back when he said to his sister, "You're still young. You'll understand when you grow up."

Cultivators with such masculine spirit as Brother Li Yi are rare these days.

Looking at her sister's infatuated expression, Nangong Shu felt something crumbling within her.

Is this still my cold and aloof sister who doesn't get close to men?
She shifted her gaze to the "instigator" of all this.

The young man practicing martial arts in the courtyard was none other than Li Yi.

Just then, he put away his halberd, used his spiritual power to dispel the foul air, and walked towards the two of them.

To repay Li Yi for saving his eldest daughter Nangong Wang's life, the Nangong family allowed him to stay and attend the upcoming Jiangtian Night Banquet.

This secluded valley was the residence arranged solely for Li Yi.

However, Nangong Wang would often come to deliver spiritual items and elixirs, saying it was to repay his kindness.

Unexpectedly, today the second young lady, Nangong Shu, also came to visit with her sister.

When the two women saw Li Yi approaching, they both bowed.

"Brother Li Yi, you are already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, why do you still need to practice such rudimentary skills of the mortal world?"

Li Yi laughed heartily and said, "I'm used to it. I grew up in the army and had to practice basic skills every day. If I don't practice for a day, I feel uncomfortable all over and less agile."

This is not an excuse; it is simply the truth.

There's nothing wrong with that; consider it laying a solid foundation.

"Who is this……"

He pointed to Nangong Shu.

Nangong Wang then realized as if he had just woken up from a dream, and remembered that his younger sister had not been at home for a few days. She only rushed back after the news of his accident reached her.

I haven't met Brother Li Yi yet.

"This is my younger sister, Nangong Shu."

"Hehe, Senior Li Yi, thank you for saving my sister."

Nangong Shu performed a proper, traditional salute.

"Haha, it's a pleasure to meet you." Li Yi said casually, "It's nothing, nothing to thank you for repeatedly. I just can't stand seeing so many cultivators bullying a weak woman."

Weak woman?
Nangong Shu shifted her gaze with some suspicion, glancing at her older sister.

She pinched me.

"Ouch..."

Ignoring the two women's subtle actions, Li Yi took out a communication jade talisman from his Qiankun bag.

After looking at it and seeing no reaction, I put it back.

Nangong Wang was perceptive and immediately saw through Li Yi's thoughts.

"Brother Li Yi, are you waiting for that fellow disciple?"

"Ah, yes."

Li Yi nodded: "Originally, I didn't intend to stay here for long, but Senior Nangong Ming said that participating in the Jiangtian Night Banquet might provide an opportunity to comprehend the Divine Transformation Sword Qi."

"That's when I thought of this good brother."

Li Yi was handsome and spoke with a strong voice: "This man is most skilled in swordsmanship. If given the opportunity, he will definitely come."

"Huh? Senior Li Yi's fellow disciple must also be a cultivator from the Dongyuan Sect, right?"

Nangong Shu asked, "Could it be that this person's sword control skills are even more advanced than those of the disciples of Suspended Sword Mountain?"

"Hey, this isn't something I, Li, made up on the spot."

Li Yi waved his hand: "If we talk about sword control, I'm afraid no one in the Chu Kingdom can surpass him."

The two sisters exchanged a glance, surprised that this person could be praised so highly by Li Yi.

However, both of them were well-informed and intelligent.

In the current cultivation world of Chu, Li Yi is one of the most talked-about figures among the new generation of cultivators.

Everyone is guessing that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this person's attainment of the Golden Core stage is almost a certainty.

After Longtan Mountain, even Zhou Liu of the Xuanyuan Sect disappeared without a trace.

If we're talking about the younger generation, there's only one person whose popularity surpasses that of Li Yi.

The Dongyuan Sect is unparalleled in its mastery of swordsmanship.

Nangong Shu seemed to have thought of something, exclaimed in surprise, and asked.

"Could it be Song Yan, Senior Song?"

Li Yi laughed and nodded: "Exactly."

(End of this chapter)