Chapter 86: Covert Suppression (Seeking Monthly Votes!)

What, a little‑known female cultivator of the Mu family wants the lord to take her as a concubine, and she's acting all aggrieved, crying and wailing?

Lin Zixi returned to the Jia‑yi cave residence at night, and upon hearing her sister talk about the day's events, she was furious.

If Xiao Zhangqing and Lin Ziyu merely found the Mu family unsightly, then she hates the Mu family to the point of grinding her teeth!

As the manager of the Guangju Building, before she had developed the first‑rank spirit wine, the Guangju Building was almost forced to close by the Mu family tavern, and she has held a grudge ever since!

The Guangju Building is her lifeline, the thing she uses to prove her worth.

If she hadn't endured back then, she wouldn't even know what she could do now, let alone calmly serve as the lord's concubine.

Now the Mu family still has the nerve to ask the lord for help and even wants to send a woman?

Trying to have it both ways, double joy at the doorstep, right?

"The lord should have the Cao family step up their pressure and strike harder!" Lin Zixi bared a row of neat white teeth, and her fierce look was also quite attractive.

Lin Ziyu smiled and said, "Isn't there a certain Miss Mu of the Mu family? She has a history with the lord; the lord won't help the Mu family, but also won't kick them when they're down."

"Mu Chunfeng, I have met her before; she is indeed beautiful. Moreover, I've heard her mentioned many times—quite capable; her cultivation is said to have reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Great Perfection, and she could attempt to break into the Foundation Establishment Realm. If the Mu family hadn't suffered misfortune, calling her the pride of Nanshan Fang's first generation wouldn't be an exaggeration," Lin Zixi mused.

After she became Xiao Zhangqing's concubine, she and Lin Ziyu kept a low profile, unlike managing the cave residence and attending to Xiao Zhangqing's daily needs. Lin Zixi never had idle time; she was busy with her career outside, so she knows many people.

"She has a rapport with the lord, and given her qualifications, if she earnestly petitions the lord to take her, there might truly be hope. Then the lord would have one more person by his side," Lin Zixi frowned slightly.

She feels that having herself and her sister by the lord's side is enough; she doesn't want anyone else to join.

Lin Ziyu saw her sister's thoughts and solemnly instructed, "Zixi, we are merely the lord's concubines. If the lord wishes to take in newcomers, that's beyond our control, and we must not interfere. Even expressing the slightest discontent is unacceptable! We only need to fulfill our duties; whatever the lord wishes to do, as long as it's his desire, we should not oppose it. Though the lord treats us well now, we must never become spoiled by his favor! Have you forgotten that, even when the lord first took us in, he never truly accepted us, precisely because he didn't want us to misunderstand our own role."

Lin Zixi's expression dimmed upon hearing that.

Her sister Lin Ziyu's words were like a blow to the head.

In fact, she had already understood this principle long ago and knew what to do.

It's just that the recent good days and the Guangju Building's great success have made her a bit forgetful, a bit lofty.

"Fine, I understand..." Lin Zixi sighed, then nodded in agreement.

…

…

Thousands of li west of Nanshan Fang lies a mist‑shrouded mountain that mortals cannot approach.

If one can pass through the haze and enter, one will find that most of the mountain above its waist is covered with large trees bearing orange‑red leaves, looking exceedingly beautiful, as if a sunset were fixed atop the peak.

Here lies one of the foremost major sects in the southwest of the Da Yu Cultivation World, the Luoxia Sect.

The Luoxia Sect has a history of over eight hundred years, with a Golden Core Real Person born each generation, never having been broken.

During its heyday, the sect boasted four Golden Core Real Persons, as well as senior cultivators of the later Golden Core stage.

Now, the Luoxia Sect feels a sense of talent decline.

Aside from Sect Master Lu Daoming, there are no other Golden Core Real Persons.

Moreover, Lu Daoming's Golden Core quality is rather average, only middle‑low grade, which is insufficient for those aspiring to the true pinnacle of the Cultivation World.

At best, achieving a Nascent Soul in the future is utterly hopeless.

Nevertheless, with Golden Core cultivators present, the Luoxia Sect's lineage can at least be maintained, and under normal circumstances there is no fear of the sect's extinction.

Unfortunately, the current situation is abnormal; with the invasion of Demon Sect Evil Cultivators, the Da Yu Cultivation World has already begun to experience turmoil.

…

Peak of the Luoxia Sect.

The place where the third‑grade spiritual vein is strongest is Sect Master Lu Daoming's cave residence.

Gong Wansheng, who has returned from Nanshan Fang, is reporting the situation.

After eliminating Mu Renjie, Gong Wansheng himself was seriously injured; to prevent accidents on the road, he first recuperated in Nanshan Fang for several days, barely restoring himself to about seventy percent, before setting off back.

Nanshan Fang is nearly several thousand li from the Luoxia Sect; even if a mortal rides a swift horse nonstop, disregarding the horse's stamina, it would still take a month to arrive.

If one needs to eat, sleep, and rest, it would require nearly three months.

Qi Refining Realm cultivators, especially those in the early and middle stages, have shallow magical power; although they can fly, their flight speed is not much faster than a swift horse, and they are less enduring than a horse.

Therefore, cultivators ahead dismount to fight; for those at the lower tiers of the Cultivation World, this is not unusual.

It is the relatively affluent among the later‑stage Qi Refining cultivators who can afford flying vessels, dramatically increasing travel speed.

The journey from Nanshan Fang to the Luoxia Sect could be covered in just over twenty days.

That is why most low‑tier cultivators remain in a single cultivation market, rarely venturing elsewhere.

Because for them, traveling to other cultivation sites is not easy.

A journey that takes months in the non‑spiritual Mortal World is extremely uncomfortable, and the process is fraught with uncertainty and danger.

As a Late‑Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from a Golden Core sect, Gong Wansheng's travel speed is naturally much faster.

It took a little over ten days for him to rush back to the Luoxia Sect.

But upon returning to the sect, Sect Master Lu Daoming was in seclusion, leaving a note that unless it's an extremely urgent matter, do not disturb him.

Thus Gong Wansheng waited another half a month before finally seeing the sect master.

In less than the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, Gong Wansheng finished his report.

A slender, Daoist‑looking figure, appearing to be a man in his forties, Lu Daoming thought, "Xiao Zhangqing, Second‑rank Talisman Master, nine‑layer Qi Refining cultivation, actually knows the secret of divine consciousness, and his divine consciousness is so strong it could threaten the Late‑Stage Foundation Establishment?"

After weighing and organizing a series of pieces of information,

Lu Daoming's face showed interest, and he thought to himself, "Over ten years ago, this youth was just an ordinary Scattered Cultivator. It seems he has a great destiny. Unfortunately, with Demon Sect Evil Cultivators tightening their grip, the Golden Core Real Persons of each sect are now like a hair that can move the whole body. Otherwise, I'd really like to visit Nanshan Fang."

Various thoughts passed by.

Lu Daoming asked, "Xiao Zhangqing refuses to come to the sect because of Senior Brother Hong, right? If you bring two more senior brothers and sisters to Nanshan Fang and offer great rewards to persuade him back, do you think the chances are high?"

Gong Wansheng replied, "Sect Master, I don't think it's necessary. For one thing, a forced melon is never sweet, just like Symbol Master Lu Qiu before; even after arriving at the sect, he wasn't pleased. Moreover, with Xiao Symbol Master and the two Foundation Establishment masters of the Cao family stationed, Nanshan Fang can ensure safety. If we forcibly bring Xiao Symbol Master back, Nanshan Fang would likely become precarious, requiring us to send even more forces to support…"

"Then let him stay in Nanshan Fang," Lu Daoming waved his hand, no longer pressing the matter.

The Cultivation World is full of countless opportunities, big and small; who knows how many cultivators have their own secrets.

And a true cultivator who can reach the Nascent Soul Realm, especially one whose birth was not great and whose spiritual root talent is not top‑tier, yet ultimately forms a Nascent Soul, will not have a small destiny!

So he does not necessarily have to force it.

In his view, the destiny on Xiao Zhangqing is mostly related to the way of the Talisman Script, and its attraction to him is not the greatest.

He will wait for another chance later to see.

"Then sect leader, should the newly appointed manager of Lingfu Pavilion at Nanshan Fang still send a Foundation Establishment Realm elder over?" Gong Wansheng asked.

Lu Daoming thought for a moment, did not answer, but chuckled lightly and asked: "You said, if Nanshan Fang's situation is critical and could be breached by Evil Cultivators at any time, would Xiao Zhangqing be unable to sit still and actively beg to return to the sect? You said he is very cautious, right? He should understand the principle that a gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall, shouldn't he?"

Gong Wansheng was slightly startled by the words.

A not‑very‑good thought suddenly arose in his mind.

……

……

Nearly another month passed.

The newly appointed manager arranged by Luoxia Sect arrived rather late.

For unknown reasons, at this time, the appointed new manager was not a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator but a Wu‑surname nine‑layer Qi‑refining cultivator.

After arriving at Nanshan Fang, regarding matters within Lingfu Pavilion, although the requirements were still as strict as Zhou Changkong's, the production quantity and varieties of Talisman Scripts would be strictly inspected.

But toward Xiao Zhangqing, they were extremely respectful and fully cooperative.

Even when Xiao Zhangqing thought Luoxia Sect's policies were not good, this newly appointed Storekeeper Wu, after deliberation and hesitation, would ultimately follow Xiao Zhangqing's suggestions.

Thus in practice, it was as if Xiao Zhangqing was the actual manager of Lingfu Pavilion, the top decision‑maker.

Xiao Zhangqing was somewhat surprised by this, not knowing what Luoxia Sect was thinking.

But as long as it wasn't directed at him, he didn't overthink it.

What really displeased him was that Gong Wansheng had clearly promised to help gather the materials for the Second-rank Talisman Script once he returned, yet Storekeeper Wu came empty‑handed, bringing nothing.

The reason given was that the sect's resources were tight and the times were turbulent, fearing accidents during transport.

If Xiao Zhangqing truly needed the Second-rank Talisman Script, he could consider returning to the sect, where all resources would be unlimited.

Xiao Zhangqing muttered an insult, "Chicken thief."

But the more Luoxia Sect wanted him to go, the less he could.

Materials for the Second-rank Talisman Script could be slowly gathered by Nanshan Fang, enough for his own use, but large‑scale production of the Second-rank Talisman Script was impossible.

Thus, the impact on him was not especially great, and it might not be very important to Luoxia Sect either.

But for Nanshan Fang, it was a significant weakening of strength!

Because originally Gong Wansheng believed Xiao Zhangqing could completely replace Mu Renjie's position; his divine‑sense secret technique was only a minor factor, while the status of a Second-rank Talisman Master was crucial!

A Second-rank Talisman Master, together with sufficient materials to craft Second-rank Talisman Scripts, would allow Nanshan Fang to field an extra batch of cultivators who could temporarily threaten those in the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

Now, lacking materials, the responsibility for Nanshan Fang to fend off Evil Cultivators effectively falls on the two Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Cao family and on Xiao Zhangqing.

(End of chapter)