Chapter 48: System Upgrade

Luoxia Mountain gets its name from the evening glow of the sunset.

At dusk, the sunlight shines upon the mountain peak, magnificent and beautiful, as if draping the great mountain in colorful clouds, adding a touch of mystery.

And for cultivators, this is a rare and precious resource of Spirit Qi.

The purple mist of dawn comes from the east, and the colorful clouds of dusk gather the spirit.

It is an excellent place for cultivation.

Yan Xiao bathes in the evening glow, traveling by sword; at this moment, he feels the world is his.

The evening glow, Luoxia Mountain, all his.

This world is so beautiful, this air is so fresh.

He spreads his arms, revealing a grin like a doting uncle.

"Fellow Daoist, please stop."

A stern voice comes from before the mountain gate.

Yan Xiao opens his eyes, lands beside that person, and chuckles, "Sorry, I was too absorbed."

"This is Luoxia Mountain. If you have business, Fellow Daoist, please state your purpose so I may go report it to the Elder."

The gate-guarding disciple bows to Yan Xiao to show respect, speaking and acting with neither servility nor overbearingness; he is quite principled.

"My good brother, just say that Yan Xiao has arrived."

Yan Xiao pats the gate-guarding disciple on the shoulder, showing great appreciation.

"Who is your brother? You wait obediently, don't wander around, I am going to report to the Elder."

That disciple's hand twitches, shaking Yan Xiao's hand off, his True Qi released externally; his strength is not bad.

A gate-guarding disciple is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator?

Yan Xiao cannot help but be greatly surprised; is this really a fallen sect?

The gate-guarding disciple has been gone for a long time without a trace; Yan Xiao is bored, and seeing a pavilion not far away, he decides to walk over to pass the time.

"The scenery of this Luoxia Mountain is truly not bad."

He stands by the edge of the pavilion, watching the red clouds in the west, in a very good mood.

"Eh?"

At this moment, several sets of footsteps approach, and upon seeing Yan Xiao to the side, they all reveal expressions of surprise.

Could it be they recognize me?

Yan Xiao reveals an inscrutable smile, waiting for everyone's flattery.

It is his first time being a Sect Master, so he is feeling a bit carried away.

"You are Yan Xiao? It really is you!"

Ma Pangzi circles Yan Xiao twice, clicking his tongue in wonder, "Dressed so well, did you strike it rich?"

Yan Xiao frowns, looking at the few of them; so it is these little rascals.

Truly, enemies often cross paths; he did not expect to run into them just after arriving at Luoxia Mountain.

"Fat Brother is asking you a question, you idiot."

Ma Pangzi's lackey, seeing Yan Xiao ignoring them, his face sinks, and he roars at Yan Xiao.

Damn it!

Yan Xiao is so angry he laughs, thinking to himself: "I haven't even lost my temper to take revenge, and you brat are the first to clamor."

"What are you laughing at, you bastard?" Ma Biaoge is enraged, thinking Yan Xiao is mocking them, and swings a palm toward Yan Xiao.

Having been punished by the Elder, they are already full of fire, and this is the perfect chance to vent on Yan Xiao.

In their eyes, hitting Yan Xiao is the same as before; he wouldn't even dare to fight back.

Slap!

Ma Biaoge swings a palm over, but ends up being lightly tapped by Yan Xiao, and his hand immediately dislocates.

"Ah, my hand!"

Fear Value from Ma Xiaoyang +200.

"Yan Xiao, you dare to fight back?"

Ma Pangzi is furious, taking a stance, preparing to use his newly learned immortal technique to deal with this guy who doesn't know life from death.

"Yan Xiao, let me show you what a celestial being is; the gap between you and me is no longer what it once was."

Saying this, Ma Pangzi circulates his Qi and strikes out a faint flame, which drifts toward Yan Xiao at an extremely, extremely slow speed.

"Don't you run; once my Flame Divine Art hits you, you're dead."

Ma Pangzi points at Yan Xiao and threatens him; if Yan Xiao dares to dodge, he will make him pay.

"Haha..."

Yan Xiao is amused; after all that talk, the flame hasn't even reached his side yet; he feels anxious for Ma Pangzi.

Finally, the flame drifts to his side; he extends a finger and lightly taps the flame, and it instantly extinguishes.

"How is this possible?"

Ma Pangzi cannot believe it. Fear Value +100.

"You stand still, let me try again." Ma Pangzi glares at Yan Xiao, his usual threatening tone.

"Yours is too slow; let me teach you."

Yan Xiao is too lazy to watch his clownish supernatural technique, so he directly tosses out five small fireballs, setting the pants of the few of them on fire.

"My butt... ouch, ouch... Yan Xiao, you little bastard, you wait, I'm going to call my Senior Brother to deal with you."

Ma Pangzi and the others, while clutching their scorched butts, curse loudly.

"Hehe."

Touching his face where they had struck him, Yan Xiao revealed a playful smile, his youthful nature fully on display.

Revenge was one thing, but Yan Xiao was still quite happy to run into them.

Of course, it was because his strength had been flipped.

Before long, Ma Pangzi and the others called over the disciples guarding the gate.

Pointing at Yan Xiao, they cursed loudly, "Second Senior Brother, this is the brat who toyed with us; you must take revenge for us."

The Second Senior Brother acted as if he hadn't heard what they said, walked up to Yan Xiao, bowed, and saluted, "Greetings, Sect Master Senior Brother."

"What?"

Ma Pangzi and the others stood frozen in place.

"Senior Brother, have you made a mistake? He is Yan Xiao from our village, a poor kid, how could he possibly...?"

Ma Pangzi said in disbelief.

"Why haven't you greeted the Sect Master yet? You don't understand the slightest bit of etiquette."

The Second Senior Brother said sternly; it was clear he was a very rule-abiding person who valued propriety.

"Gree... greetings, Sect Master."

Fear Value from the few of them +1000.

"Ahem!"

Yan Xiao gave a dry cough and looked at them expressionlessly.

Fear Value from Ma Pangzi and the five others +1200.

Haha... not bad, their courage is quite small; I can scare them often in the future to earn Fear Value.

Yan Xiao thought with a wicked sense of humor.

"Sect Master Senior Brother, please come with me."

The Second Senior Brother bowed again and said.

Yan Xiao nodded and walked slowly behind him, looking around, appearing absent-minded.

Seeing them walk away, Ma Pangzi and the others still felt uneasy in their hearts.

They kept contributing Fear Value to Yan Xiao.

"Is the Sect Master Senior Brother feeling dissatisfied because the various Martial Uncles did not come to welcome you?"

The Second Senior Brother asked softly.

"No, I'm just a bit tired today and can't walk anymore; why don't we sit down and rest for a while."

Yan Xiao laughed, feigning exhaustion, and made a move to sit down on the stone steps.

As the saying goes, a new official has three fires to light; if he encountered a cold shoulder the first time he went up the mountain, that would never do.

Where would the Sect Master's dignity be? Where would the Sect Master's face remain?

"Sect Master Senior Brother has misunderstood; the Martial Uncles are currently opening the Spirit Cave and cannot pull themselves away to come and welcome you; there is no intention of slighting you."

The Second Senior Brother explained, his tone remaining neither humble nor pushy, not changing just because Yan Xiao was about to become the Sect Master of Luoxia Mountain.

"Spirit... Cave? What kind of thing is that?"

Yan Xiao was attracted by this strange name and was very curious.

"The Spirit Cave is the blessed land of Luoxia Mountain; cultivating inside can yield twice the result with half the effort."

The Second Senior Brother explained indifferently.

"Can you be more specific?" Yan Xiao asked.

"Uh... Sect Master Senior Brother can browse the ancient texts of Luoxia Mountain; I am not very good at explaining."

The Second Senior Brother passed the buck directly.

"You have personality; what is your name?" Yan Xiao asked.

"In reply to Sect Master Senior Brother, my name is Zhang Ze," the Second Senior Brother replied respectfully.

"Zhang Ze, I will remember you."

Yan Xiao chuckled and walked toward the main hall of Luoxia Mountain.