Chapter 158: Their Present

Xiazhou, Danxia Mountain.

Shen Tang was sitting in the hall cultivating when a group of disciples ran in from outside: "Sect Master, Sect Master, so many people have come down the mountain to offer congratulations!"

"Offer congratulations?" Shen Tang opened her eyes.

The disciple was very excited: "Yes, the Alchemy Division led the way, saying our Heaven's Path Sword Sect people swept the top two spots on the Scholar Ranking, giving Xiazhou face too, everyone's here to congratulate. Elder Lu is really amazing! Even Anuo is so amazing!"

Shen Tang's eyes were full of tender light: "Mm."

Elder Tang Yunzhong and the others were also very pleased: "The benefits to our Heaven's Path Sword Sect's reputation from this matter are self-evident. Elder Lu, even while he's far away in the capital, can still help the sect — truly a lucky general."

His original intention was not for the sect's reputation... Shen Tang's face flushed slightly, and she said nothing.

Father Emperor should have met him by now. She wondered what attitude the two of them would have when meeting.

Shen Tang knew Lu Xingzhou had absolutely no goodwill toward Father Emperor, and judged that after Father Emperor personally crippled her legs, the hatred had only deepened. Surely he wouldn't directly come into conflict with Father Emperor... probably not, he was such a rational person...

Perhaps he'd gain Father Emperor's favor on the surface while scheming against him behind the scenes... that fits Lu Xingzhou's style better.

But she really worried about him clashing with Father Emperor...

"Sect Master, Sect Master?"

The voices around her startled Shen Tang back. Looking around, she saw everyone's expressions were rather odd. She cleared her throat and gracefully resumed her composure: "Uncle Zhong, go prepare some red packets and distribute them, and on my behalf thank the elders and folks of Xiazhou who came to offer congratulations."

Tang Yunzhong went off with a smile.

Shen Tang lazily surveyed those around her: "Elder Lu's abilities — it's not your first day knowing them. Earlier, who was it that said since he's not here anyway, Spiritual Spring Mountain sitting empty is a waste, better put it to use? Whoever said that, step out and take a walk?"

"Ahem." Someone awkwardly lowered their head, not daring to speak.

Spiritual Spring Mountain and the Huo residence theoretically belonged to Lu Xingzhou's "private land," merely "leased" to Heaven's Path Sword Sect. Lu Xingzhou never said he wanted to keep it all to himself, and was quite generous in letting Shen Tang make arrangements. But in the two months since he left, Shen Tang had never arranged for any branch of Heaven's Path Sword Sect to station there, as if tacitly conceding the whole mountain to Lu Xingzhou's exclusive use. Naturally, this invited some grumbling. A formation of twin mountains embracing each other, yet one mountain left empty — wasn't that just sick...

But the Sect Master really protected Elder Lu too much. Sometimes everyone felt this Heaven's Path Sword Sect seemed jointly owned by Shen Tang and Lu Xingzhou...

The land really did belong to Lu Xingzhou privately; others truly couldn't say anything. And now that Lu Xingzhou had become everyone's public face out in the world, it was even harder to bring up.

Not just Heaven's Path Sword Sect's public face, but Xiazhou's public face. Since Xiazhou was downgraded, how many years had it been since it produced any top scholar, in any field? And Lu Xingzhou was a Xiazhou native born and raised! No wonder the Alchemy Division was overjoyed. Chen Jinnian, who had already been promoted to the commandery, as Lu Xingzhou's recommender, was especially proud of face — he'd been hosting banquet after banquet for two days now.

Shen Tang said coolly: "Rather than staring at someone else's private mountain all day, set your sights further. Do you really think occupying Danxia's two mountains is enough to develop into a first-rate sect? Setting aside the Incense Mountain branch, just looking at all the mountains in Xiazhou, what's the plan for the next step? Just because Elder Lu isn't here, does that mean no one can propose an outline?"

They had come to offer congratulations, only to be reprimanded instead — everyone felt rather helplessly amused.

Those who could read the situation roughly guessed: Shen Tang felt that as Lu Xingzhou developed better and better, she too had to be worthy of matching him...

But you're already a match! In the past few months, Heaven's Path Sword Sect's breakthroughs have been like popping beans — even Lu Xingzhou would be startled when he returned. Still not enough... how can developing a sect be that fast? It's only been how long...

Just as they were thinking this, more disciples ran in from outside: "Sect Master, Sect Master, double happiness at the door!"

Shen Tang was taken aback: "What now?"

"The new Great Qian Heroes Ranking is out. Sect Master, you've ascended to the Heroes Ranking in one step!"

"Heh..." Shen Tang shook her head: "Just the bottom of the list, too embarrassing to mention outside, what kind of joy is that."

People exchanged glances — of course it counted as joy. A newcomer was still just a newcomer; even ranked first, people still saw them as a "junior." Officially entering the Heroes Ranking was different — it meant belonging to the true "famous masters." One had to know that not all upper third-grade cultivators qualified for the list; for instance, those piled up by pill-pushing were basically excluded. Being on the list meant one's strength was recognized.

It was hard to say exactly how many upper third-grade cultivators Great Qian had, but only three or four hundred were on the list. That was the top three or four hundred out of how many people! Not enough to brag about? The boost to the sect's reputation actually exceeded Lu Xingzhou's alchemy scholar top rank, didn't it.

The disciples still knew how to read the room, so one disciple said with a grin: "Sect Master, Elder Lu also made the Newcomer Ranking, in eighth place! Oh, and on the Alchemist Secondary Ranking, Elder Lu and Miss Anuo also took third and fourth!"

Shen Tang's previously uninterested expression instantly lit up: "Truly double happiness! Bring me the new list."

"..." The disciples handed over the ranking list.

Shen Tang swept a glance, her expression slightly startled: "Where did some Pei family woman pop out from?"

Someone answered: "I heard this rumor in the city some days ago — they say she's the daughter Prime Minister Pei lost long ago. Oh, and Elder Lu helped find her too."

Shen Tang nearly crumpled the list into a ball: "I know, isn't this the little witch who broke into the mountain last time. What's their relationship now that he's helping her find her family!"

The disciples exchanged glances — is this the focus a Sect Master should have when looking at a ranking list?

Forget it, let this sect be destroyed.

Shen Tang's gaze, however, fell on Dugu Qingli's entry, and she murmured softly: "Qingli is finally going to rise into the world..."

The northwestern frontier, endless wild sands.

A group arrived at a small border town. The leader was a young man, surrounded by a crowd of big fellows, asking the townsfolk in a tavern: "Within the sands, a tomb chamber appears and disappears, ghostly wails rise on all sides, travelers dare not pass... We've come for this rumor. Could you tell us more specific details?"

The tavern patrons all said: "Better not go. Not long ago, a small sect went in, and the whole sect never came out."

The big fellows pointed at the young man and laughed: "Small sects wouldn't dare go, but it can't stop us. Do you know who our young master is? Third on Great Qian's Newcomer Ranking!"

The tavern patrons were very surprised: "Third on the Newcomer Ranking — isn't that a Miss named Pei Chuyun? Did she change gender?"

The young man, who had been leisurely drinking, nearly sprayed it all over the floor at this, choking into a fit of coughing.

His subordinates were also very awkward: "Our young master has been third for a whole year, with countless battle achievements! What Tianyao Holy Land direct lineage, what Pei family daughter — when has anyone ever heard of their battle records? They're just relying on deep backgrounds, forcibly parachuting in to grab fame!"

A tavern patron said: "The Town Demon Division's rankings have always been fair, surely not to that extent..."

"Fair in the past, but now they've got some little girl as chief editor, who knows? Look at those verdicts, one flowery set after another — is that ranking people or putting on a play?"

The tavern patrons didn't argue. They could clearly feel this group was getting worked up — a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him... The Town Demon Division had been ranking for so many years, its credibility still held. At least it hadn't collapsed yet, and the patrons were still willing to believe it.

Anyway, this group's identity was clear now — Sha Tianhao, young master of the Yellow Sand Society, formerly third on the Newcomer Ranking. After Ye Wufeng's death, he should have moved up to second, but two women parachuted in, causing him to not even hold third, dropping to fourth... A pitiful fellow, better not provoke him further.

Sha Tianhao finally spoke: "We came here to solve the desert trade route problem for everyone. Why get hung up on this? Strength is what it is — having a big background doesn't make you strong. Next time we meet those two women, the strong and weak will be clear."

"The young master speaks wisely."

Sha Tianhao set down a gold ingot: "Enough idle talk. Who has seen this so-called tomb chamber? If you can lead the way, there's a generous reward."

At the sound of this, it was clear they hadn't come to solve any trade route problem, but to rob a tomb. This kind of thing that looked like an "ancient tomb chamber" yet seemed to have no killing power, at least not harming the townsfolk, held little interest for the truly strong, and was just right for small sects or these newcomers to temper themselves through adventure.

With a generous reward, brave men always appear. The tavern patrons who had just been advising "don't go" immediately had someone stand up: "I've seen it."

Sha Tianhao said: "You saw it and still came back safely — doesn't that show there's no danger around?"

"I got caught in a sandstorm, and a strange person saved me. By the time I came to my senses, I was already outside the town."

"A strange person?"

"A strange woman with white hair and blue eyes, cold as ice all over. I suspect she's a yao... yao... yao..."

Speaking the last words, he began to stutter, his eyes staring straight toward the town entrance.

A figure slowly emerged from the wind and sand, returning to the border town.

People gazed intently, only to see a young woman with white hair and blue eyes, carrying a long sword on her back. She wore only coarse cloth clothes, torn from prolonged fierce battles, with a few traces of congealed blood still visible, yet neither sand nor blood could stain her skin; it remained crystal clear, like ice crystals.

Her blue eyes fixed on the drinking guest who had spoken, piercing with bone-chilling cold.

Many rose and pressed their hands on their swords: "What kind of demon has come here!"

The young woman's gaze swept over them, her expression revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Sha Tianhao reached out to stop his subordinate, speaking in a low voice: "She does not seem like a demon; there is no demonic energy."

The young woman spoke lightly: "No need to go to the desert anymore. The ancient tomb has been destroyed, the sand demons and scorpion demons that had gathered have been slain. The illusionary realm has collapsed, and this path is now open."

Having finished speaking, she entered the tavern: "Bring three pots of clear water and some meat."

Sha Tianhao's gaze fell upon the pendant at the young woman's waist; it was ancient and solemn, looking quite reminiscent of the distant past. A slight movement stirred in his heart, and suddenly he blocked the young woman's path: "According to what the Miss said, you were the one who solved the tomb in the sand?"

The young woman looked at him strangely: "What is it to you, He Gan?"

"Does the Miss's gain from the tomb belong to whoever sees it?"

The young woman repeated the same words: "What is it to you?"

Having finished speaking, she grew too lazy to pay attention, took the wine and meat, and left.

Sha Tianhao blocked her again.

With a "clang," a cold light burst forth, and ice mist suddenly rose.

Before everyone's eyes could clear, the young woman had already passed Sha Tianhao and was outside the tavern.

A bloodstain on Sha Tianhao's chest rapidly spread, blood spraying out like a fountain.

"Young Master, Young Master!" His subordinates rushed forward, frantically applying medicine and bandaging; someone shouted fiercely at the young woman's retreating back: "Who are you, dare you give your name! The Yellow Sand Society will surely take revenge!"

"My name is Du Gu Qingli, I am not a demon, remember that." The young woman did not turn back, slowly walking toward the yellow sand.

The big men who had originally sought a fight suddenly stopped in their tracks, staring blankly as they watched the young woman's back depart.

This name had recently been thunderous in everyone's ears... the second of the newly arrived talents, a direct disciple of the Heavenly Yao Holy Land, the sole disciple of the number one in the world, Ye Tinglan, was it her?

"The Yellow Sand Society will surely take revenge"? Take revenge on your mother.

No one dared to utter a single word; they silently tended to Sha Tianhao.

Sha Tianhao's face was pale, whether from the injury or the fright was unknown. The drinking guests were all secretly looking at him, their meanings hard to discern.

Truly seeing those two newly arrived women, do you now know your own strength? Then we indeed know; you couldn't even block a single move of hers.

The Demon Suppression Bureau's ranking is indeed not arranged randomly...

Du Gu Qingli walked to the town entrance, but as if only now realizing something after so long, she stopped and asked: "Have you heard my name?"

Immediately, a drinking guest shouted: "The Miss has always been in the desert, so you probably don't know you have already entered the New Talent List, ranking second!"

"Second... who is first? Is it Shen Tang?"

"Uh, it is Qi Tuizhi, the Young Master of the Ling Tian Pavilion."

The young woman said no more, disappearing into the wind and sand.

(End of this chapter)