Chapter 142

Xiazhou, Danxia Mountain.

Shen Tang was sitting in the hall cultivating, and many disciples ran in from outside: "Sect Master, Sect Master, many people have come down the mountain to bring good news!"

"Good news?" Shen Tang opened her eyes.

The disciple was very excited: "Yes, it's the lead from the Alchemy Division, saying that our Tianxing Sword Sect people have swept the Top Graduate and Second Place, and also brought glory to Xiazhou, so they all came to congratulate us. Elder Lu is truly amazing! Even A Nuo is so amazing!"

Shen Tang's eyes were filled with soft light: "Hmm."

Elders like Tang Yunzhong were also very happy: "The benefits of this matter to the reputation of our Tianxing Sword Sect are self-evident. Elder Lu can help the sect even from far away in the capital; he is truly a lucky star."

His intention wasn't for the sect's reputation... Shen Tang's face flushed slightly, and she didn't say anything.

Her Imperial Father should have seen him; she didn't know what the attitude would be when these two met.

Shen Tang knew that Lu Xingzhou had absolutely no good feelings toward her Imperial Father, and judged that he must have some hatred after her Imperial Father personally crippled her legs; wouldn't he just clash directly with her Imperial Father... he shouldn't, he was such a rational person...

Maybe he would gain her Imperial Father's attention on the surface, while secretly plotting against him... that was more in line with Lu Xingzhou's style.

But she was really worried about him clashing with her Imperial Father...

"Sect Master, Sect Master?"

The voices on both sides startled Shen Tang, and looking around, the expressions of the people were all strange. Shen Tang coughed dryly and regained her elegance: "Uncle Zhong, go and seal some red envelopes to distribute, and thank the elders of Xiazhou who came to report the good news on my behalf."

Tang Yunzhong went away smiling.

Shen Tang looked around lazily: "You haven't known Elder Lu's ability for just one day. Before, there were those who said he wasn't even here, and that Lingquan Mountain was empty anyway, so it might as well be used; can those who said that come out and walk a few steps?"

"Cough." Someone lowered their head in embarrassment, unable to speak.

Lingquan Mountain and the Huo residence theoretically belonged to Lu Xingzhou's "private land," only "rented" to the Tianxing Sword Sect. Lu Xingzhou didn't say he wanted to occupy it alone, and still very generously let Shen Tang arrange it, but in the two months since he left, Shen Tang had never arranged for any Tianxing Sword Sect branch to move in there, as if she had tacitly agreed to let Lu Xingzhou occupy the mountain alone. This would naturally cause some criticism. The momentum of the two mountains embracing, and one mountain being left empty, wasn't that crazy...

But the Sect Master was really too protective of Elder Lu; sometimes everyone felt that this Tianxing Sword Sect was shared by Shen Tang and Lu Xingzhou...

The place did indeed belong to Lu Xingzhou privately, and others really couldn't say anything. Now that Lu Xingzhou had become their facade outside, it was even harder to say anything.

Not only the facade of the Tianxing Sword Sect, but also the facade of Xiazhou. Since Xiazhou was downgraded, how many years had it been since a Top Graduate had appeared, regardless of the field? And Lu Xingzhou was a native of Xiazhou! No wonder the Alchemy Division was beaming with joy; Chen Jinnian, who had been promoted to the county level as Lu Xingzhou's recommender, had even more face and had already been hosting banquets for two days.

Shen Tang said indifferently: "Instead of staring at other people's private mountains all day, it's better to look further ahead. Do you think you can develop into a first-class sect just by occupying the two Danxia mountains? Not to mention the Fenxiang Mountain branch, just talking about so many mountains in Xiazhou, where is the next step of planning? With Elder Lu away, no one can propose a program?"

Everyone came to congratulate, but was scolded instead, and they all felt a bit dumbfounded.

Those who understood a little bit of the superior's intentions could roughly guess that Shen Tang felt Lu Xingzhou was developing better and better, and she also had to be worthy of him...

But you are already worthy enough! The breakthroughs of the Tianxing Sword Sect in the past few months were like popping beans; I'm afraid Lu Xingzhou would be startled when he came back, and you still think it's not enough... How can developing a sect be so fast; how long has it been...

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

Shen Tang was stunned: "What's wrong now?"

"The new Great Gan Heroes Ranking is out, Sect Master has stepped onto the Heroes Ranking!"

"Heh..." Shen Tang shook her head: "It's just the end of the list; I'm embarrassed to go out and talk about it; what kind of joy is that."

People looked at each other; of course it counted as joy. Newcomers are ultimately just newcomers; even if you rank first, in people's eyes, you are still looked at as a "junior." Officially entering the Heroes Ranking is different; that means you are a true "master"—you must know that not all third-rank cultivators are qualified to be on the list; for example, those who pile up with pills are basically excluded. Being able to be on the list means that your strength is recognized.

It's hard to say exactly how many third-rank cultivators there are in Great Gan, but there are only three or four hundred on the list. Out of how many people is that the top three or four hundred! Isn't that enough to brag about? The help to the sect's reputation actually exceeds Lu Xingzhou's alchemist Top Graduate, okay.

The disciples still understood the superior's intentions, so a disciple smiled: "Sect Master, Elder Lu also entered the Newcomer Ranking, ranking eighth! By the way, on the Alchemist sub-ranking, Elder Lu and A Nuo also ranked third and fourth!"

Shen Tang's uninterested expression suddenly became sparkling: "Sure enough, double happiness! Let me see the new list."

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

Shen Tang glanced at it, her expression stunned: "Where did a Pei family girl pop out from?"

Someone answered: "I heard this rumor when I went to the city a few days ago; they say it's the daughter the Minister Pei lost in his early years. By the way, it was also Elder Lu who helped find her."

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

The disciples looked at each other; is this the focus a Sect Master should pay attention to when looking at the list?

Forget it, let this sect be destroyed.

Shen Tang's gaze, however, fell on Dugu Qingli's column, and she whispered to herself: "Qingli is finally going to rise in the world..."

…………

Northwest border, vast wilderness of sand.

A group of people came to a border town, led by a young man, with a group of big men surrounding him, asking the town residents in a tavern: "There are mausoleums appearing in the sand, ghosts crying everywhere, and travelers dare not pass through... We came for this rumor; can you tell us more specific information?"

The tavern guests all said: "You'd better not go; not long ago, a small sect went in, and the whole sect didn't come out."

The big men pointed at the young man and laughed: "Ordinary small sects dare not go, but it can't stump us. Do you know who our Young Master is? He is ranked third on the Great Gan Newcomer Ranking!"

The tavern guests were very surprised: "Third on the Newcomer Ranking, isn't that a girl named Pei Chuyun? Did she have a sex change?"

The young man was originally drinking wine leisurely, but upon hearing this, he almost sprayed it all over the floor, choking and coughing uncontrollably.

The subordinates were also very embarrassed: "Our Young Master has been third for a year, with countless combat achievements! What Tianyao Holy Land descendant, Pei family daughter, when has anyone heard of their combat achievements? It's nothing more than relying on a deep background to forcibly parachute and fish for fame!"

A tavern guest said: "The Demon Suppression Division's ranking is fair; it shouldn't be like this..."

"It was fair before, but now that a little girl is the editor-in-chief, who knows? Look at those commentaries, one after another; are they ranking or acting in a play?"

The tavern guests didn't argue; they clearly felt that this group of people was anxious, and a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him... The Demon Suppression Division has been ranking for so many years, and its credibility is still there; at least it hasn't collapsed yet, and the tavern guests were still willing to believe it.

Anyway, the identity of this group of people was clear: Sha Tianhao, Young Master of the Yellow Sand Society, the original Newcomer third. After Ye Wufeng died, he should have moved to second, but he was parachuted by two women, causing him to not even keep third and fall to fourth... he was also a pitiful person, so better not provoke him.

Sha Tianhao finally spoke: "We came here to solve the desert trade route problem for everyone; why bother with these things? Strength is right there; it's not that having a big background makes you powerful. Next time we see those two women, we'll know who is strong and who is weak."

"Young Master is right."

Sha Tianhao put down a gold ingot: "No more idle talk; whoever has seen that so-called mausoleum, if you can lead the way, there will be a heavy reward."

This didn't sound like coming to solve any trade route problem, but wanting to dig a grave. This kind of "ancient mausoleum" that looked like it had no lethality, at least didn't hurt the townspeople, didn't interest the strong, and was just right for small sects or these newcomers to train and explore.

Under heavy reward, there must be brave men, and the tavern guests who had just advised "don't go" immediately stood up: "I've seen it."

Sha Tianhao said: "You've seen it and were able to return safely; does that mean there's no danger around?"

"I was caught in a sandstorm at the time, 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, the whole person was like ice; I suspect it's a demon... demon... demon..."

By the end, he started stuttering, his eyes staring straight at the entrance of the town.

A figure slowly walked out of the wind and sand, returning to the border town.

People stared and saw a young girl, white hair and blue eyes, carrying a long sword on her back. She was wearing only coarse cloth clothes, which had damage from long-term fierce battles, and a little dried blood could be seen, but the sand and blood couldn't stain her skin, which was still crystal clear, like ice crystals.

Blue eyes stared at the tavern guest who was speaking, bone-chillingly cold.

Many people got up and pressed their hands on their swords: "Where did this monster come from!"

The girl's eyes swept over them, and no emotion could be seen in her gaze.

Sha Tianhao reached out to stop his subordinates and whispered: "Doesn't look like a demon; there's no demonic aura."

The girl spoke indifferently: "No need to go to the desert; the ancient mausoleum has been destroyed, and the gathered sand demons and scorpion demons have been executed. The illusion has collapsed, and this road is open."

After speaking, she entered the tavern: "Three pots of clear water, and some meat."

Sha Tianhao's gaze fell on the pendant at the girl's waist, ancient and solemn, looking very much like something from ancient times. His heart stirred, and he suddenly blocked the girl's path: "According to the girl, did you break the mausoleum in the sand?"

The girl looked at him strangely: "What does that have to do with you?"

"Girl, is what you got from the mausoleum shared by those who see it?"

The girl still said the same thing: "What does that have to do with you?"

After speaking, she was too lazy to pay attention and left with the wine and meat.

Sha Tianhao blocked her again.

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

Before everyone's eyes, the girl had already passed Sha Tianhao and was outside the tavern.

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

"Young Master, Young Master!" The subordinates rushed up, hurriedly applying medicine and bandaging, and someone asked sternly at the girl's back: "Who are you, dare you tell your name! The Yellow Sand Society will definitely have revenge!"

"My name is Dugu Qingli, not a demon, remember that." The girl didn't look back and walked slowly toward the yellow sand.

The big men who wanted to find trouble suddenly stopped and stared blankly at the girl's back as she left.

This name had been ringing in everyone's ears recently... parachuted Newcomer second, Tianyao Holy Land descendant, the only apprentice of the world's number one Ye Tinglan, it's her?

The Yellow Sand Society will definitely have revenge? Revenge your mother.

Everyone didn't even dare to say a word, silently treating Sha Tianhao.

Sha Tianhao's face was pale, and he didn't know if it was from the injury or fear. The tavern guests were all secretly looking at him, with unclear meanings.

Really see those two parachuted women, and know who is strong and who is weak? Then we really know; you couldn't even block one of her moves.

The Demon Suppression Division's ranking is indeed not random...

Dugu Qingli walked to the town entrance, but as if she had suddenly realized something after so long, she stopped and asked: "Have you heard of my name?"

A tavern guest immediately shouted: "Girl, you have been in the desert, I'm afraid you don't know that you have already entered the Newcomer Ranking, ranking second!"

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

"Uh, it's Lingtian Pavilion Young Master Qi Tuizhi."

The girl didn't speak again and disappeared into the wind and sand.