Chapter 89: Changyou Xie Clan

Chen Hang looked around, only to realize that he was already in a magnificent palace.

Bright pearls and tassels, peacock screens, the hall was filled with beautiful music and singing, and two rows of beautiful concubines were dancing to the music, graceful and charming, bright as flying goddesses.

And in this hall, the Huaiwu Cave Master was sitting in the main seat with a slight smile, and in the adjacent seats on the left and right were Refiner Cui Wuyue of the Five Lights Sect and Refiner Xie Tan of the Flower God Mansion.

And apart from these three, there were several other seats arranged in order, each being a Cave-Mystic Refiner of a small sect.

The one who spoke just now was Xie Tan of the Flower God Mansion.

The person appeared to be around twenty years old, with a jade-like face, vermilion lips, elegant eyes and brows, and skin as white as snow—truly the image of a graceful, refined young master of the mundane world.

He held a tortoiseshell watercolor gold-painted folding fan in his hand, and on the fan were twelve beauties, some noble and wise, some pure and beautiful, some quiet, some enchanting, some plump... although their temperaments were different, they were all peerless beauties, their faces and figures depicted by the fine brushwork as if they were alive, ready to walk off the fan at any time.

His radiance made those dancing beauties look dull, like fireflies compared to the bright moon.

"This folding fan is a proud work of Refiner Tao Han of the Huzhao Sect. Did you feel something strange about the beauties on the fan just now? That can be considered sharp perception, a talent among Qi Cultivation practitioners."

Xie Tan suddenly narrowed his eyes, shook the fan, and smiled:

"As long as you inject true Qi into this fan and recite the Dao spell, you can summon these twelve beauties from the fan. They will change to be no different from real people. Within three hours, no matter how you toss and turn, it won't matter.

Even if they accidentally die, they will only turn into a divine element and return to the fan surface. After spending some true Qi, they can be summoned again... And these beauties can also fight, how about it, can it be considered a fun little thing?"

He pointed at Chen Hang and spoke dismissively:

"If you pass the trial and have the fate to join

To be accepted as a disciple?

This was not just the meaning of being admitted into the sect, but that he wanted to personally take him as a disciple?!

The other few Refining Masters heard these words and were all startled, their expressions varying, unable to maintain their calm faces any longer.

At the main seat, the light in the eyes of Cave Master Huaiwu dimmed imperceptibly, but after a few moments, it turned into a beaming smile, as if he shared in the honor.

"What madness is Xie Tan spouting? Admitting someone into the sect was already unexpected! He even wants to personally take him as a disciple?!"

His face remained amiable, but inwardly he was suspicious and uncertain, cursing to himself:

"Is this Chen Heng really such a heaven-sent talent? Even Xie Tan, who comes from the Twelve Great Clans, is moved and wants to favor him? But the Lady's page of the Earthly Palace Golden Scripture requires refining those with supreme talent into demonic thralls to be successfully cultivated... If this Chen Heng is truly taken as a disciple by Xie Tan, then should I refine him or not..."

If he were refined into a demonic thrall and the Primordial Spirit True Person of the Flower God Mansion were to discover the clues, it would inevitably mean a straightforward death.

And if he did not refine him.

It would be such a pity...

His own Lady was not far from cultivating that Heavenly Demon Art; if she succeeded, she could escape through that circle of the Divine Qi Layer above her head and leave these Nine Provinces and Four Seas.

From then on, she would be like a fish entering the vast ocean or a bird soaring into the blue sky, no longer bound by cages or nets.

The world would be vast and wide, and she could soar at will, no longer needing to hide like a gutter-dwelling creature, worrying about being stepped to death by someone at any moment.

And while Cave Master Huaiwu was hesitating.

The Dongxuan Dongxuan Lianshi of the Blood Lotus Sect could not help but frown, forcibly suppressing his anger, and spoke to dissuade him:

"Senior Brother Xie, is this—"

"I know this brat killed many of your Blood Lotus Sect members, but the principle of survival of the fittest is a part of the fixed destiny of heaven and earth. Broaden your mind; do not be so petty."

Xie Tan interrupted him dismissively: "In the future, when the Blood Lotus Sect is merged as a branch of the Flower God Mansion, you will all be fellow disciples, so it is better not to be too distant."

The Dongxuan Dongxuan Lianshi of the Blood Lotus Sect choked, his expression changing several times, but in the end, he helplessly cupped his hands and retreated to his seat, even forcing a smile at Chen Heng.

"How about it? Brat, what is your own intention? The Flower God Mansion is a great sect of the Southern Region, and Xie is born of the Changyou Xie Clan among the Twelve Great Clans. Although I am from a branch and not favored, I am still a person of the Twelve Great Clans."

Xie Tan was not afraid of exposing his own shortcomings and did not care at all, simply shaking his fan lightly and saying:

"I see that your nature is just right to be a seed for Dao cultivation, and what is more rare is that it matches my temperament. Whether you are willing to enter Xie's sect depends entirely on your own heart."

Yuan Yangsheng's eyes were glowing upon hearing this, and he could not help but give Chen Heng a wink.

And besides him, that six-fingered rogue cultivator named Lu Yu was even more full of envy.

This time, the top three of Huaiwu Cave were the three of them.

Chen Heng and Yuan Yangsheng split the essence qi in Qin Xian's porcelain bottle, occupying the two seats for Qi Condensation.

And the Blood Lotus Sect had only six Foundation Establishment true cultivators who entered Huaiwu Cave, five of whom died, leaving only Mo Can, who saw the situation early and escaped first, thus luckily saving his life.

But the essence qi captured by Mo Can also belonged to Qin Xian.

So, after this back and forth, it was the rogue cultivator Lu Yu who picked up the scraps, narrowly ranking in the top three with his Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Amidst the envious or complex gazes of these people.

Even with Chen Heng's Qi-nourishing cultivation, his heart was shaken, and he had a momentary lapse of focus.

This... was done?

Had he not racked his brains just to be admitted into a great sect that possessed a blessed land and spirit veins, to seek the true Dharma and prove longevity?

He had originally thought he would have to go into the Earth Abyss to face life and death to gather enough cultivation resources to participate in a "Flower-Gathering Banquet," but he did not expect that in these few words, his path ahead had already been decided.

"However, this also mentioned the word 'trial,' could it be that I still need to fight a battle within the 'Flower-Gathering Banquet'? An Earth Abyss trip is unavoidable..."

Chen Heng lowered his brows and eyes, quickly calming down in his heart.

Although he did not know what waves and storms still awaited him if he truly wanted to enter the Flower God Mansion.

But at least.

At the moment, there was already a concrete reason...

Although the Flower God Mansion could not compare to the supreme Eight Sects and Six Schools, it was, at any rate, a giant of the Immortal Dao in this vast Southern Region, with Primordial Spirit True Persons stationed there.

Not to mention that this Dongxuan Dongxuan Lianshi who wanted to take him as a disciple was born of the Twelve Great Clans, a prominent family that had remained illustrious for ages, noble beyond compare.

No matter how one looked at it, it was a golden path to the heavens.

Chen Heng's thoughts raced, and once he reached this point, he did not hesitate further, immediately bowing down to the ground and calling him Master.

"No rush, no rush."

Before he could finish his salute, Xie Tan on the seat lifted his hand gently, and an invisible force stopped him and helped him up.

Chen Heng raised his head and saw Xie Tan looking over with a smile that was not quite a smile, lightly closing his fan with a "clack" sound.

"Although I favor your future and have the heart to form a master-disciple bond with you, in the path of cultivation, Dharma, companions, land, and wealth—especially this matter of master and disciple—are of great importance and cannot be rushed or handled carelessly. It is not something that can be decided in a few words.

You need to pass my trial and have the Flower God Mansion verify your bloodline, background, and other karmic entanglements. Only after everything is confirmed to be without error can you truly enter my, Xie Tan's, gate and join me in contemplating the Dao fruit of Primordial Spirit Return to Emptiness. As for now..."

Xie Tan sighed and said:

"This master-disciple salute of yours, Xie is still unable to accept. It is too early, too early."

Once these words were spoken.

The envious gazes of Lu Yu and the others changed again, adding much astonishment and hesitation, clearly unable to fathom Xie Tan's approach.

Even Cave Master Huaiwu was startled, the wine cup he had raised to his lips stopping, not understanding what Xie Tan's intention was.

"This pretty boy isn't just finding someone to tease for fun, is he?"

Yuan Yangsheng lowered his head quietly, slandering in his heart:

"He spoke so sincerely just now, as if he were about to take a disciple and drink tea, all sweet and honeyed, but now he is acting all high and mighty for no reason. What a bastard! I hate these pretty boys who put on airs the most in my life. If I weren't unable to beat him, I would definitely kick his ass until it exploded!"

While everyone in the hall was full of speculation, Chen Heng's expression remained normal, and he calmly performed a salute and asked:

"I wonder what the trial the Dongxuan Dongxuan Lianshi mentioned is?"

"Naturally, it is according to the old custom, everything as usual."

Xie Tan said: "After you leave the Earth Abyss and obtain enough resources to participate in a 'Flower-Gathering Banquet,' and after you have taken a ranking, only then will you and I have the master-disciple bond."

"Are you wondering why I know about the Earth Abyss?"

He glanced at Chen Heng indifferently and spoke:

"I am an old acquaintance of Ai Jian, the Sect Master of your Profound Truth Sect. He lived a life worse than death at the Shangyu Ai Clan before. Although I had it better at the Changyou Xie Clan, because I was born of a branch, I was not valued either. After he was expelled by the Jade Void Gate and came to the Southern Region, we two people from aristocratic families often drank together; we were both brothers in misfortune.

Being friends for these years, I also know well the narrow-mindedness of Ai Jian. If I were to take you back to the Flower God Mansion directly, with his calculating and gloomy temperament formed since losing his father in childhood, although he wouldn't say it on the surface, he would likely complain about me in his heart.

Since we are friends and both from aristocratic families, I am unwilling to make things difficult for him."

Xie Tan explained for once.

And as for the reason for participating in the "Flower-Gathering Banquet" and gathering those entry resources, that was the trial Xie Tan spoke of.

If he died in the Earth Abyss, could not gather the resources, or did not obtain a ranking in the "Flower-Gathering Banquet," then it was his destined calamity, and Xie Tan would not spare him another glance.

The struggle for the Immortal Dao has always been brutal.

And the Demonic Sect interprets the principle of survival of the fittest to the fullest.

The winner is the king, and the loser is the bandit.

The rules are just like this, strict and intolerant of human sentiment.

"Your Flower God Mansion is worthy of being a demonic sect; taking a disciple is just taking a disciple, yet you insist on making up these crooked theories and causing so much trouble."

At this moment, the Dongxuan Dongxuan Lianshi of the Five Light Sect, Cui Wuyue, suddenly sneered.

He looked at Chen Heng unkindly, and as he turned his eyes, a burst of fierce light seemed to erupt in the hall, suddenly turning everything white, with killing intent chilling the void and shaking the space!

"Is cultivating the Dao and taking a disciple a matter for child's play? Even if I favor this brat, I am unwilling to hurt an old friend's face, nor am I willing to violate the rules of the 'Flower-Gathering Banquet' passed down for thousands of years, so I can only use this last resort."

Xie Tan just pressed his hand down lightly, and that white light instantly dimmed, while Cui Wuyue suddenly groaned, clearly having suffered a small loss in this contest.

"Even when Dao Lord Shenwu Shuhua took the Yu Shu True Person as a disciple back then, he had to test his heart three times to understand his root bone, luck, and temperament, let alone me, a mere Xie Tan?"

He looked at Cui Wuyue with a smile and said:

"Although I am born of a branch, I am still a clansman of the Changyou Xie Clan. With your ability, Junior Brother, I fear you are still far from being qualified to fight me. Take this as a small punishment and warning; do not come seeking death again."

As he finished speaking, Cui Wuyue's eyes suddenly pained, and black blood flowed out.

Startled and afraid, he circulated his profound art several times, looked at Xie Tan in horror, covered his face with his sleeve in shame and anger, and actually flew out of this hall, not staying any longer.

"Mud-legged fool, truly not knowing the height of the sky or the depth of the earth, and not knowing life from death."

After Cui Wuyue left the seat in anger, the several Cave-Mystic Refining Masters, including Cave Master Huaiwu, all lowered their heads, silent as cicadas.

Xie Tan looked at the few of them coldly and indifferently for a few moments, then turned to Chen Heng and said:

"I have already made my terms clear. It is clear that I cannot admit you into my gate immediately. What is your intention?"

"Thanks to the Dongxuan Dongxuan Lianshi's favor, Heng is already overjoyed, so how would I dare to say more."

Chen Heng performed a salute.

"Are you not afraid of dying in the Earth Abyss or the Flower-Gathering Banquet?"

"The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit. If I die, it is Heng's destined calamity."

"Good! Good! That is exactly how it should be!"

Xie Tan was startled at first, then clapped his hands and laughed:

"If you can truly enter my gate, in a few months, I should also be a Golden Core. Given your temperament, I will definitely ask the Ancestor to pass on the 'Twenty-Four Flower God True Scripture' to you, so that you too can cultivate this fundamental scripture that the Flower God Mansion has inherited for tens of thousands of years!"

Chen Heng bowed respectfully.

And this time, Xie Tan accepted it calmly, personally handed the folding fan painted with twelve beauties to Chen Heng, laughed loudly, and flew away.

"..."

Cave Master Huaiwu looked at this scene with complex emotions, silent for a moment, before finally recovering, pretending nothing had happened, laughing and arm-in-arm with Chen Heng, and restarting the banquet for a while.

Soon, the melodious music rose again, and it did not stop until two hours later; this time, both host and guests were happy.

Not only did Chen Heng and the others obtain the items promised by Cave Master Huaiwu, but they also heard many pointers on cultivation, and the harvest was not insignificant.

And before taking his leave.

Chen Heng suddenly stopped his steps.

On a whim, he asked Cave Master Huaiwu a question.

"Dare I ask Cave Master, I wonder what the Flower God Mansion's entry requirement, which also needs to verify bloodline and background, actually means?"

"Bloodline? That is easy to explain..."

Cave Master Huaiwu had the smell of wine on his face and was not surprised by this question, only saying amiably:

"Verifying a disciple's bloodline and background is the sect rule of all great sects. They all have unique and powerful methods. Once the spell is cast, not only you, but even the lineage of your ancestors for several generations can be seen clearly.

Doing this is also out of fear that the disciple carries great karma behind them, bringing disaster to the sect, so it is better to take precautions in advance and screen out those carrying trouble. But little friend, your background is clean, so it is fine! You can rest assured! Rest assured!"

Chen Heng was slightly startled, then cupped his hands and said thanks.

Cave Master Huaiwu did not keep them long, only urging Chen Heng and the three others to remember to come and listen to the lecture the day after tomorrow at the Shen hour, and then returned to the hall.

At this time.

The daylight was gradually fading, and the ten thousand rays of evening light were sorrowfully red and deep, coloring half the sky with a soft, gauze-like light.

That Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator Lu Yu only cupped his hands slightly to Chen Heng and the other two, then hurriedly drove his light away, not daring to stay by Chen Heng's side for a moment longer, clearly still having lingering fears.

"The folding fan the Flower God Mansion Dongxuan Dongxuan Lianshi gave you is truly a good treasure, a truly good treasure! Look! Let me see!"

Yuan Yangsheng glanced at Lu Yu slightly and did not think much of it.

He just shamelessly crowded toward Chen Heng, begging bitterly, just to get a look at the beauties.

Chen Heng was pestered by him for a long time and was too lazy to say more to Yuan Yangsheng, so he just took out the gold-painted folding fan from his sleeve and opened the fan bones.

"Good! This leg is very long, and there is this place..."

Yuan Yangsheng swallowed hard, compared it with his hand in front of his chest, and said in horror and fear:

"It's even bigger than my head, is there really such a big woman? I don't believe it! It must be fake!

Brother Chen, cast a spell to summon her down. I want to criticize her properly tonight to see what kind of demon or monster she is, daring to disturb your Dao heart! Disturbing Brother Chen's Dao heart is being an enemy of me, Yuan; I am irreconcilable with this woman!"

"She is not enough to disturb my mind, unlike you."

Chen Heng said indifferently: "Wipe your drool, don't make a fool of yourself."

And just as Yuan Yangsheng's eyes were shining brightly and he was swallowing drool wildly.

Chen Heng suddenly closed his fingers, "swish" putting the folding fan into his sleeve, his eyes suddenly lowering slightly.

"What are you doing? I've only appraised two people, there are still ten beauties left!"

Yuan Yangsheng saw the folding fan suddenly put away and recovered from his obsession, complaining: "We've been through life and death together, we're brothers now, why are you so stingy!"

He did not see Chen Heng respond to these words.

When Yuan Yangsheng looked up ignorantly, he saw a graceful young lady wearing a veil hat standing on the floating bridge not far away.

Beside the young lady, there was also a round, green-clothed girl squatting, holding a pancake in one hand, her cheeks already bulging from eating.