Sect Leader Is Under Great Pressure CH 035 True And False, Right And Wrong
The flying peak landed on the Yunjin Rock on the west side of the Great Xiao State. The huge open space had already been cleared by countless officials and soldiers, and there was not a person within miles.
Normally, at this time they would greet the Emperor of Great Xiao State and his officials, but only Feng Qingxiu came out to exchange courtesies.
The other disciples flew out to play long before the peak landed.
—The head disciple was made good use of at this time. They were all senior brothers so of course they didn't have to be courteous.
Only, among the people from Great Xiao State, two of them did not kneel, which was very particular.
One was the emperor, of course, as he represented a country. If an elder came, he would definitely kneel, but as Feng Qingxiu was a new disciple at the Foundation Establishment Stage, he definitely was not qualified.
As for his other identity, Kun-Lai did not announce it to the outside world.
As for the other person who did not kneel, this one was a bit of a problem.
Feng Qingxiu nodded and greeted: "Dao Brother Xiao Yuan, it's been a long time."
The Teacher of the State, Xiao Yuan's gaze was sharp as they looked him up and down for a long time before he slowly loosened his fist: "It has been a long time. I didn't think that you, the only apprentice of the Sect Leader, would personally come down and take care of a trivial matter such as the Dragon-Phoenix Selection."
The surrounding officials suddenly erupted in a big uproar, and the look in their eyes became full of enthusiasm.
At this time, the spreading of news was not fast. Although Kun-Lai’s internal discussions were heated, the time was not long and not much news had been spread outside the sect.
Since Feng Qingxiu was the head student of his graduating year, it meant that he was selected just a dozen years ago.
It meant that his family had not yet moved to Kun-Lai.
It meant that they still had a chance to make ties and initiate a marriage connection!
Suddenly, undercurrents surged.
"The Dragon-Phoenix Selection is the foundation of Kun-Lai, how is it a trivial matter." Feng Qingxiu smiled and brushed off his hostility.
"It's not a trivial matter? Then, how come every year, nearly 10,000 children are sent back to their hometowns. Does Senior Brother Feng know that they will face a lot of gossip due to having been returned to their hometowns for no reason?" Xiao Yuan had long been full of hatred and indignation for Feng Qingxiu. If not for the other, he clearly could have relied on the Qingdi Peak Master to stay in Kun-Lai!
As a Golden Core Formation cultivator, why was it that he could only come to this rural area as a lowly Teacher of the State, but an ordinary disciple like Feng Qingxiu had such a smooth future, winning the favor of the Sect Leader?
"Xiao Yuan, do you have complaints about Kun-Lai’s rules?" The middle-aged peak master gave him a cold look.
Xiao Yuan glared at him, but knowing that he could not provoke a flying peak master, he did not speak again.
At this time, the emperor of the Great Xiao State interjected by smoothing things over, inviting Feng Qingxiu to attend the banquet that was prepared. Just how solicitous they were all the way, it need not be mentioned.
Xiao Yuan followed silently, his expression clouded.
"Elder Li, will his arrival here hurt my plans?" He asked silently.
"His cultivation level is too shallow and won't detect anything. Are you sure that the flying peak master can't leave?" The voice in the ring asked solemnly.
"The cost of creating a flying peak is extremely high. After the great wards on the peak are up, not even a Synthesis cultivator can break through it and harm the people inside for seven days. It is Kun-Lai’s biggest reliance when launching expeditions to the Outlands. Unless it returns to Kun-Lai, there must be a peak master on the peak." Thinking of this, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but feel a little angry. "Back then, Bai Liu, the peak master of Qingdi Peak, was going to use up his savings to buy us orphans a flying peak of our own and let us ascend to a small peak as well as earn some resources only for the plan to be blocked by Yimeng Qingnu. If I had a flying peak back then, how could I be exiled here."
"With just this one peak, tens of thousands of children and teenagers can be transported away?" The ring spirit was still a little skeptical.
"The inner part of the mountain is hollow, and there is a huge amount of supplies stacked in the lower layer, so it is naturally possible." Xiao Yuan explained.
Every time Kun-Lai launched an expedition to the Outlands, dozens of flying peaks would go to gather various spiritual resources. When countless cultivators were injured or exhausted, they would return to the flying peaks to rest, or trade what they gathered, or purchase supplies. Every time one needed to pay a small amount of tax to the peak master in order to use the flying peak, thus such accumulation would add up, making all peak masters wealthy with countless resources at their disposal.
"Such divine objects can even be created… This Kun-Lai Sect Leader is truly extraordinary." The ring spirit sighed faintly.
Xiao Yuan also had a complicated expression on his face. He was born in Kun-Lai, and no matter what his fate was, he couldn't help but worship the Master of Kun-Lai. How could their Sect Leader be described so simply by the word extraordinary?
***
The capital of the Great Xiao State extended a large area, and the great avenue in the center was 100 meters wide. It was directly connected to the city from the city gates, and there were countless carriages and horses seen on it.
From the beginning of the next month, the fantastical flying peak would be hovering outside the capital city, attracting countless people to come and stare.
The road was full of luxurious carriages pulled by fine steeds, and the bustling and prosperous secular world was always very lively.
Although Kun-Lai was good, it was a bit lonely there.
After dealing with the countless scheming at the wine table, Feng Qingxiu was finally able to relax. He had just flown back to the peak only to slip out again.
It was also the first time that he had stepped out of Kun-Lai, so naturally he did not want to waste the time on greeting and socializing with political animals.
The young man in a green blue robe with his long hair tied up rubbed his hands together, gearing up to fulfill the vow he made as a young boy.
Just as soon as he took to the streets, Feng Qingxiu became surrounded by at least five hawkers.
"Young man, you must also be here to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Selection!" The leading hawker had a kind face and enthusiastically urged him over, "Come on, our riddles are very challenging. But if you make a correct guess you can win a Dragon-Phoenix Lantern. This is a very auspicious sign, come and make a guess."
"No thanks, I have something else to do." Feng Qingxiu declined.
But his voice was completely overridden by that of these hawkers, and he only finally managed to struggle out with some difficulty. He let out a sigh of relief when he slipped into the alley next to the busy street.
Then, he carefully avoided the traffic of various vendors and tried to make his way to the north of the city where the Heart Asking Stone was located.
He heard that this Heart Asking Stone was the first sacred stone erected by the Sect Leader back then. It was opened every twelve years and there would be talisman seals flashing on its surface. Anyone who could make sense and draw one or two could then enter Kun-Lai to cultivate immortality.
Now there was a huge temple constructed there to enshrine the sacred stone which was given offerings to every day.
Feng Qingxiu had wanted to come and take a look for a long time.
But he didn't expect that he couldn't even get close to even a hundred feet away from the temple gate, let alone actually go in and have a look.
There were so many people there to worship!
Without using incantations, he could forget about trying to go inside.
However, having practiced so many spiritual techniques, if he didn’t use it at this time then when should he?
Decisively, he used a traversal incantation to enter the temple and squeezed next to a huge boulder in the crowd.
After finally touching the cold stone, he was very satisfied.
Alright, he could now go to other places to look for possible fraud and bullying!
Feeling very satisfied with having fulfilled his wish, Feng Qingxiu was ready to leave.
"Wait, wait a little longer." A calm and gentle voice sounded.
Feng Qingxiu's body became stiff, and he was suddenly dumbstruck.
"Master?" He looked around, but he didn't find a single familiar figure.
"Here. Bow your head." The voice came slowly.
Feng Qingxiu glanced down, and saw a palm-sized piece of paper sticking to the stone, just a paper cut-out of a humanoid shape, without facial features and fingers. It was currently bending its "hand" to indicate that he was here.
Feng Qingxiu could practically hear the sound of his three views shattering.
When the paper man had enough of sticking to the stone, he flew into Feng Qingxiu's arms and said: "Let’s go back."
So Feng Qingxiu walked back to the flying peak without a word, where he sat down cross-legged in his room to practice cultivation.
"Don't be unhappy." The little paper man stuck to his face and patted his cheek, coaxing, "Your master, I, did not come here in person, just as a piece of divine consciousness to join in the fun."
Feng Qingxiu continued practicing cultivation cross-legged and ignored him.
He said he wouldn't follow over!
"Good little apprentice, go out to play, it's a good and bright life ahead. Being a hermit at home all day long will turn you into a dummy." The little paper man touched his apprentice's forehead again.
Feng Qingxiu still ignored him.
He said he wouldn't follow over!
"Ai, so soon you have come to dislike your master." The paper man floated in front of his eyes, folding his hands on his chest and tilting his head.
His apprentice's long eyelashes flickered.
"In truth, I didn't want to reveal myself so quickly." The paper man sighed, "It's just that a doubt sprung up in my heart, and so I stuck onto the talisman stone to take a feel and discovered that the problem is indeed not small."
Feng Qingxiu suddenly opened his eyes and looked surprised: "What problem?"
He didn't notice anything at all, so this time it was not a matter he could handle?
He was too arrogant, and he actually felt that his master only followed over because of boredom and the desire to come out to play. He was simply too superficial and arrogant!
"The talisman stone was replaced by someone, and not the original one that was made by me. But the talisman stone is not a weak imitation, and the one who made this stone has a good cultivation base." The little paper man floated in front of him, his words sure. How could he not recognize the talisman seals he wrote himself, even if the fake resembled it very much?
Of course, that was just a trivial matter. He just wanted to come out and play with his apprentice.
"How is this possible?" Feng Qingxiu's heart squeezed and he pondered, "The sacred stones of all countries are guarded by Kun-Lai outer sect disciples, and they are heavily guarded with all kinds of alarming wards placed on it. Unless there is collusion with someone on the inside."
But this was not impossible. Many of the outer sect disciples were eliminated through the exams and chose to manage varied businesses for Kun-Lai in the outside secular world. If they performed well, they might be transferred back to Kun-Lai Mountain. If he was not selected for the Dao Disc back then, he was also ready to take this route as well.
It was just that this route was difficult to persist on, and there had been very few outer sect disciples who managed to go back to the main mountain over these hundreds of years.
But poor performance was completely different from betraying the sect!
Feng Qingxiu did not expect anyone to dare to be so bold.
"Yes. Let's take a look at the other stones." The paper man said quietly.
And on the way, take a look at what the Western Continent really looked like. It was a very different experience to look by sweeping over the land with his divine consciousness and to look in person.
"Let's go, then!" Feng Qingxiu also realized that the situation might be the most serious in many years, and was full of fighting spirit.
"Wait." The paper man stopped him and under his apprentice's newly regained look of hero worship, he pointed in a certain direction, "In that direction, use the Formless Sword to pierce forward."
"Yes." Feng Qingxiu raised his finger, and a formless sword energy escaped from the fingertip and disappeared.
Almost at the same time, he heard a faint muffled cry.
"This is?" Feng Qingxiu looked at the paper man in confusion.
"Just a little mouse spying on you." The paper man slowly landed on his shoulder and sat down, while answering casually, "When everyone is carrying an old grandpa, who is afraid of whom?"
Feng Qingxiu didn't understand, but it didn't stop him from feeling that his master was very formidable indeed.