Seeing Tianlang Zhenren coming, all the people who had been making a ruckus shut up.
They had all come to Woyun Sect directly from Liuyun Sect, so they had taken a large flying ship, this thing was too big to be stored and could only be parked in front of the sect’s entrance.
“Hold it. Where’s Big fatty?” Qingtong raised his hand and blocked Liu Bi’s way.
“Qingtong Zhenren, I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong person. Our Liuyun Sect has nothing to do with this, the one responsible is your future wife,” Liu Bi said, taking a handkerchief to cover her mouth and tittering. She knew that the so-called “engagement” was just a rumour, it was a well-known joke that the Sect Leader of Qingyun Sect wanted to make it happen but it was always rejected.
“Liu Bi, you’re always talking drivel!” Yun Yuan directed a blow at her, no matter what she was the Elder of a sect. Although she yearned for Qingtong, when it came to the matter of an engagement, there had not been even the slightest sign of progress so far, Liu Bi had clearly only said this to mock her.
“Oh-ho, why are you attacking me like this? I didn’t say who the future wife was, are you so anxious to take on the title?” With a flick, the soft handkerchief in Liu Bi’s hands immediately became a solid shield which completely blocked Yun Yuan’s punch.
Yun Song saw his shimei start a fight but he was not very concerned about it. He kept looking at Qingtong with a sneer.
Qingtong turned to look at him. “So it was you?”
Everyone became momentarily speechless. Just as it was mentioned that his wife-to-be was the one responsible, Qingtong turned to question Yun Song, it sounded as if his future bride was Yun Song. They looked at Yun Song's shifty-eyed face full of wrinkles and then looked at Qingtong, who was as beautiful as an immortal amid the clouds…
“Qingtong, wait a bit, let everyone come in first and we’ll have a nice long chat,” Tianlang smoothed his beard and spoke very calmly, the very picture of a sage-like immortal.
The people from the other sects could not help but to secretly admire him. Tianlang Zhenren was worthy of being a Sect Leader, his forbearance was really unmatched.
Mo Tianliao was greatly annoyed. He went up and grabbed Qingtong, which got him glared at, so he changed his grip into lending him his arm for support. “Master, let’s go inside to talk.”
They came to the bridge, the five-li-long suspension bridge swayed in the wind, it was a frightening sight. The people from the other sects all took out their flying swords in order to cross over, only to find out that they did not work.
“Both sides of this cliff contain Swordfall Stone. I’ll have to trouble everyone to walk across the bridge.” Tianlang Zhenren smiled kindly and stepped on the suspension bridge first.
They had placed Swordfall Stones on both sides of such a high cliff? Those who were visiting Woyun Sect for the first time felt that it was crazy. Was this not clearly something intended to hassle those who came and went?
In fact, even a few Elders who had been here more than once felt that the Woyun Sect was just picking on people.
“I seem to recall that when Qing Ming Zhenren was still here, there was no such suspension bridge.” Yun Yuan had ended her fight with Liu Bi, she fixed her clothing and came over briskly, walking next to Qingtong seemingly by accident.
Qing Ming Zhenren was Qingtong’s Master. It was said that he had reached the Ascension stage five hundred years ago and disappeared. When cultivators reached such stage, they would always leave their sects looking for their chance to ascend.
“So does that mean Yun Yuan Zhenren is already over a thousand years old? Sorry, I misspoke, Master’s not yet five hundred years old.” Mo Tianliao changed direction, walking between Qingtong and Yun Yuan, and spoke with a smile.
Yun Yuan’s expression immediately twisted. Women, even women who cultivated, cared about their age after all. The way he spoke made it seem as if she was an old woman while Qingtong was still a young man, this combined with the so-called “engagement” that Liu Bi had proclaimed just now…
Qingtong glanced at Mo Tianliao and caught a glimpse of the happy look in his eyes. Using sound transmission, he secretly said, “Aren’t you almost a thousand years old? Who are you to criticize anyone else?”
Mo Tianliao raised his eyebrows and turned to whisper in Master’s ear, “I just turned eighteen this year.” It was you who dragged me into your den you old beast. He did not dare to say the last sentence, but it was clearly implied.
The scorching hot breath blew over his ear, making the white-as-jade skin turn pink. Qingtong elbowed him and took a step onto the bridge.
After being abandoned by the Master and disciple pair who only had eyes for each other, Yun Yuan felt extremely awkward, she could only stand still and wait for the rest of the Qingyun Sect.
The people of Woyun Sect were used to the suspension bridge, even the outer disciples who were at the Qi Refining stage could walk briskly across it, but it was not so easy for the people from the other sects. Those Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators, who were ordinarily so arrogant, shook like leaves while they walked, their hearts in their mouths.
There were Swordfall Stones everywhere, if they were to fall, their swords would not fly and they would definitely be smashed into pieces.
When they finally arrived at Woyun Hall, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Then they heard Yan Lie, who was dressed in red, say with a smile, “Ladies and gentlemen, you have come from far away and Woyun Sect is truly honoured by your presence. As guests here, it’s not necessary for you to bring us any gifts, all you need to do is to return what rightly belongs to our sect.”
Having said this, he clapped his hands and summoned several of his disciples, instructing them to search the two flying ships parked outside the entrance in order to find and bring back Qingtong’s missing Demonic Beast.
“Now, wait a minute!” Yun Song immediately refused. Derisively he said, “The matter of Woyun Sect illicitly harbouring shape-shifting Beast cultivators hasn’t yet been clarified and you want to search our flying ship?”
“The Demonic Beast was raised by shishu, what’s so illicit about it?” Yan Lie smiled.
At the same time, outside the mountain gate, Chi Feng, Chi Shan and several other disciples had already surrounded the Qingyun Sect’s flying ship to prevent them from running away with the tiger.
“Humph, he raised a Demonic Beast until it could shape-shift without forcing it into a blood pact, it is a threat to the entire cultivation world. If everyone raises Demonic Beasts like this, eventually the Demonic Beasts will become stronger than people, it would be complete madness!” Yun Song said righteously.
Demonic Beasts were slaves to people, this was because nowadays there were very few Demonic Beasts but many cultivators. Demonic Beasts often were forced to make a blood pact at an early age, and by the time they attained a human shape they had already become obedient spiritual pets. Although there were some feral shape-shifting Beast cultivators, they would be forced to make a blood pact immediately if they were caught.
Demonic Beasts already had a stronger soul when compared to regular cultivators. If allowed to cultivate, once the Beast race grew stronger, they would surely take revenge against cultivators, and the cultivation world would descend into chaos.
The crowd was thoroughly convinced, they all nodded. This Qingtong Zhenren, not only did he not make a contract with the Demonic Beast, but also treated him as his own personal disciple, it was really quite baffling.
“He’s this Excellency’s Demonic Beast yet you still dare to criticize how this Excellency raised him?” Qingtong snorted coldly, his meaning was clear: You’re nothing more than a loser who’s never been able to defeat me. What right do you have to give this Excellency any advice?
“Humph. Given your attitude, could it be that there are many more Demonic Beasts hidden in this mountain?” Liu Bi took her handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her mouth, her eyes greedily sweeping over the people of Woyun Sect. “Which one of these is a Demonic Beast I wonder?”
Hua Qing and Yu li standing beside Xuanji, and Zi Mo, Bai Luo and Yan Lie standing by Tianlang felt that sinister and emotionless gaze run over them, cold sweat ran down their spine.
Liu Bi narrowed her eyes slightly, she then suddenly raised her hand and pulled out a long Soul Subjugating Horn from her sleeve, charging it with spiritual power to make it sound.
Mo Tianliao’s pupils suddenly contracted in fear. Although their dual cultivation these past few days had greatly helped Qingtong, soul healing was a long process, it was not done yet. Even with his pendant, such a huge Soul Subjugating Horn would definitely hurt Qingtong.
However, while Liu Bi was doing this, Taishi had turned into a beam of light and shot onto the roof. It turned into a big bell and started ringing. The loud noise dispersed the sharp call of the Soul Subjugating Horn, it’s sound could not be heard at all.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse us. It’s supper time for our sect.” Mo Tianliao smiled and winked at Yan Lie. “Yan Lie shixiong, could you prepare food for our guests?”
“Certainly.” Yan Lie played along quite naturally. “The meal bell is ringing, whatever the matter is, it would be better to set it aside until after we’re done eating.”
“We’re cultivators! What eating?!” Liu Bi turned blue with anger. Using a Soul Subjugating Horn while at somebody else’s sect was considered extremely rude. She had only done it just now because she had the element of surprise, if she were to do it again, Tianlang would surely teach her a lesson.
“Woyun Sect’s cultivation method strives for compliance with the natural laws, eating food is still required,” Tianlang said with absolute seriousness. “If you want to practice inedia, our Woyun Sect will not insist, feel free to have a cup of tea.”
Having said that, he led the Woyun Sect’s people to Wotian Abode. The people of Qingyun Sect and Liuyun Sect looked at each other, then followed them, if only to see what kind of game they were playing.
Inside Wotian Abode’s dining hall, a tall man in black came up carrying some deliciously fragrant roast lamb chops. He was surprised to see everyone else there, he asked, “Are all shishu also eating in Wotian Abode today?” After taking a look at the lamb chops he carried, the man scratched his head. It doesn’t seem like enough food; I’ll have to prepare some more.
“Mm-hm,” Qingtong and Xuanji responded, taking their respective seats.
Mo Tianliao looked at the man curiously, he seemed straightforward and good-natured. This must be Mo Xiong, it’s my first time meeting him. I heard that he had gone to pick up Lang Zi shidi.
The people from the other sects had thought that it was merely a stalling tactic, but incredibly everyone in Woyun Sect really sat down to eat lamb chops and chicken drumsticks. The guests, however, only got a cup of green tea.
Looking at these people eat with great gusto, the delicious aroma constantly assaulting their senses, even Yun Song, who had been itching for a fight, could not help salivating.
Yun Song: Let’s see what kind of plot they are cooking up
Big Bear: I’ll need to cook up a lot of things
Zi Mo: I want roast chicken drumsticks
Sect Leader: I want roast lamb chops
Bai Luo: I want hot and sour cabbage
Yu Li: I want bug tempura
Xiaozhao: I want carp braised in soy sauce
Unedited, please point out any mistakes
Swordfall Stone. It’s so literal and ridiculous, I love it.
I’m now picturing Elder Yun Song in a veil