Another stretch of quiet days passed, and Jiang Sheng continued cultivating in seclusion at the Daoist temple.
Meanwhile, news of Qingshan County's campaign to slay demons and vanquish evil had already spread like wildfire throughout Dongjun.
Even many places in Qing Province had learned that the magistrate of Qingshan County in Dongjun had sent invitations far and wide, calling on cultivators to come and rid the county of demons.
Anyone who slew the demon would become an Attendant of Qingshan County and be permitted to establish a place of cultivation there.
Moreover, the magistrate would petition the imperial court to appoint them a Daoist official of Great Qi, granting them official status under its rule and a salary from its treasury!
For rogue cultivators who lacked cultivation resources and profound techniques, such an opportunity was nothing short of joy falling from the heavens!
After all, once they became Daoist officials of Great Qi, the Great Qi Dao Palace would surely bestow cultivation techniques upon them, along with all the resources they needed.
The imperial court of Great Qi would also provide a corresponding salary, and they could even establish a place of cultivation in any county under Great Qi's rule!
For rogue cultivators with neither backing nor resources, this undoubtedly meant gaining the greatest mountain of support in the entire Qi Kingdom!
Thus, for a time, many rogue cultivators from the various prefectures of Qing Province who considered themselves highly capable flocked to Qingshan County in Dongjun, hoping to use the demon in the Taiping River to secure a bright future.
The Moon-Embracing Sect, one of Qing Province's three great sects, also announced that it would send inner disciples in the foundation establishment realm to Qingshan County to slay the demon and safeguard the peace.
The Moon-Embracing Sect's announcement undoubtedly had something to do with Zhang Qing's close female friend.
Besides, earning a good reputation while gaining a few more incense offerings was hardly a losing proposition for the Moon-Embracing Sect.
As for whether the demon in the Taiping River could threaten the Moon-Embracing Sect, that was the greatest joke under heaven!
Who did not know that the sect master of Qing Province's Moon-Embracing Sect was a renowned golden core realm cultivator?
With that golden core sect master presiding over it, the Moon-Embracing Sect could enjoy eight hundred years free of worry!
And so, as Zhang Qing continually sent people out to spread the news and stir up enthusiasm, even many young cultivators began itching to try their hand, hoping to seize this chance to make their names in Qing Province.
Among them were quite a few young cultivators from Dongjun, but their families ultimately stopped them all.
The waters of the Taiping River ran deep—so deep that even many of Dongjun's aristocratic clans could not fathom them. They knew only that the river's affairs were best left alone. Out of sight, out of mind was the wisest course.
But to cultivators from outside Dongjun, the demon in the Taiping River represented a fine opportunity to win fame and rise in the world.
They did not fear danger. They feared seeing no future ahead.
In the year 39,825 of the Shanhe Calendar, Qingshan County sent invitations far and wide, calling on Qing Province's heroes and young champions to gather in Qingshan in the depths of winter and join this grand undertaking!
"Mayor Tian, this Magistrate Zhang of yours has certainly stirred up quite a commotion."
It was deep winter. Most of the trees on Qingping Mountain had yellowed and withered, and the weather had abruptly turned cold.
The mountain was colder still than the lands below, yet Jiang Sheng wore nothing but a thin azure Daoist robe.
By contrast, Tian Guofu, bundled in a brocade robe and sable furs that made him look like an enormous field mouse, was freezing. Both hands were tucked inside his sleeves, and his face was red with cold.
"Daoist Jiang, you truly are a man among immortals." Tian Guofu greatly envied Jiang Sheng, who wore the same azure Daoist robe throughout the year, fearing neither wind nor rain, frost nor cold.
"If I truly were a man among immortals, I would not find it so hard to quiet my mind, nor would I concern myself with affairs beyond the mountain."
Standing in the front hall, Jiang Sheng raised his hand slightly. A sparrow flew over and perched on it, chirping and occasionally tilting its head to look at him.
Tian Guofu naturally knew what Jiang Sheng meant.
With Magistrate Zhang Qingyun sending invitations far and wide, who in all Qing Province did not know that something momentous was about to happen in Qingshan County?
Quite a few rogue cultivators with genuine abilities had already arrived, intending to slay the demon and make their names here.
Many of these rogue cultivators were in the foundation establishment realm. After arriving in Qingshan County and receiving Zhang Qingyun's warm hospitality, their opinions of themselves had soared even higher. Each felt that the moment to vanquish evil and achieve lasting fame was at hand.
As a result, these rogue cultivators had not only fallen into conflict among themselves, finding one another disagreeable and believing the others had come to steal their credit.
They even resented Jiang Sheng, who had remained on Qingping Mountain without showing his face, believing he was merely putting on the airs of an exalted master when his actual skills were ordinary, fishing for an undeserved reputation.
Had they merely thought this, that would have been the end of it. Unfortunately, some truly believed themselves capable enough to come to Qingping Mountain and make trouble for Jiang Sheng, hoping to step on him as their first rung toward fame.
Jiang Sheng naturally showed such people no courtesy. Over this period, he had already dealt with four or five rogue cultivators who had come looking for trouble.
These rogue cultivators had little ability, yet they still managed to interrupt his secluded cultivation. Naturally, Jiang Sheng was displeased.
Remembering how those rogue cultivators had fled in haste after being beaten down the mountain, dusty-faced and humiliated, Tian Guofu could not help chuckling.
"Your abilities are extraordinary, Daoist Jiang. How could those rogue cultivators compare with an eminent Penglai Daoist like you?"
Jiang Sheng glanced at Tian Guofu and said nothing further.
Ever since the day Jiang Sheng had called him an entertaining fellow, Mayor Tian had come up the mountain from time to time to visit him.
He neither sought an immortal's blessing nor made any requests. He simply came every few days to tell Jiang Sheng amusing stories and rumors from the outside world, providing a little diversion. He truly lived up to that description.
Jiang Sheng had tacitly accepted this. After all, living in seclusion on the mountain, he did need timely knowledge of what was happening outside.
Through these repeated visits, the two had genuinely come to resemble friends. Jiang Sheng accepted Tian Guofu's trips up the mountain and even allowed him to bring his grandson to burn incense and pay his respects.
Jiang Sheng glanced at the Tian Family's young master, who was reading beneath the portrait of the Penglai Patriarch in the front hall, then turned back to Tian Guofu. "Mayor Tian, you should know exactly what I mean."
"If the people Magistrate Zhang has invited are all rogue cultivators with these paltry, three-legged-cat skills, then this demon-slaying campaign might as well be nothing more than loud talk."
"Every one of them thinks highly of himself, yet has precious little ability. When the time comes, will they be helping us or dragging us down?"
"If they are all like this, I really must consider returning the gift of Scarlet Blossom Fruit."
Tian Guofu smiled. "Daoist, if you truly wish to know what those people can do, why not go and test them yourself?"
Jiang Sheng raised his head to look at the sky, then looked at the sparrow in his hand. Softly, he said, "Winter is good. Its winds are bleak, its snow stern and killing."
"Mayor Tian has a point. Tomorrow, I shall leave the mountain and meet these heroes from across Qing Province of the Qi Kingdom!"
Early the following morning, after a night of seated cultivation, Jiang Sheng had brought his spirit and state of mind into balance.
After straightening his robes and headwear, he closed the temple, leaped into the wind, and headed straight for Qingshan County.
Meanwhile, inside the county office, Zhang Qingyun watched helplessly as the heroes who had come from across Qing Province drank wine and ate meat.
The clamor made the place sound less like a government office than a hall where outlaws gathered in brotherhood.
Forty or fifty people filled the hall. Although most were rogue cultivators in the qi refining realm, every single person seated on either side of Zhang Qingyun was a foundation establishment cultivator!
Cultivation was difficult enough for rogue cultivators. Establishing their foundations on their own was an even greater blessing from heaven.
Though these foundation establishment rogue cultivators lacked fine techniques and magical artifacts, every one of them had emerged alive from deadly struggles with other rogue cultivators. Their success in establishing their foundations alone proved that they possessed some measure of skill.
Among the most famous was a barefoot, muscular middle-aged man with his hair hanging loose. His name was Wenren Jie, and he carried a heavy sword on his back. Highly capable, he had already reached the foundation establishment middle stage.
Another was a young gentleman in white brocade robes with a Jeweled Sword at his waist, known as Young Master Kongxu. Though a rogue cultivator, he had received the legacy of a senior cultivator and had likewise reached the foundation establishment middle stage.
The elderly man wearing a patchwork robe and holding a green bamboo walking stick was Qiao Xuan, Old Master Qiao.
His cultivation was the highest among these rogue cultivators, having already reached the foundation establishment late stage. In truth, he had come to secure a future for his disciple.
The boy standing behind Old Master Qiao, around thirteen or fourteen years old, was that disciple. Despite his youth, he had already reached the fifth level of the qi refining realm and had a promising chance of establishing his foundation.
Aside from these renowned rogue cultivators, one female cultivator drew particular attention.
Rather than sitting with the others, she sat chatting and laughing with the magistrate's daughter, Zhang Qing.
She had almond-shaped eyes, moth-wing brows, and refined, graceful features. A jade hairpin adorned her hair, fox fur draped her shoulders, and she wore a pale-yellow silk skirt. Her bearing was extraordinary, untouched by worldly dust.
This female cultivator came from Qing Province's renowned Moon-Embracing Sect. Named Xu Xiao, she was the disciple of Elder Konglan, a purple mansion realm cultivator of the sect.
She too had reached the foundation establishment middle stage and was a fairy renowned throughout Qing Province, admired by countless talented young men.
As everyone ate and drank, someone suddenly remarked, "Speaking of which, didn't the magistrate also invite some Daoist from Penglai? Where is that Penglai Daoist?"
The moment he spoke, someone chimed in. "Exactly! Isn't he some eminent Penglai Daoist? Didn't he slay a tiger demon with his sword? If he's so impressive, why hasn't he shown himself?"
"If he really had any ability, he would have dealt with that evil creature in the Taiping River himself long ago. What would he need us for?"
"Hahahaha! The magistrate even had to invite him personally, yet we've been here for days without seeing his face. Most likely he's an embroidered pillow—pretty on the outside and useless within, merely fishing for fame!"
The rogue cultivators traded remarks and laughed, treating Jiang Sheng as entirely beneath their notice.
Wenren Jie, Young Master Kongxu, and Old Master Qiao, those foundation establishment cultivators with both strength and prestige, did nothing to stop them. Instead, they continued their own conversation, as though awaiting an entertaining spectacle.
Finally, a foundation establishment rogue cultivator slammed the table and rose. "I, Wang Tianfang, may have forged my Dao foundation, but even I would never dare underestimate the heroes under heaven!"
"These past days, heroes from across Qing Province have gathered for this grand undertaking. Never have I seen so many heroic figures!"
"What ability does this Jiang Sheng possess? How dare he treat all the heroes of Qing Province as though we were nothing, refusing to show himself even now!"
As the rogue cultivators continued voicing their agreement, an azure-robed figure suddenly swept toward them from afar. Before he arrived, his voice rang out:
"A pack of mediocrities with paltry skills and ordinary cultivation, yet you dare call yourselves heroes? Have you come to deliver a few more chunks of meat to that demon in the Taiping River?"
"Who dares speak with such arrogance?!"
The rogue cultivators looked around, until someone suddenly said, "Look to the east!"
Everyone raised their heads toward the eastern sky. Sure enough, an azure figure was rapidly approaching. In just a few breaths, he had reached the entrance to the county office's hall.
The newcomer wore an azure Daoist robe and a jade crown. His face was as fair as polished jade, his bearing handsome and distinguished.
It was none other than Jiang Sheng!
Heh, this chapter is nearly three thousand characters long. Keeping every chapter around two thousand has been unsatisfying for Lin Yuan to write, and I imagine it has been unsatisfying for you esteemed readers too.
Since the book is still in its new-release period anyway, Lin Yuan will aim for three thousand characters per chapter and let the length fall where it may. I'll do my best to make the reading enjoyable for you all.
(End of chapter)
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