The Great Immortal Gains Renown

Chapter 7: The Great Immortal's Fame

On top of the west gate of Gongzhou City, bloody heads were hung on flagpoles, their messy black hair fluttering in the wind.

The dashing and sinister Young Master Silver Flower was nowhere to be seen, only a dead man's head, reeking of foul odor.

A crowd had gathered before the notice board by the city gate, with some loudly reciting its contents. The Great Zhou court seemed intent on deterring martial artists, emphasizing the achievements of the Martial Rites Division and its captain, Zhongxing Du. While the Sword Immortal and several martial heroes were mentioned, it was done with subtle phrasing.

However, the sensation caused by Young Master Silver Flower's death far exceeded expectations. The entire Gongzhou City and the martial world knew of the events that night.

The story of how Young Master Silver Flower abducted the Two Daughters of the Li Family, the Sword Immortal's beheading strike on the city wall, and the blooming flowers throughout the streets spread vividly through the alleys and marketplaces.

Even every detail, including the psychological state of the Two Daughters of the Li Family, the righteousness of the martial heroes, and the expressions of Young Master Silver Flower and the Four Ghosts of Silver Flower before their deaths, had been embellished into various versions and circulated in the streets.

"He's really dead?" a martial artist, who had rushed over but arrived late, his face covered in a beard, widened his eyes as he looked at the head on the city wall.

"This Demon Lord harmed so many people, committed so much evil, and has finally died. Good! Good! Good!" an elder in fine brocade clothes clapped his hands in delight.

"Is this truly the head of the Silver Flower Palace Lord?" a merchant, leading a caravan from the northern Wei Kingdom, felt his legs tremble at the mention of Silver Flower Palace, pointing at the head on the city wall and shivering.

In Northern Wei, Silver Flower Palace's notoriety was even greater than in Great Zhou.

The elder laughed heartily, "Of course. What kind of place is our Great Zhou? It's a land of outstanding people and spiritual energy, with legends and myths passed down since ancient times. Countless masters are hidden in the famous mountains and great rivers."

"This Silver Flower Demon Lord dared to cause trouble in our Great Zhou, and even committed evil in our Gongzhou City. He was simply asking for death."

"As soon as he entered our Gongzhou territory, an immortal descended from the mountain and happened to pass through Gongzhou City, eliminating this Demon Lord."

The elder, as if the Sword Immortal were one of his own, proudly imitated the Sword Immortal's unrestrained and ethereal posture, saying with extreme pride, "With just one sword, he beheaded the Silver Flower Demon Lord, his blood splattering across the sky, his corpse lying in the street."

The Northern Wei merchant immediately pressed, "Who was this person? To kill a demon lord like Young Master Silver Flower with a single sword?"

Immediately, many people around stepped forward to recount various versions of the story, while some pointed to the osmanthus trees blooming on both sides of West Gate Street as proof of that night's ultimate battle, that sword that came from the west under the moonlight.

The news instantly spread throughout the northern region of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Masters from various nearby sects and factions rushed to Gongzhou City, eager to see the head of Young Master Silver Flower, confirm his death, and bring the good news back.

The first to arrive were disciples of the Green Robe Sect, whose sect had been destroyed by Young Master Silver Flower.

They had traveled overnight from a thousand miles away and arrived early in the morning. Dressed in green robes and carrying zither cases on their backs, they first stared intently at the head hanging on the flagpole atop the city wall, then burst into a mixture of laughter and tears, appearing deranged.

Their eyes revealed a bone-chilling hatred, as if they wished to devour his flesh, which gradually turned into tear-streaked faces as they realized Young Master Silver Flower was dead.

Finally, passing by the pedestrians and carriages on West Gate Street, they walked through the street lined with blooming osmanthus trees, and suddenly stopped, kneeling in the middle of the street.

"From the alley of the Green Robe Sect, Sword Immortal Xie killed this thief on behalf of the Green Robe Sect."

"From the alley of the Green Robe Sect, Sword Immortal Xie killed this thief on behalf of the Green Robe Sect."

"..."

The man kowtowed three times and bowed nine times on West Gate Street, his cries echoing through the long street.

Each time he prostrated himself, he shouted loudly, continuing until his forehead was covered in blood before turning to leave.

As he departed, he laughed heartily, as if the world had opened up before him.

Following them, disciples from the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, Mysterious Mechanism Temple, and other martial factions arrived one after another.

Over the years, Old Demon Silver Flower had committed countless crimes. Almost every righteous sect in the Great Zhou martial world had a profound hatred, a life-and-death enmity, with Silver Flower Palace, directly or indirectly.

This was why the death of Young Master Silver Flower had caused such a sensation.

There might be other experts in the world like Young Master Silver Flower, but none had the same notorious reputation, known to all, as this Demon Lord.

In the city's tea stalls, storytellers were recounting the events of that night. A middle-aged, down-on-his-luck scholar slammed the table, his voice immediately rising by eight octaves: "Today, we will tell the story of 'A Sword Comes from the West, a Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens'! The story of the Sword Immortal slaying the Silver Flower Palace Demon Lord under the moonlight."

As the story began, the tea stall was immediately packed, and even the street outside was surrounded by several rings of people.

This was the current situation in Gongzhou City. Before, when the Silver Flower Demon Lord appeared, everyone was in a state of panic. Recently, any story recounting the Sword Immortal slaying the Demon Lord under the moonlight could attract a large number of customers, prompting tea stalls, taverns, and bookstores throughout the city to follow suit.

Subsequently, the teahouse opposite also began its performance.

The teahouse was more professional, even hiring people to collect information and write more detailed and accurate stories. They also invited an old scholar with an ethereal, immortal-like appearance to begin: "It is said that on Mount Lao, there is a Cloud Heaven Temple, and within it resides a Sword Immortal named Kongchenzi..."

At the East Gate tavern, a different version was being told. A storyteller with a beard, who looked somewhat shifty and sleazy, began with a distinctly colloquial tone: "I believe everyone has already heard the story of the Sword Immortal slaying the Demon Lord under the moonlight. So, I will tell you about the touching and captivating story behind it."

"Why did the Sword Immortal descend the mountain to eliminate the demon? What was the relationship between the Sword Immortal, the Silver Flower Palace Demon Lord, and the Two Daughters of the Li Family? What exactly is the truth behind all this..."

This old rogue spoke off the cuff, and just as everyone's blood was boiling, he abruptly stopped, slamming the wooden clapper on the table.

"Those who have money, please support with money; those who don't, support with your presence. The bookstore next door also has the uncensored complete version of 'The Legend of the Sword Immortal's Love' for sale, limited to one hundred copies, first come, first served."

At the Welcome Inn, beyond the main entrance, there were several superior rooms in separate courtyards, complete with flowers and plants. The rooms not only had heaters but also provided hot water daily, and most importantly, they were quiet.

Kongchenzi, also known as Gao Xian, the Sword Immortal who became famous throughout the Great Zhou martial world as soon as he left the mountains, was currently staying here.

As long as one had money, life off the mountain was indeed much more comfortable than on it. With food and drink provided daily, one could live in abundance without lifting a finger, and winter felt as warm as spring.

However, he was about to run out of money again.

Fortunately, someone soon arrived to bring Gao Xian money.

Xie Zizhi, a strategist under Prefect Hu of Gongzhou, dressed as a scholar, entered the small courtyard with a group of constables, accompanied by several large boxes.

This was the reward for the Silver Flower Demon Lord, as well as a gift from the Prefect.

He had not yet moved, standing reservedly at the courtyard entrance. A constable beside him shouted towards the inside, "Where is Kongchenzi?"

"Is Kongchenzi here?"