The Hidden Sect: Langya Pavilion

The Hidden Sect: Langya Pavilion

"An hour. Finally finished." Lu Xingshi glanced at his Five Elements Art panel. This martial art was rather special—not a single technique, but one formed from five techniques combined.

Five Elements Art (Mastered)

Proficiency: MAX

This time, it had added attributes Lu Xingshi could not understand. However, his Inner Force had already taken on the five properties of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, possessing a certain special power.

Because of the Five Elements' Mutual Generation and Overcoming, Lu Xingshi did not feel any conflict. Moreover, techniques bearing the traits of the Five Elements received tremendous enhancements.

For example, Gold Inner Force could increase his attack power, Earth Movement increased defense, Fire increased explosive power, Water increased Inner Force recovery, and Wood increased injury recovery. The effects were quite good.

On the other side, Murong Xuan's eyes nearly bulged out. The other man had reached major attainment the moment he began, then achieved mastery after practicing for only half an hour.

Such talent was simply terrifying. Whether in Physical Constitution or Comprehension, he far surpassed ordinary people.

"Are you willing to take me as your master?" Once Lu Xingshi finished practicing, Murong Xuan immediately leaped out, maintaining the bearing of an expert as he planned to bluff Lu Xingshi first.

Seeing this, Lu Xingshi looked him over from head to toe. He had nearly failed to recognize him as the old man from that morning.

The main reason was that the man had changed clothes and carefully dressed himself up.

That morning, he had looked like the old man next door. Now, however, he wore a Gold-Patterned Black Robe and a cloak, while his Essence, Qi, and Spirit radiated an extraordinary pressure.

At a single glance, he looked like a grandmaster.

Unlike his restrained aura that morning, Murong Xuan was now releasing an immense amount of Inner Force.

"I am willing." Lu Xingshi knew this was someone sent by the sect that was fated to him.

Don't ask him why. After he agreed, the Innate Trait "Direct Disciple of a Great Sect" displayed the words "Completed." Then "Direct Sect Disciple" showed "Activating," while "Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teacher" likewise showed "Completed," just like "Direct Disciple of a Great Sect."

"It's fine if you aren't willing. We can... Wait, you agreed?" Murong Xuan was somewhat unable to react. Why had he agreed so readily? Murong Xuan still had plans for what came next.

"Yes. You seem to have an extraordinary background, and you don't look like a bad person. There's nothing wrong with taking you as my master." Lu Xingshi spoke with complete seriousness.

"You..." Murong Xuan choked on Lu Xingshi's words and did not know what to say.

"Besides, I only started practicing martial arts midway through life, and I've only practiced for a few days. Master, you must come from an extraordinary background, right?" Lu Xingshi pressed his advantage.

"Of course." Murong Xuan was quite pleased by Lu Xingshi's shameless behavior. How could one travel the martial world without a thick enough skin?

"Your master is the Langya Pavilion Master. If you take me as your master, you will become the Young Pavilion Master in the future."

"Langya Pavilion is..."

Afraid that Lu Xingshi would regret his decision, Murong Xuan immediately began introducing his sect's advantages.

After listening, Lu Xingshi understood one thing: Langya Pavilion was a Hidden Sect, not a famous major sect, so it was not well-known in the martial world.

However, Langya Pavilion was no small sect either. Murong Xuan was also a grandmaster, though he had made his name long ago and had become far more low-profile in recent years. He was also a Yun Zhang Academician of the Great Song Dynasty Court, holding the rank of Senior First Rank.

Of course, the official position was nominal. Every grandmaster-level figure held a nominal post in the imperial court.

Langya Pavilion had one advantage: its collection of books was extensive, said to contain everything one could desire.

"So after saying all that, Master, you mean that Langya Pavilion only has you and me, right?" Lu Xingshi quipped.

Murong Xuan's expression turned awkward, and then he argued, "A Hidden Sect... a Hidden Sect having few people doesn't count as having few people..."

He then said something about how Lu Xingshi would become a First-Rate Expert upon graduating, and how there would be no internal scheming or infighting.

"Fine, then. When are we returning to Langya Pavilion?" Lu Xingshi asked.

Between the two of them, Murong Xuan, the master, was instead acting timidly, while Lu Xingshi, the disciple, seemed to have turned the hierarchy upside down.

"We'll return now!" Murong Xuan let out a breath of relief.

As for Lu Xingshi's character, he certainly was not a great villain. With skin that thick, he did not look like someone who would be unable to endure setbacks.

The rest could only be understood gradually through further contact.

Then, naturally, Murong Xuan led Lu Xingshi back. Along the way, Lu Xingshi also asked what such an important figure as Murong Xuan had come to Youping County for.

"Suppressing bandits." Murong Xuan did not hide it. "These bandits have an unusual origin. They are a group of deserters."

"If I had not arrived in time, Youping County would have fallen long ago."

"As for Desert Saber Gao Li, he was never here to deal with the Bearman disaster. He was merely providing support in the open."

Hearing this, Lu Xingshi understood. Even if he had not come to Youping County, Murong Xuan would have gone to Que Mi Village afterward to visit the severely injured Gao Li, where he would have encountered Lu Xingshi. At worst, even if Lu Xingshi had been in Floating Goose Town, Murong Xuan would have passed by there as well.

Wherever Lu Xingshi went, Murong Xuan would happen to pass by.

Coming here to suppress the bandits was naturally an assignment from the court. These bandits were no simple matter—they had bows, crossbows, armor, coordinated military techniques, and their leader was even a First-Rate Expert. Desert Saber would only have died if he came here. Only a grandmaster like Murong Xuan could resolve the matter.

As for waiting for the court's main army, that would take forever. Naturally, special circumstances called for special measures.

No wonder Murong Xuan had been here. The bandits were bound to draw over the Langya Pavilion Master.

"I just didn't expect you to have dealt with the Bearman. That was rather beyond my expectations." Murong Xuan naturally did not believe the intelligence in the Rumor Report. He trusted his own intelligence channels more.

"I still had to rely on Great Hero Desert Saber Gao. Without the opportunity he won by trading injuries, I would not have been able to win either." Lu Xingshi did not claim the credit.

Murong Xuan was even more satisfied by this. If Lu Xingshi had carelessly claimed all the credit, Murong Xuan would have disliked him instead.

"Since Master had already suppressed the bandits, why did you remain in the county instead of leaving?" Lu Xingshi asked curiously.

"Sigh. Although the bandits were eliminated, the aftermath had not been settled, which is why I was delayed until now." Murong Xuan had actually intended to leave that morning. He had happened to run into Lu Xingshi reading the Rumor Report and had asked a question on a whim, which led to everything that followed.

Murong Xuan could only sigh at the unpredictability of fate. It was truly not easy for him to encounter such a fortuitous coincidence. If he had not acted on a passing whim, he would have missed such a prodigy.