Sect Leader Linghu

Two days later, at the Ding Prefecture expeditionary camp

"Assistant Commissioner Tie, in your opinion, what is the purpose of the Earl's special summons of Linghu You to Xuanwei City for questioning, leaving behind the battle here?" Yue Lin's voice revealed a hint of weariness.

This is understandable; even if he truly possesses the ability to rival Golden Core cultivator, he is not a true superior cultivator.

With Yue Lin's skills, it wouldn't be difficult for him to achieve a quick victory against the five opponents of the same level sent by the Hongyi Sect. However, to expect a complete victory would be wishful thinking.

His skills were undoubtedly superb, but after several fierce battles, he had already exhausted himself considerably.

If it weren't for Linghu You's betrayal at the last minute, capturing a False Core Hongyi Sect from the Hongyi Sect, this Sect Leader Linghu would have led his entire sect to join the state government and served them wholeheartedly.

Even if Yue Lin were extremely capable, he might not be able to maintain the situation where the Cloud Horn Prefecture Court was suppressing the Hongyi Sect so firmly.

"I never expected that Chongming Sect would actually be so capable as to force the cultivators of the Mystic Moon Sect to retreat," Tie Liuyun sighed softly.

If I had known, I wouldn't have told Linghu Rong that the county magistrate of Jin County was a person of the Clear Spirit Physique! If I had known, I would have stopped Linghu You when he went to seek revenge, so as not to add fuel to the fire!

This time, instead of making a fool of the Chongming Sect, they lost Fang Yi their own generals!

Tie Liuyun's original intention was simply to give Linghu Rong, who had painstakingly cultivated the righteous path of the Buddha Mother Wisdom Consort Dao, some extra benefits to the devoted Linghu You and his daughter, and to deepen their relationship.

After all, there aren't many False Core that have submitted to the Cloud Horn Prefecture government. Linghu You is already considered extremely valuable in Tie Liuyun's eyes, not to mention that the latter has brought his entire sect with him, making him even more worthy of being won over.

Tie Liuyun harbored a desire to compete with Zhu Tong, but he never intended to encourage Linghu Rong to engage in Feng Wan.

Even if he were to go, he should do so only after pacifying Ding Prefecture. With such outstanding achievements, how could Tie Liuyun not be even more valued by the Marquis of Earl of Nan'an?

Fei Nanying been in Cloud Horn Prefecture for many years, and although he has not made any achievements, he still holds the important position of Prefectural Magistrate and is rewarded with the East Mountain Jade as a spiritual object for Core Formation, thanks to his family's prestigious lineage.

Tie Liuyun, confident in his considerable contributions and unwavering loyalty, reasoned that even if he couldn't receive the East Mountain Jade as a reward, surely he could obtain a mere low-grade Golden Core Formation Pill?

If he can achieve the Golden Core, he could probably strip that minor county magistrate of his official robes and imprison him with just Three Words.

If Linghu Rong had patiently waited until then to make her move, the situation would have been entirely different. Could the state court consider the murder of a prisoner and the unauthorized use of sexual enhancement techniques on a serving official to be the same thing?!

"That stupid woman! She stole the true Dharma of the Buddha Mother Wisdom Consort Dao, but she didn't steal the fortune and karma of that Rogue Cultivator! She is truly blinded by greed and as stupid as a pig!"

Mystic Moon Sect, however, lacked profound knowledge. They only knew that the fortuitous opportunity bestowed by Original Response Temple was extremely precious, but they did not know that when the abbot protecting Original Response Temple traveled through Shannan Circuit, he had planted a wisp of Buddhist Cause on each of the nine candidates for the imperial concubine.

This means that no matter how well Linghu Rong is aligned with this path, the Buddhist Cause of Original Response Temple will not be renewed to plant a seed for her. In other words, even if Linghu Rong cultivates this method to its most profound level, she still cannot wait for the arrival of the Wisdom King Dharma Body to enlighten and nourish her.

Old Linghu thought he had secured a great fortune for his only daughter, but little did he know that he had exhausted her, turning her into a highly sought-after tonic. She'd be perfectly content to die, but she left behind so much trouble for me to clean up!

Tie Liuyun was so angry that he cursed inwardly, both angry at the Linghu father and daughter for their ignorance and foolishness, and angry at himself for not explaining things to them earlier.

"Cough cough."

Just as Tie Liuyun was feeling extremely frustrated, he suddenly heard Yue Lin cough. The commander then realized that he hadn't answered the latter's earlier question, so he immediately bowed and apologized, saying respectfully:

"Senior Yue, this time the Earl should be focused on maintaining stability. The battle line in Jingnan Prefecture is under pressure, and Zhu Tong is probably hoping for the Chongming Sect's reinforcements! But the situation in our Ding Prefecture is much better."

Even if the Earl truly favors the old guard in the capital and is angered by the Mystic Moon Sect's unwarranted trouble, he will only mediate and let things slide.

Upon hearing this Yue Lin narrowed his eyes, pondering Tie Liuyun's words. After a long while, he still shook his head and said, "That's not advisable. Linghu You has never seen the Earl's true face. If he goes to pay his respects alone this time, it would be disrespectful if he offends him."

At this point, the old cultivator turned to Tie Liuyun and said calmly, "Recently, the strength of the Hongyi Sect has waned, and they cannot be separated from their men on the front lines. In my opinion, why doesn't Assistant Commissioner Tie return with Linghu You? It would be safer that way."

Tie Liuyun was stunned for a long time after hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, he thought to himself, "Is this old Xiu trying to use this as an excuse to transfer me away so that he can earn some merit for your Yue Household's sons?"

Yue Lin was also displeased to see that Tie Liuyun had remained silent for a long time.

He did know that Yue Lan had perished at the hands of the Daoist Black Shoes and Chu Yanran.

He didn't know whether the high-ranking cultivators of the Two Instruments Sect were surprised or delighted; but he did know that many of the Yue Household family cultivators, including himself, were deeply grieved.

However, Yue Lan's current identity is that of a True Cultivator of the Two Instruments Sect who has severed ties with the Han City Yue Household. His death can be considered as the loss of an outstanding junior within the Two Instruments Sect, which the state court is always very pleased to see.

Regardless of whether it was Kang Dabao or the Daoist Black Shoes, the Earl of Nan'an had always had a very good impression of them.

If this matter displeases the Earl, causing the Yue Household's eldest daughter to be neglected in the Earl's inner quarters, and further diminishing the Han City Yue Household's chances of rising to prominence, then that would be a laughable act of buying the casket and returning the pearl.

Therefore, even Yue Lin himself did not think of making trouble for the Daoist Black Shoes at this time, but Tie Liuyun disregarded the former's instructions and, out of personal desire, lured Linghu Rong to disregard her dignity and do something disgraceful to the officials under the Chongming Sect, which led to the current ugly situation.

After all this, how could Yue Lin not be angry?

"Assistant Commissioner Tie?!" Old Xiu's voice echoed in the room again.

Tie Liuyun suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly apologized, saying, "Senior is right. After I have explained everything, I will take Sect Leader Linghu back to Xuanwei City to see Lord."

"Good, Assistant Commissioner Tie, you readily accept good advice; you are indeed a good general." Yue Lin left with these words of praise before turning and departing the tent without looking back.

Tie Liuyun was stunned for a long time before leaving the main tent and entering another luxurious tent, where he saw Linghu You Alchemist.

Although the latter was False Core and was nearly three hundred years old, his face did not look old like Yue Lin's. Instead, he still looked youthful and even more handsome than ordinary young men.

However, at this moment, Linghu You his face, which was quite incongruous with his handsome features.

Perhaps because of his impoverished background, Linghu You always lived a life of luxury in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities.

Inside the tent, Second-Tier Upper-Grade Langao Incense was burning. Each stick cost only five coins, yet it was worth eight hundred Spirit Stone. Its calming and tranquilizing effects were merely a byproduct.

The same Second-Tier Upper-Grade Wisdom Grass Incense has the same effect, but it costs almost four times less. However, it has an extra rotten smell, which is unpleasant to most people.

The teapot on the stove in the tent was just an ordinary item, but the Flower Bone Charcoal underneath came from the Taishi Household of Huang Prefecture in Two Rivers Circuit. The family had been making incense since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu. Their family background had never been particularly illustrious, but they had always had people serving in the Palace of Imperial Repose.

Since this Flower Bone Charcoal comes from the Taishi Household, it must be quite expensive. Just this one plate sold for two or three Spirit Stones. And its function is nothing more than to add a hundred floral fragrance to this pot of spiritual tea.

However, buying this spirit charcoal will require a great deal of effort, as it is rarely seen in the surrounding states.

Generally speaking, one needs to go to Tengwen Prefecture, the capital Shannan Circuit Tengwen Prefecture, to enter the Myriad Treasures Trading Company in order to acquire some items, but even then, the quantity is limited.

Tie Liuyun has risen to prominence over the years by relying on the Cloud Horn Prefecture Court. Outsiders say that he has been blinded by wealth and has lost the perseverance and integrity he cultivated through hard work.

Even now, after Tie Liuyun entered the tent and saw Linghu You's expenses, he couldn't help but marvel.

It's a pity that although this person came from a poor background, he developed a very refined demeanor.

In recent years, many families from the Cloud Horn Prefecture, and Tie Liuyun has interacted with most of them. However, in terms of wealth and status, only the Fei Household's She Mountain Hall can truly surpass them.

As for Kuang Liuting, although he held a high position and was a member of the imperial clan, he had never been fond of extravagance. In terms of spending alone, he was inferior to Linghu You in some aspects.

Upon seeing Tie Liuyun enter the tent, the Alchemist, knowing the former's temperament, stopped brewing the medicine and left the tent without Assistant Commissioner Tie having to say a word.

"Ha, Assistant Commissioner Tie, Tie Liuyun, how dare you come to see me?!" Linghu You gritted his teeth and questioned in a hoarse voice.

Tie Liuyun didn't reply, but instead asked, "Sect Leader Linghu has accumulated prestige for many years, how could he be injured by a bunch of petty scoundrels?"

"Ha, what a petty scoundrel, how laughable." Linghu You recalled the fierce battle in Pingrong County and said in a deep voice, "That Daoist Black Shoes's Swordsmanship is so strong, it seems he's only one step away from condensing Sword Essence."

"That's Sword Essence that even many advanced cultivators struggle to master!" Seeing Tie Liuyun's indifferent reaction, Linghu You emphasized it again.

The commander narrowed his eyes, sighing inwardly but not saying a word, only muttering to himself, "No wonder the Marquis values him so much; for hundreds of years, it would be difficult to find another genius like him in the entire Shannan Circuit."

Linghu You Tie Liuyun's inner turmoil, seeing the latter remain silent but speak with a hint of sarcasm, continued:

"I don't know the name of that swordsman in black, but his Swordsmanship is quite skilled. He must be an outstanding descendant carefully trained by the Daoist Black Shoes. Assistant Commissioner Tie, in my opinion, you might not be able to defeat him either."

"Has that kid really grown to this level?" Tie Liuyun didn't doubt that Linghu You was just trying to coax him. He just recalled the image of the young man in a tight-fitting outfit who was once protected by a burly, timid man. He seemed to be deep in thought.

Regarding Jiang Qing, even though Tie Liuyun wanted to ask more details, this time it was Linghu You, he chuckled softly to himself, "Assistant Commissioner Tie, I heard that you were the one who recommended the Chongming Double Brightness Leader to the Fei Household as their son-in-law back then? You certainly have a keen eye and are good at helping others achieve their goals."

"Sect Leader Linghu, what makes you say that?" Tie Liuyun's eyebrows twitched unnaturally for a moment.

"I haven't seen such a powerful, Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes in nearly two hundred years." A hint of reminiscence flashed in Linghu You's eyes, and his tone was filled with undisguised admiration when he mentioned Sect Leader Kang Da.

"He is also a Dao Foundation cultivator of the Ice Leaf Dao Foundation, yet he is not even a hundred years old; his physical body is incredibly strong, absolutely no less than any Golden Core True Disciple I have ever seen; his Divine Sense is so powerful that he can manipulate thousands of Second Tier spirit insects with ease, almost without any hesitation; even his spirit beast has inherited good fortune, I once met it with him."

"Ah, Zhang Yuandao can rest in peace with such a descendant." At this point, Linghu You's tone shifted abruptly, all praise vanishing, replaced by even more sarcasm:

"And yet you, Assistant Commissioner Tie, looked down on such a person and were even willing to give him up. Your magnanimity in helping others achieve their goals is truly astonishing, how can I not admire you?"

"Sect Leader Linghu, you flatter me. In the end, he is nothing more than a sycophant who is good at bullying women. Without the Yue Household, he is nothing but a worthless villain. How could my Tie Household dare to take him? And why should we cherish him?" Tie Liuyun turned his back as he spoke, so that Linghu You would not notice anything amiss.

Hearing the continuous creaking sound, Linghu You stopped his teasing with satisfaction, then his expression turned serious again, and he suddenly asked, "Assistant Commissioner Tie, have you all agreed on when to go to rescue my Mystic Moon Sect? Because of your words, my Mystic Moon Sect lost four Foundation Establishment, including my daughter. Shouldn't we get an explanation?"

"Sect Leader Linghu, it is true that I told you and your daughter that there is a person with Clear Spirit Physique in Jin County, but I have already explained the relationship and interests of this person to your family beforehand."

You had a daughter late in life, yet you couldn't control her, allowing her to become so audacious that she harmed a high-ranking official. Now that you've committed this crime, you want to shift the blame onto me, Tie? Such behavior is hardly respectful of me!

Tie Liuyun faced the False Core with a serious expression, showing no fear whatsoever.

"Ha, what a silver-tongued Demon Correction Office! This ability to distort the truth is something your lineage has been passed down from your ancestors since the founding of this dynasty." Linghu You sneered, then rose, sat upright, closed his eyes, and remained silent.

Seeing that the False Core sect leader's intention to see them off was obvious, Tie Liuyun still said in a deep voice, "Sect Leader Linghu, we must set off!"

Linghu You's body trembled, and he opened his fierce eyes, his Blood Qi aura so intense that even Tie Liuyun felt a trace of fear. He said coldly, "Fine, after discussing for so long, you're finally willing to bring people to relieve the crisis of the Mystic Moon Sect!"

"Sect Leader Linghu, there's no rush." A hint of displeasure flashed in Tie Liuyun's eyes, and then the commander heard the expected angry shout explode in the tent:

"Tie Liuyun! My Mystic Moon Sect has risked our lives for your Cloud Horn Prefecture Court! We've fought valiantly and bravely! Now we're in dire straits, even our sect is on the verge of collapse. Do you intend to treat us like defeated dogs, discarding us like trash?!"

Linghu You's tender flesh, which had just been nourished with spiritual ointment, erupted with rage, his magnificent robes, once exuding nobility, were now stained with Blood Qi, making them appear even more dignified.

Then, the Mystic Moon Sect leader stared with his crimson eyes, as waves of intense pain emanated from the wounds inflicted by the Delusion-Breaking Golden Eyes, forcing him to stand up and exhale.

His eyes widened in anger, his voice icy as he addressed Tie Liuyun, each word distinct and deep. "Assistant Commissioner Tie, even if I'm injured, I doubt I can subdue you!"

Tie Liuyun was not intimidated by the enraged scene of the False Core before him, and simply said in a calm voice, "Sect Leader Linghu, there's no need to raise your voice; I can hear you."

Linghu You hadn't expected Tie Liuyun to react this way. He was stunned for a moment, and before he could speak again, he heard Tie Liuyun say sarcastically:

"Sect Leader Linghu, there are some things you mustn't say. Don't let outsiders hear and think your family has become addicted to killing officials and rebelling, and has even rallied the state army to help Chongming Sect open your sect's gates."

"You! You!" Linghu You furious, but Tie Liuyun preemptively retorted, "You cowardly, arrogant, and licentious old dog, what else are you but a defeated dog?!"

"Tie Liuyun!!"

"I am Principal Fifth Rank lower-level commander of Cloud Horn Prefecture, Shannan Circuit, in the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty. Who do you think you are, daring to address me by my name?!" Tie Liuyun shouted sharply, and his Storage Bag suddenly lit up, revealing a dark, black iron ruler that gleamed with a cold light.

The voice was like a grand bell, so powerful that even Linghu You, the dignified master of the fake alchemy sect, was so shocked by Tie Liuyun's few dozen words that he could only open his mouth but could not utter a sound!

Tie Liuyun ignored him and continued, "You have abandoned darkness for light, and I will never forget you. You desire honor, wealth, and a peaceful life; I can grant you all of these. However, you must—be obedient."

The cold iron ruler slapped against Linghu You a loud cracking sound, making his face flush red.

Even he himself didn't know when the crimson in his bloodshot eyes had faded. Now, his clear black and white pupils were filled with fear and confusion, making his young face appear old.

"I'm afraid of him?!" Linghu You discovered a fact that was both laughable and absurd, and was filled with terror.

"Of course you're afraid of me." Tie Liuyun sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Two hundred years ago, the Sect Leader Linghu, who rose up in rebellion to quell the barbarians and still drank barbarian blood despite bearing eighteen wounds, would not be afraid of me; one hundred years ago, the Sect Leader Linghu, who killed eleven of his peers and seized the False Core elixir, would not be afraid of me."

But now, this Sect Leader Linghu, who enjoys wealth and honor, has ceased hostilities, and is single-mindedly focused on using his only daughter to curry favor with the Buddhist disciple of the Snowfield Temple, and then follow him to lord it over others, is naturally afraid of me."

"Hoo!" Linghu You looked extremely embarrassed. He was breathing so heavily that his mouth and nose couldn't keep up, and the other four orifices on his face seemed to be working hard to help.

"Rest well. The Lord wishes to see you, and I will depart with you tonight." Tie Liuyun didn't even glance at Linghu You at this point.

He glanced at the exquisite decorations hanging in the latter's tent, finding it rather amusing, before offering a warning. "You chose the right path earlier; don't go down the wrong one again. If you do..."

Tie Liuyun paused here, turned back to look at Linghu You, who looked bewildered, and shook his head. Then he said nothing more and walked out.

The sound of official boots clattering on the ground echoed the commander's inner thoughts, "I will never be like this again. I will achieve the Golden Elixir, I will achieve the Golden Elixir! No one can stop me! No one can!"

--The following evening

Linghu You his own thoughts, and Tie Liuyun, brimming with confidence, entered the gates of Cloud Horn Prefecture Court.

The two were led by the gatekeeper to the outer courtyard, where a fat Daoist priest was sitting alone, waiting to be summoned.

The only person in the entire Shannan Circuit sect who could make Linghu You fly into a rage and Tie Liuyun furrow his brows was Sect Leader Kang Da.

Upon seeing the two, the latter also looked unwell.

The two glared at each other but neither made a move. Finally, Tie Liuyun could no longer contain himself and was about to speak when a sharp shout came from inside the hall.

The sound was like thunder in winter, deafening!

"Get out!"