Bestowing Rewards

---- Shannan Circuit, Cloud Horn Prefecture

As the saying goes, "ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring," and the first place to be bustling with visitors after Sect Leader Kang Da in the round of battles was not Little Ring Mountain, where Chongming Sect was located, but Fei Shuhe's Green Lotus Courtyard.

Logically speaking, the Fei Household's daughter was already considered to be of very high social standing in the southern part of the Mountain South. Even under normal circumstances, the legitimate daughters of these Lineage who had migrated south might not be qualified to associate with her. However, things were different now. Every woman who came to pay her respects had several letters sent by powerful families in the capital.

Even though Empress Wei was the mother of the nation, she was still required to appear before the ladies of the court on the occasions of the emperor's birthday, which occurred every five or ten years, unless there were exceptions.

Compared to Fei Shuhe, what is he? These women carrying letters should not be treated with disrespect.

Only Fei Shuhe could properly receive these envoys sent by the wives of the first-rate nobles of the Immortal Dynasty within the inner quarters. No matter how outstanding Zhang Qingran and Yuan Xiyue were in appearance, they could only sensibly stay in the inner quarters at this time and not show their faces.

As for how to build good relationships and find opportunities for her husband's family, that is indeed something a head wife should think about carefully.

After all, most of the time, it's easier to gain favor with a benefactor than to toil away in obscurity for years in the hope of suddenly becoming a dragon amidst favorable circumstances.

However, Fei Shuhe was clearly quite skilled in this area, and thanks to her family's scholarly background, she got along quite well with the visiting noble ladies.

Leaving aside the dazzling jewels and vibrant flowers in Green Lotus Courtyard, the Chongming Sect was still filled with joy as always.

Kang Dabao was left in Xuanwei City by Juntian Bird, and Jiang Qing, who also became famous in the battle of rotation, was also unable to return alone.

The old bird seemed quite pleased with his victory, and did not release any of the nine fighters from Funeng, intending to keep them in Xuanwei City to reward them properly.

However, as long as the various factions close to the Chongming Sect were even slightly well-informed, they would all know to come and pay their respects.

Ye Zhengwen and Yuan Jin were extremely busy, and even Pei Yi, despite his illness, came out to greet the guests. Although the latter was only a Qi Refinement, he still received countless flattering words.

However, with the Sect Leader Kang Da absent, there were many things that the group could not easily agree to. The visiting families, however, understood the situation and, after paying their respects, tactfully took their leave.

Even so, Chongming Sect's residence remained bustling with visitors for ten days before finally quieting down.

That day, Yuan Jin was checking the gift list with Ye Zhengwen Duan Anle, whose injuries had recently improved, also came over to listen in.

It must be understood that the exchange of gifts among people is a complex art. One must clearly discern which gifts can be accepted directly, which gifts need to be remembered and returned next time, and which gifts should be returned intact with some local produce.

Otherwise, it would be fine if this good relationship hadn't been established, but it would be undesirable if it created discord with other families.

The three were just finishing their notes He Chang was guarding the archway, came in carrying a letter.

Whether it was intentional or unintentional on the part of Elder Ye Zhengwen, the Foreign Affairs Elder He Chang had been taking on this task alone for quite some time.

However, once these busy days are over, He Chang will have to hand over his post. After all, the benefits he received from the various guests during these ten days are probably equivalent to the annual salary of a disciple of the Chongming Sect inner disciple for sixty years.

During the bustling days at Chongming Sect, He Chang's discernment also improved. Even when the fake alchemist visited recently, he had never seen this kid so flustered.

Upon Yuan Jin became interested and asked with a smile, "Chang'er, what's wrong? Has Golden Core cultivator arrived at our sect?"

He Chang Changjun was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Second Uncle, please don't joke. I saw this letter from Great Abyss Capital, the capital, and it even has a talisman from the Mystic Firmament Palace on it. I was afraid it might cause a big problem, so I rushed over to see you."

He Chang was surprised that after his words, the three people in the hall seemed even more relaxed. Yuan Jin and Ye Zhengwen stroked their beards and laughed for a while before ignoring him. Only Duan Anle, who was always cautious, stepped forward to greet him.

But upon seeing the familiar, delicate handwriting and smelling the faint, ethereal fragrance of the letter, Duan Anle vanished. He simply said to He Chang, "Junior Brother He, don't rush. Just give it to Third Uncle in his courtyard and have him keep it safe with Uncle Jiang."

He Chang looked surprised, but since his uncles and fellow disciples remained silent, he didn't press further. After bowing and taking his leave, he did as Duan Anle instructed.

After He Chang left the hall, Yuan Jin put down the gift list, his tone becoming much less relaxed, and said, "Senior Brother Ye is perhaps too lenient with Chang'er. Such treatment might be detrimental to the sect's atmosphere."

Ye Zhengwen didn't take it to heart. After hearing Yuan Jin's words, he pointed at Duan Anle and teased, "There are even juniors here. Junior Brother Yuan, aren't you afraid of embarrassing me?!"

When suddenly called upon by an elder, Duan Anle was speechless for a moment, revealing a helplessness he hadn't shown in many years.

Yuan Jin, on the other hand, smiled and shook his head, saying, "Senior Brother Ye knows how steady Anle Le is. Why worry?"

Ye Zhengwen did not refute, but instead nodded in agreement, saying, "Anle's temperament is indeed exceptionally steady. I'm afraid even the sect leader at his age might not be so composed."

What Junior Brother Yuan said makes sense, but has he considered that fairness is hard to find in this world? If it's really as you think, and we don't even give any special consideration to the descendants of our former sect leader, treating Junior Nephew He the same as any other disciple, then we'll only truly chill the hearts of the disciples in the sect."

Yuan Jin was taken aback; Ye Zhengwen's perspective was one he hadn't considered before. However, after pondering for a while, he insisted:

"Senior Brother Ye is mistaken. The Merit Points Hall missions are, after all, public resources, and there are always limits. For every extra point a disciple from a family like Chang'er receives, the number of points that are truly needed from humble families will decrease."

As for our master's kindness in nurturing and educating us, the three of us brothers will never forget it. Following the sect leader's words, Little Sanzi and I have already prepared all the necessary resources for Chang'er before he reaches the Foundation Establishment, and we will certainly not hinder his Dao Path. Maintaining a clear distinction between public and private matters is the right thing to do.

Yuan Jin's remarks impressed Ye Zhengwen.

It seems that many years have passed, and the sect has produced more than just Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing. The three disciples of Old Sect Leader He are indeed as those flatterers who just left said, none of them are easy to deal with.

Ye Zhengwen thought for a moment, then smiled again. This time, he didn't argue with Yuan Jin, but simply said, "Junior Brother Yuan's words make sense, but I don't think I've done anything wrong. Let's leave it at that for now, and discuss it further when the sect leader returns, shall we?"

"That's only right," Yuan Jin knew that arguing with Ye Zhengwen any further would be pointless, so after agreeing, he turned to Duan Anle and asked, "Anle, which company are we checking with now?"

"It's time to head to the Stone Mountain Sect in Pu Prefecture."

"Oh, I don't quite remember. Did their sect leader Bian Hu, come in person this time?"

"I heard that Pill Master Bian Hu is currently in seclusion and rarely comes out. This time, it is Huang Ming, the peak True Cultivator of Flying Snow Peak, who has come to offer his congratulations with gifts."

"Ha, that old fox, he's certainly got a good sense of obligation." Yuan Jin and Ye Zhengwen exchanged a smile, then Yuan Jin shook his head and instructed Duan Anle, "Give them a list of gifts. If anything happens to them later, return them a valuable gift of equal value."

"Hey, Second Martial Uncle, this gift list includes two pairs of Second-Tier Upper-Grade Eastern pearls, six bushels of Second-Tier Lower-Grade Iron Essence Sand, and..."

---- Xuanwei City

Elder Juntian Bird Qinzong was quite pleased with the victory of the rotating Khenpo. Since the elder was happy, his subordinates naturally dared not be oblivious and cause him any trouble.

Although the prize money for the nine contestants has not yet been determined, skilled physicians have already come to treat their injuries.

This was the first time Kang Dabao had Attendant Luan, the Third Tier Alchemist from the Fei Household. It was said that Luan was an elder from a reclusive medical family who married into the Fei Household in hopes of achieving the Core Formation stage.

The expert's skill was indeed extraordinary. Although Sect Leader Kang Da had only been in contact with this Attendant Luan for two or three days, his not-so-light injuries had already been completely healed in just those two or three days.

While Attendant Luan skills certainly played a part, it was also inseparable from Fei Nanying's lavish spending and unrestrained use of his treasury. After all, in the world of cultivation, injuries that are difficult to heal even with large amounts of Spirit Stone and rare spiritual items are always rare.

Kang Dabao, who surpasses Funeng, has been quite popular these days. Not only have the children of all branches of the Fei Household, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, put aside their grudges with him, but even many female Daoists who are considered quite beautiful in the vicinity no longer shy away from Sect Leader Kang Da's reputation for "being good at bullying women" and have been flocking to him in hopes of making friends.

However, the Fei Household couldn't stand such things and didn't bother to give them a kind look. They summoned some governesses and sent these shameless vixens away, using both gentle and forceful methods.

Kang Dabao didn't regret losing these romantic encounters. Now, all the outstanding talents from the five states who had taken turns fighting were here, and they could all be considered the pillars of their families for the next hundred years. Rather than indulging in romance with those plump and slender female Daoists, it was more important to do some serious work and make good friends with his peers.

Sect Leader Kang Da honed his social skills while traveling and selling goods. Before the appearance of Black Bone and the gourd, this skill was his greatest asset in the cultivation world.

Therefore, dealing with these ascetic practitioners who are skilled in spiritual practice but clumsy in human relationships can be considered quite easy for them.

Under the influence of several Daoist gatherings held over the course of more than ten days, not only did high-ranking scions like Yang Wuwei, who were already quite close to Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing, become even more enthusiastic, but even military figures like Cao Xianlu, who were arrogant and self-important, were able to drink and chat with the Sect Leader Kang Da.

Soldiers are quite concerned with their reputation, and it was already evident from the battle against Funeng Sect Leader Kang Da's abilities far surpassed Cao Xianlu's. Moreover, he was humble and polite, without a trace of arrogance. After Cao Xianlu had a way out, he was naturally happy to associate with such a person.

After all, his current goal remains unchanged: to marry the eldest daughter of the Fei Household and earn enough resources to form a Core Formation Fei Household in the future.

Given Cao Xianlu's outstanding performance in the Eighth Formation, achieving these two goals should not be difficult. In this case, his future situation will be very similar to that of Sect Leader Kang Da, and it would be very beneficial for them to be on good terms.

However, Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing had only enjoyed a life of debauchery for less than a month when they received a summons from Fifth Master Fei Nanfeng:

"Young Master Kang, Elder Zong has summoned you."

Sect Leader Kang Da had met this uncle-in-law several times before, but only this time did the latter's expression of disgust completely disappear.

He didn't have many feelings, but it was inevitable that he felt a sense of pride and satisfaction.

After thanking Fei Nanfeng respectfully as usual, Kang Dabao, guided by the latter, led Jiang Qing to the depths of the mansion.

Although Juntian Bird felt that the Fei residence in Xuanwei City was so cramped that it had to go to the Cold Crow Mountain Range to find those shallow-rooted Third Tier Demon Officer to cause trouble, in the eyes of Sect Leader Kang Da, it was indeed a first-class luxurious place.

Not only is it incomparable to its own Little Ring Mountain, but even the Han City Yue Household, which has been established for a thousand years, is far inferior to this branch family that has been renovated by this grand mansion.

Given Kang Dabao's pragmatic nature, he naturally felt it was a great pity that the countless treasures he had seen along the way were being used as useless decorations. However, upon seeing the Juntian Bird sitting cross-legged with its eyes closed, he completely extinguished these useless thoughts.

Although everyone could see that this old bird, who had not yet reached the Fourth Tier and had not yet regressed from its avian form, was imitating the movements of a cultivator in a rather comical way, no one dared to show even a hint of it.

Upon entering the courtyard, Fifth Master Fei Nanfeng was the first to bow and say, "Grandfather, I have brought Young Master Kang and Young Friend Jiang here."

Juntian Bird opened his eyes and instructed, "Hmm, go down and summon your elder brother as well."

Fei Nanfeng respectfully agreed. Juntian Bird didn't even look at him. With a thought, he threw two extremely rare Third Tier- grade futons in front of him.

The old bird flicked its feathers, glanced at Kang and Jiang, and said in a low voice, "Aren't you coming over? Do I have to come and invite you?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Ancestor." Kang Dabao quickly pulled Jiang Qing down to sit.

This Law Treasure weapon-grade futon is indeed extraordinary. The moment his buttocks landed on it, Sect Leader Kang Da felt a sense of clarity.

"I wonder how much smoother my cultivation would be if I could use this treasure to assist me year after year?! I've come at the right time today; I'm afraid many Golden Core cultivators will never have to endure such a hardship in their lives."

Juntian Bird seemed to see through Kang Dabao's worthless thoughts and felt some displeasure at this stingy behavior. However, the old bird still remembered the great contribution the latter had made, so even though harsh sarcastic words were already rising in his throat, he forcibly swallowed them back.

He coughed lightly for a while, which brought Sect Leader Kang Da back to his senses, before he spoke up to reprimand him:

"You only won by luck for a while. Look at the absurdity you've become these days! You spend your days drinking and having fun, neglecting your spiritual practice. If you lose even this little bit of perseverance, with your poor aptitude, what future do you have to offer?"

Even though he had just defeated Funeng, the direct descendant of the great temple, Kang Da Sect Leader Kang Da wouldn't dare utter a single word in front of this old bird, even if he had twice the courage. Besides, what it said made sense, so Kang Dabao had no choice but to lower his head and agree.

Fortunately, not long after Juntian Bird finished his lesson, Fei Nanying, whom he had summoned earlier, arrived. The old bird seemed unwilling to waste too much time talking to the two juniors, and simply nodded slightly to Fei Nanying.

As Fei Nanying began to move, Juntian Bird spoke again, "I, the ancestor, have always been generous."

Hearing only half of the sentence, Sect Leader Kang Da nodded in agreement quite naturally. In his heart, he had already made up his mind that even if this old bird only bestowed a fragment of spirit material, he would prepare eloquent words to praise it as something rarely seen in the world.

Unexpectedly, the moment Fei Nanying opened the jade Fang Yi, a surge of pure energy filled the room, causing Kang Dabao to widen his eyes in astonishment. After a long pause, he pulled up the equally excited Jiang Qing and exclaimed in a trembling voice, "The Azure Firmament Spirit Root?!"