Five Years Later

On the ninth day of the eleventh month of the 462nd year of the Qianfeng Great Wei Immortal Dynasty, the tenth anniversary of the Double Brightness Alliance was celebrated. It was an auspicious day for divine virtue and sacrifices.

The Little Ring Mountain was quite lively that day, with guests and friends coming and going in addition to the various families attending the alliance. It was said that even the two patriarchs of the Ye Prefecture Yang Household, Senior Cultivator Wufeng and a group of Golden Core cultivators had sent gifts.

Upon seeing this scene, He Yuanhe had just reached the Foundation Establishment, had a completely different expression from his sect leader Bian Hu and master Huang Ming, whose expressions were complicated. He could not hide his pride, which was almost reflected on his face.

Today, the two people welcoming guests under the Chongming Sect's archway are Duan Anle and Ming Zhe. Both of them established their Dao Foundation one after the previous year, which became a popular topic of conversation in the neighborhood.

Seeing that Pill Master Bian Hu had come in person, the two, who were already humble and amiable, became even more impeccable in their manners. This made Bian Hu feel a little better, and he still uttered a few words of praise, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

With his sect elders by his side, He Yuanhe couldn't talk to his two sworn brothers for too long, and immediately followed them into the Chongming Sect array.

Over the years, Chongming Sect has also earned a lot of Spirit Stone from the offerings of various families in Cold Crow Mountain, and the grand formation that was set up not long ago has been replaced.

According to the rumors circulating in the market, the Three Talents Return to Origin Formation, Chongming Sect was crafted by a formation master from the capital region, is of the Second-Tier Supreme-Grade. Even if the sect leader Kang Dabao is not in the sect, with the True Cultivator of the Chongming Sect, it should be able to withstand an ordinary Pill Master.

He Yuanhe knew from Bian Hu's expression that the rumor was true, and he was also delighted. As soon as he entered the Chongming Sect, Ye Zhengwen came out to greet him.

This elder of the Chongming Sect in charge of foreign affairs, had not made any progress in his cultivation in recent years, but he had done a lot of welcoming and seeing off people, and thus earned a lot of favors. Within the Double Brightness Alliance, he was considered a prominent figure. Even Bian Hu, False Core Formation cultivator, had to put on a happy face and exchange pleasantries when he saw him.

Bian Hu was warmly pulled to the main table by Ye Zhengwen, while Huang Ming benefited from He Yuanhe and was seated at a table with his relatives and old friends from the Chongming Sect.

As always, Sect Leader Kang Da was a pragmatic and down-to-earth person. Today, he prepared a feast where every table looked to have the same spiritual dishes, but the ingredients used were all different in age and grade.

The relatives and friends from marriage and old times naturally eat better at this table compared to others, since the meat is already cooked and there's no need to worry about wasting it.

Besides He Yuanhe apprentice, sitting at the table were Shan Shijie, the head of the Shan Household, Ma Yansong, the Xiu Ming of the Ma Household, Xiu Ming from Ingenious Craftsman Fort, and others. Except for Xiu Ming, all of them were Foundation Establishment cultivators, which shows that it is indeed beneficial to be close to the Chongming Sect.

Huang Ming was quite embarrassed at this table. He was clearly a master, a prominent figure in the Stone Mountain Sect, yet the people at the table were much closer to his disciple He Yuanhe.

Apart from the younger generation, Ingenious Craftsman Fort Xiu Ming, who struck up a conversation with him when he felt awkward, everyone else paid him no attention.

Fortunately, he was able to recognize his own position. If it weren't for Bian Hu's insistence on making He Yuanhe, an insignificant True Disciple, his disciple after Kang Dabao lost power, he probably wouldn't have been able to even enter the Chongming Sect with his initial True Cultivator level.

In addition, since He Yuanhe was framed back then and he, as her teacher, had not done anything to help, their relationship was now quite strained. It was already kind of He Yuanhe not to make trouble in front of outsiders, so why would she help him mediate at the banquet?

However, Xiu Ming is also very close to several powerful figures in the Chongming Sect, and he is now a Foundation Establishment seed in Ingenious Craftsman Fort. Huang Ming thought that if he could get along well with him, it would be beneficial to him in the future.

Xiu Ming had only chatted with him for a short while when he was called to the main table by Jin Shilun was also serving as a host at the banquet.

That table was filled with either the direct descendants of the group or fake alchemists. Huang Ming didn't dare to look too closely, so he could only prick up his ears and listen to the lively discussions of the people at the table without saying a word.

Ma Yansong had only recently achieved Foundation Establishment. Although the Ma Household held a place within the Double Brightness Alliance, as the head of the Ma Household, he mostly dealt with the stewards and True Disciple of the Chongming Sect, rarely encountering elders or the sect leader. Therefore, he was the most isolated from information and asked first:

"I heard that the Alliance Leader's eldest son also reached the Foundation Establishment a month ago, why haven't I seen him today?"

As soon as Ma Yansong finished speaking, He Yuanhe leaned over to listen. He had only emerged from seclusion three months ago, and if he hadn't come to this banquet, he would probably still be consolidating his cultivation within the sect. That's how he heard about this matter.

Shan Shijie was far more well-informed than the other two. He unfolded his folding fan and slowly waved it. "Fellow Daoist Ma, you may not know this, but the Alliance Leader's wife was worried and wanted Young Alliance Master and Fellow Changyi to go into seclusion and change their Cultivation Method. That's why I couldn't come."

"Golden Core True Disciple, thirty-two years old, a legitimate mother from a prominent family, the eldest son of a major sect leader, and possessing Dual Spirit Root —that's hardly fast," He Yuanhe muttered to himself before scoffing, "If others aren't considered fast, then what is my own newly Foundation Establishment at over sixty?"

"If Father were still alive, there would Double Brightness main table, wouldn't there?" He Yuanhe mustered her courage and glanced in that direction before turning back, where she saw a handsome young man in brocade robes standing beside her.

The young man was unpretentious; after taking his seat, he cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Fei Enhua from Ying Prefecture greets fellow Daoists."

"Ah, fellow Daoist, you are a direct descendant of the Fei Household!"

"I, Ma, am fortunate to have met you, and upon seeing your esteemed presence, I cannot help but feel ashamed of my own inferiority!"

"I am Huang Ming of the Stone Mountain Sect, and I hope my humble name will not be of good quality to you, fellow Daoist."

Unlike the other three at the table who immediately fawned over Fei Enhua family background, He Yuanhe simply greeted them with a polite "He Yuanhe of Shishan greets fellow Daoist."

"Fellow Daoist's surname is He. It seems that before the New Year, Chongming Sect of the Fellow Daoist Yuan Sect acquired a new True Disciple He Yuanyi. May I ask if you are related to him?"

"Yuanyi is my cousin."

"Oh, fellow Daoist, your cousin is quite capable. Half a month ago, my brother-in-law even asked someone to inquire whether the Fei Household had any suitable weapon-refining manuals. Such a young, top-grade weapon master is indeed rare."

Fei Enhua's background, there was no need for him to exchange pleasantries with the others at the table. His praise was genuine, He Yuanhe's face lit up with joy upon hearing it. He humbly replied, "Fellow Daoist flatters me. Compared to the talents of the Fei Household, my cousin still has many shortcomings."

"That's natural," Fei Enhua with an air of arrogance, yet it was hard to feel any disgust towards him, as if it were the only way it should be.

Seeing how easy he was to talk to, the others at the table also dared to strike up a conversation, until Xiu Ming returned from the main table, at which point the conversation finally stopped.

"Junior Ingenious Craftsman Fort Xiu Ming greets Senior Fei."

"Oh, fellow Daoist, do you recognize me, Fei?"

Xiu Ming nodded for a moment, then replied with a laugh, "Two years ago, when I accompanied my wife on her homecoming visit, I saw you once from afar, senior."

Fei Enhua raised his eyebrows slightly, a smile appearing on his face, "Oh, I remember now, two years ago Shuhe came Gui Household arrange a marriage for my brother-in-law's close relative, wasn't that you?"

"Indeed, I am a junior."

"If I remember correctly, you married the Twenty-Ninth Lady of the Five Splendors Hall, is that right?"

"It's rare that you still remember my wife, senior."

"I will never forget. If that's the case, you should call me 'Uncle' instead."

"Uncle, please accept my bow."

"Very well, I have no use for this top-grade magic Law Artifact. You may take it."

This scene was witnessed by more than just He Yuanhe, and those who envied it were not only the three Foundation Establishment, Shan, Ma, and Huang.

The story of Xiu Ming True Disciple Xiu Ming Ingenious Craftsman Fort, marrying a woman from the Fei Household had been circulating in the neighborhood for a long time.

Although Five Splendors Hall is only a minor branch of the Fei Household, and in recent generations only one or two members with False Core (a type of immortality) have been appointed to oversee it, Xiu Ming's wife is an illegitimate daughter born out of wedlock in this minor branch. In terms of status, she is far inferior to Fei Shuhe.

However, this woman was skilled in cultivation. She was only twenty-four years old when she was in her prime, yet she was already a late-stage cultivator. Given time, she would become a True Cultivator, which would be the envy of others.

Although He Yuanhe had already become True Cultivator, he, like others, was somewhat envious of Xiu Ming's brothers in this life.

Anyone with discerning eyes can see that Sect Leader Kang Da has paved a broad road for Xiu Ming.

Although Master Mo Wen of Ingenious Craftsman Fort has more than just Mo Wen as his disciple, if he has the resources to Xiu Ming Foundation Establishment, he wouldn't dare to give them to someone else. As long as Xiu Ming can Xiu Ming Foundation Establishment, the position of the next Master of Ingenious Craftsman Fort will not be taken by someone else.

Who wouldn't be tempted by such a bright future?

However, as long as they think Xiu Ming the contributions Xiu Ming has made to the Chongming Sect over the years, the cultivators feel much more at ease.

Then his mind started to wander. So what if he risked his life to earn a future? If others can do it, why can't he? After all, selling his life to the Chongming Sect still gave him hope, which was much more reassuring than those families that didn't keep their promises.

He Yuanhe was always quite thoughtful. Seeing this scene, he secretly turned his gaze to the main table, and a bold idea suddenly arose in his mind.

Meanwhile, the burly man at the main table, who had changed his name to Fei Enwen, sighed upon seeing the commotion. He thought to himself that his brother-in-law was quite shrewd, manipulating people's hearts without regard for the timing.

He raised his glass in a toast, whispering, "You knew all along that Eun-hwa wouldn't sit at the head table, didn't you?"

Sect Leader Kang Da smiled faintly and replied, "He never fought for the Fei Household against Funeng back then, and he's arrogant, so naturally he doesn't want to sit at this table and face you."

"Is that so?" Fei Enwen for a moment, and was about to speak again when he heard Yang Wuwei beside him say, "I heard that Fellow Daoist Zhou fought a battle in Ding Prefecture last time and encountered False Core from the Hongyi Sect. I wonder if he was in any danger?"

As soon as Yang Wuwei finished speaking, Kang Dabao's gaze also turned to Zhou Yun. Zhou Yun's master, Senior Cultivator Wufeng, had been recruiting soldiers and horses in Ding Prefecture in recent years, and it seemed that he was about to establish a sect.

This is actually a good thing for the various families in Ding Prefecture. After all, the Hongyi Sect, which is detached from the outside world, still has Xie Yi leader Jieyi Shangxiu. The two sides have been fighting each other for years, and there have been occasional deaths of Foundation Establishment.

In general, the families of Ding Prefecture were indeed at a greater disadvantage. Although Senior Cultivator Wufeng was notoriously bad at warfare, he was still a True-Grade Golden Core cultivator and wouldn't be afraid of Jie Yi Shangxiu, whose Xie Yi were equally lacking.

Having gained experience over the years in helping Senior Cultivator Wufeng accumulate wealth, Zhou Yun appeared much more composed than before. After hearing Yang Wuwei's words, he shook his head and said, "More than ten disciples perished; we only narrowly escaped defeat because the message talisman was sent swiftly."

"It's alright. After all, he is a Pill Master. It's already a stroke of luck that Fellow Daoist Zhou was unharmed."

Yang Wuwei, while Bian Hu felt a strange unease, wondering why the former had brought up this topic out of the blue.

Zhou Yun shook his head with a wry smile and sighed, "It was only because of my lack of skill that the scoundrel was able to run rampant. If Brother Dao or Sect Leader Kang had been there at the time, that fellow would not have been able to escape."

The Sect Leader Kang Da, who was always averse to showing off, immediately waved his hand. "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. How could I possibly have such abilities?"

Yang Wuwei laughed again, "If even Brother Kang doesn't have that ability, then I, Yang, am even less capable. Perhaps only when Fellow Daoist Cao, who is in seclusion Core Formation, emerges can I capture him with ease."

Bian Hu was so shocked by Yang Wuwei's words that he could no longer remain silent and immediately asked, "Fellow Daoist Cao has already entered seclusion to form Core Formation elixir? And he has already completed his Core Thesis? Considering he is only just over a hundred years old, how could he have achieved such a feat?!"

"Pill Master Bian, you may not know this, but last time Elder Tianqin of the Fei Household not only bestowed upon us elixirs and talismans, but also promoted the eldest daughter of the clan to a higher rank in the Ying Mountain Army, and also sent a message to the Savage Ghost Sect in Huang Prefecture. Fellow Daoist Cao is the True Disciple of the Savage Ghost Sect's leader. After hearing about this, he sent a portion of Three Dew Flower via the Myriad Treasures Trading Company's postal ship."

Yang Wuwei's explanation made Bian Hu murmur for a moment, "Three Dew Flower?"

This item is indeed quite ordinary among Core Formation spiritual objects, however...

"If I had possessed such a magical object back then, I might have tried it myself, right?" The old cultivator murmured to himself, and his gaze towards Sect Leader Kang Da became even more solemn.

"So now, those who associate with this fellow are all people like him?"

Bian Hu's gaze swept over Ming Hun, Xu Liuxian, and the others sitting at the same table. Although the two seemed somewhat reserved in this setting, hesitant to speak freely, they possessed qualities that the old cultivator envied. "If we hadn't deliberately distanced ourselves back then, our family might still have a place in the Double Brightness Alliance!"

This matter cannot be blamed on Bian Hu, that old cultivator. Although Pu Prefecture was indeed a remote and inaccessible place, back then, Bian Hu, who had not yet achieved the False Core, was able to use ten True Cultivator as a base and rely on distant alliances and close attacks, as well as alliances and counter-alliances, to almost seize Pu Prefecture and make it the domain of the Stone Mountain Sect. This is enough to show that he was quite good at managing his family.

Who could have imagined that Sect Leader Kang Da, who had been disliked by the Fei Household and lost the trust of the Marquis of Earl of Nan'an, would be reinstated in just a few short years? Moreover, not only has Kang Dabao regained the trust, but his skills have also greatly improved compared to before.

Bian Hu was also present when Jiu Xiu fought Funeng. To be fair, even though he had achieved the False Core for some time, he might not be able to defeat Kang Dabao, who was the final opponent in the last round.

What's even more remarkable is that this fellow is only seventy years old, which is far too young for a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator. His future prospects are simply unimaginable to ordinary people.

"I wonder if I offended He Yuanhe back then? Oh well, if he insists on making a fuss, I'd better not put up with it. At worst, I'll just have to pay back two or three sets of Foundation Establishment resources. Otherwise, if I provoke all of you at this table to attack me, I'm afraid I won't be able to return unscathed."

Aside from Bian Hu, whose thoughts were complicated, everyone else remained calm. Three bells rang, and Pei Yi stepped to the side of Sect Leader Kang Da to announce that the time for the grand ceremony had arrived.

As soon as Pei Yi appeared, many people in the room turned their attention to this elder of the Chongming Sect who had been living a secluded life in recent years.

The news that Attendant Luan rescued Pei Yi from his demonic possession during his last medical visit had already spread far and wide. Chongming Sect could not stop him; on the contrary, they had to help him spread the word. Otherwise, wouldn't they be letting down the medical treasures that Attendant Luan had given them?

However, Pei Yi's Foundation Establishment process was still far from smooth.

The Sect Leader Kang Da made a special trip to Tengwen Prefecture and spent a lot of money to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, Pei Yi's Merit Points were not enough. Even after his three disciples offered their respects, it was still far from enough. So, several fellow disciples borrowed from each other to make up the difference.

After Pei Yi had perfected his preparations, he tried again about two years ago. Fortunately, although he failed this time, he was at least unharmed. Pei Yi stopped abruptly before his Spiritual Qi energy could be liquefied.

Even the Sect Leader Kang Da was at a loss, and even took Pei Yi to the Qi residence to meet Madam Qi and ask for a solution. The beautiful woman simply shook her head, saying that Pei Yi's mind was not yet clear and the time was not yet right.

Kang Dabao was anxious, but he also knew that haste makes waste. So he asked Yuan Jin to help Pei Yi recite scriptures to calm his mind, hoping that in time, Pei Yi could let go of his worries and achieve success together.

After all, Pei Yi is already in his seventies. If things Qi Buxiu up like Evergreen Vine back then. The current Sect Leader Kang Da doesn't have the ability to find an evergreen Chu Yanran like Chu Yanran did back then.

Concealing his thoughts, Kang Dabao put down his wine cup upon hearing Pei Yi's words and politely bowed to the guests at the banquet, saying, "Please, fellow Daoists, move to the training ground."

The cultivators readily complied, and by the time they arrived riding various Spirit Artifact and beasts, the disciples of all the sects under the Double Brightness Alliance had already lined up in formation.

A nine-zhang square stele, crafted from a hundred kinds of spiritual gold jointly contributed by various families within the alliance over the past ten years, stands in the center. The stele is engraved with the Double Brightness, Hanshan, Qiaogong, and Hemu, as well as the family emblems of the five families of Shan, Ming, Ma, He, and Lu. The six-leaf blue lotus Dao seal of the Chongming Sect hangs high at the top, shining brightly under the sun.

When Kang Dabao invited guests from all walks of life to come to the stage to watch the ceremony, Kang Rongquan pinched the edelweiss seeds lightly with his fingers, and the edelweiss seeds shaking off his sleeves ignited when the wind caught the wind, and the seal characters "We are all in the same boat" were burned in front of the monument.

At noon, Xu Liuxian, the leader of the Cold Mountain Sect, walked out carrying the iron scroll of the alliance agreement.

This scroll was made rather hastily back then, and seems somewhat unworthy of its status.

The scroll bears the fingerprints of the leaders of each faction; on the day they formed the alliance ten years ago, they swore an oath of blood upon this iron scroll.

As he unfurled the scroll, thirty-six array flags suddenly rose on the east side of the training ground. The runes drawn on the flags formed a light screen, reflecting scenes of fighting together against powerful enemies and cultivating spirits over the past ten years, which moved many of the alliance disciples who had experienced it.

The subsequent martial arts demonstration clearly demonstrated his solid foundation.

The most eye-catching force remains the Azure Jue Guard, personally led by Yuan Jin. In recent years, as generations of disciples have grown up in the Nurturing Qilin Hall, the Azure Jue Guard has increased to three hundred.

However, while the number of people has increased, they have lost some of the solemn and orderly atmosphere of the past. This is an unavoidable growing pain. They will only be able to reach new heights after experiencing more major battles and being tempered by them.

However, the subtle differences are difficult for ordinary people who are unfamiliar with military affairs to discern.

As usual, most of those invited to the Double Brightness Alliance Grand Ceremony were from Foundation Establishment sects. The leaders could only see six-leaf lotus platforms suddenly rising in the training ground. The Azure Jue Six-Leaf Battle Lotus Formation, originating from Fenli Prefecture, had been Double Brightness disciples, with more than three hundred people operating as one.

After the shout of "Zhan Bing" was uttered, streaks of sharp light flew out one after another in the training ground, one after another; after the command "Yu Ling" landed, a large area of azure spiritual mist appeared, full of vitality and wonderful beyond words.

It's worth mentioning that the person serving as Yuan Jin's deputy in this martial arts exercise was none other than Zhang Qingran, the young wife of the Sect Leader Kang Da. After giving birth to Kang Dabao's only daughter, this descendant of the Patriarch Zhang was barely trustworthy.

Although Zhang Qingran, as Second Tier array master, does not possess much of a murderous aura, she handles mediating matters with remarkable efficiency, making her an excellent candidate for on-the-spot command and advisory support.

Under Yuan Jin's painstaking training over the years, the Azure Jue Guard has finally become worthy of the title "prototype of a Daoist army".

This might not seem like much in the beautiful and fertile capital region, but in the area around Cloud Horn Prefecture, where Tie Liuyun could roam freely with just his Xiezhi Iron Guard back then, even such a small glimpse of his power in the training ground was enough to make the leaders of various families tremble with fear.

Bian Hu wasn't exactly an expert in military affairs, but he could tell that the Azure Jue Guard were not a rabble.

Compared to that, Bian Hu's always proud Stone Mountain Sect's combined formation practice, even though the disciples' cultivation levels were far superior, paled in comparison.

The impact of this martial arts exercise on Bian Hu went beyond that.

Following the Azure Jue Guard is the Crimson Zhang Guard.

This team, formed by Yuan Jin recruiting various families from Cold Crow Mountain and Rogue Cultivator from other places, has already grown to a considerable size. Unlike the Azure Jue Guard, which adheres to strict discipline, the Crimson Zhang Guard practices small formations and scattered formations, making it a true elite combat tactic.

The nearly two hundred Crimson Zhang Guard were all at least at the late Late Qi Refinement. They were all fierce and, in addition to wearing full red armor, their Daoist techniques and Law Artifact were all varied and unsystematic.

However, others dared not underestimate them. Apart from Bian Hu's Stone Mountain Sect, there was probably no other family present who dared to say that they could withstand the onslaught of these fierce men.

After the Crimson Zhang Guard, various teams made their appearance.

After suffering a great loss, the Cold Mountain Sect developed a method for selecting disciples. Although the cultivation level of the disciples in the formation had dropped significantly, most of them came from respectable families. With independent cultivators Xu Liuxian, Zhou Zhaoyi, Ji Yunsheng Rogue Cultivator among them to direct and coordinate, the process was still orderly and respectable.

Since Ming Household Ming Hun Foundation Establishment, the Ming family has had many more descendants, and their sword formation of over a hundred people is quite impressive. The mechanical puppets of Ingenious Craftsman Fort have always been stable, and various new spiritual tools have also appeared. Mo Wen's command is effective, which has drawn a lot of applause.

The four families of Hemu Dao, He, Ma, and Shan have slightly weaker foundations and are not particularly outstanding, but there is nothing wrong with them either. Moreover, those familiar with these families can see how much progress their strength has made in the past ten years.

The He Household members were skilled in commerce, while the Lu Household had the least profound foundation. However, the martial arts skills of the two families were somewhat lacking and they were relegated to the back of the stage, not making an appearance.

After the eight families' martial arts demonstration, it was time for the local soldiers of Ping and Jin counties. The county magistrates of the two counties were naturally disciples of Double Brightness, and those who served as military officers at various ranks were also disciples of various families of the Double Brightness Alliance.

These local soldiers weren't particularly outstanding, but their strength lay in their sheer numbers. Over two thousand of them stood in formation on the drill ground, and with each breath they exuded spiritual energy, captivating all who beheld them.

The martial arts exercise continued until evening before it ended. Only then did Bian Hu realize that, without his knowledge, Sect Leader Kang Da had actually gained several thousand combat-ready cultivators at his disposal.

With the Stone Mountain Sect's great power, which monopolizes Pu Prefecture, they could probably muster that number, but if they were to fight, they would likely collapse in one battle and be difficult to quell.

The difference in skill is obvious; one has no choice but to admit defeat!

At the end of the martial arts competition, a thousand cultivators celebrated together, their spirits soaring to the heavens!

Double Brightness, and may the Alliance Leader live ten thousand years!

The sound made even the Pill Master Bian Hu frown slightly, and he was about to take action when he saw the Sect Leader Kang Da casually say, "Gentlemen, you've all worked hard."

Turning back, he asked with a smile, "I have a vice-leader position vacant here, I wonder what Senior Bian thinks?"

"This"

Bian Hu's expression changed, and he realized that something seemed wrong. Just as he was about to give a perfunctory reply, he saw that Yang Wuwei and the others were also looking at Kang Dabao.

The old man, the words of refusal that had just risen to his throat, couldn't be uttered. He could only say in a hoarse voice, "That is indeed my wish."

After the martial arts demonstration ended and the banquet began, once Bian Hu had stamped his mark on the iron scroll, Sect Leader Kang Da thought to himself, "Do you really think it's so easy to take the Daoist priest's Spirit Stone?"