Liuyun Came Calling
---- Little Ring Mountain, Chongming Sect
Tie Liuyun stood beneath the Chongming Sect's archway, his expression naturally calm and composed.
He had just seen the disciple who delivered the message receive the token, but he didn't say anything or urge him on. He simply watched calmly as the Chongming Sect prepared for the arrival of the Golden Core cultivator.
If he were to act according to his true intentions, he wouldn't have come specifically to cause trouble for the Chongming Sect. Especially after Sect Leader Kang Da achieved a mid-grade elixir, Tie Liuyun had already completely cast aside any resentment he might have harbored.
However, his newly appointed superior did not get along well with the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, so as a subordinate, he naturally had to be tactful.
This is to be expected. Since the fall of the Great Ancestor, from the imperial court to the prefectures and counties, from True Person to Lesser Cultivators, even the internal forces that are equally close to the Immortal Dynasty have never stopped their open and covert battles.
In the last two or three hundred years, with the increasing decline of the Great Wei royal family, resources within the Immortal Dynasty became even scarcer, which further contributed to the formation of this internal strife.
As the Shannan Circuit faction that was closest to the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, Pingrong County Chongming Sect was seen by many important figures as an excellent target to test the Fei Household's bottom line. Tie Liuyun, who was eager to offer his pledge of allegiance, could not easily overlook it.
You must understand, his success in achieving the elixir was entirely due to the guidance and support of a powerful cultivator behind him. Although he didn't ask for even a single fragment of spirit essence, the favor he owed was even harder to repay. Therefore, even though he truly didn't want to provoke Kang Dabao, the Demon Correction Office's investigation team never disappeared from Cloud Horn Prefecture.
Objectively speaking, rather than saying that the Demon Correction Office was just used to being arrogant, it would be more accurate to say that they were instructed by their superior Tie Liuyun, and that his lackeys insisted on provoking this Golden Core sect.
However, Tie Liuyun deliberately chose a good time to provoke them this time.
It must be said that this Assistant Commissioner Tie became much more composed after experiencing the upheaval of that year.
He specifically sought out a time when both Sect Leader Kang Da and Third Master Jiang were absent, and the Chongming Sect truly had no one of sufficient stature to challenge him, before finally making his visit.
Before leaving, Tie Liuyun felt a little uneasy, wondering if the Hehuan Sect Peach-Burning Envoy from the Hehuan Sect might take the time to come?
With this identity, he might be able to make Tie Liuyun back down.
However, he then reconsidered, thinking that the Hehuan Sect was far away in Three Ting Prefectures, and that while the title of "Peach-Burning Envoy" sounded good, Tie Liuyun was well aware of what kind of assignment it actually held.
Therefore, after Tie Liuyun thought about it for a while, he stopped taking the matter to heart.
Moreover, he never expected that he could cause Chongming Sect any great loss by coming to the door today.
In his view, it was already a satisfactory outcome that he was able to force Kang Dabao and his fellow disciples to back down and hand over the person; at least he could give some explanation to those behind him.
However, seeing that Yuan Jin and Ye Zhengwen, who came out to greet him after he led his troops into the territory, remained neither humble nor arrogant, he couldn't help but silently praise in his heart, "This place certainly has something strange about it; it truly produces extraordinary people!"
Yuan Jin stepped forward before Ye Zhengwen, and after Ye Zhengwen bowed deeply to Tie Liuyun, Yuan Jin asked solemnly, "May I ask, Assistant Commissioner Tie, what is the purpose of your invasion of our borders today?"
Upon hearing this, Tie Liuyun frowned, then spoke calmly:
"I, Tie, serve as a minister alongside Marquis of Martial Peace, and Cloud Horn Prefecture remains the king's territory. Therefore, Demon Correction Office. May I ask, young friend Yuan, where have I gone wrong?"
If you can answer, fine, I, Tie, will leave immediately; but if you cannot answer, then you will have to hand over all the soldiers of my Demon Correction Office and your gate on the spot, and I, Tie, will have to stand here for a while until your Chongming Sect releases its people and apologizes."
Ye and Yuan Er knew that now was not the time to reason. After all, what kind of reason could compare to the Law Treasure ruler in Tie Liuyun's hands? It was hard for others to say.
The latter's purpose in coming here was not for those few Demon Correction Office, but rather to undermine the prestige of the Chongming Sect.
Therefore, as soon as Yuan Jin listened carefully to what Tie Liuyun said, he completely ignored the warnings Ye Zhengwen had given him before the trip.
But the latter's face darkened, and he stepped forward without the slightest hesitation, arguing again:
"Ah, I am indeed clumsy with words and cannot answer what you say, Vice Commissioner. However, since you truly have doubts and believe that the Red Tiger climbing the mountain is afraid of the wolves, then we might as well stay a few more days until my sect leader returns, so that I can personally come forward to clear up your doubts."
It was no easy task for Yuan Jin to finish this speech; he did so almost entirely under the watchful gaze of a Golden Core cultivator.
The gazes that fell upon him were hard to describe as sharp or piercing, yet they still caused cold sweat to spread across his back, and the Mixed Gold Staff in his hand seemed to melt into Tie Liuyun's burning eyes.
"What a coward! What a beast!"
Tie Liuyun's mind went from praising to cursing. The Law Treasure ruler in his hand emitted a large amount of spiritual light, clearly indicating that he was preparing to take action.
Before setting off, he hadn't expected to encounter such a tough opponent, but he had never seen Foundation Establishment True Cultivator strong as Yuan Jin before, even after he had reached Tie Liuyun Core Formation.
Tie Liuyun was pressing closer and closer, but Yuan Jin remained unyielding. The former wanted to curry favor with his master, while the latter wanted to protect his senior brother's life's work.
The various noble families who had just been conscripted by the Ying Prefecture Fei Household and moved from the capital region have all arrived in succession these days.
At this critical moment, if the main family of the Chongming Sect were to be humiliated and lose all prestige, how would they manage to win over the hearts of these vassals who are used to grand occasions? It would likely take a lot of effort from Sect Leader Kang Da.
Yuan Jin was protecting his senior brother's legacy, so he couldn't possibly stand idly by and watch this happen.
Ye Zhengwen, who had been trying to persuade Tie Liuyun, saw that Tie Liuyun's aggressive stance hadn't softened at all, so he gave up the idea of trying to mediate. He then took stock of the disciples remaining in the sect and figured out what kind of lineup they could form.
Tie Liuyun remained silent for a long time, but the Xiezhi Iron Guard behind him began to stir. As Tie Liuyun's followers, these people had recently become accustomed to seeing upper-level cultivators bowing their heads and Golden Core cultivators concealing their true colors.
Having experienced few life-or-death battles, his arrogance had been fully cultivated, almost rivaling that of the elite imperial guards under the command of Shu Zhengde, a trusted general of the Imperial Guard.
Logically speaking, this team was built by Tie Liuyun, but since Cheng Dan, this team of only a few hundred people has been infiltrated by too many vested interests.
This certainly facilitated Tie Liuyun's regaining of Kuang Liuting's trust, but it wasn't without its downsides. Just look at how even Tie Liuyun himself realized he was finding it difficult to control the Xiezhi Iron Guard with ease; this speaks volumes.
However, Tie Liuyun was Golden Core cultivator, and he wouldn't be easily instigated or coerced by his subordinates.
The Chongming Sect's grand formation required considerable effort, and it was well-guarded by enough disciples, making it difficult for outsiders to gain any advantage. Kang Dabao was still wandering outside, and no one could say for sure when he would return.
Even though Tie Liuyun was the mastermind Sect Leader Kang Da, he couldn't say for sure that he could save his life from the latter's spirit halberd. Even with the help of Dao soldiers, he could only feel slightly more at ease.
Given the circumstances, Tie Liuyun was somewhat perplexed about what to do. However, after a moment's thought, he still swung his silver ruler, his target still the seemingly Double Brightness Second Yuan of Chongming.
"Capture them first, then demand that the Ye family juniors be brought back in exchange. They won't dare disobey!"
Compared to Tie Liuyun's previous plans, this action might displease Kang Dabao, but it would also achieve the goal of the Chongming Sect's prestige.
Therefore, in Tie Liuyun's view, there was not much wrong with this.
However, he did not expect that the short, stocky cultivator opposite him, upon seeing the Golden Core cultivator make a move, did not sit idly by and wait for his death.
Suddenly, Yuan Jin let out a loud shout, and the talisman he was clutching lit up instantly. A flesh and blood puppet several feet tall leaped out of the pouch at his waist. The movement wasn't particularly swift, but it at least repelled Tie Liuyun's long-accumulated ruler magic Law Treasure, protected Yuan Jin, and frightened the Xiezhi Iron Guard behind him.
"The Chongming Sect actually still retains Golden Core techniques?"
"His family was only a Foundation Establishment sect not long ago, where did they get such a strong foundation?"
"If your sect leader could be as capable as his, they wouldn't be lacking in resources either!"
Tie Liuyun, standing to the side, looked on with a mixture of surprise and panic. With his experience, he could tell that the flesh puppet in front of him was Third Tier Spirit Slave made from Third Tier Enlisted Army Talisman.
The Third Tier Enlisted Army Talisman is not something that any Golden Core cultivator can obtain; at least Tie Liuyun has never obtained it.
"Kang Dabao certainly trusted this short man under his command, but unfortunately, he'll find it difficult to achieve anything this time!"
Tie Liuyun was sighing inwardly when he saw a battalion of Azure Jue Guard already standing ready at the Chongming Sect's archway. Behind them, there seemed to be smoke and dust coming from a distance, but it was unclear whether they were friend or foe.
(I had some busy things to do tonight and couldn't update in time, please forgive me. I'll try to catch up on the part that's less than 4,000 Lao Bai during the day when I have a chance to relax.)