Xuepu Awaited the Captives and Brought Good News; Jiangxue Healed Her Wounds and Laid Her Plans
Two months later, Mountain North Circuit and Three Ting Prefectures
Surrounded by verdant peaks, a mountain gate stands quietly deep in the clouds.
The entire structure is built of bluish-gray rock, unadorned, yet it displays a warm, lustrous sheen from the passage of time.
The gateposts are over ten feet tall, shaped like ancient pines rising from the ground. Natural cloud patterns are visible on the pillars, and each top is inlaid with a pale blue jade pendant, which gleams with a lustrous light in the sunlight, as if it contains the Spiritual Qi of the mountains.
The lintel is unadorned with elaborate carvings, its name carved only with shallow strokes, the brushstrokes slender like pine needles, the ink light yet exuding a serene and otherworldly tranquility.
Instead of majestic mythical beasts, there were two ancient cypress trees, some over a thousand years old, planted on either side. Judging from the soil color, they must have been recently transplanted. The branches of the ancient cypresses stretched out like dragons reaching for the sky, their needles glistening with morning dew, rustling softly in the wind, like whispered Zen chants.
A bluestone path winds its way down in front of the gate, occasionally covered with green moss, while a stream murmurs beside it, its bottom revealing numerous pebbles.
The road ended in the clouds, occasionally a disciple in white robes would pass by carrying a book, his steps light and slow, his robes brushing against the grass without touching a speck of dust.
Behind the mountain gate, one can vaguely see a corner of the eaves, covered with gray tiles, blending into the color of the pines in the mountains. There is no noise of people, only the sound of wind, water and pines, which intertwine to create a quiet world, which is exactly the True Intention of "avoiding the world and returning to nature".
If others were not familiar with this place, they would hardly imagine that this simple and elegant place was the foothold of the Hehuan Sect on the Mountain North Circuit, and the place where the True Person Crimson Snow cultivated in seclusion.
At this moment, Lian Xuepu was standing at the foot of the mountain. Although there was a hint of worry between his brows, he still looked as handsome as ever.
His face was as white as snow and as warm as jade, his eyebrows were arched as if they held a hint of flowing clouds, and his eyes were slightly lowered at the corners, which made them look soft. He had a straight nose, thin lips, and a light-colored lip. His jawline was sharp and not fleshy.
Although she looks middle-aged, her skin is still radiant and free of fine lines.
The Daoist priest seemed to have encountered some kind of problem, causing his fingertips to unconsciously twitch at the corner of his sleeve, his eyelashes to tremble slightly, and his gaze towards the distance to be shrouded in anxiety like a thin mist, losing his usual composure.
Behind him were several attendants, none of whom were advanced cultivators, but their ruthless aura was a level higher than that of Lian Xuepu, who was also False Core, making people take notice.
The cultivators didn't speak, but all frowned and looked into the distance with Lian Xuepu, the atmosphere becoming quite heavy.
Fortunately, only a short while later, a burly man with thick arms standing Lian Xuepu suddenly brightened up and exclaimed in a cheerful voice, "They're here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lian Xuepu Divine Sense a large, Second Tier Golden-Feathered Owl carrying a cultivator as it sped towards them. Immediately, his expression softened and the corners of his mouth turned up.
After about half an incense stick's time, the cultivators saw the cultivator ride the spirit bird to within a hundred feet of them. He then hurriedly jumped off the broad back, bowed, and said, "Duan Anle greets Grandmaster Martial Uncle Lian and all the seniors of the Hehuan Sect."
"Alright, alright, you must be tired from your journey." Lian Xuepu quickly stepped forward and helped Duan Anle up. Just as he was about to exchange pleasantries, Duan Anle noticed a hint of urgency in his eyes and spoke first:
"So that my Martial Uncle Lian may know, my master has ordered me to escort over two thousand two hundred captured bandits from Huo Prefecture here, led by Junior Brother Kang Rongquan. They should arrive in about half a day."
"That's good then," Lian Xuepu said, making no effort to hide anything from Duan Anle.
He then revealed his joy and turned to instruct the False Core cultivators beside him, except for the burly-armed Pill Master, to hurry and greet them to prevent any unforeseen events.
Duan Anle Pill Master, but Lian Xuepu stopped him and invited him to rest at the Zhihu Hall at the foot of the mountain. Since it was an order from his elders, Duan Anle did not refuse and entered the Zhihu Hall with the two Pill Masters.
Upon arriving at this place, where the faint scent of perfume wafted towards him and the maids inside wore gossamer-thin veils, Duan Anle finally began to understand the essence of the Hehuan Sect.
This also served as a wake-up call for Duan Anle, making him realize that no cultivator in this sect had anything to do with the "pure cultivation" that permeated the immortal mountains outside.
The three took their seats according to their status as host and guest. A pretty maid brought fragrant tea, and when the scalding green tea was poured into the Duan Anle, the yin-yang symbol painted on the bottom of the cup immediately came to life, stirring the tea and making it even sweeter.
Duan Anle found it intriguing, but then realized that this tea set could only slightly enhance the taste of the spiritual tea, yet it cost the price of a Higher Vehicle spiritual Spirit Artifact. He quickly lost interest.
After the sect leader's disciple respectfully thanked Lian Xuepu, he picked up his cup and gulped it down. The yin-yang fish talisman hadn't been alive for long when Duan Anle suddenly inhaled, swallowed it as Spiritual Qi, and absorbed it into his stomach.
"Grandmaster Uncle, this is indeed excellent tea."
"Haha, you little rascal, your tea ceremony skills are quite comparable to your lazy master and sect leader." Lian Xuepu's tone suddenly lost much of its flippant tone halfway through his sentence.
He glanced at Duan Anle Pill Master beside him and said softly:
"Anle, this Chen Huanggu is indeed a friend I've risked my life for. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future and can't find me, you can speak with him."
Duan Anle's respectful expression deepened, and he was about to bow to Chen Huanggu when, unexpectedly, the latter's face immediately showed fear, and most of his fierce aura disappeared. He declined repeatedly, speaking in a friendly tone:
"Fellow Daoist Duan is a direct disciple of Sect Leader Kang Chongming Sect of Chongming Sect. I, Chen, am but a person whose Dao Path has been severed. How can I accept such a courtesy?! If you think highly of me, simply treat me as an equal."
Duan Anle was taken aback by Chen Huanggu's reaction at first, but after Lian Xuepu nodded in agreement, he finally understood.
This disciple of the sect leader was indeed somewhat lacking in experience. However, he did not realize that among the many male favorites of True Person Crimson Snow, Lian Xuepu was indeed particularly favored because of his outstanding appearance. But it should be noted that among these Spring Wind Envoy and Peach-Burning Envoy, there were quite a few with profound family backgrounds.
If Lian Xuepu had ever fought with others and hadn't suffered any losses, he still lacked some inner strength. Even if he wanted to recruit people, he would have to target someone of even lower birth like Chen Huanggu to succeed.
Others may come together for mutual benefit, but to become true confidants is extremely difficult. It is fortunate that he has Senior Brother Chi, who has been by the side of True Person Crimson Snow for a long time, as a source of support. He has never dared to dream of anything more.
However, once the news of Sect Leader Kang Da's slaying of Preceptor Huang Mi spread, the number of junior cultivators who used to secretly mock Lian Xuepu's background within the Hehuan Sect suddenly dwindled by more than half.
Even recently, when Lian Xuepu greeted his colleagues, he could sense that the fake smiles on most of their faces had become more genuine. This was something that Lian Xuepu had never achieved in his hundred years of mingling in this sect full of desires.
In addition, the Hehuan Sect has recently been in dire need of cultivators, and the Chongming Sect has been able to provide manpower on multiple occasions. Moreover, the quality of the manpower is of excellent Higher Vehicle, which has allowed Lian Xuepu, who was already quite favored by True Person Crimson Snow, to advance even further.
This caused several Spring Wind Envoy and Peach-Burning Envoy to be unable to taste even a single bite of True Person Crimson Snow's vermilion lips for a long time. When they gathered in private, after a few cups of spirit wine, their resentment overflowed, like that of a wronged woman.
"There are six Pill Masters and one hundred and twenty Foundation Establishment, all of whom are legitimate practitioners and none are merely filling in the ranks. This is indeed excellent."
Lian Xuepu murmured something to himself before placing the book in his hand on the table beside him, a hint of joy about to spill from his brow.
Suddenly, he remembered the seven superior cultivators and gacha masters that Fei Nanying to Kuang Liuting. If they could also enter the Hehuan Sect...
However, this thought only flashed through Lian Xuepu's mind, because he knew what kind of reputation Fei Nanying had gained in the Duke's mansion, which made the Nascent Soul cultivators of Five Old Mothers Mountain and Hehuan Sect extremely jealous.
Fei Nanying gained even more influence in the Duke's mansion, and Kuang Liuting favored him even more. To put it more grandly, even the several prominent families in the capital who had long coveted and plotted against the Ying Prefecture Fei Household might have to temporarily halt their actions and observe the situation first.
Lian Xuepu was in a good mood and became very talkative. Duan Anle and Chen Huanggu naturally did not want to spoil his fun, so the atmosphere in the hall quickly became very lively.
Half a day passed quickly. When Master Kang Rongquan led more than three thousand captured cultivators and several alchemists sent out by Lian Xuepu to the foot of the Hehuan Sect mountain, Duan Anle also benefited greatly from the discussion and teachings with the two fake alchemists.
Lian Xuepu didn't exchange many pleasantries with his new disciples and grand-disciples. Instead, he carefully checked each visitor against the register presented by Duan Anle. After confirming that there were no errors, he hurried to the Ming Palace on the mountaintop to inform the True Person Crimson Snow.
The True Person Crimson Snow sat cross-legged on a cloud-patterned futon in the center of the sleeping quarters. The hem of her plain white Daoist robe hung down like frost, and her black hair was loosely tied up with a single mutton-fat jade hairpin. A few strands of hair fell to her cheeks and trembled slightly with her breath. Her plump, white breasts revealed a deep cleavage. With each breath, they expanded and contracted, truly arousing the imagination and a sight to behold.
Her eyes were gently closed, her fingertips forming a firm meditation mudra, and a faint purple Spiritual Qi surrounded her, subtly echoing the objects in the hall.
The blue flame in the glass lamp by the window flickered, and the firelight inside the gilded cover seemed to possess sentience, slowly drifting towards the True Person's body along the trajectory of Spiritual Qi, gradually smoothing out the stagnant aura;
The vermilion talismans on the snow-white gauze ribbons at the four corners suddenly lit up, and the spirit-gathering patterns flowed along the silk. The clear sound produced by the collision of dragon blood amber grew longer and longer, each sound seemed to strike the stagnant places of Spiritual Qi, helping her to clear the blockages in her meridians.
Inside the bronze incense burner with the Eight Treasures Lingzhi pattern, the fine mist of "Jade Marrow Peaceful Meditation" agarwood grew even thicker, seeping into her body through her breath and dissolving the surging spiritual energy during her healing process.
The fragrant mist swirled around her three times, then wrapped around the twelve-panel sandalwood carved lattice fan. The Dao Rhyme of the Golden Thunderwood was drawn by the mist, seeping into her Nascent Soul in strands, replenishing the essence depleted by the healing process.
Inside the crystal lotus cup beside the table, the fluorescent petals of the Nine-Leaf Evening Primrose had completely turned silver, and Spiritual Qi flowed into the palm of the True Person along the petal veins;
The jade bell-shaped flower, adorned with Five Rainbow Twisted Rouge, sang without wind. The clear sound shook off dewdrops that hung in mid-air, enveloped by Spiritual Qi and transformed into specks of light that merged into her brow.
The Nine-Aperture Exquisite Water Mirror inside the niche shimmered with a faint light, and the four sealing spiritual patterns became increasingly clear, firmly protecting her exposed vital points. The purple qi on the mirror surface intertwined with the Spiritual Qi around her, seemingly slowly repairing the damaged foundation of her nascent Nascent Soul.
The fine beads of sweat that had just appeared on her forehead were gently wiped away by the sandalwood mist; only her eyelashes occasionally trembled slightly, revealing a trace of her focused concentration as she healed.
Only those who truly understand the True Person Crimson Snow's bedroom can all be used for healing.
This beautiful True Person has been healing for some time now. She knows that she was defeated by Bai Canhong and has little chance of recovery. Without Higher Vehicle resources and methods, she can only rely on painstaking effort to see any improvement.
She opened her eyes, and for a moment the hall shimmered with light. The moment this beautiful woman opened her eyes, she seemed to be even more dazzling than the Milky Way above. However, her face was covered with a layer of frost, which only made her more beautiful.
But then she lowered her hand gestures, removed the jade mat from beneath her buttocks, parted her red lips slightly, revealing pearly white teeth, and said resentfully, "Bai Canhong!"
At that moment, a soft tinkling of silver bells could be heard from inside the hall. True Person Crimson Snow probed with her Divine Sense and saw the person who had come. The frost on her face immediately melted away, and with a flick of her slender fingers, the hall door opened wide.
Senior Brother Chi, with his hair in a topknot and a broad smile, had just bent over to lead Lian Xuepu a few steps behind him when a cold voice rang out. "Get out!!"
This Senior Brother Chi was clearly very experienced. He turned around with great skill, quickly ran out of the hall, and then considerately closed the hall door for the two people behind him.
"Come over!!"
These two words were spoken at the same volume as the previous three, but were made more alluring by Xiang Nian's tone. However, Lian Xuepu, a seasoned veteran, maintained his composure.
He strode confidently to the bedside, and just as he was about to bow in greeting, a snow-white arm reached out to his cheek, gently grabbed his left ear, and pulled him into the tent.
Come here~
The word "general" carries two different meanings.
Lian Xuepu felt the fragrant breeze from True Person Crimson Snow's mouth wafting towards him, and his heart suddenly felt hot. Just as he was about to speak, he was blocked by two soft breasts.
Her body was as smooth as ice and jade, yet her passion burned like fire. It was clear that True Person Crimson Snow's skills had improved again; Lian Xuepu felt that the moment the cloves entered his mouth, he lost all sense of reason.
The tent was filled with a decadent atmosphere, and even though Senior Brother Chi, who came to remind Master True Person Crimson Snow to take his medicine, came back and forth twice, he did not dare to activate the silver bell outside the hall.
A few days later, the palace gates reopened.
Senior Brother Chi's face remained expressionless as he carried in the new medicine as usual. But upon seeing Lian Xuepu's calm demeanor, he couldn't help but marvel inwardly, "He must be exceptionally talented; Brother Lian's skills are truly remarkable."
After seeing that True Person Crimson Snow had finished taking the new medicine, Senior Brother Chi was about to leave when he heard the beautiful woman, whose complexion had become much rosier, stop him, saying, "Don't rush, boy, you will hear everything that follows."
"I will obey the Lord's command."
"Yes, Peach-Burning Envoy Lian has received a gift of three thousand elite troops from a friend. Their merit is above average, and all necessary supplies will be allocated immediately."
"Yes," Senior Brother Chi replied outwardly, but inwardly he was cursing. After all, everyone knew that while three thousand cultivators were certainly impressive, there was no reason why they deserved to be recorded as having above-average merit.
While inwardly grumbling, Senior Brother Chi glanced nervously at Lian Xuepu, lamenting that the latter was too lenient and had made too many enemies. Even if he gained all the benefits, for a fake alchemist whose cultivation had almost no chance of improvement, whether it could be considered a deadly blade was another matter entirely.
Senior Brother Chi was extremely worried, Lian Xuepu, upon hearing this, did not refuse; instead, he accepted it calmly and without hesitation. Before he could think it through, he heard True Person Crimson Snow issue another instruction:
"In that case, the rest of the disciples should also hurry up and urge them on. Now is the time to make contributions. If you are not willing to do your best now, don't blame me for not remembering our past friendship in the future."
"Yes,"
"Yes, we have enough people, but not enough Alchemist. I've heard that there's an Alchemist named Luan at the Fei Household's She Mountain Hall. I'll inquire about his progress in Core Formation. Regardless of success or failure, as long as he survives, we'll borrow him for now."
"Yes,"
"Furthermore, Bai Canhong is not one to suffer losses easily. He has lost the entire Huangpi region, and the Mountain North and Mountain South the mountains may face war again. I have instructed all my disciples to be careful."
"Yes,"
"An old acquaintance of King Yu Circuit told me that the one from the outer sea seems to have sent someone, but the leader is a True Person stranger. Please gather as much information as possible and report back to me."
After Senior Brother Chi and Lian Xuepu, who were about to perform many tasks, left the hall together, the latter took the talisman from Senior Brother Chi and rushed to the treasury.
After this selection, Lian Xuepu hurriedly found Duan and Kang, who were preparing to return home, and grabbed Duan Anle, saying, "Anle, wait a moment, and take this item back with you."