Yanran Established Her Authority by Rebuking Reckless Talk; Dabao Welcomed the Spirit Boat and Awaited News

Ten days later, in Shannan Circuit and Ding Prefecture...

Kang Changyi encountered a group of True Cultivator cultivators on the road, and with his exceptional skills, he managed to narrowly escape.

Both sides have these teams operating outside the main force, and they are used to capturing survivors and harassing others. If an ordinary person is caught by them, it won't be as easy as it is for Kang Changyi.

When Kang Changyi returned to the Ding Prefecture camp, weary from his journey, he was about to pay his respects to his master, Chu Yanran, when he heard his master's Qi Buxiu, Qi Buxiu, say that they were discussing matters in the main tent.

After the Ye Prefecture region, which was presided over by Five Old Mothers Mountain, was destroyed by Li Mountain Lineage and Yang Yongcheng, the head of the Yang Household, died, Kuang Liuting immediately went to Mountain North Circuit to take over as prefect.

The two True Person were worried about this precious young lady, so as soon as the Duke appeared, they stayed close to his side. After all, even if the two of them were no match for Bai Canhong, it wouldn't be difficult for them to risk everything and fight Kuang Liuting for a chance to escape.

Since the True Person is not present, the one currently in charge of Ye Prefecture is Exalted Cultivator Lanxin True Person Crimson Snow.

This female Daoist priest acted ruthlessly, even treating her own upper-level cultivators as mere formalities. Once the facts were verified, she would fight them to the death. There was absolutely no trace of the way the Hehuan Sect should conduct itself.

Moreover, she always dressed in a seductive, fox-like manner, yet she had no male concubines serving her, which was truly strange and eccentric.

However, because of his extraordinary skills, which were beyond the reach of ordinary people, he enjoyed great prestige in the Ding Prefecture camp.

Let alone wealthy family heads and Rogue Person like Kuang Jinzhong and Chu Yanran.

Even the descendants of prominent figures such as Gada, a Buddhist disciple of Original Response Temple, Xu Lingzhi of the Dai County Xu Household, Gui Baifu of the Liaoyuan Gui Household, and Sha Shan, the contemporary Daoist of Buried Spring Mound, all held him in high esteem.

Exalted Cultivator Lanxin, the senior cultivator, was late in arriving. The other senior cultivators had been lined up and waiting for a long time. Even so, these nobles, who were usually arrogant and haughty, showed no sign of resentment on their faces.

However, seeing that the spirit tea in the cup had already been served, and the official outside still showed no intention of announcing it, Sha Shan, sitting opposite Chu Yanran, concealed the lewd glint in his eyes, coughed lightly, and spoke up:

"The army is currently short of manpower, and I have heard that Fellow Daoist Chu's personal disciple has returned to Cloud Horn Prefecture to avoid a life of leisure due to personal matters. I am not wise enough to understand why this is so, and I hope Fellow Daoist Chu can enlighten me."

Chu Yanran was not a significant figure in this tent, so it was not surprising that she was targeted. Perhaps some people were tired of staying there and could only listen in for a while as a form of entertainment.

But since Sha Shan mentioned the leisurely Cloud Horn Prefecture, all the cultivators perked up and turned their attention to the two of them.

Ultimately, of the three battlefields within the Office of the Duke of Qin, Ye Prefecture had fallen, the Yang Household had been wiped out, Five Old Mothers Mountain could no longer contain the beast horde. All three had now retreated to the Mountain North Circuit, where Kuang Liuting was to personally oversee the overall situation.

Ding Prefecture remained in dire straits. The Duke's mansion sent Zhu Tong with a contingent of elite soldiers. Xu Lingzhi, Gui Baifu, and Sha Shan, all figures of considerable influence, each led their servants. The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect even abandoned their homes and businesses, responding to imperial orders to come to the Mountain South to offer assistance. Even the Buddhist disciple Gada, who had been residing in the Office of the Duke of Qin, made a public appearance. The implication was self-evident.

In other words, only Cloud Horn Prefecture was able to break the Two Instruments Sect army formation and thus enjoy peace and recuperation. If this situation were attributed to the Ying Prefecture Fei Household and the other families under its jurisdiction, it would be understandable, but it was clearly Kuang Liuting who stepped forward and turned the tide.

It's no wonder that the various factions within the Ding Prefecture camp harbored some resentment towards the Cloud Horn Prefecture camp.

After all, according to what the cultivators thought, the Ying Prefecture Fei Household wasn't even putting on an act. Even if they sent a small force to make up the story, it would be enough to quell the rumors.

But Fei Tianqin, that old bird, was truly arrogant. Apart from the two True Person, he couldn't get anyone to look at him seriously, and he wasn't even willing to put in the slightest bit of courtesy.

Even if my True Person doesn't come here, your Fei Ye Shui still has a few days left to live, and your little Fei Household shouldn't be looked down upon.

Therefore, Sha Shan's attack, ostensibly aimed at Chu Yanran, was actually a reflection of his dissatisfaction with the Fei Household. After all, he had an intricate relationship with the Fei Household's son-in-law.

Chu Yanran was still recovering from her injuries and her complexion had not yet returned to normal. She was closing her eyes to regulate her breathing when she suddenly heard the questioning voice from the Sha Shan opposite her, and only then did she slowly open her eyes.

Her eyes seemed to hold a clear, blue spring. The moment she opened them, even Sha Shan, who had seen countless women, felt a flutter in his heart. However, he was quickly brought back to his senses by the woman's crisp voice.

"May I ask, Fellow Daoist Sha, do you have a father and a mother?"

"Sha is not some kind of supernatural being, born of nature; how could he be without parents?"

Chu Yanran nodded slightly and asked again, "Since you have a father and mother, how could my mother not return home for several days after something happened at home?"

"I know that I need not explain to you the truth of the heavy responsibility I bear and the difficulty of balancing loyalty and filial piety," Sha Shan said solemnly.

This made Chu Yanran feel that this young man from a noble family was extraordinary, as if the words "righteous and awe-inspiring" were engraved on his face.

Before the beautiful woman could speak, Sha Shan interrupted, saying:

"Furthermore, the principal wife of the Chongming Sect Kang Dabao is from the Lady Fei of Ying Prefecture and is still alive. Since she is alive, whose mother did your disciple return to pay respects to after leaving the battlefield?!"

Before Chu Yanran could answer, she glanced at Gui Baifu on the other side, pointed at the Sha Shan opposite with her slender finger, and chuckled softly:

"Fellow Daoist Gui, I am foolish and dull-witted, but from what Fellow Daoist Sha said, it seems he meant 'the birth mother is not the mother,' but I wonder what Fellow Daoist Gui is thinking?!"

Gui Baifu, who had been watching the show with a smile, suddenly froze. After a few breaths, his face contorted with rage. He was not only angry at Sha Shan for his loose tongue, but also at the beautiful woman in front of him who was harboring wicked intentions and trying to shift the blame.

Everyone in the tent knew that Gui Baifu was the eldest son of the Liaoyuan Gui Household. Chu Yanran's question was difficult for him to answer. Even Sha Shan suddenly realized his mistake, feeling that he had spoken carelessly and hurt others.

However, Gui Baifu's anger did not last long. The Gui Household was an Aristocratic Clan with strict rules. He was not a direct descendant who had grown up smoothly and was pampered. He had seen countless difficulties, injustices, and the coldness of human relationships since childhood. How could he change his stance just because Chu Yanran asked a question with a smile?

But then he spoke in a calm voice, tinged with displeasure. "Fellow Daoist Chu, please answer Brother Sha's question first. Tell me why your disciple deserted his post at this crucial time when manpower is needed!"

Without making a sound, Gui Baifu added another layer of severity to Kang Changyi's charges, yet Chu Yanran remained completely calm.

"Before you left, I specifically asked Chief Clerk Zhu for an imperial edict to grant you leave. Are you implying, Fellow Daoist Gui, that the silk scroll bearing the official seal is nothing but a worthless piece of paper?"

Gui Baifu felt a sudden heaviness on his head, as if an object had fallen out of nowhere.

It's strange, really. Lately, many members of the Liaoyuan Gui Household, the Dai County Xu Household, and the Buried Spring Mound family have been leaving without notice. As long as it's not brought up in public, the cultivators from other families don't bother to say anything, since few people are willing to offend Nascent Soul sect.

Therefore, Sha Shan Gui Baifu, judging others by their own standards, assumed that Chu Yanran would not abide by the rules that had become mere formalities, but they did not expect...

Gui Baifu was already annoyed when he glanced sideways and saw Zhu Tong, who, though silent, was looking at him with a faint smile. He immediately sensed something was wrong and vehemently denied it. "Fellow Daoist, please don't accuse me! How could I have such an intention?!"

Seeing the fierce look in Gui and Sha's eyes, Chu Yanran showed no fear. Her smile faded, she flicked her red sleeve, and said solemnly, "Who is making baseless accusations today? The people in this tent are all loyal ministers of the country. There is no need for me to say more."

"Are these tents filled with loyal ministers? That's certainly true." Sha Shan sneered for a moment, then continued, "But while we were fighting bloody battles here, some men were enjoying the company of beautiful wives and concubines."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators inside the tent finally felt a sense of shared hatred and indignation.

Chu Yanran remained unfazed and asked calmly, "Fellow Daoist Sha, it's good that you spoke frankly. Since you've stated your position with such certainty, why go to such lengths to conceal it from others?"

Sha Shan suddenly froze, his serious expression hardening and gradually turning into a ferocious one.

"Very well, then let's be frank. How can Kang Dabao, who has been supported by you, Fellow Daoist Chu, for so many years in Cloud Horn Prefecture, remain so indifferent to the situation in Ding Prefecture?!"

Not content with having women on both sides, and refusing to help those in distress, he even demands that the eldest son of a concubine also leave the battlefield to fulfill his filial duties. Does this man truly have even a shred of patriotism in his eyes?!

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Sha, you are right," Chu Yanran seized the opportunity, her beautiful eyes brightening as she retorted in a crisp voice, "When it comes to 'mentoring,' who can compare to the Duke in relation to Marquis of Martial Peace?"

From the moment the Duke recovered Cloud Horn Prefecture, Marquis of Martial Peace served under him. Over the course of more than a hundred years, not only did the Duke promote him and praise his loyalty and bravery, but even the current Emperor took the time to personally meet him and bestow upon him a title and honors.

Even in this military tent, besides myself, there is also Chief Clerk Zhu, who has taken care of Marquis of Martial Peace in many ways. Why don't you question him about this, fellow Daoist?!

Zhu Tong, who was standing to the side, sighed inwardly, thinking to himself, how come he had never discovered before that this beautiful woman, who was bewitched by love, had such a talent for sophistry?! If he had known that Sha Shan would cause trouble, he would not have sat alone on the high platform. Now, however, things have become somewhat difficult to handle.

Zhu Tong showed some remorse, but Chu Yanran showed no sign of stopping and shouted again:

"Matters of state and military importance are decided by the Duke above and arranged by the Marquis of Fengcheng, who is in charge of the Cloud Horn Prefecture camp below. Marquis of Martial Peace should naturally obey his orders. From what Fellow Daoist Sha is saying, are you asking Marquis of Martial Peace to disobey orders? Are you dissatisfied with the Duke or resentful of the Marquis of Fengcheng?!"

Sha Shan was suddenly taken aback. It was true that he was dissatisfied and resentful, but keeping those thoughts to himself was a different matter from having them exposed in public.

If even a single word reaches Kuang Liuting's ears, or drifts to that old, feathered bird of the Fei Household, even if Sha Shan carries the title of the current Daoist of the Buried Spring Mound, he will likely find it difficult to escape unscathed.

Having said all that was said, the arrogant Sha Shan, used to his ways, became too lazy to argue with Chu Yanran any further.

You slut!

Since the destruction of the Blood Sword Sect, Sha Shan had become arrogant and unruly in the Two Rivers Circuit. He immediately indulged in the behavior of a spoiled young master, but just as he was about to utter a vulgar curse, he heard a soft voice outside the tent asking:

"What's going on?!"

Though the words were spoken softly, they silenced all the cultivators in the tent, who returned to their seats.

At that moment, a figure dressed in a crimson dress embroidered with gold slowly lifted the curtain and entered.

The skirt was embroidered with a pattern of intertwined fox tails, and with each step she took, the gold threads shimmered with a delicate, ethereal light, making her figure appear even more slender, yet also exuding a sharp, unapproachable aura.

Exalted Cultivator Lanxin without makeup, yet her skin was as white and smooth as jade. Her peach blossom eyes were slightly upturned, with light red fox markings at the corners. Her gaze held both the allure of a fox and the coldness of a superior.

Her black hair was loosely tied into a flying bun, secured only by a fox-shaped hairpin inlaid with red gold and rubies. A few stray strands of hair fell down her neck, trembling gently with her breath, yet she did not appear weak at all. Around her neck was a string of ebony Buddhist beads, which clashed with her charming attire and added a touch of contradictory majesty.

Holding a crimson fan in her clean hand, the fan surface painted with blood-red plum blossoms, she stepped into the room and with just a gentle wave of her hand, the previously stagnant air inside the tent suddenly began to flow, carrying a faint, cool fragrance that made all the cultivators subconsciously hold their breath.

Exalted Cultivator Lanxin's gaze swept across the tent, first landing on Chu Yanran. His peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent.

When she turned to Sha Shan and Gui Baifu, the coldness in her eyes deepened. She tapped the Crimson Bone Fan lightly in her palm. The sound was not loud, but it made Sha Shan swallow back the curse that was on the tip of his tongue. Gui Baifu also subconsciously sat up straight.

All the cultivators bowed in Exalted Cultivator Lanxin accepted the bow calmly, and returned half a bow each to the four of them: the chief clerk Zhu Tong, Gui Baifu, Gada, and the master of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. Then, she gracefully moved to the main seat in the tent.

"What's all this commotion?!" The woman's tone remained unchanged, but no one in the tent stepped forward to answer. She frowned slightly, looking annoyed, and then called on Kuang Jinzhong, who had been too afraid to speak, to step forward and speak.

This upper cultivator was quite honest; he stammered for a while but before he could finish speaking, he was sent away by the impatient Exalted Cultivator Lanxin.

The latter then chose Gada, who had no connection with either party, to answer. This Buddhist monk from the Original Response Temple was quite fair, explaining the matter clearly and without embellishment.

However, this caused Gui and Sha's expressions to gradually change. This was because some things, while seemingly impartial and true, had in fact revealed their true stance.

After hearing Exalted Cultivator Lanxin nodded slightly, showing no anger. She then asked Zhu Tong, "Chief Clerk Zhu, did you issue a document for Chu Yanran's previous leave request?"

"That's true," Zhu Tong said, not wanting to lie, so he could only nod in agreement.

Upon hearing this, the female Daoist priest at the head of the table did not dwell on it and instead questioned Sha Shan again:

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Sha has come from afar, yet he has not yet been assigned any duties in the government office. Has he now presumptuously chosen this military commander position in my Ding Prefecture camp to sit in?!"

The latter blushed, hesitated for a long time but could not speak, and finally could only bow his head and bow, acknowledging that he had caused trouble for no reason today.

Fortunately, Exalted Cultivator Lanxin Shang Xiu had no intention of upholding justice for Chu Yanran, so even those who had also intervened in the matter were dealt with leniently.

However, she was also aware of the resentment within the tent, and if it was not dispelled, it might cause further trouble in the future.

This is the time when the entire army must fight to the death. If anything goes wrong, losing some of the cultivators under their command is a minor matter, but ruining their own future is a major one.

Then Exalted Cultivator Lanxin Shangxiu spoke:

"The Two Instruments Sect is the head of the Three Administrations' under the jurisdiction of the Zhaixing Star-Picking Pavilion, and its strength far surpasses that of the other two. Which of Qiu Yunsheng, Li Yun, Wei Guze is weaker Xianyu Daye? Yet they all perished at the hands of the Ying Prefecture Fei Household!!"

Currently, the Two Instruments Sect is only Pu Honggu, barely clinging to life, and no one knows how many days he has left. Even with the Duke's arrival to help, the fact that the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, relying solely on the Chongming Sect and a group of minor families, has achieved such success is already astonishing.

Now, thanks to the support of outside bandits, the breaches in the White Sand County border have been temporarily closed and will be difficult to reopen in the short term. Given this, what wrong has it done for the various factions in the Cloud Horn Prefecture camp to take this opportunity to rest properly?!

Many of you have been fortunate enough to receive instruction from True Person, and your families are not bad either, yet now you are lagging behind a mere wealthy family. Now you are even being suffocated by the small Xianyu Household —aren't you ashamed?!

This rebuke was so harsh that the cultivators inside the tent could hardly lift their heads, and no one dared to use objective conditions such as the size of the beast herds in Ding Prefecture and Cloud Horn Prefecture as a countermeasure; they could only endure it silently.

However, Exalted Cultivator Lanxin seemed to remember something else as she spoke, her gaze lingering on Sha Shan for a moment before she said crisply:

"Fellow Daoist Sha just now said he couldn't stand seeing people with one woman on each side. Well, that's understandable. In that case, you go and behead Xianyu Daye, and I'll grant you leave to enjoy yourself to the fullest. I'll see who dares to utter a single word of complaint then!"

The latter blushed even more at these words. It was one thing for him to say some sarcastic things in private because of his old feud with the Fei Household, but it was another to actually compare himself with Kang Dabao.

Heaven knows how such a person came from the shallow pond of Cloud Horn Prefecture. Cultivators like Li Yun and Huang Mi could have chosen a sacred mountain to lord it over in the capital region, but they all died at the hands of Sect Leader Kang Da.

The previous betrayal of the Blood Sword Sect by Buried Spring Mound in Two Rivers Circuit did not come without a price. Those Blood Madmen would rather ignore the Imperial Guards of the Immortal Dynasty than let them die, which resulted in the extinction of half a generation of Buried Spring Mound.

Even if they gained a lot of benefits from this, they not only harmed their own True Person, but also ended up in a period of scarcity, just like Five Old Mothers Mountain.

Although Sha Shan's path to enlightenment came easily, it couldn't change the fact that he was practically useless except for having Single Spirit Root, making him hardly a genius.

To put it another way, the Buried Spring Mound in the Two Rivers Circuit has always been weaker than the Blood Sword Sect. Even if none of the previous Daoists had fallen at the hands of the Blood Sword Sect's True Person, they probably wouldn't have the ability to compete with Kang Dabao, a figure who has rolled through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The cultivators inside the tent saw that the Sha Shan were so heavily weighed down by a single, casual remark that they could hardly lift them, and each had their own thoughts.

These shrewd individuals, who had cultivated for hundreds of years, naturally knew that Exalted Cultivator Lanxin, was dissatisfied with the situation between the two families on the battlefield.

If Kuang Liuting hadn't made a move before, it was somewhat of a pretense, but after Kuang Liuting killed Qiu Yunsheng, people like Gui Baifu, Sha Shan, and Xu Lingzhi dared not act carelessly.

However, the problem of various parties working together while each acts independently remains unresolved. Who suffers and who benefits—this involves countless lives and cannot be decided lightly.

Exalted Cultivator Lanxin is prestigious, but his combat skills are somewhat lacking. Relying solely on his personal strength, he is unlikely to turn the tide.

But today, because of the trouble caused by Sha Shan, she was able to give some warning to the various families in the tent, which was a step closer to winning them over. However, it also made her a little curious about Kang Dabao, whom she had never met before and who had been chosen by Sha Shan as a target.

Seeing the silence fall within the tent, Exalted Cultivator Lanxin took out a sealed silk scroll. When she spoke this time, a hint of joy lingered in her voice:

"Gentlemen, please look, the officials of the Northern Bureau have sent a letter saying that the Silver Saber Prince Consort Shen Lingfeng is leading the Imperial Guards to reinforce the southwest."

"Shen Lingfeng?"

These words immediately stirred up a ripple. Chu Yanran, who had been unusually quiet ever since Exalted Cultivator Lanxin, silently thought to herself:

"There are very few True Person are Yixin loyal to the imperial family these days, and none of them should be touched lightly. Not to mention, Shen Lingfeng, the Silver Saber Prince Consort, is heading south, and the number of imperial guards he brings is far greater than what Shu Zhengde could have done back then. Will the various families along the way give way? Aren't they afraid he'll use this as a pretext to destroy us?!"

Even she, who often stayed in the border regions, could understand this principle, let alone the many people from the capital region in this tent. When one's cultivation reaches this level, some people may remain pure as ever, but it is impossible for any fool to pretend to be one.

Xu Lingzhi and the others immediately changed color. After thinking about it carefully, they realized that it was probably because Kuang Liuting had taken action, causing the rumors outside to fall apart on their own, which had subtly changed the situation in the world.

Xu Lingzhi had been silent all along, murmured a few times, "The adults were right. Although the Three Southwest Circuits are just a remote corner of the Immortal Dynasty, they are the heart of the storm."

Upon further reflection, if Kuang Liuting's performance alone can stabilize Great Wei's regime, then what about when he makes further progress in the future?

Exalted Cultivator Lanxin took in the expressions of the other cultivators, then covered her mouth with her hand and coughed lightly before continuing:

"No one knows if any True Person will come south in the future. If we don't seize this military merit now, it may not be our turn in the future. You all should think carefully about how to act."

The cultivators had varying expressions, but after hearing Exalted Cultivator Lanxin, they bowed respectfully. The latter nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. Judging from the current situation, the current state of each sect acting independently might be able to change.

Having read this far, she spoke again, "Fellow Daoist Sha,"

"The Sha Shan remain,"

"From this day forward, you will join forces with Fellow Daoist Chu and provide him with excellent assistance."

"Senior!! I am Buried Spring Mound, but..."

"But what?" Exalted Cultivator Lanxin was furious at Sha Shan's tactlessness. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed as she questioned, "Your Buried Spring Mound is Nascent Soul sect, how come you haven't even killed a single Golden Core cultivator?"

Sha Shan was momentarily speechless, unable to admit that he had been merely going through the motions before. Just as he was about to refute, Chu Yanran, who Exalted Cultivator Lanxin, stepped gracefully forward and said from the center, "This concubine has killed two people."

"However, such a comparison is inappropriate. It is true that I, Sha, have been somewhat out of line, but my disciples at the Buried Spring Mound have shown utmost loyalty and dedication, which needs no further explanation."

Chu Yanran sneered, "Your sect is a Nascent Soul sect, and you must have countless brilliant talents among your disciples. Why haven't any of them produced a True Cultivator who has obtained False Core?!"

My disciple was described by you as opportunistic and seeking only a life of ease, yet I learned that before his mother's death, he still went to great lengths to kill a direct descendant of the Xianyu Household's alchemy Pill Master, which earned him permission to take leave. I wonder if your family could find someone better than this inferior disciple."

Sha Shan had not heard of this matter before, but he knew that Chu Yanran would not lie at this moment. His arrogance immediately diminished by half, and he stopped talking and retreated to his seat.

"This female Daoist is quite useful."

Compared to Chu Yanran's cultivation level, it was her clever tongue that made Exalted Cultivator Lanxin value her more. Seeing that Sha Shan had retreated, the beautiful woman seized the opportunity to make arrangements for the other families.

At that very moment, the Sect Leader Kang Da in Xuanwei City also welcomed the Fei Household's spirit ship bound for Ying Prefecture.