Chapter 893: The Secret Of Immortal Dao (6)

Li Xiaofei mounted a horse, while Kou Zhengyang, Li Yiyun, and Yang Zhao also followed on horseback. Lu Jiansheng and his three fellow disciples trailed behind them.

Since Xue Qing had been crippled and could no longer ride, they had rented a carriage for him to travel with the group. And so, the party departed from Fengyin City at a steady pace, neither hurried nor slow.

“You’re a prefect. Isn’t it a problem for you to leave your post like this?” Li Xiaofei asked casually.

Kou Zhengyang responded quickly and respectfully, “I’ve governed this region for many years, and the administrative system runs smoothly. Taking a leave for three to five months will not affect the common people in the slightest. Moreover, this journey is of great importance. As your disciple, it is only right that I accompany and serve my master closely.”

Li Xiaofei rubbed his temples in frustration. He had already told them not to use titles like master, yet now, not only was Li Yiyun doing it, even Kou Zhengyang and Yang Zhao had also joined in. They stubbornly clung to the term, no matter what he said.

Damn it.

He was still so young; he really didn’t want to be anyone’s teacher yet. But Kou Zhengyang and the others clearly didn’t share that sentiment. The more time they spent cultivating and learning by Li Xiaofei’s side, the more they came to realize the terrifying depth of his strength, and the vastness of his knowledge in martial arts. It was as boundless as the sea of stars and smoke.

Many times, an offhand remark from Li Xiaofei would illuminate their minds, lifting the fog of confusion and granting them sudden, profound clarity. If, at the beginning, Li Xiaofei had seemed like a divine mountain, towering, unreachable, and awe-inspiring, then now, he felt like a celestial star in the heavens. It was distant, radiant, and forever beyond their grasp.

This... this must be what a true immortal is.

Along the journey, Li Xiaofei continued to teach and explain the Dao of cultivation whenever he found the time.

Whenever he spoke, Lu Jiansheng and his fellow sect members would quietly edge closer, listening attentively with ears perked. Eventually, they even began asking questions from time to time. Every single one of them was answered patiently by Li Xiaofei, who dispelled their doubts without hesitation.

Their trip was accompanied by the sound of strings and flutes. This was because Chicken Bro, along with his two courtesans, would frequently throw little parties. They were playing music, singing songs, drinking wine, and composing poetry. They carried on with carefree elegance, treating everyone else like they were invisible.

As a result, their pace was slow. It took them a full day just to leave the outskirts of Fengyin City. Neither Li Xiaofei nor Liu Shaji was in any rush. Lu Jiansheng and the others felt deeply conflicted.

Part of them wished the journey would drag on, so they could continue absorbing the profound truths of cultivation from Li Xiaofei. Yet another part of them hoped the elders of their sect would hurry and arrive to deal with this overwhelming crisis.

Meanwhile, an uproar had already begun within both the royal court of the Great Song Empire and the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect.

***

Song Capital, Bianjing. Within the imperial palace, in the Royal Study.

Emperor Zhao Kuangren of the Song Dynasty had just received an urgent memorial from Kou Zhengyang, the prefect of Fengyin City. After reading through its contents, he was left in a state of profound shock.

He immediately summoned several senior ministers for an emergency meeting. When the ministers read the contents of the memorial, they too found it difficult to believe. The account was simply too bizarre. It was bordering on the unbelievable.

Could such a powerful rogue cultivator truly exist in this world?

If this so-called Li Xiaofei is indeed a rootless rogue cultivator, doesn’t that mean the Song Dynasty has a chance to recruit him?

If this man were to become one of the empire’s official spiritual patrons, the nation’s power would undoubtedly surge. They would no longer have to bow and scrape before the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect, and would no longer be subject to humiliation and oppression. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Gentlemen, you may speak freely,” the emperor said with a calm expression and a faint smile.

“Your Majesty, this is a heaven-sent opportunity. We should immediately dispatch envoys to contact this man, present him with cultivation resources, and forge a positive relationship. Even offering him the position of National Preceptor would be justifiable.”

“That would be a grave mistake and a danger to the realm.”

“Indeed. Though Kou Zhengyang’s memorial provides a detailed description of this eccentric man, his recorded accomplishments amount only to defeating a few disciples of the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect. If he turns out to be no match for the sect’s elders or guardians and is killed by them, then any attempt on our part to recruit him would become leverage for the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect. If the sect flies into a rage afterward, wouldn’t we be courting disaster?”

“I must disagree. Kou Zhengyang is a loyal and seasoned official. His descriptions are surely accurate and free of exaggeration. According to his account, this Li fellow is unfathomably powerful. At the very least, his method of refining the bodies of mortal warriors so they could absorb energy from jade leaves surpasses anything possessed by the immortal sects. If the royal court could obtain this technique, we could cultivate our own immortals. There would be no need to rely on others ever again. This is a rare and precious opportunity.”

“Well said. It’s a risk worth taking.”

“Your Majesty, please think carefully.”

The senior ministers soon split into two opposing factions, each defending their stance and denouncing the other, resulting in a fierce deadlock. Emperor Zhao Kuangren listened to every word in silence, offering no opinion of his own.

“All your arguments are reasonable. I shall consider this matter further,” he said without betraying a hint of emotion.

Then he added, “Attendant, send the imperial secret guard out of the capital. Their task is to travel to Fengyin City and gather information. I want constant updates on the movements and whereabouts of this extraordinary man.”

***

Myriad Saints Immortal Sect.

"Such a thing actually happened?" In the Discipline Hall, Hall Master An Wanshan’s expression shifted slightly after hearing the report from Jianling and Jianxuan.

Someone dared to oppose the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect? From the sound of it, this man’s origins are far from ordinary. If he could easily defeat five of my disciples, he is certainly an immortal of the Dao Union Realm.

A cultivator of that level couldn’t possibly be a mere rogue cultivator. This visitor is undoubtedly no friend. It’s almost certain that some other immortal sect or power is involved behind the scenes.

“Master, should we report this to the Sect Leader?” Jianling asked anxiously, unable to keep her concern from showing.

She was flustered with worry, terrified that her beloved, Lu Jiansheng, might be in danger now that he was being held by that demonic monster of a man.

An Wanshan pondered briefly, then gently shook his head. There were more pressing matters within the sect. A message had recently emerged from the forbidden grounds, and the Sect Leader, along with several Supreme Elders, had already been summoned within. That took absolute priority.

“Someone, summon the Grand Commander of the Sword Hall’s outer guards.” An Wanshan calmly issued the order.

A trusted disciple left to deliver the message.

Moments later. Xiao Shenghai, the Grand Commander of the Sword Hall's outer guards, arrived with long, confident strides.

The internal structure of the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect was notably complex. Beyond the standard roles of Sect Leader, Guardians, and Elders, the sect was further divided into numerous departments such as the Discipline Hall, the Transmission Hall, the Merits Hall, the Alchemy Hall, the Array Hall, the Sword Hall, the Secrets Hall, and more.

Among these, the outer guards of the Sword Hall were tasked with the sect’s external defense. Xiao Shenghai was one of three commanders. He was around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, tall and powerfully built, with a square face and firm, resolute features that gave off a sense of reliability.

“Greetings, Hall Master An.” Xiao Shenghai cupped his fists respectfully.

He had once been a disciple of An Wanshan. After completing his tutelage, he had risen quickly through the ranks thanks to his outstanding performance. Now, as one of the three Grand Commanders of the Sword Hall’s outer guards, he held a position of considerable power and authority. Yet despite his high rank, he still showed deep respect for his former teacher.

“Commander Xiao, gather twenty outer sword guards. You will accompany me on a mission. We depart in a quarter of an hour,” An Wanshan calmly ordered. He had decided to personally take charge of this matter and resolve the trouble himself.

“As you command,” replied Xiao Shenghai, not asking any questions. He immediately left to make preparations.

Jianling and Jianxuan both breathed a sigh of relief. Their master’s cultivation was ranked among the top five within the entire sect. His natal weapon, the Purple Thunder Heavenly Dao Sword, was even one of the sect’s Ten Divine Weapons.

Since he was taking the lead personally, there was no doubt in their minds that he would defeat the demon and rescue their senior brothers.

Moments later, dozens of streaks of brilliant light shot across the skies above the Myriad Saints Immortal Sect’s mountain gate. They were like bolts of lightning as they sped southeastward.