Shaoqing, a young man with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, dressed in a golden robe, walked in through the hall entrance. He held a Seven-foot Jade Box in his hands.
The Jade Box was transparent, revealing the golden blood inside. As the blood circulated, faint sounds of a dragon's roar and an ox's bellow could be heard, giving off a subtle, oppressive aura.
"This is my son, Xiao Yun, the current Young Manor Lord of the Mountain Manor..."
The Villa Lady glanced at the young man in the golden robe, her beautiful eyes twinkling, and a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth as she introduced him to Xu Xing and Zuoqiu Ying.
"Xiao Yun, co and pay your respects to Master Xu and Lady Xu," she instructed.
Although Dragon Mountain Villa is a sect, most of the manor lords in its history have co from the Li Family—that is, the Cultivator family to which the Villa Lady belongs.
However, the Li Family tree has a Main Pulse and a Branch Pulse. The Main Pulse she belongs to now has thinned bloodlines and scarce Cultivators.
Only Li Xiaoyun can barely be considered a Pride of Heaven in Dragon Mountain Villa, with the hope of inheriting the Li Family Business.
She had asked Li Xiaoyun to preside over the transaction of Spiritual Objects with the Butian Sect this ti not only to establish Li Xiaoyun's position but also to provide Li Xiaoyun with exposure in front of Xu Xing, Zuoqiu Ying, and the other Butian Sect Dao Lords. For status and the symbols of power are not to be lightly entrusted to others. Once he gained enough exposure before the various Higher Teachings, Li Xiaoyun would undoubtedly beco the Young Manor Lord of Dragon Mountain Villa. Even if the veterans of the Li Family's Branch Pulse wished for a change, they would have to consider if the other Higher Teachings would grant recognition.
The other Higher Teachings, of course, would not help Dragon Mountain Villa establish its leader for no reason. However, if Dragon Mountain Villa were in chaos, the other Higher Teachings would not mind getting involved to gain benefits. The Branch Pulse of the Li Family could not bear the cost of this turmoil.
The Villa Lady's subtle intentions were clear to everyone, but the Butian Sect had no desire to interfere in Dragon Mountain Villa's internal affairs. After taking note of Li Xiaoyun's na, they left the matter to play out naturally.
"Master Xu, do you know that Xiao Yun and you could be considered peers..."
After the transaction was completed, the Villa Lady chuckled and actively brought up their relationship.
"Oh? This... Xu Mou was unaware of this..." Xu Xing said, feigning astonishnt.
As a matter of fact, Xu Xing already had an impression of the na Li Xiaoyun. Not just the na; Xu Xing had even t Li Xiaoyun in person before. Back when he was secluded on Whale Island, breaking through to the Returning Core realm, Li Xiaoyun and Gou Renshu had a great battle, and the aftershocks impacted Whale Island. It was Lan Pu Daoist Monarch who eventually stepped in and transported the two of them thousands of miles away, so Xu Xing would not be disturbed by their conflict. However, rely to avoid embarrassing Li Xiaoyun, Xu Xing deliberately pretended not to know.
"Back then, Master Xu was ranked seventh in the Human Rankings by Yama Palace, while my son was ranked third. It's just that no one expected Master Xu to have such great fortune. After a few hundred years, you've far surpassed the Cultivators of the sa generation, even exceeding many of our old seniors..." the Villa Lady recounted.
Xu Xing, worried Li Xiaoyun would be embarrassed, avoided the topic, but she was different, fearing Li Xiaoyun wouldn't be able to establish a connection or friendship with Xu Xing.
Dragon Mountain Villa has the capital to confront the Butian Sect; there's no need to curry favor with Xu Xing. But... setting the two sects aside, Xu Xing's realm and status are far above hers and her son Li Xiaoyun's. The strength of the sect does not equate to one's own strength. If the Dragon Mountain Villa Ancestor were to depose her and Zheng Yahai and appoint a new manor lord and Villa Lady, they could still sit as equals with Xu Xing. Xu Xing, however, was different. He possessed true strength; the Butian Sect was rely a sect in the hands of this Nascent Soul Saint Monarch.
"Is that so?" Xu Xing feigned surprise.
"To think that Brother Xiao Yun and Xu Mou were once considered peers... Xu Mou has been remiss," Xu Xing smiled and said.
His words, though seemingly belittling Li Xiaoyun, were actually ant to elevate him. After all, the Cultivation World revered strength. For a Nascent Soul Saint Monarch to willingly associate with a Dao Pill Cultivator was an honor for the Dao Pill Cultivator. Furthermore, this was the Villa Lady's intention, and Xu Xing was rely going along with her wishes.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..." Li Xiaoyun's face showed a hint of embarrassnt, and he quickly shook his head.
After declining Xu Xing's overture, Li Xiaoyun glanced at his birth mother on the high seat, his expression quite vexed.
Although he knew his mother was doing this for his own good, she should have considered whether he was willing to accept such an arrangent. Even if he wouldn't be ridiculed for this in the future, he himself could hardly bear the scrutiny of the Mundane World. In the future, when Cultivators ntioned the friendship between Dragon Mountain Villa and the Butian Sect, and then casually brought up him, the Young Manor Lord who was on equal footing with Xu Xing as a peer, wouldn't it be terribly awkward?
"Xu Mou will catch up with Brother Xiao Yun another day. Today, it is better to first discuss important matters with your esteed school..." Xu Xing, noticing Li Xiaoyun's discomfort, thought for a mont and took the initiative to help him out.
Hearing this, Li Xiaoyun imdiately shot Xu Xing a grateful look. After bowing to his parents on the Main Seat, he hurriedly fled the Main Hall, departing in a fluster.
"My son is rather unaccomplished; Master Xu must find this amusing," the Villa Lady said with a faint smile upon seeing this.
"It's just youthful temperant," Xu Xing smiled faintly. "Villa Lady, please don't see it that way. Brother Xiao Yun will understand your painstaking efforts in the future."
Towards Li Xiaoyun and his mother, he was rely being superficially polite and saying a few pleasantries. There was no need to let the diplomatic relations between the two sects reach a freezing point due to personal matters.
"Besides today's banquet for the diplomatic ties between our two sects, I have also prepared a private banquet, to be held in two days. I hope Master Xu and Lady Xu will do us the honor of attending..." Seeing that Xu Xing understood her intentions, the Villa Lady's gaze towards him softened as she spoke with a smile.
"Xu Mou would be happy to attend," Xu Xing replied, cupping his hands.
「Not long after.」
Dragon Mountain Villa, Guest Room.
"I heard that Li Xiaoyun is quite unruly, but I didn't expect him to be much more well-behaved than the rumors suggest when he t my husband," Zuoqiu Ying said with a smile, sitting on a round stool after pouring Xu Xing a cup of tea.
Although she and Li Xiaoyun were not peers, Li Xiaoyun, as the Dragon Mountain Villa Young Manor Lord, was already well-known in the Cultivation World, so there were naturally many rumors about him. In these rumors, Li Xiaoyun was depicted as having an unruly and arrogant character, with a notorious reputation in the Cultivation World.
"Him?" Xu Xing sneered upon hearing this, his expression turning colder.
He had not only witnessed Li Xiaoyun's fierce battle with Gou Renshu in the Wangchuan Sea but also knew clearly the reasons for their conflict.
Over six hundred years ago, Li Xiaoyun had indulged in debauchery in the mortal realm, abducting wives and daughters. After toying with them, he had brutally murdered many of these won. Gou Renshu of the Daoist Sect had battled the Young Manor Lord Li Xiaoyun precisely because of this matter. If not for this, Gou Renshu would not have dared to risk a war between their two sects to fight a successor of a Higher Teaching.
"Such a vicious person. From this glimpse, one can tell that the Villa Lady is certainly not a good person either." After hearing Xu Xing's account of these past events, Zuoqiu Ying's pretty face was also covered with frost.
She could secure her position as the Sect Leader's Wife after Xu Xing's departure, so naturally, she wasn't so paragon of virtue who despised evil. People who righteously despise evil are not suited for holding power. But it was simply that the nature of Li Xiaoyun's deeds was too vile; even a Cultivator like Zuoqiu Ying, accustod to the good and evil of the world, found them utterly contemptible and repulsive.
"Dragon Mountain Villa's stability won't last long. When that ti cos, Madam, you can issue the order to deal with this Li Xiaoyun," Xu Xing said after pondering for a short while.
He had no fear of Li Xiaoyun whatsoever. However, killing Li Xiaoyun at this mont would bring no benefits to the Butian Sect. Cultivators and sects that act based on personal preferences and emotions cannot endure for long. Delaying his own and the sect's developnt for one Li Xiaoyun was not worth it. Moreover, although Li Xiaoyun's actions were despicable, such spoiled young masters were not uncommon in the world; he couldn't just kill every single one he encountered. However, not killing him now didn't an he wouldn't be killed in the future. When the ti was right, dealing with a 'stranded' Li Xiaoyun would be an effortless task for the Butian Sect.
"I will rember this matter," Zuoqiu Ying replied, slightly nodding her Qiufu.
Neither she nor Xu Xing were Cultivators who acted on whims. Nor were they chivalrous heroes of the Righteous Path who abhorred all evil. Nevertheless, both hailed from Righteous Path sects, and they would not unduly shirk matters of justice that were within their power to address.
And this was the distinction between Righteous Path sects and the Demon's Sect.
Not everyone in a Righteous Path sect is a hero, but most Cultivators still possess a benevolent heart.
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