Chapter 66: The Advantage Is Mine
Inside the hot spring room, Li Fuxi soaked in the misty waters, her entire body subrged in a state of deep relaxation. Through the hazy steam, her snow-white skin took on a faint pink hue, and her long hair cascaded like a dark waterfall, floating gently on the water's surface.
The sounds of conversation and laughter from the deck, though muffled by the cabin's barrier formation, still carried a sense of irritating joy. Li Fuxi unconsciously pricked up her ears, trying to decipher the muffled voices.
"So good..."
"Reward..."
"Pretty... happy..."
The fragnted words drifted to her, making her chest tighten with a strange, prickly sensation.
"He really is a little lecher. Even with Yinyin already..." Li Fuxi irritably stirred the water, sending ripples splashing against the jade walls.
"Forget it. It's just conversation; they haven't overstepped." She forced herself to remain stoic, sinking deeper into the pool to focus on absorbing the potent essence of the spiritual liquid.
Several days later, the flying vessel descended before the mountain gates of the Muling Sect. As Zhang Xian and his party disembarked, they found dozens of elders, led by the Sect Leader himself, already lined up in a formal welco.
"Esteed fellow Daoists from the Yunmiao Sect, you have traveled far! We apologize for not eting you further out!" The Sect Leader was a young-looking man in blue robes nad Lu Qing, his expression a mask of practiced amiability.
As Zhang Xian, Li Fuxi, and Liu Qingxuan stepped onto the ground, a wave of astonished murmurs swept through the gathered crowd. Both won were breathtaking beauties, their grace unmatched in this region.
However, what truly surprised the Muling Sect was that the unassuming middle-aged man with the lowest cultivation level seed to be the one subtly taking the lead.
"I am Zhang Xian. Greetings, Sect Leader Lu," Zhang Xian said, performing a polite cupped-fist salute.
The trio had done their howork. Lu Qing was at the third layer of the Golden Core stage and had held his position for over two hundred years. Most importantly, he had briefly studied under Liu Huaigu at Green Wood Peak.
The Muling Sect had been in a state of deep apprehension since receiving advance word of this visit. After so discussion, Zhang Xian had agreed to handle the negotiations, while Liu Qingxuan and Li Fuxi provided the necessary prestige and muscle.
"Greetings to you three True Persons." Lu Qing’s posture was remarkably humble. He showed no disdain toward Zhang Xian’s Foundation Establishnt status; the Yunmiao Sect’s authority was absolute.
Lu Qing imdiately tried to establish rapport with Liu Qingxuan. "This student pays respects to Supervisor Liu. How has Teacher Huaigu been recently?"
"My father is in good health. Thank you for your concern," Liu Qingxuan replied with a slight, formal nod.
"This student is ashad," Lu Qing sighed. "Please, honored True Persons, let us proceed to the main hall."
Inside the hall, fruit tea was served. Zhang Xian’s party took the seats of honor on the left, while Lu Qing and his elders sat on the right.
Following cultivation world traditions, they began with long stretches of small talk and anecdotes. Lu Qing and his elders showered Zhang Xian with extravagant praise, nearly describing him as an immortal descended from the heavens.
Li Fuxi loathed socializing, and Liu Qingxuan was too shy for such gas. Fortunately, Zhang Xian was a veteran of the social arts. He returned the flattery with a stream of his own complints, suggesting Lu Qing had the bearing of a future Nascent Soul master.
The atmosphere beca so jovial it seed they might beco sworn brothers on the spot. Only after the two won began to feel drowsy did Lu Qing finally steer the conversation toward business.
"Ahem." Lu Qing let out a heavy sigh. "It is a pity our sect produced a few scoundrels who disrupted the friendship between our sects—truly a disgrace to the cultivation world."
Zhang Xian sat up straight. "Bring that beast in here!" Lu Qing barked.
Two disciples escorted a haggard man into the hall. He was the survivor of the trio that had attacked the temple.
"The sinful disciple is here!" the Sect Leader shouted. "Confess your cris before the seniors of Yunmiao Sect!"
The disciple fell prostrate, trembling. "This junior... this junior knows he was wrong..."
Zhang Xian confird the man’s face against the portrait provided by Li Miaoyin. He stood up and began a slow, deliberate circle around the kneeling man.
"First question: why did you attack?"
"It... it was my master," the disciple stamred. "He thought those cultivators had treasures... and he coveted the female cultivator's beauty. He thought no one would find out in a minor world."
"Hmph! To think we produced such scum!" a white-haired elder shouted. This was the second Golden Core of the sect and the master of the deceased attacker.
"Second question," Zhang Xian continued. "Returning from that world costs thirty mid-grade spirit stones. Why go there at all?"
"Master wanted to trade with mortals... buying materials at low prices to recoup costs. He took us along to learn the trade."
This was a common, if illegal, practice. Cultivators often exploited minor worlds for resources, evading the Southern Region's decrees against interfering in mortal affairs.
"Final question: your master died there. How did you return?"
"I... I used a recall formation array."
"Oh? Those cost ten mid-grade spirit stones," Zhang Xian mocked. "A Qi Refining disciple carrying that kind of wealth? How frugal of you."
Cold sweat poured down the disciple’s face. "The stones were... saved for my future tribulations..."
Zhang Xian fell silent. It was a plausible lie, but a lie nonetheless. Suddenly, the white-haired elder flicked his palm. A burst of energy sent the disciple curling into a ball, screaming as his spiritual roots were shattered.
"I have crippled him," the elder said gravely. "His life is in your hands."
Zhang Xian glanced at his companions and opened their private ntal communication channel.
If I decide to fight them now—can we handle it?
I could level this entire sect alone, Li Fuxi’s voice rang in his head, cold and confident. Despite her recent reset, the quality of her Supre Spirit Root far outstripped these third-rate cultivators.
I am not a fighter, but at the sixth layer of the Golden Core, I can manage, Liu Qingxuan added. But Zhang Xian, are you sure? They seem sincere. Do we really need to slaughter them for the actions of a few?
I'm just weighing our options, Zhang Xian replied. The advantage was firmly his.
"Ahem!" Zhang Xian stood up, his voice echoing through the hall.
"I will take this disciple back with for further questioning. Does anyone have any objections?"
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