BXBX NOVEL Chapter 327: Ill Have A Duel With Him First
Chapter 327: I'll Have A Duel With Him First
Venerable Wen Yuan was expressionless, but he asked curiously, "What do you want Red Cotton Peak for?"
There wasn't much there. All that was left outside the mountain forest was the neglected Mountain God's Altar and a large empty clearing. It was usually just a place for disciples to set up stalls.
"I have some ideas that I haven't fully developed yet. Once I've decided what I want to do, I will inform the sect about them," Chu Liang said. "I promise that no activities that violate sect rules or public morals will take place on Red Cotton Peak during the lease period."
Looking at Chu Liang's serious expression, Venerable Wen Yuan couldn't figure out Chu Liang's intentions.
So, he just nodded. "What's the next option?"
Chu Liang continued with his third proposal. "The third option is to consider the one thousand Azure-Dragon coins as my investment in the Demon-Subduing Pestle."
"Investment?"
Chu Liang explained, "Yes, it means I have a share in the Demon-Subduing Pestle and the right to use it. But my share is small, we could say that I will be limited to using it three times a year. That means if I need the Demon-Subduing Pestle, I can borrow it three times and return it to the sect immediately after each use."
"But with your current level, it's much too early for you to try wielding the Demon-Subduing Pestle."
Venerable Wen Yuan wasn't looking down on Chu Liang. Any of the top one hundred legendary artifacts would be too much for a cultivator at the Golden Core Realm to handle. Their qi might get sucked dry with just one use.
"It's true that I can't use it yet, but my teacher can," Chu Liang said.
Just think, if the Eminent Di Nufeng, a seventh-realm combat master, were to wear the Phoenix Spirit Blood Jade, which was ranked 57th in the Catalog of the Mortal World's Ten Thousand Treasures, and also wield the Demon-Subduing Pestle, which was ranked 87th...
Who could stop her?
It was already amazing if a seventh-realm Eminent One possessed just one top-hundred legendary artifact. Who was that wealthy that they would possess two legendary artifacts? This proposal would undoubtedly make Di Nufeng invincible below the eighth realm!
If there was an enhanced version of Di Nufeng, it meant that Chu Liang—the only one who could summon her—would have a much more powerful arsenal. From now on, he would never have to bow down to anyone.
Venerable Wen Yuan, who had attained the Heavenly Origin, had a composed mental state that was as steadfast as Mount Tai. This meant his emotions rarely ever wavered.
Yet, faced with Chu Liang's proposals, Venerable Wen Yuan couldn't help but furrow his brows.
He'd found Chu Liang's first proposal improper, but after listening to the other two, it turned out that the first one was the most reasonable.
The first proposal, which would treat Chu Liang's contribution as a loan that the Mount Shu Sect had taken from him, had sounded strange to Venerable Wen Yuan at first. However, upon further consideration, he thought it made sense. After all, disciples shouldn't be contributing to the sect financially without getting anything in return. If it wasn't possible to give them their desired rewards, then giving them money would be acceptable.
The second proposal was to let Chu Liang rent Mount Shu's land...
Does he want to experience the thrill of being a peak master?
Nonetheless, the Mount Shu Sect had never—not once in all of its history—had a precedent for leasing out its land.
The third proposal was even more ridiculous.
Let him use the Demon-Subduing Pestle three times a year, but it would actually be for Di Nufeng to use...?
If she were to wield two legendary artifacts, wouldn't I be the only one in Mount Shu who is capable of restraining her?
Then once she leaves the mountain... Wouldn't she become a huge danger to the nine provinces?
Chu Liang had stopped talking and was staring at Venerable Wen Yuan eagerly.
Seeing that, Venerable Wen Yuan asked, "Are you done?"
"Yes. I only have these three proposals," Chu Liang said shyly. "I do not dare ask for anything else. Sect Leader, please choose one of these proposals if you find any of them suitable."
Faced with this difficult choice, Venerable Wen Yuan fell silent for a moment.
Then he said, "I will consider them and discuss with the elders before making a decision. As for you... it just so happens that the Phoenix Sheep Hidden Realm will open in the next few days. You should go spend some time there, and I'll give you an answer when you return."
"The Phoenix Sheep Hidden Realm?"
The name made Chu Liang pause.
...
In the Eastern Region's Phoenix Sheep Mountain, there was a hidden realm where the Phoenix Sheep, a celestial beast, lived in seclusion. It awakened once every thirty years and then roamed the West Sea for ten or so days before returning to sleep.
During its slumber, the hidden realm would accumulate spiritual qi and produce a spirit plant called the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life. It was an extremely rare treasure of nature.
When the Phoenix Sheep awakened, the hidden realm would open, drawing in a throng of demonic beasts from the nearby mountain forests. The Phoenix Sheep would then devour these demonic beasts to boost its health before heading to the West Sea.
The first ones to discover this hidden realm had been the Mount Shu Sect, the Greater-Yin Cult, the Celestial King Sect, and the Endless Sword Sect, so it was a joint ownership between these four sects.
In the world of immortality cultivators, it was customary for the sects that first discover a hidden realm to collaborate and extract resources from it. By working together, they could overpower the latecomers and drive them away.
Consequently, it eventually became the norm that hidden realms were jointly monopolized by several sects. Independently owned hidden realms became a rarity.
The four immortal sects that shared the Phoenix Sheep Hidden Realm had agreed that every time the celestial beast Phoenix Sheep woke up and left the hidden realm, they would each send a disciple to the hidden realm to harvest the fruit of the Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life plant.
The Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life plant typically bore only one or two fruits every thirty years, so it's inevitable that not all four sects would get a fruit. That meant their disciples needed to compete with each other for the fruit.
As a medicinal ingredient, this fruit was of excellent grade, as it had the attributes of metal and fire. It was a great choice for breaking through either the first or fourth levels of the Realm of the Five Elements.
The disciple that the Mount Shu Sect sent this time was Chu Liang.
Normally, the head disciple would be sent for such an occasion. However, Jiang Yuebai happened to be in closed-door cultivation to break through to the second level of the Realm of the Five Elements, so Mount Shu could only send its second best disciple.
Ordinarily, Xu Ziyang, who had entered the fifth realm even earlier than Jiang Yuebai, should have taken on this responsibility. Nevertheless, Chu Liang's sudden rise in power had stunned everyone.
Chu Liang had achieved many great feats in a short period. There was no doubt that the Mount Shu Sect's higher-ups now ranked Chu Liang above all the other disciples, even Jiang Yuebai. After all, he had been selected by the Violent and Azure Twin Swords, and that was of utmost importance.
Chu Liang looked into the distance at the unusual natural phenomenon occurring at Phoenix Sheep Mountain. The sky was filled with layers of red clouds that looked like raging flames, and gold liquid surged through the rivers winding down the mountain. Demonic beasts were approaching the mountain from all over, bringing with them immense waves of demonic qi.
The hidden realm hadn't fully opened yet, but dense spiritual qi was already leaking out.
The Phoenix Sheep's Fruit of Life plant was likely one of the Phoenix Sheep's mystical abilities, the Phoenix Sheep used it to lure prey over the moment it woke from its long slumber.
Chu Liang arrived at a small pavilion on the summit of Phoenix Sheep Mountain—the meeting place the four sects had agreed on.
He saw there were already two people waiting in the pavilion.
One of them was a petite young lady with a long ponytail, a small and delicate face, and a lively gaze. She stood elegantly with a long, slender sword on her back.
The other person was a familiar face. It was a man with an icy expression and a stunning appearance—Luo Xiaoyong from the Greater-Yin Cult.
Seeing Chu Liang approach, Luo Xiaoyong gave a slight nod as a greeting.
Returning the greeting, Chu Liang nodded too. Then he looked at the young lady next to Luo Xiaoyong.
The young lady was looking at him too.
She grinned and asked, "Are you from the Mount Shu Sect or the Celestial King Sect?"
Chu Liang answered, "I am Chu Liang, a disciple of the Mount Shu Sect."
"Ah!" the young lady exclaimed. "You're the one who killed Taowu some days ago! I read about your story in the gazette! Very impressive!"
Chu Liang smiled. "I was just lucky."
"I'm Li Shiyi, from the Endless Sword Sect," the young lady said cheerfully, appearing rather animated and friendly. "I wanted to go watch the Mount Shu Summit, but something came up."
Li Shiyi?
Hearing this name, Chu Liang could make a rough guess about who she was.
The Endless Sword Sect had a famous lineage of members that descended from the same family—the Li Family. The current swordmaster of the sect was Li Shi, the current sect leader was Li Jiu, and the most powerful member of the sect, the Supreme Elder, was Li Ba.[1]
These three people were three generations of the Li family—son, father, and grandfather[2]. So, it was obvious just from hearing the young lady's name that she was a descendant of that family.
Chu Liang chatted with her with a smile while Luo Xiaoyong just listened. Knowing what Luo Xiaoyong was like, Chu Liang didn't ask him any questions.
After a short time passed, a beam of light shot over, streaking across the distant sky. Then suddenly, a person landed at the pavilion.
The newcomer was tall and had a handsome face, highlighted by sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He had the confident air and drive of a young genius. This was the head disciple of the Celestial King Sect, Feng Chaoyang!
The first thing Feng Chaoyang did after landing was look around. When he noticed Chu Liang, his gaze froze there.
"Why are you here? Where is Fairy Jiang?" Feng Chaoyang asked.
"Senior Sister Jiang is in closed-door cultivation, so I'll be handling the hidden realm in her place," Chu Liang answered with a smile. He paused before adding, "But it doesn't matter which of us comes; it's the same."
"Oh, that's great actually. Because I've disliked you for a long time!" Feng Chaoyang said spitefully. "I still remember the time you hugged Fairy Jiang on the fighting stage."[3]
Feng Chaoyang wasn't the only one who resented Chu Liang for that. Which disciple from the sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten wouldn't call him a scoundrel if they'd seen that hug?
Nonetheless, Chu Liang maintained a calm smile. "It's inevitable that accidents happen on the fighting stage."
Feng Chaoyang swung out his arm, waving off Chu Liang's excuse. He then said aggressively, "Once we're in the hidden realm, you girls should step aside. I'll have a duel with him first!"
1. Lol, these names. They are numbers, descending from 10. So, they’re basically Li Shi = Li Number 10, Li Jiu = Li Number 9, Li Ba = Li Number 8. Then Li Shiyi = Li Number 11. ☜
2. I.e. Li Shi’s dad is Li Jiu. Li Jiu’s dad is Li Ba. Li Ba is Li Shi’s grandfather. ☜
3. Keke. Someone's jealous. ☜