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Chapter 428: Country Folk Broaden Their Horizons
Chapter 428: Country Folk Broaden Their Horizons
Swish, swish.
Shen Yi, along with his three companions, appeared outside the Nanyang bas-relief.
As soon as they stepped out of the light curtain, they saw a treasure boat hovering in front of them. The boat was about thirty zhang long and pitch-black in color, adorned with a clear moon pattern.
"Nanyang Zongzhu, I am Qingyue Zong's executive, ordered by the elder to come and escort you."
There was only one person standing at the bow of the ship, a woman dressed in a dark blue robe. She looked rather young and had a pretty face.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Shen Yi nodded slightly, clearly aware that the Qingyue Zong's elder had considered his lack of return to the void and his inability to go to Qingyue Zong.
For a group of natives from Nanyang Zong who had just stepped into this realm, this was already a very considerate gesture.
"... "
Li Qingfeng stroked his chin and looked at the woman. Although she addressed Shen Yi as the sect master, she didn't show any sign of welcoming them. Instead, she stood with her hands behind her back, looking down at Shen Yi with a slightly cold expression on her face.
He withdrew his gaze without saying a word.
Led by Shen Yi, the three of them stepped onto the Qingyue treasure boat.
"Please."
The woman nodded in response, and immediately, the surrounding clouds and mist became blurred.
In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.
The clouds and mist cleared, revealing a vast and open space.
Shen Yi looked down at the platform on the peak and noticed that it was very similar to Nanyang Zong's, except for some minor differences in details. For example, the Nanyang bas-relief had been replaced by a Qingyue bas-relief.
It was as if these two peaks belonged to the same sect.
It seemed that the Nan Hong Seven Sons had been united from the very beginning, rather than forming an alliance later on.
"This way, please."
The executive gestured and then descended onto the bas-relief, her figure merging directly into the light curtain.
"Wow! Their sect's grand array is always active!"
Xu Qing'er couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.
Li Qingfeng also felt impressed: "It seems that the Nan Hong Seven Sons are indeed one of the top powers even outside."
Only truly powerful forces would be fearless of outsiders' invasions, to the extent of not bothering to station even a single guard. What immense confidence!
"... "
Shen Yi felt that these two idiots were taking jabs at him.
Before they had left, he had specifically checked to make sure the array formations were properly activated.
What's the point of putting up these pretenses?
Safety first, don't you know?
Zongzhu Shen took a slightly sour step forward and entered the bas-relief array formation.
In an instant.
The four of them appeared before a majestic and imposing archway.
The woman in the dark blue robe, Executive Liu, was quietly waiting for them. She had put away the treasure boat and used her gaze to disperse the surrounding disciples who were filled with curiosity. Only then did she point to the archway and say, "These are all Qi-refining disciples. They are too young and don't understand the rules. Please follow me into the inner sect."
"It feels pretty much the same as our place," Li Qingfeng quietly complained to Tong Xinquan via voice transmission.
"We don't have as many Qi-refining disciples as they do," Tong Xinquan said without looking at him, her eyes scanning the area. She noticed that among the passing cultivators, from the Mixed Yuan Ultimate Realm to the Jade Liquid Realm, despite their vastly different cultivation levels, they all wore the same clothing and walked together, chatting and joking without any barriers.
This was something hard to imagine in Nanyang Zong.
Once they entered the inner sect.
The scene before them was even more startling.
As they stepped in, they happened to meet a powerful cultivator with a terrifying aura.
And this cultivator, whose strength was no weaker than their master's, actually bowed and greeted Executive Liu: "Executive Liu."
A gentler expression appeared on the woman's face as she replied, "I have some matters to attend to, so I won't be able to chat with my junior brother any longer."
The Nascent Soul cultivator curiously glanced at the group but didn't ask any questions. He turned and disappeared between the archways.
After he left.
Executive Liu walked while explaining to Shen Yi, "This is the custom of the Nan Hong Seven Sons. Sect Master, you may want to take note of this. Usually, only Qi-refining disciples are allowed in the outer sect, and only those who reach the Spirit Transformation Realm can enter the inner sect."
"If one cultivates to the third layer of Nascent Soul, they can leave the inner sect."
"Those with average talent, like myself, can become executives. If we come across opportunities in the future and break through to the sixth layer of Nascent Soul or above, we can then strive for the position of outer sect elder."
"Only those with exceptional talent who are favored by the elders can become their personal disciples."
Executive Liu's face showed a hint of envy as she continued, "They don't need to concern themselves with sect affairs and can focus solely on their cultivation. If one day they can break through the twelfth layer of Nascent Soul and ascend to the White Jade Capital, they will be qualified to inherit the Dao plaque and become elders of the sect."
"As for the sect master..."
Executive Liu's voice trailed off, and she seemed to recall something, a slight embarrassment flashing across her face. She smiled and skipped over the topic.
Shen Yi also tactfully refrained from asking further questions.
It was clear that in such a sect, the position of sect master was less of a role and more of an embodiment of the "Dao."
It seemed that even though they were both at the Returning Void realm, the gap in strength might be even greater than he had imagined.
The third and sixth layers were both watershed moments.
Following this convention, a cultivator at the third layer of Returning Void could become a steward, probably because they initially possessed the self-preservation strength to travel outside the sect.
"In that case, our Master really got a good deal."
Li Qingfeng sighed without any resentment and was even happy for Ye Wenxuan.
Although she had abandoned them, there was no reason for anyone to be responsible for anyone else on the path of cultivation.
One could only say that their paths differed, but the gratitude for imparting the Dharma should never be forgotten.
"Sect Master Shen really got the short end of the stick."
Tong Xinquan glanced at her indifferently. Given the circumstances at that time, if Shen Yi had been willing to negotiate, he could have at least secured a position as a personal disciple, and there would have been no need to follow them in causing trouble for the Nanyang Zong.
"We're almost there."
Liu Zhishi looked ahead calmly, sighing inwardly. Natives of the Abyssal Realm were truly natives.
How could they think that their sound transmission technique could hide their conversation from her?
However, what they said wasn't false.
If Sect Master Shen had been willing, he could have received better treatment from the Qingyue Zong even now.
She led the group to a bamboo house.
Stopping at the door, she said softly, "Father, Sect Master Shen has arrived."
Creak!
The bamboo door opened without any wind.
"When conducting business, address him as Elder."
The owner of the voice that had previously spoken from the Qingyue Dao plaque finally revealed himself.
He was a slender middle-aged man with a short beard, a stern face, and dressed in a pitch-black Qingyue robe.
Li Qingfeng had seen many people wearing the same style of robe, such as the senior sister, Nie Shi, and even Sect Master Shen.
But only when it was worn by this middle-aged man did it look like casual attire rather than a ceremonial robe.
Since this was the inner sect, and he was an elder... then he must have ascended to the White Jade Capital?
Wait, how does he know that the sect master's surname is Shen?
Oh no... She's been eavesdropping.
Li Qingfeng's face turned bitter as she glanced at Tong Xinquan, only to find that she also looked slightly embarrassed.
It was clear that Steward Liu was using this way to remind them.
"... "
Looking at the middle-aged man before them, Shen Yi couldn't sense any powerful aura from him. He was as subdued as an ordinary person.
Judging from this sentence alone, he seemed rather inflexible.
However, that was to be expected. If he weren't inflexible, how could he seriously acknowledge the agreement with the allied sect in front of a group of juniors?
"Yes, Elder Liu."
Liu Qianyun paused for a moment before replying with a bow.
"Sect Master Shen."
Elder Liu stepped out of the bamboo house and bowed to Shen Yi before continuing, "You must have been busy lately. I won't detain you with pleasantries. I've invited you here today so that Nanyang Zong can understand the situation of our allied sect and draw some references from it."
"This is our Qingyue Zong's steward, Liu Qianyun. You can just call her Qianyun. In the coming months, she will be showing you around, and if there is anything you need, as long as it doesn't break the rules, Qingyue Zong will do its best to accommodate you."
Elder Liu demonstrated the etiquette of the allied sects to the fullest.
Shen Yi wasn't foolish enough to think that he was superior to them, and he returned the courtesy with gratitude: "Thank you, Elder Liu, for your assistance."
"You're welcome. This is what we should be doing."
Elder Liu looked deeply at Shen Yi, a hint of sigh in his eyes.
He valued rules the most, but he was by no means an impractical person.
He was also using this opportunity to remind Shen Yi that Qingyue Zong would not shirk its responsibilities, but that was all it would do.
The current Nanyang Zong was not something that Li Xuanqing or he, a mere Qingyue Zong elder, could hope to salvage.
"Please, Sect Master Shen." Elder Liu waved his sleeve lightly.
Liu Qianyun stepped forward, her expression subdued as she led the group away from the bamboo house.
It was clear that an elder who valued rules would earn the respect of most, but that might not include his own daughter.
As the daughter of an elder, she could only serve as a steward and was neither an outer sect elder nor given the exceptional opportunity to become a personal disciple.
"... "
Li Qingfeng had learned her lesson and refrained from using sound transmission this time.
Instead, she muttered to herself.
This steward must be taking out her frustration with her father on them.
As expected, once they left the bamboo house, Liu Qianyun's tone lost its patience: "Sect Master Shen, the most important thing for a sect's legacy is imparting the Dharma and guiding its disciples. I plan to take you to the Dharma Lecture Hall first."
"However, it would be inappropriate for allies to listen to our sect's Dharma lectures. Are you interested in dan pills, talismans, formations, or artifacts?"
As it happened, arrays were his forte.
"Very well, this way please."
Liu Qianyun just wanted to find a place to settle them down so she could be alone for a while. She had been addressing a newly Void Returning cultivator as 'Sect Master' and was beginning to feel awkward about it.
The inner sect of the Qingyue Sect was structured quite similarly to the Thousand Demon Cave, with at least a 70% resemblance.
However, it was much more elegant and graceful, and the figures passing by were all cultivators. Their cave abodes were adorned grandly, with a majestic and imposing aura.
Occasionally, as they passed by a grand hall, they could hear lively debates emanating from within.
There were sixteen grand halls dedicated solely to the study of arrays.
Liu Qianyun led the group into one of these halls.
The continuous lecture that had been ongoing suddenly ceased as they entered. Seated at the front of the hall was a elder clad in a green robe.
"This is Elder Yang, one of the outer sect elders. Among today's lecturers across the sixteen halls, he is one of the most proficient in the Way of Arrays," Liu Qianyun introduced briefly before gliding towards the front of the hall and whispering something to Elder Yang. She then turned and left the hall.
"...?"
Elder Yang scanned the hall, his eyes filled with confusion at the expressions on his disciples' faces. He then nodded towards Shen Yi and his companions. "Please feel free to take a seat."
Li Qingfeng wasn't particularly interested in this topic, but Tong Xinquan and Xu Qing'er were excited as they followed Shen Yi in bowing respectfully to the elder.
"Today, we have guests from afar, so we won't be delving into arrays. Instead, we will revisit the basics," Elder Yang said simply, and the faces of the disciples below changed slightly as they began to whisper among themselves, curious about the identity of the visitors.
The news of the reopening of the Nanyang Sect hadn't been deliberately spread, but a few had heard about it.
After all, it was quite a rare occurrence for the elders of the Nan Hong Seven Sons to unite and send out their Dao plaques together.
It was clear that Elder Yang was intentionally accommodating these newcomers whose lineage had been severed.
"How boring, how boring. If we wanted to listen to this, we could have just found any executive. Why bother with an outer sect elder?"
A disciple sighed and put away his array plate. If it weren't for Elder Yang's presence, he would have left already.
Shen Yi and his group didn't mind. They were here to listen, and whatever the lecturer taught, they would listen to.
Even if it was just the basics, it was still the genuine foundation of a major sect, undoubtedly far superior to what they had learned on their own.
As Elder Yang resumed his lecture, the three visitors listened quietly and attentively, filling in any gaps in their knowledge.
Aqing even took out a small booklet and started taking notes.
"...?"
Leaning against the hall's entrance, Liu Qianyun saw their expressions and shook her head. She seemed less than enthusiastic.
Li Qingfeng's attention wasn't on the arrays either. Instead, he quietly observed the people around him.
As time passed, he began to hear muffled laughter.
Nearly all the disciples, about a hundred of them, were staring at the trio in the corner.
"How diligent," someone said, covering their mouth. Their tone, however, didn't sound complimentary.
Someone suddenly reached out and snatched Aqing's booklet. After seeing that she had recorded every word without missing a single one, they finally couldn't hold back their laughter. "You're really studying this?"
"Uh..."
Aqing paused, feeling awkward. She didn't understand why they were laughing, as she genuinely felt that she had gained a lot from the lecture.
"...?"
Shen Yi casually pulled the booklet back and tucked it into Aqing's embrace, then switched seats with her. "Don't mind them. Just keep listening."
"Okay," Xu Qing'er nodded obediently.
The disciple who had taken the booklet was left dumbfounded. Shen Yi completely ignored him, treating him as if he didn't exist.
The disciple huffed, "Hey, you've got quite a temper. I was just looking. If there's anything you don't understand, I can teach you. No need to trouble Elder Yang."
Tong Xinquan, who had been listening to the laughter, finally shifted her gaze from the elder to the disciple. "Are you more knowledgeable than the elder? Then why don't you go up there and lecture instead?"
"Me?"
The young disciple's face turned red.
Being someone who had never left his sect before, he couldn't handle Tong Xinquan's sarcastic tone. He straightened up and said, "I'm not as good as the elder, but teaching you guys is still well within my capabilities."
"...?"
Tong Xinquan remained silent for a moment before turning to look at Shen Yi.
Seeing that he didn't intend to stop her, she calmly looked at the disciple and said softly, "That's not necessarily true."
(End of Chapter)
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