Chapter 458: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Duxian Gate's Second-Rank Great Zongshi, Li Sixiang!

Chapter 458: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Duxian Gate's Second-Rank Great Zongshi, Li Sixiang!

In the pavilion, Ye Zhengqi and Zhong Lao looked at Jiang Ning with a hint of regret.

"What a pity!" Ye Zhengqi shook his head and continued, "With your aptitude for the Immortal Way, in ancient times, you would have undoubtedly risen above billions of living beings and all sentient beings."

Zhong Lao also shook his head, remaining silent.

Seeing their expressions, Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

"What's there to regret?" he said dismissively.

He then picked up a piece of pastry from the table and continued to fill his stomach.

"Jiang Xunshi, you're so open-minded!" Zhong Lao nodded.

At that moment, two voices, one male and one female, called out from behind them.

Jiang Ning turned his head and saw a man and a woman, both around thirty years old, walking side by side.

As he wondered about their identities, Zhong Lao spoke first.

"Huang Xunshi, Wang Xunshi, come over here!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning immediately understood.

These two must be the Xunshi from other counties, holding the same official position as himself and Bai Luoyu.

The two quickly approached.

"Greetings, Ye Fushi, and Zhong Lao!" they both bowed respectfully.

"Take a seat!" Ye Zhengqi said indifferently.

The two glanced at the remaining seat in the pavilion, feeling slightly embarrassed.

There was only one seat left, but there were two of them.

"Brother, may I have your seat?" the man asked Jiang Ning.

"Xunshi, this is Jiang Xunshi from Dongling County!" the young woman behind Zhong Lao spoke up.

Hearing this, the man's eyes flashed with surprise and shock.

He had just observed Jiang Ning's age and appearance, assuming he was a junior who had followed them, which was why he had spoken up.

"Jiang Xunshi, my apologies for my rudeness!" the man quickly apologized.

"It's nothing!" Jiang Ning waved his hand dismissively.

Seeing this, the man's expression became slightly awkward.

He took another look at Jiang Ning and then quietly suppressed his emotions.

He could tell that Jiang Ning was much younger than him.

Youth, that was it.

Being so young and holding the same official position as him, it was clear without a doubt that Jiang Ning's future achievements would far surpass his own.

At this moment, if he were to escalate a minor friction or misunderstanding into a larger conflict, it would be foolish.

He adjusted his emotions.

"Huang Xunshi, please take the seat. Ladies first, I'll stand," he said.

Hearing this, the woman smiled slightly and sat down.

Jiang Ning listened to their greetings and conversations while finishing off all the pastries on the table.

As the last piece of pastry entered his mouth, he raised his head and saw the short young woman behind Zhong Lao.

At that moment, the girl was looking at Jiang Ning with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

When she noticed Jiang Ning's sudden gaze, she immediately composed herself, becoming serious.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

"Zhong Yue, Ye Zhengqi, it's been a while!"

Suddenly, a voice as deep as a great bell resonated in their ears.

The voice was loud, with an echoing quality, reverberating in their ears.

As the sound rang out, Zhong Lao and Ye Zhengqi's expressions turned solemn, and they looked intently in the direction Jiang Ning had come from.

Jiang Ning also turned to look.

An elderly man with silver hair and a Daoist robe appeared in their sight, followed by a man and two women.

But at that moment, Jiang Ning's attention was completely captured by the silver-haired, robed elder.

Looking at the elder, he felt a powerful sense of oppression.

It was a mental oppression.

This oppressive feeling seemed like an illusion, without substance, but he sensed that it was real.

"Li Sixiang, you're here too?" Zhong Lao stood up and spoke slowly.

"Since you, Zhong Yue, could come from the Five Peaks Prefecture, it's only natural for me, a native of Guangning Prefecture, to attend Xiao Qiu Shui's Zongshi Feast."

Then, he calmly scanned Jiang Ning and the others with his gaze.

"Never mind, I won't disturb your gathering. I'll take my leave!"

As his words fell, the silver-haired elder led his group up the stone staircase beside them.

Soon, the elder and his companions disappeared from sight.

"Ye Fushi, who is that person?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Li Sixiang, the second Great Zongshi of Duxian Gate!" Ye Zhengqi answered.

"The second Great Zongshi of Duxian Gate!" Zhong Yue added.

"Are you sure he has reached the Second-Rank?" Ye Zhengqi asked, his expression turning grave.

Zhong Yue nodded, "Confirmed!"

"The second Great Zongshi reaching the Second-Rank is a thorny issue!" Ye Zhengqi spoke with seriousness.

"Indeed, it's a challenge!" Zhong Yue nodded in agreement.

Then he sighed: "He has stepped into the second-rank before me. You should be careful from now on!"

  "I understand!" Ye Zhengqi nodded.

  With two second-rank masters in one sect, and the thousand-year-old sect's profound foundation, which has continued from ancient times to the present, he also knew that it would be difficult to deal with the DuXian Gate in Guangning Prefecture at this time.

  The imperial court and the sects were originally on opposing sides.

  Especially in this era.

  A moment later.

  Ye Zhengqi and Zhong Yue set off together.

  Jiang Ning also accompanied Ye Zhengqi.

  Because the two of them lived next to each other, in the adjacent rooms.

  "Ye Fu Shi, you just said that the Li Sishang of DuXian Gate is one of the four great masters. What do you mean by that?"

  Until this moment, with only Jiang Ning and Ye Zhengqi left, Jiang Ning took the opportunity to ask the question that had been puzzling him.

  "Have you heard of the Four Elements?" Ye Zhengqi said as they walked.

  "I have!" Jiang Ning replied.

  "The Four Elements, which originated from the Buddhist concept of the Four Elements, are what Li Sishang of DuXian Gate used to reach the peak of the master realm, and then step into the threshold of the second-rank great master." Ye Zhengqi explained.

  "To reach the peak of the master realm with the Four Elements, that's truly formidable!!!" Jiang Ning exclaimed.

  Ye Zhengqi said, "Li Sishang is indeed formidable! The Four Elements, in Buddhist mythology, are the basic elements that constitute all matter. In terms of their conception, they have the ability to reconstruct the world!"

  "Although this is just a conception, to reach the peak of the master realm with the Four Elements and then step into the second-rank, Li Sishang's martial arts true intent must be extremely profound and powerful."

  "In Guangning Prefecture, he is a top-tier strongman."

  Speaking of this, Ye Zhengqi glanced at Jiang Ning again.

  "But this has nothing to do with you!"

  "If there are any problems with DuXian Gate, or if they have any rebellious thoughts, that's something I and the soon-to-be appointed Shen Wenyuan, the new master of Shen's Mansion, should be concerned about!"

  Upon hearing these words.

  Jiang Ning immediately nodded.

  He also suddenly felt that this trip was worth it.

  If he hadn't come to WaterMoon Sword Palace and attended this master feast, he wouldn't have gained such a broad perspective.

  DuXian Gate, Li Sishang, Zhong Yue

  These were all things he hadn't known before.

  In the upper echelons, the official side did not have the upper hand.

  A single DuXian Gate, with one after another, produced two second-rank great masters.

  At least in the surrounding areas of Guangning Prefecture, the local sect power was very strong and influential.

  As for the official side of Daxia.

  As far as he knew, the only second-rank great master in the Inspection Office was the soon-to-be appointed Shen Wenyuan.

  And he was a newly promoted second-rank great master.

  The Inspection Office in Guangning Prefecture's city was taken over by the newly promoted second-rank great master Shen Wenyuan, indicating that the previous old master was being transferred to another place.

  After all, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.

  It would be impossible for one Inspection Office to accommodate the existence of both the old and new masters.

  From this, he could also infer.

  The official side of Daxia lacked high-end power and was very weak.

  Perhaps due to this reason, there was such a rule.

  Second-rank great masters who were willing to join the court and the official side could be granted a title and enfeoffed.

  This also showed the scarcity of strongmen.

  This made him recall a saying he had read in a book before.

  Daxia had ruled the world for over eight hundred years.

  In reality, it was the imperial house and various imperial powers, along with the sects, that had jointly ruled the world for over eight hundred years.

  The three sides also formed a three-way balance of power.

  While it seemed that the Martial Saint had suppressed the world for over eight hundred years, in truth, the world had chosen to compromise for over eight hundred years.

  Those truly profound sects, the Martial Saint had never stepped into their forbidden lands.

  As his thoughts were flying, Jiang Ning was suddenly interrupted by Ye Zhengqi.

  "Jiang Xunshi, what did you think of Zhong Lao's great-great-granddaughter?"

  "What do you mean, Ye Fu Shi?" Jiang Ning came back to his senses, looking puzzled.

  "What do you think of her?" Ye Zhengqi asked.

  "She's quite mysterious and special! She can even discern the talent of the Xian Root!" Jiang Ning said.

  "You're right, Zhong Lao's great-great-granddaughter is indeed special. She possesses a special constitution from ancient times. If she were born in ancient times, she would have been cherished as a treasure by all the Xian sects and sanctuaries!" Ye Zhengqi spoke, shaking his head.

  "Unfortunately, she, like you, was born in the wrong era!"

  "But she's a little better than you in that her special constitution naturally allows her to master the unity of heaven and man."

  Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning was surprised.

  "She can naturally master the unity of heaven and man?"

  "Yes!" Ye Zhengqi nodded slightly, continuing, "Not only that, if you marry her, and your souls resonate, you can also use her as a medium to comprehend the unity of heaven and man."

  Speaking of this, Ye Zhengqi glanced at Jiang Ning and said, "Jiang Xunshi, why don't you marry her? I will definitely support you fully and go to Zhong Lao to propose on your behalf. What do you think?"

"We can have a young Tianren Master in our Guangning Prefecture, and I have a bright face!"

 Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning shook his head repeatedly.

 "This step can be tricky, but what should I do next? Once I have tasted the sweetness of going astray, I fear that my martial arts heart will waver and no longer be firm!"

 Upon hearing this, Ye Zhengqi couldn't help but glance at Jiang Ning.

 Then he nodded slightly: "No wonder Jiang Xunshi can achieve such young achievements at such a young age. It is not surprising that he is not tempted by such good things and remains steadfast!"

 During the conversation.

 The two of them had already arrived at the building complex of their residence.

 "Oh, Jiang Xunshi!"

 Upon hearing Ye Zhengqi's call, Jiang Ning immediately stopped in his tracks.

 Ye Zhengqi said: "Before Zhao Fu Zhu contacted me, he had already emerged from his closed-door cultivation and is expected to arrive at WaterMoon Sword Palace this afternoon! If I am in closed-door cultivation, you can go and meet him."

 "Is Zhao Fu Zhu coming?" Jiang Ning's eyes lit up instantly: "Has Zhao Fu Zhu taken that crucial step out of his closed-door cultivation?"

 Ye Zhengqi shook his head: "I don't know for now, you you can ask later!"

 Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded.

 "Okay! I'm going inside!" Ye Zhengqi waved his hand, pushed open his own door, and returned to his own room.

 Seeing this, Jiang Ning also pushed open the door and returned to his own room.

 "Come out!" Jiang Ning closed the door and spoke to the side room.

 The next moment.

 A young woman in a blue silk long dress walked out of his resting room.

 Jiang Ning came to the table, turned over the tea bowl that was upside down on the tray, and poured himself a bowl of cold tea.

 Just now, he had eaten too many pastries in the pavilion, making him feel a bit dry in his mouth.

 "Say it! What do you want?" Jiang Ning asked.

 As soon as he finished speaking, he picked up the tea bowl and drank it in one gulp.

 Because he drank it in a hurry, some tea water flowed out from the edge of the bowl and fell on the wooden floor.

 After drinking a bowl, he poured himself a second bowl.

 At this moment, Xiao Emei finally spoke.

 "I advised the Palace Master!"

 "What's the result?" Jiang Ning said indifferently.

 "I failed!" Xiao Emei's eyes were a bit dim.

 "I guessed it!" Jiang Ning said, and then picked up the second bowl of tea.

 After drinking it in one gulp, he turned the tea bowl upside down on the tray again.

 Then he continued: "Xiao Qiushui has just entered Tianren Master, and it is the time when his spirit is the strongest. How could he listen to your advice and give up!"

 "I know too!" Xiao Emei's eyes were full of complexity, and her thoughts were tangled and difficult to express.

 "Will you really kill her?" Xiao Emei asked again.

 "If he makes that choice, I will naturally do my best!"

 Upon hearing this, Xiao Emei fell silent again.

 On the other side.

 WaterMoon Sword Palace.

 Palace Master's bedroom.

 "The Palace Master's guess was correct, Xiao Emei really has something to do with Jiang Ning! He should be in Jiang Ning's room right now" A female disciple knelt on the ground, shivering.

 "I understand, you can leave!" Xiao Qiushui waved her hand, and her tone was filled with calmness.

 Upon hearing this, the female disciple couldn't help but look up in surprise.

 She saw Xiao Qiushui's face without any change in expression.

 She couldn't help but shudder in her heart, and then she lowered her head and replied: "Yes, Palace Master!"

 Then she lowered her head and quickly left the hall.

 Until she reached the outside of the hall, the female disciple finally breathed a sigh of relief, and her body felt a bit weak.

 Inside the hall.

 Xiao Qiushui took out three thin pieces of paper from her body.

 At this moment, if Jiang Ning were here, he would see that all three pieces of paper contained information about Jiang Ning.

 Xiao Qiushui looked at the information recorded on the paper, and after a long silence, she slowly collected her slender fingers, and the three pieces of paper were crumpled into a ball by her.

 Then, starting from the corner, they turned into scattered fragments and dissipated in the air, becoming nothingness.

 She had read the information recorded on these three pieces of paper countless times.

 Now she has memorized it by heart.

 "That's good!"

 "You have something to do with him, and you are the next Palace Master of WaterMoon Sword Palace, the only heir I have designated!"

 "If I lose, with you here, I can also ensure the safety of WaterMoon Sword Palace!"

 "In this way, I can also fight with all my strength!"

 Xiao Qiushui muttered to herself, as if she was talking to herself, and as if she was talking to someone.

 When she said this, her eyes were filled with murderous intent, and the hall was filled with a strong killing intent.

 "Either he dies!"

 "Either I die!"

 "With his growth rate, I can't delay any longer."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end