Chapter 36

When they returned to the Luojinwu, they saw that Chunyang Sect's mountain gates were already surrounded by many disciples, and among the group of cultivators in their light gold uniforms, two icy grey silhouettes stood out, like two ice crystals protruding from a field of wheat.

There were whispers all around. Chunyang Sect's method requires a clear mind and to have no desire, but young men who are in their prime can't help but see a beautiful woman and have their hearts stirred.

When they got closer, even Xie Bi An was shocked at the beauty of these two women. There was no doubt that they must be the famous Flying Plume Ambassadors of Cangyu Sect, and also the adopted daughters of Qi Meng Sheng - Yun Xiang Yi and Hua Xiang Rong*. They each carry a large bow on their backs, which is at odds with their slender physiques, yet they have a different kind of valiant and heroic look.

These two women are well known in the immortal world, not only for their beauty, but also for their excellent cultivation, and there are many cultivators in the world who have beautiful dreams about Empress E*, but unfortunately all those who came for marriage requests would return disappointed.

Xie Bi An's eyes lit up: "They’re really beautiful, just like the rumors."

Fan Wu She rolled his eyes, "They're old enough to be your mother."

"Cultivators don't age easily, especially female cultivators, they all cultivate childhood beauty."

"And what does that have to do with you."

"Everyone has a love of beauty, and beautiful women are like orchids, worthy of admiration." Xie Bi An laughed, "You're sixteen, you should know better."

Fan Wu She gave a cold snort.

Ahead of them, a disciple who was blocking the mountain gate said, "Please don't make things difficult for me, Flying Plume Ambassadors. Women are not allowed to enter Luojinwu unless it is a matter of vital importance. We have already informed the elders, so please wait for a while."

"Since you have already informed them, why are you dawdling about?" Hua Xiang Rong scolded angrily, "Our master's life is at stake, isn't it vital?! Besides, it's not like we're borrowing it for nothing!"

The disciple said coldly, "Forgive me for saying so, but the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp is the greatest treasure of Chunyang Sect and is never lent out. When the Supreme Demon demanded for it that year, master did not even give it. If the Flying Plume Ambassador could back off, we would all feel better."

"You're really good at saving face, is it because your master didn't give it? It's clear that the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp can only save the living. The Human Emperor has long since died, and the Supreme Demon only stopped when he learned of it, otherwise there would be no Chunyang Sect now."

The disciple's face looked pale.

Xie Bi An said in surprise, "How could there be such a thing? Wu She, have you heard of it?"

Fan Wu She did not answer, but his face was silently frosted. Ever since he came to Chunyang Sect, he had been haunted by countless memories, and now that nightmarish past was easily brought up by others. It was like a knife had been stabbed into his heart.

Back then, he carried Zong Zi Heng’s corpse to Luojinwu and demanded like mad that Xu Zhi Nan hand over the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp. Xu Zhi Nan, with the knot of his throat pressed against the tip of his sword, calmly told him that even if he slaughtered the entire Chunyang Sect, the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp would not be able to save the dead.

So he tore through the Fengdu barrier, reversing the paths of both humans and ghosts, just to reclaim one person.

All his hatred for Zong Zi Heng was no match for the fact that he had left him in such a hateful and desperate manner.

Xie Bi An also said to himself, "These two brothers are truly legendary. Fighting to the death in life, and then, when he really died, he broke into the underworld for him alone."

Yun Xiang Yi seemed to be more calm and collected, and she said slowly, "Zhen Ren, Cangyu Sect and Chunyang Sect are both great sects of the Immortal Alliance, and we had a common friendship in the past to fight against the enemy, so it is not your turn to decide whether or not to lend the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp. Are you forcing us to barge in with your rudeness?"

"You are treading on the territory of Chunyang Sect, and there are disciples of Chunyang Sect around you, so it is best to be cautious with your words."

"Sister, don't talk nonsense to him, let's see if we can enter this door today!"

"Yo, what’s up. What are all of you surrounding here for?" A slightly drunken voice came from behind.

Xie Bi An turned his head and saw Zhong Kui, with a red face, walking in through the three layers of onlookers.

Xie Bi An gently scolded, "Master, it's not even dark yet and you've already started drinking."

The Flying Plume Ambassadors looked Zhong Kui up and down, their gazes were unimpressed until they saw the blue-bladed sword at his waist, and the two of them said in surprise, "Heaven Master Zhong?"

"Aren't you the maids of Cangyu Sect? What are you doing here?"

"We …”

"Elder Zhaowen has arrived----"

Elder Zhaowen walked out with modest steps, his face serious and cold. Seeing everyone looking at him with bated breath, he said in a deep voice, "Two Flying Plume Ambassadors, please come inside."

---

The crowd was seated in the front hall, and the two juniors, Xie Bi An and Fan Wu She, stood behind Zhong Kui.

For a while, no one spoke.

Until Zhong Kui let out a loud burp.

Xie Bi An silently lowered his head. This is really a bit humiliating.

Zhaowen coughed lightly, "Flying Plume Ambassadors, this humble servant manages the internal and external affairs of the sect on behalf of my master, and can decide most things. I know the purpose of your visit, and my answer is, no. Please go back."

Hua Xiang Rong jumped up from her chair, but Yun Xiang Yi held her wrist and gave her an eye expression to make her sit back down. She said, "Our Sect Master is very old and is indeed approaching the end of her life, but there is still one wish that has not been fulfilled. So long Chunyang Sect lends us the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp for a year, our sect is willing to trade our Cold Jade Snow Elixir.”

The crowd was in an uproar.

Xie Bi An knew about this Cold Jade Snow Elixir. It was a top-notch immortal elixir refined by Cangyu Sect using Shen Nong Ding, a supreme elixir for those who practiced Cangyu Sect's technique, and could only be enjoyed by the Sect Leader. Even the clan that had been guarding Shen Nong Ding for generations could only produce one every twenty years.

However, this Cold Jade Snow Elixir was simply poisonous to people of other sects because of its extremely cold medicinal properties, the only exception was to Chunyang Sect.

This Yuanyang Technique is an extremely hot and yang technique. Although it is possible to cultivate a vajra body, if one is not careful, the extreme heat of the Yang may cause the heart to become too hot, and in serious cases, it may even endanger one's life. It is like a blazing fire, seemingly unstoppable, but once it burns out, it will be extinguished.

A Chunyang cultivator who has reached the master level must find a balance in this "burning". Immortal pills that are cold in nature have always been essential supplements for Chunyang cultivators, and the Cold Jade Snow Elixir is the best of the cold immortal pills.

Cangyu Sect's willingness to offer this elixir in exchange was a sign of their sincerity.

As a matter of fact, Zhaowen and the elders looked at each other, unable to make up their minds for a while.

Fan Wu She whispered in Xie Bi An's ear, "Xu Zhi Nan is in seclusion, precisely to break through the realm of the Indestructible Heavenly Flame, but unfortunately there has been no movement for more than ten years. If this pill is available, he might succeed."

Xie Bi An said back in an even quieter voice, "So, will they agree?"

Zhong Kui turned his head back, held his hand over his mouth, and said mysteriously, "Zhaowen can't make the decision."

He thought his voice was small, but in fact everyone could hear him clearly, and the atmosphere was awkward for a moment.

Xie Bi An set Zhong Kui's body upright and called down, "Master, don't say anything!"

Zhaowen paused, "The conditions proposed by Flying Plume Ambassador are indeed hard to refuse, and I did not expect your sect to be willing to pay such a great price. However, as what Heaven Master said, I cannot make the decision on this matter. Only Master can decide, and only Master can use the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp."

Hua Xiang Rong said anxiously, "Master has been in seclusion for more than ten years, who knows when he will come out of seclusion, how can we keep waiting!"

"We only need to wait two more days." One of the elders said, "Two days later, on the night of the full moon, we will welcome the Sect Master out of seclusion."

"Really?"

"That is exactly why the Heaven Master has appeared in our sect."

"Then it's still two days away ..."

Zhaowen interrupted her, "Flying Plume Ambassador, this is the only way now, whether or not to lend the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp can only be decided by the Sect Master. Please stay in our sect for two days and wait for the Sect Master to come out from seclusion."

---

When the three of them returned to the house arranged for them by Chunyang Sect, Xie Bi An saw that Zhong Kui's beard was a bit disheveled and insisted on trimming it for him.

"You're going to meet Xu Zhi Nan in two days, you can't look this disheveled." Xie Bi An said as he trimmed it, "You didn't even bring the clothes you were told to bring. In the end I brought them for you, otherwise you wouldn't even have a decent outfit to go out with."

"I'm not sloppy, it's called being unconventional."

"Don't move."

Fan Wu She watched them quietly from the side. Although he was a bit fed up with Xie Bi An being so attentive to others, he couldn't help but think of Zong Zi Heng in his previous life. Zhong Kui wasn't perfect, but he was the "father" this person had always wanted, right?

"Master, do you think Xu Zhi Nan will lend out the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp?"

"I don't know Xu Zhi Nan well, so how should I know? Anyway, he has not been able to break through the Indestructible Heavenly Flame. If he gets that Immortal Pill, he might be able to succeed, otherwise Zhaowen wouldn't have changed his attitude so much."

"Aren't you all curious as to why Qi Meng Sheng needs to renew her life for a year?" Fan Wu She said, "She has lived for over a hundred years and has hardly moved in Jianghu in recent years, so what’s the difference with 1 year?”

"Yeah, Elder Zhaowen also asked the Flying Plume Ambassadors and they refused to say."

Fan Wu She smiled coldly, "Unless, she is just trying to con them into giving the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp and not return after 1 year as Chunyang Sect can’t really fight with her."

"This Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp, it looks like something rare in the human realm, but to us, it doesn't have much value at all. Life and death are destiny, so why force it." Zhong Kui yawned, "Besides, hanging the life of a dying man is going against the decrees of heaven, and there is a price to pay after death."

"Yes, I have also heard that even if one hangs his life by the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp, it is still worse than death, because one simply cannot leave those seven lamps." Xie Bi An said, "What's the point of living like that?"

"Well, the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp requires a very high level of skill to perform. It must be in an impermeable dark room to ensure that the lamp does not go out and the person cannot step out of the seven-star formation." Zhong Kui stroked his newly trimmed beard, "I am also curious as to why Qi Meng Sheng wants to live like this. Hasn't she lived long enough?"

"By the way Master, today I heard from the Flying Plume Ambassador that the Supreme Demon once came to Luojinwu to ask for this magical treasure back then ah."

Fan Wu She’s movement stalled.

"Yes, after the Human Emperor killed himself, he brought the corpse of the Human Emperor to Luojinwu and almost slaughtered Chunyang Sect for it."

"I didn't even know about this part. I don’t even hear the outside world talking about it either."

"Chunyang Sect didn't spread it outside for the sake of face, I guess." Zhong Kui shook his head, "That Zong Zi Xiao is really a madman. He went to Mount Luofeng after he knew that the Seven Star Life-Sustaining Lamp was useless. What kind of person is bold enough to defy the ghosts and gods to go to the Underworld to rob someone?"

Xie Bi An frowned: "These two brothers, Zong Zi Heng and Zong Zi Xiao, is there sentiment or no sentiment?"

"As brothers, there’s sentiment and no sentiment, I guess." Zhong Kui grunted, "Their sibling rivalry has stirred up chaos in the world. Both deserve to die, with or without sentiment."

Xie Bi An sighed, "So is the throne really that important that even his own younger brother won't be spared? Though the Supreme Demon is indeed detestable, but if the Human Emperor hadn't disregarded his brother's love, so many tragedies would not have happened."

Fan Wu She gazed at Xie Bi An, and his heart was infinitely sad.

 

----
PS: I'm quite busy today, so I probably won't upload another chapter today.

 

Yun Xiang Yi and Hua Xiang Rong* ---- their names come from Li Bai's famous verse: 云想衣裳花想容。 Seems like SQC like to use names from Poems xDDD

Empress E [娥皇女英]---- https://baike.baidu.com/item/娥皇女英 Basically, those guys who came to ask for marriage proposal dreams of marrying both sisters at the same time, just like the story of Empress E. I’ve included the Baidu link for your reference.

Edited on 21 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

 

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