Chapter 1671 (Raw 1683): Greeting Gift
Since the master left orders, naturally, the disciple did not dare to disobey. Ling Yu smiled while crying inside. "Disciple will definitely obey Master"s instruction!"
Ye Zifeng smiled in satisfaction. Although this disciple was forcibly shoved to him by the Sect Master, his disciple was already pretty good in every aspect: talent, determination, and bloodline power.
Unfortunately, Ling Yu was not bladesman material. However, back then, after no longer being able to fend off the Sect Master"s request, Ye Zifeng took him in as his disciple.
Although Ye Zifeng was not good with Fist Techniques, he had no problem with guiding and giving pointers to Ling Yu.
More importantly, Ye Zifeng was very knowledgeable and was even more experienced than any of the other Elders of the sect.
Although Ye Zifeng did not specialize in Fist Techniques, having his tutelage was still much better than cultivating under the other Elders.
For Ling Yu, this was an exceptionally rare chance to be Ye Zifeng"s disciple.
Generally, Ling Yu worked very hard and improved very rapidly; he did not disappoint Ye Zifeng.
Hence, this master-disciple pair got along well.
"I"m going to meet with the Sect Master. I"ll leave your martial uncle to you first. Don"t be slow. Fulfill any requests he has."
"Yes."
Ye Zifeng"s figure flashed, vanis.h.i.+ng from the summit. Clearly, he still needed to explain Xiao Chen"s matter to the Sect Master personally.
After Ye Zifeng left, Ling Yu"s expression changed. He looked at Xiao Chen with a smile that was not a smile. "Young Master Xiao, you truly are excellent. In the short one or two months that we have not seen each other, you actually ended up as my martial uncle. Back then, I really made a misjudgment."
Xiao Chen did not mind. He smiled faintly. "Martial Nephew, don"t forget what my senior brother instructed. Lead the way, then."
When Ling Yu thought of this, he immediately felt unhappy. He said sadly, "Come with me, then. Let"s arrange a place for you to stay in first. I also have no idea about Master"s arrangements for you, so you can stay in my courtyard in the meantime."
On the way down, Xiao Chen finally got to see the Purple Flame Sect"s dignified air.
The various precious fruits of the outer world could be found here, planted on both sides of the road, casually growing among weeds without anyone caring for them.
They looked very ordinary like they really were wild weeds.
With one casual glance, one would discern an ancient hall behind a forest. It had already stood there for some time, exuding an ancient aura. There was an expert guarding it. Xiao Chen quickly checked and found that the expert was actually a Cloud Sea Star Venerate.
After one glance, those people who were frightened no longer dared to look again.
Occasionally, disciples that pa.s.sed by the two would respectfully greet Ling Yu as martial uncle when they saw him.
Xiao Chen suddenly understood. Ye Zifeng was the Sect Master"s martial uncle. Ling Yu was young, but he was actually of the same generation as the Sect Master in the Purple Flame Sect.
Usually, it was others who addressed Ling Yu as martial uncle. Today, the tables had turned. It was his turn to do so.
Furthermore, Xiao Chen was someone whom Ling Yu once coldly rejected. Ling Yu"s unsightly expression was normal.
Previously, when people addressed Ling Yu as martial uncle, he would secretly feel smug. However, for some reason, when he was addressed as martial uncle today, it sounded extremely awkward as if they were scolding him.
Hence, Ling Yu kept up a blank face, but he felt very upset and depressed.
"Here, this is the courtyard where I normally cultivate. There are a few side rooms; you can choose any one of them," Ling Yu said as he stopped before a courtyard that abounded with Spiritual Energy, midway up the peak.
The Purple Flame Sect was very strict with its ranking, and its treatment made a clear distinction.
The outer sect disciples cultivated at the foot of the peak, where the Spiritual Energy was thinnest. Only the inner sect disciples could go further up. As for midway up the peak, it was reserved for core disciples like Ling Yu.
Further up was for the true inheritors and the sect Elders. The summit with the rainbow fog and dense Spiritual Energy was a special privilege for a rare few.
Xiao Chen sized up the courtyard and sang praises of it. "Great place. At this location, midway up the peak, this courtyard is in the best position. The Spiritual Energy is plentiful with an elegant environment. The back garden even has a spring and a waterfall."
Ling Yu revealed a c.o.c.ky expression. "Think about whose courtyard this is. Although I"m not a true inheritor, I am young and have the bloodline of the Great Desolate Eon"s ten thousand races. The Sect Master even arranged for me to be taught by Master.
"Just a good courtyard is nothing."
Xiao Chen nodded and said, "You have potential. However, is Martial Uncle an ordinary guest? How can I stay in a side room? Little Martial Nephew, don"t you think so?"
"What do you mean? You want me to stay in a side room? This is my courtyard…"
Xiao Chen responded straightforwardly, "That makes sense. In that case, I"ll stay at Senior Brother"s, then. The Spiritual Energy there is very dense, and the air is pretty good."
Then, Xiao Chen immediately turned around and walked away. Ling Yu felt very frustrated. However, he remembered his master"s instructions.
If Ye Zifeng came to know that Ling Yu chased Xiao Chen out, that would be it.
Forcing a smile, Ling Yu stepped forward and tugged on Xiao Chen. "Martial Uncle, don"t be angry. I"ll sleep in the side room, alright?"
"However, I never liked forcing others."
"Haha! It"s fine, it"s fine. Sleeping in a side room occasionally is actually pretty good."
"I will be staying for at least half a year." Xiao Chen mercilessly stated a fact.
Ling Yu"s face froze. Then, he smiled stiffly. "Is that so? That"s good, then. I will be able to nurture a good relations.h.i.+p with Martial Uncle."
The half-pull-half-invite made Xiao Chen turn around. Then, Ling Yu said weakly, "It"s settled, then. Martial Uncle, if you need anything, you can call for me at any time."
Xiao Chen nodded and sat at the host"s chair in the main hall. Then, he said casually, "Bring me some tea first, then."
"Are you sure?"
Ling Yu felt somewhat angered. To think that Xiao Chen really used him as a servant!
Xiao Chen smiled composedly and said, "I rushed all the way here and finally managed to get a seat after much difficulty. Are you unable to serve your martial uncle tea? Is that considered taking care of me? Martial Nephew, is this how you normally treat your seniors?"
"Good! Good! Good!"
Ling Yu said "good" three times. Then, he went to look for the things needed for brewing tea and started preparing tea leaves and spring water, despite never having made tea before.
---
On the other side, Ye Zifeng met with the Purple Flame Sect"s Sect Master and summarized the situation, explaining Xiao Chen"s matter in a few words.
The Purple Flame Sect"s Sect Master said, "Martial Uncle, you have to take care of this matter."
Ye Zifeng said calmly, "Naturally. I am filled with grat.i.tude to Master. There is no reason not to care for his successor."
"Good. Do you need any help? Martial Uncle can make use of any of the Purple Flame Sect"s resources."
After figuring out Ye Zifeng"s stance, the Purple Flame Sect"s Sect Master quickly made a decision. Xiao Chen was just a minor character, but Ye Zifeng was the Purple Flame Sect"s anchor. Since Ye Zifeng already expressed his stance, then the Purple Flame Sect could only steel themselves to offend the Black Lotus Church.
"There"s no need. This is a personal matter of Pan Huang"s line. It has no relation to the Purple Flame Sect. I only need to use the sect"s astral transportation formation to send me as close as possible to the Black Lotus Great Realm."
There were many great realms in the Grave Sea Cl.u.s.ter. Even a Holy Venerate would not be able to reach certain places in a short period on his own.
One could travel quickly from one great realm to another great realm only by means of an astral transportation formation.
The Sect Master was startled. "You are taking action now?"
"I"ll do my best. Naturally, the earlier I deal with this, the better. I will replace the resources used for activating the astral transportation formation."
Right after saying that, Ye Zifeng walked out of the sect"s great hall. His footsteps seemed slow and firm as he returned to his room and picked up a saber from the saber rack. Then, he turned around and went to the astral transportation formation.
A light flashed, and in the next moment, he appeared at a transportation formation several great realms away.
The people at the receiving transportation formation only heard a saber hum and did not see anyone arrive at all.
Ye Zifeng had already turned into a flash of saber light and arrived at the foot of the Black Lotus Church"s holy mountain.
He walked along the small path in the mountain. As he walked, the surrounding formations, guards, and monks did not notice him.
On the black lotus throne in the holy hall, the Black Lotus Sect Venerate suddenly opened his eyes.
At some point, Ye Zifeng had arrived in the hall.
"What wind blew the strongest bladesman of the Grave Sea from the Purple Flame Sect to here?" the Black Lotus Sect Venerate asked indifferently with a grave expression. No joy or anger could be made out.
The Black Lotus Sect Venerate was someone who had seen a Sovereign Personage before. He had seen all sorts of scenes and would not be frightened by a bladesman.
Ye Zifeng appeared expressionless. With one glance, he knew that he was no match for this Black Lotus Sect Venerate.
At the very least, he was no match for him on this holy mountain.
However, that did not matter.
Ye Zifeng was not thinking of killing the Black Lotus Sect Venerate. If he could kill the other party, he would not have considered this matter difficult.
He only needed to draw his saber; just being able to launch one saber strike would be fine.
In the next moment, sky-shaking Buddhist chanting resounded in the holy hall as a saber light struck down a towering Buddha image.
---
Ye Zifeng appeared outside the mountain, kneeling on one knee. The saber in his right hand stabbed into the ground by about seventeen centimeters.
He coughed, and a mouthful of blood splattered the ground. Then, he suddenly raised his head. He discovered a white Snow Lotus blooming not far away.
With a smile, Ye Zifeng reached out to pick the Snow Lotus.
Then, his figure became like the wind. After flying away, he returned to the great realm where the astral transportation formation was. A light flashed, and with one step, he appeared outside Ling Yu"s courtyard.
At this moment, Ling Yu was halfway through brewing tea. This was the time when the tea fragrance was strongest.
Ling Yu suddenly raised his head and saw Ye Zifeng. He smiled. "Master, I happened to be brewing tea for Martial Uncle. Do sample some as well."
Ye Zifeng smiled warmly and said, "Not bad."
As Ye Zifeng walked past, he picked a few petals off the Snow Lotus and nimbly placed them in the tea.
When Ye Zifeng reached Xiao Chen"s side, he sat down casually. Then, he handed Xiao Chen the Snow Lotus. "In the past, I heard Master say that the Snow Lotus that grew out of the darkness and filth was the most beautiful. Today, I finally got to see it for myself. Here, a greeting gift for you."
Xiao Chen accepted the Snow Lotus with a somewhat strange expression. Ye Zifeng had come in holding a saber.
Furthermore, this saber was stained with fresh blood.