Chapter 117: Chapter 6: Figures from Various Sects

Sanhe Prefecture.

Between the hundred-mile stretch of marshes and the rolling mountain ranges, gravel roads connected everything, dotted with the occasional arched bridge and pavilion.

Before the gates of Sanhe Temple, Guangxuan, dressed today in the robes of the Sect Leader and holding a duster, was personally welcoming the invited guests.

「At the foot of the mountain.」

Just as Wang Ping was about to ascend the mountain under the guidance of a Sanhe Temple disciple, he ran into an acquaintance: Mars Taoist from Three Flames Temple. Mars was trailing an old Daoist, who spotted Yu Cheng and was the first to greet him. "Yu Cheng, it must have been over sixty years since we last met, hasn’t it? Are you still guarding that broken-down Daoist Temple of yours?"

His words immediately marked him as someone who spent his days as an ascetic, one who paid no mind to the world outside. The only likely reason he had come was that Gu Heng’s time was short.

"Yuan Qing, you old coot, have you been in Death Seclusion again? The next time you come out, could you please ask your disciple for some common knowledge first, so you don’t make a fool of yourself again?"

A voice spoke up next to them, answering for Yu Cheng Taoist. It belonged to a Daoist holding a green gourd. He was dressed like a Jianghu Traveler, his long hair casually tied back with a twig. His beard was wrapped in a silk sheath, which, combined with the rest of his attire, created a rather incongruous look.

"Li Xingwen, you haven’t changed a bit. That getup of yours is as unsettling as watching an enlightened spirit dog eat shit."

Yuan Qing turned his head to look at the newcomer. He had used utterly disgusting words to describe Li Xingwen’s appearance, but one had to admit, his description was, in a way, surprisingly apt.

Li Xingwen immediately grew agitated at his words. Just as he was about to argue with Yuan Qing, Yu Cheng Taoist quickly stepped in. "This is no place for a fight."

"You old bastard! I, Li Xingwen, won’t argue with you here. But don’t think for a second you’ll be leaving here in one piece."

"Afraid of you? After this ritual assembly, we’ll have to trade a few moves."

Li Xingwen suddenly cast aside his Daoist decorum. He ripped the sheath from his beard and glared, looking every bit like one of the Green Forest Heroes. Sidestepping Yu Cheng, he pointed a finger at Yuan Qing’s nose and said, "Forget after the assembly. Let’s do it right here. Let my disciple and your disciple have a match first. What do you say?"

Yuan Qing was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. "HAHA! Fine."

His expression and tone seemed to brim with contempt for Li Xingwen.

Li Xingwen grew furious again, and a clash seemed imminent. Fortunately, Guangxuan, having received word, came down the mountain at once. Seeing the confrontation where neither side could back down, he stepped forward with a smile and offered the bow of a junior.

Seeing their opening, the two men took the opportunity to back down gracefully under the watchful eyes of Yu Cheng and Wang Ping. A round of pleasantries followed, during which Li Xingwen and Yuan Qing couldn’t resist trading barbs. In the end, they agreed to a true test of skill after the ritual assembly was over.

According to past tradition, an assembly of this scale would be followed by an "exchange meet." To put it more plainly, it was a series of platform matches. The rules weren’t too strict, and there were no assigned opponents. Anyone could go up if they wished, and if someone in the audience found a fighter on the platform interesting, they could step up and challenge them.

Wang Ping had already reached the Ingress Realm, so it would be inappropriate for him to compete on the platforms. For this reason, he had brought Liu Shuang and Wang Kang’s disciple, Liang Tao. The rest were attendant disciples to handle miscellaneous tasks.

...

The group walked to the main gate of the temple.

The sect elders walked ahead. Wang Ping deliberately slowed his pace and clasped his hands toward Mars Taoist. "Fellow Daoist, I trust you’ve been well."

Mars quickly returned the gesture. "Aside from being forced by my master to sense fire spirits every day, everything’s been fine. But as for you, Fellow Daoist... congratulations on entering the path! When I first heard you’d broken through, I was waiting for your celebratory assembly."

It was an unspoken tradition among the sects for a Cultivator to hold a celebratory assembly upon entering the path. Wang Ping had only recently learned of this. But since Yu Cheng Taoist hadn’t arranged one for him, he hadn’t asked about it.

"Something came up at the time," Wang Ping said, offering a casual excuse.

"Ah, I understand."

Mars’s mind immediately filled in the blanks with the grudge between Qianmu Temple and the White Water Sect. An image of Hong’an, crushed into a pile of mangled flesh, involuntarily surfaced in his thoughts. When he’d heard that the White Water Sect had been obliterated by a Power Pill without a trace left, he was a hundred percent certain it was Wang Ping’s doing.

"Greetings, Daoist Changqing."

The pale-faced young Daoist following Li Xingwen directly ignored Mars Taoist and clasped his fists in a salute to Wang Ping. After the salute, he introduced himself. "This junior is Li Lin."

Wang Ping was surprised for a moment that Li Lin would call himself a junior. Then he saw Li Lin clasp his fists toward Liu Shuang. "Fellow Daoist, long time no see."

"Yes, it’s been nearly twenty years, hasn’t it?" Liu Shuang replied politely.

"Yes. Twenty years in the blink of an eye."

As they chatted, they were led by a Sanhe Temple disciple to the front of the main hall. A magnificent ritual ground had been erected there. For the next three days, Guangxuan would be praying to the heavens and the ancestors from this spot.

In front of the main hall’s entrance, Wang Ping saw Gu Heng. On the surface, he looked no different than before. However, his Qi Sea was in chaos, and the Spirit Vein he had merged with was now out of control. In two months at most, he would be assimilated into a Milk and Water Spirit Vein and then rapidly wither away.

After a long round of mutual pleasantries, Wang Ping and the others were led to their prepared seats. There were very few chairs; only Cultivators who had entered the path were permitted to sit. Everyone else stood behind their respective masters.

Yuan Qing Taoist was very surprised to see Wang Ping take a seat. After a long exchange with his disciple, Mars, his expression shifted to one of even greater surprise and shock.

What followed was a period of waiting, first for the other guests to arrive.

Nanlin Road was divided into eight prefectures, and each prefecture had one or two prominent Taoist Sects. Nearly all of these sects had friends of Gu Heng Taoist.

As the guests arrived, Wang Ping mirrored Yu Cheng Taoist’s attitude. If Yu Cheng didn’t rise to greet someone, Wang Ping pretended not to see them either. Suddenly, a disciple from Sanhe Temple ran up to Gu Heng Taoist and reported, "Someone from the Six Heart Sect is here."

Gu Heng was taken aback at the news, then he descended the steps and headed toward the main gate.

The Six Heart Sect was the Dao Field where Xiao Shan Lord cultivated. In all the southern territories, it was considered the true leader of Taoism.

After Gu Heng Taoist left, a ripple of discussion spread through the area, mostly among the junior disciples. The seniors, like Yu Cheng, Yuan Qing, and Li Xingwen, all remained silent.

Wang Ping even recognized the person from the Six Heart Sect. It was Hongchen, whom he had met during the Yongming Port incident. He was just as proud and cold as before. Gu Heng personally led him to a seat next to the host’s section, which happened to be adjacent to Qianmu Temple’s seats.

"Fellow Daoist Changqing, it’s been a long time. I haven’t yet had the chance to congratulate you on entering the path with the Taiyan Talisman!"

"Thank you for your thoughts, Fellow Daoist. The same to you, the same to you."

Neither of them stood up during their exchange. Their tones were as intimate as old friends reuniting, and indeed, they began to chat quietly just like old friends.

They chatted until noon. After all the seats were filled with guests, Guangxuan led a person who looked very familiar to Wang Ping up to the platform. The newcomer clasped his fists at Gu Heng. "This junior is Wenhai. I have come uninvited. I hope Senior Gu Heng can forgive my impertinence."

"It’s no matter. See to a seat for him!"

Gu Heng waved his hand magnanimously, instructing his disciples to make room for Wenhai and his party.

At that moment, Hongchen whispered into Wang Ping’s ear, "I’d long heard that Wudao Prefecture had two marvels: one was Baisui Lake, and the other was Upper Yang Mountain. Back when I heard you had established your Dao Field in Wudao Prefecture, I even considered asking you for a prime piece of land on Upper Yang Mountain to build a villa. I never expected that treasure of a place to be taken by an outsider."