Chapter 260: Chapter 252: Old Acquaintance from the Capital City

Lu Yuan Dao, Danyang Sect.

As a super first-class influence in Lu Yuan Dao, the Danyang Sect naturally stands as one of the leaders of Lu Yuan Dao’s martial arts. For this martial arts conference, they received a Martial World Order jointly issued by the five top-tier influences.

The battle between Good and Evil is a war that influences the century-long fortune of the Yunxi Martial World, with martial world influences throughout the Yunxi Land actively participating. Even forces that normally hold grudges against each other are setting aside their differences and heading to Great Desert City for an alliance.

As one of the three leading sects of Lu Yuan Dao, the Danyang Sect actively gathered their subordinate forces to head for the alliance.

During this period, quite a few people had already set off.

The last batch was personally led by Sect Leader Song Lingjun to Great Desert City.

However, just before setting out,

The Danyang Sect encountered an unexpected situation that slightly delayed them.

The Liu Family, a first-class family from Canglan Dao, came seeking protection along with more than ten first-class influences from Canglan Dao, causing a split within the Danyang Sect.

One faction supported offering refuge, believing that although the Liu Family had suffered heavy losses, they still had substantial potential with many promising young talents and several Great Cultivators. This would be a significant support for the Danyang Sect.

This support was indeed considerable; in Canglan Dao, it could rival a region like Pingyang Prefecture. In the past, the seven first-class influences in the Pingyang area combined only had about ten Great Cultivators, not to mention that the Liu Family had several high-tier Great Cultivators.

However, the opposition considered it unwise, suspecting that Liu’s lineage sought to use the Danyang Sect merely as a shield against the Beidou Bang’s reckoning.

Moreover, offering refuge to Liu’s lineage would certainly offend the Beidou Bang, leading to enmity, which could cause trouble during the upcoming martial arts conference when both sides meet.

Amidst this deadlock between the factions,

Sect Leader Song Lingjun personally met with Liu Zuifeng, the temporarily appointed patriarch of Liu’s lineage, and after an hour-long discussion, Song Lingjun decisively decided to integrate Liu’s lineage into the Danyang Sect.

As to why Song Lingjun agreed, there was no explicit explanation,

But the widely accepted viewpoint was Song Lingjun’s appreciation for talent.

Liu Zuifeng, the temporarily appointed patriarch of the Liu Family, known in the martial world as the Hidden Mountain Swordsman, became a renowned Fifth Realm Great Cultivator many years ago. Although he was not highly ranked, being on the Celestial Pride List of Yunzhou signifies being recognized with the potential to achieve Grandmaster status.

Additionally, besides Liu Zuifeng’s potential as a Grandmaster, Liu Zuifeng also enjoyed an excellent reputation in the martial world. Though a noble scion, he built a martial community on Hidden Mountain, frequently hosting martial world friends, often seen drinking to a stupor there, famed for dancing with his sword on the mountaintop while intoxicated, evoking the witty saying "A Sword’s Drunken Breeze of Hidden Mountain."

Therefore, in terms of martial talent or martial world reputation, Liu Zuifeng is a rare talent, leading most to believe Song Lingjun was willing to risk offending the Beidou Bang to take in the Liu Family for this reason.

However, in truth,

When Song Lingjun met Liu Zuifeng, their conversation was not about what people speculated but about a person, the famed God of Slaughter in the martial world, Gu Zhan.

...

Danyang Sect, inside a study.

Sect Leader Song Lingjun was instructing the sect’s high-level members about several matters. After finishing, he turned to an elder and asked, "Have you investigated thoroughly? Is that Gu Zhan truly as exceptionally talented as Liu Zuifeng claims?"

The elder bowed and said, "It’s not just that; Liu Zuifeng underestimated him. Gu Zhan’s talent is even more outstanding than Liu Zuifeng described. Not only do we not have disciples in the Danyang Sect to match him, but even in the entire Yunzhou, perhaps only the top five on the Celestial Pride List can compare."

Song Lingjun furrowed his brow slightly, saying, "So, just below the first tier of the Celestial Prides."

"Exactly," the elder replied, "Moreover, this individual has already received focused training from the Beidou Bang, which will enhance his talent even further. Thus, Liu Zuifeng was correct. If not dealt with, he could become another Mo Jingzhou in the future."

Song Lingjun frowned mildly and said, "Bring Liu Zuifeng to see me."

Immediately, the assembled high-level personnel dispersed.

Soon, a gracefully stylish middle-aged man arrived outside the study, none other than Liu Zuifeng, now leading the Liu Family lineage. In his youth, he was known as a handsome gentleman in the martial world, retaining an elegant charisma unmarked by the passage of time, even as he enters his mature years.

"Sect Leader Song."

Liu Zuifeng entered the room, bowing courteously, exuding natural and comfortable grace in every move.

Song Lingjun smiled slightly and said, "Zuifeng, I agreed to your previous proposal. I can give you the Barrier-Breaking Pill you requested, but you must think carefully. Using the Barrier-Breaking Pill will prevent your realm from progressing further in your lifetime.

Given your talent, you can achieve a Grandmaster breakthrough in a natural, gradual manner, reaching another realm, perhaps glimpsing the Great Dao and advancing further. Furthermore, although the Barrier-Breaking Pill can allow you to become a Grandmaster, it will render you a pseudo-Grandmaster, somewhat inferior to a standard breakthrough."