Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Violet Garment Sect

Lu Tiannan broke out in a cold sweat at these words, and struggled to defend himself, “No, no, Senior Bai, don’t listen to idle talk.”

“If you want to form a Foundation, that’s your business,” Bai Tong’s tone shifted with a trace of disdain as he addressed Lu Tiannan. “The Foundation Establishment stage is not as common as cabbages, at least not in Linqing Prefecture under my watch. In these several million square kilometers, after centuries, only a few old men like us have achieved Foundation Establishment. I won’t bother explaining the reasons to you. Since you desire it, so be it. As for this second-grade spirit beast, I don’t care whether you bought it or smuggled it from my sect; this spirit beast, I am taking for myself.”

Lu Tiannan’s face was slick with sweat, his expression changing rapidly. Sensing Bai Tong’s overwhelming spiritual pressure, he could only nod desperately, “Senior Bai, please take it, please take it.”

Bai Tong’s face was full of arrogance. “Lu Tiannan, I am arrogant because I have the strength to be so. You, a minor figure from Tianshan, are nothing but an ant before reaching Foundation Establishment. Don’t even think about provoking the ire of my Golden Flame Sect.” With a cold snort, Bai Tong waved his wide sleeve, sweeping up the spirit beast from the ground. He lifted off from the spot and soared straight for the main hall doors.

Bai Lun, his face equally arrogant, cast a chilly glance at the wounded Meng Lu and the downtrodden Lu Tiannan, cursing contemptuously, “You fools who don’t know your place.” With that, Bai Lun turned and left the main hall, leaping onto a white-headed goose and chasing after his grand-uncle.

Watching the pair depart—taking with them the second-grade spirit beast that had cost him dearly—Meng Lu heaved a long sigh and slumped onto the sect leader’s seat in the hall, sighing in frustration.

“Master, we cannot afford to cross the Golden Flame Sect for now. You must endure,” Meng Lu said after circulating his spiritual power several times to heal his injuries. Seeing Lu Tiannan still sighing, he tried to comfort him.

Lu Tiannan shot him a vexed look, “It’s easy for you to say, but facing that detestable Bai Lun and his ugly hypocrisy from the Golden Flame Sect, I can barely restrain myself from tearing that brat’s mouth off.”

Meng Lu hurried to soothe him, “Master, please be patient. Bai Lun has a Foundation Establishment uncle. Our Tianshan Sect cannot contend with them right now. Once we have our own Foundation Establishment expert, that boy will have no room to be arrogant.”

Lu Tiannan sighed deeply, “Alas, that’s all we can do. Junior brother, have the disciples sent to investigate Li Fei’s death returned? That boy Li Fei had the Howling Soul Hound with him—no one below Qi Refining level five could stop him. Why did his soul lamp go out for no reason? It’s truly baffling.”

The soul lamp was a lamp formed from a wisp of a Tianshan disciple’s divine sense, usually placed in the Soul Hall on the mountain’s rear. If a cultivator died, the soul lamp would extinguish. Now that Li Fei had been killed by Jiang Yan, his lamp had naturally gone out.

A trace of grief crossed Meng Lu’s face as he replied with a sorrowful tone, “No news yet, Master. I just can’t understand how Fei’er could have died so inexplicably. Within a hundred miles of Mount Hua, only the Purple Robe Sect at Five-Finger Peak near Dongping County has a Qi Refining level five expert, but we have no enmity with them.”

Lu Tiannan’s expression turned cold, “So they have a Qi Refining level five expert. Good. Regardless of whether the Purple Robe Sect killed Li Fei, we’ll hold them responsible. Destroying a little sect like Mount Hua isn’t enough to uphold our Tianshan name. Summon the elders—we’re going to exterminate the Purple Robe Sect.”

Meng Lu’s demeanor turned faintly impatient, as though surprised that the sect leader would so easily transfer his wrath to the Purple Robe Sect. But with his own disciple dead, he too was angry. “Master, I beg you to let me personally destroy Mount Hua. Fei’er’s death is their fault. If not for them, Fei’er wouldn’t have died so inexplicably.”

Lu Tiannan waved his hand dismissively, “If you’re so eager for revenge, I’ll grant your request. You may go to Mount Hua yourself and wipe out the sect. Though I think such a tiny sect is hardly worth your effort.”

Meng Lu’s face grew even more sorrowful. “Master, I raised Fei’er myself. Now he’s died for no reason on the way to destroy Mount Hua. That sect must pay for his death.”

Seeing Meng Lu so grieved, Lu Tiannan no longer objected, simply waving his hand, “Very well, if you insist, I won’t stop you. Go quickly and return swiftly. If you’re late and miss the campaign against the Purple Robe Sect, I won’t wait for you.”

With the sect leader’s permission, Meng Lu’s spirits lifted and he spoke with utter disdain for Mount Hua, “Don’t worry, Master. Mount Hua is a tiny sect; I could turn it to dust with a wave of my hand. I’ll be back in time to join the attack on the Purple Robe Sect.”

Feeling resentful over the loss of the newly purchased spirit beast, Lu Tiannan waved his hand, signaling his junior brother to leave, and was left alone in the great hall to ponder strategies for destroying the Purple Robe Sect.

“Master, the disciples sent to investigate Li Fei’s death have returned,” announced a disciple in white as he entered the great hall and reported to Lu Tiannan.

Lu Tiannan signaled for him to bring in the returning disciples.

“Li Fei and his companions died at the foot of Mount Hua. We found Senior Brother Li Fei’s remains, but the Howling Soul Hound was nowhere to be seen. According to the villagers of Qingyang Town at Mount Hua’s foot, it seems the Mount Hua sect leader, Jiang Yan, now has two small spirit beasts, one black and one white, like puppies. I venture to guess that the Howling Soul Hound has been tamed by Mount Hua.”

Lu Tiannan’s expression changed dramatically. So the Howling Soul Hound had been captured by Mount Hua’s leader. He was about to order a disciple to fetch Meng Lu back, but after a moment’s thought, he changed his mind. The Howling Soul Hound was only a first-grade lower spirit beast, its strength merely equal to a Qi Refining level four cultivator. Even if Mount Hua now had two such beasts, they wouldn’t be a match for his junior brother. Dismissing the disciple, Lu Tiannan reassured himself—Meng Lu, a Qi Refining level seven expert, could handle two low-grade spirit beasts with ease.

With that settled, Lu Tiannan sat back down to focus on how to deal with the second-grade Purple Robe Sect.

...

Jiang Yan landed with a flash of golden light, gazing at the distant city. He let out a long breath and murmured to himself, “At last, I’ve reached Linqing Prefecture.”

“Hee hee, how unrefined! Just seeing Linqing’s city wall has you so amazed?” came a playful, girlish laugh from behind him.

“Duo’er, mind your tongue,” came a chilly reprimand from another young woman.

Jiang Yan turned and saw several young women in violet robes approaching with elegant steps. Behind them, several white cranes stretched their slender necks, following the girls leisurely.

The one who had mocked Jiang Yan—Duo’er—walked in front, dressed in violet, a long sword strapped to her back. She was a pretty girl, but perhaps due to the stern rebuke from her icy companion, she gave Jiang Yan an exaggerated roll of her eyes, huffed, and turned away.

The young woman beside Duo’er wore the same attire, her expression frosty. She met Jiang Yan’s gaze with a cool indifference. “My junior sister is talkative, sir, please don’t mind,” she said.

Jiang Yan focused on the violet-robed woman, and his transparent interface displayed her information:

Name: Zi Su
Sect: Purple Robe Sect
Rank: Second-generation disciple
Cultivation: Qi Refining level six
Weapon: Violet Condensation Sword
Techniques: Water Transformation Art (mid-grade first rank), Water Arrow Technique (mid-grade first rank)
Merit Points:

Jiang Yan was surprised—a second-generation disciple of the Purple Robe Sect actually had merit points. Despite her stern demeanor, she clearly performed many good deeds. Indeed, appearances could be deceiving.

Zi Su noticed the young man’s gaze lingering a little too long, and a hint of displeasure crossed her face as her tone grew even colder. “Sir, please allow us to pass. We must enter the city.”

“Hee hee, Senior Sister always attracts attention wherever she goes,” Duo’er chimed in cheerfully, craning her neck toward Zi Su.

Zi Su shot her a warning glare, cutting off any further gossip, and addressed Jiang Yan curtly, “If you’ve stared enough, please make way. We need to enter the city.”

Duo’er planted her hands on her hips, glaring at Jiang Yan. “Hey, you lecher! We’re going in—move aside!”

Jiang Yan flushed with embarrassment. He’d been distracted by Zi Su’s information and forgotten that his gaze had lingered on her face, blocking the path into the city.

Realizing this, he quickly stepped aside and said with a smile, “Please, Miss Duo’er, ladies of the Purple Robe Sect, after you.”

Duo’er relaxed her stance, putting her hands down and speaking with a mischievous air, “You know your place. Our Purple Robe Sect is powerful, and our senior sister is formidable. We’ll let you off this time, but remember—don’t ogle beautiful women again.”

Jiang Yan’s face turned crimson, but since he was at fault and the girl meant no harm, he could only endure her scolding.

As Duo’er prepared to say more, another violet-robed girl interjected, “That’s enough, Duo’er. The young man has apologized and moved aside. We should hurry into the city.”

Duo’er seemed rather afraid of this girl, casting a sly glance at her icy senior sister. Seeing no reaction, she muttered, “Fine, fine, I wasn’t going to do anything. Sixth Senior Sister is always like this...”

Using his sect leader’s system, Jiang Yan quickly checked the information of the girl Duo’er called Sixth Senior Sister. To his astonishment, she was also a Qi Refining level four cultivator. But this time, Jiang Yan didn’t dare to stare; he merely glanced over her details before looking away.

Name: Ding Ning
Sect: Purple Robe Sect
Rank: Second-generation disciple
Cultivation: Qi Refining level four
Weapon: Violet Condensation Sword
Techniques: Water Transformation Art (mid-grade first rank), Water Arrow Technique (mid-grade first rank)
Merit Points:

Thanks to the reader “Lone Angler in the Snow” for the reward and votes. Note: There was an error when uploading files earlier; apologies to everyone.