Chapter 604: Old Tales of Kongshan Sect
He Qingling didn't want to hear any more stories about Realman Du Cang single-handedly quelling the Great Chaos of the Immortals.
"Master!"
Her crisp voice rang out, directed at the storyteller who was enthusiastically narrating in the hall.
"And then that..."
The storyteller, interrupted by He Qingling, turned to look in her direction.
Every cultivator who told stories at Yulai Pavilion was, without exception, well-informed.
This storyteller naturally knew exactly who the young girl who had just interrupted him was.
"What's the matter, miss?"
The storyteller asked with a smile:
"Is there something wrong with what I was just saying?"
"Not at all. It's just that the story of Realman Du Cang single-handedly quelling the Great Chaos of the Immortals on Heavenly Summit Mountain is one I've heard countless times over these past two years."
He Qingling said:
"Occasionally, I'd like to hear something fresher."
As soon as she said this, a commotion erupted throughout Yulai Pavilion.
People began whispering among themselves, saying that this young girl, personally escorted by the head of the Zhao family, had quite the nerve to say whatever she wanted.
"Miss, what do you think would be fresher to tell?"
The storyteller continued to ask.
"What do you think, Master?"
He Qingling countered.
"Let me think... How about Li Haowen's journey of a thousand li to slay the Ding Bandits?"
The storyteller suggested.
Upon hearing this, the tea patrons in Yulai Pavilion began discussing among themselves:
"Who's Li Haowen?"
"He was quite famous some years back. He was the personal disciple of a Peak Elder from Kongshan Sect who orchestrated the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm over twenty years ago. They say he even served as the chief disciple of a mountain lineage in Kongshan Sect!"
"What's the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm?"
A younger-looking youth voiced his confusion.
"Well... that's a long story. Hard to explain."
"Actually, Li Haowen was pretty famous. When Kongshan Sect wiped out the Coiling Dragon Sect a few years back, he was the one who did it."
"Right, right, right. Now I remember. Li Godslayer, right?"
"What Li Godslayer? Call him Li Dog!"
The tea patrons in Yulai Pavilion seemed to be getting more and more interested in Li Haowen's deeds.
"Tell that one, tell that one!"
"Tell the one about Li Haowen traveling a thousand li to kill whoever it was. Never mind, just tell it!"
People started hooting and hollering.
"Alright!"
The storyteller slammed his gavel and began narrating:
"So it is said that in the northwestern region of Chenping Continent, there was a secular dynasty called the Qingque Kingdom..."
He Qingling's lips twitched slightly.
Compared to that lofty Realman Du Cang, she truly hated Li Dog even more.
...
Kongshan Sect, Kongyuan Mountain.
"Ah-choo!"
The middle-aged man, whose temples were already slightly gray and who carried two long swords at his waist, sneezed, straightened his back, and rubbed his nose.
"What's wrong, Haowen?"
The white-haired elder walking ahead of the middle-aged man, wearing a Bagua Daoist robe, turned around and glanced at Li Haowen:
"You're already at the late Spirit Connection stage. How can you still catch a cold?"
"No, it's nothing, Elder Yue."
Li Haowen said somewhat awkwardly.
Walking ahead of Li Haowen was none other than the current True Dharma Elder of Kongyuan Mountain, the contemporary Sect Leader of Kongshan Sect, Yun Yichen's second personal disciple—Yue Chi.
Only, compared to the current leaders of the other three great sects—the Abbey Dean, the Sect Master, and the Valley Master—the current Kongshan Sect Leader's presence was far weaker.
Or rather, Yun Yichen didn't hold much real power in Kongshan Sect these days. The duties he performed now were more like those of the Sword Master Elder of Kongyuan Mountain, rather than the Sect Leader of Kongshan Sect.
The reason was simple: because of Patriarch Kong's existence.
What set Patriarch Kong apart from the other thirty cultivators in Chenping Continent who had historically achieved Ascending to Immortality was that he devoted even more effort to the sect than to himself.
That was still true to this day.
During the Great Chaos of the Immortals two years ago, True Person Caiyun, Kong Yang—whose Dao Basis had suffered severe backlash from forcibly breaking through the laws of heaven and earth and was still recuperating in Caijun Tower—personally handled virtually all major and minor affairs within Kongshan Sect.
Ten thousand years ago, the reason Kongshan Sect had flourished, even showing signs of surpassing the other four great sects, was entirely due to Kong Yang's dedicated efforts.
It was just unfortunate that the Mountain-Shaking Bell had ultimately failed to truly ascend to the level of an immortal artifact. Otherwise, the entire landscape of Chenping Continent might have been vastly different in the nine thousand years since Kong Yang's fall.
"Senior Brother Zhao."
Li Haowen continued walking behind Yue Chi as they stepped into the True Dharma Hall of Kongyuan Mountain.
As he entered the hall, he bowed to the young man standing to the side—wearing a yellow outer robe over a Kongyuan Mountain gilded cloud crane pattern Daoist robe.
Yue Chi's personal disciple, Zhao Bin.
His cultivation had now reached the early Spirit Connection stage. Though he served as the External Affairs Hall Elder of Kongyuan Mountain, he had already been left behind by Li Haowen, who was seven or eight years his junior.
But Zhao Bin had no reason to feel discouraged.
After all, it wasn't just Li Haowen. There was also Chu Xiyao of Qingchan Peak, Cheng Ziying of Yunxiao Peak, and others. These heaven-chosen talents from Kongshan Sect's previous two generations had all surpassed him now.
And even the next generation of disciples beneath them would likely surpass him in cultivation realm in the near future.
Zhao Bin had long since gotten used to this kind of thing.
"You've heard about it too, haven't you?"
Yue Chi turned back and said to Li Haowen:
"Patriarch Kong plans to transfer you to the Training Grounds on Qingchan Peak to serve as the Training Grounds Elder first. Then, after you break through to the Myriad Transformations Realm and have two more years to settle, he'll directly appoint you as the Martial Elder of Qingchan Peak."
"Your disciple has heard something of it."
Li Haowen clasped his hands and bowed. As he did so, the two long swords at his waist collided, producing a clear ringing sound.
"Patriarch Kong thinks highly of you. Don't let his expectations down."
Yue Chi said earnestly.
This True Dharma Elder of Kongyuan Mountain took Li Haowen's affairs very seriously, especially after the Coiling Dragon Sect had been wiped out.
To be fair, in the position he should be in, Li Haowen had completed every task the sect had entrusted to him exceptionally well.
"But..."
Li Haowen seemed hesitant:
"Your disciple fears that if I were to serve as the Martial Elder of Qingchan Peak, it might be difficult to earn the respect of others."
"You're worried about your reputation?"
Yue Chi asked.
Li Haowen said nothing, and his silence was an admission.
"This is Patriarch Kong's decision. Whether or not you can command respect is ultimately a matter of his word."
Yue Chi said:
"Besides, it's not like you're being asked to take up the Martial Elder position immediately. Your road is still long, and all kinds of things might happen in the future."
"Your disciple understands."
Li Haowen said.
"More than this, the sect currently has more important matters to deal with."
Yue Chi said.
"What matters?"
Li Haowen asked.
"Seven days from now, Realman Du Cang, Chen Yan, will be arriving at Kongshan Sect."
Yue Chi said this, and his eyes flickered with an indescribably complex and excited emotion.