Chapter 70: Chapter 53: Under Another’s Roof, You Have to Bow

’This guy… Where is all this hostility coming from?’

Jiang Yi was slightly taken aback, his eye twitching.

He had dealt with those Qi Cultivation Clans in the Outer Sect of Red Flame Peak, but he had never encountered someone with such a disposition.

Then again, he thought, Qi Cultivation Clans were a dime a dozen. It was only normal that their disciples would be a mixed bag.

“I am barely at the Mid-Stage Fourth Layer. I only have a slight bit of confidence in breaking through the Fifth Barrier.”

Jiang Yi replied with his gaze lowered, his attitude humble and polite, leaving no room for criticism.

“Hmph. You must have eaten your fair share of Nourishing Essence Pills, haven’t you?”

A clear trace of jealousy flashed in Lu Xuan’s eyes as he added,

“In my opinion, relying on Immortal Dao Rituals to break through Realms is no real skill!”

Jiang Yi’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he was surprised.

’You’re from a village clan’s direct lineage, raised in luxury and never wanting for resources. Why are you jealous of me? I haven’t even started hating on the rich yet.’

Master Lu looked embarrassed. While he wasn’t afraid of offending Yang Xun, it was improper for Lu Xuan, as a member of the Dongping Lu Clan’s direct lineage, to come across to outsiders as crude, impolite, and poorly raised.

Just as Yang Xun was about to placate Jiang Yi and tell him to endure it for now, he heard the latter laugh warmly.

“Young Master Lu makes a good point. I am but a humble nobody. It is only because my Grandpa looked upon me with favor and was willing to invest in my cultivation that I was lucky enough to reach the Fourth Layer.

It is precisely because my path has little future prospect that I must place my hopes in external rituals and objects.

I cannot compare to a seed of a Dao Material like Young Master Lu, whose foundation is so solid and whose future points directly toward the Twelfth Layer Floors.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan couldn’t help but grin, lifting his chin and saying,

“But of course! Don’t look at me being only at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. In a few more years, you won’t even be able to see my back!”

Jiang Yi nodded in agreement, appearing convinced, but inwardly he scoffed.

’I thought he was a master feigning arrogance and almost got into a battle of wits with him. In the Demon Dao Dharma Lineage, this kind of useless fop is a ninety-nine percent rarity!’

Seeing this, Master Lu sighed inwardly. His grandson was truly spoiled rotten.

He feigned anger and shouted,

“Shut your mouth! If you say one more word, you can get back to Dongping and reflect on your actions behind closed doors!”

Lu Xuan wasn’t afraid of the scolding. His eyes darted around, and he said in a wheedling tone,

“Grandpa! I want to arrange for a ritual too! That way, when I join the Yin Puppet Sect, I won’t get bullied!”

Master Lu truly doted on his grandson and was helpless against him. He coaxed him with gentle words,

“My dear grandson, you’re only at the Third Layer. Though your bones and muscles are strong, your qi and blood have not yet solidified, and your organs haven’t been tempered. How could you withstand the assault of fire and water?

When you step into the Fourth Layer and have forged your physical body into a sturdy Furnace Cauldron, Grandpa will naturally make plans for you.”

Only then was Lu Xuan satisfied, shooting Jiang Yi a smug smile.

Yang Xun took in the whole scene, his bald brow twitching as if suppressing the murderous rage in his chest.

If not for the boy’s background in the Dongping Lu Clan, he would have long since slapped this little brat to death and refined him into flying ash.

He said in a low voice,

“Master Lu, I have prepared enough talisman-coins. I would like to inspect the Top-Grade Cold Jade and the Yang Flame Object.”

Master Lu made no move, only sighing.

“That Foundation Establishment True Master from the Taifu Sect has made things difficult for us. Many of the Spiritual Materials and Resources sealed in my Sleeve Pouch are difficult to retrieve. I’ll have to use an expensive ’Breaking Charm’.”

’This old dog!’

Yang Xun took a deep breath and forced a friendly expression.

“Rest assured, Master Lu, I will cover the cost. I absolutely will not let you suffer a loss.”

Master Lu’s face broke into a smile.

“Brother Yang, you’re truly a man of principle. Doing business with you is just two words: a pleasure!

Please wait a moment, I’ll have someone fetch them… The Yang Flame Object wasn’t hard to find. It’s all thanks to the Foundation Establishment True Master from the ’Yuantai Sect’ who achieved his Dao here back in the day, causing Beimang Ridge to become saturated with the Fire Element. It’s a great boon for us juniors who cultivate Ding Fire.”

He paused, then continued,

“However, the Top-Grade Cold Jade was truly difficult to find. Our Nanzhan Continent is not rich in Spiritual Energy to begin with. Besides, jade grows with earth, and the way of the Earth Element is more prevalent in the Dongsheng Continent. I had to go to great lengths just to gather these eight pieces of excellent quality and appearance.”

Yang Xun knew Master Lu was claiming credit, but it wasn’t a complete exaggeration.

Setting aside the one from the Taifu Sect, the most recent Foundation Establishment True Master to appear in Beimang Ridge was “Ji Mingchang,” a True Inheritance disciple of the Yuantai Sect.

He had entered seclusion for nineteen years and finally gathered the “Black Flame Life-Burning Fiend,” using it to soar through the Twelfth Layer and step directly into the Foundation Establishment Realm.

During his breakthrough, the Spiritual Energy converged, disturbing the ten directions and affecting the land for a thousand li around. This was what caused Beimang Ridge to become rich in Fire Attribute ore veins, and even the “Spiritual Aura” suited for cultivation transformed into the “Sun Radiance Appearance Form.”

Speaking of which, the “Ding Fire Ming Hall Qi” that Yang Xun treasured so much was something he had acquired by basking in the glow of that same True Master Ji, Ji Mingchang.

Thinking of all this, he could only cup his hands and accept the favor.

“I’ve troubled Master Lu to go to such lengths for me.”

Master Lu waved his hand with feigned magnanimity.

“Between us, why say such formal words? Look, the Main Materials for the ritual have arrived!”

Two attendants carried in several rosewood boxes and brought them to the door.

“Brother Yang, please take a look. The quality is absolutely top-notch, fit to be the Main Material for the ritual’s Spiritual Resources.”

Master Lu stood and personally opened a box’s lid, and a clear, cold air instantly filled the room.

Jiang Yi looked over and saw long strips of Cold Jade arranged neatly. The Jade Material was as transparent as ice, with flowing moonlight condensed within, making for a beautiful sight.

“I truly envy the cultivators of the Dongsheng Continent. Their Daoist Lineage has a connection to the [Jade Void], causing their Spirit Stone and jade mines, as well as their Spirit Shell Celestial Caves, to be endlessly productive.”

Master Lu picked up a piece of Top-Grade Cold Jade and placed it in his palm. The steam rising from the teapot instantly condensed into a thin layer of frost on it.

“A fine item like this is worth over a hundred thousand talisman-coins in the Nanzhan Continent, but you couldn’t get a good price for it in the Dongsheng Continent.

No wonder the cultivators of the Immortal Dao Dharma Lineage are all so loaded.”

Jiang Yi mulled over the unconcealable envy in Master Lu’s words, thinking,

’Do Demonic Cultivators all seem to be this poor? But the Dharma Lineages of Branch Sects and Grand Sects shouldn’t be short on talisman-coins, right?’

Master Lu then pointed to another box.

“This was mined from the two newly discovered Fire Cloud Ore Veins on Longhua Mountain. It’s quite pure, with a Fire Attribute that is gentle, not harsh, perfectly suited for the nature of Ding Fire.”

Yang Xun carefully examined the two Main Materials, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

The Cold Jade was cool to the touch, while the Fire Cloud Stone radiated a searing heat. They were the perfect Materials for setting up the Pool of Fire and Water.

Yang Xun cupped his hands solemnly.

“You’ve gone to great trouble, Master Lu.”

“You’re too kind, Brother Yang.”

Master Lu stroked his beard and smiled.

“Where in Sanhe District does your nephew plan to go into seclusion?”

Yang Xun replied,

“Zhizhen Garden.”

Master Lu smiled again.

“What a coincidence, Xuan’er is also staying at Zhizhen Garden. I hope your nephew succeeds in one fell swoop, achieves Perfection in his Merit, and reaches the Fifth Layer.”

With the main Spiritual Resources in hand, Yang Xun and Jiang Yi didn’t linger. They found an excuse and took their leave.

After leaving the courtyard, the grandfather and grandson walked for some distance before Yang Xun suddenly stopped, took out some talisman-coins, and bought a bowl of milk skin.

He handed it to Jiang Yi, his eyelids drooping.

“You were wronged today, Ah Yi.”

“Grandpa, what are you talking about? The disrespect from that Young Master Lu was not even one-ten-thousandth of the hardship of being smoked and scorched while working in the Quenching Room.”

Jiang Yi took the bowl of milk skin and ate it with relish.

“It is you, Grandpa, who has been running around gathering Spiritual Resources for me, silently enduring so many grievances.”

Soothed by these words, Yang Xun’s pent-up frustration eased slightly.

He glanced back at the courtyard where Master Lu was and said with his head lowered,

“When you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head. But as for the future, who will outshine whom is not yet certain.”

Jiang Yi nodded in agreement.

“That’s exactly right.”

’In this Demon Dao Dharma Lineage, the drama of ’I bow to him today, he kneels to me tomorrow’ is a common, endlessly repeating play.’

…

…

In the Qingming High Heaven, a Dharma Tower hung suspended in the air!

“Senior Brother, Senior Brother! They’re here again!”

The Artifact Spirit Child skipped and hopped its way to the top floor and said aggrievedly,

“I already said the word ’Scram!’, but they’re still kneeling there, not moving an inch.”

The young cultivator frowned, freeing a hand to form a seal and project his vision below.

Sure enough, he saw a vast, dark mass of people kneeling. Every one of them was at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer, powerful enough to command the winds and rains if they were outside.

“Damn it! What damn use is it for them to come here together and pressure me!”

The young cultivator was so angry he forgot the proper bearing of an Ancestral Sect disciple and cursed aloud,

“Do you think I wanted to seal off Beimang Ridge?! I was just minding my own business, following Master out to collect a strand of qi, when I suddenly received a decree from the sect!

And then, of all things, Master had to run into an old nemesis and lose his temper… This is so annoying! I’m just a junior!”

Just as the young cultivator was venting his frustrations, the palm-sized Gold Talisman suddenly spun and showed a sign of activity.

“Huh! I’ve finally found the Little Ancestor! Longhua Mountain… Excellent, excellent! Quickly, have the Zhao You and True Gu Sects send people to Longhua Mountain!”

The Artifact Spirit Child patted its chest. It finally didn’t have to shout ’Scram!’ anymore.

…

…

“The True Master ordered us to Longhua Mountain, but didn’t say what to look for. What does this mean?”

“The more you ask, the more you can be wrong! No matter what we’re doing, it’s better than kneeling here! To Longhua Mountain, quickly!”

“To cultivate all the way to the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer, only to still have to act like a damn grandson… It’s so humiliating!”

“When you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head! So what if you’re at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer? Can you fly beyond the heavens? Beneath the sky, the Dao is greatest! And beneath the Daoist Lineage, the Ancestral Sects are the most important!”

The powerful Elders of the various Branch Sects rose to their feet. Among them, the one from the True Gu Sect sneered coldly,

“Act like a grandson? I think you all have gotten too used to lording it over everyone in Beimang Ridge and have completely forgotten the Mighty Virtue of the Daoist Lineage.

We’d better be good grandsons! Being able to kneel before a True Master of an Ancestral Sect is a blessing! Eight hundred years ago, Beimang Ridge even had a ’Grand Sect’ Dharma Lineage!

Just think of how glorious the ’Zhongyi Sect’ was. But just because they disobeyed a great one from the Upper Sect and were unwilling to act as vanguards in the south, they were crushed with a single finger!”

These words struck like a knife to the face, shocking everyone into deathly silence.

“To Longhua Mountain, quickly! We mustn’t delay!”

The Elder from the Zhao You Sect sighed softly. With a wave of his great sleeve, his body transformed into a dark cloud of smoke that covered dozens of li as he shot away into the distance!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep