Originally, Zhang Yan intended to bring the mother and child to his side to care for them, but Baofeng Temple did not permit female guests to stay, and he could not tend to them regularly.
Therefore, he devised another solution. Near Baofeng Temple, there is a river named Tangsheng River. Zhang Yan first used the "Three Elements Mixed Water Banner" to part the waves and penetrate the depths of the river. Then, he employed Xuan Guang to forcibly carve out a cave mansion. Finally, he arranged the "All Elements Star Three Qi Palace Array" around its surroundings.
With this protective array in place, it gathers the robust and concentrated energy of heaven and earth to ward off external enemies. Even if a Nascent Soul True Master arrives, it can hold them off for a moment.
Within the cave mansion, Zhang Yan left an ample supply of elixir pills and clear water for the mother and child and bestowed upon them the Dharma Talisman that protected him on his journey to East Splendor Continent. In this way, he no longer needed to worry.
When he departed for the Treasure Meeting, even if someone were to attack the cave mansion, the talisman could be activated in time to flee overseas to the Qingyu Sect for temporary refuge.
Zhang Yan then said, "Brother Gongsun sent word the other day, saying that he plans to bring several fellow Daoists to visit today. Go clean the grand hall thoroughly and instruct the disciples in the temple to return to their rooms for scripture chanting. If they witness anything unusual, they must not shout or make a commotion. Do you understand?"
Zhang Pan replied, "I will follow Master’s orders."
At this time, some tens of miles away, five cultivators—four men and one woman—were riding a flying boat toward Baofeng Temple, among them one was none other than Gongsun Mian.
At the forefront stood a cultivator with high cheekbones, a prominent nose, thick eyebrows, and full lips. However, his expression at this moment was one of anger as he said, "How infuriating the Wu family is! They only gave me a Copper Bamboo Token to brush me off. Last time my martial uncle went, they at least handed him a silver talisman. All my running around for them these past few years, doing so much, was completely wasted!"
Beside him, a cultivator with a narrow, elongated face chuckled and lightly patted his shoulder, advising, "Senior Brother Cheng, why must you harbor such grievances? You must understand that those noble families of Xuanmen never truly regard us cultivators from small sects. The fact that you managed to acquire a token is already quite fortunate. Thinking too much on it will only add to your troubles."
Senior Brother Cheng rolled his eyes and replied irritably, "Senior Brother He, you certainly have an easy-going attitude and a great temper, but you don’t grasp the hardship behind earning this token as simply as you did."
Noticing his still-burning resentment, Senior Brother He feared further discussion might lead to conflict. He chuckled, changed the subject, and turned to Gongsun Mian, saying, "As I understand it, Daoist Gongsun also obtained his Copper Bamboo Token with great difficulty, yet he is willing to make an introduction for that Daoist Li. It seems that this individual must indeed be extraordinary, wouldn’t you agree?"
Before Gongsun Mian could respond, the lone female cultivator on the flying boat chuckled, speaking bluntly, "I already know Daoist Gongsun’s temperament too well. He must be stubborn about saving face, always claiming that this Daoist Li is exceptional. When we meet, I’ll have to see for myself whether his words are mere boasts."
As she laughed, her eyes curved like crescent moons, revealing pearly white teeth as neat as a row of shells.
Though her words were clearly in jest, Gongsun Mian was unwilling to concede, retorting, "Junior Sister Ke, why say such things? You haven’t seen Daoist Li yourself and know nothing of his abilities. Even Yue Hongzhang was so impressed upon meeting him that he immediately sent an invitation asking him to attend the Nine Dragon Pond gathering. That alone speaks volumes of his capability."
The expressions of the people traveling together turned to surprise. Despite Yue Hongzhang’s reputation for being untraditional, his broad connections and keen judgment of character were widely acknowledged. If Li Yuanba had earned his admiration, then he must truly be exceptional.
Senior Brother He’s eyes lit up with a gleam as his face showed joy. He said, "If that’s truly the case, then at the Baozhi Conference, we will indeed gain a few more advantages!"
Participants of the Baozhi Conference were divided into various tiers.
Disciples from noble families often carried Golden Bamboo Tokens granted by the Tai Hao Sect. These tokens not only allowed them to bring servants and powerful warriors into the event but also enabled them to select a few sect cultivators to join them as companions. This greatly increased their chances of acquiring top-quality One Qi Ganoderma.
Cultivators like Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Brother He, coming from smaller sects, could only band together to compete against the disciples from great clans, lest they return empty-handed.
However, just then, a lazy voice rang out, saying, "He’s just a loose cultivator, after all. If he truly had remarkable abilities, why would he need Daoist Gongsun to make an introduction? And yet, he holds only a Copper Bamboo Token. Heh, given Yue Hongzhang’s connections, wouldn’t it have been possible for him to procure at least a silver talisman?"
At these words, Gongsun Mian furrowed his brows and glanced at the speaker but chose not to respond.
The other three present stayed silent after hearing this, with some quietly agreeing that there was some logic to the statement.
The speaker was named Chu Shaohong, a disciple from the Anqiu Sect.
While the Anqiu Sect was not part of the Ten Sects of Xuanmen, it was still considered a great sect and thus Chu Shaohong often looked down on others with an air of superiority. Even though his attitude was unpleasant, the fact that his cultivation was the highest among those present—and his ties with disciples from the Tai Hao Sect were extensive—meant that the group often had to rely on him, enduring his arrogance.
Chu Shaohong and Gongsun Mian had a relationship that could be considered familiar, though not particularly warm. Listening to Gongsun Mian praise Zhang Yan earlier had initially left him indifferent. However, upon hearing that Yue Hongzhang had invited this Zhang Yan to the Nine Dragon Pond feast, his heart became inexplicably vexed.
To know the Nine Dragon Pond gathering included many True Disciples from the Tai Hao Sect, developing connections of such caliber would yield significant benefits for him. Even failing to acquire One Qi Ganoderma would still be worthwhile.
He had tried countless times to curry favor with Yue Hongzhang, but while Yue’s outward manner was polite, he showed no genuine interest. Thus, Chu’s hopes were dashed, leaving him thinking bitterly, "I’ve cultivated painstakingly for decades, and my abilities are no weaker than the average Tai Hao disciples. Yet I can’t gain entry to the Nine Dragon Pond feast. What makes this Li Yuanba so special that he receives Yue Hongzhang’s favor? When we meet, I’ll make sure to humiliate him."
...(To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)