129: Chapter 55 Discussing the Tao while Sitting_2 129: Chapter 55 Discussing the Tao while Sitting_2 The formation barrier in the private room descended, and several Immortals along with a few disciples entered from the doorway.
They first greeted Xu Sheng with a salute, and then exchanged greetings with the people of Wanyun Sect.
The private room became quite lively again, and the table grew crowded.
The Immortals from Wei Yuan Sect who came were all external elders, with deep relationships with Elder Yansheng and others;
However, the three disciples sent by Wei Yuan Sect made Li Ping’an…
and Ningning Mu beside him become very vigilant.
For no other reason, all the disciples sent by Wei Yuan Sect were female, each with a beauty that could sink fish and fell geese, bashful as the moon shamed by flowers, and were all outstanding Immortal Sprouts with cultivations in the Void Refinement and Merge True realms.
These three female disciples were either gracefully composed, moved with proper decorum, or as delicate as jade, hesitantly starting and stopping in conversation, or were cleverly whimsical, with bright and agile minds.
Ningning Mu had no choice but to stand tall and proud, cheerfully serving her senior brother with food and wine.
Li Ping’an chatted with Elder Xu Sheng about the Path of Artifact Refining for a while, turned his head, and saw a mountain of exquisite delicacies piled up to a foot high, frowning at the sight of his junior sister beside him.
Ningning Mu, who had taken off her veil, looked up at the ceiling with an expression of ‘it doesn’t concern me.’
Li Ping’an quietly took a few big bites of the dishes, continuing the conversation about Artifact Refining with the elder, enhancing his own understanding of Artifact Refining.
The atmosphere at the banquet was joyous for a time.
Yu Yingshu had a somewhat gloomy personality and was now merely eating and drinking quietly;
Gu Qingcheng demonstrated the social talents of a Wanyun Sect Sword Cultivator, chatting and jesting with a few Wei Yuan Sect’s senior and junior sisters, making witty remarks and eliciting continuous laughter.
The Immortals and disciples from both sects were unaware that an old Taoist downstairs was listening and watching.
The old Taoist, seeing no more fun in this place, was already inclined to leave.
This person who boasted to be his ‘registered disciple’ from the Human Race, though his words were exaggerated, could still be considered as marginally true.
“In those days, I truly did preach the way of Artifact Refining to the humankind for three hundred years.”
The old Taoist smiled and shook his head, drank the Spiritual Spring water in his cup, and was about to vanish, returning to his cave dwelling.
Suddenly he heard a few Immortals whispering nearby, saying:
“Elder Xu Sheng and Li Ping’an of Wanyun Sect are right here.
They are in the upper floor’s private room, seemingly discussing matters of Artifact Refining.”
It’s likely about those magic artifacts given by the Wanyun Sect at a great bargain.”
“When they talk about these things, they always have the maids leave…
The uncle-master has ordered us to have our disciples, especially that Li Ping’an from Wanyun Sect, engage in a debate with them, probably to give Wanyun Sect a bit of embarrassment.”
“Those four disciples from Wanyun Sect stood out during the cultivation conference, huh!”
“But, isn’t this kind of action too bullying for them?
The disciples we brought here are all top candidates from the internal lectures hall, and they are all in the Heaven and Earth Bridge realm, not far from becoming Immortals.”
“Those few Wanyun Sect disciples were merely lucky at that time, they had special magic artifacts gifted by the Wanyun Sect, and they even used a large amount of bewitchment drugs…
The fish and shrimp within hundreds of miles of that sea area are still unconscious.”
“We, as upright sects of Immortals, cannot use force against each other, so arguing with words it is!”
“You organize a few people, discreetly clear out the top floor, retract the screens of each private room, and make it brighter.
Then, invite some opportunistic Loose Cultivators.”
“Today, we must make them look good!”
The few whispering Immortals each went their own way to take action.
The old Taoist sitting by the window hummed softly to himself as if there might be some fun to be had…
In the flower basket beside him, he pinched out two miniature bowls and dishes, set them in front of himself.
The plates expanded in size and the bases popped out plenty of roasted spiritual melon seeds.
The old Taoist wiped away the previously drawn circle, dipped his finger in water, drew a larger circle, and took in the entire top floor’s layout at a glance.
“Just the chance to see if the young Human Race nowadays is diligent in understanding the way.”
Inside the upper floor’s private room.
The moment there was a stir outside, Elder Yansheng and Elder Xu sensed something was amiss.
Xu Sheng glanced at the Wei Yuan Sect Immortal sitting beside him, who immediately stood up and guarded outside the private room’s formation.
Elder Yansheng whispered to the four disciples of Wanyun Sect:
“Sea Watch Sect has come looking, there’s no need to worry; they dare not make a move.
There are two Heavenly Immortals from our Wanyun Sect just outside the city, ready to come in at any moment.”
What was originally a relaxed and delightful banquet became tense in an instant.
The Wei Yuan Sect Immortal quickly reported back to Xu Sheng through whispers.
Xu Sheng laughed and said, “Ping’an, a few external elders from Sea Watch Sect have come with some disciples in the Heaven and Earth Bridge realm, saying they want to have a debate with disciples of Wanyun Sect…
How do you feel about that?”
Li Ping’an, not fully understanding, asked, “A debate?”
“A debate is a verbal fight,” explained one of the Wei Yuan Sect female disciples, “If it’s a more refined debate, it’s just a few disciples sitting opposite each other, with one posing a question and another answering.”
Li Ping’an slowly nodded.
How could he not know what a debate was, he was just surprised at how petty the Immortals from Sea Watch Sect were.
Xu Sheng sighed with a smile, “It must be because they didn’t take the defeat well when your four seized the victory in the disciples’ cultivation contest.
They have brought a few powerful disciples over, hoping to win back some face to take home.”
Gu Qingcheng couldn’t hide his thoughts and snorted coldly, “Can Sea Watch Sect not afford to lose ?”
Elder Yansheng’s expression darkened somewhat as he uttered, “Ping’an, go challenge them!”
Li Ping’an’s hand trembled, almost bowing to the elder.
Those were disciples on the brink of becoming Immortals in the Heaven and Earth Bridge realm, and he was just a Void Refinement realm disciple, what debate could he possibly have!
Elder Xu Sheng, who was beside him, puzzledly said, “Ping’an is also adept at debating?”
“Not at all, not at all,” Li Ping’an quickly replied, “I usually just focus on cultivation and refining artifacts, discussing the way only occasionally with my master.”
Elder Yansheng also said, “I truly got so angry I wasn’t thinking straight.
Indeed, Ping’an has never debated in public.”