190: Chapter 76: Clouds add 23 taels, not much more sorrow.
190: Chapter 76: Clouds add 23 taels, not much more sorrow.
Gao Xu, the steward, looked around and quickly approached Li Ping’an’s side.
Li Ping’an bowed with his hands clasped, smiled and said, “Weren’t you at the Immortal Dynasty, Steward?”
“I’ve rotated back to engage in secluded cultivation on the mountain for a few years.”
Steward Gao Xu blinked and took out a storage ring, stuffing it into Li Ping’an’s hands.
“This is the stuff you left with me during your time at the Immortal Dynasty.”
“I didn’t want to bother you at your master’s cave residence before, hoping that you’d come out and wander around, but since that never happened, I took this opportunity.”
Li Ping’an was genuinely stunned for a moment.
He thought of the poison pills he had lent to Steward Gao Xu; Elder Yansheng and his father had returned most of them later.
What could he have left with Steward Gao Xu?
Li Ping’an’s breath hitched in his chest.
Inside the Storage Treasure were more than ten huge jars, slices marinating in those robust, bone-strengthening substances.
“Thank you, Steward.”
Li Ping’an bowed his hands, gripping Steward Gao Xu’s sleeve and whispered:
“Please keep this matter secret, as it concerns my father’s dignity.”
Steward Gao Xu said, “Only heaven, earth, you, and I know of this matter.
I didn’t let anyone else handle the disposal of the three demon corpses.”
“Thank you, Steward,” said Li Ping’an as he took out a Storage Pouch.
As a dignified Yuan Immortal, Gao Xu couldn’t simply accept a gift from a disciple and initially refused to accept it firmly.
But when his Immortal Consciousness probed into it and saw the Spirit Stones and treasures inside…
he no longer insisted and somewhat sheepishly opened his sleeve, letting the Storage Pouch slip inside.
“In light of this, you continue your cultivation, Ping’an.
Everyone, I bid you farewell.”
Steward Gao Xu bowed his hands and drifted away with a spring breeze in his step.
The three disciples nearby hurriedly returned the bow, each of them looking curiously at Li Ping’an.
Ningning Mu asked, “Senior brother, what’s going on?”
“It’s nothing,” Li Ping’an chuckled, “I had asked this Steward to help me gather some materials for poison pills.”
Gu Qingcheng’s eyes brightened, and he laughed, “Senior brother, you also know how to refine poison pills?”
Li Ping’an answered casually, chuckling, “This is just for defensive purposes, I will have to seek the help of the elders at Elixir Dust Peak later…
Qingcheng, shall we have a game?”
Gu Qingcheng shook his sleeve and, despite the risk of losing face in front of the gathering immortals, he couldn’t contain his itch to play.
Ningning Mu and the sister disciple observed from the side.
Li Ping’an was considerate enough to let Gu Qingcheng save some face, and after several games of chess, he won more than he lost.
The sister disciple asked, “Why is our Cloud Boat flying so sluggishly with so many immortals aboard?
We’ll need half a day just to get to the Wei Yuan Sect at this rate.”
Li Ping’an smiled, “Flying slowly is mainly to give Wei Yuan Sect more time to prepare and to show that we’re not intent on seeking Magical Combat with others.”
“Senior brother,” Ningning laughed, “look around, there are quite a few small boats following us.”
Li Ping’an nodded with a smile.
His Spiritual Sense was always extended, and he naturally noticed earlier that within a hundred-mile radius, there were already over ten cloud boats of various sizes trailing behind the immortals from Wanyun Sect.
Just some immortals looking for entertainment.
The practice of cultivation is quite tedious, and with immortals possessing long lives and no significant enemies for the Human Race, their cultivation reaching a bottleneck means seclusion is futile.
Hence, looking for excitement has become an interest for many Loose Cultivators.
This also showed how eagerly the Qi Refining World of the East Continent was paying attention to the ‘alliance’ between Wanyun Sect and Wei Yuan Sect.
Gu Qingcheng asked, “Hey, senior brother, I heard from the immortals of our Sword Cloud Peak before I left home that Sea Watch Sect and Forge-Heaven Gate, two powerful immortal sects, are going to make trouble for our Wei Yuan Sect.”
“Alas,” Li Ping’an sighed with a transcendent air, “These two sects have not joined forces, rest assured.
With so many immortals from our sect moving out, we also feel this pressure.”
He naturally knew that many immortals could hear these whispers in the corner.
The following sentences were also meant as a reminder to the seniors of his sect.
Gu Qingcheng played his part well and immediately inquired, “Will there be a fight this time?”
“There won’t be a fight,” Li Ping’an chuckled, “Even though Wei Yuan Sect lacks a Golden Immortal, Old Immortal Xu Sheng is well-regarded in East Continent.
Sea Watch Sect would have to give some respect to Elder Xu, who has been an acclaimed master of Artifact Refining for tens of thousands of years, owing favors to countless others.”
Gu Qingcheng then frowned and asked, “What about Forge-Heaven Gate?”
“I’ve checked many recent sightings and information regarding Forge-Heaven Gate these past few days.”
Li Ping’an sighed softly:
“Forge-Heaven Gate is East Continent’s number one Artifact Refining sect, also ranking in the top three on the Path of Immortality.
They have a good reputation and I haven’t heard of them bullying anyone.
“It seems that in recent years, our Wanyun Sect has gained fame in the Artifact Refining realm, and with playful immortals who like to lift one up and put another down, it’s just that Forge-Heaven Gate’s reputation has been dented a bit.
My father has already corresponded with Elder Xu Sheng over this matter; there’s no need for us to worry about Forge-Heaven Gate.
“The biggest trouble is Sea Watch Sect…
that’s what my father said before.”
He was in effect informing the Wanyun Sect immortals in advance that later they should focus on the lighter issues and concentrate on dealing with Sea Watch Sect.
The immortals on the three large boats also began to discuss this matter, conveying Li Ping’an’s words in full.
After all, it was ‘directly from’ the Great Wealth Immortal.
Ningning murmured, “Why is Sea Watch Sect so annoying?”
“This question, you’ll need to ask their disciples and sect members.”
Li Ping’an said earnestly:
“My father has also investigated Sea Watch Sect, and indeed, in the past few thousand years, they’ve done a lot of bullying against Loose Cultivators and oppressing small sects.”
“However, they haven’t gone too far, and there is still some difference between them and the Demon Cultivators.”