410: The imperial court is more dangerous than the battlefield.

"True Lord Zhou Qingwei!"

The appearance of Zhou Qingwei gave Liu Xuan a start. This person's aura was not inferior to True Lord Haoran's. Since when did the Beast Taming Sect have such a figure?

Although Liu Xuan had never seen the five Nascent Soul True Lords of the Southern Courtyard of the Beast Taming Sect in person, he had seen their portraits, and this person was not one of the five.

'Is he from the Main Mountain of the Beast Taming Sect? Or from the Azure Profound Sect?'

True Lord Haoran had looked angry just now, but in reality, he was only venting his frustration at his youngest daughter, so Liu Xuan was not very worried.

Now that another True Lord, whose cultivation was no lower than the Mid-Nascent Soul Stage, had suddenly intervened, he felt the outcome was unpredictable.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou Qingwei, this is my family matter. It is not appropriate for you to get involved, is it?"

True Lord Haoran withdrew his hand, his brows slightly knitted, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant as he looked at Zhou Qingwei.

He had guessed that Zhou Qingwei would come after learning that Liu Xuan was the Artifact Refiner who crafted the great sun flying boat, but he had not expected him to arrive so quickly.

"Fellow Daoist Haoran," Zhou Qingwei cupped his hands in a salute, "I naturally cannot interfere in your family matters, but I must attend to the affairs of my Disciple."

"Your Disciple?" True Lord Haoran was stunned for a moment. "Who is your Disciple?"

Zhou Qingwei looked at Liu Xuan and smiled, "Naturally, it is this young friend, Liu Xuan."

"Young friend, I am a Fourth-Tier Artifact Refining Master from Tiangong Immortal City under the Central State Dao Court. Would you be willing to come with me to the Dao Court for advanced studies?"

The Central State Dao Court was a Holy Land of the Human Race. It had given birth to Immortals who had achieved Ascension, and its foundation was unfathomable.

Liu Xuan had not learned about Tiangong Immortal City, but judging by the name, it was likely a super-large power specializing in Artifact Refining.

'A Fourth-Tier Artifact Refining Master from the Central State, why would he suddenly want to take me as a Disciple?'

Liu Xuan could not figure out the situation and dared not answer, instead looking at True Lord Haoran opposite him.

"Zhou Qingwei!!" True Lord Haoran pointed at Liu Xuan, his expression even uglier, "This kid is my Disciple. What is the meaning of this?"

True Lord Haoran was very displeased right now. His anger at his daughter had not yet subsided, and now Zhou Qingwei, a long-time friend, was disregarding his face to snatch a Disciple from him. Was everyone coming to oppose him?!!

"Isn't Fellow Daoist Haoran dissatisfied with this Disciple? You were about to teach him a lesson just now. Since you don't want him, wouldn't it be better to transfer him to me?"

Zhou Qingwei had seen An Haoran about to hit Liu Xuan as soon as he arrived, so he assumed the relationship between the Revered Master and Disciple was very poor.

"Besides, it is very normal for a Cultivator to have multiple Revered Masters. Him being your Disciple does not affect him becoming my Disciple as well, don't you agree? Young friend Liu Xuan." Zhou Qingwei looked at Liu Xuan with a kindly smile.

Seeing that Liu Xuan dared not speak, Zhou Qingwei looked back at the furious An Haoran and advised:

"Fellow Daoist Haoran, you know Liu Xuan's talent for Artifact Refining. If he stays with you, he will only waste his time in vain. It would be better for him to come with me to the Central State for rigorous training. He will surely become an Artifact Refining Revered Master in the future; why must you hinder a Disciple's future?"

Zhou Qingwei's words were flawless. If Liu Xuan were truly a Disciple raised by An Haoran since childhood, given the habits of the Gentlemans Academy, he should rightfully support Liu Xuan in developing on a better platform.

But the problem was that Liu Xuan was just a Disciple he had picked up for free not long ago. If he let him become Zhou Qingwei's Disciple now, this kid would probably run away immediately; would he still acknowledge him as his Revered Master?

"Liu Xuan, speak for yourself. Are you willing to betray the South Courtyard and take someone else as your Revered Master?" An Haoran flicked his sleeve and threw the question to Liu Xuan.

"Hmph!" Zhou Qingwei snorted coldly, "How can becoming my Disciple and joining Tiangong Immortal City be considered betraying the South Courtyard?"

"Fellow Daoist Haoran, please mind your words!"

He also flicked his sleeve, turned to look at Liu Xuan, and said, "Young friend, do not be afraid. It is only right and proper, and completely reasonable, for you to go to Tiangong Immortal City with me. Even if this matter were taken before the Head of the Gentlemans Academy, Yaoguang Demon Saint, we, as Revered Master and Disciple, would be in the right!"

Zhou Qingwei's words contained a lot of information! According to him, there was some sort of connection between the Main Mountain of the Beast Taming Sect and the Dao Court. If he were willing to take him as a Revered Master, True Lord Haoran would not be able to stop it.

Liu Xuan pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands in a salute to Zhou Qingwei, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior. However, this Junior is already a Disciple of my Revered Master. Since he does not permit it, this Junior cannot violate the Revered Master's orders."

"Is this young friend worried that An Haoran might do you harm?" Zhou Qingwei reached out and stroked his beard, "You need not worry at all. With my protection, I will certainly ensure you are safe."

"Senior, you have misunderstood. It has nothing to do with that," Liu Xuan glanced at True Lord Haoran and said sincerely, "My Revered Master and I share a bond like father and son; how could I be worried that he would do me harm?"

"A bond like father and son?!?" Zhou Qingwei looked at An Haoran, then at Liu Xuan. How could he possibly believe that?

"Young friend, you may not yet understand my identity. Let me reintroduce myself."

"I am Zhou Qingwei, a Fourth-Tier Artifact Refining Master of Tiangong Immortal City under the Dao Court. My status is equivalent to an Elder of a Spirit Transformation Immortal Sect. Aside from the Dao Lord, I do not need to bow to anyone, and I am half a rank higher than him, An Haoran."

"You may not be clear about Tiangong Immortal City. It is the Holy Land for Artifact Refiners in the entire Cangwu Realm, possessing the Legacy of a top-tier Fifth-Tier Artifact Refiner. Only there can your talent be fully realized."

After Zhou Qingwei finished speaking, An Haoran remained silent. He also felt that Liu Xuan going to Tiangong Immortal City was the best choice. Keeping him here could make him money, but it would waste his great talent, which was truly a bit selfish.

Although this kid Liu Xuan liked to tell little lies, he had no major problems. Judging by the teachings of the Gentlemans Academy, he was actually a qualified Disciple.

Letting him go to Tiangong Immortal City with Zhou Qingwei was not bad either, avoiding him causing trouble for his daughter, Yun Xi.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior," Liu Xuan bowed again and said politely, "You have misunderstood again. This Junior has no interest in the path of Artifact Refining; I only want to use it to earn some money. It is truly not suitable for me to go and tarnish the Holy Land and the Legacy."

Liu Xuan would have to be a fool to go to some Tiangong Immortal City with Zhou Qingwei. He was unfamiliar with the place and the people; wouldn't he have to start all over again if he went?

Don't look at the Central State Dao Court as stable and having strict rules, appearing very safe; to Liu Xuan, it was even more dangerous than the Peach Blossom Sect.

In the Peach Blossom Sect, even if he exposed some anomalies, he could use various methods to muddle through. Being near the Yao Race, combined with the Pioneering War, gave him opportunities to fish in troubled waters. If something really happened, he still had the Peach Blossom Demon Lord to cover for him.

But if he went to Tiangong Immortal City, that was the Dao Court's territory. Once he was noticed by the higher-ups, he wouldn't even have the slightest room to resist.

The Dao Court might talk about rules, but Liu Xuan did not dare to truly mistake that place for a society ruled by law like in his previous life.

At most, it could be considered a relatively stable feudal society. In a feudal society where royal power was supreme, sometimes the imperial court could be much more dangerous than the battlefield!

"No interest in the path of Artifact Refining!"

"How can you have no interest in the path of Artifact Refining?!?"

"I have seen the great sun flying boat you crafted. With your talent, you will definitely be able to advance to a Fourth-Tier Artifact Refining Master in the future, and perhaps even achieve far more than I have. With such talent, you tell me you have no interest in the path of Artifact Refining?"

"The great sun flying boat that Senior mentioned! I simply wanted to earn some Spirit Stones; I didn't put much effort into it."

"Didn't put much effort into it!" The corners of Zhou Qingwei's mouth twitched, and then his face sank, "You must come with me. I cannot watch a piece of fine jade end up as a floor tile."