390: Lingxu Sect for a Hundred Years

The afterglow following the autumn rain was thick, plating the upturned eaves and bracket sets of countless buildings with a layer of warm gold.

Throughout the Lingxu Sect, many Disciples were busy with their tasks.

Some sat cross-legged in meditation, their breathing drawing in imperceptible flows of Spiritual Qi; others closed their eyes in concentration, seemingly reflecting on the techniques they had just comprehended.

There were also Disciples strolling in pairs or trios through the courtyards, as well as groups gathered together chatting.

"The Sect Grand Competition is imminent. Junior Brother Wu, has your cultivation improved recently?"

At the mention of the Grand Competition, a flicker of fervor flashed in the eyes of the chatting Lingxu Sect Disciples.

This competition was different from those in the past; not only would Elders be selecting Disciples, but even the Sect Master and the Grand Elder would attend in person.

If one could take the top spot in the competition and be chosen as a Disciple by those two esteemed seniors, it would be a grand Opportunity to ascend to the heavens in a single step!

Excitement flashed in the eyes of the youth surnamed Wu who had been called out, but it was replaced by embarrassment a moment later.

"Cough... Naturally!"

This competition could be called the greatest event in the century since the Lingxu Sect's founding!

At that time, not only would the Lingxu Sect Disciples gather, but even various large and small forces from Xudao County would send representatives to observe the ceremony.

However, after the excitement passed, he suddenly felt a bit awkward.

"Cough... Naturally!"

"That's not right. I saw Senior Brother Wu hanging around outside Junior Sister Chu's courtyard yesterday!"

"Err, that... that..."

"Senior Brother, say no more, we all understand."

"What do you know?"

Senior Brother Wu's face turned beet red as he stiffened his neck to defend himself.

"That was... that was showing concern for a fellow Disciple!"

As he spoke, he made a move to chase and hit the other, drawing a burst of laughter from the crowd. The playful banter of the young men and women added a bit of liveliness to the solemn Sect.

"Hmph, how dare you peek at me! You're asking for a beating!"

...Pulling the perspective higher, the entire Lingxu Sect was perched among the mist-shrouded mountains.

Here, halls and palaces stretched on continuously, Spiritual Qi steamed upward, and everything was flourishing, presenting a scene of vibrant life and competitive growth.

As a major Sect that ranked high in Xudao County, it had a hundred thousand Disciples, hundreds of Spirit Manifestation Realm Elders, and piles of Spiritual Plants and Medicinal Pills as high as mountains—enough to make any large, medium, or small force green with envy.

Along the way, the pride on the Disciples' faces was clearly evident.

But only some of the older Disciples and Elders knew what the Lingxu Sect used to be like.

The newly entered Disciples had no idea that in the past, the Lingxu Sect had fewer than a hundred Disciples, and the strongest person in the Sect was merely an aging Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

Who could have imagined that in just a few short decades, it would transform into a rising power that intimidated the region?

...Time flew by like a white stallion passing a gap, and half a month later, the Lingxu Sect Grand Competition finally commenced amidst everyone's expectations!

After days of fierce battles, ten winners were decided from both the Qi Refining Realm and the Purple Mansion Realm Disciples.

As the dust from the final match settled, two majestic auras suddenly erupted in mid-air—the Lingxu Sect's highly anticipated Sect Master and Grand Elder finally made their appearance!

"Greetings, Sect Master! Greetings, Grand Elder!"

The sound of their salutations, like a mountain tsunami, shook the valley. Everyone in the Lingxu Sect knelt in unison, and even the leaders of other forces attending the ceremony showed faces of awe; only a handful of people could barely maintain a normal standing posture.

In the crowd, many outside Cultivators secretly gripped their transmission talismans: "I must immediately report to the Sect Leader/Sect Leader/Master. The auras of these two... have improved again!"

"Rise, all of you rise."

The Lingxu Sect Master's voice was kind, carrying a convincing magic.

"Thank you, Sect Master! Thank you, Grand Elder."

Everyone stood up as told, and only then did they dare to look up at the two figures in the clouds.

The Grand Elder was thin, with a deep and heavy aura, carrying a coldness and majesty that warned others not to approach.

In contrast, the Sect Master beside him appeared much more approachable; he was on the chubbier side with a slightly round face and a smile at the corners of his mouth, looking very kind and amiable.

Behind them, over a dozen streaks of light arrived a step later.

Those Disciples were half male and half female, and all were Personal Disciples of the Sect Master.

They were all dressed in a series of strange outfits; it was said that these were Dharma Robes personally designed for them by the Sect Master, called 'COS' outfits.

The male Disciples' attire was okay—strange, but not unacceptable. On the other hand, the female Disciples' clothes were each more scandalous than the last.

Watching this scene from the other side of the screen, Li Jinian couldn't help but have his brow twitch.

"Lelouch, Luffy, Gintoki, Uzumaki Naruto, Sasuke..."

"Frieren, Rem, Misaka Mikoto, Sora Kasugano, and... Airi Akizuki?"

Seeing the outfits on those Disciples, Li Jinian felt a wave of wordlessness.

This Fellow Countryman really knows how to have fun; he truly is an old 2D otaku.

A serious and old-fashioned Grand Elder, and a lecherous yet kind, fat Sect Master.

It was precisely this strange combination that had developed the Lingxu Sect to be stronger and stronger.

Beneath the glitz and glamour, they also had a hidden identity... the Guixu Sect, Hundred Counties Affairs Hall.

The Presiding Elder Baili Wende looked at the newly submitted report and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

"It's this Flame Dragon Armor and Black Rhino Armor again!"

"It's been decades, why haven't they settled down yet!"

At the mention of these two familiar names, Baili Wende's face showed both anger and a hint of reminiscence.

Thinking back to that time, he wasn't an Elder yet, but just an ordinary Prodigy Disciple.

Of course, this 'ordinary' was relative to the Guixu Sect.

To other forces, the Guixu Sect was out of reach!

And the first Sect mission he received was to follow a group of fellow Disciples to capture two notorious super-bandits.

Everywhere they went, they would plunder the local area. Whether it was large or small immortal Sects, or forces rooted between the immortal and mortal worlds, all had suffered long from these two!

Furthermore, the combat power of these two was extremely startling; even as Guixu Sect Disciples, they had to handle them with caution.

Baili Wende still remembered that first battle they encountered; they had a full forty to fifty people attacking together, yet only a handful survived.

In the end, if the powerhouses of nearby forces hadn't been alerted and forced the two back, their fate... Baili Wende felt a chill in his heart. Clearly, these two bandits calling themselves Flame Dragon Armor and Black Rhino Armor had become his Heart Demon, making him feel a secret lingering fear every time he thought of them.

Over the decades, all the counties under the Guixu Sect's jurisdiction had suffered greatly at their hands.

The Guixu Sect had sent out wave after wave of powerhouses, yet not only did they fail to wipe out those two, but they also suffered heavy losses in powerhouses.

Even during the few times he led the team, they were beaten until they were looking for their teeth on the ground.

Fortunately, these two bandits were relatively principled; as long as you obediently handed over treasures and resources, they wouldn't harm the innocent.

However, that was provided you weren't some notorious villain.

For people like the latter, the two bandits generally performed a direct 'physical transcendence.'

"It seems this seat must deploy the trump card!"

After thinking it over, Baili Wende made a decision; he decided to drive the tiger to swallow the wolf!

To this end, he prepared to set out in a while to find the strongest assassination organization under the Guixu Sect's rule—Delta.

He would pay a high price to have the leaders of this organization, 'Wei Long' and 'Feng Yi,' personally take action to eliminate those two thorns in the Guixu Sect's side...