46: Chapter 46 The Influence of a Nascent Soul True Monarch

News of the battle at the mountain gate swept across the entire Qing State in an instant!

The scene of Ling Hao destroying ten thousand pills with one palm, shattering a Golden Core with one finger, and extinguishing a self-detonation with a flick of his sleeve at the Moonshadow Sect gate was spread by countless people, with many exaggerations added.

The entire cultivation world of Qing State was stirred by this.

The fourth Nascent Soul True Lord of Qing State had emerged!

The fourth Grade 4 Sect of Qing State—the Moonshadow Sect—had declared its rise!

For a time, countless Cultivators filled with awe, yearning, or curiosity flocked toward Tianyuan Mountain.

Huoyan Sect, main peak.

"Trash!"

Song Qingfeng was furious and kicked Tong Xiu fiercely in the face!

Tong Xiu screamed as he flew backward, crashing into a stone pillar. Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose, and he fell into a coma from his severe injuries on the spot.

"The Moonshadow Sect has a Nascent Soul Sect Master! And a Golden Core Deputy Sect Master! That is a full major Realm difference! What kind of bullshit information did you scout?!"

A Golden Core True Person is the hallmark of a Grade 3 Sect.

Typical Grade 3 Sects only have one or two. The most powerful Grade 3 Sect in Qing State, the Yunlai Sect, has a Sect Master at the 8th Grade of Golden Core, and there are only six Golden Core Cultivators in the entire Sect.

As for his Huoyan Sect, he himself is a 2nd-layer Golden Core Cultivator, yet there are five Golden Core Cultivators. This is largely due to the reputation of his parents, who are at the Nascent Soul Stage.

Now that two have been lost all at once, it is like breaking one of his arms!

How could he not be angry? How could he not hate?!

"Drag him away! Throw him into the Corrosive Female Cave!"

Two guards responded and entered, coldly dragging the dog-like Tong Xiu away.

In his coma, Tong Xiu mumbled unconsciously:

"Dao... Dao foundation... My Dao foundation..."

Only Song Qingfeng's heavy breathing remained in the pavilion. He forced himself to calm down.

Bow his head? Absolutely impossible!

His parents are both Nascent Soul True Lords; why would he fear a Ling Hao?

"I must make a trip to the Tianhuo Sect... It's a good time to see my father." His eyes were sinister.

Song Qingfeng arrived at a secret cave at the back of the mountain.

The light in the cave was dim, permeated with a rotting and eerie sweet scent of purple cloud grass.

An emaciated old man with a hooked nose, dressed in a black robe, sat cross-legged on a cushion, with faint evil Qi swirling around him. On the ground beside him lay five scattered, ghastly white skeletons, including men, women, the old, and the young.

Song Qingfeng swept his gaze over the skeletons, his expression showing no ripples, and he bowed to the old man:

"Mr. Pang, the people you require are extremely difficult to find. It took a long time to find only these five."

"This place is remote after all. Why not come back to the Tianhuo Sect with me? This Junior will certainly implore my father to take action. With the power of a Grade 4 Sect, we will surely be able to gather what you need faster."

Mr. Pang slowly opened his eyes, his turbid eyes revealing an evil glint, smiling yet not smiling:

"No need."

Song Qingfeng was unwilling to give up and wanted to persuade him further.

The corners of the black-robed old man's mouth curled into a sneer:

"What? Are you not afraid... that if I go to the Tianhuo Sect, I will tell your father exactly what rebellious things you have done?"

Song Qingfeng's face twitched, his eyes gloomy, and he finally fell silent.

Mr. Pang closed his eyes again, his voice cold: "I said, I only need ten. If you can find the remaining five within half a year, I promise the Earth Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique, 'Nine Nether Bone-Corroding Art', that I promised you can be exchanged for the Earth Rank Medium Grade Cultivation Technique, 'Three Lives Netherworld Scripture'."

...

Liuyun Temple, beneath Liuyun Peak.

Temple Revered Master Jing Hong stood respectfully outside a stone door of a secret chamber:

"Old Ancestor..."

He reported in detail about Abbess Yunqing's visit to the Moonshadow Sect, the appearance of the Moonshadow Sect's Nascent Soul, and the fall of the Huoyan Sect Elder.

"Old Ancestor, how should our Liuyun Temple... respond?"

Jing Hong's tone carried a request for instruction and worry.

The secret chamber was silent for a moment, and a hoarse, dry voice pierced through the stone door:

"First, place Abbess Yunqing and her Disciple under house arrest within the temple. Prepare a generous gift. In a month, I will personally take them to Tianyuan Mountain to apologize."

Jing Hong was startled:

"Old Ancestor! Elder Yunqing is the only Grade 3 Pill Revered Master in our temple!"

The voice inside the secret chamber turned cold abruptly: "Go do it!"

"Old Ancestor..."

"Are you the Old Ancestor, or am I the Old Ancestor?"

"...Yes, I will respectfully follow the Old Ancestor's decree."

Jing Hong felt a tightness in his chest, dared not say more, and bowed to retreat.

In the secret chamber, only a faint sigh remained.

...

Moonshadow Sect, below Haoran Tower, courtyard.

Stars dotted the night sky, and the moonlight was like water.

Yu Lingshuang stood in the courtyard, reporting in a cold, clear voice:

"In three days, we have accepted a total of seven hundred and twenty new Disciples."

"Five hundred and twenty passed the Six-Turn Corridor."

"One hundred and eighty-two passed the Seven-Turn Corridor."

"Eighteen passed the Eight-Turn Corridor."

Ling Hao picked up the scroll on the table, glanced at it, and put it down casually.

He picked up a compressed Spirit Mist Cloud Silk Candy and popped it into his mouth.

Hmm, it was still that familiar, light, sweet floral scent. This candy was delivered by Yu Lingshuang just now when she came to report.

After Yu Lingshuang finished her report, she left quickly.

It's just... the look she gave when she left was quite strange, as if to say:

"Why beat around the bush if you want to eat candy?"

Ling Hao touched his nose. When did I ever say I wanted to eat?

But his hand didn't stop, and he popped another Spirit Mist Cloud Silk Candy into his mouth.

He glanced at the System interface in front of him:

Main Mission: Recruit Disciples (2586 / 3000) Mission Reward: Golden Core Dao Trace Resonance for three hours.

After the news that the Sect Master was a Nascent Soul True Lord spread, the crowd flocking to Tianyuan Mountain became even more surging, and the recruitment of Disciples naturally rose with the tide.

At this rate, the goal of three thousand Disciples is within reach.

A clear and melodious flute sound drifted with the wind in the quiet night.

"This direction... is the Snow Pavilion?"

Ling Hao's heart moved slightly, and he followed the flute sound.

Stepping into the Snow Pavilion courtyard, the moonlight spilled like silver, covering everything in a hazy, clear brilliance.

In the center of the courtyard, Qin Zhaoxue stood quietly in white.

The bright moonlight flowed over her waterfall-like black hair, setting off her side profile, making it appear even more cold and otherworldly.

Her slender jade fingers pressed lightly on the holes of the purple bamboo flute, her red lips parted slightly, and the melodious melody flowed out, weaving into a painting with the night wind and the whispers of the bamboo forest.

The song ended, with lingering echoes.

"Good."

Ling Hao praised softly.

The voice startled Qin Zhaoxue, who was immersed in the music. She trembled slightly and turned around in a panic:

"Revered Master?"

Her fair cheeks instantly flushed with a faint red, like a child caught in a secret.

"I didn't expect that my second Disciple had such talent."

Ling Hao approached with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of praise, and even deeper, a meaning unknown to others.

At that time, Ling Hao didn't expect to recruit a "fellow countryman" from the same world in Jiuling City.

"Disciple... only knows a little bit."

Qin Zhaoxue lowered her head, her voice light and thin, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the flute body.

This flute sound also evoked her initial panic and helplessness when she first arrived in Jiuling City.

Compared to the difficult life of living day to day back then, the peaceful cultivation in the Sect now and the protection of her Revered Master felt like a lifetime ago.

'If not for Revered Master, I'm afraid I would have already...'

A thick sense of gratitude welled up in her heart.

"Revered Master... would you like to hear something else?"

She gathered her courage, raised her eyes, and asked.

"Hmm."

Ling Hao nodded happily. He also wanted to hear... the melody of his hometown.

Qin Zhaoxue's eyes brightened slightly, and she brought the flute to her lips again.

This time, it was a more familiar tune—《Blue and White Porcelain》.

The winding and melodious flute sound rang out again, sketching the brushstrokes of the blue and white porcelain, depicting the Concept of waiting for the misty rain in sky blue.

The song ended. Ling Hao had a knowing smile in his eyes and commented softly:

"This song is about... subtle waiting and longing?"

Qin Zhaoxue looked up abruptly, an incredible surprise shining in her eyes!

Revered Master... he could actually understand the true meaning of the song?!

"Revered Master... you..."

Her voice carried a hint of imperceptible trembling. The thrill of being understood in her heart was like a pebble thrown into a lake, with ripples spreading out layer by layer.

It was as if in this other world, she had finally found a soulmate who could touch the depths of her Soul.

Ling Hao looked at her surprised expression, a hint of mischievousness flashing in his eyes.

He was looking forward to seeing what kind of wonderful expression this intelligent Disciple would have when she found out the truth.

The flute sound started again, one song after another.

Under the moonlight, the Revered Master and Disciple looked at each other and smiled, a silent tacit understanding flowing quietly in the melodious melody.