"I've been thinking, the design of this Mountain God Festival is exceptionally ingenious. It's no wonder it came from the hands of the Guardian Elder," Chu Liang said with a quick smile.
"Your words are pleasing, and your mind is sharp, but it's a pity that you don't follow the right path. You remind me of…"
The Guardian Elder chuckled and was about to say that Chu Liang reminded him of his master, but then he remembered that Di Nvfeng didn't follow the same path either. It was hard to say whether this young man had learned from her.
After a pause, he continued, "You have some of the unscrupulous merchant air of Glutton City."
"Hehe." Chu Liang could only respond with an awkward laugh.
While Glutton City brought great convenience to the cultivation world, it also brought a completely profit-driven unhealthy trend.
Many traditional cultivators still believed that cultivation should be detached from worldly matters. They disapproved of the mercenary attitude of the merchants.
As a representative of traditional immortal sects, Shu Mountain naturally had a majority of traditionalists.
"To be honest, you've given us elders quite a headache," the Guardian Elder said with amusement as he looked at Chu Liang. "In the thousands of years of the Mountain God Festival, we've rarely seen such a reckless disciple."
He was indeed telling the truth.
Chu Liang's selling of clues, collecting symbols… all his business activities were profiting from the Mountain God Festival, but they didn't violate any rules. He was like a lawless rogue walking on the edge of the sect's rules.
In the end, they could only sanction him by adding conditions, which showed that they were at their wits' end with him.
Just as Chu Liang was feeling a bit nervous, the Guardian Elder continued to speak.
"But I have high hopes for you. Your cunning can also be interpreted as superior intelligence. However, being clever is not enough to achieve great things. You need a guide to lead you onto the right path…" He paused, smiling at Chu Liang, "Would you like to come to the Guardian Hall?"
Huh?
This sudden turn of events left Chu Liang stunned.
Was he here to invite him?
Among the four major halls, the Guardian Hall recruited the fewest disciples. At least, Chu Liang had only seen one square-faced senior brother.
It might be because the Guardian Hall had fewer duties, or it might be because this position was more valuable.
If you were a disciple in the Sword Transmission Hall, you wouldn't be able to use all the magical instruments at will; if you were in the Dan Ding Hall, you wouldn't be able to eat all the pills at will; but in the Guardian Hall, you could almost look at all the divine arts and techniques at will.
After all, the techniques and scriptures were different from magical instruments and pills. Just seeing them was already a gain.
Chu Liang asked with some confusion, "Is the Guardian Hall short of disciples?"
"I'm not talking about ordinary disciples, but direct disciples," the Guardian Elder slowly said.
"Ah?" Chu Liang was even more surprised.
A disciple of a hall was more like an apprentice. Like Chen Su, they had their own master and only learned alchemy in their spare time.
But a direct disciple, like Liu Qin and Lu Xun of the Dan Ding Hall, would take the Elder of the Mountain as their master, the true successor.
But of course, one could only have one master.
Chu Liang's first reaction was to glance at Di Nvfeng's loft, and he said with a guilty conscience, "I dare not say this on Silver Sword Peak…"
"Heh, I'm not afraid of her…" The Guardian Elder smiled indifferently, then said, "I've already sealed the surroundings with a secret method. Our conversation won't leak out at all."
"That's good." Chu Liang breathed a sigh of relief.
Di Nvfeng was always ruthless when dealing with old men, and he knew this well.
As for poaching, he had experienced it before. But openly poaching on Silver Sword Peak was a first.
After thinking for a moment, he tactfully said, "Guardian Elder, I'm truly flattered by your high regard. But no matter where I am, I'm still a disciple of Shu Mountain. Why should I change my allegiance?"
The Guardian Elder replied, "That's true, but your master is Di Nvfeng, isn't she?"
At this moment, it was just like that moment.
Chu Liang couldn't help but laugh in his heart, but he still said seriously, "My master saved my life and brought me up the mountain. She is like my parents. How could I betray her?"
The Guardian Elder looked at Chu Liang, suddenly nodded, and his eyes revealed undisguised admiration.
The system of the various peaks on Shu Mountain meant that even if a disciple was excellent, it was difficult for them to receive direct attention from the higher-ups. The most important person for their growth was their master. And Di Nvfeng was obviously an unqualified master. The help she could give her disciples was not much… even negative more than positive.
But.
Facing such a person, Chu Liang couldn't bear to betray her, showing his loyalty and integrity.
Today, the Guardian Elder's recruitment was more like a test. If Chu Liang really wanted to change his allegiance, no matter how smart he was, he wouldn't be worth cultivating as the future successor of Shu Mountain.
From this moment on, the Guardian Elder truly considered Chu Liang as one of Shu Mountain's future prospects.
In this generation, there were originally only two people in this position, Xu Ziyang and Jiang Yuebai. They had gone through numerous tests to achieve their current status. Chu Liang's sudden rise made the higher-ups of Shu Mountain see a new seed.
A seed that was a bit strange in shape… but had great potential for the future.
"You do have a sentimental side," the Law Enforcement Elder said with a smile and a nod, waving his hand. "Oh, and before you leave, I have a message from Elder Danding. He said that the top-grade Green Pill is now selling for ten thousand sword coins each."
Chu Liang had no idea what was going through the Law Enforcement Elder's mind. He just watched the change in his eyes and vaguely felt that he had made the right choice.
However, when he heard that the top-grade Green Pill was selling for ten thousand sword coins, Chu Liang's brow furrowed, sensing that things were not as simple as they seemed.
Ten thousand, you might as well just rob me.
Why even bother giving me a pill?
But on second thought, this was probably a way for the higher-ups of Shu Mountain to recoup some of the income from this venture.
He had earned fifteen or sixteen thousand sword coins in total this time. They were taking back a large portion of it, and wouldn't fuss over the rest. He could still be awarded the first place in the Mountain God Festival, after all, it was his due.
If you want to take first place, you have to be willing to spend…
The Law Enforcement Elder drifted away, leaving Chu Liang alone, deep in thought.
…
As night fell, the Soul Summoning Order suddenly shook.
Chu Liang had just fallen asleep after helping Liu Xiaoyu open her meridians and initiate the path of the Dragon Blood Secret Method, when he was abruptly awakened.
It had been a long time since this thing had made a sound, he had almost forgotten about it. Now that it was ringing, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
【Eastern Guide】: "Everyone, the Marquis has summoned us."
【Fifty-nine】: "Ah, finally! Is it about infiltrating the Bone Palace? I've been looking forward to this for a long time. The moment to dedicate myself to the Marquis has finally arrived, I'm so excited…"
【Sixty】: "When? Where?"
Looking at the responses of the two people in front of him, Chu Liang felt like he was caught between fire and ice. In contrast to them, anything he said would make him seem like the only normal person in the group.
【Fifty-eight】: "Received, awaiting instructions from the Guide."
【Eastern Guide】: "There's news that the Bone Palace is about to undergo a major upheaval and is expanding its manpower. This is your chance to infiltrate the Bone Palace. In three days, someone will meet you and take you to the assembly point. Be prepared."
【Sixty】: "Received."
【Fifty-eight】: "Received."
【Fifty-nine】: "Oh my god, it's starting. I'm a bit nervous. Does the Guide have any advice for us? Who will meet us? Has anyone already infiltrated the Bone Palace? If we perform well, can we meet the Marquis? Is his injury healed?"
The Eastern Guide remained silent.
Seen but not replied.
(End of Chapter)