Martial Cultivator

The Autumn Sound Sect was extraordinarily lively.

The sect master’s 300th birthday was, without a doubt, the number one event throughout the Autumn Sound Sect at present, and the disciples on the mountain naturally did not dare to be careless about it.

Although Sect Master Gao Qiu had begun recruiting disciples extensively after establishing the Autumn Sound Sect with his close friend, and as the sect grew larger, Gao Qiu’s reputation in Ying Prefecture naturally grew greater as well, even so, this Autumn Sound Sect sect master seemed to pay no attention to it at all. On the mountain, in the eyes of almost all the disciples, he was that approachable and easygoing sect master, without any airs of a powerful expert, and he was extremely tolerant toward the disciples.

It was precisely because of this that most of the disciples throughout the Autumn Sound Sect genuinely admired this sect master from the bottom of their hearts. Especially now that the sect master’s 300th birthday had arrived, the disciples naturally took this matter to heart as well.

The invitations had already been sent to various places throughout Ying Prefecture half a month ago. All the major sects had already sent back word, putting it simply and directly: when the time came, they would definitely come to the mountain to celebrate Sect Master Gao’s birthday.

The only one that had yet to give a response was the invitation sent to Divine Capital. To this day, there had been no reply.

At this moment, on Yin Mountain, the steward cultivator responsible for this matter, Zhao Wuyan, stood before a newly constructed palace and reported everything to a middle-aged man standing before him.

The middle-aged man was Gao Qiu. Although he was already three hundred years old, his temples were not yet white, and he was tall and broad-shouldered. Anyone who saw him would surely praise him for his imposing build.

Some disciples even joked privately that with their sect master’s physique, he did not look like a cultivator at all, but more like a martial artist.

“All the sect masters have replied, and they will definitely all be here today. Only the people in Divine Capital have yet to send any word. We also dare not urge them...”

With his back to Zhao Wuyan, Gao Qiu merely shook his head upon hearing this. “What kind of person is that Lord Warden Commander? Even saying that he is burdened with countless affairs would hardly describe the weight on his shoulders. As for my birthday, it is only natural that he would not come.”

Hearing his sect master’s unsurprising response, Zhao Wuyan hesitated for a moment before still speaking. “Even if he cannot come, the people in Divine Capital should at least give us some explanation, right? After all, our Autumn Sound Sect is no longer a small sect in Ying Prefecture, or even in the whole of Great Liang...”

Gao Qiu smiled and shook his head. “Wuyan, you have only been on the mountain for a short while, but you have handled many matters very well. However, sometimes you take yourself too seriously. Even if the Autumn Sound Sect now has two people at the end of Nepenthe, and can be considered somewhat impressive, that Lord Warden Commander has already broken through the end of Nepenthe. At his age, with such achievements, he has enough capital to disregard everyone in the world. If you are dissatisfied, you can only swallow it.”

”But...”

Zhao Wuyan still wanted to speak, but Gao Qiu had already shaken his head. “Wuyan, it is the same as I said before. If you truly take yourself too seriously, then one day, you will certainly fall from a great height and be smashed to pieces.”

“There are quite a few things to handle on the mountain right now. Go and get busy.”

Gao Qiu waved his hand, but before Zhao Wuyan could leave, someone hurriedly ran over, somewhat excitedly saying, “Reporting to the sect master, that Lord Warden Commander has come up the mountain!”

Gao Qiu was stunned, then immediately asked anxiously, “How did he come up the mountain?”

The man took two heavy breaths before saying, “The Lord Warden Commander came along the mountain path with a woman and the other cultivators going up the mountain. From the way they are proceeding, it seems they did not intend to make a grand display, so we did not make much of a grand welcome either. At this moment, the Lord Warden Commander should be almost halfway up the mountain.”

“Nicely done.”

Gao Qiu nodded approvingly. “This Lord Warden Commander often does not concern himself with worldly conventions. If we insist on making a grand show of things for him, I fear he would be displeased. What you have done is just right. You do not need to watch too closely; just let things take their natural course. I will handle what comes next.”

The man nodded in agreement and quickly withdrew. Only then did Zhao Wuyan smile and say, “The Lord Warden Commander has also come to Yin Mountain. It seems that he agrees with some of the things concerning our Autumn Sound Sect.”

Gao Qiu smiled and said, “Regardless of anything else, go quickly and inform the second sect master. At the birthday banquet later, the two of us must both be there!”

Zhao Wuyan did not hesitate and quickly left this place to report the matter to the other cultivator at the end of Nepenthe on Yin Mountain.

Gao Qiu stood where he was, narrowing his eyes with a smile. At this moment, this Autumn Sound Sect sect master could be said to be extremely pleased with himself, full of ambition.

He felt that many things had already been settled from the moment that young Lord Warden Commander appeared on Yin Mountain.

......

......

At this moment, on the mountain path of Yin Mountain, a group of cultivators who were not particularly high in status but had likewise received invitations were making their way up the mountain.

Most of these cultivators traveled in groups of two or three, walking alongside old friends they knew. Along the way, most of what they discussed concerned the Autumn Sound Sect’s position in Ying Prefecture in the future, though some cultivators were still discussing the great battle Great Liang had fought in the north before.

Chen Chao, dressed in black, walked shoulder to shoulder with Yue Xin along the mountain path.

Actually, Chen Chao was fine at this moment, but Yue Xin truly felt uncomfortable all over. She was different from Li You; she was actually far from being able to move with ease in front of Chen Chao. Although she was older than the Chen Chao before her, from the very beginning, she had regarded Chen Chao as an idol.

So now, walking shoulder to shoulder with Chen Chao, there were many things she could not put into words. Her emotions were complicated, as if she felt that she should not be walking shoulder to shoulder with this Lord Warden Commander, yet at the same time, she felt that being able to walk like this for a stretch, whether for ten years or twenty years from now, would certainly be something she could never forget.

It would be a beautiful memory.

The two continued up the mountain in silence. Chen Chao took the initiative to start a conversation and asked, “Do you think Yin Mountain knows that I’ve already come up the mountain?”

Yue Xin thought for a moment before quickly giving her answer. “They know. Not only do they know, they should also be watching Your Excellency right now. But since they know Your Excellency has come up the mountain, yet they haven’t shown the proper courtesy to welcome Your Excellency, does that mean Yin Mountain also cannot figure out Your Excellency’s purpose?”

Chen Chao smiled and shook his head. “The fact that I can come up the mountain like this means that, in their eyes, there is definitely no problem. They may even be very happy, because who doesn’t know that Great Liang’s Lord Warden Commander Chen Chao, whether he wants to kill someone or cause trouble for someone, always does things with great fanfare? Hiding things and keeping a low profile has never been his style.”

“The reason they haven’t made such a move is because they assume that I came up the mountain like this because I don’t want anyone to know, so they are accommodating me. Since they are doing this, it shows that Yin Mountain has quite some ambitions about becoming the number one sect in Ying Prefecture.”

Yue Xin frowned. “They secretly did all those things. Aren’t they afraid that we’ll find out? And they still dare to make such a big display? Have they no regard for their lives?”

“This is precisely where their cleverness lies. With two people at the end of Nepenthe, they should naturally have such ambitions. That is only reasonable. If they were instead still timid and cautious, then it wouldn’t make sense and would arouse suspicion, which would only cause trouble.”

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and smiled. “If there hadn’t been clues beforehand, just putting you and that Sect Master Gao together for a contest, I’m afraid he would have completely eaten you alive.”

Yue Xin’s expression became somewhat dejected. “This subordinate was unequal to the task.”

Chen Chao shook his head. “You’ve already done very well. Don’t blame yourself. Some things are perfectly ordinary, just like how you are inferior to him, and he is inferior to me.”

Yue Xin was amused into a faint smile by these words, but said nothing. ℴ

Chen Chao looked toward the mountaintop and suddenly asked, “Yue Xin, what would happen if, during the banquet later, I simply made my move and took the heads of the two sect masters?”

Yue Xin thought for a moment and smiled. “Then everyone present would certainly be so shocked that they wouldn’t be able to say a word.”

Chen Chao smiled and asked, “Then what do you think, if I did this, what exactly would those people present be shocked by?”

Yue Xin was stunned. She truly had never thought about this aspect before.

If that were the case, then what exactly would they be shocked by?

Chen Chao said calmly, “It would be because of my, Chen Chao’s martial strength.”

“They would once again be shocked that that young Lord Warden Commander has already reached such a level of cultivation. It is far too terrifying. Do not provoke him.”

Chen Chao smiled and said, “There would definitely be a great many people who thought this way. Once the news spread, it would be the same.”

Yue Xin said nothing. She vaguely felt that Your Excellency before her was going to say something else.

“Yes, this won’t do.”

Chen Chao emphasized again, “This won’t do.”

Yue Xin looked at Chen Chao curiously.

Chen Chao said, “The thing that makes them afraid, it is time for that to be Great Liang.”

......

......

Before the newly built main hall at the mountaintop was a reception hall, which was now crowded with people.

Gao Qiu chatted and exchanged pleasantries with the various sect masters, while Zhao Wuyan kept searching for Chen Chao’s figure. But after looking around again and again, he still could not find that young Lord Warden Commander.

The cultivators on the mountain who were likewise observing from the shadows were the same.

“Senior Brother Zhao, that Lord Warden Commander seems to have disappeared.”

A cultivator spoke up to report, somewhat worried. Clearly, that young Lord Warden Commander had come up the mountain, so why could he not be seen now?

“Have we searched everywhere?”

After Zhao Wuyan asked this, he shook his head and mocked himself. “A great cultivator who has already surpassed Nepenthe doesn’t want to be found. How could others possibly find him?”

After saying this, Zhao Wuyan did not hesitate and walked toward Gao Qiu. Given the situation, he still had to inform the sect master.

But just at this moment, hurried footsteps sounded. A disciple from the mountain came to this place and loudly said, “Reporting to the sect master, Divine Capital’s Commander Song Lian has come up the mountain carrying an invitation, saying that he has come on behalf of His Excellency, the Lord Warden Commander!”

This voice caused everyone to freeze for a moment.

Gao Qiu was also stunned, but immediately afterward, this sect master laughed loudly and said, “Good, good, good! Although Your Excellency, the Lord Warden Commander, did not come personally, that Commander Song still carries plenty of weight. I should naturally go and welcome him personally!”

After saying this, the sect master apologized to the other surrounding sect masters and strode out of the reception hall.

At this moment, the cultivators in the reception hall were all filled with complicated thoughts.