Martial Cultivator

Aunt Gan knew when to advance and when to retreat. Seeing that Chen Chao was declining, she did not press further.

Chen Chao thought for a moment and said, “After Inviting Moon Mountain is established, you can get in touch with Morning Dew Sect and see if you can form an alliance. No one can say for sure about the future, but at least in the next ten years, this will benefit Inviting Moon Mountain without harm.”

Ten years later, Morning Dew Sect would likely rise rapidly. Whether it would then pull far ahead of others was hard to say.

After all, both sects were itinerant cultivator sects.

In some aspects, they had direct competitive interests.

Li Tang thought for a moment and did not immediately say yes or no, only saying she would discuss it and later give the Lord Warden Commander an answer.

Chen Chao shook his head, looked at the newly appointed mountain lord, and said seriously, “Mountain Lord Li, you must understand one thing. Inviting Moon Mountain is Inviting Moon Mountain’s own sect. The court has helped in the past, and will continue to help when possible, but that does not mean that from now on, Inviting Moon Mountain must act according to the imperial court’s will. What this official asks for is a fellow path, not for Inviting Moon Mountain to attach itself to the court, where everything is decided by the court. If it were like that, would it really be a good thing for Inviting Moon Mountain?” “In other words, if things were like that, wouldn’t Mountain Lord Li and the many cultivators on the mountain feel a knot in their hearts? Living under someone else’s roof, not even having the final say over your own territory, what’s the point of cultivation then? Isn’t that no different from being a dog?”

Chen Chao spoke very bluntly. Although many sects in the foreign lands might indeed be willing to act as dogs of Great Liang, Great Liang itself had no intention of raising dogs. Raising dogs was the least reliable, once Great Liang declined, those so-called dogs might very well turn around and bite it.

What Great Liang sought was to be the common ruler of the world, but also to have the world submit willingly.

Not a world that feared Great Liang and lived in trembling submission.

Hearing this, Li Tang finally let out a breath of relief. All her previous worries vanished, and she revealed a sincere smile. “Li Tang will remember Lord Warden Commander’s words.”

Chen Chao teased, “Now when Fairy Li Tang smiles, she really does look like a blooming begonia flower.”

Li Tang’s face reddened slightly.

Aunt Gan quickly said, “Lord Warden Commander already has someone in his heart, so you shouldn’t be flirting around everywhere. Planting flags everywhere is not the mark of a good man.”

Chen Chao was helpless. It had just been a casual remark, yet Aunt Gan managed to read so much into it.

Li Tang only glanced at the young man beside her from the corner of her eye, her expression returning to normal. In truth, toward Chen Chao, it wasn’t just the women on this mountain, but women across the foreign lands who were curious about this young martial artist who had risen so quickly in just a few years. In idle moments, they would often talk about this young Lord Warden Commander.

But in the end, it usually came down to two lines.

A pity he was a martial artist.

Fortunately he was a martial artist.

They meant the same thing. If Chen Chao were not a martial artist, who knew how many women, those called fairies by outsiders, would have been utterly captivated by this Lord Warden Commander.

But precisely because he was a martial artist, and a martial artist of Great Liang, for those women of the foreign lands, it remained a regret.

Otherwise, with a bit of luck, becoming dao companions with him, who knows how many girls would envy that.

By the time they reached the mountain, the venue had already been prepared. Chen Chao followed Li Tang and the others to the high building beside the viewing platform, leaning against the railing to look out.

Cultivators arrived one after another.

Aside from Aunt Gan and Li Tang, the rest of the important figures of Inviting Moon Mountain had all taken their places on the viewing platform.

That Chief Enforcer Xie Changyu was presiding over today’s grand ceremony.

......

......

The cultivators had all gathered. Those with invitations took their seats. Those without invitations could only remain in the open square behind to watch the ceremony. They were not only there to observe, but also waiting for after Inviting Moon Mountain revised its rules, hoping to see whether they could enter the sect whether as offerings or ordinary disciples.

Either would do.

The female cultivators of Inviting Moon Mountain alone were already quite tempting to these cultivators.

As the bell rang three times, the grand ceremony officially began.

That Chief Enforcer came to the center of the venue, first said some polite words like thanking the various fellow daoists for coming to Inviting Moon Mountain, and then announced two matters.

The first was that Blue Moon Mountain would from this day forward be renamed Inviting Moon Mountain.

The second matter was that from today onward, Inviting Moon Mountain would begin accepting male cultivators, with treatment the same as female cultivators.

The second matter was within everyone’s expectations. The first matter, on the other hand, had not been heard by many cultivators before, but thinking about it now, it was also reasonable.

In the crowd.

Xu Yin and the others were searching for that red robe.

Xu Yin’s gaze kept moving around. Although he saw quite a few good-looking female cultivators, he still wanted to see Fairy Li Tang. After searching for a long time without finding her, he was about to take out that booklet from his chest to feast his eyes, but when he reached in, he came up empty. Only then did he realize that he had already given that booklet to Chen Chao earlier. He sighed, feeling very regretful.

Zuo Mu teased, “Daoist Xu, since Fairy Li Tang will appear soon anyway, why be so anxious?”

Xu Yin muttered, “What do you know? If I see her now, that’s several more looks than others, that’s profit, you understand?”

Zuo Mu had nothing to say.

Li Qingshan suddenly said, “On that high building.”

”Where?”

Xu Yin reacted and looked up, but before seeing that red robe, he first saw a black robe over there.

“Isn’t that Chen Ling?!”

Xu Yin was completely puzzled. “How the hell is this guy standing beside Fairy Li Tang? How did he manage that!”

At this moment, Xu Yin only felt jealousy, blatant jealousy. This bastard could actually stand beside Fairy Li Tang, this was a heaven-sent blessing!

Hai Qing also said in a low voice, “Yeah, how can Fellow Daoist Chen be over there? If he had that kind of connection, he should’ve said so earlier, could’ve taken us over to have a look.”

Wu Yi frowned and shook her head. “No, that’s not right.”

“What do you mean not right?”

Xu Yin asked instinctively.

Wu Yi rolled her eyes and said irritably, “Among all the people who came to observe the ceremony, is there even one who could stand beside Fairy Li Tang? Did you grow that brain for nothing?”

”Could it be...”

Li Qingshan reacted and gave a bitter smile. “Looks like it’s that person.”

Han Chan gripped the hilt of the saber at her waist. “It’s the Lord Warden Commander!”

Li Qingshan looked at Han Chan and laughed. “Looks like we all have to go to the Northern Frontier.”

Han Chan did not mind. Whatever she said, whether at the drinking table or not, counted. She only said somewhat resentfully, “It’s just a pity. If he had told us his identity from the start, that drinking session would’ve been even more interesting. In the end, we finished drinking without even knowing who we were drinking with. That’s really too much!”

Wu Yi nodded. “But this Lord Warden Commander really doesn’t put on airs at all. Completely different from the rumors!”

Xu Yin, who had only just realized it, threw his head back and laughed loudly. “Hahaha, Your Father struck it rich! Not only did Your Father walk with him for a stretch, Your Father even slept in the same room with him, and he even carried Your Father on his back!”

Hai Qing said nothing, but the way he looked at Xu Yin was full of jealousy. Aside from jealousy, there was the urge to kill.

Why didn’t something this good happen to Your Father!

Li Qingshan glanced at Zuo Mu. The two exchanged looks, then silently nodded.

With a Lord Warden Commander like this, even if they died in the Northern Frontier, there would be nothing to regret.

Meanwhile, Huang Ying, who had shown no reaction from beginning to end, only looked at that black-robed young man. Thinking of their encounter that night, she smiled faintly.