Martial Cultivator

In the grand ceremony, the most important part is actually the appearance of Fairy Li Tang, using this to announce to the world that from this day on, Inviting Moon Mountain has changed hands.

After this process is over, the rest are all minor matters, at least in Li Tang’s view, they are all minor matters anyway.

Li Tang returned to the high tower and was about to speak, but Chen Chao spoke first, “If we are to talk, can Fairy Li Tang change to another place? Right now, who knows how many eyes are watching us, it feels a bit uncomfortable.”

Li Tang asked curiously, “Lord Warden Commander has always been the center of attention, yet now you’re feeling shy instead?”

Although she said this, Li Tang still led Chen Chao downstairs. Chen Chao turned his head to glance at Aunt Gan and said with a smile, “I’ll have to trouble Aunt Gan to look after my disciple for a while.”

Aunt Gan rubbed He Liang’s head and smiled, “Lord Warden Commander, go without worry. Maybe when you come back later, this little fellow will already be more formidable than you. After all, our Inviting Moon Mountain doesn’t have much, just plenty of female cultivators.”

Hearing the implication in Aunt Gan’s words, Chen Chao frowned and narrowed his eyes. If He Liang really dared to be so bold, then when he found out, he would definitely give him a harsh whipping!

Learning the wrong things at this young age, he deserved a beating!

The two left the high tower, walking slowly along a small path outside the building, and soon arrived at a grove of green bamboo. A small path could accommodate two people walking side by side, winding forward through the bamboo grove.

A woman in red robes and a man in black robes walked side by side; they were actually quite well-matched.

Chen Chao suddenly smiled and asked, “How old is Fairy Li Tang now?”

In that illustrated booklet, although Li Tang’s age had been estimated, it was not precise, only saying that Fairy Li Tang was around thirty, not yet forty.

Li Tang looked at Chen Chao and teased, “As far as I know, among common folk there is a saying that one should not casually ask the age of an unmarried young lady.”

Chen Chao smiled. “Then this official has misspoken.”

Li Tang was only joking. Cultivators actually do not care about such things. She thought for a moment and said, “In three months, I will be exactly thirty-five.”

Chen Chao sighed with emotion, “Thirty-five and already in the Nepenthe Realm, if this were ten years ago, Fairy Li Tang would probably have been one of the top geniuses of the age.”

In recent years, too many geniuses have emerged in the world. The most dazzling few have taken all the brilliance, making others seem less radiant, even somewhat ordinary.

Li Tang smiled. “If others said that, I would take it as sincerity. But when Lord Warden Commander says it, Li Tang can’t help but think more about it.”

In terms of realm, the Chen Chao before her was higher; in terms of age, he was younger.

Chen Chao laughed it off.

“Fairy Li Tang broke through without announcing it to the world, such careful thought. No wonder Inviting Moon Mountain chose Fairy Li Tang to take charge of the sect.”

At present, the world still believes that this Fairy Li Tang is only a Great Beyond cultivator and has not yet stepped into that realm. This was clearly Li Tang deliberately concealing her strength.

“Among the trees in the forest, the tallest is the first to be struck by the wind, I still understand this principle.”

Chen Chao smiled and said, “Then someone so high-profile like this official, doesn’t it seem like this official don’t think at all?”

Li Tang said softly, “It’s not the same.”

Circumstances are different, so choices are naturally different. Among the matters of the world, the least appropriate thing is to use a single ruler to measure everything under heaven.

Chen Chao nodded his head.

Li Tang said, “Actually, Inviting Moon Mountain also has some Dragonblood Stones. They were collected over the years by Inviting Moon Mountain from various places, but the quantity is not large. Please have the Lord Warden Commander send someone to take them.”

Chen Chao looked at this new mountain lord of Inviting Moon Mountain and did not speak for a moment.

Li Tang smiled. “Returning a peach for a plum is only proper. We cannot let Your Excellency do so many things and then take it all for granted.”

Chen Chao did not stand on ceremony and said with a smile, “Since that is the case, then this official will accept them.”

Dragonblood Stones ere indeed very important to Great Liang at present. To forge such a brand-new army, Dragonblood Stones were indispensable, and this item, the more, the better.

In fact, as early as after obtaining Genglou Mountain, Chen Chao had already written to several sects with whom he had fairly good relations, asking whether they had this item. Great Liang could purchase it with skygold coins, or exchange for other cultivation resources. Even paying a premium would not matter.

If the combat strength of Great Liang’s frontier army increases by even a bit, it may mean fewer deaths, and a greater chance of victory.

Sometimes Chen Chao felt that he was like a chief steward, he worried about everything, did whatever he thought of, and for things he did not think of, if others brought them up and they made sense, he would still do them.

He was far more than just a Lord Warden Commander.

No wonder that in the current court of Great Liang, many people privately say that this Lord Warden Commander is in fact a second emperor.

Such rumors, if there were a narrow-minded emperor above him, would be very troublesome.

Fortunately, in the present Great Liang Dynasty, the Crown Prince above holds Chen Chao in the highest regard.

Li Tang suddenly said, “If in the future, one day, a group of cultivators from Inviting Moon Mountain were to go to the Northern Frontier, would the imperial court treat them equally?”

Chen Chao glanced at Li Tang, thought for a moment, and asked, “When Fairy Li Tang speaks of equal treatment, do you mean not treating the female cultivators of Inviting Moon Mountain as women?”

Li Tang nodded. She was not worried that the Northern Frontier would treat them as expendable. After all, with Chen Chao there, that would not happen.

What she was worried about was that the Northern Frontier might value these female cultivators too highly, which would go against her original intention.

Chen Chao shook his head and said calmly, “In this official’s view, there is no need. Female cultivators are still women. Before all the men have died, there is no reason to let women go to their deaths.”

Li Tang smiled slightly. “That Miss Xie?”

With just one sentence, she struck Chen Chao, leaving him unable to refute.

“In my view, since we all live in this world, regardless of male or female, it is a shared home. There is no reason women must hide behind men. Lord Warden Commander, what do you think?”

Li Tang smiled and said, “Moreover, this is done voluntarily, not forced by others. Since that is the case, Lord Warden Commander seems to have no reason to stop it.”

Chen Chao was at a loss for words.

Li Tang said frankly, “Actually, it’s not only because we are part of the human race. There are also some selfish motives. In the end, if we help the imperial court, then if the imperial court still exists in the future, it will always give some preferential treatment.”

Chen Chao truly did not expect the Li Tang before him to be so direct and open, but being open had its advantages, it would make Chen Chao view them more favorably.

“Since Fairy Li Tang is so frank, it seems this official cannot refuse.”

Chen Chao thought for a moment, and this matter was settled.

Li Tang smiled. This was within her expectations, so she did not find it surprising.

Finally, this Fairy Li Tang hesitated for a moment, but still asked openly, “Lord Warden Commander, if Inviting Moon Mountain wishes to become the number one itinerant sect in the world, is it possible?”

Chen Chao did not answer immediately. Although he had not known this Fairy Li Tang for long, he had already sensed that she was not truly as delicate as a begonia flower.

She had ambitions that many women did not have.

Of course, this was not a problem. A woman having ambition is like having a magnificent presence before the chest; it only adds to her bearing.

Chen Chao smiled and said, “Feng Liu establishing the Morning Dew Sect in Ying Prefecture has the same intention. However, in this official’s view, Inviting Moon Mountain and Morning Dew Sect each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Morning Dew Sect’s strength lies in having a powerhouse at the end of Nepenthe overseeing it, while Inviting Moon Mountain has a deeper foundation. In the future, whether Inviting Moon Mountain will stand alone at the top, or Morning Dew Sect will rise later, is hard to say. But as this official represents the imperial court, this official can only say that in this matter, this official will not favor either side.”

Seeing that Li Tang seemed about to speak but stopped, Chen Chao shook his head and said softly, “It’s not something that can be given.”

Hearing this, Li Tang swallowed the words she was about to say. This matter not succeeding would not make her disappointed. She nodded slightly to indicate she understood.

Although there was some regret, today’s matters had largely gone as she wished, so this conversation could be considered satisfactory for both host and guest.

Li Tang took the initiative to say, “If Lord Warden Commander has no pressing matters, you may stay in the mountain for a few more days. Inviting Moon Mountain will be receiving many disciples now, and we would also like to ask Lord Warden Commander to take a look.”

Chen Chao shook his head and politely declined, “There are too many matters. I must hurry back to the Divine Capital. If there is time in the future, I will visit again.”

Li Tang did not try to persuade him to stay, but as if on impulse, she asked, “Lord Warden Commander, compared to that Miss Xie, how do I measure up?”

Chen Chao looked at this new mountain lord in surprise, and finally gave an answer that would not offend, “Each have your own strengths.”

Li Tang smiled. “Lord Warden Commander truly speaks without any chinks in your words.”

Chen Chao gave an awkward laugh, only thinking that it was fortunate Xie Nandu was not here. If she were here, this Fairy Li Tang might not have received such a watertight answer.