Chapter 1508: A Leader, A Seated Tiger

The esteemed Lord Jiang, whose name echoed throughout the land,Now donned a straw cloak and a hemp robe,Strolling leisurely through the streets of Cheng.

He appeared as any aimless traveler,Bearing the marks of wind and frost,Yet exuding an air of freedom.To eat or drink, to chat, to walk, to pause – all were his to choose.

Yet, he was not truly so idle.His right hand, hidden within his sleeve,Clutched a small bottle,Within which lay perfectly preserved fresh blood,And the faint flame of the Three Flavors True Fire burned within.

This bottle held the blood of Zheng Fei and Li Shou,And his current endeavor was to refineThe Blood of Balance using the Three Flavors True Fire,To serve as the primary material for the Immortal Palace Warriors.With his present mastery of the Three Flavors True Fire,This task was not difficult, consuming mainly time.

The streets were filled with hurried passersby.Jiang Wang felt a sense of "no passing years in the mountains,but already a millennium in the world."Cheng was located southeast of Zhuang,One of the many smaller states in the Western Region.Even compared to Zhuang before its rise, it was weak.

Once, at Chi Yun Mountain, Jiang Wang had won a foundationFrom the hands of Dou Mian – the small sect Ling Kong Temple,Located in Cheng.This sect could once be considered a branch of the Cloud Top Immortal Palace,No different from Qing Yun Pavilion.It had once developed in Zhuang territory, guarding Chi Yun Mountain,But was later shattered and driven out by Grand Ancestor Zhuang.It found a meager home in Cheng, now a weak minor sect.Only through that ethereal connection to the Cloud Top Immortal PalaceDid it barely persist, not completely wiped out.

Naturally, the Cloud Top Immortal Palace now had an Immortal Lord,And the ties of karma were severed.Qing Yun Pavilion was destroyed in a single night,Wandering Old Man had passed away,White Cloud Boy was reborn.The smallest Ling Kong Temple, with the least reason to continue,Had paradoxically survived.

Truth be told, after taking the Immortal Palace structures from this place,Jiang Wang had merely arranged them casually.Resources he deemed unworthy were still wasted if discarded,So he arranged them according to his mood, placing no real hope in them.Afterward, he had almost entirely forgotten about it.

This time, upon leaving Chu and preparing to meet Zhu Weiwo in the Unredeemable City,He was suddenly reminded of his "enterprise" in Cheng.What was most unexpected was this—Ling Kong Temple was now the strongest sect in Cheng...

Although the Cheng court heavily suppressed sects,Although Cheng was weak in both state and army,Although there was no truly powerful sect anywhere in Cheng,This was undeniably a remarkable achievement!

Back then, when Mr. Jiang took the Immortal Palace structures,He casually promoted two "confidantes" to manage Ling Kong Temple for him.One was the "straight official," the not-so-upright Wei Bofang.The other was the "favored official," the not-so-handsome Zhuge Jun.

One had to admit, they were truly two talents!At that time, one was merely in the Inner Mansion cultivation realm,Promoted to Chief Elder because of his "loyalty and integrity."The other was only in the Ascending Dragon realm,Placed in the Elder position entirely by flattering his Lord Dugong.

At that time, Ling Kong Temple's experts were nearly all dead,Their biggest backer, Dou Mian, had left,And the new Hall Master Dugong had departed never to return.He had merely opened the already meager sect secret vault before leaving,Allowing Wei Bofang and Zhuge Jun to do as they pleased.

Mr. Jiang had been prepared for these two old fellows to abscond with the spoils.Unexpectedly, after many years, passing through here and taking a casual look,It had actually become the foremost sect in Cheng!Truly, when a bird grows large, it can fly in any forest.

Lord Jiang, in disguise, wandered around here for a few circles,And roughly grasped the growth trajectory of his two "confidantes" over the years.It was nothing more than leveraging power and employing financial attacks,Various forms of co-opting, bribing, incorporating, and integrating.

The power leveraged was that of the powerful Lord Dugong,Who had driven out Dou Mian from Chu.That mysterious and unpredictable Lord Dugong,In the Cheng sect world, had been rumored to be a true discipleOf a powerful sect, very likely from Mount Sumeru!Those who have left the secular world are not suited to develop power in other states,Thus, he had always concealed his identity, refusing to show his face.Furthermore, Lord Dugong could even be linked to Ling Xiao Pavilion.Lord Dugong had said before leaving thatIf there were matters they truly couldn't resolve,They should seek Ye Qingyu at Ling Xiao Pavilion!That one was the Young Master of Ling Xiao Pavilion.

Wei Bofang and Zhuge Jun lavishly spent the contents of the sect secret vault,Bribing and co-opting in various ways.Colluding with the government, suppressing competitors...Their path surprisingly became smoother and smoother.Slowly, they became kings on their little mountain.

Today, Ling Kong Temple boasts numerous talents in its nine halls.It also has four revered figures, all experts in the Inner Mansion realm.Chief Elder Wei Bofang and Second Elder Zhuge Jun,In the Cheng sect world, can barely be considered figures of renown.They can truly be called regional leaders, grounded tigers.

So it was perfectly reasonable for him, at his advanced age,To have a young maiden lying by his pillow,Sharing some life experiences during the lonely long nights.Arranging three shifts of guards in the courtyard for night dutyWas also a necessary display of grandeur.

Of course, when he saw someone unknown standing by his bedIn the middle of the night, he couldn't help but feel a chill, and anger.Even in his naked old body, he leaped up:"Who are you!?"His gaunt and unsightly old fleshAssumed a fighting stance in the air.And from under the lifted quilt, a sound sleep was startled,A sensual young body screamed—

Wei Bofang instead became calm.He could perfectly understand the difficulty of standing by his bed so silently,And why the commotion he made could not travel out of the room at all.On the same night, in the same bed.Voluptuousness and ancient decay.A screaming woman and a calm old man.Such a sharp contrast brought a strong dichotomy.

With a wave of his hand, Jiang WangPressed down the quilt from across the space, covering the panicked woman.He turned and walked forward, leaving the luxurious bed,And sat down by the tea table, saying indifferently:"Put on your clothes."

Since ancient times, among cultivators,Only one in ten thousand could reach the Divine Arrival realm.That path was so arduous, so rugged.The gap between man and divine, for the vast majority,Was an insurmountable chasm.Why were there still so many cultivators advancing wave after wave,Desperately trying to enter Divine Arrival?Perhaps this old body before his eyes was the reason.

Without reaching Divine Arrival, all myriad dharmas are empty.The once young body will eventually grow old.The vibrant life force withers like a flower,The power that once moved mountains and overturned seasGradually erodes and dissipates with time.Transcendent powerhouses slowly lose everything transcendent...This is the process of watching oneself decay.This process is too cruel.

Wei Bofang could still maintain a certain level of combat power,But judging from his physical condition,In at most three more years, he would lose his Inner Mansion level strength.His indulgence in pleasure probably had something to do with this.

The mysterious figure in the straw cloak and hemp robe,With his back to the bed, sat down by himself,Composed, indifferent, possessing a powerful control over everything.Wei Bofang quickly dressed himself, not even glancing at the womanWho dared not make a sound, and had no foolish thought of taking advantageTo launch a sneak attack.He simply walked quietly to the other side of the tea table,And sat down with composure.He even proactively turned over the teacups,And poured a cup of tea for both the abrupt visitor and himself.

"Your Excellency visits late at night without prior notice,I can only offer cold tea. Please do not take offense."Sufficiently rich experience allowed Wei Bofang to quickly adjust his emotions.He showed no anger, and absolutely no resentment.He simply looked at Jiang Wang with great sincerity,Even though Jiang Wang seemed not to acknowledge him.

He spoke again: "Is Your Excellency from the Unborn Sect?City Lord Li just mediated peace for us seven days ago.Your development in Cheng without giving face to the courtIs truly inappropriate..."Jiang Wang said indifferently: "I am not from the Unborn Sect."

Wei Bofang let out a sigh of relief, then said:"No matter where the Unborn Sect invited Your Excellency from,And how many Dao Yuan Stones they paid,I am willing to offer double the price.Even if the temple's secret vault is short, I will sell artifactsTo satisfy Your Excellency! May I ask if we can talk?"

"You disappoint me greatly, Wei Bofang."Jiang Wang turned his head to look at Wei Bofang,Took off his straw cloak, placed it on the table, and smiled:"My loyal Chief Elder, who cannot even recognize my voice."Appearing in Wei Bofang's eyes was a face he hadn't seen in a long time.He left the stool with an agility completely unsuited for his ageAnd threw himself to the ground, kneeling before Jiang Wang,Old tears streaming down instantly:"Hall Master! Your subordinate has yearned for you day and night,Hoping and waiting, and finally, you have returned!"He wiped his tears, deeply emotional:"You don't know, in the days you were away,The brothers in the hall... lived a bitter life!"The trailing sound of that "bitter," a single lament thrice repeated,With a lingering resonance, was truly moving.

To speak the truth.He and Zhuge Jun had originally only intended toMaintain a pretense for a while, then make a large sum and disband.Unexpectedly, they casually developed the sect, and it actually flourished...So they simply switched from short-term to long-term,Robbery turned into tribute. After all, one large haul is not as good as daily gains.As for that thing called Lord Dugong...After so long, not even a single letter, who would remember!

He had not expected that distinguished young man with the compound surname DugongWould actually remember their small, weak sect in this remote little state.Such a thing was as absurd as a chosen oneDestined to go far to the capital and rise to prominence,Yet still dwelling on a few eggs saved up in the next village.How diligent must one be with one's household?

But unexpected was unexpected, forgotten was forgotten.At this moment, his tears flowed readily, without the slightest hesitation."Your subordinate has always firmly remembered your instructions,Forgetting sleep and food, disregarding life and death,Finally developing Ling Kong Temple into the largest sect in Cheng!Although the process was extremely difficult,But every time I couldn't hold on,As long as I thought of the Hall Master's appearance and smile,Your subordinate was greatly encouraged and regained strength!The achievements of today, after all, have not failed to meet your expectations.""Hall Master, my Hall Master!" He cried tragically and sincerely:"You have returned, and this old man can truly rest in peace!"

Jiang Wang: ...Wei Bofang's so-called forgetting sleep and food, disregarding life and death,He had indeed only seen "forgetting sleep."But at this moment, he merely said:"This Seat understands Elder Wei's hardships well.How about this, you first have someone call Zhuge Jun over,We'll talk about whatever there is together, and save effort."He was only passing through Cheng this time, and did not intend to waste too much time.

Wei Bofang immediately wiped away his tears:"Good, I will personally go and invite Elder Zhuge!"Jiang Wang looked at him indifferently:"Leaving me alone in the room with your... esteemed wife,I'm afraid it's not appropriate.""How can your subordinate have any regrets,When the Hall Master considers me so thoughtfully, even if I were to die immediately?"Wei Bofang's just wiped tears were about to well up again, then he said:"Then I shall order someone to invite Elder Zhuge."The thought of casually eliminating her, which he had originally prepared, was extinguished.

He quickly walked to the door, pulled it open,And found the guards in the courtyard still faithfully standing watch,Without any accidents occurring, merely completely unaware of the commotion inside the room.Upon seeing him open the door, they came over to salute.Wei Bofang's heart grew even more solemn,But he said nothing else, only quietly ordered:"Go and invite Elder Zhuge Jun to my room.Just say I have an important matter to discuss with him."The guard hurried away.

Wei Bofang closed the door, turned back and walked over,Looking at Jiang Wang eagerly:"Hall Master, your return is just in time!Just in time to drink a cup of my wedding wine.I and this... Xiao Hong, are deeply in love,And are preparing to get married on an auspicious day.You must bear witness!"

Even though Jiang Wang was already well-experienced,He was momentarily at a loss for words.He had merely intended to save this woman's life as a casual act.He had not expected this Wei fellow to seize the opportunityAnd stage a "marriage"!He was truly a talent!

The woman on the bed, wrapped in the quilt, said softly:"I am Xiao Zi...""Yes, sometimes I also call her Xiao Zi." Wei Bofang's faceDid not change, his heart did not pound:"The joys of the inner chamber, the Hall Master must find amusing."It was difficult for him to say these things so calmly.

Jiang Wang thought for a moment, took out a Yuan Stone,And placed it before Wei Bofang:"I came in a hurry, so accept this as a wedding gift,A premature congratulation to Elder Wei on his new marriage.Please do not take offense."As an old cultivator who, at the brink of death,Could only use Dao Yuan Stones as a unit of measurement to bribe an assassin,Wei Bofang held the Yuan Stone, and this time, his old tears truly flowed.He vaguely remembered that this Hall Master back then,As soon as he took office, went to search the secret vault,Sifting through all the most valuable items.This time, he could actually see some money returning!And it was even a Yuan Stone...

"How dare a subordinate refuse the Hall Master's kind intentions?"Wei Bofang choked up:"It's just your deep affection,I don't know if I can ever repay it in this lifetime..."He didn't know how, at his advanced age, he could still haveAn inexhaustible supply of tears.

Of course, even if he cried himself to death here today,It was absolutely impossible for Lord Dugong to take out a second Yuan Stone.

Just as Ling Kong Temple's Chief Elder, with snot and tears flowing,Was recounting how he had single-handedly saved the day last year,Fighting a bloody battle against rival sects...Zhuge Jun finally arrived, late.

When speaking to the guard outside the door, he still hadQuite the air of a superior:"Elder Wei calling me so late at night, what in the world is it about?"Back then, Lord Dugong had casually arranged things and left.Leaving behind two "confidantes," each with their own schemes.Zhuge Jun, at that time, could hold the Elder positionWith his Ascending Dragon realm cultivation and stand as an equal to Wei Bofang,Entirely by connecting with the City Lord of this city.Even the conflict with the Unborn Sect this time was entirely due to himStepping forward and persuading the official forces of ChengTo prevent the dispute from escalating.

At this moment, his influence within Ling Kong TempleWas not much weaker than Wei Bofang's.Thus, being called for a meeting so late at night, he was quite resentful.If it weren't for the recent tension with the Unborn Sect,Worried that something truly major might happen,He would not have bothered to come.

Hearing the commotion, Wei Bofang immediately straightened his clothes,Assuming a rigid and upright posture, and personally opened the door.Elder Zhuge, with his triangular eyes and drooping brows,His surprised gaze swept over Wei Bofang and fell upon Jiang Wang,Sitting upright in the room.

He rushed forward almost with the speed of an assassin,And immediately threw himself before Jiang Wang,Clutching Jiang Wang's calf, and began his three-part chant:"My! Hall Master! Your Excellency! Ah!!!"