Chapter 1005: Chapter 249 Xu Zefu
In the Major Sects across the world, Jiang Wang indeed had not heard the name of the Taixu Sect.
But the fact that Zhuangxuan Yuanhu personally came to welcome them indicated that it could not possibly be some minor, insignificant family.
Moreover, the name "Taixu" itself inevitably sparked associations.
Not understanding, Jiang Wang asked, "This Taixu Sect, what’s their background?"
"The Taixu Sect, um..." Zhongxuan Laifu got stuck for a moment, clearly also unsure. It seemed that he too had only heard the name today.
"The Taixu Sect is a Hidden Sect that seldom emerges," Zhongxuan Hengshen suddenly huffed, "People from rural areas like you wouldn’t know!"
He did have sharp hearing.
He could hear clearly the quiet conversation between Jiang Wang and Zhongxuan Laifu.
"You just said that they seldom emerge. It’s normal for someone young like me not to know," Jiang Wang smiled nonchalantly, "You’re older and more respected, please be more understanding."
In his heart, Jiang Wang had already anticipated the elder’s fate. He had never seen anyone fare well against Zhongxuan Pang, so it wasn’t worth fussing over.
Moreover, confronting an elder of the Zhong Xuan Family, especially in front of Zhuangxuan Yuanhu, no matter how justifiable, would be improper. He might not care personally, but he couldn’t disregard the impact on Zhongxuan Sheng.
Instead, flippantly returning a compliment like this showed his own magnanimity, but made the other party look petty by comparison.
Zhongxuan Hengshen was also annoyed. He would have preferred a sharp exchange of words over this sort of veiled insult.
It was clear he was being ignorant and coarse, so how did it end up making me look like the unreasonable one?
He couldn’t confront Jiang Wang further, so he turned to another elder and said, "The distinguished individual from the Taixu Sect has come to visit, likely for Xuan Zun again. Sadly, Xuan Zun is still at Under Jixuegong furthering his cultivation, so they’ll have to return empty-handed."
His voice was loud, evidently keen on publicizing Xuan Zun’s glory — especially to Jiang Wang.
However, Jiang Wang didn’t quite understand. Xuan Zun entering Under Jixuegong for cultivation was indeed a savvy move by Zhongxuan Sheng, which had left him without time to even react before being locked up. Why then did Zhongxuan Hengshen sound so proud?
Of course, entering Under Jixuegong for cultivation is indeed a matter of pride. But was it a difficult thing for Xuan Zun? Did he really need Zhongxuan Sheng’s "help" to go?
"What do you mean ’return empty-handed’?" Zhuangxuan Yuanhu scolded, "The Taixu Sect is a high-ranking Hidden Sect. Though they do not show themselves publicly, they are not inferior to any family. Put away your arrogance. The matter between them and Xuan Zun is one of destiny. Whether there’s destiny or not, it’s not for you to comment!"
His words were quite severe; Zhongxuan Hengshen didn’t dare to talk back, nor did he want to appear too weak and lose face in front of Jiang Wang. He could only awkwardly say, "It’s just that Xuan Zun still has three months till his seclusion ends, I was worried they’d make a wasted trip."
The elders spoke, and the younger members of the Zhong Xuan Family had no say in the matter. They just stood behind, looking at each other.
Of course, Jiang Wang garnered the most attention.
After all, as a member of the Zhong Xuan Family, they had a profound understanding of Wang Yiwu’s strength. Jiang Wang defeating Wang Yiwu at the same level had also stunned them far more.
The renown he gained later in Near Sea was just icing on the cake.
The pride of Qi Country, naturally was still the pride overseas.
However, not everyone knew that Jiang Wang did not come from a noble background.
Today, with Zhongxuan Hengshen making such a public statement,
Opinions started to shift.
Some, proud of their prestigious families, always looked down on those from humble beginnings.
Others respected Jiang Wang even more. At the same height, a person who started from a lower point had actually come farther.
Jiang Wang momentarily did not have the potential to become an "Eye Immortal" and was insensitive to those scattered glances, but he could not escape the whispering voices.
Yet, he did not care.
It was truly too far...
It wasn’t that he was intentionally arrogant, but the place he stood now was genuinely too far from them. Even though these people were all from the prestigious Zhong Xuan Family.
Although he indeed had no noble origins, climbing to his current position, within the entire young generation of the Zhong Xuan Family, only Zhongxuan Sheng and Zhongxuan Zun could truly speak with him as equals.
And this was within the Zhong Xuan Family!
The visitors from the Taixu Sect did not employ any fanciful means of making an entrance.
A middle-aged man dressed in a black and white yin and yang Daoist robe slowly approached from the end of the Official Way.
His steps were measured, his sleeves fluttering, carrying an aura unstained by mundanity, without any oppressiveness.
As he drew near, he bowed with his hands clasped and said, "Xu Zefu of the Tai Xu Sect greets everyone here."
His voice carried a sense of peace as if the wind was light and the clouds were faint.
Zhongxuan Yuanhu, waiting outside the clan grounds, also clasped his hands in return: "Zefu has traveled far to come here, and I have failed in my duty to meet you further away. It truly is discourteous."
Even if the Taixu Sect had deep foundations, Zhongxuan Yuanhu’s act of greeting outside the ancestral grounds was already a significant mark of respect. It certainly did not warrant meeting him miles away.
From this, Jiang Wang gleaned two pieces of information.
Firstly, the Taixu Sect was located in a remote area or rather, a place not easily accessible from Qi Country; secondly, even though Xu Zefu was younger than Zhongxuan Yuanhu, he was also a Godly cultivator since Zhongxuan Yuanhu addressed him with equal respect. This indicated that both held equal statuses.
"How could I dare to trouble you to come out to meet me," Xu Zefu was not one for circumlocutions. After a polite remark, he directly said, "Junior comes bearing a task from the sect..."
"Brother Zefu might not be aware, but our Brother Zun is currently in seclusion at the Under Jixuegong," Zhongxuan Hengshen said warmly with a smile. "He won’t be out for another three months!"
Only relying on the status of the Zhong Xuan Family could he afford to behave familiarly and even call a Godly cultivator his brother.
Xu Zefu did not mind how he was addressed and simply gave him a curious look: "I am not here to seek Young Master Zhongxuan."
Indeed, several years ago, he had come on behalf of the Taixu Sect to seek Zhongxuan Zun. However, that was a command from the Supreme Elder, to resolve an earlier connection—
Zhongxuan Zun possessed Natural Dao Veins, and shortly after his birth, Supreme Elder Xu Yuanzhi from the Taixu Sect personally went to the Zhong Xuan Family to take him as a disciple.
Zhongxuan Mingguang, Zun’s father, was thrilled and was ready to hand over his infant son.
However, at that time, Chongxuan Futu, a legendary figure in their family, intervened, saying that matters concerning the child should be left to the child himself. Thus, the matter was shelved.
After a few years, while the Supreme Elder was busy with a major matter and could not spare the time, he came again carrying the Supreme Elder’s desire to meet with Zhongxuan Zun face to face.
Yet, he was declined by Zhongxuan Zun...
Armed with divine Secret Techniques, precious artifacts, and the rich heritage of the entire Taixu Sect, he was rejected by a mere child, whose voice still held traces of youthful immaturity, saying, "This is not my path."
He still vividly remembered the astonishment upon first seeing that child and how his entire being shuddered when the child declared that this was not his way.
At that time, he thought, no matter what achievements that child would have in the future, he would not be surprised.
However, his visit this time, indeed, was not to seek Zhongxuan Zun.
Since there was no affinity, the Taixu Sect would not insist.
