Chapter 161: The Five-Elements Sect Visits
The flying vessel of the Luodi Merchant Guild traversed through the clouds. The passengers on board were basking in sunlight on the deck, enjoying this moment of serenity.
All of a sudden, a gigantic shadow loomed over them.
They looked up in surprise and saw an exceptionally massive flying vessel above them. The Luodi Merchant Guild’s flying vessel was already extremely large, but it was as tiny as an infant in comparison to this flying vessel. The exterior of the latter was adorned with colorful gemstones that dazzled brilliantly. It was clear at one glance that the flying vessel was not any ordinary one.
“Whose flying vessel is this?” the passengers whispered among themselves, having never seen such a huge flying vessel before.
A sharp-eyed person noticed something. “Look at the emblem on the side of the flying vessel. This belongs to the Five-Elements Sect!”
“Five-Elements Sect?”
Most people had only heard of the name before but rarely saw the Five-Elements Sect traveling out of the sect, especially in such a grandiose manner.
“Could it be that some unparalleled great devil has appeared, so the Five-Elements Sect’s elders have to head over there together and eliminate the threat?”
In the cultivation world, the reputation of the Five-Elements Sect was leagues above that of the Dao-Seeking Sect.
“Judging by the direction, it seems like they’re headed for the Dao-Seeking Sect?”
“So are they going to annihilate a great devil or visit the Dao-Seeking Sect?”
~~~
“The purpose of this visit is to root out those bunch of demons and devils in the Dao-Seeking Sect and show them the power of the Five-Elements Sect!” On board the flying vessel of the Five-Elements Sect, the sect leader, Qiu Jin’an spurred the crowd on. “Last time, it was a mistake on my part. I forgot that Yun Zhi was the Taciturn Daoist Priest’s disciple and was eligible to participate in the contest. That was why we lost just a little bit!
“But this time, it will be different! I have already asked around. That brat Taciturn Daoist Priest has disappeared, and Yun Zhi has officially become the acting sect leader, so she is considered to be in the same generation as I am. That means that she is no longer eligible to participate in events restricted to disciples!
“This is an opportunity! Without the threat of Yun Zhi, a mere Dao-Seeking Sect won’t amount to anything! We have slept on firewood and tasted bitterness, enduring hardships and brushing up on ourselves all for today’s victory and for the glory of the Five-Elements Sect!”
Qiu Jin’an was bent on taking revenge this time to wipe away his past humiliation. In order to show off before the Dao-Seeking Sect, he even specifically drove the sect’s most luxurious flying vessel over.
On board the flying vessel, as each and every one of the talented disciples listened to Qiu Jin’an’s speech, their eyes ignited with the flames of battle. Handpicked by the Five-Elements Sect, each was a genius in their own right, possessing unique insights into elemental techniques. Peers were usually not their match.
Since they were young, the elders had taught them to avoid interacting with the Dao-Seeking Sect as much as possible when they left the sect for their missions. They were warned that those from the Dao-Seeking Sect were extremely tricky to deal with and couldn’t be understood through conventional means.
However, youths had their rebellious streak. Now that they finally had the chance to duel with the Dao-Seeking Sect, they were determined to shine and show the Dao-Seeking Sect what true geniuses looked like.
Among them were disciples who had also participated in the previous exchange, but only Yun Zhi had effectively participated at the time, so it wasn’t representative of the Dao-Seeking Sect’s overall strength.
A young girl with bright eyes stared at Qiu Jin’an, her gaze almost burning. She clenched her fists and shouted, “For the glory of the Five-Elements Sect!”
Her words were like a stone dropped onto the calm surface of a lake, creating a ripple effect through the disciples.
“For the glory of the Five-Elements Sect!”
“For the glory of the Five-Elements Sect!”
Qiu Jin’an’s expression shifted drastically upon noticing the young girl. “Why are you here? You’re not on the name list!”
The girl feigned anger. “Why can’t I be here? We finally got an opportunity to visit the Dao-Seeking Sect. How could you not invite me to something so fun?!”
“How can you describe visiting the Dao-Seeking Sect as ‘fun?’ The correct term is ‘dangerous!’” Qiu Jin’an corrected the girl.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
Some of the younger disciples didn’t recognize the girl and secretly transmitted auditory messages to their senior male disciples. “Senior Brother, who is she?”
“I only know that her name is Shangguan Yu. She was already by the sect leader’s side before I joined the sect. There are rumors saying she was favored by the previous sect leader and is his illegitimate daughter—in other words, the sect leader’s younger half-sister. The sect leader is very indulgent toward her.”
As they were almost at the Dao-Seeking Sect, Qiu Jin’an couldn’t possibly chase Shangguan Yu back now. Moreover, it was very likely that she wouldn’t listen to him. Rather than losing face in front of everyone, I shall concede by a step instead.
In the middle of their conversations, the flying vessel arrived at the entrance of the Dao-Seeking Sect and docked to the side.
~~~
At the entrance, the acting sect leader who was the Everlasting Immortal Fairy and the eight elders had already unscrolled a banner to welcome the Five-Elements Sect.
Qiu Jin’an led everyone off the flying vessel, an almost indiscernible smile hanging at the corners of his mouth as he observed the Dao-Seeking Sect. This bunch of people have definitely never seen such a luxurious flying vessel.
First Elder stepped forward and wanted to extend his hand toward Qiu Jin’an. Just as the latter was about to shake his hand, he heard First Elder say, “Docking fee.”
First Elder had extended his hand not for a handshake but to ask for payment of fees.
Usually, when the Five Great Immortal Sects visited one another, the leader would use their own power to create mist or clouds that would dissipate upon arriving at their destination, which was a much more convenient method. It was rare to travel by a flying vessel like Qiu Jin’an had.
With such a big flying vessel docked in front of the Dao-Seeking Sect, there certainly has to be a fee. It’s not like this is a free parking or docking lot.
Qiu Jin’an said in a low voice, “I’m representing the Five-Elements Sect on this visit.”
First Elder pondered for a bit and found Qiu Jin’an’s words to be valid. “We will give you a 20% discount then.”
Qiu Jin’an inhaled a deep breath. I’m a magnanimous person. I won’t hold it against this bunch of lunatics from the Dao-Seeking Sect.
As Qiu Jin’an’s flying vessel was too huge, the docking fee was dozens of times more than that of an average flying vessel. He could feel his heart bleeding.
However, once he thought of how they would flaunt in front of the Dao-Seeking Sect later, he decided not to fuss over such minor details.
Then, Qiu Jin’an saw the people from the Dao-Seeking Sect and the horizontal banner hanging above them. With an immortal writing on this banner personally, the welcome displayed for the Five-Elements Sect could be considered grand; it was one of its kind.
Although Huang Doudou seemed eccentric and unreliable, her handwriting was beautiful. The strokes were flamboyant and bold, dancing across the banner like dragons and phoenixes, imbued with spirit and grandeur.
In fact, the words written were actually very simple—”Welcome to the Five-Elements Sect.” However, they were not based on the current writing system.
Qiu Jin’an squinted his eyes and recognized that they were ancient characters. Is the Dao-Seeking Sect flaunting their cultural richness?
Ridiculous! Don’t they know that there was a period of time when I was enthralled with the ancient era and had studied their culture in great detail?
Qiu Jin’an laughed and spoke a string of difficult and obscure words. They were actually in the language of the ancient era, which few understood.
Even if characters from the ancient era could still be traced, the pronunciation would be much harder to understand or even totally incomprehensible. After all, writings could be passed down, but pronunciations couldn’t.
This was a remnant sound he had obtained by chance in an ancient ruin. Based on the arrangement of the surrounding items and the scripts passed down, he deduced that it should be a ritual site for worshiping ancient immortals and that immortals enjoyed the ritual process.
The remnant sound was grand and ancient, so he believed that it was the praise the immortal gave to the priests after enjoying the rituals. This explained why the sound could be passed down—it belonged to an immortal. Qiu Jin’an found the phrase to be extremely apt for the current occasion.
Lu Yang quietly asked the Everlasting Immortal Fairy what Qiu Jin’an had said.
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was wreathed in confusion. “His accent is so thick. I can’t quite make it out. I think he said, ‘O Great Immortal, please accept your servant’s most humble offering.’
“Could he have seen through my identity?” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy was a little pleased. Someone has finally recognized that I am an immortal. He has such a humble attitude, much better than Yun Zhi and Lu Yang.
I’ll confer him as the Everlasting Creed’s vice creed leader.
Qiu Jin’an noticed the crowd’s baffled expressions and nodded in satisfaction. You can’t understand what I’m saying, can you?