Chapter 244: Recruiting Taiqing Disciples
Xiao Nanfeng could see countless cultivators gathering in the sky above the sea where the commotion had occurred. Ships were sailing forth, salvaging the decayed corpses that were floating up after the draconic palace's destruction. Xiao Nanfeng ignored them all. He covered his body in fog, preventing others from seeing his appearance, as he silently departed.
Once he was in relative isolation, he shot into the air and returned to the undying realm within two days.
Entering the undying realm via his undying heavenly doors, Xiao Nanfeng's main body and avatar swapped a few items before separating once more.
Xiao Nanfeng's avatar would be stationed in the undying realm for the time being. In addition to governance, he also had to continue attuning to the Scroll of the Heavenly Dao and to the divine purple rock for use as an imperial seal, following the approach dictated in The Imperial Court of Heaven.
Xiao Nanfeng's main body had important affairs of his own to handle.
He flew for some time before seeing Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui waiting for him on a mountain peak in the distance.
"King Xiao!" Both cultivators grew serious the moment they saw him.
"You must have waited for quite a while. Let's set off," Xiao Nanfeng said.
"Understood!" the two cultivators replied. They shot into the air and flew toward Taiqing Island.
"King Xiao, many of my brothers have broken through. They'll be in Spiritsong at no time at all!" Ye Dafu announced excitedly.
"Oh? Your strategy for rapid cultivation really does work, after all?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.
Ye Sanshui's face spasmed. Over the last few months, he had been observing Ye Dafu and his lackeys training with each other. They were crazy idiots, the whole lot of them, torturing themselves in order to grow stronger! They took turns beating each other up so heavily that they ended up splayed on the ground, their limbs all out of sorts. Even then, the 'victims' continued to scream, "Ah, that feels good! Harder!" Ye Sanshui shuddered and didn't dare observe the scene further.
"Of course it's effective. We train daily and get uncomfortable if we miss even a day. The feeling of being ganged up on is divine," Ye Dafu replied, smiling as he reminisced.
Xiao Nanfeng gave Ye Dafu a strange look.
"That's enough. Enjoy your cultivation yourself. I don't want to hear it!" Ye Sanshui chided.
"Third Uncle, you could consider scrapping your technique and joining us in cultivation. Indomitable Body is remarkably strong. We'd help you out," Ye Dafu suggested.
"Scram!" Ye Sanshui shouted. He didn't want to become a pervert like his nephew!
"Third Uncle, are you sure? You're losing out on the chance to become a cultivator the likes of which the world has never seen!"
"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll beat you up!" Ye Sanshui glared at his nephew.
"Really?" Ye Dafu seemed overjoyed.
Ye Sanshui: ...
He ignored his nephew, who was steadily growing more perverted, and turned toward Xiao Nanfeng. "King Xiao, has something happened within the sect?"
Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "I left my master a method to contact me. He sent word recently that Zhao Yuanjiao is about to become the Ascended division leader. All elders who are able to return are invited to do so to bear witness to his initiation. I naturally have to be there.
"Zhao Yuanjiao, the Ascended division leader? A strong ally, then. That's great news!" Ye Dafu stated.
"King Xiao, did you have another reason in mind for taking us back to the Taiqing sect?" Ye Sanshui asked.
Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "That's right. Things in the undying realm are on track now, and the officials we've trained are growing into their roles. It's time for me to reclaim my territory."
Ye Sanshui's eyes lit up. "King Xiao, are you going to reclaim your titled lands?"
"It's been three years since I left home. I think it's time I paid a visit and settle some scores." Xiao Nanfeng's eyes glinted coldly.
"On your command, King Xiao, we'll immediately take down all the disloyal servants in your employ." Ye Dafu rubbed his palms gleefully.
"The disloyal servants mean nothing to me. I need to chase away all those who have laid claim to my family's land and properties, reclaiming what is rightfully mine."
Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui nodded firmly. Ye Sanshui stated, "We are at your command, King Xiao."
"The titled lands of the Xiao clan have been overrun with hooligans. When we return to the Taiqing sect, I intend to recruit disciples from the sect to march for my lands and help me secure my borders. You will be responsible for the recruitment," Xiao Nanfeng informed them.
"That's trivial, King Xiao," Ye Dafu replied with a smile. "You know how popular you are within the sect."
"We'll handle the matter at once, King Xiao." Ye Sanshui nodded.
"I'll leave it to you, then."
The three cultivators were all at Spiritsong, and they reached Taiqing Island within a day.
The moment they descended, a large number of Taiqing disciples noticed them.
"It's Senior Brother Xiao!"
"Senior Brother Xiao made it out alive from the draconic palace! Thank goodness."
A large crowd of Taiqing disciples gathered around them. Xiao Nanfeng's hard work in the sect over the course of the past year hadn't been in vain; the majority of the Taiqing disciples considered Xiao Nanfeng their leader.
"Senior Brother Xiao, we just received word that the Eastern Sea Draconic Palace has completely vanished, and the decaying bodies of countless cultivators are floating on the surface of the sea!
"Essentially no cultivators from any sect were able to make it out. Thank you for advising us against heading there, Senior Brother Xiao. Otherwise, we might have been among those corpses."
"When the elders informed us that you were at the draconic palace, we worried about you. Thank goodness you're fine!"
Xiao Nanfeng bowed at everyone. "Thank you for your concern."
"Of course, Senior Brother Xiao!"
"Senior Brother Xiao, you've reached Spiritsong! Are you going to become an elder now?" one Taiqing disciple fretted.
The other disciples murmured at each other in worry.
Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I did reach Spiritsong, and I will have to give up my position as seniormost disciple. That said, you'll still be willing to follow my lead, won't you?"
"Of course!" many of the disciples replied immediately.
"Even in the future, I'd be happy to advise you on your cultivation. Ask me if you're confused about anything. I don't intend to treat you differently just because I'm an elder now."
"Yes, Elder Xiao!" The Taiqing disciples laughed in relief.
Xiao Nanfeng seemed just like the friendly and amiable seniormost disciple that he had been.
Ye Dafu and Ye Sanshui, meanwhile, had been neglected by the burgeoning crowd. Indeed, they had even been pushed aside.
"I'm an elder too. Why hasn't anyone come to talk to me?" Ye Dafu sighed.
He had been preparing to flaunt his newfound status, but he was upset to realize that no one was paying him any attention.
"Perhaps they don't know that we've reached Spiritsong and think that King Xiao flew us back here," Ye Sanshui replied.
"Really? Should I resolve the confusion, then?" Ye Dafu asked.
Ye Sanshui's eyes twitched. "Don't make a fool of yourself! You're an elder of the sect now, so show some reserve."
"What? But I'm proud of what I've done, and I want others to know!" Ye Dafu exclaimed.
"Deal with it!" Ye Sanshui retorted coldly.
Ye Dafu: ...
"What's more, don't reveal how we improved our cultivation so quickly. That might cause additional trouble for King Xiao," Ye Sanshui whispered.
"Of course, Third Uncle! I'm not a fool!"
Ye Sanshui stared at his nephew for some time, then sighed heavily. In the end, he chose not to correct his nephew's misconception.
The disciples walked over to the plaza by the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.
"What are you doing here, Senior Brother Xiao?" a Taiqing disciple asked.
"I'm about to issue a quest and would like to invite disciples of the sect to aid me in my objective," Xiao Nanfeng replied.
"What quest, Senior Brother Xiao?"
"I'd like to reclaim my titled lands. I'm afraid that there will be significant resistance to my doing so, and I'll need quite a lot of manpower to assist me. To this end, I'll be issuing an elder's quest. All who wish to join me may do so," Xiao Nanfeng explained.
"What are the requirements? Can I come?" one Taiqing disciple immediately piped up.
"Anyone beyond mid-stage Immanence will be accepted, but you'll have to commit to working with me for at least a year. Furthermore, this quest will be tough and dangerous, and there'll be plenty of difficult battles in wait."
"For a year? I'm happy to oblige and assist you, Senior Brother Xiao!"
"I'm willing too. How do I sign up?"
"I'll help you, Senior Brother Xiao!"
The Taiqing disciples surrounding Xiao Nanfeng all cheered.
"Thank you, everyone." Xiao Nanfeng smiled in acknowledgment.
There were quests issued by other elders at the plaza of the Hall of Immortal Recruitment.
In the Taiqing sect, quests that had been screened and approved could specifically appoint the help of certain disciples, but the majority were open-ended recruitment notices that were voluntary in nature.
After Xiao Nanfeng submitted his quest notice, the plaza immediately filled up with disciples racing to register.
Some felt that Xiao Nanfeng would certainly repay them lavishly for their efforts. After all, Xiao Nanfeng treated them all to draconic aether when they went on expeditions to excavate draconic veins, and this would surely be no different. The majority, however, chose to sign up in gratitude for what Xiao Nanfeng had done for them.
It was evident just how much Xiao Nanfeng had given to the sect over the past two years.
Xiao Nanfeng's notice was instantly swarmed with disciples, and more were approaching the plaza with every second. The notices put up by other elders, however, went completely untouched.
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