Chapter 167: Worshiping the Peak

  First update! Thank you book friend "Tian Long Ba Yin" for your support!

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  The Liuyun Sword Sect's opening of the mountain gate to recruit disciples this time is unprecedented, and Lingkongzi, as the sect leader, has also shown great momentum. Before the test to enter the sect, the mountain gate was opened, except for the main peak, Yunfeng Peak, and the forbidden area in the back mountain, all were open to outsiders. Anyone who wants to sign up to join the Liuyun Sword Sect can enter the sect in advance to visit, observe, play and appreciate.

  People flowed like a tapestry, rubbing shoulders and heels touching.

  At this time, the young men and women from various cities in the south of the border, accompanied by their guards and family members, arrived early at the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect. They not only wanted to see the depth and strength of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect with their own eyes but also hoped to take advantage of this opportunity to interact more with the elders and disciples inside the sect, get familiar with them, and if possible, establish some connections. If they could do so, wouldn't their children receive more care when taking the test to enter the sect?

  As family members and elders, they all hope their children will become dragons and phoenixes. Who doesn't wish for their children to enter the first sect of Nanjiang and turn into a golden dragon, soaring into the sky?

  Of course, those ordinary poor disciples living at the bottom of Nanjiang, very few can come here.

  Because this road has to go through countless treacherous mountains, wilderness, deserts, and dangers are unparalleled. There are not only bandits and thieves, but also ferocious beasts and demons. Without the protection of a powerful guard and without a fine flying treasure to drive, it is very likely that you will die halfway due to various dangers.

  Like Mu Yao and Mu Wenfei siblings, before entering Longyuan City, if not for Chen Tang's rescue, they might have been harmed by the three sons of Xingluo Palace.

  "Look, this is Kexin Peak. The one who lives on top is Chen Tai, the legendary genius of the South Territory. Child, if you can achieve something like Chen Tai in the future, I'll hand over the entire family to you. Which elder would dare disagree?"

  "Xuan'er, did you see? The one your mother told you about, the one who killed Longyuan Su's family and obtained first place in the Pudong Rankings, the one who subdued the Xianqi floating pagoda treasure tower, Chen Tai, lives on this mountain peak. In the future, if you enter the Liuyun Sword Sect, you must take him as your goal and cultivate well. The status of our mother-daughter pair in the family will depend entirely on you."

  "Son, you've been arrogant and lawless every day, looking down on others. Today, I'll take you to see what it means that there are heavens beyond the sky and people outside of people. Chen Chao is only a few years older than you, yet he's already become the sworn brother of the Supreme Elder of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect. And you? You're just causing trouble in our small city, what do you have to be proud of?"

  Among the hundreds of peaks in Liuyun Jianzong, Kexin Peak is undoubtedly one with the most people. Some young men and women, accompanied by their elders and guards, climbed to the top of Kexin Peak to visit and watch, while Chen Tang, the owner of this peak, became a model for many elders to teach or encourage their children, making it extremely lively.

  "Silence! This is the Kexin Peak, where my great-grandfather's uncle, the Taishang Master, cultivated his mind. If you dare to make another noise, I will cancel all of your qualifications for the entrance test!"

  Dong Fang shouted loudly, he led thirty-five inner disciples to guard the front of Kexin Peak's main hall, wearing uniform green robes, with the inner disciple token hanging from their waists, looking majestic and powerful.

  The young men and women who came to admire the peak, along with their family guards, suddenly fell silent, gazing at Dong Fang and his companions with a hint of reverence and admiration.

  "My venerable uncle and elder have instructed me, as you all have traveled from afar from the major cities of Southern Xinjiang, enduring hardships along the way. I am honored to present to you our finest celestial fruits and wines, though they may not be worthy of your esteem. Please accept them with a smile."

  On the side, elegant and mature Wang Lu smiled slightly, and the 35 female disciples next to her immediately presented a plate of exquisite dishes, fine wine, and delicious fruits, with impeccable etiquette, without any arrogance, making people feel like they were basking in the warm spring breeze.

  Witnessing this scene, the crowd that came to visit the Heart Peak was once again filled with emotion. Look at this, this is the foundation of a great sect!

  "This Taoist friend, I don't know if we can pay our respects to Senior Chen Quan?" An old man with white hair spoke up from the crowd. His face was covered in wrinkles and he looked frail with age, old enough to be Chen Quan's grandfather, yet he addressed Chen Quan as "senior". His expression was still so respectful and sincere that it made people feel a little strange.

  However, no one in the audience felt that it was inappropriate. In the cultivation world, strength is respected, and Chen Tai is the brother of Beiheng, the Supreme Elder of Liuyun Sword Sect, so it's only right to call him senior.

  "Sorry, my ancestor is no longer at the Krathong Peak. If you want to meet him, he will be present at the entrance test tomorrow and you can see him then," said Dong Fang.

  Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. However, being able to come to Kexin Peak once, they also felt satisfied.

  Chen Xiao is indeed not at Kexin Peak. These days, the number of people visiting Kexin Peak has surged, and what was originally a serene and secluded place for spiritual cultivation now resembles a bustling vegetable market. Furthermore, every time someone comes to visit him with ulterior motives, it's tolerable once or twice, but if it happens repeatedly, even a saint would get annoyed, let alone him.

  So he had no choice but to temporarily hide out.

  ——

  ——

  Outside of Liuyun Sword Sect.

  By the side of a flowing waterfall, Chen Xuan held a green scroll in his hand, contemplating the mysteries of the symbol path. This book was called "Zhou Xu's Thirteen Diagrams", which he had borrowed from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's library. It recorded the derivation, refinement and layout methods of thirteen giant array techniques. The ideas were ingenious and subtly matched the principles of heaven.

  He wants to study one of the most advanced forms of reasoning.

  The Tao is vast and profound like the sea, it reaches up to the heavenly mechanism, down to the earthly principle, complex and intricate, all things in the universe contain the heavenly mechanism. Wanting to master all symbols and arrays in the world is fundamentally an impossible task. However, as long as one understands the art of derivation, any symbol or array can be derived, even new ones can be created.

  The strength or weakness of the ability to deduce, is directly related to the level of the Fu Master. The stronger the ability to deduce, the more heavenly secrets one can comprehend, and the more powerful the drawn talismans and deployed arrays will be. It can be used for refining instruments, refining elixirs, killing enemies, trapping enemies, gathering spirits, transforming evil, healing wounds, dispersing clouds, summoning rain, etc., with no exceptions, and nothing is impossible.

  Chen Suo practiced the art of deduction, with a simple goal in mind: to integrate the eight major sword styles of the "Wan Cang Jian Dian" and exhaust its infinite variations.

  Of course, the stronger his ability to deduce, the deeper his understanding and appreciation of Xiang Dao will be, playing a role of mutual promotion and complementarity.

  "One yuan two instruments produce, swift three clouds lead,

  hěn just seven yuan cover, eight scenes enter Taiyuan,

  fly sprinkle nine days outside.

  Qiong gate produces scene cloud, spirit smoke absolute secluded mist……"

  Chen Xian was immersed in the book, his spirit and soul accurately and quickly deducing the changes of various talismans, completely unaware of the passage of time.

  Suddenly, a dense horseshoe rumbling sound burst out on the mountain road in the distance, and the ground was shaking with flying dust.

  Soon, a team of about fifty robust knights, riding fire cloud blood mane horses, with bright armor and stern expressions, galloped towards this side. Among these knights, there was also a luxurious carriage pulled by six leopards, with pearls and jade hanging, cloud patterns densely woven, and treasures shining around. Their speed was extremely fast, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the side of the waterfall pool.

  "Halt!" The first one, a middle-aged man with a sharp jawline, waved his hand, and the team stopped instantly, showing their rigorous training and precision.

  "Hey, little guy, isn't that the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect up ahead?" The middle-aged man asked, looking at Chen Xiao, without dismounting his horse.

  "Not bad." Chen Ting nodded, but in his heart he sighed, Krathong Peak was unbearable, and this place was also unbearable. It seemed that he still had to find another quiet place to calm his mind and practice.

  These days, countless people from all directions have gathered at the Liuyun Sword Sect. Most of the young men and women are accompanied by guards or family slaves. There are many who are even more arrogant than this group in front of them. This middle-aged man's tone is high and mighty, with a commanding attitude, but Chen Suo doesn't think much of it.

  "Dong Que, we've been rushing from Lanhai City day and night without stopping. It's just right that we rest here for a while before heading up the mountain again." A handsome young man wearing brocade robes and a jade crown stepped out of the luxurious carriage.

  "Alright." Dong Que, a middle-aged man with a strong jawline and piercing eyes, responded loudly as he began directing the other Hu Wei to set up the tents skillfully.

  "Hey, kid, move over. This water pool is taken by the royal family of Lianhai City." Due to the small size of the water pool, which was only about a dozen or so feet in diameter, Chen Tang sitting at the edge of the pool suddenly became quite conspicuous. Dong Que immediately walked up to Chen Tang, looked down at him with an air of superiority and intimidation, and said.

  Chen Ting furrowed her brow.

  "Never mind, Dong Que, don't let him go, I still have a lot of questions for him later."

  The handsome young man waved his hand and came straight to the edge of the pond, washed his face in the clear water, sat cross-legged on the ground, took a transparent wine cup filled with crimson beautiful wine from the guard's hand, drank a mouthful, smacked his lips, and said: "Little boy, I ask you, do you know Chen Quan?"

  This young man is fourteen or fifteen years old, but in his words and deeds, he exudes an air of arrogant pride, overbearing and tyrannical, with a hint of senile self-importance.

  Chen Xiao just felt a bit amused, but still nodded.

  "Oh, then tell me, is he really as formidable as the legend says?" The handsome young man's eyes lit up again, and he asked once more.

  Chen Xiao shook his head: "I don't know."

  The handsome young man burst out laughing: "You're really ignorant, I've heard of his name in Lán Hǎi City, as a person from Lóng Yuān City, how could you not have heard of him?"

  Chen Xiao asked: "Fellow Taoist, are you looking for Chen Xiao for something?"

  "It doesn't matter if I tell you, but Chen Tai is now the sworn brother of the Supreme Elder of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, with a high position and great power. It's said that during this recruitment of disciples by the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, he will also be present on the side to observe the ceremony. I have already established a connection with him, and for tomorrow's sect entrance test, I am 100% confident that I can pass." The handsome young man smiled proudly and said leisurely.

  "Oh, I don't know how you did it?" Chen Xiao asked in surprise, he was indeed very surprised, he didn't even recognize the little guy in front of him.

  "Inexplicable, inexplicable." The handsome young man smiled mysteriously, but refused to reveal the truth, and instead asked Chen Yu: "Right, you're also here to participate in the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's entrance test?"

  Chen Xiao shook his head and said, "No."

  The handsome young man sighed and said, "It's also true that this time the Flowing Clouds Sword Sect opened its mountain gate to recruit disciples, with over a million people signing up, but there are only a hundred spots available. You're all alone, without money or influence, you won't even pass the test, it's good that you know your own limitations."

  Rumble...

  Just then, a dense drumming sound of horseshoes echoed again from the distant mountain road, and its momentum was even stronger than that of this handsome young man and his party.

  A moment later, a mighty procession came rushing this way, with sixty-four guards riding on ink-horned beasts, wearing fish-scale black armor and crimson cloaks, flanking the two sides, in the middle was a treasure carriage made of ice crystal jade, with beautiful curtains, eight beasts pulling, majestic.

  On the treasure carriage, there were still strings of transparent wind chimes hanging, swaying in the wind, ringing out a crisp and clear sound, like the gentle flow of a clear spring, refreshing and ethereal, making one's heart also become calm.

  Looking far and wide, this team of people was like a wave, rolling in, and soon arrived at the side of the pond.

  "The Wang family? Hmph, I knew it. They must have come back too." The handsome young man raised his eyes and swept a glance, immediately letting out a cold snort, as if he had known this newly appeared team for a long time.

  ——

  PS: Today, I saw a news report that parents, braving the scorching heat, took their children on university tours. The purpose was to encourage their children to study hard and strive for a good university. Looking at the photos of parents sweating profusely under the scorching sun, I felt inexplicably moved and distressed, which inspired the first half of this chapter.