Chapter 480 - 434: Tieyuan (From Now On, All Are Double-Length - s) (Part 2)

Chapter 480: Chapter 434: Tieyuan (From Now On, All Are Double-Length Chapters) (Part 2)

Lu Qian looked at Wu Yan, who respectfully complied, thought for a moment, and slowly said, "Because you come from humble beginnings, you are especially humble and yielding to those close to you, yet when dealing with outsiders, in order to protect your own interests, you appear overly harsh, eager for quick success. How to unite people, gather collective strength, achieve a harmonious balance of strength and softness, and ensure maximum benefits are things you need to start learning bit by bit."

"You are now the Sect Leader’s Disciple; my expectations for you are very high, and naturally, the requirements are different from before. Do you understand?"

Wu Yan felt a surge of excitement and bowed down: "Master’s painstaking efforts will not be wasted by me!"

Since Master Cangfeng said it wouldn’t take long, there was no need for detailed instructions. After setting the general direction, Lu Qian asked for Master Cangfeng’s permission and prepared to depart.

Moments later, Master Cangfeng cast a beam of golden light within the spirit veins of Lingsha City, sharp and blinding, hovering above the spiritual Qi fountain for nurturing—it was a very precious sword talisman.

Then, he left an Illusory Sound Treasure Conch, covered with green patterns and glistening. He kept another on him, allowing Lingsha City to contact him at any time with it.

After completing all these, amidst the respectful farewells of the crowd, the dazzling Golden Core Escape Light soared into the sky, carrying Lu Qian and Yan Beixing, flashing through the opening of the Ten Extremes Ten Directions Grand Array, and shooting away.

Lu Qian had just emerged from seclusion for a few days, and before he could pour out his heart, he had to bid farewell again. Jiang Qingfeng stood there dazed, watching the escape light recede into the distance, and sighed softly.

To manage this home well for my junior brother is the only thing I can do.

In the sky, the Golden Core Escape Light was like a fire meteor, flashing and disappearing.

Master Cangfeng had cultivated the Spirit Communication Sword Heart, and his escape speed far surpassed his peers. At this moment, he was riding a dazzling magical treasure, flying at full strength, with the sound of the wind roaring, and the scenery below flashing by.

Lu Qian discerned the direction, knowing they were flying southward, and couldn’t help but ask, "Zhenren, with no one else around now, where exactly are we going?"

Master Cangfeng smiled and said, "Four thousand miles away, Tieyuan County."

Lu Qian’s heart stirred. To the southwest of Chongming County lay the Xinghu County controlled by Jiyang Manor, and to the southeast was Liangxiang County, under the Mingyu Sword Sect.

And further south of Xinghu County and Liangxiang County was Tieyuan County.

Lu Qian had never encountered cultivators from Tieyuan County, but he had heard many stories about it.

This was because Tieyuan County was a very unique county mansion, with only one cultivation sect, the Huanggen Sect.

The reason for this was the extremely barren cultivation environment of Tieyuan County. Within a thousand miles, there were only three spirit veins, and their grade was not high. The highest one was only Third-Level Low-Tier, the same as the spirit vein in Lingsha City.

Originally, Tieyuan County wasn’t even an independent county mansion. Its three spirit veins were divided among three Foundation Establishment sects, each affiliated with neighboring Golden Core Major Sects.

But a hundred years ago, within one of the Foundation Establishment sects, a female cultivator named Ye Xiao emerged like a comet, attained the Golden Core, swept across the iron plains, unified the three sects into one, and established the current Huanggen Sect, firmly controlling Tieyuan County.

Another story involving Fairy Ye also spread her name widely.

Normally, cultivators who attain the Golden Core not only gain prominence and control over a region, but it also proves their infinite potential and celestial mandate. Therefore, almost all Golden Cores adopt a Daoist name for themselves.

"Master Cangfeng," "Master Fengfeng," "Master Yeguang," "Master Kan Yuan"...

People generally address Golden Cores by their Daoist names, except for teachers and seniors; addressing them by their real names is deemed disrespectful.

However, Ye Xiao was different. After attaining the Golden Core, she refused the Daoist name offered by her disciples.

"I don’t need a Daoist name. I am who I am, the Ye Xiao who cleared out villains and founded the Huanggen Sect in Tieyuan!"

A heroic figure, exuding dominance, captivating people’s hearts. Unfortunately, nobody ever witnessed her, nor knew what Fairy Ye looked like?

Rumors were varied and contradictory. Some said she was stout and muscular, with broad lips and tusks, capable of devouring lions and tigers. Some claimed her skin was as dark as lacquer, her muscles knotted, extremely strong. Others said she had a snub nose, prominent ears, broad shoulders wide enough for a horse to run across.

In general, they didn’t paint a very beautiful picture.

The issue with that ancient array is set in Tieyuan County?

Surely Master Cangfeng’s trip to break the array would involve contact with the local Huanggen Sect? Perhaps Master Cangfeng and Fairy Ye already had some understanding about this matter?

As Lu Qian pondered, Master Cangfeng’s sword pointed forward, and their escape speed increased by another third, "Well, are you more at ease now?"

Lu Qian’s heart settled, Master Cangfeng hadn’t said much to maintain secrecy. If he had known earlier that they were heading to Tieyuan County, there wouldn’t be a need for so much preparation.

After all, it was only four thousand miles away; with Master Cangfeng’s escape speed, they could return in an hour and a half. With the Golden Core Grand Array for protection and the sword talisman left by Zhenren, there was assured safety.

But how long would it take to break this ancient array?

After flying nearly two thousand miles, half an hour passed, and Master Cangfeng pointed to the horizon, "Lu Qian, look there, can you guess where it is?"

Lu Qian looked up and saw a towering, mist-enveloped peak piercing the sky, like a sharp sword piercing through it, threatening to break the heavens.

He couldn’t help but smile, "What a peak that pierces the clouds! Although our Golden Dawn Peak is also lofty, it is far inferior in grandeur to this one. Observing this peak from a distance invokes a palpable sword intent that towers high, which must be the Daoist ground of the Mingyu Sword Sect, Liekong Mountain."

Master Cangfeng smiled, "Indeed, that’s our Liekong Mountain. Let’s deal with this matter first; on the return journey, I’ll invite you to rest on the mountain."

They continued southward, soon leaving Liekong Mountain behind.

But the sight raised questions in Lu Qian’s mind once again.

Considering Liekong Mountain’s Fourth-Level Mid-Tier spirit veins, and Liangxiang County’s abundant resources, why would they covet Xuanguang Sect’s Fourth-Level Low-Tier Mingjian Mountain?

If that Fairy Ye Xiao wanted Mingjian Mountain, it would make sense...

Wait, could it be?

As his mind wandered, another half hour passed, and the scenery on the ground began to change noticeably.

The once fertile farmlands, wetland crisscrossed with waterways, lush hills, and verdant mountains were all fading away, leaving vast expanses of brown expanses, and eventually, only barren, dark brown land.

Tieyuan County, they had arrived.

This was a vast land dominated by plains and hills, yet the ground was covered everywhere in vast open-pit iron mines. Most of these mines are of poor quality and low value, barely suitable for mortals to mine and forge farm tools, let alone of any use to cultivators.

These open-pit iron mines, scattered over the whole county, present a landscape of dark brown, with only a few sparse weeds growing on the ground.

The land is barren, arable land is scarce, mortals cannot settle and thrive, and the roots of cultivators cannot be sustained. How can a sect flourish?

For such a Tieyuan County, the surrounding county mansions have little interest.

A poor place, sparsely populated with few cultivators and insufficient combat power. Although Fairy Ye unified Tieyuan, she could achieve little, and thus was often looked down upon by neighboring county mansions.

In Lu Qian’s mind, witnessing Ye Xiao overcoming such harsh conditions to attain the Golden Core demonstrated her extraordinary talent. With an insufficient foundation at home, she should have ambitions to grow outward.

What role does the Mingyu Sword Sect play in this?

As he quietly calculated, suddenly a surge of Golden Core spiritual pressure soared to the sky, powerful and majestic.

"We’ve arrived," Master Cangfeng said, "They are waiting for us up ahead."

Just as the words fell, another surge of Golden Core spiritual pressure rose and tumbled, vast and profound.

There are actually two Golden Cores?

As Lu Qian was surprised, a crisp female voice came from afar: "Fellow Daoist Li, you arrived too late."