Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 339 Conflict (Part 4)

"Inviting you to dinner?" Han Yi walked out of the courtyard, looked at the outer courtyard disciple with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and an honest appearance, and asked in confusion.

"It was organized by Senior Brother Fang." The outer court disciple who brought the news answered honestly, his voice deep. "Senior Brother Fang broke through to the third level of the Nine-Bend Palm yesterday. To celebrate this happy event, he specially hosted a banquet, inviting all the inner court senior brothers and sisters to get together."

"Fang Chengqi?"

“That’s right, Fang Chengqi, Senior Brother Fang.”

Han Yi had just broken through to the first level of true skill, and upon hearing this news, he immediately lost all interest.

He'd only broken through to the first level of true skill, while others had only been practicing for three months and had already broken through to the third level...

The difference between people... how come... "Senior Brother Han?"

The outer disciple looked at Han Yi blankly, scratching his head in confusion.

"Alright, I understand..." Han Yi quickly realized what was going on, and after clarifying the time, location, and people involved, he let the outer disciple leave.

"The Fang family, Fang Chengqi, the deputy head of the manor, Fang He... The Fang family has the bloodline of the Fire Ape. Could it be that everyone in these bloodline families has such outstanding talent? No wonder everyone in Huayang City only knows about the three great families..." he muttered to himself.

He has been in Jingtianzhuang for so long, and through various communication channels, he has learned quite a bit about the situation.

In Yunzhou, Emperor Yuanmiao was like a high and mighty, detached maintainer of order.

Regarding matters within its territory, whether it be conflicts between forces or clashes between martial artists and bloodline families, as long as they do not violate the rules, it will not meddle. The remaining five major forces under the Yuanmiao Sect—Jingtian Manor, Sanshan Sect, Wanhua Palace, Shouyi Temple, and Yunzhou Prefecture Army—are the actual administrators.

They are required to maintain peace and stability in their region and to pay resources to the Yuanmiao Sect every year.

Therefore, as long as Yuanmiao Sect achieves these two points, it doesn't matter who the other five forces are in charge.

These five forces have had their heyday and their decline, their rise and fall entirely dependent on their own development, and the Yuanmiao Sect will not interfere out of thin air.

Just like Jingtianzhuang now, it is in decline and decadence, having long lost its former glory.

Especially Huayang City, which, in theory, should be the last stronghold of Jingtian Manor.

However, even in this most basic territory, most ordinary people had only heard of Jingtian Manor from afar; what they truly revered were the three major families right next door. With Jingtian Manor's decline, others would naturally rise. The three major families of Huayang City had their power and influence deeply rooted in every aspect of Huayang City, from clothing, food, housing, and transportation to birth, aging, illness, and death—without exception.

Now, Huayang City is practically the domain of the three major families. In everyone's eyes, Jingtian Manor is like a large ship teetering on the brink of collapse.

After all, the shortage of resources, insufficient funding, and shrinking territory within Jingtian Manor were clearly visible signs of its predicament.

Aside from the inheritance of true skills and the library with its numerous martial arts manuals, Jingtian Manor has no advantage over the three great families.

The total number of disciples in the inner courtyard of Jingtian Manor is only a few hundred. Compared to the three major families, any one of them can easily muster thousands of skilled fighters. The gap is indeed too large.

Having gained this understanding of Jingtian Manor's current positioning, Han Yi also somewhat understood Fang Chengqi's intentions.

First, it's out of a desire to show off; he broke through three levels of true skill in three months, and this person is flaunting it. Second… it's probably just to create hype. The Fang family not only has a high-ranking deputy sect leader, but also a genius disciple; this way, they can gradually exaggerate the Fang family's status and continue doing so in the long run…

Clearly, given enough time, the Fang family will gain absolute dominance within Jingtian Manor…

"Forget it, these things are beyond my control at my current level. I'll focus on improving my skills first." Han Yi shook his head, too lazy to think about it anymore.

Regardless of Fang Chengqi's intentions, he was just an inconspicuous inner court disciple who only wanted to cultivate quietly and eventually achieve mastery of his skills.

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Yuanmiaozong, Lower Six Peaks, Chongzhen Hall.

The hall's doors were tightly shut, and only a few specks of light filtered in during the bright afternoon sun. Above the main hall stood three gilded and glazed statues of deities, below which sat brass incense burners, from which wisps of smoke curled, carrying the pleasant scent of sandalwood.

In the middle, there was a square red table, with wisps of steam rising from the teacups.

"Alright, do you all have ideas? Everyone, speak freely and discuss it." Yang Huawu, who was sitting at the head of the table, picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and then put it down.

He was dressed in a yellow robe and wore a black feathered crown, and looked slightly tired.

"In my opinion, it's nothing more than false information spread by demons to sow discord and disturb people's minds. There's no need to pay it any mind," Yan Xuanji said calmly, dressed in a red robe.

"Oh, does the head of Xuanji Academy mean that we should remain unmoved and wait for the outcome, no matter what happens?" Yang Huawu shook his head. "This is not a good idea, although we mountain people know we are safe."

But this news had already caused quite a stir down the mountain, with many people coming to inquire, demanding a proper explanation.

The people on the mountain naturally refer to the disciples of the Yuanmiao Sect.

The people of the mountain are the leaders of various powerful forces within Yunzhou.

For Yuanmiaozong, the mountain and the foot of the mountain were naturally two different worlds.

Below the mountain is the bustling world, a place of mundane life, a chaotic mix of emotions and desires, where one cannot find peace of mind and is constantly plagued by troubles.

Only by staying on the mountain can one achieve clarity of mind, tranquility of heart, and the ability to calmly watch the clouds drift by, completely at ease.

Qingjiang Mountain, Qingjiang Mountain, the higher you go, the more tranquil it becomes.

Therefore, they regard climbing step by step from outer court disciple to inner court disciple, then to chief disciple, head of the academy, the six lower academies, and the three upper peaks as a great honor.

"Senior Brother Yang, why care so much about the opinions of the people down the mountain? My Yuanmiao Sect has worked hard to maintain the stability of Yunzhou. All the natural disasters, man-made calamities, internal and external troubles over the years have been supported by my Yuanmiao Sect."

"But this time it's just a piece of fake news. A truthful response will reassure people." Yan Xuanji didn't get angry, but calmly and methodically refuted.

"Indeed, the head of Xuanji Academy is right. These past few days I have organized people to travel by day and night, observing the celestial phenomena at night. Although the chaotic ley lines in Pingzhou have caused the celestial phenomena to be disordered."

However, this is only a glimpse into the bigger picture. With the barrier of the boundary wall and the earth vein array blocking the way, coupled with the eight thousand winged soldiers of Grand Marshal Yi Sheng, the demon-slaying general, they are more than capable of resolving the demonic calamity in Pingzhou.

The head of the Nine Lives Institute toyed with a piece of pure white jade pendant, speaking in a calm tone.

"Hmm..." Yang Huawu exhaled and looked at the other deans, "What about you? Any opinions?"