Wenping got straight to the point and asked, "Aside from Clearwater Street, how is the publicity for the Jian Wu Hui going elsewhere?"
The chubby innkeeper quickly replied, "Please rest assured, Master Wensong, within two days I’ve informed over a dozen martial arts schools. They’re very pleased to hear that you’re reopening the Jian Wu Hui, and they all said they’d bring all their disciples for sure. As for the announcement, I’ve had Xiao Er copy dozens of them and post them on half of Cangwu City’s streets and markets. Last night, while I was strolling through the night market, many people were already discussing it. In a couple of days, there will definitely be a lot of people attending the Jian Wu Hui."
"Thanks for the effort." Wenping felt a surge of happiness; at this rate, achieving recognition from ten thousand people is just around the corner.
"You don’t need to say such polite words, Master Wensong. Reopening the Jian Wu Hui is a blessing for Cangwu City, much better compared to the Kangshan Sect. They’re just colluding with merchants to extract money from us ordinary people."
Wenping didn’t expect the conversation to take such a turn; the chubby innkeeper began to criticize the Kangshan Sect right in front of him, and he did so loudly, "Innkeeper, aren’t you afraid that the Kangshan Sect’s informants will hear you?"
"So what if they hear? I’ve held these words back for so long, it’s time they were spoken. The Kangshan Sect are snakes in the grass; back when your father allowed outsiders to settle in Cangwu City, as soon as a little incident happened with the Immortal Sect, they instantly kicked us when we were down. For such wolves in sheep’s clothing, I would rather send my son to a martial arts school for cultivation than to the Kangshan Sect. Learning martial arts without learning martial virtues—what’s the use of becoming strong? If it wasn’t for them distorting the truth at the Hundred Sects Alliance, there wouldn’t have been only one Jian Wu Hui in over a decade."
Upon hearing this, Wenping came to a realization; so this was why only one Jian Wu Hui had been held.
The ambition of the Kangshan Sect had been apparent not just in the past year or two.
"Do you know what they said at the Hundred Sects Alliance?"
"They don’t want Cangwu City to be filled with cultivators, saying it would leave no one to farm or work. Complete nonsense! Yet the Hundred Sects Alliance believed it." The chubby innkeeper suddenly clapped his forehead and said, "Master Wensong, with the Jian Wu Hui reopening, they might try such tricks again!"
Wenping smiled faintly and, paying little attention to Luo Yi’s warning, replied, "No problem, I know how to deal with it."
"That’s great." Despite nodding, the chubby innkeeper still showed signs of worry, but since Wenping didn’t continue the topic, he didn’t press on either.
After exchanging pleasantries, Wenping felt the urge to leave, "Innkeeper, you must be busy, I’ll take my leave now. Remember to come in a few days for the Jian Wu Hui."
Having said that, Wenping stood up and walked towards the door.
The chubby innkeeper shook his head with a smile and personally escorted Wenping to the door, "Master Wensong, take care. As for the Jian Wu Hui... I’m of this age already, in this lifetime I won’t be able to pursue any cultivation dreams, so I’ve abandoned the thought of attending the Jian Wu Hui."
"Dreams are still worth having."
Wenping patted Luo Yi’s shoulder; perhaps the scene where everyone is cultivating was what his father hoped to see when organizing the Jian Wu Hui.
Unfortunately, this idea withered.
He now had the chance to complete his father’s half-abandoned ideal in the course of fulfilling his mission.
In the afternoon, Miao Yin hurriedly left the Immortal Sect, using the excuse of buying clothes to meet Qin Shan at the inn.
By this point, Qin Shan had already grown impatient. As soon as Miao Yin entered, he angrily questioned, "Why did it take so long for you to return?"
Miao Yin immediately bowed in apology and then explained, "Sir, it’s the matter with the Young Master. You instructed me to serve beside the Young Master, but as per the Immortal Sect’s rules, outsiders cannot remain on the mountain top for more than an hour, so I had to join the Immortal Sect, which delayed my descent and report."
Qin Shan was still very angry, yet not because of Miao Yin’s lateness. "There’s such a rule? Who is the sect leader of the Immortal Sect to dare interfere with Flying Fish Island’s affairs? Didn’t they see the token given by Elder Night?"
"Sir, that young man you met that night is the sect leader of the Immortal Sect... The Young Master used this rule as a shield, leaving me with no choice but to join the Immortal Sect. But no worries, once the Young Master leaves the Immortal Sect, I’ll just resign."
Miao Yin quickly responded and then carefully watched Qin Shan’s expression.
Originally, she thought Qin Shan was going to get angry, yet suddenly she heard Qin Shan laughing, revealing an expression of appreciation, completely ignoring her joining the Immortal Sect.
"Oh, so that young man from that day is the sect leader of the Immortal Sect? Interesting, pretending to be mad before an old man like me."
"Sir, are you not angry?"
"Why should I be angry? I never liked cowards who wet themselves at the mention of Flying Fish Island."
Miao Yin helplessly smiled; she thought Lord Qin Shan would be as angry as she was. Seeing Qin Mo’s mood improve, she hesitated to speak of what she saw after going up the mountain, but ultimately resolved to speak out.
"Sir, I’ve learned why the Young Master joined the Immortal Sect and is unwilling to leave."
This piqued his interest. His Young Master has journeyed past countless cities and sects, never lingering even when encountering young beauties claimed to be the very best, who captivated many hearts. Yet none ever managed to keep him still.
They were all pursued by various sects and powers.
Yet these women exclusively favored his Young Master, however, as if not seeing their beauty, his Young Master would leave the next day.
Though arriving at this little Cangwu City, he halted, choosing to join a Starless Sect.
Just as Qin Shan was lost in thought, Miao Yin organized her words, embedding the idea that the Young Master did not want others to know what was on the mountain into the coming speech, saying, "The Young Master doesn’t want to leave because—there’s a Trial Tower in the Immortal Sect. There are ten trials. For each trial passed, one can grasp the technique used by the Guardian."
She refrained from mentioning magic!
And did not bring up any other matters.
Only spoke of gaining techniques through trials.
Qin Shan asked, "Vein Technique?"
"No, Martial Arts, but it’s a peculiar type of Martial Arts."
Upon hearing the word ’peculiar’, Qin Shan’s interest was piqued, "What kind is it?"
Miao Yin quickly answered, "Flame, which can be unleashed even at the Body Refining Realm level. The power increase overturns the fixed idea of each layer realm being a passive hurdle!"
"Unleashing flames! Abnormal Vein Skill?"
Qin Shan reacted with strong surprise and exclaimed aloud.
Miao Yin was puzzled; she did not expect Qin Shan to suddenly lose his composure. Clearly, she had reformulated it as Martial Arts.
She had not mentioned that the technique is called magic, nor that it’s done using Qi from the Dantian—these two points would shock all of East Lake.
Seeing Miao Yin’s expression, Qin Shan’s face turned serious as he stated, "It seems you haven’t grasped the truth yet, but the Young Master surely has. Have you ever seen Vein Technique manifesting in the form of the Five Elements? Water, Wood..."
"I haven’t." Miao Yin, puzzled, continued.
"That’s because they’re not something ordinary meridian gates can release; even if attaining Vein Techniques to unleash waterfalls or flames, without variant meridian gates, it is fundamentally impossible to transform vein qi into the Five Elements. This is why variant meridian gates are so potent."
Miao Yin was stunned.
Seeing her reaction, Qin Shan laughed heartily again, "Come on, take me to the Immortal Sect for a look. If the tower truly possesses special Martial Arts that let one at the Body Refining Realm unleash Abnormal Vein Skills, then it’s intriguing... Able to unleash flames without variant meridian gates..."