Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 400 Bribery (Monthly Ticket Supplement)

Chapter 400: Chapter 400 Bribery (Monthly Ticket Supplement)

That day.

Early morning.

The grand bell sounds from the direction of Xuanhai Sect, echoing, purifying the soul.

The mists that had enveloped the area dispersed, revealing exquisite structures, celestial palaces, a scene with Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, and Spiritual Ape Offering Fruit among other wonders.

Several streaks of light, either manipulating magic artifacts or riding spiritual beasts, flew out from the sect gate, arriving above the vast square outside Lai Fu Inn, continuously circling.

In Linxian Town, everyone was excited, knowing that the day the Xuanhai Sect would open its gates had arrived.

Outside the town, Zhu Ling’er’s face was stern as she commanded, "Break camp, we’re going to the Immortal Fate Conference!"

Like her, there were no small number of people making the same choice, all of them crowding and converging towards one spot.

...

In the blink of an eye, the plaza was filled with people.

Zhong Shenxiu stepped out of the courtyard and chose a window-side spot on the second floor of Lai Fu Inn to watch the spectacle.

He of course would not demean himself by seeking a master or such, but instead planned to visit the Xuanhai Sect during its grand opening as a fellow Daoist, to meet the Core Formation Ancestor and discuss Daoist Skills.

Swoosh!

Just at that moment, the circulating light in the sky descended to the ground, revealing several figures surrounded by flowing light, a truly ethereal sight.

"Listen well!"

One among them, a young man in his twenties, wearing a tall Daoist robe and carrying a long sword, stepped forward with a voice audible from afar, "Today is an auspicious day for my Xuanhai Sect to open its gates widely, inviting disciples from all over. All children under fifteen years of age with a Middle-grade or above Dao Foundation are welcome to come forward for our evaluation. After passing, you can join the sect."

As these words were spoken, many faces showed disappointment.

"This qualification is rather strict..."

"I... I just had my birthday, now sixteen, what should I do?"

"Immortal Master, please, show mercy!"

A Loose Cultivator looking to be in his twenties fell to his knees in front of the young man, seemingly attempting to cling to his legs and plead, "I heard of the Immortal Fate here, and have traveled hard from afar for three years, Immortal Master..."

Bang!

Before he could finish, the man was sent flying, striking a wall, blood spurting from his mouth and nose.

A look of disgust flashed across the young man’s face as he shouted sternly, "Did I not make myself clear? Those who do not meet the criteria, do not come forward... Furthermore, those who practiced other minor cultivation techniques or engaged in self-directed Qi Refinement should also not humiliate themselves by trying!"

With these words, more age-appropriate children looked disheartened.

They were all offspring of Loose Cultivators, taught family cultivation techniques from an early age.

They did not expect this to be their undoing.

"Immortal Master, I am Liu Wending from Linxian Town, and I would like my child to give it a try."

At that moment, Liu Wending was the first to step forward.

He was an elder of Linxian Town, aware of various taboos, fully prepared.

"Very well, come up for a try."

The sword-bearing young man’s expression softened slightly as he looked at the boy behind Liu Wending and asked, "What is your name?"

The locals of Linxian Town often had intricate connections with the disciples of Xuanhai Sect, considered almost insiders, naturally making him more genial.

"Liu... Liu Wugen!"

Liu Wending’s son, looking about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a blue cloth garment, looked at the young man with a mix of fear and envy.

The young man’s palm flickered as he touched Liu Wugen, then nodded, "Bone age fourteen! Please, senior brother, assess the Dao Foundation talent!"

Another brocade-clad young master with a folding fan came forward from behind him.

This young master, handsome and graceful like jade, lightly tapped the fan on Liu Wugen’s forehead. Moments later, he looked slightly surprised, "Above-average foundation, not bad, he passes!"

"Thank you, Immortal Master, thank you, Immortal Master!"

Liu Wending was overjoyed, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing repeatedly.

Those around him showed envious expressions.

"Liu Family’s son, this is like ascending to the heavens in one step."

"This Wugen has been slow since childhood, he hadn’t succeeded in Foundation Establishment just a few days ago, I thought he would miss the auspicious day, but unexpectedly, he built his foundation just before the Immortal Fate Conference, what fortune!"

In the crowd, Zhu Ling’er, watching the young master testing the children’s foundations one by one, flashed a pleased look on her face, "It really is this Immortal Master, Hong Yuanxiong from the Xuanhai Sect Inner Sect Disciple. Father spent so much effort to find out that it was he who presided over this Immortal Fate Conference, and learning that the Immortal Master wanted to forge a flying sword, he sent a piece of Hundred-refined Mysterious Iron in advance. With my brother Long’er going, it’s almost certain, and he will also receive care in the sect."

Seeing child after child coming forward, with six or seven out of ten being ruthlessly rejected, Zhu Long’er seemed a little nervous.

Zhu Ling’er quickly touched his head, comforting him, "Don’t be afraid, Little Brother, our Zhu Family’s future relies on you."

Zhu Long’er’s face showed determination as he stepped forward.

Above Lai Fu Inn, Zhong Shenxiu’s expression was calm, watching this panorama of human life, feeling that his Dao Heart seemed to gain some understanding.

"We’ve been outsmarted!"

He then heard an excited voice coming from one of the private rooms.

Using his Divine Sense, he saw that inside a certain private room of Lai Fu Inn, several people were gathered around a young nobleman.

"Congratulations, Fourth Prince, the Zhu Family has indeed fallen into the trap."

A scholar holding a feather fan smiled.

"Heh... The Zhu Family is just traders raised by my Yue Country like pigs! Fattened for the slaughter... And they dream of becoming an Immortal to escape control, what a fantasy!"

The Fourth Prince had a chilling look.

Sunrise Trading was making a fortune daily in Yue Country, managing national finances and livelihood, and this had long caused the wise ones great concern.

Paying tribute to a few Immortal Masters was one thing, but attempting to cultivate their own Immortal was another.

If this Zhu Long’er succeeded in becoming a disciple, and even won the favor of the Xuanhai Sect’s old master, wouldn’t the Zhu Family’s position become unshakeable, even breeding some unknown ambitions?

"It’s said that Zhu Long’er is talented, heavily invested in his upbringing, building a superior Dao Foundation."

The Fourth Prince said, his face twisting with compulsion, as his own foundation was only mediocre.

"Just preventing their destined Immortal fate isn’t enough compared to the Thousand-Year Cold Light Iron personally taken from the treasury by my father!"

In this era, influenced by ancient customs, Cultivators favored forging flying swords and other Magic Artifacts for defending against enemies and demons.

Owning a well-forged flying sword, coupled with refined swordsmanship, even fighting enemies above one’s level wasn’t unfeasible.

Hong Yuanxiong, intent on forging a flying sword, was well known by everyone.

The Zhu Family had invested heavily, sending a piece of Hundred-refined Mysterious Iron, but alas, it was the lowest grade material for making flying swords, hardly improving the quality.

The Thousand-Year Cold Light Iron secretly sent by Yue Country was different; using it as a sword embryo, after decades of hard work, it could perhaps elevate the flying sword’s quality a notch, and even add a chill effect when slicing through enemies.

For a Cultivator, a flying sword was as essential as a second life.

Thus, upon receiving the Thousand-Year Cold Light Iron, Hong Yuanxiong instantly decided to betray the Zhu Family!

Zhu Long’er, oblivious to this, passed the bone-testing stage and approached Hong Yuanxiong, looking up to the said bribe-taking man with a pleasing smile.