Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 421: Golden Core Conference (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Golden Core Conference (Please Subscribe)

Heavenly Ding Sect.

This sect is one of the twelve great factions of Da Jing, its mountain gate towering and imposing, resembling a gigantic ding.

At this moment, the Mountain Protection Array opens wide, with thousands of streams of rosy clouds billowing forth and streaks of auspicious aura cascading down, shimmering and multicolored, very pleasing to the eye.

In the mortal realm, this would be considered an auspicious sign of heaven and earth, heralding good fortune favored by monarchs. However, to Cultivators, it was nothing more than a trifle.

Countless streaks of light, coming from all directions, poured into the mountain gate of Heavenly Ding Sect, all of them Cultivators who had been invited to attend Elder Xu Yuan’s Golden Core Conference.

Among these Cultivators, some had sword light like rainbows, clearly top-notch Sword Cultivators, Sword Immortals.

Some rode on auspicious clouds, exuding an aura of an Immortal with profound Daoist charm.

Others manoeuvred Magic Artifacts or rode upon Spiritual Beasts.

Those who still used earth-traveling techniques on the ground were considered rather inferior.

Most of them, being Loose Cultivators with relatively weak cultivation and Mana, could only partake in the fringes of the gathering near the mountain gate; even so, in the future, they would have something to boast about.

Zhong Shenxiu, dressed in a Daoist robe, wearing a Golden Radiance High Crown, and holding a Five Fire Seven Feather Fan, with large sleeves fluttering, instantaneously summoned a white cloud beneath his feet, a green sparrow perching on his shoulder, presenting the image of an eccentric as he flew through the mountain gate of Heavenly Ding Sect.

While the outermost Mountain Protection Array of Heavenly Ding Sect had been opened, the interior was still layered with myriad prohibitions, fraught with great danger.

At this moment, the invitation he held in his hand—the Inner Sect jade slip—took effect, emitting a guiding spiritual light from the jade slip.

It didn’t take long for Zhong Shenxiu to spot the Jie Tian Platform.

This platform had nine levels, each rising a hundred zhang, originally intended to collect the spirit dew of heaven and earth.

But now, it had been repurposed as the venue for the Golden Core Conference, its grandeur truly fitting.

Each of the platform’s levels was filled with banquet tables, jars of fine wine, delicacies of rare tastes, dancing girls, muscular attendants, and serving boys and girls, the atmosphere brimming with excitement.

Zhong Shenxiu’s jade slip, however, was not of the highest grade, and it guided him to the fifth level of the Jie Tian Platform, where he settled upon a cloud bed.

Next to him, smilingly attentive boys and girls promptly greeted him with a respectful bow, "We haven’t had the pleasure of asking for the Immortal’s name. We will go and instruct them to commence the banquet."

"A Loose Cultivator, Zhong Shenxiu."

Zhong Shenxiu felt very pleased inside; it was in this world alone that he could declare his name openly and upright.

In the main world, he would likely have been immediately surrounded and killed by a crowd of Cultivators.

By the way, he tossed out that worn-out Five Elements Bead Magic Artifact as a congratulatory gift.

The serving boy received it, and his expression immediately changed.

He secretly mused, "This Immortal has presented a superior Magic Artifact on first offering, quite a generous gesture. How come he was only arranged to be on the fifth level?"

Exchanging glances with the serving girl next to him, they both secretly rejoiced, sensing that fortune had come their way.

This Daoist was so generous, if they could serve him well enough to please him, wouldn’t the rewards be delightful?

Most of them were born in Cultivator families with little aptitude, and this was about all they could hope for.

Thus, their attitudes became even more attentive, serving Zhong Shenxiu so well that he was very happy.

He was naturally impatient with certain formalities, and having let go now, he was even more unruly in behavior.

To outsiders, he seemed to sit without proper posture, to eat without proper manners.

To the right of Zhong Shenxiu on the cloud seat, a Cultivator sitting upright and proper, spoke up, "My name is Xie Xiangshan, from Qingyuan Mountain Bibo Mansion. Pleased to meet you, fellow Daoist!"

This Xie Xiangshan was born into an official’s family and was named a child prodigy at a young age. At sixteen, he encountered his mentor, who led him onto the path of cultivation. His manner was extremely upright and old-fashioned, yet widely praised, earning the reputation of a modest gentleman.

Seeing Zhong Shenxiu’s demeanor, he felt quite uncomfortable.

"Zhong Shenxiu, just a Loose Cultivator,"

Zhong Shenxiu glanced over casually and saw that this person’s Gang Qi was faintly visible, as if he had just succeeded in Refining Gang and was still unable to manipulate it at will.

"I don’t know what kind of connections you had to get to this Golden Core Banquet, but since you have the opportunity, you should cherish it. You must know..."

Xie Xiangshan immediately perked up, spouting a barrage of lofty principles.

It seemed as though it was all for Zhong Shenxiu’s own good, as if a senior was admonishing his juniors.

But Zhong Shenxiu just sneered.

In this world, there were always those who liked to peddle their own principles, forcing their set of rules onto others.

If one disagreed, it meant they were rebellious and unbridled.

As they grew older, it became even more so, known as—relying on one’s age to command respect!

He waved the Five Fire Seven Feather Fan lightly, simply too lazy to argue with such a minor character.

However, Yu Tongzi noticed the nuance and understood his master’s intent. He immediately flew over and fanned his wings.

Slap!

A blast of wind flashed, Xie Xiangshan couldn’t dodge in time, his Gang Qi collapsed in an instant, and he fell to the ground, dishes and cups in disarray, and a lot of soup and other liquids landed on his head, making him look extremely disheveled.

This was only because Shenxiu did not wish to kill. Otherwise, Yu Tongzi, a Core Formation Demon, would merely need to peck, and Xie Xiangshan’s head would have burst open and he’d have died.

"You..."

Xie Xiangshan was always dignified. How could he have anticipated such humiliation in public? He shouted, "You... using a bird to injure someone, it is truly... infuriating!"

His anger was at a boiling point, steam practically issuing from his ears, and he even wanted to take action.

But considering that this place was the Heavenly Ding Sect and Elder Xu Yuan’s Golden Core Banquet, he didn’t dare to make a move for the moment.

"My bird is wild and hard to train; it disturbed fellow Daoist, my apologies..."

Shenxiu smiled and took another drink, saying, "Fellow Daoist, you’re a righteous gentleman. I’ve already apologized. What else do you want?"

Looking at Xie Xiangshan’s eggplant-like face, he felt extremely pleased and drank a few more cups.

When bitten by a dog, naturally, one cannot bite back—that would be degrading! But one must let loose their own dog to kill that dog; otherwise, that person is a fool!

On the Jie Tian Platform, such minor incidents were always overlooked by the Heavenly Ding Sect.

After all, there were many Loose Cultivators from all over with their own grudges and disputes, and as long as there was no actual spell battle, there was no need to intervene.

A few patrolling disciples saw it was just a minor quarrel, and that Xie Xiangshan had actually endured the insult. They turned their gaze away, feeling somewhat disappointed.

Just then, a tearing sound came from the sky.

Some knowledgeable high-level Cultivators’s expressions changed dramatically, knowing that a skilled Sword Immortal had arrived, and they all looked toward the sky.

A sword light appeared like a rainbow, moving with great speed, circling the Heavenly Ding Sect once before heading to the very top of Jie Tian Platform.

The sword’s glow contracted, revealing a sword-bearing Female Practitioner, her features as if painted, bursting with heroism, as if she had stolen all the brilliance of heaven and earth for herself.

"This is... one of the ’Heavenly Mountain Seven Swords,’ the ’Jinghua Sword’ Fairy Li Qionghua... shush... Elder Xu Yuan has such great influence, even the Heavenly Mountain Seven Swords have sent someone to congratulate him."

Around them, a wave of gasps could be heard.

Zhong Shenxiu narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling that this Li Qionghua’s cultivation was indeed at the Peak of Refining Gang, coupled with a superior-grade flying sword and exquisite swordsmanship.

Perhaps, even those Golden Core Ancestors at the Eighth and Ninth Grade might not necessarily be her match.

In this realm, to truly stand out among peers, a Cultivator should be able to challenge across a higher realm. Without this capability, they were not worthy of the title of a prodigy!