Chapter 51: Two Followers
Wushang Sword Sect, Sword Mound, Wenjian Pavilion.
After a month of renovation and refurbishment, Wenjian Pavilion had transformed from that dilapidated small building into a magnificent pavilion that glittered with golden splendor on the outside.
Zhou Delong had specially ordered people to build four surrounding walls around Wenjian Pavilion, enclosing a spacious courtyard with floors entirely paved with marble slabs.
The courtyard now also included a kitchen and all other necessary facilities.
Chen Xuan looked at this brand-new Wenjian Pavilion, a satisfied smile appearing on his face:
"I'm very pleased with both this courtyard and the renovations. Asking Uncle Zhou for help was indeed the right choice."
Zhou Delong smiled and said: "A small matter, not worth mentioning."
"Has everyone arrived?"
Chen Xuan turned his head and asked.
In this world, just like his previous life, moving into a new home was cause for a housewarming celebration.
Although Wenjian Pavilion had been expanded and renovated rather than newly built, compared to before it had completely changed in appearance.
Chen Xuan had no intention of holding a grand celebration; he only wanted to invite a few acquaintances for a pleasant gathering.
However, he didn't have many acquaintances in Dongyang Prefecture—just enough to fill one table.
Zhao Youqian said indifferently: "Only Elder Zhong and Ao Li are missing; everyone else has arrived."
As soon as his words fell, a welcoming announcement sounded from outside the door:
"Elder Zhong of Liyang Sect has arrived!"
"Immortal Master Chen, congratulations, congratulations."
Elder Zhong entered and immediately cupped his fists toward Chen Xuan.
He had specially dressed up for this banquet today. Being able to attend Immortal Master Chen's banquet meant that he could firmly grasp this powerful connection.
"Sit down. Once Ao Li arrives, we can begin."
Chen Xuan sat among everyone, and not a single person noticed that Elder Zhong still had two tails following behind him.
On the walls surrounding Wenjian Pavilion.
Two white-bearded, spirited old men with an air of immortality sat in a blind spot of everyone's vision, secretly observing Elder Zhong.
One of them was the old ancestor of the Jin Kingdom's royal family.
The other was a big shot from Liyang Sect. He stroked his beard and said:
"Old Ancestor Hongyun, we've been following this fellow Zhong Ao for three days now. We haven't seen a single expert from the Immortal Sect, let alone an Immortal Sect disciple. Should we just give up?"
"Elder Xi, is your Liyang Sect planning to monopolize the intelligence about this Imperial Lineage Immortal Sect?"
Old Ancestor Hongyun said with an unhappy expression, while his resentment toward Zhong Ao and Liu Zhenshou—the two fellows—grew even stronger.
How dare they hide information about the Imperial Lineage Immortal Sect! When the old man finds the people from this Immortal Sect, he'll make them pay!
Elder Xi naturally wouldn't say what was truly in his heart, even though his Liyang Sect did have such intentions.
"Old Ancestor Hongyun, look at how respectfully those two fellows Zhong Ao and Liu Zhenshou treat the master of this place. Moreover, this Wushang Sword Sect was once an Imperial Lineage Immortal Sect with three Immortal Emperors. Could the place we're looking for be here?"
"Do you think I'm a fool?"
Old Ancestor Hongyun looked at Elder Xi as if he were an idiot and said:
"That young man is clearly a mortal without any cultivation, and the fellow beside him is only a Dao Foundation realm cultivator. How could he possibly slay the Mangshan Ghost King with one sword strike? Furthermore, there's no flood dragon here."
ROAR!!!
Accompanied by an angry roar from a flood dragon, a green flood dragon descended from the sky and landed in the courtyard.
Old Ancestor Hongyun nearly turned to stone on the spot.
Elder Xi was also stunned, muttering to himself: "Old Ancestor, are you some kind of reverse prophet?"
Old Ancestor Hongyun: "..."
Chen Xuan saw Ao Li and happily led him to the feast: "Junior Brother, we've been waiting for you. Serve the food!"
"Sorry to have kept everyone waiting."
Ao Li smiled and said this, then took out a box from his robe and handed it over:
"Senior Brother, the reason I was late was to prepare a gift for you. This is a Water-Repelling Pearl. With it, you can move freely underwater."
"What a precious treasure."
Chen Xuan accepted this Water-Repelling Pearl without any ceremony.
The others presented their gifts one after another—all sorts of things, and Chen Xuan accepted them all without refusal.
During this time, the dishes had been mostly served.
The final dish was carried in by several people using a large urn, its lid still unopened.
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to this large urn, and all waited for Chen Xuan to lift the lid.
The moment the lid was lifted, a fragrance instantly wafted out from the urn.
This fragrance drifted far—even the two old men sitting on the wall could smell it.
"Gulp!"
Elder Xi's body honestly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Old Ancestor Hongyun didn't mock him this time, because he was also very hungry.
"Old Ancestor, with your extensive experience, can you tell what kind of fragrance this is?" Elder Xi asked.
Old Ancestor Hongyun didn't speak but made a gesture for silence, then pointed toward the table.
"Sword Guardian Senior Brother, what is this? It smells so good!"
Zhou Yuanyuan struggled to keep her saliva from flowing out. In all her years, she had never encountered such a delicious aroma.
"This is soup made from the tail of a Long Ao."
Chen Xuan said with a smile.
"A Half-Step Fish-Dragon Realm Long Ao can only become food on Immortal Master Chen's table—we admire you!" Liu Zhenshou couldn't help but flatter him.
"Didn't you eat the meat you divided before?" Chen Xuan asked curiously.
"Of course not, we traded it for other things." Liu Zhenshou explained.
"It's fine, today everyone eat your fill!"
Chen Xuan said generously.
The duo on the wall envied Zhong Ao and Liu Zhenshou greatly. A delicacy from a Half-Step Fish-Dragon Realm creature—they had never tasted it either!
The reason was simple: they couldn't afford it.
Even if they had the chance to slay one, they would trade it for cultivation resources.
...
Night fell. After the banquet dispersed, the guests had all left.
However, Old Ancestor Hongyun and Elder Xi still sat on the wall.
"Old Ancestor, what should we do next?"
"Wait!"
Old Ancestor Hongyun saw Elder Xi's puzzled expression and explained impatiently:
"Haven't you noticed something? We've been here for so long, and no one has seen us. This means the true experts of Wushang Sword Sect aren't here.
Except for that Fusion Realm flood dragon, none of the others are worth mentioning."
Elder Xi wasn't stupid—he understood immediately and slightly frowned:
"But just waiting here isn't a solution either. Should we capture that mortal and interrogate him?"
Before Old Ancestor Hongyun could speak, the two saw the mortal who had sat in the main seat during the banquet leave the courtyard with a sword in hand.
"Out this late at night, there must be something strange. Let's follow him."
Old Ancestor Hongyun and Elder Xi followed Chen Xuan's footsteps, heading up the mountain together.
However, when the two reached the outskirts of the Sword Mound, Old Ancestor Hongyun stopped. Looking at the Sword Mound beneath Chen Xuan's feet, a grave expression appeared on his face.
"This place is extraordinary. Should we enter or not?"
Old Ancestor Hongyun was well-traveled and knowledgeable. The Sword Mound before him gave him the feeling of gazing into an abyss—his heart felt uneasy and anxious.
"That mortal isn't afraid, so why should we two be afraid?"
Elder Xi looked with disdain. Aside from there being many swords here, there was nothing different about it. He really didn't understand what Old Ancestor Hongyun was afraid of.
Old Ancestor Hongyun glanced at Elder Xi strangely, then looked at Chen Xuan again. Seeing him moving through the Sword Mound as if nothing were wrong, he said faintly:
"Perhaps I was overthinking. Let's go."
Elder Xi didn't say anything more this time and entered the Sword Mound together with Old Ancestor Hongyun...
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