Chapter 23 Qingfeng Sect (Part 1)

The rain poured down, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Xie Kuling stood under the eaves, wearing a coat, looking up at the dark sky.

Xie Xuan frowned: "The weather forecast says there will be heavy rain in the next few days."

"With such heavy rain tonight, there will likely be a lot of things to take care of tomorrow. Let's cancel all the reservations for tomorrow and temporarily stop accepting tourists."

Xie Xuan nodded: "Okay."

The uncle and nephew instructed their disciples to add extra blankets for the younger disciples who were still in school before returning to their respective bedrooms.

The rainstorm lasted for a long time, and the temperature in the mountains dropped several degrees overnight.

The rain only stopped slightly in the early hours of the morning.

Xie Xuan got up early and went to Xie Kuling's bedroom. He knocked a few times but didn't hear any response.

He pushed open the door with concern and saw Xie Kuling lying on the bed, his face extremely pale.

Xie Xuan rushed forward, "Kuling, are you alright?"

Xie Kuling struggled to open his eyes and vaguely saw a familiar figure.

He examined the situation for a moment before saying, "It's just a slight fever again, Uncle, you can go ahead and do your work."

Xie Xuan frowned, found a box of fever reducers in the cabinet, filled it with water, and placed it on the bedside table.

He had done this many times and was extremely skilled at it.

Xie Kuling had no spiritual roots, and after succeeding as the mountain lord, his health deteriorated, and he would fall ill if the weather changed even slightly.

The first time I went to Xuanling Immortal Mountain, I waded through water and the hem of my robe got wet. I developed a fever that night.

Later, Xie Xuan prepared slippers for Xie Kuling and told him to be careful when crossing the pool. He wiped the water off each time he waded through, which prevented him from catching a cold.

Xie Xuan sat on the edge of the bed, looking at his nephew whose lips were pale, and hesitated, "How about... I go to Li Chang'an and buy a Jade Glory Grass from him..."

Xie Kuling shook his head.

“He only has a few Jade Glory Grass plants left. Before they can be successfully propagated, each one is very precious. I just have a common cold and fever, and I’ll get better after taking care of them. There’s no need to use such a precious herb every time.”

After saying that, he propped himself up on the bed and, with Xie Xuan's help, straightened his upper body and leaned against the headboard.

Xie Xuan picked up the cup and medicine and handed them to him.

Xie Kuling took it, smiled, and said, "Uncle, there are many complicated matters within the sect. I'm afraid you'll have to work hard today."

Xie Xuan felt a tightness in his chest and said with a sullen face, "I am the Grand Elder of the Qingfeng Sect. Aren't those things my duty to do?"

Xie Kuling just smiled and took the fever reducer.

He helped him lie back down in bed, tucked him in, and then left with a worried expression.

He and his disciples prepared breakfast and woke up the students who were going to school.

The little ones were eating breakfast around the big table when a little girl of about eight years old blinked and sidled up to Xie Xuan.

"Elder, is the Mountain Lord feeling unwell again today? Why didn't he come out to have dinner with us?"

The disciple holding a large cabbage bun looked up and said, "It was so cold last night. I even sneezed from the cold when I got up in the middle of the night. The mountain lord must have caught another cold!"

Xie Xuan patted the heads of his two young disciples and said, "Yes, but don't worry, eat well and study hard."

The little girl added, "If you use that sweet and sour medicine from last time, the mountain lord will get better quickly."

Xie Xuan nodded.

We've already used up all that Jade Glory Grass.

But you don't need to say this to the children.

The children quickly finished their breakfast, and the eldest disciple of the Qingfeng Sect drove them to school.

Last night's torrential rain broke many tree branches, which were then blown into the Qingfeng Sect's training ground, leaving it in a mess.

Xie Xuan led several disciples to clean up the area, and instructed the remaining disciples to patrol the mountains.

I don't know if it's because it's going to rain, but the sky has been dark and gloomy all day.

Xie Xuan looked up at the sky, a vague unease creeping into his heart.

The branches and leaves on the training ground were quickly cleared away. Xie Xuan and his disciples were about to leave when they heard a strange hissing sound.

He immediately stopped and looked around warily.

"Great...Great Elder..." A disciple pointed with trembling hands to the corner stone pillar.

The stone pillar, which was originally carved with dragon patterns, now has a huge black snake's tail coiled around it!

At the top of the stone pillar was the upper body of the snake demon, its hands supporting it, its mouth stretched to its ears, and its forked, scarlet tongue protruding from its mouth.

"Hiss... What a fragrant smell..." The snake demon spoke in human language, its voice hoarse and alluring, neither male nor female.

The snake's eyes darted around greedily, looking at Xie Xuan.

"I heard there's a formation on Qingfeng Mountain?" The snake demon's huge tail writhed. "But why didn't I see it when I came up?"

Its mouth stretched wider and wider: "Hehe, the formation seems to have failed! The formation has failed!"

With a slap of its snake tail, the stone pillar beside it shattered with a loud "boom"!

At the same time, the tip of the snake's tail slashed through the air, slowly tearing open a blood-red crack.

Xie Xuan's eyes widened.

That's a monster rift! This snake demon knows spatial magic; it's probably at least at the Golden Core stage!

He roared behind him, "Quick! Go to Xuanling Immortal Mountain and find Mr. Li!"

After yelling, he quickly shoved his disciple.

That powerful being in Xuanling Immortal Mountain can definitely deal with this snake demon!

The disciple suddenly snapped out of his daze, and his legs, which had been weak from being frightened by the demon, suddenly gained strength. He ran towards the back mountain as if his life depended on it.

The snake demon straightened up, its icy gaze falling on the disciple.

"run?"

Its snake tail suddenly lashed out at the disciple, but as soon as it struck, several disciples pounced on him, flung out wooden beaded bracelets from their wrists, and began chanting incantations under their breath.

The bracelet broke, and the beads coiled into a circle, forming a golden barrier that blocked the snake's tail.

A disciple turned around and said, "Elder, go and ask the Mountain Lord to activate the formation!"

They have no cultivation, and relying solely on chanting incantations, this magical artifact cannot be maintained for long.

Xie Xuan was startled.

Activating the formation... Xie Kuling has no cultivation level, so activating the formation requires...

The crack in the sky grew wider and wider, and the ugly head of a monster emerged.

The figures of his disciples and the life of his nephew kept flashing through his mind.

Xie Xuan clenched his teeth tightly, his fingers forming a fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.

“…Okay…okay…I’ll go invite the mountain lord.”

He turned around, his steps unsteady, and he stumbled at first.

He paused for a moment, then quickly ran out.

The disciples looked at his retreating figure, exchanged glances, and nodded firmly.

They stared at the snake demon, chanting incantations incessantly.

The snake demon glanced at Xie Xuan as he ran away, a hint of impatience flashing in its eyes, and slammed its tail heavily on the ground.

"What use is it for a weak mortal to call for more reinforcements?!"

If this isn't resolved quickly, the arrival of the Seven Stars of the Alliance will be a real challenge.

The snake demon roared, flicked its finger, and a long whip appeared in its hand.

"Smack!"

The long whip slammed down on the wooden bead barrier, causing a crack to appear in the barrier.

The disciples swayed.

They were sweating profusely, their faces were pale, and they continued chanting incantations.

But it won't last long.

The snake demon lashed out again, widening the cracks in the wooden bead barrier.

The disciples looked at the barrier, and despair welled up in their eyes.

Without cultivation, possessing only a spiritual weapon, one is utterly powerless against high-level demons.

"Smack!"

Another lash struck, shattering the barrier. Several disciples fell backward to the ground, spitting out blood!

The fragments of the exploded golden barrier floated before my eyes, appearing somewhat illusory and beautiful.

The snake demon rushed over with ecstatic joy, and several disciples couldn't help but close their eyes.

Am I going to die?

That's right, they were abandoned when they were young, they should have died long ago.

If it weren't for the Qingfeng Sect taking in me, I wouldn't be alive today.

A younger disciple trembled and shed tears.

The pungent smell of snakes filled the air, but at the same time, they heard a clear voice:

"The Sword of Departure! Quickly!"

"Buzz—" The ancient and deep sound of the sword rang out.

"Ah!!" The snake demon screamed, followed by the sound of a heavy object rolling to the ground.

The imagined pain of being bitten did not occur, and the disciples opened their eyes with trepidation.

Terrifying monsters kept crawling out of the cracks in the sky and landing on the training ground, roaring at them and poised to attack.

However, a young man wielding a wooden sword stood in front of them, his robes fluttering.

That's Mr. Li from Xuanling Immortal Mountain! Li Chang'an!

A note from the author:

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