Chapter 42 Yanghua Cloud Sea (Twenty-Nine)
"Master!" Wei Feng rushed into the cave.
Previously, the barrier set up by Jiang Gu had some restrictions on him, but ever since he sleepwalked and banged on the barrier for several nights in a row, waking Jiang Gu from his meditation, he has been able to come and go freely within the barrier.
"Master, I've reached the Foundation Establishment stage! I—" He excitedly ran into the cave, but his voice stopped abruptly when he saw the scene before him.
Jiang Gu and Xie Fuxue were sitting opposite each other on either side of the low table. Upon hearing the sound, they turned their heads and gave him a faint glance.
Wei Feng took a step back, respectfully bowed to him as a disciple, and obediently said, "Disciple greets Master."
Then he looked at Xie Fuxue, his face drooping, and said reluctantly, "Greetings, Vice Sect Master Xie."
The word "deputy" was emphasized particularly heavily.
"Elder Jiang is indeed skilled at training disciples. In just one month, Wei Feng has actually reached the Foundation Establishment stage." Xie Fuxue smiled and looked at Jiang Gu. "No wonder so many disciples in the sect are eager to come to Qingping Peak."
“It’s because he’s hardworking,” Jiang Gu said without changing his expression.
This is blatant perfunctory behavior. Everyone in Yanghua Sect knows that Wei Feng is lazy by nature. Expecting him to be diligent and hardworking in cultivation is like expecting a pig to climb a tree.
But Wei Feng clearly didn't think so. He quietly moved behind Jiang Gu and made a smug face at Xie Fuxue.
Jie Fuxue pretended not to see it and smiled at Jiang Gu, saying, "Since Wei Feng has already established his foundation, he should participate in this sect competition. Elder Jiang, please don't refuse."
"Of course." Jiang Gu nodded and said, "Take care, Vice Sect Master Jie."
Whether intentionally or not, the emphasis was placed on the word "deputy".
Xie Fuxue almost lost her smile. After leaving Qingping Peak, she angrily flicked her sleeve and spat, "Master and disciple are alike!"
Everyone in the Yanghua Sect knows that although Wu Hezhi is the sect leader, the person in charge of all matters, big and small, is actually Xie Fuxue. However, Wu Hezhi clings to the sect leader's seal, and the elders and disciples give her face, usually addressing her respectfully as Sect Leader Xie. Xie Fuxue naturally enjoys this.
But there are always one or two who don't know their place.
For example, Wei Feng.
For example, Jiang Gu.
"Hahaha, Master, did you see Xie Fuxue's old face just now? It turned green!" Wei Feng unceremoniously took over the seat where Xie Fuxue had been sitting, looking at the small table with curiosity. "This table is quite nice."
"You've only been gone for two days, how come you've already reached the Foundation Establishment stage?" Jiang Gu asked knowingly.
"Master, I naturally had a miraculous encounter!" Wei Feng blurted out, omitting the existence of the "old pervert," and recounted his previous experiences in a half-truthful manner, emphasizing how strong he was, how he didn't utter a sound during his body tempering and marrow cleansing, and how he bravely and alone survived the tribulation of lightning.
"..." Jiang Gu recalled the way he wailed and howled when he cleansed his spiritual roots, and remained silent for a moment, "Not bad."
Wei Feng thought his fabrication was flawless and accepted the praise without any modesty. Then he cautiously probed, "Master, according to our previous agreement, will you no longer accept Mo Daojin as your disciple?"
"Hmm." Jiang Gu hadn't originally planned to do that.
Wei Feng was immediately overjoyed, but seeing his cold expression, he suppressed his smile and added, "Master, this is actually just right. Our cave dwelling isn't very big to begin with, and it's just enough for the two of us."
Jiang Gu remained noncommittal, saying, "Wrist."
Wei Feng immediately sat up straight and handed his wrist to him.
Jiang Gu probed his body with a wisp of spiritual energy, and after examining him, said, "You have just established your foundation, and your realm is not yet stable. You must not neglect your cultivation on a daily basis."
"Yes, Master." Wei Feng nodded with an innocent expression, completely different from his appearance in the sea of clouds.
Jiang Gu looked at him with some doubt in his heart. Wei Feng told him everything about Wei Mingzhou Zifu and Qingdu, but deliberately concealed the existence of "Zhou Huaiming" in the matter.
He couldn't figure out why Wei Feng did this.
Since he has told Jiang Gu all the secrets of the Purple Mansion, it means that he trusts him very much. He should also tell him about the existence of Zhou Huaiming, and then use him to get rid of him to prevent future troubles.
But Wei Feng did not.
In fact, even Wei Feng himself hadn't figured it out. He guiltily looked away, after all, his master's injuries hadn't healed yet, and rashly confronting that old pervert would definitely put him at a disadvantage. Besides, what if his master really killed that old pervert...
Wei Feng lowered his head and tugged at the hem of his clothes.
Let him kill it himself.
"Master, did Jie Fuxue come to ask you to participate in the sect competition as well?" Wei Feng frowned. "That old woman is truly vicious!"
"How so?" asked Consultant Jiang.
Wei Feng perked up at the mention of gossip, sitting cross-legged opposite him and saying, "Master, you don't know this, but the Yanghua Sect's grand competition is held every three years, divided into a disciple competition and an elder competition. Disciples usually spar with each other at the same level, and with the elders of each peak watching, the outcome isn't a big problem. But it's not just a simple spar between elders. The elders of each peak have personal grudges and often choose this time to strike. Moreover, they form cliques and specifically target some of the younger elders. If they're lucky, they'll be severely injured, and if they're not careful, they might even perish... That's why many elders don't participate."
"Jie Fuxue is just taking advantage of the fact that you're new here!" Wei Feng became increasingly angry as he spoke, slamming his hand on the table in frustration. "Master, your participation is exactly what they want."
"It was my own choice to participate," Jiang Gu said calmly.
"Master?" Wei Feng didn't understand.
Jiang Gu sat opposite him with a cold expression, his exquisite face covered with a layer of frost. "They teach my disciples, so naturally I should also teach them how to be human."
He always believed in revenge and eliminating all enemies. Since it was common for people to perish in the sect competition, he couldn't be blamed for going to such extremes.
Wei Feng looked at him with a mixture of shock and delight, "Master, are you going to avenge me?"
"You should avenge yourself." Jiang Gu ruthlessly shattered his illusions. "In three months, during the sect competition, you will need to break through to at least the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."
The joy on Wei Feng's face froze instantly.
It should be noted that even for disciples with a single spiritual root within a sect, it is common for it to take three to five years to break through from the early stage of Foundation Establishment to the middle stage.
His advancement from the fifth level of Qi Refining to the Foundation Establishment stage in just two days was purely by chance and a stroke of good luck. It doesn't mean he can continue to have such incredible luck!
Wei Feng looked at Jiang Gu, hesitating to speak, "Master, isn't this... a bit too fast?"
“Your enemies won’t find this fast.” Jiang Gu swept his long sleeves, and the table in front of him disappeared instantly. “Since you’ve returned early, begin your cultivation.”
Wei Feng sat there blankly, suddenly remembering that he had a five-day holiday, and he had asked Jiang Gu for three days off after going down the mountain, but only two days had passed!
"Master, I suddenly remembered I left many things behind in Longyun City!" Wei Feng hurriedly scrambled to his feet and ran out of the cave. "I'll go back and get them first—"
Bang.
After a muffled thud, Wei Feng clutched his nose, wincing in pain, and stomped his feet twice, his mouth agape in silence.
That fucking hurts!!!
Jiang Gu slowly pressed down the corners of his mouth, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes, but his tone was very serious, "No need to trouble yourself, I'll have Xuan Zhiyan bring it back for you."
Wei Feng turned around and forced a smile at him. "Thank you, Master."
"It's what I should do as a teacher." Jiang Gu felt a little happier.
Wei Feng resignedly lowered his head and walked miserably into his little cave.
——
A few days later.
Xuan Zhiyan stood at the foot of Qingping Peak, looking at his friend who was as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant, and felt a bit smug. "Serves you right for coming back early without a word. Your master caught you, didn't he?"
"Don't even mention it." Wei Feng wiped the sweat from his face and plopped down on a nearby rock. "I made three extra detours up the mountain this morning just to wait for you. Did you bring everything back?"
"Don't worry, nothing is missing." Xuan Zhiyan patted the series of storage bags at his waist. "Elder Jiang has already sent me a message, how could I not take it seriously?"
Wei Feng sighed and lay back on the ground, gazing at the dawning sky as he murmured, "My vacation... is gone."
Xuan Zhiyan patted his shoulder sympathetically, "It's alright, Touchun Peak will only have classes for a few days and then they'll be on holiday again."
"You don't understand, I won't be taking a holiday anymore... Master won't let me rest anymore." Wei Feng looked at the sky, on the verge of tears.
It would be impossible for him to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage within three months, even without eating, drinking, or sleeping!
“You need to balance work and rest sometimes.” Xuan Zhiyan shoved the storage bag into his hands and patted his stomach. “By the way, is your master making you train your body? He’s already made you look like you have some body shape.”
"Master said this is just in case, so that we can escape faster if we lose our spiritual power one day." Wei Feng endured the soreness in his legs and got up from the ground. "I have to keep running, or my master will really beat me if I'm slow."
Xuan Zhiyan looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and unspoken envy. "Your master truly cares about you. You must not let him down."
"Definitely." Wei Feng punched his shoulder, then carried the storage bags and ran up the mountain with light steps.
"Hiss." Xuan Zhiyan raised his hand to rub his shoulder, and chuckled as he looked at his back. "When did your grip get so strong?"
Jiang Gu stood on the summit watching Wei Feng climb up the cliff with his bare hands, then looked at the incense burner beside him and said, "He's half an incense stick late."
Wei Feng didn't argue, but grinned at him, took out a sword sheath from behind his back, and handed it over with both hands, "Master, here, your sword sheath."
The originally snow-white scabbard was now inlaid with a lustrous blue jade, and Jiang Gu's name was engraved on the back in small seal script, making it look much more flamboyant than before.
Jiang Gu was not really keen on accepting.
Wei Feng looked at him expectantly, "Master, would you like to give it a try?"
Jiang Gu summoned his sword.
A gale brought by spiritual energy swept over the mountaintop and rushed into the endless sea of clouds. The white-robed cultivator stood with his sword in hand, his eyebrows and eyes broad and his whole body solemn, like an immortal who had mistakenly entered the mortal world.
Wei Feng was momentarily dazed, "Master... is so handsome."
Jiang Gu flipped his wrist, and the longsword went back into its sheath. The blade flashed with a chilling light, reflecting a pair of calm, expressionless eyes.
Wei Feng snapped back to reality, "I meant the scabbard—ouch! Master, I was wrong—ouch!"
It turns out that a sword sheath inlaid with jade hurts more when it strikes someone.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
