Chapter 49: The Green Lotus Blooms, An Uninvited Guest

Before the person was seen, the voice was already heard.

A streak of azure sword qi swept directly through the seven cultivators, splitting the seven Foundation Establishment cultivators who had originally surrounded Bai Shang.

Ning Kang’s expression was incredibly solemn; he had undoubtedly exerted his full strength when he activated the Frost Blade just now.

Yet, a single, seemingly effortless stroke of sword qi had directly shattered his full-strength Frost Blade.

The power attached to this sword qi was by no means as simple as it appeared!

As Ning Kang retracted the Frost Blade and looked at the notch on its surface, his expression grew even more unsightly.

This was the only high-grade magical tool in his possession.

"Who goes there? Why hide your head and show your tail?" Lei Zhen let out a thunderous roar, his spiritual waves, infused with the power of lightning, spreading violently and indiscriminately ravaging the surrounding mountains and forests.

"Heh!"

With a light chuckle, a handsome Taoist in a green robe and jade crown walked forward leisurely.

The Taoist’s expression was indifferent, as if he were merely strolling through the wilderness, as if he were facing not seven Foundation Establishment cultivators, but seven stones.

"This humble Taoist is Jiang Sheng, a Qi Refiner from Qingping Mountain. Greetings to you all."

Jiang Sheng’s voice was clear and bright. It was not as booming as Lei Zhen’s, yet it exploded simultaneously in the ears of all seven people. Though it seemed calm, it struck like a sudden clap of thunder, causing both the members of the Zhao family and the rogue cultivators to show solemn expressions.

A person's reputation precedes them.

It was said that there was a Daoist Jiang from Qingping Mountain who could challenge a Purple Mansion stage cultivator while only being at the Foundation Establishment stage. However, most cultivators believed this to be an exaggeration, or at the very least, that he had someone assisting him to earn such a reputation.

But now, with Jiang Sheng’s appearance, a single strike of sword qi and a single sentence were enough to let Zhao Hong, Chen Ping, and the others understand the true meaning of a high-level Daoist master.

Sensing Jiang Sheng’s undeniable strength at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, Zhao Hong immediately broke into a smile. "So it is Daoist Jiang of Qingping Mountain in person. This old man is Zhao Hong of the Sea County Zhao family. Greetings."

Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun also followed suit, cupping their hands in salute.

Jiang Sheng nodded slightly and smiled. "So it is the Great Elder of the Purple Mansion Zhao family of Sea County. It seems this humble Taoist was impolite."

Beside them, Gongsun Yulong, who had witnessed Ning Kang’s failure with his own eyes, held a great deal of goodwill toward Jiang Sheng. "I am Gongsun Yulong. Greetings, Daoist Jiang."

"Seeing is believing. Meeting Daoist Jiang today, you are indeed extraordinary, unlike certain people who are arrogant and possess the vision of a frog in a well."

Ning Kang’s face darkened again; Gongsun Yulong was clearly insulting him, both overtly and covertly.

Chen Ping glanced at Ning Kang and then at Jiang Sheng, finally forcing a smile. "Why has Daoist Jiang come to this place?"

"Don't you all know in your hearts? A late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake is a fine medicinal ingredient." As Jiang Sheng spoke, he took out the severed snake head from his storage bag.

The hideous, three-zhang-wide snake head was revealed. Although the demon beast was dead, the malevolent aura bordering on the Purple Mansion stage remained condensed and undissipated. Just the slight leakage of that aura was enough to scare off a group of cultivators.

Whether it was Zhao Hong or Chen Ping, everyone was startled upon seeing the snake head.

They were not fools; how could this be a mere late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake?

This was clearly a Black Fire Snake on the verge of breaking through to the Purple Mansion stage.

The skull and scales of such a ferocious beast were incredibly hard, far surpassing copper or iron.

Looking at the wound, there was only a single scar that had cleanly sliced through the entire head. What incredibly fast swordplay!

Regarding this single strike, none of them would dare claim they could perform it.

Zhao Hong looked at the hideous, resentful tongue, then at the leisurely Jiang Sheng. After a moment, he smiled. "This old man was originally entrusted by the Prefect to eliminate a demon. Now that the monster has been removed, I shall return to the county seat to report."

"Daoist Jiang, if you have time, feel free to come to the Zhao family for tea. This old man will certainly welcome you with great hospitality."

Jiang Sheng nodded. "My thanks to Fellow Daoist Zhao. If I have time, I will certainly come to disturb you."

With that, Zhao Hong turned and left without hesitation, accompanied by Zhao Rui and Zhao Jun.

Gongsun Yulong glanced at Ning Kang and then smiled. "Today has been quite a show, well worth the trip. I shall take my leave first. Fellow Daoist Ning, no need to see me out."

Once Gongsun Yulong had also left, only Chen Ping, Ning Kang, and Lei Zhen remained.

Lei Zhen’s expression was very poor, and Ning Kang’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

But Chen Ping was undoubtedly the most composed. Seeing that the Zhao family and Gongsun Yulong had departed, Chen Ping also cupped his hands toward Jiang Sheng, sent a few telepathic messages to Lei Zhen and Ning Kang, and led the two away.

In a short amount of time, the once-noisy mountains and forests returned to silence.

Bai Shang felt somewhat ashamed. "Daoist, I have caused you trouble."

Jiang Sheng’s expression remained calm as he looked toward the direction where Zhao Hong and Chen Ping had disappeared.

"What does this have to do with Fellow Daoist Bai? To put it plainly, it is nothing more than wealth moving the human heart."

"Whether it is a late-stage Foundation Establishment Black Fire Snake or a potential heavenly treasure, that is the reason these people were drawn here."

"Fellow Daoist Bai, I fear it will be difficult to find peace in the coming days."

Bai Shang was somewhat puzzled. "Daoist Jiang, were those people not scared away by you?"

Jiang Sheng shook his head. "The Black Fire Snake is dead; they no longer have a reason to clash with me directly. Furthermore, since several factions are present, they only left temporarily because they do not want others to reap the benefits like fishermen."

"It is simply that they cannot yet confirm if there is anything good in the mountains. Once they confirm it, they will return."

Hearing this, Bai Shang could not help but feel worried. "The Jade Green Lotus has not yet matured. If these people truly return to the mountain..."

"Then I shall simply slay them with a single sword strike!" The chill in Jiang Sheng’s words made Bai Shang freeze.

Looking at the stunned Bai Shang, Jiang Sheng smiled. "Fellow Daoist Bai, let me ask you a question. What do you think of me?"

Bai Shang stammered, "Daoist Jiang is naturally a high-level master who has attained the Dao, possessing a heart of..."

Jiang Sheng laughed. "What 'attained the Dao'? Fellow Daoist Bai, stop telling such lies."

"If an ownerless object appeared before your eyes, would you fight for it?"

Bai Shang nodded.

"If a treasure with an owner appeared before your eyes, and the owner's strength was inferior to yours, would you fight for it?"

Bai Shang hesitated.

Jiang Sheng continued, "If that treasure were useful to me, I would certainly fight for it. Does Fellow Daoist Bai still think I am some high-level master of the Dao?"

"This..." Bai Shang was stunned.

Jiang Sheng smiled. "No matter how you look at it, it seems I have succumbed to greed and evil intent, coveting the possessions of others. But why is it that I harbor evil intent, rather than the object being destined for me?"

"Greed and evil intent—opinions vary widely."

"Fellow Daoist Bai, you seem to have read many books in that predecessor's abandoned estate, to the point that you act too much like a certain person."

"Let me tell you something that is not in the scriptures or books. Strength is everything; only then is what you say correct."

"Whether it is the Great Heavenly Dragon Temple in the West or my own Penglai Dao Sect in the Eastern Continent, they all recognize this truth. This principle is the most simple and universal."

With that, Jiang Sheng walked away leisurely, leaving Bai Shang standing alone.

Amidst the mess and chaos, Bai Shang, a rogue cultivator at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, fell into deep thought.

***

Upon returning to Jie County, Zhao Hong, Chen Ping, and the others did not leave; instead, they continued to hide within the county.

Zhao Hong looked toward the rolling Qingping Mountains outside the county, his tone incredibly certain. "If it were merely to eliminate a demon, Jiang Sheng should have left after the task was done. Why does he remain?"

"There must be something in the mountains, and Jiang Sheng is guarding it."

Zhao Jun asked, "Then, Great Elder, should we go and fight for it?"

Zhao Hong sneered. "No rush. Let us see what that old man Chen is up to."

"Our Purple Mansion Zhao family does not lack such a thing, but that old man Chen certainly does."

"If there is truly an opportunity, we can simply fish in troubled waters. If there is no opportunity, we can do a favor for Jiang Sheng and earn a debt of gratitude."

On Chen Ping’s side, Ning Kang was trembling with rage.

Looking at the cracked Frost Blade, Ning Kang clenched his fists so hard that blood seeped through his fingers. "Gongsun Yulong, Jiang Sheng—they both deserve to die!"

Lei Zhen also shouted angrily, "Why are we leaving? Jiang Sheng is clearly hiding something good; we should have taken him down!"

"With the three of us acting together, why should we fear a single man like Jiang Sheng?"

Chen Ping, however, was very calm. "It is not that we fear him, but that now is not the appropriate time. Do you truly think that old man Zhao Hong has left?"

"That old man Zhao is dying to see us fight Jiang Sheng to the death, so that his Zhao family can monopolize the benefits!"

"We shall endure for now and see if that old man Zhao can endure it!"

Both Zhao Hong and Chen Ping chose to wait.

And in the mountains, Jiang Sheng was also waiting patiently, waiting for the moment the Jade Green Lotus would mature.

***

The storm stirred in Jie County dissipated within a short period.

The Black Fire Snake was dead, and the people of the Zhao family and Chen Ping seemed to have departed. Jie County returned to its former tranquility.

Only a few dissatisfied rogue cultivators at the Qi Refinement stage continued to search the mountains, hoping to find something good to scavenge.

This peace lasted for several full months, and Jie County completely regained its former serenity.

The terrifying Black Fire Snake seemed to have become nothing more than a topic of conversation among the commoners of Jie County.

Until the night of the Summer Solstice in June, a translucent, emerald light emerged from the Qingping Mountains, and an exotic fragrance drew countless beasts and birds from the mountains to swarm toward it.

The moment that green light appeared, several figures shot into the sky from within Jie County, flying toward the Qingping Mountains.

Immediately following them were several more figures.

Although their faces could not be seen in the dark, each of those figures radiated the undeniable pressure of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Only then did the people of Jie County realize that so many Foundation Establishment cultivators had been hiding within their county!

The sight of so many cultivators revealing their pressure and soaring into the sky sent the entire county into a state of utter chaos.

The County Magistrate, Lin Zhiyong, and the local strongman, Wu Fang, both rushed out of their rooms, clothes barely even on, watching helplessly as streaks of light shot straight toward the Qingping Mountains.

At this moment, inside the abandoned estate, Bai Shang watched in astonishment as the Jade Green Lotus absorbed an entire pool of spiritual energy. The lotus flowers filling the pool all withered, and the pool of water vanished in an instant, leaving only the Jade Green Lotus in full bloom, swaying its form and releasing a pillar of light that shot straight into the heavens.

"With such a commotion, the beasts in the mountains are likely to riot," Bai Shang said, his eyes filled with worry as he watched the green light pierce through the mountain.

But Jiang Sheng, who had been sitting cross-legged to regulate his breathing, slowly stood up. "I shall leave the beast swarms in the mountains to you, Fellow Daoist Bai."

"Daoist Jiang, where are you going?" Bai Shang asked.

Jiang Sheng gripped the air with his right hand, and the Qingping Sword appeared in his palm.

"Naturally, to welcome some uninvited guests."