"Welcome, esteemed fellow Daoists!"
Zhuang Bi bowed to the assembled Golden Core Sword Cultivators, a welcoming smile on his face.
"I am Zhuang Bi, the current Sect Master of Sheng Feng Sect! Your presence at Sheng Feng Sect brings great honor to us all!"
As he spoke, Zhuang Bi cordially invited them into "Sheng Feng Sect."
True Monarch Qing Bao chuckled. He thought to himself:
Although Sheng Feng Sect boasts six thousand Golden Core Elders and possesses formidable strength, unrivaled in this region, their demeanor remains remarkably "low-key and amiable!"
Indeed, collaborating with such a powerful local force offers nothing but benefits!
A wider smile spread across True Monarch Qing Bao's face as he bowed to Zhuang Bi.
"Sect Master Zhuang, you are too kind!"
Zhuang Bi replied with a smile, "Esteemed Daoists, Sheng Feng Sect has prepared the finest immortal tea. Please, come in and partake!"
True Monarch Qing Bao was pleased and urged his flying sword forward to enter the mountain gate of "Sheng Feng Sect." However, just then, a glint flashed in True Monarch Qing Long's eyes. He reached out and stopped True Monarch Qing Bao.
"Wait!"
Blocked from proceeding, True Monarch Qing Bao was displeased.
"Second Brother, what is it now?"
True Monarch Qing Long gently fanned himself, adopting an air of superior intelligence, akin to a "crouching dragon and hidden phoenix." He stated calmly,
"There is something amiss with this Sheng Feng Sect!"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Bi's expression immediately changed.
What did he mean?
Were they here to cause trouble?
Before Zhuang Bi could speak, the grim-faced True Monarch Qing Bao jumped forward, addressing True Monarch Qing Long indignantly.
"Second Brother, what's gotten into you again? I warn you, don't speak recklessly and offend people..."
Saying this, True Monarch Qing Bao turned his head and apologized profusely to Zhuang Bi.
"Sect Master Zhuang, I beg your pardon! My Second Brother is a bit slow-witted. Please bear with us if he has offended you in any way!"
Internally, True Monarch Qing Bao was thoroughly lambasting True Monarch Qing Long.
Bastard!
Are you trying to get us killed!
This "Sheng Feng Sect" has six thousand Golden Core Elders!
If we offend them, and "Sheng Feng Sect" decides to turn hostile, their six thousand Golden Core Elders can crush us in an instant!
If you want to court death, don't drag us down with you!
True Monarch Qing Long ignored True Monarch Qing Bao's murderous glare. He fanned himself gently and said in a deep voice,
"In the vast Sheng Feng Sect, besides this Sect Master Zhuang Bi, I sense no other Golden Core cultivators... Furthermore, there are very few Foundation Establishment cultivators within Sheng Feng Sect!"
As these words were uttered, the gazes of the experts from the "Xing Su Sword Alliance" sharpened. True Monarch Qing Long was right; in the entire "Sheng Feng Sect," apart from Zhuang Bi, there were no other Golden Core cultivators!
"This..."
Zhuang Bi felt a pang of panic.
It was over. The true state of "Sheng Feng Sect" had been seen through!
The so-called "six thousand Golden Core Elders" were all a bluff. Those elders possessed no real strength; let alone the "Golden Core realm," many elders were only at the "Qi Refining first layer!"
Cold sweat trickled down Zhuang Bi's forehead.
It was over. The big shots of the "Xing Su Sword Alliance" had seen through the true nature of "Sheng Feng Sect" and were likely to wipe out the entire sect...
At this moment, True Monarch Qing Long's "brilliant" voice echoed again.
"A sect of this size cannot possibly have no Golden Core cultivators, so there is only one truth: all six thousand Golden Core Elders of Sheng Feng Sect have concealed their cultivation and are lying in ambush. Sheng Feng Sect intends to ambush us..."
True Monarch Qing Bao, quick on his feet, flew to True Monarch Qing Long's side and covered his mouth.
True Monarch Qing Bao desperately wanted to give the other man a couple of hard slaps!
Are you trying to get us killed with your incessant babbling!
You've exposed their "scheme," bah, their "plan" right in front of them. What if "Sheng Feng Sect" gets enraged, and their six thousand Golden Core Elders come charging out? Will we survive?
Terrifying!
Too terrifying!
The mere thought of six thousand Golden Core Elders swarming them, blotting out the sky, made True Monarch Qing Bao's legs tremble.
True Jiao Zhenren, the leader of the "Xing Su Sword Alliance" experts, stepped forward. His long, narrow eyes opened, and a slightly humble smile graced his face as he spoke in a fawning tone, "Fellow Daoist Zhuang Bi, cough cough, Senior Brother Zhuang Bi, please don't misunderstand. We did not come to cause trouble for Sheng Feng Sect, but to seek cooperation with Sheng Feng Sect!"
True Jiao Zhenren was usually stubborn and arrogant, rarely bowing to anyone... Well, he rarely bowed to anyone, but this was an exception!
There was no choice. "Sheng Feng Sect" was too formidable. Six thousand Golden Core Elders, the thought alone sent "soul-shattering" fear through him.
Initially, True Jiao Zhenren had some doubts about the "six thousand Golden Core Elders." Were there really that many?
After hearing True Monarch Qing Long's "brilliant analysis," True Jiao Zhenren had a "sudden awakening."
The Golden Core Elders of "Sheng Feng Sect" had all concealed their cultivation and were lying in ambush, planning to eliminate the two hundred-odd Golden Core Sword Cultivator experts of the "Xing Su Sword Alliance"!
"Sheng Feng Sect" was so confident, what did that imply? Their number of Golden Core Elders was immense, so large that they believed they could defeat over two hundred Golden Core Sword Cultivator experts!
After all, sword cultivators possessed the strongest attack power among all cultivators. Two hundred-odd Golden Core Sword Cultivator experts were comparable to seven or eight hundred ordinary Golden Core cultivators...
Yes, it now seemed that "Sheng Feng Sect" indeed had six thousand Golden Core Elders!
Seeing through the superficial phenomena to the essence of the matter!
True Jiao Zhenren believed he had grasped the true strength of "Sheng Feng Sect!"
Six thousand Golden Core Elders, terrifying indeed, truly worthy of being called a "local dragon!"
A strong dragon doesn't bully a local snake, and even more so, "Sheng Feng Sect" wasn't just a local snake, but a "local dragon."
True Jiao Zhenren, without any psychological burden, bowed to "Sheng Feng Sect" and Zhuang Bi.
With six thousand Golden Core Elders, surrendering to them was not shameful!
Zhuang Bi
(⊙＿⊙)
Was utterly bewildered!
He had absolutely no idea what was happening!
A group of Golden Core Sword Cultivator big shots had suddenly become extremely respectful, seemingly in awe of him.
Could it be that my personal charm had reached such heights?
Zhuang Bi felt a sense of deep satisfaction!
"Esteemed Daoists, Sheng Feng Sect is very hospitable. Come, follow me inside for tea!"
They were still inviting him for tea?
True Jiao Zhenren's eyes narrowed.
It seemed "Sheng Feng Sect" had not given up on their plan to surround and annihilate them!
What to do?
True Jiao Zhenren pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and took out an extremely sharp flying sword wreathed in spiritual energy from his storage bag.
"Senior Brother Zhuang Bi, this Starry Sky Flying Sword was refined using a thousand-year-old star sand and consecrated on a star platform for a hundred years. It is an ultra-grade flying sword... I now present this Starry Sky Flying Sword to Senior Brother Zhuang Bi, hoping for your leniency!"
Zhuang Bi
(⊙＿⊙)
Was utterly bewildered!
What on earth? So, what were you talking about, True Jiao Zhenren? Why should I show leniency?
The "Starry Sky Flying Sword" was presented by True Jiao Zhenren opposite him.
What a fine sword!
Sensing the power of the "Starry Sky Flying Sword," Zhuang Bi became even more bewildered.
So, what on earth was going on?