Chapter 157: The Elder’s Accusation

Qingjiang Prefecture was one of the largest territories under the governance of the Turtle God King, stretching thousands of miles in all directions. Within this vast area, the Great Qingjiang City stood at the center. Guarding the surrounding territories were the Six Great Sects, including the Shoushan Sect. The Shoushan Sect was located in the south, several thousand miles away from Great Qingjiang City. Yet, traveling by Dharma Ship made the journey incredibly swift and spared travelers the hardship of flying by sword against wind and frost.

However, Fang Cun, though aboard the Dharma Ship, did not set course straight for Great Qingjiang City. Instead, he directed Xiao Qingliu to pilot the ship. Departing from the Shoushan Sect, they took a meandering route, leisurely soaking in the scenery. They gazed upon mountains, wilds, lakes, and peaks, observed the endless farmland, villages, and market towns, and chatted intermittently with Young Sect Master Xu about local customs. Far from resembling someone on official business, he seemed more like a wealthy young master out sightseeing.

“These wisteria fields are wondrous! Endless, with purple hues rising like steam against the blue sky, full of mystery…”

“Elder Fang, after all, we are here on official business…”

“Ah, this small town is quite unique. A single, orderly settlement amidst a hundred miles of wilderness…”

“Elder Fang, we still need to reach Qingjiang Prefecture…”

“Hmm, is that an aura of ghosts up ahead? Is everyone in that village dead?”

“Elder Fang, we…”

“Shut up!”

“…”

Their journey was stop-and-go, winding this way and that. Second Young Master Fang spent time appreciating flower fields, surveying the mountains and wilds, and even casually sent Young Sect Master Xu off to deal with some ghostly demon. A significant amount of time was wasted. Thankfully, thanks to Young Sect Master Xu’s earnest pleas, they eventually aimed straight for Qingjiang. Combined with the Dharma Ship’s immense speed, they arrived quickly once the course was set.

However, as they neared the divine city beneath the clear sky, the Dharma Ship did not enter the city walls. Following Young Sect Master Xu’s directions, it headed straight for a secluded ancient mountain, surrounded by peaks, about a hundred miles outside the city: “We won’t enter the city itself. Old Scholar Fan finds the city too noisy and prefers his mountain villa. When summoned for discussions, we usually come directly to his mountain retreat to pay respects!”

“The mountains offer fine scenery, yes. But he, a respected Prefect, finds the city noisy?” Fang Cun, having thoroughly satisfied his wanderlust on the trip, chuckled as he heard this.

The Dharma Ship descended slowly into the mountains, landing halfway up a slope. Young Sect Master Xu and Fang Cun then disembarked.

After a moment tidying their robes and composing their expressions into seriousness, they began walking towards the ancient temple nestled in the mountains. Young Sect Master Xu wore a grave expression and deliberately kept half a pace behind Fang Cun.

Fang Cun walked ahead naturally for a few steps before suddenly stopping, turning back: “Shouldn’t you be leading the way?”

Young Sect Master Xu was taken aback: “Why?”

Fang Cun’s eyes widened: “You’re the Sect Leader! Why are you asking me?”

Young Sect Master Xu looked a bit awkward: “Even being the Sect Leader, this…”

Fang Cun said firmly: “Front. Now!”

“Oh…” Young Sect Master Xu replied obediently, hurriedly stepping ahead. He walked forward, looking a tad apprehensive.

…

They soon reached the secluded little temple via the mountain path and presented their name cards. A servant escorted Young Sect Master Xu and Fang Cun to the west side hall. Upon entering, they saw a row of people already seated inside, drinking tea and conversing. They all looked up toward the newcomers. The observers, men and women alike, were mostly elderly individuals, possessing a formidable presence and considerable cultivation strength. They were none other than the Sect Leaders and Elders from the Five Great Sects of Qingjiang Prefecture.

“Respectful greetings to the Esteemed Elders…”

“Hah, Young Sect Master Xu, long time no contact…”

“This must be the Second Young Master Fang Cun, am I right?”

“…”

Young Sect Master Xu was extremely polite, offering respectful junior salutes to the group. These Sect Leaders and others quickly stood and returned the gesture with greetings appropriate for peers. Judged by age, Young Sect Master Xu was indeed a junior to them, hence his junior salute. Their choice of an equal greeting stemmed from his position: regardless of his youth, as the current Sect Leader of Shoushan Sect, his status placed him on equal footing.

Fang Cun, however, upon entering the hall, merely offered smiles and cupped fist salutes to everyone he met. From certain perspectives, such etiquette might seem disregardful of protocol. However, Fang Cun’s status was also Elder of Shoushan Sect, making it awkward for others to find fault directly. Moreover, Second Young Master Fang’s natural, smiling face radiated innate warmth and approachability, preventing anyone from feeling it was outright rude.

Naturally, many curious glances still covertly assessed him.

Previously, the fact that this son of the Immortal Master Fang Chi had made the significant purchase of thirty percent of the Shoushan Sect’s Spiritual Veins was already major news among the Six Great Sects of Qingjiang Prefecture, sparking endless speculation about the vast resources the Fang Family must possess.

Yet, acquiring the nearly derelict Shoushan Sect was one thing. What truly stunned everyone was that within less than a month of joining Shoushan Sect, Fang Cun had once again entered the Rear Mountain. Through some secret means, he managed to extract the lost divine Treasure Body Method from the Shoushan Sect’s now-insane Elder Shenshan! In the eyes of Qingjiang’s major Sect Leaders, this… this was an even more momentous event…

A fourth-grade Treasure Body Method might not sound earth-shattering, but it could fundamentally alter a sect’s destiny.

It was the very foundation a County Sect relied upon to establish its tenets! Compared to this, the matter of the three hundred Dragon Stones seemed insignificant.

Of course, immense inward curiosity aside, it was obviously inappropriate on the surface to probe into such matters. They could only speculate privately.

While the assembled Sect Leaders subtly observed him, Fang Cun took in the small villa courtyard. The space was not large, appearing rather aged and simple. The Sect Leaders present had all come alone, accompanied at most by a disciple or serving boy. Old Scholar Fan had not yet made his appearance, so they all waited patiently within the villa, drinking tea, chatting, and exchanging pleasantries like a group of well-off men.

Other immortal gatherings usually overflowed with divine light, treasure-aura, and immortal airs, striving desperately to expunge all traces of mundane life. Yet only this Old Scholar Fan transformed a meeting of Qingjiang Prefecture’s most powerful and highest-ranking individuals into something resembling a countryside family visit. Apart from his own Dharma Ship, Fang Cun hadn’t spotted any others downhill. Presumably, these Sect Masters had flown in via sword-flight or Soaring Cloud.

Even more amusing!

Young Sect Master Xu, once seated, subtly made several eye signals toward Fang Cun, silently asking if they should seize this moment to pay their respects to Old Scholar Fan. However, Fang Cun remained calmly seated. Seeing no response, Young Sect Master Xu sighed inwardly and gave up, resigning himself to follow Fang Cun’s lead.

…

“Honored Sect Leaders, please be informed all the Esteemed guests are now gathered within the hall…”

They had barely settled for a moment when a voice announced laughter outside. The buzz of conversation and light chatter inside the hall instantly died down.

Fang Cun turned to look toward the entrance. A white-bearded and white-haired elder strode in slowly. Raising his gaze, Fang Cun saw this elder, while not tall in stature, carried immense dignity. He was dressed in a loose, plain white robe of ancient style, a dark, profound ceremonial crown bound his hair, and a pale yellow sword sheath hung at his waist. His face wasn’t smiling, yet he seemed to radiate an innate kindness and benevolence.

Seeing him, all the Sect Leaders within rose and performed respectful bows: “We greet Old Scholar Fan…”

“Ah, enough, enough!” The elder waved his hands gently, his smile warm. “How many times have I told you? Don’t trouble yourselves with such cumbersome rituals. It’s tiresomely dull!”

He chuckled, his gaze sweeping past the assembly, and quickly settled squarely upon Fang Cun amidst the group. He walked directly towards Fang Cun, his expression abruptly stern:

“Well now, Fang Cun the Younger! Do you plead guilty?”

Hearing these words, the cultivators within the hall were momentarily stunned, their hearts tightening perceptibly.

Young Sect Master Xu started so badly he nearly knocked his chair over in a panic.

Fang Cun regarded the elder with curiosity. It was no surprise Old Scholar Fan recognized him instantly. However, he hadn’t expected his opening gambit to be an accusation demanding “guilt”! Was the old man really that confrontational?

Seeing the look on Fang Cun’s face, Old Scholar Fan suddenly laughed heartily. “You are the brother of Fang Chi, and therefore one of my students. If you’d never come to Qingjiang Prefecture, that would be one thing. But having arrived here over a month ago, you have failed utterly to call upon this old man! Only now, only because official affairs compel you, have you finally managed to be here! Tell me, should this venerable teacher not first charge you with the crime of disrespect?”

“…”

The gathered cultivators exchanged subtle glances. It seemed the old scholar held the second young master of the Fang Family in rather favorable regard…

Young Sect Master Xu at his side also quietly breathed a sigh of relief: Ah, it was mere jesting after all!

Meanwhile, Fang Cun gazed at the elder, who now once again wore a broad smile. Feeling somewhat resigned, he cupped his fist and bowed respectfully:

“Esteemend Venerable, please pardon my offense. Truly, during my arrival in Qingjiang, the unrelenting demands of sect duties consumed my time. I neglected my proper courtesies. I shall certainly reform in the future. Most certainly!”

“Haha! Sit! Sit! Did you truly believe I intended to punish you?” Old Scholar Fan chuckled again, gesturing for Fang Cun to sit. A servant had already brought forth an aged carved hardwood chair for the elder. He seated himself opposite Fang Cun and said warmly, “Your personal matters, we shall discuss again shortly. Official and private interests demand clear distinction. Let us first address the public affair!”

With that, he picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and looked toward the surrounding Sect Leaders with a smile. “Summoning you all here this time pertains, in truth, to little of genuine weight. It mirrors matters we have broached countless times before. Our Qingjiang Prefecture’s Six Great Sects guard this land, shield its populace, vanquish Demonic Evils, and accumulate Merit. Such actions constitute the inherent duty of Qi Refiners, warranting no undue acclaim. Yet, the allocation of Dragon Stones among sects, according to their accrued Merit, remains an established tradition!”

Hearing this topic broached, all the Sect Leaders subtly straightened their posture.

Young Sect Master Xu next to Fang Cun gave him a discrete nudge; this signal meant the fundamental subject had, at last, arrived.

Each sect possessed its Spiritual Veins, gathering within the mountains, seething with spiritual energy, shaping paradisaical domains. Yet, spiritual veins varied vastly in potency; some were feeble, others withering or fractured. Therefore, constant infusions of Dragon Stones were indispensable. From this vantage point, Dragon Stones stood as one of the paramount resources within the Cultivation path itself. So, every three years, each sect procured Dragon Stones from the Prefecture Mansion. Allotting stones to the veins sustained their vitality, nourished the mountains, fostered fields of spiritual flora, and accelerated the cultivation pace of disciples and Elders alike… Without Dragon Stones, veins would parch, gatehouses crumble, and gradually, the sect itself would forfeit the true semblance of a functioning order.

“In years past, the Dragon Stones destined for Qingjiang Prefecture were consistently divided among your collective, the Five Great Sects, for several cycles. This year, however, continued disregard toward the Shoushan Sect yields no viable path. Ah, in recent cycles, the Chief Warden apprised me that Shoushan Sect disciples performed exceedingly well, amassing substantial Merits indeed…”

As Old Scholar Fan spoke thus, his wholly mirthful gaze settled squarely upon Young Sect Master Xu and Fang Cun.

“It appears, thereby, that from this juncture onward, the allocation of Dragon Stone shares must shift from Five… to Six.”