Volume 4 Chapter 36

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Volume 4 Chapter 36: Planning

"Elder Gongsun, what brings you here in person?"

After deactivating the defensive formation outside the cave, Xu Qingfan bowed slightly to Gongsun Huasa and asked with a smile.

Faced with Xu Qingfan’s polite smile, Gongsun Huasa remained calm and silent, only glancing at Little Black perched on Xu Qingfan’s shoulder before saying, "The Sect Master is looking for you," and then turned away, riding the clouds into the distance without another word.

As Xu Qingfan watched Gongsun Huasa’s departing figure, he couldn’t help but smile wryly. Ever since Xu Qingfan unintentionally gained authority over the three academies, Gongsun Huasa, who was once very friendly towards him, had gradually distanced himself.

However, thinking about Gongsun Huasa’s message just now, Xu Qingfan began to ponder.

At this moment, it had been eight years since Xu Qingfan last emerged from seclusion. During these years, he diligently cultivated the "Flourish Qi," achieving some minor success. Although he couldn’t yet fully balance it with the "Withered Qi," he could at least somewhat suppress its corrosive effects.

For this reason, Xu Qingfan felt he was ready and intended to use the retreat as an excuse to fulfill those last wishes mentioned in Liu Huaxiang’s letter on Jiuhua Mountain.

In these eight years, Zhang Hualing had also retreated frequently like Xu Qingfan. Although his periods of seclusion were not long, they were so frequent that it puzzled others.

"So, the Sect Master has emerged from retreat again? I hope he doesn’t ask me to do something very troublesome, or how will I sneak down the mountain?" Xu Qingfan murmured.

With that, Xu Qingfan hesitated no longer. After sealing his cave dwelling again, he cloud-rided towards the front of Jiuhua Mountain.

Descending from the cloud in front of Linghua Hall, Xu Qingfan entered the now-familiar hall and discovered that nearly all the approximately forty elders, except a few in seclusion, were gathered in Linghua Hall, a rare sight of such a diverse assembly. Zhang Hualing sat in the main seat.

"Everyone’s here, could something important be happening?"

Xu Qingfan thought this, but his face remained calm. After bowing to Zhang Hualing and the elders, he quietly took a seat next to Zhang Hualing.

Seeing everyone present, Zhang Hualing silently nodded and slowly said, "I’ve called you all here because our Jiuhua’s internal competition is about to begin. Although Jiuhua will not participate in the upcoming cultivation world Newcomer Competition, our internal competition is a tradition to select outstanding disciples for the Newcomer Competition. Besides, our Jiuhua Gate has been closed for nearly fifty years, and those young disciples have not had the chance to travel and gain experience. This internal competition can provide them with some battle experience."

Hearing Zhang Hualing’s words, the elders nodded in agreement, and Xu Qingfan let out a sigh of relief. The internal competition, that’s all; nothing major was happening, and it wouldn’t delay his plans to leave the mountain.

After seeing all the elders agree, Zhang Hualing added, "As usual, participation in the internal competition is entirely voluntary for the disciples, and we, as elders, should not interfere."

Speaking of which, Zhang Hualing turned to Xu Qingfan and said, "Deacon Xu, you will be responsible for the registration for this internal competition. Also, since Jiuhua has been shut down for a long time, the disciples must be quite restless. You should also arrange the rewards for the top four, make them rich and valuable."

Xu Qingfan nodded in understanding.

Then, after Zhang Hualing and the elders discussed some other internal matters, he declared the elder council meeting over.

However, just as Xu Qingfan was about to leave with the elders, he suddenly heard Zhang Hualing say, "Deacon Xu, please stay behind; I have something to discuss with you."

Xu Qingfan paused for a moment, then returned to his seat, quietly waiting for the elders to leave. He noticed that as they departed, Gongsun Huasa and a few other elders gave him a meaningful look.

After all the elders had left, Zhang Hualing pondered briefly and then slowly said to Xu Qingfan, "This competition isn’t just about selecting outstanding disciples; there’s more to it."

Xu Qingfan bowed slightly in his seat and said, "Please enlighten me, Sect Master."

Zhang Hualing replied calmly, "Some elders doubt the effectiveness of the three academies, so they suggested using this competition to evaluate the results of the Three Academies over the years."

Xu Qingfan was taken aback for a moment and asked, "How will they be evaluated?"

Zhang Hualing smiled gently and said, "It’s not very difficult, but it’s not simple either. The three academies have over nine hundred disciples, more than half of our regular disciples. But because teaching in academies isn’t as direct as master-apprentice training, the elders and I decided that in this competition, among the eighteen finalists, at least eight must be from the three academies, and at least one must make it to the top four. Otherwise, the work of your three academies will be considered unsatisfactory."

Xu Qingfan understood that this was likely Gongsun Huasa’s idea, but he remained calm and simply asked, "Then could I ask, Sect Master, what happens if we meet the requirements? And if we don’t?"

Seeing Xu Qingfan’s calm demeanor, Zhang Hualing nodded approvingly and explained with a smile, "If you meet the requirements, you and all the elders of the three academies will receive an increase in offerings. If not, the three academies might be canceled or placed under someone else’s responsibility."

Xu Qingfan nodded slightly and said, "I understand."

Zhang Hualing nodded with a smile and asked, "You seem quite confident, don’t you?"

Xu Qingfan replied with a smile, "Though I’m usually quite leisurely, as I’m in charge of the third academy, I have a good understanding of it. Over the years, the Tianyuan Academy, which trains Lingji Stage disciples, has produced some outstanding talents. Plus, we haven’t seen talents like Junior Brother Jin and Junior Brother Feng in Jiuhua for some time, so I’m confident about meeting those standards."

Zhang Hualing nodded and said, "It’s good that you’re confident. I’ve heard you’ve been quite diligent in your training over the years, so I won’t hold you up. Go back and continue your training."

Xu Qingfan stood up from his seat, bowed to Zhang Hualing, and then turned to leave.

But just the moment Xu Qingfan stepped out of the Linghua Hall doors, the calm and peaceful look on his face vanished, turning into a somewhat somber expression.

Xu Qingfan’s change wasn’t due to Gongsun Huasa and others trying to trip him up; he was confident he could handle those little schemes. What truly changed his expression was Jiuhua’s Sect Master, Zhang Hualing!

Since the last rebellion led by Zhou Huahai, Zhang Hualing had drained his life force to unleash "Substitute for Heaven" to drive Zhou Huahai away. He was left weak and unable to recover; from then on, he always looked pale and much older.

However, looking at Zhang Hualing now, it seemed as though none of that ever happened. His face was full of vitality, and he even looked younger than before Zhou Huahai’s rebellion.

More importantly, Xu Qingfan distinctly felt an extremely strange energy fluctuation from Zhang Hualing, an energy he was very familiar with, as Xu Qingfan himself possessed the same fluctuations.

According to what Liu Huaxiang told Xu Qingfan before his death, this kind of energy fluctuation is unique to those whose bodies have been transformed by secret methods.

"Could it be…"

Xu Qingfan’s expression changed slightly, then without hesitation, he rode the clouds toward the top of Jiuhua Mountain.

In the letter Liu Huaxiang left him earlier, he entrusted Xu Qingfan with three last wishes to fulfill. The first was to inform Xu Qingfan that in the tunnel leading out of Jiuhua Mountain, there were some of Liu Huaxiang’s relics, items he discovered when he found the secret method to transform Xu Qingfan, along with some evil arts and a cultivation method Liu Huaxiang created himself.

According to Liu Huaxiang, most of these cultivation methods were too sinister, requiring cruel practices with much blood and unjust souls. Their immense power made it easy to lead one astray.

Back then, Liu Huaxiang’s parting words to Xu Qingfan were, "Destroy them or cultivate them as you wish, but never use them for evil, and never pass them on to those with ill intentions."

"Could it be that the Sect Master discovered the cultivation methods that Martial Uncle Liu left for me?"

On the way to the top of Jiuhua Mountain, thinking about Zhang Hualing’s sudden changes, Xu Qingfan couldn’t help but ponder secretly.

With these thoughts, Xu Qingfan’s speed toward the top of Jiuhua Mountain couldn’t help but increase.