Volume 5 Chapter 89
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Volume 5 Chapter 89: Many Rumors, Belief Is Optional
War, whether between cultivators or mortals, is the same. There are commanders, armies, and a main base.
At this time, the calamity in the cultivation world is actually a war. One side is the Righteous Alliance, and the other is the chaos caused by "Ming." On the side of the Righteous Alliance, the sect leaders are the commanders, the masters are the strong support, while experts like Xu Qingfan, who are at the Condensed Core Stage, make up the army. Those below the Condensed Core Stage are considered cannon fodder, and the main base is located at "Ronghua Mountain," where the Qingxu Gate used to be.
Like the main base of an ordinary army, "Ronghua Mountain" is now heavily guarded, with cultivators patrolling and various defense formations everywhere, protecting "Ronghua Mountain" and a radius of three hundred miles around it. Over the years, the "Eight Wilderness Hall" and "Beast Madness cultivators" have rampaged throughout the cultivation world, but the area around "Ronghua Mountain" has remained peaceful.
When Xu Qingfan arrived three hundred miles outside "Ronghua Mountain," everything seemed normal, but he stopped moving forward. He formed hand gestures, and in a moment, a swirling black-and-white light appeared around him and shot up into the sky, visible for a hundred miles.
This swirling black-and-white light is now Xu Qingfan’s unique mark. At this moment, he is using a signal to ask the cultivators stationed at "Ronghua Mountain" to open the barrier for him.
Not long after, the previously calm scenery suddenly rippled, and then more than ten cultivators appeared in this strange wave, bowing to Xu Qingfan and the members of his team behind him.
"Venerable Diyang, you have returned."
The cultivator in the middle first secretly glanced at Xu Qingfan and the members of his team behind him. Seeing that seven people were missing, a trace of sadness flashed in his eyes. As the welcoming envoy, he often noticed that every time a team returned, there were always fewer members than when they left. Although this was not the first time he had seen it, and it would not be the last, he still felt a bit sorrowful each time.
Xu Qingfan’s team was originally one of the teams with the fewest casualties, but he never expected such a great loss this time.
Xu Qingfan nodded. Due to his feelings, he did not want to say much and silently led his team members towards the formation. Knowing that the casualties were so great, his mood must be bad, so the welcoming envoy also did not say anything more and simply made way for Xu Qingfan to enter.
As Xu Qingfan noticed that aside from the leader, everyone else in the welcoming party looked at him with a mixture of respect and fear, he let out a silent sigh. He had heard of the various legends about him, and over the years, he had grown accustomed to such gazes.
Once inside the formation, Xu Qingfan did not stop and flew towards "Ronghua Mountain" with his team members.
At that moment, "Ronghua Mountain" was different from usual. Although it was the location of the "Qingxu Gate," as the main base of the Righteous Alliance, there were very few cultivators from Qingxu Gate within "Ronghua Mountain." What remained were either very high-ranking individuals or those who seemed like servants taking care of the people living inside.
Only sect leaders from various factions and those with high cultivation and reputation, along with the leaders of each team, could reside inside. Unbeknownst to them, the Righteous Alliance had also formed an unwritten rule that only cultivators of the Condensed Core Stage could enter "Ronghua Mountain." Many cultivators below the Condensed Core Stage, as well as many Condensed Core cultivators of insufficient status, could only stay underneath "Ronghua Mountain."
Despite joining forces to resist the calamity, whether in the mortal world or the cultivation world, social hierarchies would gradually emerge, often unnoticed.
On the way to "Ronghua Mountain," Xu Qingfan’s team members all scattered, waiting for the next mission to be announced. Only Xu Qingfan continued to fly towards the location of "Ronghua Mountain."
Over the years, Xu Qingfan became well-known. He first drove out the influence of "Eight Wilderness Hall" in bustling Middle-earth, then he cut off the source of "Beast Madness." Not only did he save thousands of captured cultivators, but he also killed a core member of the "Ming" organization. Before he knew it, he had become one of the most famous figures in the Righteous Alliance. As one of the leaders of his team, he naturally qualified to live in "Ronghua Mountain."
Along the way, whenever cultivators saw Xu Qingfan, they would respectfully bow and make way for him, their eyes filled with the awe one has when greeting an envoy. Xu Qingfan couldn’t help but sigh; rumors can be harmful. He didn’t like that kind of gaze, but considering that he needed that reputation during the calamity, he had not explained himself over the years. He would just politely nod at others, yet they remained awed.
Although Xu Qingfan had achieved a great deal over the years, rumors about him personally killing one of his Martial Uncles, plotting against the "Xingyin Sect" team, and wounding the "Xingyin Sect" sect master, Fan Xiaoyao, had painted him as a highly skilled and powerful figure who was unapproachable and unpredictable in the eyes of others. They admired him but did not dare to get close.
"Venerable Diyang" is the title given to Xu Qingfan by the cultivation world over these years. "Venerable One" is a respectful title for those of great skill and reputation in cultivation. It is rare for someone of a younger generation like Xu Qingfan to be called Venerable One. Diyang is a mythical figure from the Shenzhou Continent, said to control life and death but also to be unpredictable. The title "Venerable Diyang" reflects the views of the cultivation world regarding Xu Qingfan’s character, especially given the fame he gained from his "Formula of Life and Death," through saving and killing over the years.
Of course, at this time, there are people brave enough to be close to Xu Qingfan, such as at this moment…
"Master…"
"Respected Master…"
"Venerable One…"
Just as Xu Qingfan was flying towards "Ronghua Mountain," a sudden chorus of joyful voices reached his ears, some young and some old. Upon hearing the voices, Xu Qingfan already knew who they were, hesitated for a moment, and finally stayed in place, turning to look at the group of people quickly approaching him.
In an instant, the group of more than ten figures had flown to Xu Qingfan’s side. They were of various ages, some young, some old, some handsome, and some not so pleasant to look at. The weakest among them was at the Inedia Stage, while the strongest, an elderly man, had reached the initial stage of the Fake Golden Core. As they stood before Xu Qingfan, they all wore expressions of respect, with a hint of admiration shining in their eyes.
Looking at the group before him, Xu Qingfan sighed softly. All these people were those he had saved when he killed a member of the "Ming" organization and cut off the source of the "Beast Madness" spread. The saved cultivators came from various backgrounds: some were from minor sects, some were unnamed rogue cultivators, and others belonged to the lowest levels of cultivation families in the cultivation world.
After Xu Qingfan saved them, these people, having become accustomed to seeing their companions lose their sanity as Beast Madness cultivators, were already in despair and could not even think of suicide due to the tactics of the "Ming" organization member. Naturally, they were very grateful to Xu Qingfan. The strength and profound cultivation methods he displayed during his fight with that "Ming" organization member, along with his unwavering spirit, earned him immense respect. At this moment, much of Xu Qingfan’s fame was actually built upon the stories shared by these people.
It is said that these cultivators had several times fought with those who spread bad rumors about Xu Qingfan, defending him fiercely despite mostly not knowing him personally. They were among Xu Qingfan’s most steadfast supporters.
The more than ten individuals in front of him were those he saved from being trapped as nameless cultivators or members of cultivation families during that incident. According to them, after witnessing Xu Qingfan’s greatness and bravery that time, their admiration for him flowed like the rushing waters of a river. They wanted to be his disciples, although Xu Qingfan had declined; they never gave up and would insistently pester him each time they met.
In fact, the person responsible for spreading "Beast Madness" was "Ying," a core member of the "Ming" organization, who had already reached the peak of the Golden Core Stage, a whole level higher than Xu Qingfan. His cultivation method was also very mysterious, excelling in illusions and close combat. If it weren’t for Xu Qingfan’s cultivation method being a counter, and the other team members fighting fiercely to protect him, Xu Qingfan would have been killed long ago. Even so, in that battle, Xu Qingfan won but was in a sorry state, unaware of how these people had seen his impressive stature.
"I am not your master," Xu Qingfan said lightly. "I have already told you that I do not wish to take on disciples, so please do not address me that way from now on."
As soon as the more than ten people stood before Xu Qingfan, he spoke calmly. Hearing this, aside from the two leading young twin brothers, the other eleven people looked extremely awkward.
