Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 535: Chapter 535 Immortal Protector

“Qinggang disciples?” Shangguan Yunjin’s face changed slightly, “Why is it these arrogant fools?”

Pan Renjie, however, snorted disdainfully, “What of the Qinggang Sect? Junior Sister, don’t panic. Our teacher is well-known, and if they dare to be reckless… hmph, Master ordered me to accompany you, not to watch you be bullied.”

He was already at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, so as long as the other party wasn’t an Innate Expert, he was not afraid at all.

With his reassurance, Shangguan Yunjin felt a bit more at ease, and looking again at Feng Jun, she felt even more secure.

She couldn’t be certain of Feng Daoist Friend’s cultivation level, but she was sure he was at least at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining.

Moreover, during the destruction of the Eastern Sub-rudder, the methods that Feng Daoist Friend employed to simultaneously eliminate several Qi Refining Cultivators were truly effortless.

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Thus, she also replied loudly, “Awaiting the arrival of Qinggang Daoist Friends, meeting in the Mortal World is also a matter of fate.”

The voice gradually approached, “I walk this Mortal World by fate, yet what is fated or not is hard to say… However, Junior Sister at the Intermediate Level of Qi Refining, you have yet to reveal your name.”

Shangguan Yunjin’s face changed again upon hearing this, and she spoke in a low voice, “He discerned our cultivation levels already?”

“It’s just the Qinggang Sect’s method of listening and discerning, nothing but a scare tactic,” Pan Renjie snorted disdainfully, “Easy to deceive.”

Then he glanced at Feng Jun, “They haven’t given their names, but demand ours, seems a bit much.”

Feng Jun immediately understood his implication and responded loudly, “Isn’t your name, Daoist Friend, also inconvenient to say?”

The other party let out a light ‘hmph’ and said no more.

Shortly after, four fast horses came galloping towards them, with two martial masters leading and trailing, and in between them, two Cultivators.

Among the two Cultivators, one was a middle-aged man in a high crown and white robes, exuding an imposing aura with a Fifth Layer Qi Refining cultivation, while the other wore a brown hemp robe and a broad-brimmed hat like a farmer, with a longsword hanging from his waist, but he was actually at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.

Upon seeing Feng Jun and the others, the man in hemp stopped in surprise, dismounted, and spoke in a deep voice, “All irrelevant people, step back.”

Beside Feng Jun’s group, there were the seven rescued prisoners, as well as dozens of ruffians led by the One-Eyed Pixiu.

The seven liberated prisoners were eager to know the origins of their three saviors and had not left, while the ruffians of Linqiu County were waiting for Feng Jun and his companions to leave so they could take the spoils of battle.

But now, with the arrival of Immortals commanding them to retreat, they could only move off into the distance.

The man in hemp watched them withdraw before turning to Feng Jun, “Now you can reveal your name, can’t you?”

The man’s face looked middle-aged, but upon closer observation, one could sense he wasn’t that old; the maturity that made him appear older seemed more a state of mind.

He was certain that the one who had expressed “inconvenience” was this short-haired Cultivator.

Feng Jun glanced at him before turning to the two martial masters and spoke with a heavy voice, “These two… aren’t they irrelevant people as well?”

The man in hemp did not show the earlier assertiveness and replied expressionlessly, “These two are sent by the Governor of Caozhou to understand the situation… there are too many casualties, it is the responsibility of the Official Government.”

Feng Jun raised his hand in a salute, “Have met Daoist Friend, ‘Meeting again in the season of falling flowers’ is indeed myself.”

“The season of falling flowers…” The man in hemp blinked, questioning in confusion, “A Loose Cultivator?”

Feng Jun smiled without offering an explanation, “You could say that.”

The man in the high crown and white robes pointed toward the spoils of war not far off and spoke loudly, “Meng Senior Brother… this is killing for treasure.”

The man in hemp, Meng Senior Brother, glanced sideways at him, then looked around and a cold light flashed in his eyes as he faced Feng Jun, “Is all of this your doing?”

“I don’t like the way you phrase that,” Shangguan Yunjin spoke up, her face devoid of expression as she spoke, “The Qinggang Sect carries swords and walks the Mortal World, merely as part of Worldly Trials… Who granted you the authority to investigate?”

Meng Senior Brother glanced at her and responded indifferently, “Carrying swords and walking the Mortal World are different… and who might Daoist Friend be?”

Shangguan Yunjin raised a hand, and a jade-colored lotus flower shielded her front, “Wuyou Platform’s Shangguan Yunjin has met Daoist Friend.”

“It turns out to be Wuyou Platform’s Jade Lotus Technique,” Meng Senior Brother slightly nodded, his face still showing no expression, “I am Meng Zhanbo of the Qinggang Sect, walking the Mortal World with a sword, and also serving as an inspector.”

At that moment, Pan Renjie spoke up, “You serve as an inspector, to oversee the affairs of your Qinggang Sect… As for the matter here, let’s wait for the Inspector to arrive.”

Meng Zhanbo was actually most concerned about him, since after all, Pan Renjie was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, one layer above himself.

Nevertheless, there was no fear in his heart, and so he replied indifferently, “Although I am just an inspector, as a disciple of one of the Four Great Sects, it’s my unshirkable duty to uphold the laws and rules.”

“Hehe,” Pan Renjie chuckled, his face devoid of any smile, “As a Wutai Disciple, it is also my unshirkable duty to uphold the laws and rules.”

Meng Zhanbo looked at him, his face expressionless as he asked, “Are you also a Wutai Disciple?”

Pan Renjie nodded slightly but did not speak.

Meng Zhanbo quickly calculated his odds, believing that with his combat strength, he could handle this Qi Refining Ninth Layer without much difficulty—and even tie up that Mid-stage Qi Refining Loose Cultivator along the way.

However, his partner might not be a match for that female cultivator in the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining. At the same cultivation level, a Wutai Disciple’s combat strength would definitely surpass that of an ordinary cultivator, and his companion’s combat ability was very… lacking.

With this in mind, he looked at Feng Jun again, “Fellow Daoist seems not to have answered my question yet?”

Feng Jun nodded decisively, “That’s right, it was all my doing… This mess was caused by me.”

Meng Zhanbo’s eyes narrowed again, and beneath the shelter of his broad-brimmed hat, his gaze appeared exceptionally profound and… sinister, “Quite the bold move, it seems you have something to rely on?”

“Your remark is rather odd,” Feng Jun responded blankly, “I merely adhere to the principle of not offending others unless they offend me.”

He was unwilling to make enemies with cultivators, but should they insist on causing trouble, he wouldn’t back down.

“Heh, is that so?” Meng Zhanbo glanced at the two Wutai Disciples behind him, a hint of cynical smile forming on his lips, “It is rare for a Loose Cultivator to possess such audacity… I must say, I admire your bravery.”

“You don’t need to be so sarcastic,” Feng Jun replied emotionlessly, “In fact, you should feel lucky.”

“I… lucky?” Meng Zhanbo looked at him incredulously, “Are you sure you didn’t misspeak?”

“Then we can have a match,” Feng Jun’s eyes held an indescribable hint as he looked at the other, “Is it possible to sign a life-and-death contract first?”

Meng Zhanbo was instantly stunned, a Mid-stage Qi Refining Loose Cultivator wanting to have a duel with me, at Qi Refining Eighth Layer?

The heritage of the Four Great Sects is the pinnacle amongst cultivators; are you sure you’re not out of your mind?

It was at this point that Shangguan Yunjin spoke up, “That’s enough, Brother Meng. Go ahead and state your purpose… Do you think we’ve done something wrong?”

She was indeed more adept at handling business, and unless absolutely necessary, did not wish to fall out with anyone lightly.

Meng Zhanbo also came to his senses, thinking to himself that he was just fulfilling someone’s request to investigate, why should he engage in a private duel?

Thus, he chuckled and pointed to the middle-aged man beside him, “This is Ye Tiannan, a Protector of the Wonderful Hand Pavilion…”

Patrons of the Wonderful Hand Pavilion are mostly Innate Experts, but the protectors are mostly cultivators.

The title of protector isn’t really suitable for the Wonderful Hand Pavilion. Normally, it’s involved with major issues concerning the continuation of a legacy, and a protector represents not an individual but at least a power.

However, as a secular organization, the Wonderful Hand Pavilion could not afford to employ Immortals as patrons, and the rules also did not allow such practices. As a result, they hired down-and-out cultivators as protectors—indeed, down-and-out cultivators can only represent themselves, not any power.

Ye Tiannan was a protector, and not just any protector but one from the headquarters—sub-rudders are forbidden from employing cultivators as protectors, and even if they managed to win over a cultivator, they were supposed to refer them to the headquarters.

Without delving into these rules further, in short, the Wonderful Hand Pavilion could call upon cultivators if they faced a life-and-death crisis, and this was precisely why Pan Renjie had hoped Feng Jun could hold the moral high ground when confronting the Pavilion.

Of course, if Feng Jun truly had the right side in the matter, Pan Renjie wouldn’t necessarily need solid evidence. This shows that even a mortal organization like the Wonderful Hand Pavilion couldn’t easily wield the powerful weapon of cultivators.

However, as it so happened, Ye Tiannan had mainly been at the Eastern Sub-rudder for the past few years.

Like other cultivator protectors of the Pavilion, he was essentially one whose prospects in cultivation had ended, so he’d given up and returned to the mortal world, seeking only enjoyment for the rest of his life.

For such cultivators, the Cultivation World imposed quite a few restrictions on them, like forbidding the teaching of Dharma and being especially wary of them giving up on themselves and harboring revenge against the Cultivation World.

If it were discovered that someone harbored such thoughts, they would be directly wiped out, treated even more coldly and ruthlessly than mortals.

Yet at the same time, such failed cultivators were so numerous that the Cultivation World would turn a blind eye as long as they didn’t cause trouble in the mortal world.

Ye Tiannan was originally from the headquarters, but with his handsome appearance and grace, he had attracted many mortal women. However, he had seduced someone he shouldn’t have a couple of years ago, which forced him to leave the headquarters to avoid trouble.

The other party didn’t pursue the matter further, after all, he was an Immortal. As long as he didn’t offend their eyes, they treated it as if their womenfolk had been bitten by a dog.

Ye Tiannan then came to the Eastern Sub-rudder, where he was very well taken care of, getting anything he wanted. He found Linqiu County not lively enough, so he even decided to live inside Yunzhou City, the capital of the county.

When he heard that the Eastern Sub-rudder had been destroyed by a cultivator, he was quite shocked, and very angry. Then he remembered an encounter he’d had with a disciple from one of the Four Great Sects.

His acquaintance with Meng Zhanbo was rather coincidental; it was simply that at the time, he had detected a familiar spiritual energy fluctuation.

The kind of people one associates with determines one’s social circle; this saying isn’t wrong at all.

At that time, Meng Zhanbo was also facing some minor troubles and felt embarrassed about roughing up mortals over such a trivial matter. Ye Tiannan stepped in to mediate, and Meng Zhanbo was quite grateful. Hence, they began to associate with each other.