Chapter 5
Chapter 5
For a full day, Qingshan Patriarch stepped from the Martial Spirit Realm into the Martial King Realm after leaving the Martial Spirit World. This step was just like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Among the entire Southern Sand Cultivation World, he was one of the top existences.
"Hahaha... Xuanwu, you forced me to accept your duel. But if you knew I broke through to the Martial King realm now, I wonder what your expression would be!"
Qingshan Patriarch's face was glowing with radiance, sweeping away his previous decadent look.
"Congratulations, Master, on breaking through to the Martial King realm."
Luo Lanxue respectfully knelt on the ground.
Qingshan Patriarch flashed over in a blur, helping Luo Lanxue up with both hands, smilingly saying, "Snow, quickly get up. Previously, I wrongly blamed you. You, Luo Lanxue, are a great contributor to my Qingshan Sect, and will be recorded in the history of my Qingshan Sect."
"Master overpraises me. This is something I should have done." Luo Lanxue said.
"Right, I was busy breaking through previously and haven't asked you, tell me about that mortal...no, senior. What exactly is his background?" Qingshan Patriarch gently stroked the martial arts book in his hand, eagerly asking Luo Lanxue.
"He looks very young and handsome, with an extraordinary temperament..." As Luo Lanxue gradually enlarged that figure in her mind, she continued, "At the time, I didn't think much of it, but looking back now, his behavior and manners all exuded the feeling of a legendary grandmaster..."
Qingshan Patriarch narrowed his eyes, carefully pondering Luo Lanxue's words. "Go on."
"He runs a small martial arts school, selling many martial arts manuals..." Luo Lanxue added.
"Many martial arts manuals?"
Qingshan Patriarch gasped, mouth agape.
Luo Lanxue nodded solemnly.
"Snow, no matter how young he looks, based on your description, I guess he is a super old monster." Qingshan Patriarch said gravely, "And I preliminarily deduce that his cultivation is at the Martial Emperor realm!"
"Martial Emperor..."
Hearing this, Luo Lanxue was greatly shocked.
Although she had guessed it herself, getting confirmation from Qingshan Patriarch still made her feel shaken.
Back then, even Qingshan Patriarch, the founder of Qingshan Sect, only had the cultivation of a Martial Emperor!
"However, this is just my initial speculation. We'll have to pay this senior a visit to know for sure." Qingshan Patriarch said in deep thought, "So Snow, come with me down the mountain to visit this senior."
Upon hearing this, Luo Lanxue's delicate body quivered as she stammered, "Master, I... I..."
"What's wrong?" Qingshan Patriarch frowned.
"I'm afraid I've already offended this senior!"
The anxiety in Luo Lanxue's eyes finally spilled out completely, her face full of deep regret, feeling extremely remorseful.
These couple of days, needless to say, her heart had been tangled up and complicated.
It practically suffocated her. Although Qingshan Patriarch's breakthrough resolved the sect's crisis, remembering her disrespect that day at the stall, her heart was filled with dead ashes.
Under Qingshan Patriarch's urging, Luo Lanxue reluctantly recounted the scene before her eyes.
Qingshan Patriarch's expression changed at the news.
"Master, I was wrong."
Seeing this, Luo Lanxue kowtowed heavily, tears already streaming out, "At the time, I really thought he was just a mortal, and had no idea he was an unworldly eminent person!"
"Hmph!"
Qingshan Patriarch's face was livid as he berated Luo Lanxue, "You, even if he was just a mortal, you shouldn't have only given him one gold coin!"
"But, but I only had one gold coin on me at the time!" Luo Lanxue explained anxiously, "And I thought one book, one gold coin would definitely be enough. Besides, at the time, I was thinking about your duel with Patriarch Xuanwu, so I committed a terrible mistake in the moment."
Qingshan Patriarch fell silent.
He had thought it was great blessing for Qingshan Sect, but now with this incident, one misstep could lead to Qingshan Sect's destruction.
"It's truly fortunate you made it back alive!" Qingshan Patriarch lamented.
Luo Lanxue's eyes brimmed with tears, full of bitterness in her heart.
Who could say otherwise?
Looking back, she had simply brushed past the gates of hell, and might have even implicated the entire Qingshan Sect because of this.
"Luckily junior sister was there." Luo Lanxue said gratefully, "Although I only gave that senior one gold coin, he didn't pursue the matter. He even said to consider it as gifting the book to junior sister. He probably spared me because he saw how cute junior sister was!"
"So for meeting the senior, it'd be better if Master goes yourself." Luo Lanxue said dejectedly.
Qingshan Patriarch pondered briefly before solemnly shaking his head, "Not only can you not avoid going, you must go."
Luo Lanxue parted her red lips.
"But Master, if I go and provoke that senior's anger, it'd be even more disastrous for Qingshan Sect...so I think it'd be better if I steer clear of this!" Luo Lanxue pleaded.
"Hmph, what do you know?" Qingshan Patriarch chided, "With that senior's insight, do you think he won't know you're my, Qingshan Patriarch's, disciple and of Qingshan Sect, even if you don't go?"
Hearing this, Luo Lanxue's delicate body shuddered.
"Since that senior didn't make a move against you at the time, it shows he didn't take these trivial matters to heart." Qingshan Patriarch stroked his beard and said, "Given his status, if you properly apologize with me later, he wouldn't bother quibbling with a junior like you."
"On the contrary, if we secretly schemed or acted like leaping clowns behind his back, that might actually enrage that senior."
"Master's lesson makes sense. Then disciple will bear the punishment and let that senior do as he wills." Luo Lanxue gritted her teeth and nodded.
Afterwards, Qingshan Patriarch grabbed Luo Lanxue and flew towards Pingjiang City in two streams of light.
...