Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The young man’s words startled all of them.
“You lost?” Everyone felt a little incredulous. “Who exactly from the Cold Mountain Sect did you spar with?”
The Chen clan members knew that victory and defeat were common in battle.
Despite their pride in their clan’s status, none of them would think that their clan was invincible.
Moreover, the Chen clan was in a difficult situation now.
However, everyone had not expected that their disciple would lose to a disciple of a local sect.
As far as they knew, the Cold Mountain Sect Master had the highest cultivation level in that sect, being at the fourth realm of the Martial Dao.
Generally speaking, the sect elders would be around the third realm, while the young disciples would be around the first or second realm.
The young man of the Chen clan who spoke was at the third realm of the Martial Dao, the Fierce Warrior realm.
With the Chen clan’s forgotten teachings being more exquisite than the Cold Mountain Sect’s, that fourth-realm Cold Mountain Sect Master might not necessarily be able to defeat this young man, let alone someone at the same third realm.
How could a young disciple have defeated him?
“Could there be an amazing talent in the small Cold Mountain Sect who is already at the fourth realm at a young age and has the same cultivation level as his sect master?”
The Chen clan members were full of doubt.
The young man smiled bitterly. “He’s also at the third realm like me, and he seems to have just broken through.”
The surrounding people were once again startled.
How could a member of their clan have lost to a Cold Mountain Sect disciple given that they were both at the same cultivation realm?
“I admit that I underestimated my opponent at first, or I wouldn’t have lost.” Now that he had said that, the young man made things clear calmly. “But if I were to spar with him again, I’m not absolutely confident that I would be able to turn the tables.”
He said slowly, “I’m not being disrespectful to our clan’s forgotten teachings or downplaying our prestige. The forgotten teachings and mental cultivation techniques of the Cold Mountain Sect are not inferior to our Great Wind Cloud Palm and Dragon Scroll Anthology.”
The Chen clan members looked at the young man.
He looked serious and solemn.
Some of them wanted to reprimand him, but they could not say a word.
A possibility surfaced in their minds.
“The Cold Mountain Sect’s forgotten teachings shouldn’t be this good.”
Sure enough, the young man added, “Due to their contributions, the Cold Mountain Sect obtained Chang’an Fortress’s teachings, so its martial foundation isn’t what it used to be.”
“I see…” The Chen clan members had complex and disappointed expressions.
Just by looking at each other, they could figure out the unspeakable emotions in each other’s eyes.
Things were not as simple as they had thought.
Or rather, they had underestimated Chang’an Fortress.
If it was really like what the young man said, as long as Chang’an Fortress was willing, it could turn a small sect like the Cold Mountain Sect into a leading figure like the Forgotten Truth Temple or the Chen clan had been.
Of course, having a top-notch inheritance and anthologies was merely the Cold Mountain Sect’s first step in rising.
It also needed a deep economic foundation and outstanding successors, which would take some time.
But who could be sure that Chang’an Fortress would not be able to give it all these things?
At this rate, the rise of the Cold Mountain Sect was inevitable.
If Chang’an Fortress could nurture the Cold Mountain Sect, would there be a second, third, or even more?
A sense of crisis arose in the hearts of the Chen clan members.
Just at this moment, someone passed by in the distance.
He greeted the young man with a smile when he saw him.
The young man revealed a smile on his face and nodded in greeting.
The other party seemed to be busy, so he did not come over and instead continued on his way.
The young man sighed and introduced him to the clan elders, “He’s the Cold Mountain Sect disciple who defeated me. His name is Cao Feng. Previously, he and a Cold Mountain Sect disciple captured a Forgotten Truth Temple disciple.
“Chang’an’s Mister Black Cloud handed that disciple over to Cao Feng for interrogation, and he tormented him.
“In the past, the Cold Mountain Sect served the Forgotten Truth Temple and was suppressed by it, so Cao Feng got his chance to take revenge this time…”
The Chen clan members looked even more serious than before when they heard this.
After a long while, someone broke the silence. “Feng’er just said that he was defeated by the Cold Mountain Sect disciple because he underestimated him. If they fought again, nobody knows what the outcome would be.
“Although the foundational potential of the Cold Mountain Sect has increased, its current strength is still weaker than us. We still stand a chance, isn’t that so?”
He looked at the surrounding people. “It is right to remain modest, but we do not need to undervalue ourselves.”
He asked the young man, “Aside from that local sect, the Cold Mountain Sect, who are the top-notch experts in Chang’an Fortress?”
“I have only seen Senior Black Cloud and Senior Bloody Shadow,” the young man answered. “Mister Black Cloud has never fought, but he seems unfathomable. Mister Bloody Shadow cultivates the Demon Dao. When the Tang Dynasty army attacked the fortress earlier, it seemed to be no match for the Eastern Tang Dynasty’s Great Xuanwu General Du Kun.”
The surrounding Chen clan members all nodded slightly and looked at the long-bearded middle-aged man.
“Du Kun’s cultivation level is at the sixth realm. Even with the morale of a Tang Dynasty army and his killing intent, he’s no match for Third Brother.”
All of them were relieved, and their shattered confidence recovered a little.
“As far as I know, Third Brother can at least take on the third-highest position after the Fortress Lord and Mister Black Cloud in Chang’an Fortress.”
That long-bearded middle-aged man did not look relaxed.
“Have all of you forgotten our past lessons?” He glanced at everyone with a dignified look. “We were suppressed by the Eastern Tang Dynasty precisely because we were independent, conducted ourselves with dignity, and kept a high profile. Do you guys want history to repeat itself?”
Upon hearing that, everyone else was stern.
“We are grateful for Chang’an Fortress’s protection, but we have no intention of having our own way there…” an old man said as he deliberated over his choice of words.
After he said that, all of them suddenly heard the cry of a phoenix.
When everyone turned to look, they saw a faint bloody light rising into the sky in that direction.
Chen Jiezhi stroked his long beard and looked serious. “Feng’er, that’s the Mister Bloody Shadow you were talking about, right?”
The young man looked at the looming blood phoenix light. “Yes, but it wasn’t that terrifying before…”
“Of course, Du Kun would be no match for it given its demonic cultivation.” Chen Jiezhi said resolutely, “I’m not even sure that I would be able to beat it. If what you said is true, it has improved within a short period from the time it fought with Du Kun.”
A crisp female voice at the side suddenly asked, “Just like the Cold Mountain Sect?”
“Yes.” Chen Jiezhi’s tone was profound.
The other Chen clan members went silent.
“We have to abide by the rules here. Our clan suffered serious blows before and cannot afford to become injured again.”
Chen Jiezhi’s tone was profound. “All of you must have the same mentality and will that our ancestors had when they established our clan from scratch and blazed a new trail, do you understand?”
“Yes.” Everyone nodded.
The Chen clan members asked to meet Mister Black Cloud.
This was no hindrance. In the image of the old man dressed in black, Zhang Dongyun received Chen Jiezhi, who was the leader among them.
“Thank you for your magnanimity, Fortress Lord. Thank you for your care, Mister Black Cloud. We have received the protection of Chang’an, and we will serve in return. If Chang’an has any orders, the Chen clan will ruminate on it and do our best.” Chen Jiezhi bowed to the old man in black on the seat.
Zhang Dongyun sized him up. “You can still save the Chen clan if you bow down to the Eastern Tang Dynasty early, isn’t that so?”