Vol 2 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Volume 2, Chapter 3: The Golden Phoenix Blazing Inferno with Spiritual Qi Soars To The Heavens
The Immortal Caves were a designation place that was used by cultivators to practice and cultivate. These places were generally divided into “The Fairyland”, “The Blessed Land”, “The Pure Manor”, “The Vigor Mansion,” “The Esoteric Cottage”, and “The Nature Residence”. These were depending on the amount of spiritual qi and its density, as well as separating between the low and top grade. The top grades were the 1st and 2nd-grade Immortal Caves. To put it bluntly, the most inferior grades were The Nature Residence and The Esoteric Cottage. Above were The Vigor Mansion and The Pure Manor, followed by The Blessed Land and the highest one, The Fairyland.
Upon listening to Huang Shouhe’s words, Ling’er’s mouth was about to open and retort, but Zhang Yan quickly waved his hand and stopped her, “Ling’er, you go out first”
At first, Ling’er didn’t want to comply, but as she looked at Zhang Yan’s eyes that faintly swept at her, she couldn’t help but inexplicably tremble, and replied timidly, “Yes.” And reluctantly withdrew.
Zhang Yan turned to Huang Shouhe and said, “I want the Immortal Cave.”
Huang Shouhe stroked his beard as his eyes slanted and glanced at Zhang Yan, “Good, Junior Brother Zhang you understand the custom. I have a 3rd-grade Immortal Cave here, and I’ll give you this Immortal Cave’s Token Seal for you.”
“Hold on.”
Just when Huang Shou was about to turn around, Zhang Yan shouted to stop him as he slowly took a step forward and said with a light smile, “Senior Brother seems to be mistaken. I didn’t mean that I want The Esoteric Cottage or The Nature Residence. What I want is The Blessed Land Immortal Cave.”
“What? The Blessed Land Immortal Cave?”
Huang Shouhe’s complexion instantly sank as he lifted his sleeve and snapped, “You, you’re only a newly opened meridians disciple and just entered the Upper Court, but you want The Blessed Land Immortal Cave? Boastful talk! Do you know that the 1st and 2nd grade Immortal Caves could only be occupied by Dao Masters? Even those Senior Brothers at the Profound Light Realm may not be able to get one, let alone you!”
Zhang Yan’s expression didn’t flinch as he said, “Senior Brother’s words are wrong. Others perhaps may be unable to get one, but I’m originally a disciple from the Lower Court. And since I’ve successfully opened my meridians to ascend the threshold and enter the Upper Court, for me to obtain a Blessed Land’s Immortal Cave is actually reasonable.”
Huang Shouhe calmed himself and coldly spoke, “Even if you are a disciple from the Lower Court and was promoted to the Upper Court, you still have to abide by the rules.”
“Since you mentioned the rules, then, myself would like to ask one thing. Are these rules made by Senior Brother Huang or the Heaven Ascension Pavilion’s rules?”
Zhang Yan sneered in his heart. Could this Huang Shouhe be thinking that, since he had just entered the Upper Court, that he didn’t know anything about it?
These matters about the Upper Court were as not as confidential as practicing cultivation techniques. As early as he had been scheming to enter the Lower Court, he already inquired these regulations clearly and r
epeatedly asked Ai Zhongwen and the others for advice. He cannot say that he perfectly knew everything, but it also could be said that he was crystal clear about many things. If ones wanted to fool him in this aspect, they must give up this idea!
“This…” Huang Shouhe hesitated, “… This is naturally the Heaven Ascension Pavilion’s rules.”
“Cracked!”
The table next to Huang Shouhe suddenly broke into pieces as Zhang Yan cranked it up. He could not help but be startled and scared, “What do you want to do?”
Zhang Yan moved two steps forward as his tall stature approached Huang Shouhe and coldly spoke, “Once the Lower Court’s disciples have opened their meridians and enter the Upper Court, they will be a True Disciple. They are qualified to have their Immortal Cave in either The Fairyland or The Blessed Land with thick Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. This is the rules set by the Azure Ocean Sect. And you, a mere deacon steward, dare to show off and secretly conduct trickeries. Blabber nonsensical words that the Heaven Ascension Pavilion’s rules are bigger than the Sect’s rules. Could it be that you think that I can do nothing to you? Do you think I have no means to “clean the house” for an old deacon like you?”
Huang Shouhe’s hands slightly flicked and trembled as he subconsciously stepped back twice and was barely able to keep his calm, “You sprout out these words to scare me. Can it be even possible that a young small apprentices.h.i.+p branch’s disciple can “clean the house” on a sect’s elder as you please?”
Zhang Yan nevertheless broke into laughter and said, “I AM a true disciple, let alone the elders, even the Sect’s Master could be dragged to have an audience with in the Palace Hall had he broken the rules! It seems that today Senior Brother Huang is interested in trying the power of the ‘house cleaning’s punishment stick’?”
Upon hearing this, Huang Shouhe was instantly frightened and apprehensive as he secretly complained, ‘The w.a.n.g Family’s Fourth Young Master had neither said that this boy’s root is bottomless nor that he was aware of the Upper Court’s internal affairs. Otherwise, how would he understand it clearly?’
The matter with this Immortal Cave was originally deployed as to deceive the ones that were not aware of the circ.u.mstances. However, since he had long been a deacon in the Heaven Ascension Pavilion, his conduct method was not something the w.a.n.g Family’s Fourth Young Master would be able to compare with, so in case something accidental happened, he had prepared another subsequent plan at hand. And since he realized that he could not contain Zhang Yan with this method, he immediately changed his countenance as he put on a smiling face and said, “Junior Brother, please don’t be so anxious, this poor monk has just remembered that there is a vacant Blessed Land which is perhaps being kept for you. For Junior Brother to take it is very appropriate.”
He stretched his hand into his sleeves and pretended to dig for a while, taking out a piece of a Token Seal to him, “This place is called Spirit Leaf Island, located in southwest direction from the Nine Changes City. This deacon’s child servant would go together with you to this island.”
Zhang Yan accepted it while smiling as he cupped his hands over and said, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”
“Hahaha, Junior Brother, it’s no problem, no problem,” Huang Shouhe and waved his hand repeatedly with a face full of smiles, giving off the appearance that the previous unhappy remarks had long been gone.
Zhang Yan thought for a moment. Although Huang Shouhe had decided to not put out a lower grade Immortal Cave, but happily gave him the Blessed Land grade instead. This meant that he definitely did not know the true reasons. However, Zhang Yan did not want to get to the bottom of this matter. The cultivation path had always been rough and unsmooth. What significance did little twists and turns have anyway?
After Zhang Yan bid farewell and left, Huang Shouhe let out ridiculing smiles as he walked to the back of the hall with a happy and proud expression. But, he actually saw an old Daoist walk near and made him surprised. He immediately came up and respectfully greeted, “Martial Uncle Wu.”
This Daoist was precisely the Heaven Ascension Pavilion’s Master. When he saw Huang Shouhe, he slightly nodded his head and said, “Has Zhang Yan come here today?”
“Yes, he has.”
“Well, what type of Immortal Cave did you gave him?”