NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 150: Going Home
Western Wastes, Moon-Watching Sect.
The boundless Western Wastes housed many a sect, among which was the Moon-Watching Sect, unassuming and unknown, yet its treatment of disciples was famously good. Many yearned to join, but regrettably, the Golden Core Master and White Gate Master only accepted female disciples who were adept at farming, and they had to be gentle in disposition.
Meng Yu, the direct disciple of the White Gate Master, emerged from the teleportation array.
He had first returned to Great Wu, where the situation was quite favorable.
He wasn't a sentimentalist, having killed the Divine Martial King with a single stroke before leaving with Bai Qianqian, and slaughtered no small number of his hundred-thousand-strong army.
Afterward, under the broad daylight, Meng Yu levitated in the air, warning the remaining officers and soldiers to obediently proceed according to the original plan and surrender at Iron Chain Pass.
"Whoever resists dies, but I will not kill innocents indiscriminately. Inquire about my reputation and see what kind of person I am," he announced.
Previously in the Immortal Sect, Meng Yu rarely used flying artifacts when battling with the cultivators as the first-grade flying boats and such were not only slow and fragile but also affected by air currents, making them sitting ducks. Whoever dared to float in the air was courting death.
But in Great Wu, flying boats were of great use.
So, with the heads of the Divine Martial King and others levitating in the air, Meng Yu patrolled in a flying boat, and the several hundred-thousand-strong army obediently followed orders, arriving at Iron Chain Pass.
After all, the grand army was only a three-day march from Iron Chain Pass.
This was why Meng Yu let the Divine Martial King gather upward of a hundred thousand men, leading them toward Qingfeng Gate.
It took Meng Yu two years to train a group of qualified and loyal subordinates. Then, the Imperial Court provided him with an additional hundred thousand elite troops. In the exchange, Meng Yu's biggest weakness was remedied.
The subsequent integration of the forces went smoothly as Meng Yu used absolute violence to teach the hundred thousand strong army what invincibility truly looked like.
No blade or ax could breach Meng Yu's defense. A single wooden stick could carve a path from the front of the battle array to the rear. Watching Meng Yu's Fire Crow Sword Technique, with its roaring flames that devoured everything, and his White Crane Swordsmanship that regularly unleashed sword rays over ten meters long, non-stop, until a hillock was reduced to flatland, was nothing short of miraculous.
Adding to the awe was the fact that Meng Yu did not confiscate anyone's money. The one hundred forty thousand men willingly laid down their arms, sincerely pledging their allegiance to the new king.
The prior propaganda and Meng Yu's actions took effect, as everyone knew him to be a kind-hearted and soft-handed person. Thus, surrender was without psychological burden. Instead, there was anticipation for the good days Meng Yu would bring for everyone, soldiers and civilians alike.
Even though Meng Yu only stayed for a month before departing, Su Qingqing and others remained. Liu Qingshuang, Wang Fugui, Huo Chengyun, and others oversaw the subsequent battles, which proceeded like militarized parades.
With the upper echelon collaborating earnestly, and the middle and lower ranks energized as if invigorated by an elixir, it was the moment to make a name for oneself. What reason was there not to strive?
In the meantime, Meng Yu returned to Great Wu from time to time through the teleportation array to continue his legend.
If it had been anyone else conquering the world like this, usurpers with ambitions would have surfaced, but at Qingfeng Gate, no one dared to entertain any thoughts of treason or subversion.
If there were any, one would just need to witness Meng Yu's single stroke and the tree of peach blossoms.
This time, Meng Yu was welcomed back warmly. He handled some accumulated state affairs and distributed alchemical elixirs and other rewards, publicly appearing to enjoy the cheers of the soldiers.
Afterward, in several places, using his powerful swordsmanship, he educated some stubborn fools on the meaning of absolute violence and quelled rumors claiming he had ascended, then returned to Moon-Watching Sect.
In Great Wu, a change of dynasty was just one step away. If Meng Yu were willing to accept the surrender of the Imperial Court and some noble families, the realm could directly change its banners.
However, Meng Yu wouldn't allow these people to surrender with conditions.
He intended to sweep away the dust, not welcome it.
"Greetings, Uncle-Master."
Two beautiful female disciples looked with a bit of curiosity at this famously distinguished Uncle-Master, but more than that, they were respectful.
Although four hundred years ago, the White Gate Master told everyone she only accepted female disciples; two hundred years ago, she declared she would not take any more disciples, with Su Qingqing and others as her grand-disciples; even a hundred years ago, she became even more lackadaisical in those matters…
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Well, everyone was quite puzzled about how the White Gate Master suddenly accepted a male disciple, but whether it was Meng Yu's senior sisters or these junior nieces, their attitude towards Meng Yu was all deferential and respectful. None dared to be mischievous or deliberately play tricks, let alone harm or deceive Meng Yu.
This wasn't the Immortal Sect; this was the Western Wastes!
In other sects, once disciples joined, they had to undertake missions and various tasks, trading time and even life for resources, and despite such efforts, they were still subject to elimination protocols, and falling slightly behind in cultivation could spell disaster.
Although the White Gate Master told Meng Yu that their Moon-Watching Sect was a small one, with only about thirty or forty people, in reality, her status as a Golden Core master was more than enough to suppress anyone within a thousand miles, and all were obliged to show her their respect.
The dozens of people from the Moon-Watching Sect controlled a large area, and the cultivation families and smaller sects below it viewed them as if they were gods. Countless people dreamed of joining their ranks.
And what was everyone learning there? It was Spirit Plant cultivation! This profession, only second to Alchemy and Formation, might progress slowly, but it was both safe and comfortable. Even if you wanted to seek a higher position outside, White Gate Master wouldn't simply eliminate you. Instead, she would send you off with some fruits and vegetables to ease your way, unlike others who might not be so kind!
At White Gate Master's place, there was an abundance of Spirit Fruits and Vegetables, and even the laziest person could live joyfully. Moreover, White Gate Master took in disciples based primarily on their character, so the atmosphere within the sect was very harmonious.
Therefore, when Meng Yu suddenly appeared, and especially when White Gate Master gathered everyone and earnestly requested that they treat him as her direct disciple and as the deputy sect master, whose orders must be followed, all the disciples were extremely respectful.
In this era, the hierarchy was rigid. Anyone in this world who dared to disobey or revolt against their teacher would have been beaten to death long ago!
Meng Yu nodded at the two junior disciples, his eyes sweeping over their clothes, shoes, and accessories, before heading towards Bai Qianqian's courtyard.
Their robes and hats were unrefined and plain. At the Immortal Sect, such attire was truly too common.
When he arrived at the White Gate Master's chambers, she was already joyfully awaiting Meng Yu.
"You're back. Did everything go smoothly?"
"Master, this is a gift for you."
"Oh my, why did you bring back all these gifts after just one trip? And this clothing, isn't it too fancy? Embellished with so many birds, this image of the 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' is really..."
This time, Meng Yu had brought back a bunch of stolen goods.
Of course, he would never tell Bai Qianqian that he had robbed the Immortal Sect; he hadn't even let on that he was now a fugitive wanted by the Immortal Sect!
In his series of heists against the Star Industrial Company, Meng Yu had accumulated numerous miscellaneous items besides weapons, metals, and mineral materials. Some of these stolen goods were scattered across the Immortal Sect, some hidden in Great Wu. This time, the gifts he brought back for Bai Qianqian and the others included a selection of high-end female vestment robes and accessories.
In an age without the internet and limited communication, giving a girl presents, especially luxurious clothing, was a genuine delight for them.
Bai Qianqian was so happy she almost split her mouth into thirds. If she still looked like a rabbit, it would be adorable, but now she resembled an ancient ancestor with white fur and red eyes. Yet, she still beamed like a joyous songbird, hopping around adorably.
She was overjoyed wearing the red robe embroidered with the 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' design.
It was just a First Grade vestment robe!
Poor thing, when Meng Yu first arrived at Moon-Watching Sect and saw Bai Qianqian's followers, his initial thought was that despite their beauty, they looked rather plain. They had vestment robes on, but in terms of design, dye, including knitting, there was much to be desired. But thinking it over, it made sense considering the Moon-Watching Sect's financial situation.
Bai Qianqian was a vegetable farmer, so her own sustenance was not a problem, but selling outside only brought in meager profits. Previously, she had used her earnings to buy Spirit Stones, supporting several disciples through their Foundation Establishment. Moreover, after their Foundation Establishment, they became insatiable resource drains.
She was a kind-hearted soul, and even in Great Wu, she instructed Su Qingqing to bring her own Spirit Stones and Spirit Fruits and Vegetables to not disturb the locals and avoid burdensome taxes. With such a disposition, how could she plunder from those around her?
Furthermore, she had borrowed a multitude of Spirit Stones to achieve her Core Formation and, after succeededing, it wasn't in her nature to renege on her debts, so she diligently paid them off. That's why, when Meng Yu first visited, he noticed that although there was no shortage of Spiritual Medicines in her garden, there were none from past generations.
Therefore, as long as the robe was functional, that was all she cared for. As for pursuing fashion or beauty, like Meng Yu's exquisite First Grade robe with a hundred different birds embroidered on it, a design personally crafted by an artistic genius from the Immortal Sect, made with the finest dyes—such luxury was beyond her wildest dreams.
Why? Because pursuing art costs money!
She did love beauty but she was poor!
"Master, the gifts weren't that expensive. I still have money left over there, so please wear it. Speaking of which, Master, the nine diagrams you gave me were very highly regarded over there. Even the Nascent Soul big shots from the Immortal Sect were astonished. Are you underestimating your abilities?"
"What?"
Bai Qianqian was stunned. As a rabbit that had always admired foreigner and believed that the moon shone brighter in the Immortal Sect, hearing the approval of the foreigners, no, the Nascent Soul masters, she proudly straightened her back—in fact, she grabbed Meng Yu's hand instantly.
"Let me see the information right away."
"No problem."
Meng Yu brought along his personal terminal from the Immortal Sect, from which all networking hardware had been removed. After he turned it on, the processed text messages were displayed before Bai Qianqian.
Yes, any messages about Meng Yu's robberies or misdeeds had been eliminated.
In front of his master, he was just a pitiable genius who had been wronged at the Immortal Sect.