Chapter 280: The Foundations of the Sects

“Master Su, don’t you feel anything?”Feng Qingya was certain this was Su Jingzhen’s first time under the Yunmeng Goddess statue.

Yet, he seemed completely unaffected.

His expression was calm, not a hint of influence.

This surprised her greatly.

She had also spent years in Yunmeng City, knowing that anyone who reached beneath the Yunmeng Goddess statue would be affected, to some degree or another.

And these effects were mostly positive.

Most people would have some sort of epiphany, and a very small number of those with high comprehension could even glean some spells from the runes on the Yunmeng Goddess statue or the twelve white jade pillars.

However, Su Jingzhen had already examined the twelve white jade pillars. Aside from occasional sighs of admiration, there was nothing substantial.

Hearing Feng Qingya’s words, Su Jingzhen himself was quite helpless: “I also want some epiphany or something, but there really isn’t any. Perhaps it’s because I’m a Body Cultivator.”

At this moment, Su Jingzhen could only offer this explanation.

He naturally saw the people meditating beside the stone pillars in front of the Yunmeng Goddess statue.

Compared to them, he seemed truly unique.

And as he spoke, a tinge of disappointment lingered in Su Jingzhen’s heart.

After all, during the last Alchemist Convention, he had sensed something special about this Yunmeng Goddess statue.

He had even thought there might be an opportunity for him here. Seaʀᴄh the NôᴠelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

So this time, he came with high expectations.

Hearing Su Jingzhen’s words, Feng Qingya nodded.

For now, this seemed to be the only explanation.

She then smiled and said, “But this isn’t a big deal. It’s just that Master Su doesn’t have the fated connection with the Yunmeng Goddess statue.”

Su Jingzhen nodded, but a strange feeling persisted in his heart.

It felt like something wasn’t right.

As the two spoke, a large group of people suddenly approached from afar.

It was the much-anticipated Feng family.

They were escorting hundreds of captured cultivators from various factions, directly to the center of Wind Bell Square.

Whether Nascent Soul, Golden Core, or Foundation Establishment, they were all bound tightly.

Their auras were noticeably weak.

Only the cultivators from Spirit Sound Valley, led by Sikong Tingyun and Grandma Yinhua, seemed to be in slightly better condition.

Although they were also escorted by the Feng family disciples, they weren’t bound by spirit ropes.

However, even Sikong Tingyun and Grandma Yinhua’s auras were considerably depleted.

The alchemy platforms in the center of Wind Bell Square had already been dismantled.

The hundreds of captives were brought directly to the center.

“I never thought that one day I, Sikong Tingyun, would be reduced to being watched by thousands. This experience is truly something new,” Sikong Tingyun said with a wry smile.

He naturally knew that he and the Spirit Sound Valley cultivators wouldn’t face any serious consequences.

But thinking about the price they would have to pay later was enough to make his heart ache.

After all, the other two factions didn’t have figures like their sect masters captured. Even if their cultivation levels were similar, the consequences they would face would be different due to their status.

After Sikong Tingyun and the others were brought up, Feng Xuan and Feng Lie had also arrived.

Feng Xuan walked through the void, silently standing and observing the crowded Wind Bell Square below.

He then spoke in a loud voice: “A few days ago, many forces within Yunmeng City attacked my Feng family. They wanted to seize the treasures in my Feng family’s Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Fortunately, I returned from seclusion in time, otherwise my Feng family might not even exist anymore.

But I remember the virtue of heaven, which is to cherish all life, and cultivation is not easy. I killed some of them, but spared the lives of these people.”

Although everyone present knew what had happened, Feng Xuan still had to give a brief account before the main event.

However, the reason for sparing these people’s lives was pure nonsense.

After a pause, Feng Xuan continued: “But some things, once done, must have consequences.

Many Feng family disciples died because of this. And my Feng family is also a prominent family within the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. Naturally, we also need to maintain our face.

If we were brazenly attacked and our Treasure Gathering Pavilion was invaded, but allowed all the forces to escape unharmed, then my Feng family would have no face to stand on the Qingzhou land.

Now, each force, according to the number of people detained by my Feng family, please state your price for their redemption!”

Feng Xuan’s words were straightforward.

He knew that the representatives of each force were among the crowd below.

Since he wasn’t going to set a price himself, the people he had detained were mostly high-ranking figures within their respective sects.

Letting these forces offer something in exchange would likely result in a good deal.

As long as he didn’t set a price, the price could theoretically be limitless.

“Six Nascent Soul cultivators, dozens of Golden Core, and hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators. If you sell them one by one, that would be a huge fortune! Only a force like the Feng family, with a cultivator at the Soul Formation late stage, would dare to do this,” someone whispered.

“The Feng family ancestor is truly bold. I wonder what kind of price the various forces will offer this time,” another person murmured.

“After this incident, the Feng family not only purged some internal pests, but they will also be able to earn a considerable amount of resources within the Yunmeng City sphere of influence. It’s true that those who laugh last are the winners. This time, the Feng family has definitely become the sole victor,”

“…”

As the crowd discussed, a woman in a snow-white gown, with a face of unparalleled beauty, suddenly stepped into the air.

She didn’t use any spirit artifacts, and walked through the air just like Feng Xuan.

Soul Formation stage!

The woman’s appearance immediately shocked everyone present.

“Soul Formation stage! The first one to appear is actually a Soul Formation stage cultivator? This woman looks somewhat familiar. Could she be Lingxiu Pavilion’s pavilion master, Fairy Lingyun? Wasn’t it said that her cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul late stage? How did she manage to break through to this level?”

“It’s really Fairy Lingyun from Lingxiu Pavilion! I saw her many years ago. I didn’t expect that after so many years, she looks even younger.”

“But the Feng family ancestor is at the Soul Formation late stage, and his peak cultivation even reached the Divine Intent Realm. Fairy Lingyun is at most just at the early stage of Soul Formation, and they are not on the same level.”

“…”

Everyone looked at Fairy Lingyun who walked through the air, their eyes filled with excitement.

No matter whether she was on the same level as Feng family ancestor, any cultivator who reached the Soul Formation stage was considered a top figure on the Qingzhou land.

Compared to the Nascent Soul and Golden Core representatives who gathered at the Feng family mansion yesterday, they were indeed far inferior.

At this moment, Fairy Lingyun bowed to Feng Xuan.

“Brother Feng Xuan, it’s been many years since we last met. Your cultivation has recovered to this level, congratulations!”

Hearing Fairy Lingyun’s words, Feng Xuan couldn’t help but smile.

“Fairy Lingyun has actually broken through to the Soul Formation stage, this is truly something to celebrate.”

However, Feng Xuan didn’t intend to chat with Fairy Lingyun for too long.

As soon as he finished speaking, he asked, “Let’s save the pleasantries for after we finish our business. Now, Lingxiu Pavilion has two Nascent Soul cultivators, as well as a considerable number of Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Fairy Lingyun, what price do you think is appropriate to redeem them? You can state it now.”

As soon as Feng Xuan said this, the smile on Fairy Lingyun’s face froze for a moment.

But it quickly returned to normal.

Fairy Lingyun suddenly straightened her face and said, “Outside Yunmeng City, in the Congyun Mountain Range, Lingxiu Pavilion has a small spirit stone mine. Would that be enough to redeem the people from Lingxiu Pavilion detained by the Feng family?

This small spirit stone mine was discovered by Lingxiu Pavilion not long ago. It still has at least 90% of its reserves.”

As soon as Fairy Lingyun said this, the two middle-aged Nascent Soul female cultivators and dozens of Lingxiu Pavilion disciples who were bound in the center of the square showed a look of shame.

The small spirit stone mine in the Congyun Mountain Range was something they had just discovered. It could have propelled their resources to a higher level.

But now, because of them, they had to hand it over.

Feng Xuan’s lips curled into a smile. “That’s sufficient, but words are not enough.”

Hearing Feng Xuan’s words, Fairy Lingyun nodded with a smile again.

Then, she pointed to the sky and the earth, and directly swore a heavenly oath with her martial arts future.

The heavenly oath, coupled with the presence of so many people in public, meant that the small spirit stone mine was completely Feng family property.

There was no room for turning back.

“Release them!”

As soon as Fairy Lingyun’s heavenly oath was made, Feng Xuan suddenly turned to Feng Lie who was guarding the people below.

Feng Lie didn’t hesitate. With a movement of his hand, his spiritual energy split into dozens of strands, transforming into small wind blades that cut the ropes binding the Lingxiu Pavilion cultivators.

At this time, they were all in a state of serious injury, their steps faltering as they walked towards the Lingxiu Pavilion disciples who were waiting to receive them.

Fairy Lingyun bowed to Feng Xuan again. “Thank you, Brother Feng Xuan! Lingxiu Pavilion will take its leave.”

After saying that, Fairy Lingyun took the Lingxiu Pavilion cultivators and left directly.

After all, this was a humiliating affair.

She was embarrassed to stay there any longer.

After Lingxiu Pavilion left, many people on Wind Bell Square continued to search around.

They wanted to know if Flowing Wind Sword Sect and Spirit Sound Valley would also send a Soul Formation stage cultivator.

Just then, an old man with a sharp aura, white beard and white hair, and dressed in white robes, also walked through the air.

“Friend Feng Xuan, long time no see. I am Li Chunfeng, here to redeem Flowing Wind Sword Sect’s wayward disciples.” The old man’s aura surged again as he spoke.

It seemed to be on par with Feng Xuan’s at that moment.

“Li Chunfeng!

Is this the legendary former Sect Master of Flowing Wind Sword Sect?

Wasn’t he already dead? How did he come back?”

“This is the foundation of these great powers. Over the past few decades, these major forces have basically controlled the best resources and luck in Qingzhou.

Each generation can produce some remarkable individuals. We don’t even know which ones are still alive and which have truly passed away.”

“In that case, the recent destruction of Huayang Sect wasn’t just as simple as that mysterious cultivator killing a few Nascent Soul cultivators, was it?”

“And among these major sects, isn’t Lingxiu Pavilion ranked first?

But Lingxiu Pavilion’s master is only at the early stage of Soul Formation, far inferior to Li Chunfeng in front of us.

Could it be that Lingxiu Pavilion actually has more than one Soul Formation stage cultivator?”

“…”

Many things couldn’t withstand scrutiny, and once scrutinized, they were terrifying to think about.

The many scattered cultivators and other unrelated forces present all looked solemn.

It seemed that the waters of Qingzhou were deeper than they had imagined.

While they discussed, everyone was more curious about what price Li Chunfeng, the ancestor of Flowing Wind Sword Sect, would offer to exchange for his sect’s cultivators.