Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Longtian Xucheng

Chapter 8: Longtian Xucheng 

Floating silently behind Elder Shi, was a valiant young man dressed in a purple robe with white dragon scales dotted all over it. He had long black hair, a well-sculpted face, sword-like brows, and intense eyes that seemed to glow with an intense sword light. At his side were two identical swords with dragons wrapped around their hilts. On the back of his robe was a sign that said ‘MARTIAL!’

       Upon recognizing who this was, Vasha quickly got on his feet and saluted the young man.

       “Disciple Vasha greets Lord Longtian Xucheng.”

       “Oho, if it isn’t Vasha Netherborn. Good, you’re already in the King Realm, eh?” The young man acknowledged Vasha and spoke to him amicably. Vasha was sure that his mile had stolen the hearts of several females.

       ‘What!? The King-Realm? I didn’t even realize that. Did he not just enter the beast realm and the Inner Sect less than a year ago? And he is already in the King stage? I must inform Lady Lingling.’ Elder Shi was stunned by the information he just received and stared at Vasha with increasing intensity.

       “You’re quite impressive, you used the Cloak technique to hide your externalized aura signature from Elder Shi, right? That’s a very high-level technique that even I just learned how to use recently.” Xucheng continuously praised him.

       “You honor me Lord Xucheng. This disciple was lucky enough to have a breakthrough during this mission and gained some inspiration on some techniques.” Vasha kept his head down and refuted the young man’s flattery.

       “Hahaha, good, good. The young ones these days are not only talented but also humble. There was never anyone as humble as you among the inner sect disciples of my time.” Xucheng burst out in laughter.

       ‘Interesting, Vasha Netherborn, you’re interesting. I had better keep an eye on you. Beast-King Realm before the age of twenty and special Qi manipulation arts without a master. The others have no idea what kind of monster is lurking amongst us.’ Xucheng silently appraised Vasha.

       ‘Long Tian Xu Cheng…’ While Xucheng was appraising Vasha, Vasha was also appraising him.

       ‘A former core-sect disciple, now a Hollow of the sect's Martial Hall. Graduated from being a Core disciple before the age of hundred. A certified genius and a disciple of Core Elder Numbian.’

       The Hollow Dragon Sect was divided into three sects, The Outer Sect, The Inner Sect, and the Core Sect. In comparison, the disciples were divided into; Common disciples, Outer disciples, Inner disciples, Core disciples, and Personal disciples. The Elders were likewise divided into; Common, Outer, Inner, Hall, Core, Grand, and Supreme.  But apart from this designation, lies another one. They are neither Disciples nor Elders. Some sects call them practitioners or Masters, but the Hollow Dragon sect simply calls them Hollows.

       Hollows were former disciples, without enough experience or merit to become Elders. They serve as the sword of the sect, completing all sorts of dangerous missions, and projecting their power in faraway places.

       This Hollow, in particular, was the Commander of the Ethereal River Sect crush this time around, and he was Elder Shi’s superior. Longtian Xucheng was a powerful cultivator who had surpassed the Demon Gate.

       This was the reason why he was relieved. With Xucheng around, Elder Shi would not dare make a move on him.

       Longtian Xucheng when he was done appraising Vasha, suddenly turned to face Elder Shi and said.

“So…Elder Shi, what is the meaning of this? I sent you to deliver a command but to my disappointment, you preferred to use that time to…bully these little disciples.”

“What!? N…No, Commander, I…I…I was only teaching these youngsters a lesson.” Elder Shi quickly replied. His face was pale and drenched in sweat.

“Hoo, teaching a lesson huh? Is that the reason this disciple is passed out on the floor over there?” Xucheng pointed at Ah Jun who was unconscious from Elder Shi’s spirit pressure to pass across his point.

“That…” Elder Shi was speechless.

“That what?” Longtian Xucheng pressed on.

       Elder Shi was caught in a predicament. If he had been able to kill Ah Jun and Vasha before Xucheng's arrival, he might have gone scot-free. Why was this, despite Vasha and Ah Jun being disciples, it did not mean they were without rights. Just by the fact that they were Inner Disciples, their prestige was almost on the same level as the Outer Elders in the Sect.

       Even though the Hollow Dragon Sect, by its heritage, was a brutalist and utilitarian sect, it still ensured fairness and equity. Elders were not allowed to simply go about killing disciples, and disciples were simply not allowed to go around killing one another. If a disciple committed an offense, it was the job of the Punishment Hall to dole out punishment.

       Of course, not everyone followed these rules. Rivalries and hatred caused skirmishes among disciples and Elders themselves. The Sect secretly allowed this and even encouraged this practice, since they believed it bred stronger disciples, and they were not wrong, the Hollow Dragon Sect is said to be number three when it comes to the combat powers of their disciples. This was all well and dandy unless they were not caught or there was a reasonable explanation as to why they killed the person.

       This was why Elder Shi was not afraid to kill Vasha. He was also emboldened by the fact that Vasha did not have a master within the sect.

‘Fucking youngling, how dare you talk to me like that? You were still in diapers when I first entered the Demon-gate.’ Elder Shi stared at Xucheng furiously despite his sweat-filled face.

“Huu…” Xucheng sighed when he saw Elder Shi’s expression.

“So, tell me why you attacked these disciples.”

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“Apologies, Commander. I was coming back from our meeting when I noticed the slaves meant for Little Garden were set free by someone. Our disciples and Hollows we had placed in charge of the slaves had all been killed by someone. I subdued the prisoners and quickly rushed to the outpost pavilion only to discover that it had also been attacked. I naturally confronted Disciple Vasha Netherborn, since he was the one I put in charge of the operations here.” Elder Shi quickly created an explanation to get out of his predicament.

“Vasha Netherborn failed to fulfill his duties and I was naturally punishing him for it.”

‘Bullshit.’

‘Bullshit’ Vasha and Xucheng echoed in their hearts.

“Oho, what do you say to these allegations, Netherborn?” Xucheng said.

“Apologies, Lord Longtian but Elder Shi did not put me in charge of the Little Garden operations. My job was to protect the pavilion and I did so when the intruder attacked.” Vasha replied respectfully.

“The dead body of that vile intruder is over there.” Vasha pointed outside, Demon-gate cultivators could sense things in their surroundings with startling precision so they quickly discovered Jiao Xuan’s corpse.

“Good, good. You will be rewarded for that. Besides, it’s not your fault this intruder got this far. There was no way you could have stopped him from killing those disciples, that's on me for calling a meeting.” Xucheng praised him and then bowed slightly to him.

“Please, no Lord Longtian, I am but a mere disciple, don’t demean yourself before me.” Vasha hurriedly said.

“You too Elder Shi, this is my fault. I should not have called for that meeting until all our enemies were vanquished.”

“It’s okay Lord Longtian, it’s one of the failings of being young, I was once like that.” Elder Shi quickly put on an amicable smile to scold his ‘junior’.

“But, who was that intruder, from the residual Qi around him, I reckon he was in the Beast-King realm. There was no one fitting his description in the record stone for the Ethereal River Sect.” Xucheng’s tone turned serious.

“Yes, Lord Longtian, apparently he recently broke through. It seems he had some fortuitous encounter.” Vasha replied.

“Is that true? Good job defeating him, those types usually have some kind of trump card with them.” Xucheng complimented him.

“Allow this disciple to present this to you.” Vasha knelt on one knee and presented Jiao Xuan’s saber to Longtian Xucheng.

“Huh? A spirit armament? ” Xucheng noticed the presence of the saber.

“Yes, I pried it from the cold dead body of that vile intruder. This disciple is presenting this as a gift to Lord Longtian.” Vasha continued.

The blade lifted from Vasha’s hands and floated toward Xucheng, under the power of his spirit. He grasped it and began to carefully caress it.

“What a good blade. It must be at least an Earth-class spirit armament.” Xucheng admired the saber.

“It also has some wood element properties too. Those types are usually rare. Good, I accept your generous offer. I will make sure to inform the Mission Hall of this contribution.” He stopped admiring the saber and with a wave of his sleeves, the saber disappeared.

‘A spatial tool?’ Vasha was considerably shaken. After all, the cheapest personal spatial tool, the spatial pouch was worth at least 5000 spirit stones. That was ten times greater than his annual salary as an inner sect disciple.    

“Huu…” Xucheng exhaled.

“Now that that’s all settled, we can get on with why Elder Shi was sent here. It concerns the results of our recently concluded meeting.” Xucheng continued.

“Disciple Vasha Netherborn, you are to check the prisoners and loot within the outpost to make sure nothing is out of order. Also, compile a list of the names of disciples that died here for the Mission and Administrative Hall. Longtian Xucheng, with the authority bestowed on me by the Hollow Dragon Sect, officially declared the end of Operation Ethereal River Crush’. Gather your things at this outpost, tomorrow morning, you are to return to the sect, congratulations.”

“Elder Shi…” Longtian Xucheng bowed and took his leave by bowing out of the room.

“Huu… It’s finally over.” Vasha silently sighed. He walked up to Ah Jun and started kicking his unconscious body.

‘Brat, this isn’t the end.’ Elder Shi looked in the direction Xucheng had disappeared to before turning to look at Vasha with concealed killing intent unbeknownst to him.

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