Chapter 377: Confrontation

  This Dragon Tiger Heavenly Master is a swindler.

  Ningfeng naturally knew that all the way, she was carefully investigating everything about this swindler. Her cultivation had just entered the Yuan realm, and the elixir in her dantian had not yet condensed into a yuan species. Moreover, no spiritual fluctuations could be sensed from this person, without any spiritual power, how could he refine arrays, talismans, and artifacts? But it was unknown what means this swindler had to dare write such things on the yellow banner.

  Of course, Jingfeng didn't have any expectations of this swindler either. She just used the Dragon Tiger Heaven Master as a cover to make her master feel at ease. Apart from that, she also needed such a cover to deceive people and attract attention. At first, she was still worried that the swindler would be intimidated and leave after finding out that she was from the Water Cloud Sect, since the entire Tianqi County knew that the Water Cloud Sect had offended the Beacon Fire Symbol Tower.

  She had also been observing the swindler's expression just now, and found that the swindler did not show any fear or worry, as if he didn't know at all that the Water Cloud Sect had offended the Beacon Fire Tower.

  Perhaps he had just entered Tianqi County and didn't know any better, Xingfeng thought to herself. However, what made her a bit puzzled was that this swindler seemed somewhat melancholic when looking at the Water Cloud Sect's stele from the foot of the mountain earlier? Xingfeng didn't quite understand, maybe she had just misfelt it.

  After entering the Shuiyun Sect, Ningfeng abandoned his carriage and walked, saying that it was a rule within the sect, not allowing any disciples to ride horses or fly within the sect. Tang Qing naturally did not refute him, as he also knew that this was a rule of all cultivation sects in the world. After all, the sect was a place for cultivation, and one needed to have a reverent heart. Along the way, Tang Qing kept his eyes narrowed, looking around at everything. The vast Shuiyun Sect, although somewhat desolate, was not barren. Whether it was the paths or the pavilions, everything was spotlessly clean and tidy.

  This made Tang Qing look at this frost in a new light, a weak woman who could stand up in the crisis of the sect and support herself under various pressures for ten years, which was not easy.

  "This... Dragon Tiger Heavenly Master." Jingfeng suddenly stopped in her tracks, and for some reason, the name "Dragon Tiger Heavenly Master" felt a bit awkward. She shook her head and said softly, "The Dragon Tiger Mountain is an ancient cultivation treasure land, famous throughout the world. You are the 88th generation successor of the Dragon Tiger Mountain, and I am honored to invite you to our sect as a guest."

  Tang Qing knew the current predicament of the Shui Yun Sect, but Jing Feng didn't mention anything about the formation. It seemed that she also considered herself a swindler. In that case, why did she still want to invite him as a guest? Although he was somewhat perplexed, Tang Qing didn't expose her and only smiled, "Miss Jing Feng is being polite, I have been in seclusion for a long time, this time I came out of the mountain, also to visit various sects, so that I can restore the prestige of my Dragon Tiger Mountain."

  "Later I will introduce you to our leader, but he is in poor health, so please refrain from speaking rashly."

  "It's an honor for me to meet the master of the Water Cloud Sect. Miss Qingfeng, please be at ease, although I've just come out of seclusion, I'm also aware of the rules in the cultivation world and will definitely not be rude." Upon hearing that he was going to take himself to visit the master of the Water Cloud Sect, Tang Jing seemed to have guessed the purpose of Qingfeng's invitation.

  Ningfeng spoke a few more words, then saw the somewhat dirty wolf dog at Tang Qing's feet and couldn't help but wrinkle his brow. Just as he was about to speak, Tang Qing smiled and said, "It seems I'm being rude." He glared angrily and shouted, "You beast, wait by the door! If you dare to run around wildly, I'll stew you tonight!"

  As soon as Tang Qing shouted, Tu Ba's entire dog body trembled slightly, and he didn't dare to make a sound. He hung his head and left silently, watching the dejected back of this wolf-like dog. Jing Feng's eyebrows were deeply furrowed, this dog was sturdy and powerful, with many scars on its body, it must have been ferocious by nature. How could such a wolf-like dog be so dejected? Especially that gaze, as if it contained immense humiliation, this made Jing Feng somewhat puzzled. She looked at Tang Qing, but he seemed to want to say something yet hesitated, and didn't speak, leading Tang Qing into the grand hall instead.

  Following Cong Frost, they passed through several corridors and finally entered a courtyard. After Cong Frost knocked on the door, a weak and hoarse voice came from inside. Hearing this voice, Cong Frost's eyes suddenly became moist. She pushed open the door and entered, while Tang Jing hesitated for a moment before following her in.

  The interior decoration is simple, with ancient bronze-colored tables and chairs. An old man lies quietly on the bed, seemingly too weak to even open his eyes. Jing Feng walks over and squats down beside the bed, saying, "Master, your disciple has returned."

  "Ah...... Ah, it's Ningfeng. The old man's voice was hoarse and weak, "Good disciple finally came back, coming back is good, coming back is good."

  The relationship between master and apprentice is no more than this. The respected master is worried, the apprentice is reluctant to part with him, while Tang Jing stands quietly beside them, watching. He has been practicing in the Upper Clear Sect since childhood, and although he also has some understanding of the subordinate sects of the Upper Clear Sect, he has never had any contact with them. As for the old man in front of him, he doesn't know him either. He can see that this Water Cloud Sect master has lost his primordial spirit, his five organs have declined, and he is on his last breath, in danger of dying at any moment. Even if he has a technique to reverse the decline, it would be useless.

  "Disciple, now that you've come, don't leave."

  "Hehe, Master can rest assured, I won't leave you again. From now on, I'll accompany you every day." Jingfeng forced a smile.

  "Alas!" The master of the Water Cloud Sect sighed, "It's all because our Master is incompetent. If it weren't for those three junior brothers of mine who acted impulsively back then... Our Water Cloud Sect wouldn't have ended up like this, and we wouldn't have implicated you, our disciple..." The master of the Water Cloud Sect was filled with regret and self-blame, saying, "Your path to cultivation should have been smooth sailing, but unfortunately, you've been affected by this. You've spent all these years propping up the Water Cloud Sect, if not for that, with your talent, you should have already condensed a Yuan Dan."

  "Alas, good disciple, listen to my advice and give up the Water Cloud Sect for now. Take these disciples and temporarily go to the Wu Wei Sect instead. The Wu Wei Sect belongs to the same Upper Clear Sect as our Water Cloud Sect, and besides, the master of the Wu Wei Sect is kind-hearted and will definitely treat you like his own disciples."

  "Master, what are you saying? How could your disciple bear to leave you?"

  "Alas, disciple, I know what you're worried about. It's been 19 years since the Upper Clear Sect sealed off their sect and reflected on their mistakes, and there's only one more year until the seal is lifted. I suppose the Beacon Fire Scripture Tower and other sects won't dare to touch my Water Cloud Sect. As for our sect's resource-rich land, let it lie barren if that's what fate has in store. Now that we've offended the Beacon Fire Scripture Tower, no Array Master will be willing to help us... Just let things take their course, disciple. Listen to me and go to the Carefree Sect instead. If you continue down this path, it'll be your downfall."

  "Master, hehe... you may not know yet, but this time the disciple has invited a superior person."

  "Expert? What expert?"

  "Haha, Refining Array Master, and also the 88th generation successor of Dragon Tiger Mountain."

  Ningfeng introduced Tang Qing as the master of Wuji Sect. Tang Qing stepped forward, bowed and said, "I am the 88th generation successor of Longhushan, Dragon Tiger Heavenly Master. I pay my respects to the master of Yunyun Sect."

  Shui Yunpai exerted his strength to open those dim eyes, staring at Tang Qing in front of him, and muttered, "Longhu Mountain, is it the Longhu Mountain, a treasure land for cultivation in ancient times? Longhu Mountain has long disappeared with the end of ancient times, and there is no inheritance at all."

  "Senior, although the ancient era has ended, my Dragon Tiger Mountain has been passed down. I have followed my master in seclusion for many years, hiding my light and biding my time. Now that my cultivation is complete, I have come out of the mountain, and..."

  Tang Qing was speaking when Ning Xiang immediately interrupted and said, "Heavenly Master, you go out first, I have something to say to my master."

  Tang raised an eyebrow and didn't say anything, turning around and leaving.

  "Disciple, I know you're concerned about the resource-rich land, and you're urgently seeking a master to help with the array. But how could you believe that this person is a descendant of Dragon Tiger Mountain?"

  Ningfeng smiled confidently and said, "Master, do you doubt my judgment? Hehe, he is indeed a descendant of Longhu Mountain. I have seen him set up an array, it was exactly as recorded in the classics. The stars shone in response to the heavens, the earth's energy surged and condensed, containing the image of a dragon soaring and a tiger leaping."

  "Are you really saying this?"

  "A thousand truths and ten thousand certainties."

  "Good! Good! Good!"

  Shui Yunpai's master nodded three times in a row, it was unclear whether he believed Ningfeng's words or saw through Ningfeng's thoughts and couldn't bear to point them out.

  Tang Qing waited outside for a while. After a moment, Jingfeng came out and said, "I'm really sorry, Master is unwell."

  "Oh, I can understand."

  "Just now, Master instructed that Qingfeng must let Tianshi stay in the sect for a few more days, I wonder what Tianshi's intention is?"

  "As Frost Maiden has invited me with such enthusiasm, how could I possibly decline?"

  Tang Jing knew that the other party regarded himself as a swindler, and he had come to broaden the mind of Shuiyun Sect's master. His heart was also broadened. Logically speaking, keeping him would be useless, but what he didn't expect was that Ningfeng actually let him stay. Tang Jing originally wanted to prove that he wasn't a swindler and had come to help Shuiyun Sect, but after thinking about it, he gave up. This action was too obvious, and it might arouse Ningfeng's suspicion.

  After all, a person who understands formation techniques suddenly appears out of thin air and helps the Water Cloud Sect without offending the Beacon Fire Tower. This person is neither a relative nor an acquaintance, not a friend, and doesn't know them. If it were themselves, they would also suspect that this person has some ulterior motive. Tang Qing can't explain his own identity either, so for now, let's just observe and see what happens. It's a good opportunity to understand the situation of the Water Cloud Sect before making a decision.

  "If Master Tian has any needs, just instruct Xiao Zhao."

  "Thank you very much then."

  Then Ningfeng summoned Xiaozhao and had her arrange accommodations for Tang Qing.

  Looking at the slightly thin back, holding a yellow flag with some strange guy, Cong Shuang couldn't help but fall into deep thought. She felt that Longhu Tian Shi's performance just now was too calm, if he was a fake, then his nerve was too big, wouldn't he be afraid of being exposed when she let him set up the formation? Or did he really have some tricks? Could he really do formations?

  Impossible! He doesn't have any spiritual fluctuations on his body, nor does he have any spiritual energy. How can he set up a formation?

  As for his claim to be from Dragon Tiger Mountain, how could Qingfeng believe it? The Upper Clarity Sect is a major sect that has been passed down since ancient times, so they should know more about the affairs of the ancient world than other major sects. According to the records in the classics, Dragon Tiger Mountain had already disappeared with the end of the ancient world.

  After some thought, Ningfeng felt that this Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Master might be a heretic, and only heretics would have some sinister means. It seemed that this swindler was also relying on sinister means to deceive people in the name of Mount Dragon and Tiger.