"..."
Li Canghai's expression stiffened. He hadn't expected the other party's information to be so well-informed. What made him even more uncomfortable was that Lin Zhao seemed to want to interfere. By what right?
"What is it?"
Li Canghai smiled faintly, "White-Robed Alliance Leader, I've joined the Qingliang Sect... it hasn't affected the Scarlet Moon Knights, has it?"
"It indeed hasn't."
Lin Zhao's tone was calm. "However, I just wanted to inform Alliance Leader Li Canghai that most of the cultivators in the Qingliang Sect are not good people. They have a deep grudge with our Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. Sooner or later, I will lead people to Qingliang Mountain and flatten that Qingliang Sect. The reason I'm bothering you is just to give you a heads-up, so that your investment won't be in vain. It's completely unnecessary."
Li Canghai frowned, "Does the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool have a feud with the Qingliang Sect?"
"Yes, a deep one."
"..."
Li Canghai gritted his teeth and smiled, "Is White-Robed Alliance Leader so confident that you can flatten the Qingliang Sect? As far as I know, the highest realm in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool is only at the eleventh realm, right? The Old Ancestor of the Qingliang Sect is at the thirteenth realm, and the Sect Master is at the twelfth realm. If we were to compare strength, I'm afraid the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool wouldn't stand a chance. Since White-Robed Alliance Leader kindly came to remind me, Li Canghai, as a friend, I might as well remind White-Robed Alliance Leader not to overestimate yourself. On the contrary, by opposing our Qingliang Sect, the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool might not be able to handle the consequences."
"..."
Lin Zhao was stunned for a moment, and then let out a hearty laugh, "It seems Alliance Leader Li Canghai has made up his mind to join the Qingliang Sect. Then... forgive my intrusion. I'll pretend I never said anything. Misfortune comes to no one but oneself. Take care."
"Hmph!"
Li Canghai smiled faintly, "No need to see me out. Likewise, I wish White-Robed Alliance Leader good luck!"
...
Beside him, Xihe Dagukui frowned, "Boss, what's wrong?"
"White-Robed sent a message."
Li Canghai said indifferently, "He said the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool has a feud with the Qingliang Sect and will flatten it sooner or later. He warned me not to join the Qingliang Sect, or I'd face the consequences."
"Tsk tsk~~~"
Jiuyou Huangquan sneered, "Does he, White-Robed, really think of himself as someone important? Just because he's secured a position in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, he thinks he can dictate things? He should take a look at himself in a mirror. With those trash eleventh-realm players in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, how can they contend with a thirteenth-realm cultivator? Our Old Ancestor could crush him with a single finger!"
"Indeed."
Xihe Dagukui chuckled, "In terms of personal strength, White-Robed might be the top player in the Huaxia region right now, but in terms of guild strength, does his Scarlet Moon Knights even rank? Does he really think guilds like Xinghe, Canglong, Xunxian, and Hancheng are just for show? Also, the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool arc was indeed the protagonist of the pre-beta of 'Tianxia', but is it still? New talents emerge constantly, and the protagonist of this world is yet to be decided. Who can say it isn't our Azure Knights? What's that saying again?"
Li Canghai grinned, "The universe is not yet decided, you and I are both dark horses?"
"Exactly."
Xihe Dagukui clenched his fist and raised his eyebrows, "It's too early to say anything now. Our Azure Knights and the Scarlet Moon Knights will just have to wait and see!"
"Mm."
Li Canghai nodded and looked at the Shui Ruyi, priced at 1500 gold Ziz, in front of him. "So, are we taking this Shui Ruyi?"
"Take it!"
Xihe Dagukui said, "Also, let's get a couple of cheaper items. Prepare a master-disciple gift for me and Huangquan. We want to become disciples of Sect Master Zhao Sui Guang. Zhao Sui Guang is a twelfth-realm cultivator, and he's said to be quite formidable."
"Can do."
Li Canghai said, "It's just a matter of a few dozen gold Ziz. I'll cover it personally."
"Boss!"
Xihe Dagukui and Jiuyou Huangquan each took one of Li Canghai's hands, their eyes tearing up.
"Get lost!"
Li Canghai quickly shook off their hands and quickly dusted them off. He laughed, "Damn it, you're giving me goosebumps. You two be careful. Although these hands of mine haven't drawn great bows or tamed wild horses, they have comforted many heartbroken women. Be mindful from now on, don't be disgusting. I only like women!"
Xihe Dagukui and Jiuyou Huangquan grinned, "We do too. Like-minded, worthy brothers!"
...
Bai Di City, Tingyu Tower.
The fine rain continued to fall. Below Tingyu Tower, Su Xinghe knelt on one knee, his hands clasped in a fist. He had maintained this posture for a day and a night in the game, which was 6 hours in reality. He was drenched, with raindrops clinging to his eyebrows and eyelashes. His body swayed from time to time, as if he was at his limit.
In fact, players' postures in the game could be fixed through the gesture system, allowing them to remain motionless. Su Xinghe deliberately put on a show of being on the verge of collapse, merely for others to see. He knew that every second, the twelfth-realm sword cultivator was watching him.
Cao Ying, the Pavilion Master of Bai Di City's Xiuyi Xuan, was the highest sword practitioner of the Da Shang imperial family within Bai Di City. She held a very high position in the Da Shang Dynasty. In terms of cultivation, she was perhaps the highest in the court. In terms of official rank, she was a first-rank official, already considered an exalted existence. There were not many high-ranking ministers in the entire court whose status was higher than Cao Ying's; they were few and far between. Therefore, if Su Xinghe could become Cao Ying's disciple, he would undoubtedly soar to unprecedented heights. Many top players from the Xinghe guild could even be arranged to enter Xiuyi Xuan, become disciples, and take on official positions, bringing immense benefits.
To put it bluntly, in this game "Tianxia," players were not the protagonists; the general trend was. If players wanted to climb the ranks in this world, they could only follow the trend and integrate into the game's background story, otherwise, they would be out of place. From the minute details on Lin Zhao's side, Su Xinghe had long understood this.
"Rustle..."
From within Tingyu Tower, came the sound of light footsteps.
Su Xinghe dared not look up, only knelt on the ground with his fists clasped. As he lowered his head, in his peripheral vision, a pair of embroidered shoes stepped onto the stone path. The soles of the shoes splashed water, not touching the damp ground. In the reflection of the rain, he could see a pair of delicate, fair jade legs, and beyond that, the owner of these legs, with a sword hanging at her waist, holding an umbrella.
Cao Ying had really come down from Tingyu Tower!
"Pavilion Master!"
Su Xinghe clasped his fists again with all his might and said in a deep voice, "I beg Pavilion Master to accept me!"
"Are you still calling me Pavilion Master?"
Cao Ying smiled faintly and said, "Look up, and look at me."
"Yes!"
Su Xinghe looked up, and what met his eyes was a face of astonishing beauty, incredibly beautiful. Indeed, she was the most beautiful woman in Bai Di City, but unfortunately, she was still a little less breathtaking than Shen Xingchen.
"I'll ask you this."
Cao Ying's beautiful eyes looked at Su Xinghe, sending a chill down his spine. She said indifferently, "If you become my disciple, will you be eternally loyal to me?"
"Yes!"
Su Xinghe said in a deep voice, "If I break this vow, may heaven and earth destroy me!"
"Good."
Cao Ying raised an eyebrow lightly. "Su Xinghe, from this day forward, you are my only direct disciple, Cao Ying. Get up!"
"Yes, Pavilion Master!"
Su Xinghe's heart was filled with joy, and he slowly stood up, staggering slightly. He quickly used his sword to support himself, appearing quite disheveled. He clasped his fists again, "Thank you, Pavilion Master!"
"Still calling me Pavilion Master?"
"No... Master!"
"Mm."
Cao Ying smiled and nodded.
At this very second, a bell rang across the national server—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations to player [Zheng Du] for successfully becoming a disciple of Xiuyi Xuan's [Cao Ying] (Twelfth-realm Sword Immortal), receiving rewards: Level +2, Charm +3, Reputation +8000, Gold +20000, and an additional reward: [Snowy Plain Chestplate] (Earth Grade)!
...
The players on the national server all looked up with complex expressions. It seemed that Su Xinghe, known as the "quasi-Heavenly King" player of "Tianxia," had finally set foot on the right path by becoming a disciple of a twelfth-realm great sword immortal. It was certain that he would achieve great success in the future. Being a disciple of such a powerful figure would bring many benefits and opportunities that most players would never obtain in their lifetime, such as flying swords and magical artifacts, which could not be bought with money.
Lin Zhao deeply agreed with this. If he hadn't asked Xiang Zhi for a low-grade immortal sword, Hong Ye, as his flying sword, he would have had to buy a very expensive and inferior flying sword from the system mall, which was incomparable.
Below Qingliang Mountain.
Li Canghai bought the Shui Ruyi and led the core players of the Azure Knights up the mountain. Upon hearing the announcement that Su Xinghe had become a disciple of the twelfth-realm Cao Ying, Li Canghai frowned.
"Damn it."
Xihe Dagukui clenched his fist and said, "Su Xinghe beat us to it!"
"It doesn't matter."
Jiuyou Huangquan frowned, "Later, Boss will directly become a disciple of the thirteenth-realm Old Ancestor and scare that bastard Su Xinghe to death!"
Immediately, a group of Azure Knights players burst into laughter. Having followed Li Canghai for a long time, these players all had the disposition of ambitious strategists. In their hearts, no one on the national server was truly authoritative. Su Xinghe wasn't, White-Robed wasn't. In times of chaos, everyone had a chance. Since everyone had a chance, why shouldn't it be them?
Qingliang Sect, Ancestral Hall.
Li Canghai led his group to kneel in a row and said in a deep voice, "Master, I have brought back a valuable treasure!"
Immediately, Zhao Jingyu, Zhao Sui Guang, Zhao Yichuan, and others walked out of the Ancestral Hall. Old Ancestor Zhao Jingyu narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Disciple, what is the precious treasure you have brought back this time?"
"Master, please look!"
Li Canghai held up the Shui Ruyi with both hands and offered it.
"Ah?!"
Zhao Jingyu's heart trembled. What a magnificent Shui Ruyi. It exuded a strong aura of water and a profound sense of antiquity. It was likely a relic of some ancient sage. Since his own great dao was close to water, if he could refine this Shui Ruyi into his natal item, his thirteenth realm would undoubtedly advance to the later stages, and his foundation would be even more solid. At that time, ordinary twelfth-realm sword cultivators would not be able to defeat him.
He frowned, recalling the day Lin Wanhua descended from the heavens, the arrogant condescension of a twelfth-realm cultivator looking down on a thirteenth-realm cultivator. It was like a nightmare, and he never wanted to suffer such humiliation again!
"Good disciple!"
Zhao Jingyu grabbed the Shui Ruyi and put it into his storage. Then, he placed his hands on Li Canghai's shoulders and said, "Li Canghai, from this day forward, you are my direct disciple, Zhao Jingyu. I will impart all my techniques to you. How much you can absorb will depend on your own fortune."
"Thank you, Master!"
Li Canghai was overjoyed.
The next moment, another bell rang throughout the national server—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations to player [Li Canghai] for successfully becoming a disciple of Qingliang Sect's [Zhao Jingyu] (Thirteenth-realm Cultivator), receiving rewards: Level +2, Charm +3, Reputation +7500, Gold +15000, and an additional reward: [Sky-Propping Armguards] (Earth Grade)!