Big Data Cultivation
Chapter 1320: Insufficient Preparation

Chapter 1320: Chapter 1320: Insufficient Preparation

Sun Wufeng considered himself unafraid of challenging any hall of honors in a major sect, with an even chance of winning or losing.

Those in the hall of honors usually had great experience and diverse combat methods, rarely making mistakes, but he had the advantage of youth and vigor, as well as a few hidden cards.

However, if he went up against another major sect’s hall of honors without justification, the consequences would be severe.

Qu Jianlei let out a sinister laugh, "The old man has been happy to stay in the Crimson Pheonix for thirty years without leaving. Now he’s coming out to protect someone. Who do you think I’m representing?"

Li Zhishen, hearing this answer, couldn’t react. He wasn’t afraid of the opponent, but the Crimson Pheonix was protecting their lineage. If he caused trouble, even on a small scale, the Crimson Pheonix’s Hall of Honor wouldn’t let him off, and on a larger scale, neither would the entire Crimson Pheonix Sect.

Sun Wufeng, however, responded very politely this time, "We didn’t know in advance that Fellow Daoist Feng was connected to the Crimson Pheonix lineage. Since that’s the case, we would like to offer our apologies."

"This kid is strange," Qu Jianlei’s eyebrows raised, "You intruded on Brother Feng’s territory, attempted to kidnap him, and are ungrateful. What apology are you offering me?"

Sun Wufeng found himself speechless—the other party was entirely correct, so he turned and cupped his fists, "Fellow Daoist Feng, I greatly offended you earlier, I ask for your forgiveness."

Feng Jun shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless. The Taiqing Sect’s methods really weren’t good, but he wasn’t too indignantly angry. In a society where strength was respected, weakness was an original sin. Besides, the other party indeed followed all the formalities and showed respect.

Even though the other party acted high and mighty during the formalities, at least the procedure was correct.

So, he could only say with a half-smile, "Are you still going to forcibly protect me?"

Sun Wufeng thought for a moment before answering, "I don’t have the authority to decide that. I need to report back to the Peak Master."

"I’m really curious," Qu Jianlei laughed sinisterly again, standing in midair, "Can the Peak Master of Tianyao Peak command Taiqing’s hall of honors?"

Sun Wufeng, of course, knew that if the other party dared to say this, they must be representing the will of the Crimson Phoenix Zhi Zhang. He sighed, "I really meant well. Ask any loose cultivator if they would be willing to become a guest elder at Taiqing, and see how they would answer?"

Feng Jun couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head, "As Elder Qu said, you barge into someone’s home without permission, try to forcibly abduct the host, and call it ’protection?’ You call this good intentions?"

Sun Wufeng sighed, "Then I can only say that you possessed something you shouldn’t have, something beyond your ability to protect."

Feng Jun waved his hand decisively, "If you’re so shameless again, I’ll never help a Taiqing disciple deduce again."

Hearing this, Sun Wufeng dared not play that rascal logic anymore. He raised his head and cupped his hands toward Qu Jianlei in the air, "May I ask, how did Fellow Daoist Feng become a distinguished guest of the Crimson Pheonix?"

Qu Jianlei let out another eerie laugh, "Do you really want to know? Once you hear it, you won’t be able to leave."

Li Zhishen held back repeatedly but finally couldn’t resist, "I want to see how you, senior, will keep us here."

"Don’t do it," Xie Qingyun was anxious. He pulled Li Zhishen aside and conveyed a thought through his divine sense, "He plays with poison!"

Of course, Qu Jianlei wasn’t only skilled with poison, but his poison techniques were rather famous.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhishen fell silent. As a sword cultivator, he feared almost nothing, not even Gu cultivators, but this poison... he preferred not to get involved.

Sun Wufeng, however, guessed some things just from this sentence, so he cupped his hands to Feng Jun, "We came recklessly and disturbed you. Our brotherhood will arrange some compensation gifts upon our return."

Feng Jun watched them leave with a half-smile, but Kong Ziyi didn’t leave either. She grumbled angrily, "They didn’t take my words seriously at all. I’m going to report this to my master right now."

Feng Jun shook his head, really too lazy to say anything, and finally could only sigh, "These days, being a good person is hard."

As they talked, Qu Jianlei strolled in leisurely with his hands behind his back, just like an old man with a stool strolling down the street in the Earth Realm. "What did you do for them that made the Taiqing Sect’s hypocrites so shameless?"

Feng Jun sighed, "What could I do, just deduced a cultivation technique."

His words were not entirely true, but there was no way to tell the whole truth. Helping Tang Shixun modify a cultivation technique was indeed too sensitive. Although there was a difference between primary cultivation techniques and auxiliary cultivation techniques, it wasn’t something that could be easily explained.

For many who weren’t well-versed in the roots of cultivation techniques, it was practically unexplainable.

Moreover, the latent Fierce Wind Gold was actually one of the bugs in the Taiqing cultivation technique. Although people outside had heard of it, casually mentioning the secrets of a major sect was asking for death.

However, he didn’t regret helping Tang Shixun modify his cultivation technique, even if he admitted that he acted impulsively at the time. However, to avoid disappointing Kong Ziyi, to wipe away that moment of surprise in her eyes, he felt... it was worth it!

The so-called cultivation is about seeking great freedom. He couldn’t live freely given his current conditions, but without any personality, life would be too frustrating.

Qu Jianlei wasn’t surprised by his words. He knew Feng Jun’s talent in deduction and matching was exceptional. Even Chi Luan once had the thought of forcing him into the Crimson Pheonix, but later, for some reason, she gave up on that idea.

Qu Jianlei was pleased that Chi Luan did so—though he would have supported her if she hadn’t, because he himself was from a loose cultivator background, was infatuated with Chi Luan’s master, and became a guest elder in the Crimson Pheonix Sect, eventually becoming the only person to enter the Hall of Honor as a guest elder.

In his heart, he somewhat despised the great sects’ forceful taking. So he nodded, "That’s why I say, this Taiqing Sect is getting worse with each generation. Those so-called sect leaders, their vision and magnanimity fall far short of the young Zhi Zhang of the Crimson Pheonix."

Kong Ziyi finally spoke up, "Mountain Master Feng, have you always known that Elder Qu was nearby?"

"I wasn’t very sure either," Feng Jun replied with a smile, "but only when we just left the Bewildering Soul Forest, on the night we stayed at the Yuan Family, did I discover Elder Qu..."

After he recounted the events, Kong Ziyi realized there had been such behind-the-scenes developments that night, "Why didn’t you mention it to me then?"

Feng Jun spread his hands, looking at her in surprise, "Do you think this little thing... was worth mentioning?"

Qu Jianlei nodded, "Not saying it is actually quite good," he also didn’t want Feng Jun to casually reveal his whereabouts.

Kong Ziyi thought about it and indeed felt it wasn’t a big deal. Then she asked another question, "You weren’t sure Elder Qu was nearby, but just now you were so calm. Do you have another ace up your sleeve?"

Despite boasting about Feng Jun’s prowess in front of fellow disciples, saying he wasn’t afraid of Master Busheng or anything, she herself didn’t quite believe it.

She just vaguely felt that Feng Jun’s ability to quietly enter the Wen Family Estate and extract mid-grade Spirit Stones indicated he had some means.

"One must have some kind of ace," Feng Jun replied with a smile, "But I believe Elder Qu won’t sit back and watch the Taiqing be arrogant."

"They got off easy this time," Qu Jianlei scoffed disdainfully, "If it weren’t for worrying about your troubles, I’d kill these little brats."

His words contained some bragging, but if one disregarded the overall situation and used hidden tactics, it might just be possible.

Feng Jun nodded with a smile, "Elder indeed keeps his promises; I can help you with a free divination."

While they were chatting, the four Taiqing figures were also conversing in their quarters.

Everyone was quite shocked by the appearance of the Crimson Phoenix Sect’s Hall of Honor, and Xie Qingyun even remarked, "This matter shouldn’t proceed further; I support Sect Leader Sun’s proposal to give Feng Jun some compensation to ease relations."

Li Zhishen was still a bit unconvinced, "We still need to discuss with the Peak Master and Master Yuanming to hear their thoughts."

Xie Qingyun gave a bitter smile, "What worries me is what the Master of Zixia Peak thinks, after all, she’s the one who invited people."

Lu Wanfeng exploded again, "My master will definitely support me, rest assured about that."

Did your master give you a talisman treasure? Sun Wufeng really wanted to ask, but finally, he said, "Kong junior sister hasn’t come out yet; let’s wait for her to come out and see what she thinks."

It was clear that Kong junior sister couldn’t contact Master Sumiao in Feng Jun’s quarters and would have to return to her own place to act.

They waited for a long time, until dusk, when they finally saw Kong Ziyi come out.

"Junior Sister Kong," Sun Wufeng raised his hand to beckon, "come and sit for a while."

Kong Ziyi didn’t want to strain relations with her fellow disciples, though she felt a bit unwilling, she still walked into their quarters.

As soon as she entered, she directly asked, "Who among you knows the situation with Tang Shixun best?"

"We all know a bit," Sun Wufeng answered seriously, "Feng Jun helped him modify the cultivation technique, supposedly with very good results."

Feng Jun felt he had been a bit impulsive about some things, yet he didn’t understand that girls were quite sensitive to certain things.

Kong Ziyi knew she gave him a glance, and her look likely exposed some inner surprise.

Then, Feng Jun, who seemed lethargic, suddenly perked up and began to debate logically and meticulously, eventually starting a divination.

She understood that it was his reluctance for her to misunderstand, hence he insisted on divining.

She believed her own contribution to today’s events was quite significant, which is why she was so eager to support his argument.

Now facing Sect Leader Sun’s remarks, she smiled indifferently, "Clearly, you haven’t communicated enough with Brother Tang."

Sun Wufeng was stunned when he heard this, "Junior Sister Kong, what do you mean?"

He knew Kong Ziyi was right; he indeed hadn’t communicated much with Tang Shixun because Tang Shixun had been continuously cultivating, and this time the figures dispatched had nothing to do with Wuwei Peak, all he knew was from Master Xiaosong of Kongxing Peak.

Master Xiaosong couldn’t possibly tell lies, but... he could very well have been inadequately comprehensive.

Kong Ziyi smiled, "You really should inquire what price Brother Tang paid for Feng Jun to agree to help modify the cultivation technique."

"What price?" Sun Wufeng was a bit perplexed, "Wasn’t it Spirit Stones?"

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