Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 505 - 505 0347 You Are More Suited to Free-Range

Chapter 505: Chapter 0347 You Are More Suited to Free-Range Living_2 Chapter 505: Chapter 0347 You Are More Suited to Free-Range Living_2 Zhao Puxue could not help but despise Qi Tian. Because of him, he received the first slap of his life from King Zhangbei, Zhao Donghao. What’s worse, Qi Tian demanded that he, a dignified prince, kneel outside the gate of the Imperial Master Mansion for three days. Wasn’t this trampling all over his dignity and reputation for all the world to see?

Zhao Donghao’s gaze flickered and after a long while, he sighed faintly, saying, “Son, I hope your speculation is correct. Otherwise, our King Zhangbei’s Manor will surely fall into an irreparable state.”

“Father, rest assured. The Crown Prince is furious upon learning that his eunuch Wang Gong was half beaten to death by Qi Tian. He has vowed to make Qi Tian pay. We just need to sit back and enjoy the show.” Zhao Puxue said confidently.

Upon leaving the King Zhangbei Manor, Qi Tian looked back for a glimpse at this once unattainable mansion, shaking his head secretly. He had given Zhao Donghao a chance; whether he could seize it depended on Zhao Donghao’s judgment. If Zhao Donghao missed this opportunity, Qi Tian would not hesitate to abandon him, and Zhao Donghao’s name would surely be excluded from his list of future partners.

Qi Tian headed back towards the Imperial Master Mansion. When he reached the square in front of the Mansion, he stopped and took out several prepared message paper cranes, sending them off into various directions.

The paper cranes flew up from his palm, quickly heading in different directions. Soon, a man arrived from outside, glanced around, saw Qi Tian and promptly approached him. Bowing his head, he greeted Qi Tian, “Master.”

Qi Tian nodded and said, “You may stand to the side for now.”

Pan Yulin didn’t dare to speak much. He originally served in the Marquis Jingguo Manor. But after a bitter fight with Qi Tian, he lost and to save his life, he had to sign a servant pact with Qi Tian, binding him for thirty years. In all this time, Qi Tian had not summoned him once, so Pan Yulin believed Qi Tian had forgotten and abandoned him. But today, upon receiving Qi Tian’s summons, he had rushed here as fast as he could, for fear of being late and angering Qi Tian.

Not much later, another cultivator arrived and bowed to Qi Tian. “Master.”

Qi Tian nodded and said, “Wang Shuqing, you are here too. Move there and stand with Pan Yulin.”

Wang Shuqing walked to where Pan Yulin stood. Without any hesitation, he took a spot in front of Pan Yulin. Pan Yulin narrowed his eyes. He was annoyed but did not dare to speak out as he could feel that Wang Shuqing was stronger than him.

Wang Shuqing didn’t care about Pan Yulin’s resentment. His eyes were zealously fixed on Qi Tian. Unlike Pan Yulin, he had enthusiastically chosen Qi Tian’s side at the battle of Tongmen West Pass and was allowed to follow Qi Tian. When Qi Tian left Great Zhao to venture into Chi Di, he was not given permission to follow, so he stayed behind at Tongmen West Pass and then moved to Zhangshui City, buying a house there.

Wang Shuqing and Pan Yulin were old acquaintances. They had fought alongside Qi Tian at Tongmen West Pass. Although they didn’t get along, they moved to Zhangshui City together, but they did not live together.

Wang Shuqing had heard about how Qi Tian dealt with the three Special Envoys sent by the Crown Prince. Admiring Qi Tian’s tactics and powerful abilities, he was envious and genuinely believed that following such a Family Master would secure his own future.

Qi Tian waited for a while longer before another latecomer, a cultivator with a far lesser cultivation level than Wang Shuqing’s Foundation Establishment Stage 5 or Pan Yulin’s Foundation Establishment Stage 3, arrived. He knelt before Qi Tian, “Greetings, Master.”

“Brother Guan Xun, please rise quickly. Haven’t I told you? From now on, just greet me when you see me. There’s no need for such an elaborate salute.” Qi Tian hurriedly helped Guan Xun up with his hand.

Guan Xun got up from the ground and said, “One cannot discard formalities, they should be observed. Master, may I ask why you have summoned me? Do you have any orders?”

Qi Tian said: “Alright, everyone is here. I’ve brought everyone together for two reasons. First, so that everyone can meet each other and know who is with us and who is not. Brother Guan Xun, this is Wang Shuqing and this is Pan Yulin.”

Since Guan Xun was only at the Qi Cultivation Period, he respectfully greeted Wang Shuqing and Pan Yulin immediately. Neither of the latter two dared to accept his courtesy, hadn’t they seen Qi Tian calling him ‘brother’? Both of them quickly deflected the honor.

Once their mutual greetings ended, Qi Tian said: “The second matter concerns my official appointment. I’ve been elected as the Acting County Master of Lubei County, and it’s been over a year. It would be inappropriate not to take office any longer. This time, I won’t deal with any external affairs, I must become the County Master. You all, pack up and be ready to go with me. By the way, Brother Guan Xun, have you made the preparations I asked you to?”

Guan Xun hurriedly replied: “All preparations have been made ahead of time. However, I have been incapable of recruiting enough people. Even now, I’ve only managed to recruit two people in the Qi Cultivation Period, and no one in the Foundation Establishment Stage.”

Qi Tian chuckled and said: “Having two people in the Qi Cultivation Period is enough. We are becoming the County Master, not the County Maste. Having our own forces will be sufficient. All of you, hurry up and prepare, we will set off tomorrow.”

Qi Tian was their absolute core. Once he made a decision, no one protested. This was a mark of respect that Qi Tian had earned with his accomplishments.

Wang Shuqing, Pan Yulin, and Guan Xun dared not waste time. They quickly packed their belongings, ready to accompany Qi Tian to take office the next day.

Qi Tian turned and walked into the Imperial Master Mansion. He first went to see the master of Sky Eagle Hall, Luo Xia, and briefed him on his plans to leave the Imperial Master Mansion tomorrow to become the County Master.

Luo Xia knew that Qi Tian and Wen Jian, the future Mansion Master and key disciple of the current Mansion Master, had a strained relationship. For some reason, Wen Jian was somewhat hostile to Qi Tian. Although it hadn’t reached the point of irreconcilable differences, it was quite clear that they disliked each other. When compared to Wen Jian, Qi Tian fell far behind in many aspects, especially in terms of rooting himself in Imperial Master Mansion where he was far less influential than Wen Jian. Even Luo Xia, who greatly admired Qi Tian, would choose to side with Wen Jian over him if the need arose.

“That’s good, Qi Tian. It might be for the best that you’re leaving now. I understand now–you thrive in the open, much like a wildflower, facing wind and rain, yet with the freedom and ease of the heavens and earth. Confining you in the Imperial Master Mansion may not be a good idea. However, remember that no matter where you go, you’re a part of our Sky Eagle Hall. No matter when you’re wronged or need help, don’t forget to inform me. I can’t guarantee others, but I, Luo Xia, will stand by you.” Luo Xia pledged, thumping his chest.

“Thank you, Master. Since you don’t object, please inform the Great Elder and grant me permission to leave,” said Qi Tian.

Luo Xia nodded. Normally, Qi Tian would need the consent of Mansion Master Xiao Xiaowu to leave the Manor and take office at Lubei County. But Qi Tian’s situation was unique. This matter had been dragging on for over a year now, and the Mansion Master had already prepared the relevant documents for Qi Tian. No further approval was needed. He just needed to take the documents to take up his role as the County Master.

The Mansion Master was currently in the Capital City, and the documents were being held by the Great Elder Chen Chen. If Chen Chen did not object, Qi Tian could take the documents.