Chapter 93
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The Guiyuan in the human world had finally closed.
The surging Yellow Springs return to the Underworld, the rolling black miasma dissipated into nothingness, and the ominous clouds that obscured the sky finally scatter, revealing daylight.
Most of the fierce ghosts and unjust spirits that have been suppressed in the depths of the Yellow Springs for hundreds of years were intentionally released by Qu Xie. They roamed the streets and alleys, causing grievances everywhere, haunting every household. Therefore, within the nine-nine eighty one days after Qu Xie was suppressed, the major aristocratic families were all busy setting up altars to perform rituals and transcendence ceremonies for these souls. All sect masters were overwhelmed with work, and even Mu Duozhu, who specialized in treating the living, couldn’t escape. He was forcibly dragged out by Changsun Chengfeng to set up an altar, holding the book ‘Supreme Transcendence Sutra,’ reciting day and night with a dizzy head.
Xu Shuangce’s least favorite thing in his life was reciting scriptures. Holding a small fox, he came out from the Guiyuan. As soon as he saw this scene, he immediately wanted to leave. However, before he could take two steps, he was grabbed by Changsun Chengfeng and the others from the Xuanmen sect, crying and clinging to his sleeves, begging and dragging him back. They even temporarily built a temple for Xu Shuangce, complete with shrines, incense burners, and fruit trays. Wen Xiuyang and the disciples of Cangyang Sect knelt down in the temple, eagerly waiting for Xu Shuangce to use his divine power to save the souls.
Changsun Chengfeng originally intended to deal with Gong Wei, but Gong Wei was so clever. He silently shrank his tail and acted like a small fox. His two round eyes were full of the pain and regret of overusing his divine power. After a sincere moment of eye contact with the little fox, Changsun Chengfeng inevitably backed down as expected. He had to arrest Yuchi Rui, who sneaked out to eat peanuts, and unfortunately, the next head of the alliance was imprisoned in a dark room and recited scriptures for two months alive.
After nine-nine eighty one days, millions of souls were transcended, gradually departing from the human world to the Guiyuan to be reincarnated, and peace was finally restored everywhere.
This achievement could be described as extraordinary. The Yellow Springs, which had suppressed countless souls, were almost cleared out, indicating that the grandmasters had accomplished what the Ghost Crown Prince had failed to do for centuries.
But while the human world was cleared, the internal reconstruction of the various sects within the Xuanmen sect was still extremely difficult. The Ascension Immortal Platform collapsed, the Tui’e was leveled, and countless descendants of the major aristocratic families were dead or injured. Even established clans like Cangyang Sect and Yejinmen suffered severe losses.
To rebuild, money was needed.
When Ying Kai was still the head of the alliance, he once ordered a huge sum of money to be deposited in the Immortal Alliance, totaling one million taels of gold. Normally, no one was allowed to touch it, only to be used specifically after unprecedented natural disasters, allocated to the Xuanmen sects for post-disaster relief and reconstruction, which coincidentally applied to the current situation. However, this dedicated one million taels of gold could only be allocated by the head of the alliance, and without one, it couldn’t be distributed. Therefore, after peace was restored in the human world, the strongest desire of the Xuanmen sects was to quickly establish the next head of the alliance.
Ying Kai’s last wish was for Yuchi Rui to take over the Immortal Alliance. Normally, there would definitely be someone who would loudly oppose it. However, unexpectedly, this time it passed unanimously, with all major families obedient like quails, without even a voice of doubt.
Changsun Chengfeng, who was responsible for overseeing the vote, was greatly relieved to see this. So, together with Mu Duozhu, they went to invite Yuchi Rui out of seclusion. However, when Yuchi Rui, who was sitting at home eating peanuts and reading ‘Sword Washing Collection,’ heard the news, his whole body trembled. Slowly lifting his head, although his handsome face showed no expression, his pupils were clearly trembling: “…Why not let Gong Wei go.”
Changsun Chengfeng earnestly said, “The Mirror Immortal said that the Heavenly Dao doesn’t interfere with worldly affairs; everything in the mortal realm has its own causes and effects.”
Yuchi Rui immediately replied, “Xu Shuangce isn’t the Heavenly Dao; Xu Shuangce is the ascension of a mortal.”
“Eastern Heaven God said, money is acceptable, but effort is not.”
“…” Yuchi Rui’s gaze shifted, pointing to Mu Duozhu hiding in the corner, “The Medical Sect Master is the oldest.”
This statement was correct. Mu Duozhu, who appeared to be young, had actually lived for over a hundred years and was indeed the most experienced among them all. However, Changsun Chengfeng shook his head regretfully, “Brother Mu said neither money nor effort is acceptable; being the head of the alliance would hinder him from making money.”
Yuchi Rui glared at Mu Duozhu, while Mu Duozhu pretended to appreciate the calligraphy and painting on the wall.
After a stalemate, Yuchi Rui had to turn his gaze to the last candidate in the world—Changsun Chengfeng, and solemnly said, “You possess both virtue and talent, and are the one whom everyone hopes for.”
Changsun Chengfeng immediately declined, “No, I’m shallow in skill and insufficiently qualified.”
Yuchi Rui insisted, “You supervised the transcending of souls.”
Changsun Chengfeng clasped his hands in gratitude, “That was a collective effort of all fellow immortals, with the laborious contributions of Eastern Heaven God.”
Yuchi Rui continued, “But Eastern Heaven God was persuaded to stay by you building the temple.”
“To be honest, that temple was built in a great hurry, with only three mud-brick rooms.”
Yuchi Rui didn’t give up, “You also oversaw the vote to decide the head of the alliance.”
“The affairs of the Immortal Alliance are what everyone desires; it’s not solely my merit!” Changsun Chengfeng was sweating coldly, “The Sword Sect Master is the aspiration of all Xuanmen sects. Please, please don’t refuse again!”
“…”
Yuchi Rui frowned, finally harboring deep suspicions, “Impossible, with your dedication, how come nobody from the Xuanmen sects nominated you to be the head of the alliance?”
Changsun Chengfeng stammered, unable to speak.
Mu Duozhu in the corner couldn’t bear it anymore and sighed, “Indeed, everyone is afraid when they see how diligent he is.”
Yuchi Rui was astonished, “Afraid of what?”
“Don’t you think if he continues like this, he’ll easily become another Ying Kai?” Mu Duozhu said with a heavy heart.
The room fell into a dead silence. Yuchi Rui stared at Changsun Chengfeng, who looked innocent, for a long time but couldn’t find a reason to refute.
Finally, Yuchi Rui, living up to everyone’s expectations… or rather, at his wits’ end, assumed the position of head of the alliance amidst the eager gazes of the Xuanmen sects.
However, even before the Immortal Alliance could be rebuilt or the succession ceremony held, on the morning after taking office, Yuchi Rui understood why everyone had been avoiding the position of head of the alliance.
“Reconstruction funds?” Yuchi Rui raised his head from ‘Sword Washing Collection,’ eating peanuts, inexplicably asking, “Allocated? Why hasn’t it been allocated yet?”
Changsun Chengfeng visited once again, nervously rubbing his hands across the table, “The former head of the alliance saved a million taels of gold for this.”
Ying Kai lived frugally and had a simple lifestyle. His favorite thing to do was to save money. Yuchi Rui naturally responded, “Hmm?”
“… He put the money in… Tui’e’s treasure basin.”
“And then?”
Changsun Chengfeng hesitated to speak, finally forcing himself to say, “When the World Ending Soldier Puppet flattened Tui’e with a single blow, the entire Dai Mountain collapsed, and the treasure basin was… smashed into pieces.”
Yuchi Rui’s gaze instantly froze.
“Now the Immortal Alliance doesn’t even have a single penny.” Changsun Chengfeng gathered his courage to look at Yuchi Rui, his gaze carrying the common hope of all cultivators in the world, “Lord Yuchi Rui, could you… give out the money?”
Clang!
The special issue of the latest Kaiyuan Miscellaneous News, titled ‘Newly Appointed Alliance Leader Yuchi Changsheng, Full Collection of Heroic Portraits!’ slipped out of the ‘Sword Washing Collection’ and fell on the table.
After a long period of bewilderment, Yuchi Rui seemed to suddenly awaken from shock. He grabbed the divine sword, Rakshasa Tower, staggered to his feet, and began to leave.
Changsun Chengfeng hurriedly followed, “Changsheng! Changsheng, don’t act impulsively! I’ll lend you ten… twenty thousand taels. Please don’t do something foolish!”
Yuchi Rui didn’t look back. He squeezed out a few words from his clenched teeth, “Going to Mount Cangyang. Borrow money.”
The Cangyang Sect was the first in the world to start rebuilding their sect. Sect Master Xu was always rich enough to rival a nation; the Immortal Alliance’s funds weren’t needed. They didn’t care about that money.
Since he had ascended, Xu Shuangce should have left the mortal realm and returned to the celestial realm. However, the Cangyang Sect had yet to choose a successor, and the succession ceremony for the head of the alliance hadn’t been held. Therefore, he was still temporarily residing in Cangyang Mountain, continuing to act as the nominal head of the Cangyang Sect.
When the new head of the alliance and the Iron Sect Master visited, the senior disciple, Wen Xiuyang, hurriedly came to greet them. However, Yuchi Rui didn’t wait for him. He wielded his sword and flew to the rear mountain, following a familiar path to the Xuanji Palace. There, on the peach blossom tree in front of the palace, a little fox was dozing off. It perked up curiously and peeked out as they approached.
Yuchi Rui quickly grabbed Changsun Chengfeng, then hid behind a tree, waving at the little fox.
“?”
Gong Wei, puzzled, jumped down from the tree and hurried over to them.
Yuchi Rui squatted down and looked into its eyes, asking, “Could you lend me one million taels of gold?”
The little fox immediately showed a fierce look and spoke human words, “Do I look like one million taels to you?”
Yuchi Rui nodded, “Understood.”
Then he pulled out a rope from his pocket, swiftly tied up the little fox’s head, made a knot, and handed it to Changsun Chengfeng.
Gong Wei, “!”
Changsun Chengfeng trembled as he held the little fox, almost throwing the supreme god out of fear. He asked tremblingly, “Changsheng, what are you trying to do?!”
Yuchi Rui gave him a stern look that said “be quiet,” then took out a peanut from his pocket and warned in a low voice, “Don’t move. Whether you can extort one million taels from Xu Shuangce is up to you.”
“…”
The little fox and Changsun Chengfeng watched as Yuchi Rui turned around, took a deep breath, gripped the Rakshasa Tower, and stepped confidently onto the wide white jade steps in front of the Xuanji Palace. He pushed open the palace door, then crossed the threshold with determination.
“The Alliance leader has graced us with his presence. What is the matter?” came Xu Shuangce’s calm voice from inside the palace.
Clang! Yuchi Rui slammed his sword into the ground and tensely said, “Gong Wei is already in our hands. I beg Sect Master Xu for a loan!”
Outside, both the human and the fox felt their hearts in their throats. They heard Xu Shuangce fall silent for a moment before asking, “How much do you need?”
“One million taels of gold!”
“…”
Every second felt excruciatingly long, and even the seemingly calm Yuchi Rui felt his leg cramp up. After a while, Xu Shuangce’s voice echoed in the hall once again. He chuckled lightly and mocked, “Only one million taels.”
The peanuts in the little fox’s claws scattered on the ground.
“…” Changsun Chengfeng murmured, voicing the question on everyone’s mind, “Just how wealthy is Sect Master Xu?”
Half an hour later, Yuchi Rui, holding the bewildered little fox, handed over his lifelong friend, brother, and sworn brother to Xu Shuangce personally. He said solemnly, “He’s yours.”
Then, without hesitation, he turned and left the Cangyang Sect with the one million taels gold note signed and sealed by Sect Master Xu.
The little fox blinked its eyes and watched Yuchi Rui’s departing figure. It slowly said, “…It seems like I know how much I’m worth in Changsheng’s heart now.”
Then it turned over and, with a thud, turned into Gong Wei, hooking his arms around Xu Shuangce’s neck affectionately, saying, “But I still don’t know how much I’m worth in Xu Bai’s heart.”
Xu Shuangce glanced at him calmly, not answering the question.
Gong Wei didn’t mind, sitting in Xu Shuangce’s arms, he announced happily, “I belong to Xu Bai now.”
The silk robe he had draped lazily when he got up this morning hung loosely on his shoulders, slipping down on one side with his movements, revealing the fair and deep collarbones. Above the hollow of his shoulder, there was also a bright red seal character “Xu”―distinct and striking.
Xu Shuangce’s gaze fell on it, and he raised his hand to stroke the imprint with his thumb, making a low “mmm” sound.
Gong Wei lowered his head, using this posture, he used his teeth to pull Xu Shuangce’s sleeve, deftly rolling up the inner sleeve. Only then did Xu Shuangce’s sturdy arm finally appear, with another red letter, engraved deeply above the inner side of his right wrist―”Wei.”
“Xu Bai belongs to me,” Gong Wei turned his head, his eyes twinkling as he looked at Xu Shuangce, happily saying.
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