Lord of the Desert

Chapter 480 Fish
The Qingtian Hall is the second largest hall of the Qingdi Zhenzong.

Hong Fan originally thought that the next discussion would be a private one, but he did not expect that there were already seven people at the table, two of whom, Yuan Ting and Yue Zhi, were obviously veteran innates.

But the person sitting above them, at the head of the guest seats on the left, was actually a young man in his twenties with fair skin and steep features.

"This is Chu Jianshou from Tongtian Sword Sect, and this is Hong Zishou from Zhangwu Academy..."

Xin Wencheng's recommendation has special significance.

"It's Brother Chu from Chu Jian Pavilion who has the 'Wudang Divine Sword'."

Hong Fan looked at the "Sky Sword Piercing the Clouds" emblem embroidered on the other person's chest and bowed in greeting.

"When did Brother Chu arrive?"

He did not ask the other party's purpose, nor did he care about the origins of the Qingdi Zhen Sect and the Tianjian Sect.

"last night."

Chu Jiange looked at him and replied with only two words.

"I see."

Hong Fan nodded and sat down on the right side of the empty guest seat without hesitation.

The purpose of Qingdi Zhenzong's Foreign Affairs Hall Master's visit last night is now clear, which is nothing more than to borrow the power of Zhongtian Sword Sect's senior brother.

But the more this happened, the more Hong Fan realized that the other party was lacking in confidence.

Before Xin Wencheng brought the guests in, there was a lot of conversation in the Qingtian Hall; but now that the two geniuses were sitting opposite each other, there was only silence.

"Senior Xin, what we are discussing today is an important matter. I'm afraid it would be inconvenient with so many people here. How about changing the venue?"

Hong Fan spoke first.

"Our sect has always been upright in its conduct, and all of you here are of the same blood and are not outsiders. Hong Zishou, if you have anything to say, please feel free to speak up."

Xin Wencheng naturally declined.

"Since you don't mind, I'll tell you straight away. The Martial Arts Academy has received accurate information that your family's land holdings are in disarray and a large amount of tax evasion has taken place."

Hong Fan returned immediately.

"Hong's trip was for this matter. Before I left Beijing, the head of the mountain told me clearly that if your family takes the initiative to clear the land and pay the tax, we can treat you leniently."

Xin Wencheng was stunned when he heard this.

He didn't expect the other party to lay the matter out so clearly in public.

"This matter is completely false, it must be a frame-up by a villain!"

Xin Wenben instinctively refuted.

"Whether it exists or not, you have to check to know; if it really doesn't exist, then you don't have to be afraid to check."

Hong Fan smiled calmly.

"During this period, the Ministry of Revenue's Director Zhen has made some progress. If you are willing to cooperate, the truth will soon be revealed."

"Hong Zishou, our sect is certainly not afraid of investigation, but it is an overstepping of authority for the Zhangwu Academy to handle this matter."

Of course, this sentence could not force Xin Wencheng.

"Taxation is handled by the city guards and the deputy governors at the lowest level, and by the provincial governors at the highest level. If the court wants to measure the land, it will send inspectors or officials. The Military Academy has been established for a hundred years and has never interfered in local government affairs."

"It is the duty of the head of the martial arts academy to supervise and lead the sects of the world. How can it be said that he has exceeded his authority?"

Hong Fan replied without hesitation.

"To be frank, your clan has deep roots in Cangxu City. On what basis does the City Guard inspect your taxes?"

The two exchanged sharp words for several times, and no one else dared to interrupt.

"It is not possible for us to explain the order of the laws and regulations at once, but our ancestor has not been in the immortal world for long, and his body has not been in the state for three months. Can you really feel at ease while being so aggressive?"

Xin Wencheng's face was solemn and he looked extremely sincere when he said this.

"Hong Zishou, you are young and full of energy, and you may think that you can do whatever you want, but Xin has a piece of advice for you - taking advantage of someone's misfortune is not something a kind person would do; and forcing something to be done is not something a wise person would do!"

A sad voice rose from the seat, echoing through the beams, passing through the hall, and spreading among the rustling leaves in the forest, filling the hall with a desolate feeling.

Several foreign guests were moved and wanted to join in the conversation. Their eyes wandered over and over again on the heavy purple silk clothing of the man sitting on the right, but in the end they said nothing.

"Senior Xin, you know best where your family is in danger and why they fell into the well. The right and wrong are clear to you."

Hong Fan sighed, feeling bored with the debate.

"The Qing Emperor True Sect has a long history and profound heritage, and it doesn't need those crooked accounts; as long as the military luck is still there, returning the land and paying the taxes will not damage the reputation much."

"I only have one piece of advice left - trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm is the worst possible strategy!"

As soon as these words were spoken, several people in the hall breathed heavily and gnashed their teeth.

"Hong Fan, my master knew last night that you were coming to worship the ancestors, and ordered us to treat you as the guest of honor."

It was Zhang Angxiong who spoke again.

"Before, you wore a purple robe and refused to kneel before the spirit. Considering your identity as a Tiqi, I gave up. But now, you have the Qingtian Palace on your head. How can you say that you are a mantis trying to stop a chariot?!"

A loud shout was heard from the hall, and in a moment it spread over half of the hilltop. At the same time, Zhang Angxiong actually crushed the hard wooden armrest under his palm.

Hong Fan leaned back in his chair and glanced at this former genius who had been knocked off the list at the 41st place two years ago.

"Forget it. I know that you guys are getting aggressive several times just to make sure I come to your house and force you to do it."

He supported his chin with his hand and glanced at the dozen or so warriors present, especially Chu Jiange, who had remained expressionless and silent.

"If you think this trick is useful, I will help you. If you don't want to believe in Hong's reputation, please give it a try!"

In just a moment, the eyes of several people from the Qingdi Zhenzong changed.

"Watch out!"

The young disciple standing behind Xin Wencheng rushed forward, drew his sword and stabbed forward.

As time goes by, the ordinary attacks of communication between heaven and man have become a breeze to Hong Fan.

He swung the sword with his knuckles, then grabbed the middle of the sword with his backhand.

With a crisp sound, the brute force far beyond that of his peers, enhanced by the dragon blood, was instantly unleashed, breaking the fine steel cleanly and decisively.

Just this one move made the eyes of several veteran innates narrow.

"How brave!"

Zhang Angxiong stood up proudly, and the broken wooden handrail in his hand sprouted rapidly, taking shape into a sharp sword in half a breath.

This move is none other than the most famous unique skill of the Qingdi Zhenzong, the "Cangqing Sword Soul".

The wooden sword slashed through the air, and the sword body stretched out more than a foot like a whip.

Hong Fan snorted coldly, stomped his foot on the ground, and forced a high-speed stream of sand out from the gaps between the tiles to intercept him in mid-air.

Amid the sound of collision, a whistling wind was heard.

Zhang Angxiong did not retreat even a single step, instead he urged the remaining wood in his palm to wrap around his arm and grow in a spiral, expanding into a conical arm armor covered in thorns, blocking the flying steel sword tip.

Two years after being off the list, his cultivation had further improved and he had reached the innate three-in-one state.

"What a thorny iron curtain!"

Hong Fan's unrestrained laughter rose up like a wolf's smoke.

"I'll teach you that there are also high and low among the geniuses!" He left his chair and was about to condense the sand armor when he suddenly felt a danger approaching.

The blazing tide is instant.

The deformed and shrunken wooden chair suddenly burst into flames. The raging fire enveloped Hong Fan like a cloak, burning his purple silk clothes and making them sparkle.

"If you don't want to be decent, I can fulfill it."

Hong Fan followed the flow of innate spiritual energy and stared at Xin Wencheng.

The wind and sand were flying and swirling, and the air was distorted by the heat. A hot wind hell that could destroy cities and strongholds was brewing, and several innate masters in the hall were so frightened that they quickly fled outside.

Xin Wencheng felt very regretful at this moment.

Although he has the innate five-combination cultivation, his overall combat power is only slightly higher than Zhang Angxiong's due to the limitations of his overall talent, and he has no ability to save the Qingtian Palace in the hot wind hell.

"Chu Jianshou!"

In the critical moment, Xin Wencheng had to ask for help.

From nowhere, an invisible sword appears.

A dazzling light leaped up in Hong Fan's peripheral vision, shocking him so much that his hair stood on end. He gave up attacking and turned to defense. When he regained his composure, it was as if nothing had happened, except for a tuft of hair from his neck that fell in the wind.

This was his first time to come into close contact with the sword energy of the "Tongtian Sword Sutra". Although the two words were just reversed in order, it was completely different from the sword energy of Jinhai Li's family - the latter started from the physical object and ended at the innate spiritual energy, while the former started from the innate spiritual energy and ended at some higher and incomprehensible level.

The Hot Wind Hell died halfway.

This sword energy certainly saved the Qingtian Palace, but it also fueled Hong Fan's fighting spirit.

"It is courtesy to have give and take."

He turned around abruptly, gathered sand and dust on his arms, and shot Chu Jiange in the face from about ten feet away.

The latter did not hide.

The sword energy was released again, easily cutting the bullet, but the rock bullet, which was split into two, passed by closely, leaving a slight burn mark.

"Brother Chu, how about this sword?"

Seeing that he did not hide, Hong Fan restrained his expression and asked.

"Stone bullets are not swords."

Chu Jiange raised his head and replied.

"It's so sharp and faster than thunder, how can it not be considered a sword?"

Hong Fan asked with a smile.

"My teacher once said that appearance is real, but not permanent; the more you cling to appearance, the further you are from your mind."

Chu Jiange frowned and replied with something that seemed irrelevant. Hong Fan did not comment.

But Xin Wencheng, who had been waiting for a long time, could not let go of this opportunity: "Hong Zishou is pressing me hard, so I, Xin, shamelessly ask Young Master Chu to do justice!"

Upon hearing this, all the Qingdi Zhenzong members in the hall showed hope on their faces.

Sand flowed out from the cracks between the bricks, forming a second armchair.

Hong Fan turned around and sat down, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"Qu Luoyi once exchanged ideas with Brother Chu, and I am on good terms with him. I was also saved by the Sword Saint in Erbai City, so I am arrogant and call you Senior Brother Chu."

He leaned his hands on his knees and stared towards Chu Jiange.

"Brother Chu, the martial arts academy wants justice, but I'm afraid it's not easy for the Tianjian Sect to preside over it."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall, which was apparently silent, seemed to have a strong wind.

Xin Wencheng, Zhang Angxiong and others were so angry that their mouths were dry and they all stared at one person.

Chu Jiange lowered his head in silence, and considered his words for a long time before replying.

"Seven years ago, I visited the Zhen Sect and was in this Qingtian Palace receiving guidance from the old Sect Master Yang. That's why I couldn't see the fighting at his funeral."

Just as everyone in Zhenzong's family was delighted, he uttered the word "but".

"But the land tax investigation of the Martial Academy is a public matter. I dare not interfere without the order of my master."

"it is good!"

Hong Fan praised loudly.

"After hearing what Senior Brother Chu said, Senior Xin, are you willing to explain?"

Silence was like an iron chisel, driving into the nails of everyone in the hall.

"Zhenzong is innocent and has nothing to explain."

Xin Wencheng gritted his teeth and held on.

Hong Fan sneered and nodded, then stood up suddenly.

"The senior just said that the martial arts academy took advantage of someone's misfortune, but Du Tianshang followed the law of the country and did not avoid human feelings. As for whether this matter can be done, it depends on your means."

He said the last words, shook his clothes and went out.

A quarter of an hour later, everyone else had left the Qingtian Hall, leaving only Xin Wencheng and his disciple sitting opposite each other in vain.

"Master, Shanzhang is the leader of the martial arts world. Even if we force Hong Fan to retreat, we can't force the entire Zhangwu Academy to retreat..."

Zhang Angxiong changed his previous fierce attitude, endured for a long time, and whispered to persuade.

"What do you mean?"

Xin Wencheng leaned back in his chair with his head raised, his face pale.

"My disciple, why don't we just admit it? A real man can bend and stretch. We can afford to pay back the taxes for ten years..."

What Zhang Angxiong waited for was his master's wry smile.

"It's not that I don't want to, but do you think we have any choice now?"

Xin Wencheng opened his mouth and took a deep breath.

"Our Zhen Sect has a history of three hundred years. Although its influence has declined over the years, it should not be difficult to raise some funds."

"But Guan Qimai is like a wild bear from Qingzhou. Everyone knows that if he makes a hole in the beehive, not a single drop of honey will be left!"

"These days, I have begged and begged many people, all of whom are powerful figures in Qingzhou. Everyone said that this opportunity cannot be opened. We must test the determination of the Zhangwu Academy on the land transfer issue..."

When he said this, his face turned grim.

"Try? Try with what?"

Zhang Angxiong clenched his fists and his face flushed.

"So now you understand."

Xin Wencheng smiled hollowly.

"Think about Tai Suyan who is in charge of the Martial Academy, and the Three Law Departments' Destiny Masters; it's nothing more than Shenjing using us as chickens to warn monkeys, and Qingzhou using us as stones to test knives."

"The two thousand taels Qi Hongkuang sent to me the other day was not an apology as you thought, but a gift for his life. But last night Chu Jian Pavilion refused our gift, so who can Zhenzong buy his life from?"

"With the departure of our Grandmaster, the Qing Emperor True Sect has fallen from being a knife to being a piece of meat."

"That's all."

PS: Brothers, I was really helpless this month and hardly wrote anything. I can only give you a private Marseille of red bean paste!
Now that Auntie has been replaced, we have moved back to Shanghai with Nailong. The main base has been successfully launched. Let’s work hard in April!
(End of this chapter)