Xiuxian: I use magnetic fields to prove my truth

Chapter 144 By any means necessary
The return journey was not as rushed as the journey there. Chen Qingxuan deliberately slowed down, giving Zhou Qing, who had never left the sect, a chance to appreciate the scenery of the Western Continent.

The three spent five days on the road before finally returning to the Qingyun Sect.

Chen Qingxuan originally intended to land the flying boat at the Transmission Hall, but in mid-air he saw a group of people standing on the Reception Platform, which the Qingyun Sect had provided for the original guests to land, outside the Zichen Palace.

With his Foundation Establishment cultivation level, he could naturally tell that those people were the sect leader of Qingyun Sect, as well as the other sect leaders and elders.

After a moment's thought, Chen Qingxuan realized that the contract he had signed with the Longevity Sect must have been transmitted back through a long-distance communication array, and these people were there specifically to welcome them.

The Qingyun Sect has detection arrays covering hundreds of miles, so their whereabouts will be known as soon as they enter this territory.

Chen Qingxuan piloted the flying boat and landed at the Respectful Guest Platform.

After Zhou Qing and Qing Yuan disembarked, he put away the flying boat and bowed to the sect leaders and other leaders in turn.

Chen Qingxuan replied with utmost trepidation, "How can I possibly be worthy of being personally greeted by the Sect Leader and Patriarch Xu?"

Master Mu smiled and said, "Master Qingmu sent me a message through the long-distance communication array, praising your achievements in the Longevity Sect and expressing that the two sects should make peace in the future and advance and retreat together in the cultivation world. This is all thanks to you, how can we not be worthy of such praise?"

Chen Qingxuan smiled and said, "It was all Zhou Qing's doing; I dare not take credit for it."

Among those who greeted guests at the Respectful Guest Platform were the Sect Master, Xu Jingfeng, the Head of the Transmission Hall, and three other elders.

They had been waiting for the topic to steer towards what they were eagerly anticipating, so when Chen Qingxuan mentioned Zhou Qing, the outspoken Mao Liang immediately asked, "Zhou Qing, I heard you invented a new talisman. Is that why you're discussing the sale of talismans with the Longevity Sect?"

"The shopkeepers of other shops have all heard about this and are very interested in your new talisman. They have all sent you long-distance messages, wanting to know when you will place the new talisman in their shops."

Zhou Qing had long anticipated that once the news of the new talisman spread, the affiliated families would definitely want a share of the profits.

He had already prepared his explanation, so he smiled and said, "This disciple also wishes to cooperate with you shopkeepers, but unfortunately, my new talismans can only be engraved with the help of a few junior brothers and sisters, and cannot withstand large-scale distribution. I can only sell them selectively in a few shops."

"It's not too late to discuss cooperation with the managers once production increases."

The elders, who were representing the interests of their affiliated families, had come to probe Zhou Qing's intentions. Now, hearing what he said, they knew that Zhou Qing did not intend to disclose the talismans to the sect. Instead, he chose to keep the talismans for himself, have someone engrave them, and then cooperate with the sect to sell them.

Clearly, this kid is no longer the fledgling who was tricked into the anti-Qing and restoration of Ming schemes; he has begun to develop his own cunning.

Everyone found the situation quite challenging.

Mao Liang laughed and said, "How many copies can be made with just a few nominal disciples? Why not gather the apprentices of the Array Academy?"

If we hand it over to the apprentices of the Array Academy, can the array still be preserved?
Zhou Qing sneered inwardly and said, "This disciple is not a member of the Array Academy, so how could I possibly have any connection with the Array Academy?"

"Although the number of copies made is small, the profits are enough for me and my fellow disciples."

"Esteemed elders, I am deeply grateful for Senior Qingmu's trust in entrusting me with the care of Aunt Qingyuan. I also need to arrange accommodations for her. If there is nothing else for you elders, I will take my leave now."

The sect leader smiled and said, "Qingyuan is a guest, so you must not neglect her."

Zhou Qing said, "This disciple understands."

After saying this, he bowed respectfully to the elders and took his leave, then led Qingyuan down the mountain.

Chen Qingxuan handed the contract he had signed with the Longevity Sect to the sect leader. The sect leader read it carefully, smiled and nodded, offered a few words of encouragement, and then let him leave. He then returned to the Purple Palace.

Only Xu Jingfeng and a few elders from the Chuan Gong Hall remained on the guest reception platform.

“Jin Mang, you’re on good terms with Chen Qingxuan, why don’t you step in and plead with him to persuade Zhou Qing to hand over the talisman? We can all do business together.”

Mao Liang said.

Jin Mang was not particularly prejudiced among the elders and had previously been very supportive of Chen Qingxuan. However, he himself came from a subordinate family.

Seeing the business opportunities in Zhou Qingxin's talismans, he naturally hoped that his family could also get a share of the profits.

Jin Mang said, "It would have been fine before, but now that Zhuo Sha has returned, Qing Xuan and the others are all under her control. Even if I can persuade Qing Xuan, how can I persuade Zhuo Sha?"

"Moreover, in my opinion, Zhou Qing is a very principled person who cannot be swayed by others. Even if Qingxuan agrees to help persuade him, it may not be able to change his mind."

"We can only think of other solutions at home."

Mao Liang asked, "What other way?"

Jin Mang said, "Elder Mao Liang is a man of great wisdom and usually has the most ideas. Why are you asking me?"

Mao Liang laughed and said, "If you're talking about solutions, I do have one."

The group of people perked up and asked, "What's the plan?"

Mao Liang said, "It is said that Wei Kuang was the one who inscribed the formation for Zhou Qing. Wei Kuang is the closest to Elder Jin, so he can't disobey you. Why don't you have him secretly write down the formation from memory?"

Jin Mang was startled and said, "Stealing someone else's formation is a serious taboo!"

Mao Liang sneered, "Since Zhou Qing doesn't hand over the formation to the sect, his private formation is naturally not protected by the sect. Even if it is stolen, he can't blame anyone else."

Jin Mang said, "That may be true, but for a prestigious sect to steal a disciple's formation is ultimately unbecoming."

Seeing that he was still hesitant, Mao Liang became a little impatient and was about to add fuel to the fire when he heard a dry cough from beside him.

The three elders all faced Xu Jingfeng respectfully.

Xu Jingfeng said, "As long as the purpose is good, some flaws in the methods are acceptable."

“Zhou Qing, as a member of the Qingyun Sect, is subject to the Qingyun Sect’s formations, yet he controls the formations for personal gain. If the formations were taken and widely sold in the Qingyun Sect’s shops, it would benefit the entire sect.”

"Compared to the other two, stealing the formation is nothing."

Jin Mang still felt uneasy, but what the leader said made sense, so he couldn't refuse outright and had no choice but to agree.

Zhou Qing led Qingyuan back to Ziyun Mountain.

He stood outside his courtyard and looked around for a while, then pointed to the bamboo grove next to his courtyard and said, "I'll have the servants build a new courtyard for you here. How about you live here from now on?"

Qingyuan asked, "Don't you have other rooms in your courtyard? Why did you build a separate one?"

Zhou Qing said, "I don't like living in the same courtyard as other people."

Qingyuan said, "Alright then, could you build my courtyard right next to yours?"

"can."

"Could I make a gate in my yard that leads to your yard?"

"No."

Zhou Qing shook his head: "If you need anything, you can just knock on my door."

(End of this chapter)