NOVEL WEB Chapter 20: Are You Worthy of Transcending?
Chapter 20: Are You Worthy of Transcending?
Chapter 20: Are You Worthy of Transcending?
Bai Chan’er
When he finished speaking, the shop assistant walked out of the gate of the horse stable towards a merchant caravan, and exchanged several lines with a man who looked like he was in charge. The shop assistant was repeatedly nodding his head while looking in Xu Disheng’s direction, looking a little embarrassed.
After a short period of time, the shop assistant returned and said with a bitter smile, “This merchant caravan is indeed returning to the Ruyang Region, but…”
“Hm?”
“The person in charge of that merchant caravan said that there’s only one free corner in their caravan. But because they’re a merchant caravan, their carriage is steady and well-built, so the fare will be somewhat more expensive,” the shop assistant said with a stiff expression on his face. The other party had obviously raised the price at the last moment in an unreasonable manner. “Young Daoist, do you still want to go with that merchant caravan, or do you want to use one of the horses from our stable? Our horse-drawn carriages are a lot cheaper. Although there aren’t any free carriages at the moment, if you want about 2 hours or so, there will be a horse carriage returning.”
“It’s no problem if the fare is expensive,” Xu Disheng said. “Go ahead and let them know. Here’s the fare.”
He took a piece of gold out from his sleeves and passed it over to the shop assistant. When he left the Dao Palace earlier, he asked the commanding guard to give him some travel allowance. It was just a few pieces of loose gold, but he didn’t ask for more since he felt that it would be enough to use on the road.
“Young Daoist, this much… only 5 silver taels would be sufficient,” the shop assistant said with a flabbergasted expression as he received the gold. But his hand didn’t loosen at all, and instead he gripped it tighter.
“It’s fine. Consider the remaining amount to be your errand fee, so go ahead and keep it.” Xu Disheng felt that it was troublesome, and he didn’t feel like wasting time on these trifling matters.
“Thank you, young Daoist,” the shop assistant left, feeling joy and excitement.
For a short while, the shop assistant negotiated with the person in charge of the caravan, who could eventually be seen nodding his head. Then, the shop assistant turned around and started beckoning towards Xu Disheng.
Xu Disheng walked over, and the person in charge was clearly surprised by Xu Disheng’s appearance and aura.
“Young Daoist, the only open spot we have on our horse-drawn carriage is a small corner. If you have no objections to that, I can help you aboard the carriage,” the man in charge of the caravan said.
“No objections here,” Xu Disheng said, lightly brushing his sleeves.
The person in charge brought Xu Disheng towards the last carriage in the merchant caravan. The carriage indeed seemed steady and well-built, and the horses pulling the carriages were also excellent.
When the person in charge lifted the curtain, there were already 3 or 4 people inside, and there really was only one small corner spot remaining. Xu Disheng didn’t say anything and just boarded the carriage.
The group of carriages slowly began to move forward. Between the capital city of the You Province, Youyang City, and the Ruyang Region, they had to pass the Wu’an Region and the Lin’an Region. The caravan was going rather slowly, and at this rate it would take a little over a day to reach the Ruyang Region.
Xu Disheng was sitting in the back with his eyes closed and his heart calm, concentrating on absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy and transforming it to Shangqing Profound Qi. Cultivation wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight, and even with such a high level of aptitude, Xu Disheng was never one to slack on it. He would always take advantage of any time he had to further increase his strength.
In the carriage, there were also three female passengers and one other male passenger. The male passenger was a youth who seemed to be dressed like someone from a rich noble family. He was wearing embroidered silk clothes, and had a jade pendant hanging from his waist. From time to time, he would flirt with the woman he was journeying together with, who was sitting next to him. When he saw Xu Disheng get on the carriage, he only shot him a glance and had no other reaction.
The other two female passengers were a master and her servant; a young lady dressed in elegant white clothes, and a black-clothed servant girl.
After Xu Disheng got on the carriage, he sat down in the corner, which was next to this white-clothed young lady. This caused the servant girl to stare at him, but Xu Disheng didn’t pay her any mind and just sat there with both eyes closed as he cultivated.
The Soul Force in Xu Disheng’s sea of consciousness was constantly revolving at all times, so he had long since gotten a clear understanding of what was going on around him. Even with his eyes closed, he could perceive the occasional gazes of the other people on him. But Xu Disheng’s heart was like a still lake, without a single ripple in its clear waters. He just continued to quietly cultivate, silently revolving the Shangqing Profound Laws and concentrating on converting the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy into Shangqing Profound Qi.
The black-clothed servant girl eventually said something. “Miss, the Ruyang Region’s Bai Clan is so unkind to Madame. They haven’t been in contact for more than 10 years, so why do we have to go attend their Transcendence Ceremony?”
“Bai Fanyi has all kinds of faults, but he is still my biological father. Last time, he made an agreement with my mother. He said that when the Transcendence Ceremony came around, I would have to come back to the Bai Clan, and he would find a way to restore the status of me and mother. I guess after all these years, he finally started to feel guilty about what he did.”
The black-clothed servant girl nodded her head and said, “I heard that Bai Xiuyu, with his Grade 5 Dao Channels, has really advanced by leaps and bounds in these last ten or so years. Now that he broke through to the Xiantian realm, they are holding this Transcendence Ceremony for him. The surrounding Regions all sent people to congratulate him, and even the Prince’s envoy went to bestow rewards. Technically, if we look at it closely, Bai Xiuyu could be counted as your older cousin, Miss.”
“I left the Bai Clan along with Mother when I was still a child. It’s already been over 10 years, and aside from Father and Older Uncle, I don’t really remember anyone else from the Bai Clan,” the white-clothed young lady said gently with a light smile on her lips.
“This merchant caravan belongs to the Ruyang Region’s Bai Clan?” a flat voice said from beside them.
The white-clothed young lady slightly turned her head, a somewhat astonished look in her eyes. The one who spoke just now was a handsome young man beside her, who was wearing a black Daoist robe with complex patterns.
She still hadn’t said anything, but that black-clothed servant girl raised her eyebrows and said, “You’re real funny. You don’t even know what clan the carriage you’re riding on belongs to?”
Xu Disheng didn’t respond, and just slowly closed his eyes in thought.
Bai Xiuyu of the Bai Clan broke through to the Xiantian realm? Was it that really arrogant looking youth from the Bai Clan? What a coincidence. No wonder when I left, Senior Martial Brother Zhang had that indescribable look in his eyes.
Transcendence Ceremony? Heh.
This merchant caravan actually belonged to the Ruyang Region’s Bai Clan. However, Xu Disheng had no interest whatsoever in this young lady, Bai Chan’er, or the rest of the Bai Clan’s matters and disputes. It had simply occurred to him that among the people in the Xu Clan, it didn’t seem like any of them had broken through to the Xiantian realm, otherwise he would have heard about it.
The Bai Clan… they clearly weren’t satisfied with their position.
Bai Chan’er cast a sidelong glance at the servant girl and said, “Yun’er, don’t be rude.”
She turned back towards Xu Disheng. “Young… sir, this is indeed a merchant caravan belonging to the Ruyang Region’s Bai Clan.”
When she saw Xu Disheng’s jet black hair hanging down from his fair complexion, and his long eyelashes slightly trembling as his eyes remained shut, she had a hard time referring to him as a young Daoist since he looked more like the son of a rich noble family.
Xu Disheng didn’t spare her a glance and just nodded his head.
Bai Chan’er felt a bit awkward. She turned her gaze back to the servant girl and glared at her for a moment.
Meanwhile, in the Bai Clan’s territory within the city of Jiangdu in the Ruyang Region…
“Esteemed Envoy, the feast has been prepared. You may come in and take your seat,” Bai Fanyu said with a smile. A few years ago, he had been promoted from Young Patriarch to the Patriarch. He now controlled Jiangdu City and was also in charge of the Bai Clan.
The envoy sent from Youyang City was an elderly man. When he heard what was said, he nodded.
He was the envoy of the Prince. A Xiantian realm transcendent appeared within the Bai Clan, and according to the olden rules, this meant they would be conferred rewards. If the current presiding clan of the Region didn’t have a Xiantian, then they would have assumed control. But if they did have a Xiantian, then they would be moved to a new Region, which they would then receive control over. If the clan felt that their Region was too poor, they could also appeal to the Prince to directly move them to another Region, just like the Guo Clan did in the past.
At the feast, there was the elderly envoy, who was seated with the upper ranks of the Bai Clan, and among them was Bai Fanyu. Next to him was the one who recently transcended to the Xiantian realm, Bai Xiuyu.
As 10 years had already passed, the arrogant youth from that time had transformed into a respected scholar who had now reached the Xiantian realm. He had curbed his proud, haughty nature, and an air of dignity could be seen in his movements instead.
He was just sitting there, but it was like he was the center of the room. It had to do with the fact that he had reached the Xiantian realm, as he possessed a truly imposing appearance with his sea of consciousness spread out and his spirit visible about his body. His display was certainly worthy of his status as a genius with Grade 5 Dao Channels.
The Patriarch of the Xu Clan, Xu Chaoyang, also had Grade 5 Dao Channels, but he had already been trapped at the peak of the Houtian realm for several decades, unable to break through to the Xiantian realm. He simply lacked the powers of comprehension and the opportunity.