When Kong Hou said she would discuss the cultivation method with everyone, everyone was very happy.
But reality quickly told everyone that the reason geniuses are called geniuses is because they have terrifying comprehension abilities. They simply couldn’t understand what this cultivation method meant.
Kong Hou quickly realized this problem. She looked at everyone and hesitated for a moment: “Everyone seems uninterested in this cultivation method. Should we change to a new topic?”
“Yes, yes, let’s change to a new topic.” The Longhu Sect disciple blinked his sore eyes and released the hand pinching his thigh, finally perking up. “I wonder what views Xianzi Kong Hou has on the sword dao?”
The other few people turned their heads. Did this fellow daoist from Longhu Sect have no brain? Xianzi Kong Hou was an internal dao arts cultivator, not a sword cultivator. The two people in their small group most proficient in sword cultivation had already been transmitted out for fighting.
“I don’t primarily cultivate the sword dao, but because our sect emphasizes comprehensive development of disciples, I’ve also practiced some sword technique formulas.” Kong Hou’s understanding of the sword dao came from Cheng Yi and Huan Zong. But both were outstanding figures among sword cultivators. What Kong Hou understood about these things was extremely practical and valuable for small sect disciples.
“So that’s how it is.” A cultivator who had made no progress at the Heart Movement Stage for over a hundred years suddenly became enlightened. He rose and performed a deep bow to Kong Hou. “Many thanks to Xianzi Kong Hou for transmitting the dao and dispelling confusion. This one has suddenly seen the light.”
“You’re too polite. What I spoke of regarding sword dao comprehension didn’t originate from myself, but rather came from Senior Brother Cheng Yi and good friend Zhenren Zhong Xi.” Kong Hou returned the courtesy.
On the evening when that day’s exchange conference ended, that cultivator whose cultivation had made no progress for many years suddenly had his mental state greatly expand. He actually broke through his Heart Movement Stage cultivation in one go and advanced to Core Formation Stage cultivation. For a small sect, a Core Formation cultivation disciple was already extremely rare. Their entire sect was so happy they didn’t sleep all night.
The next morning, Kong Hou pushed open her window and discovered it had rained during the night. The spiritual energy had condensed into mist. She took a deep breath, and after washing up, had breakfast together with her sect mates. This was a habit of most Yunhua Sect people—as long as they weren’t in closed-door cultivation, they insisted on the good habit of three meals a day. To properly host the Yunhua Sect people, Mingjian Peak carefully selected ingredients and even specially hired several ordinary people skilled in cooking from Pei City.
“Did someone advance their cultivation last night? It rained a spiritual rain last night.” Accepting tea water from a servant’s hand to rinse her mouth, Kong Hou wiped the corner of her mouth, all her movements flowing smoothly with myriad graces.
Although she had seen Kong Hou being served many times before, Ling Hui still couldn’t help but sigh: “The way you are, you were truly born with the fate to be served by others.”
Kong Hou shook her head: “I’m used to it.” During those years as Emperor Jing Hong’s adopted daughter, in order to make her bearing look good in front of others and make people from the previous dynasty feel she wasn’t being mistreated, the female officials in the rear palace taught her deportment again and again. These movements were engraved in her bones. As long as there were servants attending to her, she unconsciously brought out her former habits.
To develop these habits, she had been punished with copying books and received praise from female officials that was actually criticism. These really couldn’t be considered good memories.
The others, remembering Kong Hou’s identity in the mortal realm, all stopped mentioning this topic. Ling Hui did notice that since returning from her training journey, Kong Hou had already emerged from those past experiences in the mortal realm. She smiled. “What’s important is that it looks good.”
Gui Lin, sitting at the neighboring table, couldn’t help but secretly glance at Kong Hou. He’d heard other people say that Uncle-Master Kong Hou came from the mortal realm and seemed to have a considerable status?
After finishing breakfast, Yunhua Sect had just descended Mingjian Peak when they saw several beaming strangers standing outside the peak gate. Upon seeing them emerge, these people’s smiles became even more radiant as they swarmed toward Kong Hou.
“Xianzi Kong Hou’s merit is immeasurable!”
“My unworthy disciple made no progress for many years. Fortunately, Xianzi Kong Hou helped him break through his mental state. Please accept this small gift.”
“Please, you absolutely must not decline. This is our modest token of appreciation.”
On the flying sword, Huan Zong watched Kong Hou being surrounded by a group of cultivators presenting gifts, a smile appearing on his face.
“Young Master, aren’t you going down to help?” Lin Hu looked at Kong Hou covered all over with gifts—for a moment he found it both amusing and felt the Kong Hou girl with her bewildered expression was somewhat pitiful.
“No need.” Huan Zong shook his head. “It wouldn’t be good for me to appear right now.”
Lin Hu thought about it briefly and understood.
Yunhua Sect always acted gently and had harmonious relationships with all sects. Although this gratitude scene was too enthusiastic and somewhat overwhelming, if the young master rashly appeared, not only would it make the atmosphere awkward, it would also easily give people the feeling that Yunhua Sect and Liuguang Sect were one entity.
Liuguang Sect’s power was greater than Yunhua Sect’s. If this fixed impression formed, it wouldn’t be very good for Yunhua Sect.
Lin Hu nodded with relief. The young master had truly grown up. Liking someone, he’d also learned to consider things for her. This represented growth.
Looking again at the other Yunhua Sect people, they were actually also smiling as they watched Miss Kong Hou deal with the people coming to give thanks, without the slightest intention of stepping forward to help. Seeing this scene, Lin Hu couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “These Yunhua Sect cultivators are truly interesting.”
After Kong Hou sent away the cultivators who came to give thanks and tidied her clothes and hairpins, she hurried to attend the second exchange conference. The exchange conference had three sessions total. To allow everyone to communicate and understand each other more, the people assigned to discussion rooms in each session were different. There was a huge transmission formation in the courtyard. Every disciple who stood in the courtyard would be randomly transmitted to different discussion rooms. Inside the rooms were instruments that monitored spiritual energy. Once spiritual energy use exceeded a certain standard, the person using spiritual energy would be automatically transmitted out of the courtyard and taken away by their respective sect’s elders.
This time Kong Hou was transmitted to a discussion room. She had just sat cross-legged on a cushion when the remaining nine people were transmitted in one after another.
A monk from Qingjing Temple, Chang De the head disciple of Zhaohan Sect, a female disciple from Yuexing Sect, a male disciple from Biyu Sect, a disciple from Beast Taming Sect, and the remaining four were all disciples from small sects and independent cultivators. The ten sat around the table. The eyes of several small sect disciples looking at Kong Hou were shining.
It was said that yesterday, a certain cultivator who discussed with Xianzi Kong Hou went back and advanced their cultivation. They wondered if they would have such good fortune today?
Being looked at by these four people’s gazes made her feel somewhat guilty. Kong Hou rummaged in her storage ring and pulled out a plate of cookies, a basket of spiritual fruits, and a plate of dried fruits: “Everyone… shall we eat while we chat?”
The people seated today shouldn’t be able to argue or fight, right?
The disciples from Yuexing Sect, Biyu Sect, and Beast Taming Sect looked at the food on the table: “…”
Had they come to attend a tea party?
“Many thanks, Miss Kong Hou.” The bald monk reached out and took a spiritual fruit. He wiped it with his monk robe sleeve, then held it and began gnawing. “Miss Kong Hou possesses Buddhist nature. Would you like to enter our Buddhist sect?”
“Thank you, no need.” Kong Hou politely yet firmly refused.
“What a pity.” The bald monk sighed with regret and lowered his head to quietly gnaw his spiritual fruit.
The others looked at each other, all not knowing how this exchange conference session should begin. It was said that the list of disciples who fought at yesterday’s exchange conference had already been passed to the elders of each sect. They didn’t want to do such an embarrassing thing.
Compared to yesterday’s heated discussions, today’s exchange conference was excessively polite and could be called a large-scale mutual praise scene. Seeing the melons, fruits, and refreshments on the table being eaten, Kong Hou hurried to replenish them.
The monk from Qingjing Temple pulled out a tea set and used techniques to brew a pot of tea for everyone. The entire discussion room filled with tea fragrance.
“Having tea and spiritual fruits, it seems we’re still missing something.” The Qingjing Temple monk touched his smooth bald head and pulled out a short flute from his storage prayer beads. “How about this humble monk plays a tune for everyone?”
Seeing his confident appearance, everyone who no longer wanted to mutually praise each other nodded repeatedly: “Good, good, good. Listening to Buddhist music is also cultivation.”
“Then this humble monk will make a poor showing.” The monk smiled shyly and placed the jade flute at his lips.
As soon as the jade flute sound emerged, everyone’s smiles became somewhat frozen. It turned out this monk wasn’t being modest—he truly was “making a poor showing.” What’s more, the other party was playing very intently, forcing them to maintain smiling faces and display appreciative, intoxicated expressions.
This was even worse than the mutual praise from earlier.
When one tune finished, the Beast Taming Sect disciple gave several dry laughs and applauded: “The Master’s cultivation is truly profound. Even the flute sound contains Buddhist meaning, bringing peace to our hearts and minds.”
“Since everyone likes it, how about I play another…”
“I’ve heard that Xianzi Kong Hou is a music cultivator. I wonder if we might have the honor of hearing the xianzi play a tune.” The Beast Taming Sect disciple immediately turned his head, looking at Kong Hou with an expectant expression.
What kind of eyes were these? They contained unease, fear, and even pleading.
As a Beast Taming Sect disciple, they had to study music and rhythm from childhood—this was a method for controlling spirit beasts. The monk’s flute sound was torture to his heart and mind. He feared if he listened any longer, even his inner demons would emerge. He’d heard that Xianzi Kong Hou was a music cultivator. On music and rhythm, she shouldn’t be as terrible as this monk, right?
“How embarrassing. I think the Master’s tune was very pleasant.” Kong Hou smiled with narrowed eyes.
Everyone: “…”
As people who cultivate the dao, saying such hypocritical words—weren’t they afraid of being struck by heavenly thunder?
“Xianzi Kong Hou, please don’t be modest. Please play a tune so we can all improve together.” The Qingjing Temple monk was very sincere. He raised the jade flute in his hand. “Moreover, this humble monk can even play a duet with the xianzi.”
Everyone: “…”
A perfectly good monk—instead of honestly eating vegetarian food and chanting sutras, what was he doing playing the flute? Pure nonsense!
“In that case, this one would be more respectful to comply than to decline.” These pairs of eyes filled with the will to survive were truly too pitiful, finally awakening Kong Hou’s compassion. She pulled out the phoenix-headed hairpin from her hair. The phoenix-headed hairpin fell to the ground and transformed into a radiant phoenix-headed harp. Before the music even began, it was already so beautiful that everyone couldn’t tear their eyes away.
Delicate hands plucked the strings. The moment the music arose, everyone’s hearts and minds that had been tortured to death by the flute sound suddenly became peaceful. They flew over mountains, flew over rivers, saw blooming flowers, dancing butterflies, and the vast blue sky.
If they hadn’t heard the Qingjing Temple monk’s flute sound, they perhaps wouldn’t feel Kong Hou’s tune was so miraculous. But after being tormented by the Qingjing Temple monk, then hearing the music Kong Hou played—that was the sound of heaven itself.
Seeing the Qingjing Temple monk about to take out his jade flute to play a duet, the Beast Taming Sect disciple hurriedly lunged forward, grabbed the monk’s hand, and pressed him down firmly.
“The Master’s flute sound is crisp and powerful. Xianzi Kong Hou’s music is distant and tranquil. It’s better not to play a duet.” The Beast Taming Sect disciple forced a smile. “Let us quietly listen to the beauty in the music.”
When one tune ended, everyone still hadn’t emerged from the music. Kong Hou put away the phoenix head. Seeing the Beast Taming Sect disciple and Qingjing Temple monk embracing each other, she raised an eyebrow. She really hadn’t seen this—the disciples of these two sects had such good feelings for each other.
The discussion room rang with loud applause. Everyone praised how pleasant and beautiful the tune Kong Hou played was. If Kong Hou didn’t have self-awareness, she would almost believe their exaggerations.
But no matter how they praised, until this discussion session ended, the Qingjing Temple monk never had another opportunity to play a tune. On this matter, everyone surprisingly maintained a high degree of consistency.
That afternoon, the Beast Taming Sect disciple who had endured the torture of the Qingjing Temple monk’s flute sound and the comfort of Kong Hou’s music suddenly gained enlightenment and entered a meditative state. That night, the sky rumbled with thunder, and his cultivation leaped to Core Formation Stage.
The entire cultivation world was in an uproar. Two disciples in succession advanced their cultivation after attending the exchange conference—what a momentous event was this?
Before dawn had even broken, Jinyue heard disciples report that several sect masters had sent him generous gifts.
“Generous gifts?” Jinyue didn’t understand.
“Several sect masters said this exchange conference was extremely well organized and they’re very grateful in their hearts. They’ve heard that Xianzi Kong Hou has great attainments in cultivation. They hope their disciples can have thorough discussions with Xianzi Kong Hou at the exchange conference.”
Jinyue: Hmm?