Supreme Master - Chapter 39: Stirring Winds, Surging Clouds

Translator – Misty

Chapter 39: Stirring Winds, Surging Clouds

The events that transpired in the Hidden Spirit Garden of the rear mountain quickly spread throughout the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect. It was heard that Elder Huo De not only served the Crimson Flame Young Master, Gu Qingfeng, but even went as far as to reprimand Li Sen for him. Even Guang Yuan, the Grand Enforcer of the Sect, was scolded till he was drenched in figurative blood.

This inevitably led to speculations about who exactly this Crimson Flame Young Master, Gu Qingfeng, was. What made him so special that Elder Huo De would go to such lengths for him?

Some guessed that the surname Gu really was out of the ordinary. Although he was just a Failed Foundation Establishment trash, his background must be incredibly powerful, perhaps even surpassing the influential Li Clan. Otherwise, Elder Huo De wouldn’t have risked falling out with the Li Clan for his sake.

Others suggested that it must be Ouyang Ye’s doing, believing she must have sought Elder Huo De’s help to protect her beloved.

There were also whispers that Elder Huo De saw Gu Qingfeng’s Failed Foundation Establishment Body as a perfect subject for his experiments. It wasn’t easy to find such an ideal candidate, so naturally, the elder wouldn’t just hand him over.

With various theories abounding, the true reason remained unknown.

As the story spread, it became distorted. Rumors circulated that Guang Yuan, the Grand Enforcer, often colluded with the Li clan, and only put on a show of strength in front of the disciples. In front of Elder Huo De, he wouldn’t dare to even let out a fart.

Furious at these rumors, Guang Yuan, the Grand Enforcer of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect, could hardly contain his anger.

“Elder Huo De, you old bastard!”

In a grand hall, Guang Yuan sat rigidly in his chair, his face unspeakably grim, his eyes nearly shooting fire. Clenching his fists, he uttered each word with intense anger: “You didn’t give me any face. I want to see how long you can keep hopping around!”

“That Elder Huo De has really become unbearable! Previously, he at least had some restraint, but now, for his experimental formations, he blatantly shields that trash! How preposterous! Does he really think our Li clan is afraid of him?”

Li Ziheng, an elder of the outer sect, paced back and forth in the hall, growing more enraged by the minute. He exclaimed, “Hmph! This cannot be left as is. Our Li clan cannot afford to lose face like this! Guang Yuan, we can’t keep tolerating this. If we do, Elder Huo De will soon think he can do whatever he wants. In my opinion, we should seek Elder Mu De’s intervention.”

“Even if Elder Mu De steps in, I’m afraid it won’t help much. The only person in the entire Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect who can truly suppress that old man Huo De is my master.”

As Guang Yuan spoke, an old man entered the room. This elder was tall and thin, with a gloomy face, and he toyed with two crystal-clear glass orbs in his hands.

Seeing this elder, Guang Yuan quickly stood up and respectfully called out “Master,” while Li Ziheng bowed and greeted him as Elder Jin De.

This elder was none other than Guang Yuan’s master, Jin De, the Elder of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect.

Upon seeing Elder Jin De, both men immediately began to complain about Elder Huo De’s selfishness, disregard for the sect’s reputation, and his protection of outsiders.

“My grandson was already seriously injured, and now he has been slapped by Huo De. He is still unconscious…”

Li Ziheng hoped Elder Jin De would intervene on behalf of his grandson, but his plea was abruptly cut off by a cold interruption from Jin De.

“Enough!”

Elder Jin De’s stern shout startled both Guang Yuan and Li Ziheng, leaving them baffled but too afraid to ask for an explanation.

“Look at what time it is, and you are still bickering over such trivial matters!”

Jin De’s imposing manner and his cold, snake-like eyes made them extremely uncomfortable. He scolded, “How many times have I told you to prioritize the bigger picture?”

Both Guang Yuan and Li Ziheng knew that by “bigger picture,” Jin De referred to the struggle for the positions of Heir-Apparent Disciple, for which they had been tirelessly working.

Seeing them fall silent, Jin De’s tone became somewhat milder but still somber. He asked, “Guang Yuan, how is the cultivation progress of Yu Zhe and the others?”

“Yu Zhe has already broken through to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment and will soon establish his True Body.”

“Ying Yao’s cultivation has reached the sixth level of Foundation Establishment…”

Guang Yuan, the Grand Enforcer, reported the cultivation levels of several disciples they were focusing on nurturing, who were also strong contenders for the position of Heir-Apparent Disciple.

“Good! Very good!” Jin De nodded, then asked, “Are Jing Shan and the others still outside?”

“A few days ago, I received a carrier pigeon message from Jing Shan, saying that they were slaying demonic cultivators at Yunhua Mountain.” Guang Yuan spoke of Jing Shan with a smile, “Jing Shan and the others have built quite a reputation outside over the years. When the time comes to compete for the Heir-Apparent Disciple position, we will surely win.”

“Inform Jing Shan tomorrow to return as soon as possible.”

“Master, don’t we still have two years?”

“The Sect Master did promise to select the Heir-Apparent Disciple in two years when he last emerged from seclusion,” said Jin De, eyes half-closed, playing with the glass orbs. “However, we can’t just wait. The power of the Jiuhua Alliance is growing stronger. If we don’t act now, in two years, the position might fall into the hands of Shui De. With the Alliance’s backing in recent years, Shui De has become increasingly audacious… We can’t wait. We must act now!”

“Master, I understand. I will send a message to Jing Shan tomorrow, asking them to return temporarily.”

“Good! Ziheng!” Jin De opened his eyes, instructing, “Tomorrow, I want to meet with your clan head to discuss.”

Li Ziheng replied, “Rest assured, Elder Jin De. Our Li Clan will fully support you!”

…

On the surface, the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect appeared calm, but beneath this façade, it was like a storm was brewing.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingfeng continued his days as usual. He spent his leisure time basking in the sun and sipping wine. His frail body was gradually recovering day by day. Although he did not practice cultivation deliberately, every pore of his body acted as a Dantian, autonomously absorbing spiritual energy all the time. His internal spiritual power was increasing daily, and soon he would be able to rebuild his foundation.

But Gu Qingfeng was in no hurry.

Having cultivated for five hundred years, he had experienced enough and was weary of it.

In the past, he had never lived a single day leisurely due to his cultivation. Now that he had finally settled down, he was loath to stir up more trouble.

Yet, things in the world seldom went as one wished.

It seemed like the heavens had never sided with Gu Qingfeng.

This time was no different. Having luckily survived the tribulation of the Heavenly Dao, Gu Qingfeng had planned to live a few carefree years, catching up with Elder Huo De. However, he ended up unable to leave.

This old fellow, Huo De, stuck to Gu Qingfeng day and night, serving him with fine food and drinks. Even when Gu Qingfeng rested, Huo De would squat at the door, fearing he might run away.

For Gu Qingfeng, there was nothing he could do but accept this helplessly.

However, what made him most helpless wasn’t Huo De, but Elder Tu De of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect. This old man knelt for days on end. Having lost his cultivation and his Golden Core, his internal organs began to fail, and his body aged rapidly. Tu De’s life was ebbing away every day, and he might pass away at any moment.

Gu Qingfeng had advised him, but to no avail. Tu De, the Sect Master, just knelt there.

Gu Qingfeng didn’t bother to persuade him further.

He was no Bodhisattva with a compassionate heart, nor a Buddha interested in saving others. If not for Huo De’s sake, he wouldn’t have spared Tu De a glance.

If Tu De wished to kneel, let him be.

Gu Qingfeng continued his daily routine of eating, drinking, and sleeping.

The past few days weren’t without amusement. Ouyang Ye, the young girl, visited almost every day, along with her aunt, Ouyang Feiyue, who seemed to be the owner of the First Rate Villa.

Gu Qingfeng knew these two ladies were curious about his identity. Ouyang Ye was easy to fool due to her young age, but her aunt was more cunning and used various excuses to probe him.

With nothing better to do, Gu Qingfeng found it amusing to entertain these two ladies every day with wine and sunbathing.

That’s how life should be!

On this day, around noon.

After lunch, Ouyang Ye was preparing to visit the Hidden Spirit Garden in the rear mountain, when Tan Siru walked in.

“What are you doing here?”

Ever since witnessing Tan Siru attempting to kill Gu Qingfeng for money in the Red Leaf Forest, Ouyang Ye could no longer see her as a senior sister.

“Heh! I hear you’ve been frequently visiting the Hidden Spirit Garden these days. What, are you going to see your beloved again today?”

“Is that any of your business?”

Ouyang Ye, seemingly possessed, felt that if she didn’t figure out Gu Qingfeng’s identity, she would go mad.

“I might not have a say, but does our master not?”

Huh?
Master?

Ouyang Ye was startled and about to ask further when a woman walked in.

She appeared to be in her forties, dressed in a jade-colored robe, exuding an air of elegance. However, she gave off a cold and distant vibe. It was Fei Xue, Ouyang Ye’s master, a person of multiple roles in the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect: Grand Enforcer, Inner Sect Elder, Outer Sect Overseer…

With her powerful background and family, coupled with her cold and ruthless character and profound cultivation, she was not someone to be trifled with in the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect. Apart from the Deliberative Elders, she looked down on everyone.

“Master… when did you come back…”

Upon seeing her master, Ouyang Ye immediately behaved.

“Ye’er, you really have the audacity!”

Fei Xue’s cold and ruthless scolding made Ouyang Ye’s face pale.

“You previously brought that surnamed Gu to the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect. I had urgent matters and couldn’t deal with it, and I ordered you to seclude yourself. Why didn’t you listen!”

“Didn’t I tell you to sever your ties with the surnamed Gu? Why didn’t you listen?”

“Not listening would have been one thing, but you even condoned him beating others!”

“He beat someone, and you went to ask Elder Huo De to protect him!”

“Ye’er, do you even regard me as your master anymore!”

“Master…” Ouyang Ye, with a gloomy face, hurriedly explained, “Master, it’s not like that at all. He is not the Crimson Flame Young Master, and I didn’t ask Elder Huo De to protect him… He just happens to know Elder Huo De…”

Before she could finish, Fei Xue coldly huffed and reprimanded.

“Enough! You dare to argue at this point, you are becoming more and more presumptuous! Starting today, you are to cultivate in seclusion, and you may not leave without my permission!”

With that, Fei Xue turned and left.

“Master!” Ouyang Ye called out anxiously.

Fei Xue stopped, but without turning back, she scolded, “Go back and cultivate properly in seclusion. As for that Gu person, I will handle him myself!”

(End of Chapter)