Infinite Save: I Cultivate Immortality Through Reincarnation - Chapter 330: Scrap Metal

“Manager Li, the investigation results are out. Those over three hundred heads on Anjin Mountain are all the severed heads of our Kongshan Sect’s outer sect disciples.”

A disciple wearing Yibai Peak daoist robes bowed in the direction of Li Haowen.

‘Manager’ was not a title that could represent a person’s formal status.

It was simply because Li Haowen held no official position within the Kongshan Sect, and at this moment, he was the one leading the overall operation to exterminate the Ding Bandits, hence the respectful address from his subordinates.

“Why was I never informed of such a thing?”

The gloomy young man with one black and one white sword hanging at his waist asked in a deep voice, his brows and eyes so dark they seemed to drip with shadow.

Compared to over two years ago, Li Haowen’s temperament and appearance had matured considerably. Wrinkles had even begun to form at the corners of his eyes, and a few strands of white hair had appeared on his head.

Although once one cultivated to a certain level, time found it difficult to leave marks on an immortal cultivator’s body.

The suppression within Li Haowen’s heart, along with the excessive strain of the past two years, had caused his outward appearance to age noticeably.

“Because… because the losses from the sect’s continuous campaigns over these past few years have been too great. The number of outer sect disciples who have died or gone missing is too high, so…”

The disciple in Yibai Peak daoist robes explained.

Li Haowen waved his hand, signaling the disciple in Yibai Peak robes to withdraw.

This was Ding Qiu’s provocation against him.

Over the past two years, Li Haowen and his subordinates claimed to have achieved significant results in the process of clearing out the Ding Bandit forces.

But in reality, they had never truly dealt a heavy blow to Ding Qiu and his close associates.

Now, over three hundred heads of Kongshan Sect outer sect disciples were displayed on Anjin Mountain…

If the news hadn’t been contained quickly enough, the Kongshan Sect’s face would have been utterly lost.

We are in the light, the enemy is in the dark.

This situation made Li Haowen extremely uncomfortable.

And just one month ago, Elder Zhao Bin of Kongyuan Mountain sent him an order: if no substantial results were achieved this year, the sect would have to replace him with someone more capable to continue the purge of the Ding Bandits.

Li Haowen absolutely could not accept such a thing happening.

He wanted to climb higher, to reach a higher position.

Because only then could he clear his master’s name.

“Manager Li, the matter at Huofeng Pavilion has been resolved.”

Another cultivator wearing Mingxiao Peak daoist robes rushed into Li Haowen’s room, reporting hastily.

Huofeng Pavilion was a small immortal cultivation sect within the Qingque Kingdom. Its sect leader was a Martial Spring Realm mid-stage cultivator, and the sect had just over a hundred disciples in total.

Eighty percent of them were Body Forging Realm cultivators.

“A total of one hundred and three people surrendered. Manager Li, same as before? Send them all to the mine for hard labor?”

The cultivator in Mingxiao Peak robes continued.

“Mhm.”

Li Haowen nodded.

“Understood.”

The Mingxiao Peak cultivator bowed towards Li Haowen, then turned to leave.

However, the next instant—

“Wait.”

Li Haowen called out to the Mingxiao Peak cultivator who was about to leave.

“Any other instructions, Manager Li?”

The Mingxiao Peak cultivator turned his head and asked.

“Actually… just kill them all.”

Li Haowen said in a heavy tone.

…

Southern Region of the Chenping Continent.

Jin’an Country, Xiluo Mountain.

A party of three slowly walked towards the buildings at the mountain peak. The one walking at the very front was a young man wearing luxurious, brocade-colored daoist robes.

Behind him followed a young man in plain grey daoist robes, and a young woman in light, simple-colored daoist robes.

On the road from Trial Sword Peak to Xiluo Mountain, Shi Mingxu, Chen Yan, and the others did not encounter any trouble from others.

Because the vast majority of rogue cultivators who came to participate in the Setting Sun Sword Manor’s disciple recruitment ceremony were actually at the Body Forging Realm. Those at the Qi Circulation Realm were a minority. Including Chen Yan and He Qingling, the total number of Qi Circulation Realm cultivators didn’t even exceed the fingers on both hands.

On the way up the mountain, Chen Yan and the others even witnessed a scene where two youths with no cultivation whatsoever got into a brawl on the mountain, and in the end, both lost their footing and tumbled down the cliff.

The seekers of immortality and the Dao who witnessed this scene all gasped in shock.

“What happened?”

Shi Mingxu asked curiously, turning to a youth climbing the mountain nearby.

The youth, sweating profusely and panting heavily from the climb, glanced at Shi Mingxu. Seeing Shi Mingxu’s unchanged expression and utterly relaxed demeanor, his expression immediately turned respectful.

“Immortal… Immortal Master, those two… one of them had stopped in front to catch his breath and rest. Then the one coming from behind glanced at the one resting in front. After that, they got into a verbal argument, neither willing to back down, and then they started fighting…”

Just because of a single glance?

Chen Yan frowned slightly.

This really was… youthful hot-headedness.

Shi Mingxu, Chen Yan, and He Qingling continued towards the Setting Sun Sword Manor at the mountain peak, passing countless young men and women who were struggling to climb, nearly exhausted along the way.

For mortals, reaching the Setting Sun Sword Manor’s mountain gate within the allotted time was indeed not a simple task.

Soon, the mountain gate of the Setting Sun Sword Manor appeared before the three of them.

Several Setting Sun Sword Manor disciples, wearing the manor’s daoist robes and carrying swords at their waists, were guarding the mountain gate.

Seeing Shi Mingxu and the others stand before the gate, and noticing the Mystic Steel Sword in Chen Yan’s hand, the Setting Sun Sword Manor disciples all showed expressions of surprise.

“The three of you are truly swift. Only one-third of the time has passed.”

The Setting Sun Sword Manor disciple said, retrieving the bronze tokens used by Shi Mingxu, He Qingling, and Chen Yan to verify their identities.

“Next, the three of you just need to enter our Setting Sun Sword Manor, first find the main hall of the Sword Manor, then turn north and go to the third room on the right. Elder Han is waiting for you there.”

“What about this sword?”

Shi Mingxu asked.

“This sword can be considered a small gift, presented to the three of you.”

The Setting Sun Sword Manor disciple said with a smile.

Shi Mingxu’s gaze fell on the Mystic Steel Sword in Chen Yan’s hand.

The sword was indeed not bad, but as the young master of the prestigious Shi Family of Jincheng, obtaining a sword of this quality was still quite easy for him.

As for He Xiyao, her cultivation was above his, and her background was not to be underestimated, so…

“Fellow Daoist He, in my opinion, why not gift this sword to Fellow Daoist Bao?”

Shi Mingxu asked.

Hearing this, Chen Yan was slightly taken aback. He lowered his head to look at the Mystic Steel Sword in his hand.

“I’m fine with either.”

He Qingling said indifferently.

“Um…”

“Fellow Daoist Bao, no need to be polite. Just keep it.”

Chen Yan had just started to speak when Shi Mingxu immediately cut him off.

Shi Mingxu then revealed a rather brilliant smile, looking extremely proud, as if he had done some great deed.

“……”

Chen Yan fell silent for another moment. He mentally counted the items he currently carried with him.

A broken feather (Vermilion Sparrow Feather), mirror fragments (Heavenly Summit Mirror fragments), … and a single exquisitely forged steel sword, painstakingly crafted by the elder of the Forging Pavilion of the Jin’an Country’s premier immortal Dao sect, the Setting Sun Sword Manor.