CHAPTER 540: CHAPTER 428: TIGER SKIN SHORT SKIRT

In the copper furnace before the long couch, the incense smoke flows down like water. Once the white smoke touches the ground, it disperses and rises, filling the room with a gentle sway.

Within the quiet chamber, there is only a long couch. Hanging on the wall behind it is a portrait of an old man with white hair dressed in a five-colored Daoist robe. It is none other than the Five Elements Ancestor, the founder of the Five Elements Sect.

Gao Xuan, clad in a Profound Yellow Daoist Robe, stands with hands behind his back, gazing out at the stretching mountains.

The fine rain forms a veil, with layers of mist rippling over the mountain range, further enhancing a sense of ethereal liveliness.

The drizzling rain flows down along the green tiles, gathering and then dripping from the eaves. The sound of water droplets and the gentle sound of drizzling rain form different layers, resembling a calming, soothing melody that instead makes one’s mind more serene and peaceful.

Gao Xuan no longer thinks about the Nine-Revolutions Divine Cicada, the Interstellar World, or the impending future that rushes towards him.

He empties his mind, immersing himself in this rare tranquility.

Unaware of how much time had passed, a yellow short-haired dog approaches Gao Xuan’s feet. This dog has a slender head, four slender legs, and its body is taut with muscles, appearing strong and agile.

Its yellow short fur shines with an oily lustre, looking clean and attractive.

A rather nice-looking bronze collar adorns its neck, clearly signifying ownership.

However, the way this slender dog walks is quite lazy, as it bites at the corner of Gao Xuan’s Daoist robe, its emerald-green dog eyes fixedly staring at Gao Xuan.

Gao Xuan glanced down at the dog, showing an inquisitive expression.

The dog sat down on the ground: "Xiaogao, it’s time to eat."

It spoke each word clearly, and with eyes closed, one might think it was a smooth-talking middle-aged man speaking, with an air of laid-back indifference in its tone.

"Time to eat?"

Gao Xuan looked at the big dog: "What to eat?"

The big dog grumbled in annoyance: "You’re the Sect Leader of the Thick Earth Sect, and I’m just a dog. You still ask me what to eat!"

Gao Xuan thought for a moment and said: "Old Huang, why not have dog meat hot pot? I heard old dog meat is good for replenishing blood and vitality, top quality stuff."

"You, the grand Sect Leader, bullying a mere dog, is this amusing..."

Old Huang slumped on the ground, "I fought hard alongside the Thick Earth Sect for three hundred years, even without merit, there’s labor. The old Sect Leader just passed, and the new Sect Leader wants to kill a meritorious dog to nourish himself."

Old Huang squinted at Gao Xuan as he spoke: "I suspect, have you been possessed?"

He shook his head and wagged his tail: "Possessed by a demon, then I have to help the past immortals of the Thick Earth Sect clear out the infestation!"

"You old dog, the Soul-locking Circle restraint is in my hands, and yet you dare to threaten me."

Gao Xuan chuckled: "Do you really think I wouldn’t eat dog meat."

Hearing the conversation taking a turn, Old Huang bared his teeth in a placating grin: "Just joking around, Sect Leader took it seriously. If you’re like this, I won’t joke with you anymore."

"I was joking too, haha..."

Gao Xuan raised his voice and called out, "Yuanbao, cook us something to eat."

From the adjacent room came a soft, gentle female voice: "Senior brother, I’m cooking now."

Old Huang curled his lips, thinking how could Gao Xuan, this Sect Leader, shamelessly make a sixteen-year-old girl do all the chores while he sits in the room daydreaming.

Old Huang deliberately came to Gao Xuan to talk about meals, hoping Gao Xuan would also lend a hand, not always acting high and mighty as the Sect Leader.

Just two people and a dog, why put on such airs!

He sighed: "I’m just a dog, but I would say one should at least help with some chores."

"But you are just a dog. You can only yap and chatter."

Gao Xuan also sighed, his words left Old Dog speechless.

For some reason, over these past few days, Gao Xuan seemed like a different person, becoming more sharp-tongued and caustic. A few sentences and it would drive him to want to bite.

After thinking for a bit, Old Huang couldn’t help but retort: "There’s only one month until the Sect competition, how is the Sect Leader preparing?"

Gao Xuan, serene and unperturbed, said: "What’s there to fear, even if we lose, what can they do? They can’t destroy our Thick Earth Sect."

Within the Five Elements Sect are five branches: Thick Earth, Sharp Metal, Verdant Wood, Fiery Flame, and Celestial Water.

Originally, Thick Earth was the leader of the Five Elements. However, over the past few millennia, the Five Elements Sect suffered multiple catastrophes. Once the overlord of Penglai Province, it has now fallen to a third-tier Cultivation Sect within Penglai.

Thick Earth Sect fared even worse. By Gao Xuan’s generation, only Gao Xuan, Yuanbao, and Old Huang, two humans and a dog, were left.

At just seventeen years old, Gao Xuan had already become the Sect Leader of the Thick Earth Sect. It’s easy to imagine how pitiful the Thick Earth Sect has become.

Now reincarnated, Gao Xuan even feels a bit of sympathy for Thick Earth Sect. With the Sect’s once-every-thirty-year major competition approaching, how can they compete with just these meagre resources.

The significance of the Sect competition is to have the five branches compete with one another to increase internal competitiveness.

But through such competitions, the divisions among the five branches have deepened. Even if there are a few eminent figures who wish to unite the branches, the accumulated divergences over the millennia are unresolvable.

Now, the Five Elements Sect is in name only. Though not to the point of enmity between the branches, they are like strangers.

Gao Xuan’s master also died because of the competition, in the pursuit of rapidly advancing his cultivation, he ended up devoured by inner demons. Before dying, he could only pass the mantle of Sect Leader to Gao Xuan.

In such circumstances, participating in the competition, the Thick Earth Sect has almost no chance of winning.

Although the opponents won’t actually destroy Thick Earth Sect, the land and the Sect’s inherited magical artifacts would have to be handed over to some extent.

Currently, Thick Earth Sect occupies Round Peak Mountain, covering just a few hundred miles. There’s not even a Human Race settlement nearby, mainly mountain spirits and tree demons.

If this territory is further conceded, Thick Earth Sect would be forced into a nomadic existence.

Since Gao Xuan is merely reincarnated and attached, he doesn’t have much sense of belonging to the Sect. Even if it disbands, he wouldn’t care much.