CHAPTER 372: CHAPTER 165: THE PHOENIX CALLS, THE PARASOL TREE GROWS (PLEASE SUBSCRIBE)_3

These readers are simply a tough crowd to please!

However, in light of the dowry from the Xuantian Treasure Vault, Xu Jieyuan graciously nodded in agreement...

Subsequently, the couple often practiced the Xuantian Marvelous Sound Marrow Cleansing Technique, and their singing would frequently be heard emanating from the Xu Residence. Passersby would often stop and listen.

Even some, after hearing it a few times, found that their ailments had disappeared.

This was no isolated incident.

Thus, the news gradually spread.

"The phoenix sings upon the high ridge; the parasol tree flourishes under the morning sun."

This phrase, originating from the Book of Songs, became commonly heard around Jiangning Prefecture and its neighboring South Zhili prefectures, referring to Xu Jieyuan, his wife, and the parasol tree at their home.

The high ridge, in this case, symbolized social status.

Implying that Xu Jieyuan’s family was of such distinguished lineage that it could give birth to phoenixes.

Naturally, this was something circulated by Su Lianqing, the second-in-command of the Red Flower Society, known as the Red Flower Ghost Mother.

Although Xu Jieyuan expressed indifference towards his own bad reputation, Su Lianqing still cared and, after consulting with her young master, took advantage of the couple’s recent cultivation of the Heavenly and Earthly Tunes to create an artificial auspicious phenomenon.

Moreover, it even suited the Emperor’s taste.

In Su Lianqing’s opinion, this might not completely save her master’s reputation, but at the very least, it could lay the groundwork.

Preventing future court historians from struggling to fabricate auspicious events for the forebears of the New Dynasty’s Grand Ancestor.

All the material was ready at hand!

Now, even if the master’s fearsome reputation preceded him, when the time came, everyone would undoubtedly say that the Xu Residence was the land of the phoenix, and bending the knee to them would be justified.

Su Lianqing had to admit that her master sometimes overlooked such details.

As his subordinate, she naturally took the initiative to offer strategic advice and help her master consider the bigger picture.

She had a clear vision of her position in the New Dynasty, something akin to Lu Lingxuan or Shangguan Wan’er.

Although it didn’t sound very auspicious, at least the power was significant, and their names would be recorded in history.

Whether they smelled sweet or foul, they would still leave a mark.

Elsewhere,

While Xu Qing was cultivating the Xuantian Marvelous Sound Marrow Cleansing Technique and delving into the advanced techniques of Thunder Sound,

an anonymous member of the Recovery Society began spreading stories from the Legend of the Condor Heroes, causing quite a sensation.

Entertainment was scarce in this era, and popular wuxia novels were still stuck in the era of The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants. The martial arts tales created by Xu Qing, fitting the times, clearly had a market.

After all, compared to other chivalric tales, Legend of the Condor Heroes was less preachy, focusing more on the story itself, with the narrative progressing layer by layer, each wave higher than the last.

For a time, it overshadowed the long-selling Jin Ping Mei in South Zhili.

Naturally, when people chatted, they referred to it as just another story from Outlaws of the Marsh, unclear about any gold or vases.

On the other hand, Jin Ping Mei was clearly the work of a literary giant using it to satirize the court politics.

Unlike the Legend of the Condor Heroes, which was more populist.

The benefit of being populist was that discussing it posed no risk, and the influence of Quanzhen Dao had long since faded.

And if there was any risk, the source was with the Recovery Society, naturally, there was little to fear.

Some scholars even scrutinized the text, hoping to find something incriminating to use in the future.

It was pointless to target Xu Qing now, but having precautions in place could prove useful someday.

Meanwhile, an unexpected guest arrived at the Xu Residence.

He went out to meet him and made his way to the reception hall, where Xu Qing encountered the Gang Leader of the Giant Whale Gang.

"Gang Leader Ren, what a rare visit. Please, have a seat!" Although Xu Qing had hoped to attract the descendants of the Quanzhen Dao through the arranged story, he never expected Ren Tianyou to be the first to come.

He knew that unless the issue of the Giant Whale Gang’s members’ families and properties in Yingtian Prefecture was resolved, Ren Tianyou would never dare side with him.

Thus Xu Qing was quite puzzled by Ren Tianyou’s visit.

Could it be related to the issue with Red-haired Yan Kong?

But Su Lianqing had found out that Red-haired Yan Kong had already left the Giant Whale Gang.

Xu Qing’s mind raced with thoughts, yet his expression remained calm and undisturbed, as he quietly waited for Ren Tianyou to speak.

Upon seeing Xu Qing, Ren Tianyou said, "Xu Jieyuan probably knows that my teachings are inherited from one of the Northern Seven Masters of Quanzhen Dao, Chang Shengzi. Recently, the stories circulated by the Recovery Society mention a lot about Quanzhen Dao, some true, some false, but the storytelling is quite good. If one day Quanzhen Dao can be revived, we must certainly thank the Recovery Society for this favor."

Xu Qing thought to himself, this cunning old fox starts by flattering, unclear on his real intentions.

He straightforwardly said, "Gang Leader Ren, let’s not beat around the bush. What is it you need my help with?"

Ren Tianyou coughed, "Yan Kong has mentioned to me about the Sea Immortal Mountain."

Xu Qing denied it, "I returned empty-handed from overseas."

Ren Tianyou replied, "I’m practicing the Spirit Void Sword Gang and cannot complete it without the Yellow Court Inner Vision Technique of Liu Chuxuan, the Grand Master Chang Shengzi. I hope Xu Jieyuan can do me a favor. For such a great kindness and honor, I will be indebted to you."

Of course, Xu Qing was aware of the Yellow Court Inner Vision Technique which originated from Liu Chuxuan’s Yellow Court Inner View Jade Scripture. However, he did not possess the technique and said, "Gang Leader Ren, let me be frank; I don’t want you to think I’m deceiving you, but it’s Yan Kong who lied to you. I truly do not have the Yellow Court Inner Vision Technique. I don’t know if Yan Kong has told you the truth, but that Immortal Mountain and Wang Chuyi of the Purple Mansion have close ties; it is unrelated to Grand Master Chang Shengzi."

The Yellow Court Inner Vision Technique was real, but its presence at Liubo Mountain was false.

Simply put, Yan Kong took advantage of Ren Tianyou’s desire to complete the Spirit Void Sword Gang and deceived him, getting Ren Tianyou to do Yan Kong’s bidding.

Ren Tianyou was visibly disappointed. He knew that Xu Qing liked to make deals, and Ren Tianyou could afford to pay a high price. If Xu Qing said he didn’t have it, then he truly didn’t.

After all, while cultivation techniques were important, they required a lineage of Daoist tradition to be fully assimilated for personal use.

If one could sell a copied version for an astronomical price, Xu Qing had no reason to refuse.

Ren Tianyou said disheartenedly, "Xu Jieyuan, I apologize for the disturbance."

Seeing Ren Tianyou so fixated on the matter, Xu Qing smiled faintly, "Actually, to complete the Spirit Void Sword Gang, one doesn’t necessarily need to rely on the Yellow Court Inner Vision Technique."

"May I ask Xu Jieyuan to enlighten me?"

"Gang Leader Ren, have you ever heard of the Purple Mansion Primordial Sect of Real Man Ziyang?"