The Rebellious Son Becomes a God

Outside the capital city of Shangjing.

On Qinglian Mountain, thirty miles away, lies the Qinglian Sect.

The Qinglian Sect can be considered the largest weapon-forging sect in the Great Han Nation. At the foot of Qinglian Mountain, more than thirty miles outside the capital city, one can see pavilions, towers, and red-walled grand halls as far as the eye can see, layer upon layer.

The terrain of Qinglian Mountain is flat, and it seems to embrace half of the capital city from a distance, with clear mountains and waters, making it a top-tier Feng Shui treasure land.

After the Spring Festival, as the first month of the lunar year has passed, the weather gradually becomes warmer, and the Qinglian Sect is also filled with tourists and worshippers, showing a thriving incense fire.

At this moment, among the tourists, there is an unusual middle-aged man, dressed in brocade clothes, with a handsome face and the aura of a great scholar. However, his lustrous skin and deep, starry eyes reveal his extraordinary and refined nature.

This person is the mainstay of the Great Han Dynasty, a cabinet minister, Jiang ZhenTing. Yesterday, Jiang ZhenTing received an invitation from the Qinglian Sect, and he set out early today to attend the appointment, so he is unaware of the matters within the household.

Jiang ZhenTing walks slowly, seemingly casually, but his steps naturally have a charm of wandering through clouds and mist, leading him to the weapon-forging hall at the peak where few tourists come.

The weapon-forging hall is the place where the cultivators of the Qinglian Sect practice and forge weapons, and tourists are not allowed to enter.

However, at this moment, on the mountain path leading to the main hall, two gatekeepers dressed in black silk were already waiting to greet him.

"Humph." Jiang ZhenTing snorted coldly, paying no attention to the two young gatekeepers, and strode straight up the path.

Along the way, one could smell an abundance of spiritual energy, intermingled with the scents of iron and copper. The Qinglian Sect, being a major sect of weapon-forging, had its cultivators engaged in both cultivation and weapon-forging, unlike the Xiangguo Temple which emphasized discipline.

In the Great Han Dynasty, there were three major sects endorsed by the emperor: the Great Xiangguo Temple, the Qinglian Sect, and the Wuji Sect.

The Qinglian Sect was favored among the nobility for its exquisite weaponry, while the Great Xiangguo Temple was supported by the court for its emphasis on discipline and its role in stabilizing the minds of the people.

The Wuji Sect was enigmatic, secluding themselves in the mountains to practice the path of detachment. Initially, only a few people followed this path, but at some point, almost all members of the sect were practicing it. Although there were a few who practiced in the world, they were very few in number. The sect still remained an endorsed institution.

During the campaign against the Xuandu View, these three major sects indeed contributed significantly.

The Qinglian Sect, with its fine weapons and numerous experts, took the lead in the battlefield; the Great Xiangguo Temple used the power of Buddhism to slay many and to calm the common people, pinning labels on the Xuandu View; although the Wuji Sect was slightly weaker at the time, it also sent a considerable number of disciples to participate.

However, times have changed, and now the relationships between these three major sects and the court are different.

The Great Xiangguo Temple is entirely obedient to the court; the Qinglian Sect, which was completely detached from worldly affairs, has in recent years begun to interact more with the royal family and nobility; the Wuji Sect maintains a kind of on-again, off-again relationship with the court, which is quite ambiguous.

As Jiang ZhenTing walked along and entered the Qinglian Sect, he took in all the sights, pausing his gaze on the exquisite architecture and gleaming weapons, which bore the seals of various nobles.

"Isn't this Duke Jiang? A mighty Wu Zun*, yet here you are walking, how leisurely," said the speaker, who was none other than the head of the Qinglian Sect, Zhou BuChong.

The two have never seen eye to eye. Jiang ZhenTing thinks they are like those monks, fond of pretending to be divine, deceiving the monarch, while Zhou BuChong thinks Jiang ZhenTing is nothing more than a loyal dog of the Xuanyuan royal family, only knowing how to obey the royal family's orders without his own opinions, and always targeting the Qinglian Sect, hindering their growth and development.

Upon hearing these words, Jiang ZhenTing's expression remained unruffled, still calm and composed, but a faint trace of coldness flashed through his eyes, which was hardly noticeable. He then replied with a light smile:

"Zhou Sect Head, your words are quite amusing. I'm just taking a look at the local conditions of the people around here. It's you, Sect Head Zhou, who has been reaching out a bit too far lately. Be careful not to overreach, and avoid meddling in matters that are beneath your status."

Zhou BuChong, however, didn't seem to mind Jiang ZhenTing's seemingly peaceful response at all. He folded his arms across his chest, a mocking smile on his face, and drawled,"Tsk tsk, I'm worried for Xuanyuan Tian. One day, the wild dog he keeps might not have its leash secured and take a bite out of him."

Jiang ZhenTing's smile remained undiminished, as if he hadn't heard such harsh words at all, but the coldness in his eyes deepened a bit more.

He spoke calmly and unhurriedly,"Sect Head Zhou, do not speak nonsense here. My loyalty to the Xuanyuan royal family is as evident as the heavens and the earth.

As for Sect Head Zhou, your Qinglian Sect has close dealings with those nobles and princes, and the sect is filled with the seals and marks of nobility. It would be best not to do anything that would damage the royal prestige and the stability of the Great Han Nation."

After hearing this, Zhou BuChong's face slightly changed, but he quickly resumed his arrogant expression and said,"Jiang ZhenTing, do not slander me. My Qinglian Sect cultivates the great way and disdains to participate in your courtly intrigues. It's just the Xuanyuan clan that likes these things.

What we do is normal business. Those nobles appreciate the spiritual instruments crafted by our sect and come to custom order and purchase them, leaving their seals as a sign of the transaction. It's not as despicable as you say. On the other hand, you are always keeping an eye on my Qinglian Sect. Could it be that you are jealous of our sect's vast wealth and regional prosperity?"

Jiang ZhenTing gave a disdainful smile,"You also dare to claim that you cultivate the Great Way? It seems that Sect Head Zhou's脸皮 has become thicker with each passing month; I wonder if even my full-force strike could penetrate it."

His words caused Zhou BuChong's face to flush with anger and then pale, as he said resentfully,"Jiang ZhenTing, don't forget that our former sect head had a life-saving grace towards your father. The debt of gratitude to our Qinglian Sect is not yet repaid."

Upon hearing this, the coldness in Jiang ZhenTing's eyes instantly solidified, spreading a palpable chill from the depths of his eyes. Yet, he maintained his seemingly indifferent smile, which now, however, exuded a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Sect Head Zhou, the grace of saving a life, I, Jiang, certainly do not dare to forget," Jiang ZhenTing's voice was deep and steady, as if each word had been carefully weighed and considered."But that does not mean I can allow the Qinglian Sect to act with impunity. I, Jiang ZhenTing, have always been clear in distinguishing between public and private matters, one thing at a time!"

He paused for a moment, then raised his head slightly, looking directly at Zhou BuChong with eyes that carried an unabashed examination and warning.

"The interactions between the Qinglian Sect and the royal nobility, whether they are purely business or have ulterior motives, Sect Head Zhou should be more clear about it than I am. Do not think that relying on past connections, you can act recklessly on the territory of the Great Han Nation, doing things that harm the royal family and the common people."

Zhou BuChong was so enraged by Jiang ZhenTing's words that he trembled all over. His eyes widened in anger as he pointed at Jiang ZhenTing's nose and shouted,"Jiang ZhenTing, don't pretend to be virtuous here! Aren't you just trying to use the name of the Xuanyuan royal family to suppress my Qinglian Sect, so that you can have even more power in the court? Hmph, I tell you, it won't be that easy!"

The tension between the two was growing thicker, reaching a point where a confrontation seemed imminent.