The group passed through a huge square made of limestone. Huangfu Song told Li Chengfeng that this was the battle arena. Disciples of the same sect were not allowed to fight privately, but they were allowed to fight openly. As long as one party challenged the other and the other party accepted, both parties would have to fight to the death in the arena under the witness of a notary.
This rule was made so that cultivators who valued their lives could maintain a sense of bravery. Otherwise, wouldn't it be ridiculous if they became a bunch of cowards after cultivating for too long?
After walking for about half an hour, Li Chengfeng was guided to where they were staying: Jinxiu Mountains.
This was a group of palaces that were arranged in a picturesque manner. Although they were not as magnificent, towering, luxurious, or bizarre as the palaces they had seen before, they were still dazzling and resplendent.
Although it was only one storey high, the roof was covered with glazed golden tiles. The tiles glowed brightly, as if a five-coloured river was flowing. It was obvious that they were enchanted. Below the palaces were arched eaves and long corridors decorated with carved railings and painted rafters. Just one look and one could feel the oppressive aura of nobility. It was different from the majestic heavenly palaces Li Chengfeng had seen in his dreams. This palace gave him a sense of extravagance in the human world. The light flowing above was like a river, while the undulating roofs of the courtyards were like winding mountain ranges. This was indeed a beautiful scenery.
"Junior Brother Zhan, you'll be staying in the west, Area C. You're the first to arrive, so pick a place.
Right, I suggest you pick a place that faces the south and is closer to the inner area, "advised Huangfu Song.
Li Chengfeng was confused. "I can understand if it faces the south but why is it closer to the inner area?"
Feng Wenzhu, who had been silent all this while, finally interrupted. "The inner area is the most secluded place, it's the best place for cultivation."
Li Chengfeng nodded with a smile. Together with Huangfu Song and the rest, they picked a place to stay in Area C. Huangfu Song reminded him, "Tomorrow, there will be fellow disciples coming to register you into the pavilion. You just need to wash up now."
Hidden Brocade Court was, after all, a place for wealthy families to cultivate. Every new cultivator was given a spacious courtyard to live in. It was much bigger than the place Li Chengfeng's family lived in. It was divided into three halls, five entrances and five courtyards.
The front hall was the guest hall, the middle hall was the gathering place and the back hall was the place for cultivation. It was quiet and secluded, taking up the largest area.
Each of the five courtyards had a rock garden, a small bridge, and a flowing stream. The arrangement was exquisite and luxurious. Although it was a little craftsmanship, to Li Chengfeng, it was very rare for a new disciple to have such a residence.
Li Chengfeng counted carefully. There were twenty empty rooms, divided into one bathroom, one martial arts room, two Qi training rooms, five storage rooms, one crafting room, one talisman drawing room, four planting rooms, one pet breeding room, three side rooms and one main room.
Li Chengfeng asked Huangfu Song in confusion, "Why would there be a farm and a pet farm here?"
Huangfu Song smiled. "Not only do we cultivators need to be good at Qi Training, we also need to be good at cultivating and refining all kinds of spiritual pills and medicines. Also, the Spiritual Mountain Sect allows you to keep one pet. Junior Brother Zhan, you must choose carefully when you go to Empty Flow Valley to catch a magical beast."
"Magical beasts can be kept as pets?"
Li Chengfeng was shocked. He could not imagine that the Grim Stork he met before could be kept as a pet!
Ji Chunhua smiled and whistled. After a while, a golden oriole flew over from the sky. The oriole landed on Ji Chunhua's shoulder, looked around, and let out a crisp chirp. She smiled and said, "This is the magic pet I raised. Now it looks like when it is sealed. It will only show its true form when it is in a battle of magical powers.
Should I show it to you now? "
Huangfu Song's smile was a little ugly. "Senior Sister Ji, please don't joke. If you show your true form, Lovely Land will be destroyed."
Ji Chunhua giggled and shook her body, feeling very proud of herself. Gu Yuelian and Feng Wenzhu curled their lips and a trace of envy flashed in their eyes.
Ji Chunhua said it casually but it was extremely rare to catch a magical beast as a pet. Not only did one have to be powerful enough to tame it, one also had to spend a large amount of money to raise it.
Li Chengfeng's heart itched. He invited Huangfu Song and the rest to rest in the front hall, then he and Yuehan headed to the back hall to wash up. When they were far away, Yuehan complained, "Young Master, you're too bold!
If that Young Master Zhan really comes, let's see how you deal with this! "
Li Chengfeng laughed heartily. "I didn't say I was Young Master Zhan!
It's just their wishful thinking! "
"But Young Master, you're making enemies in Hidden Brocade Court the moment you arrive, that's not good!"
Li Chengfeng's face darkened. "You've reminded me, these people are disregarding their status as seniors and fawning over the Zhan family. They're shameless and have no morals … If Zhan Qisheng really comes, he'll use these people to deal with me. What should I do then?"
Li Chengfeng could understand why his senior brothers and sisters were shameless enough to suck up to him. Although the Zhan family of the northwest did not have much power in the north of Daqi, everyone knew that a terrifying crocodile had swum its way into the north.
What a thick thigh! If I don't hug it now, when will I?
Yuehan smiled bitterly. "Young Master, have you finally thought it through?"
Li Chengfeng rolled his eyes. "Even if I don't tease them, do you think they won't fawn over the Zhan family then?"
Yuehan made a face. "Young Master, you're so vulgar!"
Li Chengfeng grinned lewdly. "Not only am I vulgar, I also have a very vulgar place. Do you want to see it?"
Yuehan blushed. "Young Master, you can't be serious. If you delay your cultivation, don't blame me!" She turned and ran to the side rooms, picking one for herself and throwing her luggage inside.
Li Chengfeng laughed loudly. "Sigh, I meant my neck is thick, what are you thinking about?!"
Yuehan did not even turn around. "You're the worst!"
Li Chengfeng laughed heartily. He went to the bathroom and pushed the door open to see a rather large bath and a bathtub that could fit four to five people. The bathtub was connected to two metal pipes, one end of which was a switch that looked like a faucet.
Li Chengfeng twisted it out of curiosity and realised it was hot water. He couldn't help but exclaim, 'These bastards sure know how to live a good life!'
Li Chengfeng quickly tore off his smelly clothes and threw them on the ground. Naked, he jumped into the bathtub and scrubbed himself.
Yuehan left a change of clothes in the room. After Li Chengfeng washed up and changed into a clean set of clothes, he instantly felt refreshed. He had transformed from a sloppy beggar into a handsome young master.
"Young Master, I won't be joining you later." Yuehan combed his hair and said softly, "I still need to tidy up here."
Li Chengfeng nodded. "That's good too. You can familiarise yourself with the place while I go meet these people. If we meet that bastard Zhan Qisheng, we might end up fighting. It'll be bad if you're there."
Yuehan thought to herself, 'If they really fight, I'm afraid … I'll be in trouble!'
After some thought, she could not help but advise, "Young Master, the path of cultivation is long. Bear with it for a while, take a step back and you'll see the world. Don't fight for a moment of weakness!"
Li Chengfeng smiled at her. "Alright, alright, I know. Why are you nagging like my mother?
I'm warning you, don't nag all day or I'll send you home. "
She made a face at him and wrinkled her nose in protest. Li Chengfeng laughed and reached out to pinch her nose. She tilted her head to dodge and slapped his hand away.
Both of them chatted and laughed. After cleaning up, Li Chengfeng walked from the back hall to the front hall. The people who were chatting in the front hall brightened when they saw Li Chengfeng's new appearance. The three senior sisters' eyes even brightened. The person in front of them was tall and slender, with arms like an ape's and a waist like a bee's. He was handsome, with eyebrows that reached his temples and a faint smile on his handsome face. He exuded an unruly aura.
Huangfu Song was secretly jealous but he hid his thoughts well. He smiled. "You're a disciple of the Zhan family after all. You're not from an ordinary family."
Li Chengfeng laughed and thought, 'How could Young Master Zhan behave like that?'
Ji Chunhua smiled. "We were discussing with Junior Brother Huangfu just now to make the banquet a little bigger tonight. We'll host a banquet for the newcomers. What do you think, Junior Brother?"
Li Chengfeng's heart was pounding. Can I say no?
Why do you have to make it so big?
Do you want me dead? Do you want me dead? Or do you want me dead?
Li Chengfeng forced a smile. "It's not that troublesome …"
Huangfu Song smiled. "Junior Brother, you may not know this, but this banquet is held every time new disciples enter the pavilion. It's always three days later and many Martial Uncles and Martial Aunts will be there. That's a pain, there's a lot of food on the table and you can't even eat it. Just introducing, toasting and listening to lectures takes a few hours."
Ji Chunhua added, "That's right, when I first arrived, I thought I could have a good meal. But after the Pavilion Master, the Elders, the Martial Aunts, the Martial Aunts, the Martial Aunts, the Martial Aunts, the Martial Aunts, the Martial Aunts, the Martial Aunts, the Senior Brothers, I was so hungry I thought there wouldn't be anyone to talk to, right?"
Feng Wenzhu, who was at the side, rushed to say, "In the end, the disciples introduced themselves one by one, and it took another two hours. When they were all done, the banquet ended!
I didn't even get to eat a single dish or drink a sip of wine! "
They all laughed as they spoke.
They all looked at Li Chengfeng sympathetically.
Li Chengfeng's face alternated between red and green. He was not worried about the banquet in three days, he was more worried about tonight's banquet. How was he going to escape?
Since so many people were invited, Zhan Qisheng would definitely be there. If he was exposed, there would be a good show to watch!
Should he think of a way to … get rid of this guy tonight?
When Huangfu Song and the rest saw Li Chengfeng's silence, they thought he was scared and grinned at him. However, if they knew what he was thinking, they would have chopped him into minced meat on the spot.
= = =