Star Heaven Sect.
Just these three short words alone left the two mountain-guarding disciples of the Biqiu Sect standing there in a daze.
They didn't even manage to remember the string of titles Mu Xuesong had stated after the words "Star Heaven Sect."
Seeing that the two mountain-guarding disciples before him showed no reaction, Mu Xuesong simply smiled amiably and repeated what he had just said:
"I wonder if your sect's leader could come out for a meeting?"
Among the two disciples guarding the mountain gate, the more quick-witted one finally snapped out of it. He then bowed towards Mu Xuesong, who was standing right before the Biqiu Sect's mountain gate.
"Please wait a moment, esteemed senior. I will go inform our sect leader immediately."
Then, this disciple looked at the other Biqiu Sect mountain-guarding disciple beside him, lowered his voice, and shot him a meaningful glance:
"Don't make the senior wait at the gate. Find a guest room and serve tea."
"Esteemed senior, please follow me."
Mu Xuesong smiled and nodded, then began to step forward.
Regardless of whether the other party was truly a Supervisor from the Star Heaven Sect or not, since he dared to introduce himself as such, he absolutely must be treated with the highest level of courtesy.
As he passed through the Biqiu Sect's mountain gate, Mu Xuesong glanced sideways, taking a few extra looks at the sect's white jade gate, and then praised:
"Excellent, truly excellent. The material is Cloud Mist Jade. I'm afraid your sect's expenditure when building this mountain gate back then was no small sum. Just the materials alone would cost at least several thousand high-grade spirit stones."
The Biqiu Sect disciple leading the way for Mu Xuesong, of course, didn't understand these things. He was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit of shock in his heart at the enormous number Mu Xuesong had just mentioned.
"In reply to the senior, this junior does not understand such matters."
The guiding mountain-guarding disciple said this to Mu Xuesong.
"Is that so? Then who do you think understands these things?"
Mu Xuesong asked with a smile.
The guiding mountain-guarding disciple thought for a moment and then came up with what he considered a very appropriate answer:
"Later, when the senior meets our sect leader, you can discuss the material of the mountain gate with him. I believe our sect leader will certainly be able to provide you with a very good conclusion, senior."
"Is that so?"
Mu Xuesong was still smiling, then nodded towards the mountain-guarding disciple:
"I look forward to hearing your sect leader's answer."
...
When Gongsun Kang, inside the Biqiu Sect's main hall, heard the mountain-guarding disciple who had rushed in hurriedly tell him that a senior from the Star Heaven Sect requested an audience, the muscles in his calves couldn't stop trembling.
The sky is falling.
Gongsun Kang's mind went completely blank, with only these three words repeating over and over.
The nightmare has become reality.
This Biqiu Sect leader began to feel regret.
But regret is the most useless thing in this world.
"...Where is that Star Heaven Sect senior?"
Gongsun Kang's voice even became somewhat shaky.
The mountain-guarding disciple who had come to report clearly noticed his sect leader's current abnormality. His heart couldn't help but sink, realizing the current situation might be more serious than imagined.
"In reply to the Sect Leader, that Star Heaven Sect senior is currently in the honored guest room within the sect."
The mountain-guarding disciple said.
"Understood. You may withdraw for now."
Gongsun Kang said. Then, placing both hands on the armrests of his chair, he stood up with great difficulty.
Fear, regret, panic, confusion, parched mouth.
But Gongsun Kang had to face it.
Gongsun Kang walked out of the newly built, very imposing main hall and headed towards the direction of the honored guest room within the Biqiu Sect.
Over the past half-year or so, the Biqiu Sect could be said to have been completely revitalized. Nearly every branch on the mountain had been meticulously trimmed, and every roof tile had been carefully replaced.
The cultivation resources inner disciples received daily had increased more than tenfold compared to half a year ago.
To accomplish all this naturally required a massive amount of spirit stone resources.
An amount of spirit stone resources that other sects of similar size to the Biqiu Sect wouldn't even dare to imagine.
The spirit mine in Yuanjin Country.
By secretly mining the spirit mine in Yuanjin Country, the Biqiu Sect had gained profits of over a hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones in the past half-year-plus, and this was after splitting the proceeds fifty-fifty with the Spirit Snake Cliff.
In the several decades since Gongsun Kang took over the Biqiu Sect and became its fifth-generation leader, he had only managed to accumulate a few thousand high-grade spirit stones on the sect's ledger.
Gongsun Kang, trembling and unsteady, walked into the sect's honored guest room.
From within the room, he saw that middle-aged cultivator, appearing to be around forty-something years old, who was lightly sipping the tea from the cup he held, wearing the Star Heaven Sect's Daoist robe.
This person looked cheerful and smiling.
But the Star Heaven Sect cultivator's seemingly amiable, smiling expression did not make Gongsun Kang feel the slightest bit relaxed.
It was as if the Star Heaven Sect cultivator currently sitting in the room was a demon.
"Excellent tea."
Mu Xuesong put down the cup of tea in his hand, lightly closed his eyes as if savoring the aftertaste, and nodded:
"Even when I was at the Star Heaven Sect, I never drank tea this good. Sect Leader Gongsun, may I ask what tea this is?"
"Wind Ravine Snow Ridge."
Gongsun Kang lowered his head and bowed towards Mu Xuesong's direction as he said this.
Although both parties' cultivation was at the Qi Sea Realm, and Mu Xuesong's cultivation realm was only at the mid-stage Qi Sea Realm, his status was undoubtedly the absolute superior in this room.
"So it's Wind Ravine Snow Ridge. The supreme-grade immortal tea produced only in the Wind Ravine Valley. I've heard that each year, only a few dozen *jin* of Wind Ravine Snow Ridge probably flow into the Chenping Continent's black market from the Wind Ravine Valley. Just two *qian* of Wind Ravine Snow Ridge can sell for a high price of several hundred high-grade spirit stones. Sect Leader Gongsun is truly generous."
Mu Xuesong said with a smile:
"Let me introduce myself again. I am Mu Xuesong, Supervisor of the External Affairs Hall under the Night Weaving Gate of the Star Heaven Sect."
"Gongsun Kang, the fifth-generation leader of the Biqiu Sect, pays his respects to Supervisor Mu."
Gongsun Kang once again bowed and saluted towards Mu Xuesong's direction.
Even though the other party clearly knew who he was, Gongsun Kang still had to introduce himself. It was a matter of thorough etiquette.
"I presume Sect Leader Gongsun is also quite clear about the reason for my visit?"
Mu Xuesong said.
"......"
Gongsun Kang did not speak, as if tacitly agreeing.
"One day."
Mu Xuesong extended one finger:
"I give the Biqiu Sect one day. All Biqiu Sect disciples must immediately leave the spirit mine in Yuanjin Country."
"...As you command."
Gongsun Kang had no qualification to bargain.
One day's time, sending a message via Sound Swift Sparrow would probably be too late. It seems only the Spirit Mirror can be used.
He thought to himself.
"Now that the solution is stated, next, we should talk about punishment."
Mu Xuesong said with a smile.
Gongsun Kang's heart hung in the air.
"I give your sect two choices."
Immediately after, Mu Xuesong extended two fingers:
"The first, hand over to the Star Heaven Sect double the amount of all gains obtained from the unauthorized mining of the Yuanjin Country spirit mine."
As he spoke, he retracted one finger, then continued:
"The second, all cultivators under the Biqiu Sect shall perform labor service for the Star Heaven Sect for fifty years."
Gongsun Kang stood before Mu Xuesong, his expression shifting like storm clouds.
"So, Sect Leader Gongsun, which one do you intend to choose?"
Mu Xuesong said with a laugh.