Fury Immortal Doctor

Chapter 2009 - 2012: No Choice for the Qingyun Sword Pavilion

"Shen Qiang, Medicine King's master is the Dragon Group's War God? Impossible!"Just as dawn was breaking, rumors about Shen Qiang had already flooded the Immortal Realm Forum.

"Shen Qiang is the Medicine King, but does the Dragon Group's War God know? Shen Qiang has medical skills, but does the Dragon Group's War God know? Shen Qiang is the King of Demons, commanding three hundred great demons who block out the sky and the sun, does the Dragon Group's War God know? Can you be a bit more reasonable? I don't believe it even if you beat me to death!"

"That's not right. What the Dragon Group's War God said was that Shen Qiang's combat skills were taught by him. For other areas, Shen Qiang has other famous masters!"

"That's still impossible! If there really is a master-disciple relationship, would the outside world not know? Even if the outside world doesn't know, would insiders in the Dragon Group still be clueless? How come I haven't heard a whisper of it?"

"Haha, no wonder that back when Shen Qiang became the Dragon Group's security advisor, Sect Leader Ma of the Kunlun Sword Sect was so excited. So that's what was going on."

"No wonder Shen Qiang has been ruling as the King of Demons so steadily; it turns out he has connections up high."

Various rumors, hearsays spread like wildfire.

Coinciding with Shen Qiang's rising reputation, for a time, all sorts of legends and analyses about him emerged on the online forums.

In a house at the back of the Qingyun Sword Pavilion.

Though dawn had just broken, many cultivators had already gathered.

"Second Elder, look, this is the latest news. Now the entire Cultivation World is buzzing with the rumor that the Dragon Group's War God is Shen Qiang's martial arts master. Besides, these gossip pieces are masking two more significant matters: one, Shen Qiang killed the former leader of the Kunlun Sword Sect. Two, Shen Qiang fought with the Abyss's noble son, seemingly winning, and both events happened last night."

"Impossible!" The square-faced man suddenly interrupted the beardless cultivator, saying sharply, "That Gong Ziyi isn't an ordinary cultivator; his Dao Fruit is one of the most bizarre in the Cultivation World. It's unlikely that Shen Qiang, with only Mixed Element Realm cultivation, could defeat Gong Ziyi, even if he were at the Dao Fruit Stage."

"Moreover, although Sect Leader Ma of the Kunlun Sword Sect is no longer the leader, if he really died at Shen Qiang's hands, the Kunlun Sword Sect wouldn't be so quiet, so these rumors are not credible!"

Hearing this, the gathered cultivators nodded in agreement.

"In the Abyss, strong ones gather. Gong Ziyi's status is extraordinary, not just noble, his grandfather is..."

"Enough, everyone, be quiet!" The Second Elder sternly interrupted.

The Second Elder then looked at the beardless man and asked, "Is the source of this information reliable?"

"It's top-price information from bounty hunters, can't be wrong," the beardless man replied.

Hearing this, everyone present fell silent.

Only the square-faced man persisted, "Impossible, it's too bizarre."

After hearing this, the Second Elder glanced at him and sighed, "Distinguish between priorities. Everyone here is part of Qingyun Sword Pavilion's core, all elites, and all smart people. Whether the Dragon Group's War God is Shen Qiang's master isn't important. What matters is that for such rumors to spread widely means the Dragon Group hasn't tried to curb them."

"Why? If they were rumors, even if the Dragon Group wouldn't come out to clarify, they'd certainly take steps to quash them. Believe me, it wouldn't be hard for the Dragon Group to do so. Since they haven't acted until now, it implies this could be true, or even if it isn't, it's a message the Dragon Group's War God agreed to release."

"Otherwise, who would dare link Shen Qiang with the Dragon Group's War God?"

Instantly, everyone present stared resolutely.

"Earlier, you said Shen Qiang killed the Kunlun Sword Sect's former leader and fought with Gong Ziyi. These two events were overshadowed by the gossip about Shen Qiang and the Dragon Group's War God. So those two things are likely true."

The square-faced man got anxious: "Second Elder, this can't be! We haven't finalized our merger with the Qingyun Sword Pavilion yet. How could Shen Qiang have the capability—oh, killing the original leader of Kunlun, beating Gong Ziyi. If he isn't crazy, isn't he just courting death?"

"Exactly, Gong Ziyi's men include four generals, all at the Harmonization Stage. Their strength is explosive!"

"Hmph, Gong Ziyi's grandfather can even compete with the Dragon Group's War God. The Kunlun Sword Sect is a perpetually strong force in the Cultivation World..."

"Enough!" the Second Elder interrupted sharply. "Can't you use your brain a little? These rumors appeared so suddenly, almost simultaneously. But now, ordinary cultivators only know of Shen Qiang's connection with the War God. Isn't the problem simple?"

"Shen Qiang killed the Kunlun Sword Sect leader, fought Gong Ziyi, and at this moment, the Dragon Group's War God releasing the news that Shen Qiang is his disciple is equivalent to saying to the Kunlun Sword Sect and Gong Ziyi, Shen Qiang is my man. If you want to solve the issue, come to me."

"That's why the Dragon Group hasn't just failed to control the news about Shen Qiang and the War God but has deliberately guided cultivators' attention because many in the Cultivation World value face, sometimes at all costs. But if no one knows about the other two matters, their determination to fight will wane, facilitating mediation later."

Instantly, the eyes of everyone present lit up.

"Second Elder, you're wise. If we think along these lines, it's probably like this."

"It might not be entirely correct, but this affair probably means that. You don't hit a person's face when hitting them nor expose their faults when scolding. Some losses, if suffered quietly without others knowing, can be tolerated. But if everyone knew and it was spread everywhere, without getting back at it, how could they face anyone in the Cultivation World afterward?"

"Yes, that's the idea. No matter the truth of the master-disciple relationship, seeing the current situation, the Dragon Group's War God forcefully stands out to settle matters for Shen Qiang."

Seeing everyone had understood, the Second Elder of Qingyun Sword Pavilion said, "In a few hours, we will confront Shen Qiang, which is crucial to whether we join Heshenghe. At this juncture, such events require us to adjust our previous plans, meaning we must be prepared to give up some conditions."

"Why?" The square-faced man got anxious, asking, "Second Elder, what does Heshenghe count for? Isn't it just a den of demons? Without our Qingyun Sword Pavilion joining, could Shen Qiang make any waves in the Cultivation World? Who in the Cultivation World would respect him?"

Upon hearing this, the Second Elder sighed and said, "Set aside your sense of superiority as a part of a prestigious sect. There's no end to it. Shen Qiang has already secured the position of Medicine King at the Elixir Pills conference, solidifying his relationship with the Dragon Group's War God as a formidable background. Believe me, now our joining Heshenghe is not that significant because if Shen Qiang wants it, more than half of the cultivators in the Cultivation World would be willing to ally or join Heshenghe with him."

"Thus, Shen Qiang now has countless options, but we have only one, which is to join Heshenghe. Otherwise, the first thing a strengthened Heshenghe would do is destroy Qingyun Sword Pavilion to establish authority!"