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The disciples dispersed, leaving Spirit Stone alone with Li Hong. Li Hong was no longer surprised; after experiencing this several times, he had grown accustomed to it.
Spirit Stone walked over to a small cabinet at the front of the room, reached inside, and took out a white robe. He returned and solemnly handed it to Li Hong, saying, "Take this and wear it from now on."
Li Hong was still astonished. Did Spirit Stone stay behind just to give him a piece of clothing? As soon as he touched the robe, he immediately realized it was extraordinary.
The texture was not the usual cool feel of silk but rather strangely warm. Upon closer inspection, the robe was woven from a coarser fine wool that resembled sheep's wool, with a smooth and shiny exterior and a relatively thick texture.
Spirit Stone smiled and said, "You keep burning your clothes and running around naked; it doesn't look good for a man in front of women. My master is not an old-fashioned person, but it's not good for people to think I have a disciple who likes to be naked! This is made from Fire Rat Fur, impervious to water and fire. If it gets dirty, just burn it over a fire, and it will shine like new. Even if you sit in a bonfire all day and night, this robe won't be harmed at all. Elder Brother and the Elders each have only one. After hearing about your situation, I specifically went to Nine Separation Peak to get you one; you must take care of it!"
The Fire Rat Robe! Li Hong's eyes widened. The rare Fire Rat Robe that couldn't be bought even with vast wealth in the Mortal Realm! The Sect Master of Nine Li and the Elders each had only one, yet Spirit Stone personally went to get one for this low-ranking disciple!
"Master, it's too precious; I can't accept it!"
"You're wearing it whether you like it or not! Stop being so fussy!" Spirit Stone waved his hand and then walked back to the cabinet to pull out a belt and tossed it over. "Wear this belt with it. Don't underestimate this belt; it's actually not just a belt but a spiritual whip, a High-Quality Magical Artifact. You don't need to cultivate; just infuse spiritual power into it to activate it. It's called the Dragon Tail Whip. Wrap it around your waist; in critical moments, it can protect you. Your current cultivation isn't enough for you to fly with your sword and fight. With this Dragon Tail Whip, you won't have to dodge those girls anymore or worry about them burning your clothes! Next time they won't dare provoke you; even if you go looking for that girl Chu Xi, it's no problem." Spirit Stone chuckled as he stroked his beard, speaking with the wisdom of experience.
Li Hong was unexpectedly thrilled to receive a spiritual whip as well and quickly put on the Fire Rat Robe. He initially wanted to unfold the Dragon Tail Whip to see its power but changed his mind since the space was small and decided to treat it as a belt instead. Excitedly, he didn't even notice Spirit Stone's teasing remark at the end.
When not activated, the Dragon Tail Whip looked just like a belt made of dragon skin about a palm's width wide, adorned with small golden scales the size of shot glasses on top. In the middle was a buckle shaped like a dragon head crafted from purple gold, looking quite majestic. Paired with the pure white Fire Rat Robe with its suede collar, Li Hong felt quite good about himself.
Spirit Stone nodded repeatedly: "Not bad; wearing this does give you some celestial aura; you're no longer so 'rustic'!"
Li Hong smiled wryly; was he really that 'rustic'?
The master and disciple chatted and laughed for a while. Li Hong noticed that unconsciously he had less distance between himself and Spirit Stone; he could actually joke around without feeling so guarded anymore. He couldn't help but scold himself for being unambitious; having received two good items made him forget past lessons.
Spirit Stone then said quietly, "Don't worry about the fire incident; Ling Xiangzi and I have agreed on how to cover that up for you. But next time you need to be careful; the matter of the Fire Separation Pearl must not leak out."
The tone shifted back to that of a master lecturing a disciple, and Li Hong quickly responded affirmatively, recalling this flaw.
"You have obtained Yue Que; I should congratulate you. However, Yue Que has some history, and whether it brings fortune or misfortune is still uncertain. You must be doubly cautious," Spirit Stone said, twirling his yellowed beard, his expression growing serious. "This time, when I ventured out, I almost couldn't return. To be honest, those Demon Sect Monsters are quite formidable. Right now, among these disciples, you are exceptional and possess two treasures of our sect. Yet, you have only been here for a short time and lack the cultivation to protect yourself. If you ever have the chance to venture out for training, remember one thing: do not stand out! The bird that sticks its head out gets shot; being too prominent is not a good thing and will attract attention. Always keep in mind that you carry two extremely secret treasures of our sect."
Li Hong lowered his head and repeatedly agreed, though he felt somewhat unconvinced internally. With such precious treasures, how could there be an opportunity to venture out for training? Even if he wanted to, the people of Nine Li Sect would not allow it; his master was simply overly worried.
"Just watch; the Cultivation World will soon be unsettled. I know you have been troubled by the fate of those disciples who sought to learn the Six Spirit Salty Ritual. In the future, you will understand that we cannot be blamed for this, nor can I! I bear a significant responsibility in this matter as well; you will understand when your cultivation reaches a certain level."
Spirit Stone spoke sincerely. Li Hongyu felt increasingly alarmed; could it be that he had not concealed his feelings well enough? However, upon reflection, he sincerely responded again.
"You are good in this regard; you know what is important. As for your second senior brother Chu Qiu..."
Hearing this, Li Hong's heart tightened; he almost thought his master was about to clarify something. Unexpectedly, Spirit Stone changed the subject and ultimately avoided discussing it:
"I fear I will be away from Mountain Gate for quite some time. You must remember to diligently cultivate and absolutely avoid laziness. Among your peers, practice tolerance. Know that there is nothing more important than improving your strength right now..."
Spirit Stone earnestly advised him with heartfelt sincerity, gradually moving Li Hong. Just as he was saying this, Spirit Stone furrowed his brow and stopped.
Li Hong also heard it—the ethereal and melodious ancient music coming from Nine Separation Peak.
Zhu Feng Ling! Zhu Feng Ling has begun again! Something big has happened!
"I didn't expect it to come so quickly!" Spirit Stone showed no surprise, as if he already knew the reason. He sighed heavily with a troubled expression and said, "I must go now; remember what I just said."
A red light shot through the window as Spirit Stone hurriedly flew toward Nine Separation Peak on Gale Fire Sword.
Watching that red light disappear into the horizon, Li Hong pondered thoughtfully; this master was gradually starting to feel more like a true master.
Upon entering the Nine Li Great Hall, Spirit Stone found that most of the attendees had already arrived, with the two rows of Black Jade Chairs nearly filled. He nodded in greeting to Ling Xiangzi and others before silently taking his seat in his own Black Jade Chair.
The hall was eerily quiet, with even the sound of breathing absent, creating a heavy atmosphere. Spirit Stone and a few other Elder Brothers had already guessed the purpose of Zhu Feng Ling's gathering today, which left them feeling uneasy and their expressions grim. Others noticed their serious faces and felt anxious as well, exchanging glances but ultimately unsure of what was happening.
A flash of Crimson Shadow signaled the arrival of the sect leader, Ling Xuzi. He looked around at the gathered crowd and, seeing that most were present, was about to speak when a sudden yellow light entered the hall, revealing one more person.
Ling Xuzi was both surprised and delighted to see this person and quickly stood to welcome him.
Yun Jiuzi appeared in his usual village elder attire, wearing oversized shorts and tattered Grass Shoes, with unkempt hair that looked utterly ordinary. Yet who among them would dare mock his appearance? Everyone stood up to pay their respects.
After all, this was the highest-ranking individual in the Nine Li Sect, practically an ancestor to everyone present!
Spirit Stone's voice rang out the loudest as he rushed forward and bowed deeply, nearly touching the ground. "If it weren't for Great-Granduncle's assistance last time, I would have almost met Yama. I wanted to express my gratitude to Great-Granduncle several times but feared disturbing his tranquility. Here, I sincerely thank Great-Granduncle!"
Spirit Stone felt immense gratitude. It was Yun Jiuzi who had discovered his location last time; without him, he would have likely become a dried corpse stuck between rocks by now.
Yun Jiuzi rolled his eyes dramatically and boomed, "I see you're a straightforward person; when did you become so fussy? Sit down! I'm just here to listen to your stories; you all discuss your matters while I only brought two ears!" With that, he waved his hand from within his sleeve and pulled out a rickety bamboo chair, plopping down casually.
With his presence, Ling Xuzi felt a surge of confidence, and so did everyone else in the hall; the previously oppressive atmosphere gradually lightened.
Clearing his throat, Ling Xuzi spoke solemnly: "I just received news from the Celestial Sect Order!"
At this announcement, everyone erupted in chatter.
The Immortal Sect functioned as an alliance; besides the Nine Major Sects of the Immortal Sect, there were also two other powerful sects—Heavenly Grain and Five Elements Sect. Each generation would elect a highly respected individual from among these eleven sect leaders to serve as Sect Master. When a Sect Master passed away or ascended, another would be elected. Over the years, most Sect Masters had come from the Nine Major Sects of the Immortal Sect, though there were instances when it fell to Heavenly Grain—despite not being part of the Nine Major Sects, Heavenly Grain's strength was certainly formidable.
The current leader of the Kunlun Sect is Xuan Xuzi, and this "Celestial Sect Order" was issued by him.
The Celestial Sect Order is never issued lightly; when it is, something significant is bound to happen, usually related to the Demon Sect. Everyone present is well aware of this.
A tense atmosphere began to spread.
"The order clearly states: Recently, the traces of demons have been frequently appearing. The leader hopes everyone can unite and work together to combat the Demon Sect and overcome this crisis. From now on, elders of the Immortal Sect with Golden Core Stage cultivation or above will be sent out in batches to cooperate in investigating the hiding places of those Old Demons from the Demon Sect. If encountered, they are to be killed without mercy."
As Ling Xuzi spoke, his voice lowered: "This is the content of the Celestial Sect Order. Now let's discuss who should be sent out."
"We can't send everyone! We can't let the Eight Major Sects and Heavenly Grain know our full strength! We have our own concerns," Spirit Stone suddenly stood up and said loudly.
No one opposed him. The people in the hall, except for a few who were already informed, were stunned by the contents of the Celestial Sect Order—this order was essentially a declaration of war between the Immortal Sect and the Demon Sect.
The Cultivation World would soon be thrown into turmoil, leading to a bloody storm!
Everyone knew this day was approaching. However, when it finally arrived, most realized they were not truly prepared.
Ling Xuzi pulled out a long list and began reading it aloud, carefully considering with everyone present and removing some names. It was unclear whether it was intentional or planned from the start, but Yun Jiuzi's name was completely absent from it.
Yun Jiuzi leaned back in his bamboo chair with his eyes closed, not saying a word throughout.
Finally, Spirit Stone said: "Now let's mention who will lead this expedition; I will be one."
Yun Jiuzi opened his eyes in surprise and glanced at him. He opened his mouth as if to say something but thought better of it and ultimately said nothing.
"I will also be one!" Nine Beam Peak's Elder Brother Ling Yi Zi suddenly stood up and shouted, "How can I miss out on such a good opportunity? I'm eager to measure my strength against those demons!"
Ling Yi Zi is at the late stage of Transmutation, just one step away from the Early Stage of Nascent Soul, with a cultivation level higher than Spirit Stone. He is the most experienced in actual combat within the Nine Li Sect and is recognized as the contemporary combat genius among the spirit generation of Nine Li Sect.
Spirit Stone clapped his hands in delight: "Great! Junior Brother, you are straightforward! Is there anyone else willing to lead?"
Most people are not qualified, and some who are qualified deliberately avoid Spirit Stone's gaze, such as Ling Jizi from Nine Mystic Peak.
A delicate female voice calmly said, "I have been stagnant at Mid-Stage Nascent Soul for three hundred years; it's time for me to stretch my muscles."
Ling Xuzi was overjoyed upon hearing this: "With Yue Qingzi, Master Uncle, leading the team, our Nine Li Sect will surely gain great fame!"
It should be noted that there are not many elders above Nascent Soul Stage in Immortal Sect, with only a few in total. Having an elder at Mid-Stage Nascent Soul participate means strength; both publicly and privately, Nine Li Sect cannot afford to be underestimated.
Yue Qingzi nodded lightly, her clear face calm and unruffled, as if this outing were merely a leisurely stroll.
However, everyone present knew what this outing meant. Among these familiar faces, some might never be seen again. Thinking of this made everyone feel as if a heavy mountain pressed down on their hearts.
As the crowd dispersed, those who were leaving returned to pack their belongings. The time to leave the mountain was set very tight.
Before leaving, Spirit Stone bowed once more to Yun Jiuzi, not expecting him to respond. However, he heard Yun Jiuzi say, "Wait!"
Spirit Stone was surprised; this Great-Granduncle had never been polite to anyone. Hearing Zhu Feng Ling summoned twice in a row was unprecedented, let alone being called to stop him.
He immediately sheathed his sword and stood with his hands at his sides. "Great-Granduncle, please instruct me."
Yun Jiuzi scratched his scalp, flakes of dandruff falling like snow from his fingertips. He casually blew at his fingers and waited until most people had dispersed before speaking: "About your disciple... well, I have some interest."
Spirit Stone knew he was referring to Chu Hong. It made sense; Old Six and Yun Jiuzi's master Heavenly Danzi both practiced the Six Spirit Salty Ritual and had just taken in Yue Que as a disciple—this connection was unparalleled. Realizing the implication behind Yun Jiuzi's words, he sincerely said: "When I am not within Nine Li Sect, I hope Great-Granduncle will take care of Chu Hong. If anything happens to me, I ask Great-Granduncle to guide him in the future."
This is a serious matter of entrusting Li Hong to Yun Jiuzi.
"Alright, you can go with peace of mind. If anything comes up, you can have Ling Xuzi send me a message." After saying this, Yun Jiuzi turned and a beam of yellow light shot away.
Spirit Stone stood in a daze for a moment; Yun Jiuzi's words clearly meant he was willing to help him. If anything happened, he could seek assistance! This favor was significant! He was at the Heavenly Fusion Stage, and in the entire Cultivation World, the only ones who could rival him were probably the few Old Demons from the Demon Sect! Spirit Stone felt both surprised and delighted, but then he smiled wryly, realizing it was clearly due to his connection with Chu Hong. It seemed that because his disciple was well-regarded, the master received attention as well; perhaps he was the only one in the entire Cultivation World in such a situation.
With mixed feelings, Spirit Stone took to the skies on his sword.
********
After packing up his belongings, Spirit Stone went alone to the Summit Green Pavilion and met Li Hong privately once more. This time, there were no lengthy instructions; he simply handed him a book and instructed him to study it well before descending the mountain.
Watching the familiar crimson sword light gradually fade away, Li Hong felt for the first time that figure seemed so lonely. Perhaps Spirit Stone had his own reasons for acting as he did back then.
The book in his hands felt heavy. A gentle breeze blew by, and strange golden light flickered across the pages.
The Complete Guide to Intermediate Spirit Talisman Techniques of the Nine Departures Sect, a secret technique that the Nine Li Sect never passed on, had been secretly bestowed upon him by Spirit Stone before his departure.
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