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The Golden Lamp is Ling Yi Zi's Fate Lantern. The blood-red flames are dim and weak on the outside, while the black energy inside occupies almost half of the flame, even more pronounced than Elder Yao's.
Since Ling Yi Zi returned, his strange behavior and greedy desire for the Star Sect's secret texts in the Underground Palace of Temple City have been evident. He sent multiple sound transmission talismans, but they vanished without a trace, and he has not appeared at the formal ceremony to take over as the sect leader. All of this, until the undeniable evidence presented by the black flames of his Fate Lantern, made Li Hong realize that Ling Yi Zi had undoubtedly betrayed them.
In fact, this thought had lingered in Li Hong's mind for a long time, but each time it arose, he forcefully suppressed it. He simply could not accept this notion, always thinking he must have misjudged or overthought things... Until now, with irrefutable evidence before him, Li Hong knew it was time to confront and acknowledge the truth.
But how could it be him?! How could it be?!
Li Hong had accepted Elder Yao's betrayal, who was both a mentor and a friend, but he could not accept that Ling Yi Zi, who had fought alongside him through thick and thin, would betray him.
As he gazed at the increasingly robust black flames, a sharp pain pierced Li Hong's heart.
At that moment, Li Hong suddenly recalled their return to Western Bull Hezhou. In the mysterious Pyramid Forest Space, Ling Yi Zi had many opportunities to eliminate him—such as during their confrontation with the Feathered Serpent—but he did not! Except for revealing his intentions when trying to obtain the Yin Yang Platform and Heartless Shuttle, he never made a move against Li Hong.
Could this mean that Ling Yi Zi still had a conscience and a chance for redemption?
A glimmer of hope appeared before him, and the pain in his heart finally subsided. After pondering for a while, Li Hong decided that if he truly encountered Ling Yi Zi, he would give him a chance.
At the very least, he had to ask him one question: "Why did you betray us?"
With this thought in mind, Li Hong felt much lighter. He waved his hand and stored the Nine Li Sect's treasure, the Six Paths Resonance Lamp, into his Cosmic Bag.
At that moment of realization, Li Hong immediately understood how to use the Six Paths Resonance Lamp.
As long as it is a disciple of their sect who has formed a Golden Core, the sect leader can infuse a bit of their blood essence Divine Thought into this lamp. A corresponding Fate Lantern will light up on the Six Paths Resonance Lamp. Not only can it reveal the life and death status of that disciple, but it can also indicate their cultivation strength and general techniques. The higher their cultivation level, the more robust the flame of their Fate Lantern will be; its blood-red color will blaze like fire. However, if they practice different techniques—especially Demonic Cultivation Techniques—the energy will differ and cause changes in their Fate Lantern. But such changes can typically only be detected by someone at least at the Heavenly Fusion Stage.
Because Elder Yao's Fate Lantern must have undergone subtle changes over time; however, Ling Xuzi at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul did not notice them. Yet now that Li Hong was here, he could immediately see that Elder Yao's Fate Lantern contained an unusual amount of black energy.
This was not due to Ling Xuzi's negligence but rather due to differences in cultivation level, perception, and habitual thinking! The higher one's cultivation level, the better their perception becomes. Back then, no one suspected Elder Yao would be a traitor; yet now that Li Hong knew better, those minute traces of black energy could not escape his notice when observing Elder Yao's Fate Lantern.
This indicates that the Six Paths Resonance Lamp is indeed an excellent tool for identifying traitors.
However, although the Six Paths Resonance Lamp is named "Six Shadows," it is actually limited to this realm. At least Li Hong cannot sense Chu Xi.
Understanding this, Li Hong shifted his attention to other objects in the secret chamber.
The large floor mirror and the jadeite mirror on the vanity immediately caught Li Hong's eye.
He felt as if someone was peering at him from the mirror, but it must be an illusion. After thinking for a moment, Li Hong approached the large floor mirror and infused it with his Divine Thought.
The surface of the mirror rippled like water, and suddenly, a familiar face appeared within it—it was Ling Xuzi!
Ling Xuzi, dressed in crimson robes and wearing a high crown, had a radiant face with warm, kind, and comforting eyes... just like when he was alive, smiling as he gazed at Li Hong. In that instant, Li Hong's throat tightened, and he couldn't help but reach out.
What he touched was only the smooth, cold surface of the mirror. Ling Xuzi's figure began to waver and blur like a flower in the mirror or the moon in water. Fearing that Ling Xuzi's image would dissipate, Li Hong quickly withdrew his hand, realizing that it was merely a projection of Ling Xuzi's Divine Thought.
A voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "Chu Hong, it must be you? Do not be afraid; what you see is not Shibo's real body or soul but a fragment of Shibo's Divine Thought left in this Carefree Mirror. Your presence here indicates that you have officially gained the recognition of the Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade and have become the Seventeenth Generation Sect Leader of my Nine Li Sect. From now on, you should start calling me Master. I am very pleased; under your leadership, the Nine Li Sect will surely flourish. The future belongs to you young people. Do not let me down. Master is leaving now."
The image rippled like water as Ling Xuzi's figure slowly faded from the mirror, his face becoming increasingly blurred until it vanished into nothingness.
"Master!" Li Hong lifted his robes and knelt down, solemnly performing three kneelings and nine knockings before the mirror, finally fulfilling Ling Xuzi's last wish.
Next, Li Hong began to take stock of the items.
The Carefree Mirror does not need to be taken away; it is essentially a monitoring mirror that allows one to see events happening at various locations through auxiliary mirrors placed around.
The jadeite mirror on the vanity is a magical tool specifically for communicating with the Underground Array Hall. Unfortunately, the Array Hall has been destroyed; it has completely collapsed, and Elder True Microbe and Ancestor Yueyangzi among others have all met with misfortune. Their corpses are buried deep beneath the ruins, and excavating them would require great effort. Moreover, Li Hong did not wish to disturb the ancestors. Therefore, he took the vanity with him.
In a corner stood a small Teleportation Array. Li Hong stepped onto it and carefully experienced its workings but shook his head after a long while with an uncomfortable feeling.
This is a Teleportation Array exclusively for the Sect Leader that can directly descend to the Array Hall or teleport directly to the Heaven and Earth Platform or even directly into the Li Fire Formation by inputting an address with Divine Thought—truly miraculous and swift. Unfortunately, it is now essentially out of service! The Array Hall is gone; the Heaven and Earth Platform is gone; only a Li Fire Formation remains, which he knows how to navigate but is effectively useless now. Although this fixed small Teleportation Array is quite rare, it will henceforth only serve as a decorative pattern in the corner.
The remaining items were numerous bottles and jars placed on the shelves, along with a large stack of Azure Jade Boxes. These were the most precious Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, as well as the most valuable Elixirs accumulated by the Nine Li Sect over many years.
Li Hong's gaze fell on the front row, where there were about ten white jade bottles, each labeled in neat handwriting by Ling Xuzi, with names like "Azure Origin Pill" and "Bone Cleansing Pill." These were the so-called Ancient Pill Formula Elixirs developed by Elder Yao. Ling Xuzi had treasured these Elixirs, storing them in a secret chamber, which showed how much he valued them.
Li Hong was filled with anger. Without even looking, he waved his sleeve, and his palm ignited with innate True Fire, instantly turning the Elixirs and their white jade bottles to ashes.
After collecting all the remaining bottles and jars, Li Hong went to the adjacent living quarters of Ling Xuzi, which contained all of Ling Xuzi's personal belongings. As Li Hong rummaged through them, he couldn't help but sigh. In the end, he gathered all the items.
Finally, Li Hong pressed a switch, and with a series of clattering sounds, the Mysterious Iron plates covering the entire residence of the sect leader retracted, allowing him to gaze directly at the green mountains and clear waters outside.
Daylight had arrived.
Standing by the window and taking a deep breath of fresh air, Li Hong felt much better inside.
The next day was another busy day. Li Hong ordered all disciples of the Nine Li Sect to begin packing for their retreat. The main priority was to ensure that all ancestor spirit tablets from the ancestral hall were taken away.
Li Hong then returned to the Mountain Green Pavilion at Nine Vermilion Peaks.
In the corner of his bedroom, a large trunk was covered in a thick layer of dust. Opening the lid, Li Hong's hand lightly brushed over the yellowed and brittle clothes inside. Silk handkerchiefs, shoes and socks, garments with fine stitching—these were all Wanyi's handiwork.
In an instant, she had been gone for forty years.
The youthful stirrings felt upon first encountering beauty in another person, the unspoken thoughts of adolescence, the sweet pain that surged within when their eyes met—all these feelings of longing and regret seemed like matters from a past life, gradually dissipating into smoke and clouds.
That gentle and beautiful face had slowly become blurred in his memory; what remained was merely a recollection of youthful recklessness.
It turned out that time could indeed allow one to let go.
Li Hong knew he would never forget Wanyi; however, love—now he understood that love was something else entirely. If his feelings for Wanyi represented a youthful awakening, then his feelings for Chu Xi were a deep-seated obsession that spanned mountains and rivers—a connection not to be missed in this lifetime.
Li Hong's hand rested on the trunk, and a small flame ignited from the bottom of the box, gradually transforming into fluttering ashes like butterflies.
The spring dream left no trace.
********
The leaders of various sects began to take their leave, and Li Hong personally escorted each of them to the Mountain Gate. As they were about to depart, Xuan Xuzi held Li Hong's hand, hesitating to speak.
Li Hong knew what he wanted to say and smiled, "Master, give me three days. In another three days, I will be engaged at Kunlun and will also present you with a great gift."
Xuan Xuzi let out a long breath and laughed heartily, "Good! I will await your arrival at Kunlun!"
With a flourish of his sleeve, the Winged White Tiger suddenly soared out. Xuan Xuzi jumped onto the tiger's back along with Zi Yi and several elders for protection. The white tiger let out a roar and immediately flew into the clouds, disappearing in an instant.
Li Hong smiled slightly; it seemed that Xuan Xuzi had some high-level treasures similar to Spatial Treasures. Otherwise, where would he keep such a large white tiger?
Thinking of his own methods for refining Spatial Treasures, Li Hong smiled again and turned to leave.
Next was the Nine Li Cave Heaven! It was time to bid farewell to the Beast Cultivation Sect.
With a grand procession of disciples, Li Hong leaped onto the Black Abyss and turned to Du Yizi and others with a smile, "No need for words; we will meet again soon!"
Du Yizi laughed heartily and promptly clasped his hands before stepping inside.
The Black Abyss soared into the sky, heading straight for the Southern Wilderness.
From then on, Temple City, along with the Four Great Teleportation Halls and Celestial Field Space, became the cave heaven of the Nine Li Sect. The area was vast with abundant resources, and there was also an ever-vigilant Spirit of the Hall managing it all.
All the disciples knew that a new chapter would unfold for the Nine Li Sect from this point forward, and they were all incredibly excited.
Chuxuan was already planning many things and said excitedly, "Elder Brother Zhangmen, shouldn't we start recruiting disciples? I think with such a large place, we should at least take in over ten thousand disciples to manage it properly. We can't waste so much Spiritual Energy!"
Li Hong chuckled, "Even if we have the territory, where are we going to find over ten thousand disciples with Fire Spirit Roots to recruit? This can't be rushed. Right now, there's still a major issue to address. When we get back, we brothers need to discuss this thoroughly."
Yun Jiuzi smiled silently. He knew he would definitely be part of the discussion.
Yue Changzi waved his hand, "Enough, Little Monkey, you just focus on your own tasks. Don't burden me with mundane affairs. Don't forget, I still have a significant task you assigned me! I need to find a suitable Superior Spirit Artifact for that Phoenix Spirit; I don't have time for anything else!"
Li Hong laughed, "Alright! Master Yue Changzi, you focus on that. In fact, I'll hand over the Five Elements Shuttle to you as well; you can help me with..."
"Dream on! Don't think that just because you're the sect leader, you can command others. I'm not doing it!"
The disciples listened to their sect leader and master debating and felt both warm and close. They all said the sect leader was down-to-earth; indeed, everyone perked up their ears to listen and secretly enjoyed the banter.
As Li Hong, Chuxiong, Chuming, Chuxuan, and others left Nine Li Cave Heaven, the last traces of melancholy and reluctance were finally dispelled by their lively chatter as they began to seriously debate their future plans.
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