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墨書 Inktalez
On the evening of the second day, the anxious Li Hong and Chu Xi finally awaited the arrival of Spirit Stone and Ling Xiangzi. However, three more elders had fallen, reportedly shattering their cores on the spot, leaving no trace of their bones.
The Elder Peak shrine now had several more spirit tablets. Ling Xuzi opened the shrine personally and placed the tablets inside, leading everyone in three bows.
Ling Xuzi was safe and sound; at the moment the Demon Sect Monster attacked, he had taken Ling Yi Zi and a dozen personal guards directly to the Heaven and Earth Platform at the Western Region Exit, where they were immediately teleported back to Nine Li Sect. Unfortunately, the remaining members were not so fortunate.
Most importantly, Yue Qingzi had perished. Her death dealt a significant blow to Nine Li Sect. Currently, there were over two hundred elders at Golden Core Stage or above, but only twenty-three at Nascent Soul Stage or above, including Sect Leader Ling Xuzi. With Yue Qingzi's loss, there were now only twenty-two left.
The Scripture Repository overseen by Yue Qingzi was shrouded in sorrow. The disciples, recalling her kindness and vast knowledge, wept silently as they remembered her smile and presence that would no longer grace the world.
Spirit Stone stood at the front of the group with an empty right sleeve. There was nothing he could do now but wait until he reached Nascent Soul Stage to reshape his body and regrow his right arm. For now, he would have to manage with one arm, which was a significant setback since many tasks were not easy to accomplish this way.
Ling Xiangzi was injured again after sustaining heavy wounds. If it weren't for two elders who eliminated her opponent and came to her aid, she might have been driven to use the Nine Separation Technique like Yue Qingzi in a mutual destruction scenario. Though she received timely assistance, she was on the brink of core shattering due to her injuries and did not attend the public memorial ceremony; instead, she was in seclusion for healing. This time in seclusion would likely take a long while.
The dark shrine was filled with swirling incense smoke, countless spirit tablets arranged like a forest of wood. The Main Hall was completely filled. Ling Xuzi gazed at the seven newly added spirit tablets at the front and let out a heavy sigh.
This sigh weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.
After the public memorial concluded, it was time for private offerings.
Li Hong approached Yue Qingzi's spirit tablet, lifted his robe, knelt down, and solemnly bowed nine times.
The scene from that day when he first entered Nine Li Sect and met Yue Qingzi replayed before him.
She looked at him quietly; her face serene and ancient, her gaze wise and unfathomable. Without her guidance, he would merely be an outer disciple with a status similar to Yao Shu, who managed the Farmstead—where would he find such abilities?
Yue Qingzi had bestowed upon him a great opportunity! Straightening up, tears streamed down Li Hong's face.
Yue Qingzi's eldest disciple, Elder Ling Shanzi, stood before the spirit tablet and slightly bowed in return to Li Hong.
She had already reached Mid-Stage of Transformation cultivation and was the most likely candidate to succeed as the next elder of the Scripture Repository; internal news had already circulated. However, she showed no signs of joy; her expression was one of deep sorrow and pallor.
Li Hong wiped her tears and said firmly, "Elder, please accept my condolences. This time, Great-Granduncle Yue Qingzi single-handedly killed over a hundred Demon Sect Monsters at the Golden Core Stage and reportedly even faced a Nascent Soul Old Demon. Though he is gone, this honor remains! I will always remember this deep grudge from the Sea of Blood, and I believe every disciple of the Nine Li Sect will engrave it in their hearts. He will live on in each of us!"
Ling Shanzi was moved, gazing deeply at Li Hong and choked out, "Thank you!"
Li Hong bowed repeatedly before the spirit tablets of the six sacrificed elders before exiting the Azure Smoke Wreathed Hall.
The scent of incense lingered by her nose, a fragrance almost synonymous with death.
The Immortal Sect and Demon Sect declared war once again. The Nine Li Sect had just received a message from the Celestial Sect Order, which was identical to the previous one. After the public memorial ceremony, a large number of Golden Core Stage elders would be dispatched to the Mountain Gate for battle. The time frame was within three days.
How many more spirit tablets would this battle add to the ancestral hall?
According to reliable sources, not only was the Nine Li Sect ambushed; all seven major sects, except for Kunlun, were also attacked on their way back to the Mountain Gate, including the Five Elements Sect. Even the New Luo Xuanwei sects, which specialized in water and wood escape techniques, could not evade capture and were blocked right outside their own Mountain Gate by a large group of Demon Sect Monsters. Yuan Zhenzi was severely injured and nearly died at his own doorstep.
This battle showcased the notorious reputation of the Demon Sect. They displayed such strength by setting up ambushes along the routes of the Eight Major Sects while deploying thousands of experts equivalent to or above the Golden Core Stage. This power left everyone from the Immortal Sect feeling alarmed.
After three thousand years, the Demon Sect had finally made a true comeback following their period of recuperation. This battle highlighted their terrifying strength. The claims made by prominent figures from the Immortal Sect that the Demon Sect was weak were proven false. Last year, the Demon Sect had not even sustained significant injuries; their true power had remained hidden.
To this day, how many Nascent Soul Old Demons does the Demon Sect possess? What are their important inner sanctums, and where are they located? The Immortal Sect knew nothing about these matters, while those previously exposed outer sanctums were now deserted.
How should this battle be fought? The enemy's whereabouts were unknown while our side was already exposed under their watchful eyes.
Anyone with a bit of common sense knew that after reigniting this war, the Immortal Sect would surely suffer great losses. If any sect among the Nine Major Sects lost their cave dwelling to the Demon Sect... just thinking about it sent chills down everyone's spine.
What is needed now is hope.
Li Hong flew back to Nine Vermilion Peaks with a heavy heart. Beside her were Spirit Stone Zichuxiong and others who were equally silent and troubled.
Upon reaching the Three-Story Pavilion, Spirit Stone said, "I need to enter seclusion for healing. This time it may take at least three months. If anything comes up, consult your senior brother."
He earnestly instructed them on various matters before coughing violently as he entered the Three-Story Pavilion. His frail body appeared even more hunched over, with his right sleeve billowing in the breeze. The disciples felt a deep sense of unease watching him.
Spirit Stone has been coughing a lot lately. The Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian is severely damaged, and if I don't quickly enter seclusion to heal, my cultivation might be stuck at the Golden Core Stage for life, leaving serious aftereffects. The persistent severe coughing is one of them.
The door to the Quiet Room slowly closed, a faint Azure Light flashed, and the Restrictions were activated. Spirit Stone began his seclusion.
Li Hong and Chuxiong walked toward their residence on the mountain top, feeling heavy-hearted.
With tears in his tiger-like eyes, Chuxiong whispered, "It seems that Master won't come out to fight the Demon Sect this time due to his injuries. Brother, do you think this can be considered a good thing amidst the bad?"
Li Hong nodded, "It should be. Sigh, we really need to intensify our training now." Thinking of this, he couldn't help but reach for his Cosmic Bag. When will the “Fragrant Grass” and “Longan Flower” inside finally come in handy? This reminded him, and he quickly advised Chuxiong: "By the way, don’t rush into your training just yet. The mixed medicinal energy you've absorbed hasn't dissipated yet; it's easy to go astray. Let's wait until Yun Jiuzi returns."
The two crossed the Herb Grove, stepping onto the small bridge in front of the waterfall. Just around the stone wall ahead was the Green Pavilion.
A misty vapor hit their faces. As Li Hong wiped his face and looked up, he suddenly discovered a tall figure standing at the end of the mountain path.
He only glanced once before joyfully shouting, "You're back!"
It was actually Yun Jiuzi! He had finally returned. His unique appearance had not changed at all; he still wore his favorite farmer-like attire from the Mortal Realm, with a short tunic and loose shorts, casually wearing a pair of Grass Shoes. His tall figure looked like a celestial being descending to earth, bathing in golden sunlight, quietly smiling as he watched the two at the end of the mountain road.
Li Hong rushed forward exclaiming, "I finally waited for you to come back! It's so good to see you safe. I thought..." He awkwardly scratched his head; that hidden worry in his heart finally dissipated at this moment.
The three laughed as they walked side by side into the Green Pavilion. Li Hong was so happy he didn't know what to do; Chuxiong was also flustered, busy preparing tea and saying he would go to the Dining Hall to get some delicious dishes for celebrating.
After Chuxiong excitedly dashed down toward the Dining Hall, Yun Jiuzi turned to Li Hong, pointing ahead with a smile and said, "Sit down; let me see how your strange Fake Dan is doing." Concern was evident in his tone.
Feeling touched, Li Hong knew he must have come straight to find him upon returning. He smiled and said, "Don't worry; my strange Fake Dan is better than ever. But what about you? How did you manage to get out?"
The expression on Yun Jiuzi became serious as he stroked his beard and pondered: "Tell me, what exactly did you do in the Center of the Celestial Field's Restrictions?"
Without holding back, Li Hong took out the piece of Azure Jade Plate obtained from the Center Sealing Cabin from his Cosmic Bag, recounting all the strange sights he had seen to Yun Jiuzi. He wondered aloud: "I just don't know what those glowing points forming patterns really mean or what purpose this Azure Jade Plate serves."
Yun Jiuzi carefully examined the Azure Jade Plate. It was palm-sized and two inches thick, with a shimmering flow of Azure Light. It was clear that it was extraordinary. He pressed his hand against it to input spiritual energy; the plate lit up from within but then showed no further reaction or phenomena. What Li Hong described about it emitting many glowing points forming various patterns was nowhere to be seen at that moment.
Yun Jiuzi looked at it back and forth for a while, then handed it back to Li Hong, saying, "I probably can't activate it; you give it a try."
Li Hong scratched his head and chuckled, "I can't either. I've tried several times since coming back, but it lights up for a bit and then goes dark again. It’s probably because my cultivation isn't sufficient."
"Well, you should keep it safe. In my opinion, this item is quite significant; it might be some kind of treasure," Yun Jiuzi pondered.
Li Hong shook his head, "I'm sure it's not a magical artifact. When I input my Awareness, I felt something inside it, but it's clearly not the kind of internal formation of a magical artifact. It seems more like some sort of container for storing patterns or writings."
Yun Jiuzi's eyes suddenly brightened as he slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Yes! That's exactly what it is."
He then reflected, "At that time, I was used by that Old Demon and he discovered the flaw in the Center Restriction. This Old Demon is truly cunning! Fortunately, I was prepared and charged in after him without hesitation. The Celestial Mansion Map was completely inaccessible to the Old Demon; I was just as clueless. At that moment, he discovered the garden behind the palace and sensed your presence there." He looked at Li Hong with shining eyes and said seriously, "You have caught the attention of that Old Demon. Although he doesn't know it's you, he remembers your aura. Be very careful if you encounter him again."
Li Hong smiled slightly, "It's fine. The Spirit Stone master has said that I shouldn't leave the mountain to experience the world until I reach the Golden Core Stage, and even then it depends on the situation. Hehe," he pointed to his forehead, "who told me there's an old dragon inside along with Yue Que!"
"That Old Demon is certain you've been inside, but," Yun Jiuzi revealed a hint of a mocking smile, "no matter what methods he uses, even if he tries to force his way into the Center Sealing Cabin, he still won't be able to get in. You should have seen how furious he was at that time; it was quite a sight! I acted decisively and attacked him. We had quite an intense battle right there."
It must have been an earth-shattering battle. Li Hong looked at Yun Jiuzi with immense admiration, his eyes sparkling.
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