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In the Main Hall of Nine Li Peak, aside from the guards at the Li Fire Formation, all the elders were present.
Ling Xuzi sat in the position of the sect leader, looking at the familiar faces. He slowly stood up and announced in a deep voice, "The entire Immortal Sect cannot spare any manpower to support us; we can only rely on ourselves now. I have summoned all the elders who are fighting outside to return to defend the Mountain Gate."
Upon hearing this, many faces showed expressions of shock beyond measure.
Elder Brother Ling Jizi exclaimed in alarm, "Elder Brother Sect Leader, you are going to offend the entire Immortal Sect with this! Why didn't you ask for our opinions? Acting unilaterally will ruin everything!"
"Acting unilaterally?" Ling Xuzi revealed a cold smile for the first time. "Do you know that our Nine Li Sect is caught between the two major Dark Halls of the Demon Sect? Look at it this way: during the last battle at South Mountain Exit, twenty-six elders died, and not one came from your Nine Mystic Peak. Do you think your Nine Mystic Peak is unharmed and can rest easy?"
Ling Jizi's face turned red with anger. He suddenly stood up and pointed at Ling Xuzi, saying, "How can you speak like that! Are my capable disciples not guarding the formation? Have we not contributed anything from Nine Mystic Peak?!"
"Hmph, then let me ask you, which disciple from Nine Mystic Peak has joined the patrol and procurement team?" Ling Xuzi coldly retorted.
Ling Jizi's expression darkened. "That's a different matter altogether! I have always opposed forming any Patrol Team! It’s enough to guard the Li Fire Formation at Mountain Gate; why go out and seek death?"
"So your point is that our Nine Li Sect should just be turtles hiding their heads? We can only let others attack us without retaliating? Hmph, let me ask you, without our patrol and procurement team, what will your low-level disciples from Nine Mystic Peak do—just starve?" Spirit Stone stood up and laughed coldly.
"It’s you, that one-armed old fool, who incited the sect leader; all these bad ideas come from you! You two are in cahoots, always thinking of some devilish schemes. Low-level disciples! Hmph! I wouldn’t care if a thousand of them starved!" Ling Jizi shouted loudly.
This statement immediately drew everyone's ire. Ling Xiangzi coldly mocked, "Then why don’t you just become a hermit? Leave your beloved high-level disciples behind and throw all the low-level disciples from Nine Mystic Peak out of Mountain Gate for the Demon Sect monsters!"
Ling Jizi's face stiffened as he stammered, "I was just saying... during extraordinary times, can't they endure a little hunger?"
"You know it's an extraordinary time!" Spirit Stone mocked again.
Ling Jizi was so furious he nearly wanted to take action.
At this moment, Ling Xiaozi of Nine Lotus Peak shook his Heaven and Earth Free-Flowing Fan and laughed, "Stop arguing, everyone take a step back."
Ling Yi Zi looked down on Ling Xiaozi the most. He stood up coldly and stared at him, saying, "How do we take a step back? I would really like to hear your reasoning. It seems that no one from Nine Lotus Peak has joined the Patrol Team either."
Ling Xiaozi was somewhat afraid of Ling Yi Zi. He mumbled a few words and turned his head away, not daring to respond directly.
Ling Daozi, the Elder Brother of Jiu Tan Peak, had been awkwardly stomping his feet, unable to interject. Finally, he saw an opportunity and shouted, "Everyone stop arguing. Let's hear what Elder Brother Zhangmen has to say first."
Ling Xuzi nodded at him and said, "Summoning the elders who are fighting outside will inevitably provoke dissatisfaction from the Immortal Sect and the Eight Major Sects. However, I have already received the tacit approval of the sect leader."
Ling Jizi couldn't help but interject sarcastically, "Tacit approval... I fear that is just your private speculation."
Countless gazes in the hall turned toward him again when someone in the crowd whispered, "Cowardly fool spouting nonsense!"
Ling Jizi was so angry that he flew up to the beams and shouted into the crowd of elders, "Who?! If you dare disrespect your elders, come out and say it!"
The Spirit Stone knew it was Old Six but did not expose him. Instead, he said seriously, "Ling Jizi, everyone here is an elder and holds equal status with you. How can you say they disrespect their elders?"
Ling Jizi retorted angrily, "Even if they are elders, it depends on which lineage they belong to!"
"Anyway, they are not from your Nine Mystic Peak. Why are you making such a fuss?" Ling Yi Zi said lightly.
Ling Yi Zi's words, as white as snow and as cold as ice, made Ling Jizi feel a tightness in his chest that was almost suffocating. He felt intimidated by Ling Yi Zi just like he did with Ling Xiaozi. He dared not refute and shot a fierce glare at Ling Yi Zi to regain some ground.
Ling Xuzi continued, "The reason for gathering everyone here is to say that we are at a critical juncture for the survival of our Nine Li Sect. Anyone who wishes to quietly preserve their strength is being delusional!" His tone suddenly became more serious.
Ling Jizi knew he was referring to himself. He opened his mouth again in defiance but was met with countless piercing gazes that silenced him.
A calm voice echoed in the great hall: "The two major Dark Halls of the Demon are right beside us. How can we allow others to sleep soundly beside our bed? We understand this principle, and they understand it even better. Don't think that the Li Fire Formation is infallible; last time they almost broke through the South Mountain Exit. Is the Li Fire Formation really omnipotent? You all know that as long as one masters the correct path, they can enter. I remind you now that the Demon has already grasped the method to enter and exit the Heaven and Earth Platform. They might have already devised a way to crack the Li Fire Formation. Last time they used Walking Corpse to scout, next time they might come in full force. Not to mention the Spirit Scheme changes; perhaps the Li Fire Formation will suddenly have inexplicable passages leading straight to the Demon’s doorstep! Sitting in the Mountain Gate is actually not safe at all; it is also the most useless."
These words struck heavily in everyone's hearts, even Ling Jizi was left stunned.
Ling Xuzi concluded, "This year it was supposed to be Nine Beam Peak's five-year recruitment cycle, but after discussing with my junior brother Ling Yi Zi, we decided not to recruit during such a critical time. We will reopen the Mountain Gate for recruitment once we have passed this crisis."
After he finished speaking, he immediately rose and walked alone towards the back of the hall.
Watching that solitary figure disappear into the darkness behind the Corner Gate, Li Hong felt a deep empathy; the burden on this Sect Leader Uncle was indeed too heavy.
********
The Patrol Team only had half a day of rest before they would head back out again.
Li Hong had not seen Chuxiong, Little Fei, and Big Silver Ball, Small Silver Ball for a long time. He seized the opportunity to fly back to Nine Vermilion Peaks. Just as he turned past Azure Stone Bridge, he heard laughter coming from Green Pavilion. The sound was melodious like silver bells; it was Chu Xi.
Li Hong paused his steps, wondering whether he should go see her. Leaning against the bridge railing, his heart was hesitant, but his Divine Consciousness involuntarily floated out.
Chu Xi was playing with Little Fei. Little Fei bared its teeth at her, refusing to be held, so Chu Xi began playing hide-and-seek with it. The slender white figure flitted around, while Little Fei narrowly dodged her "claws" each time. It opened its small mouth and hissed warnings at Chu Xi, but no matter what expression that little cat face made, it was extremely adorable. This made Chu Xi laugh uncontrollably. Chuxiong beside them was also chuckling heartily.
Her complexion had improved significantly; the faint worry that had clouded her brow was gone, and her smile looked incredibly sweet.
That sweetness rippled deep into Li Hong's heart. He felt a bit sentimental but smiled nonetheless. The innocent and lively girl from before had finally returned.
At that moment, Chuxiong glanced outside and scratched his scalp, saying, "Why hasn't big brother returned yet? Discussions shouldn't take this long, right? By the way, does Ling Xiangzi Master Uncle know you are here?"
Chu Xi's body stiffened slightly as she stood up straight. She said sadly, "Master also went to discuss matters; I sneaked over here. If she finds out, she'll definitely scold me again."
Chuxiong sighed, "What can we do? It's not easy for you and your brother to reconcile, and now your master is against your relationship. I think you need to find a chance to have a good talk with your master."
Li Hong was taken aback by this; his younger brother, who usually seemed carefree, actually had a clear mind.
A blush appeared on Chu Xi's fair face as she lowered her head, fiddling with her Silver Moon Robe, her voice barely audible, "Master is still angry, and besides, your brother still has unresolved feelings, so I..."
Chuxiong nodded, "If brother comes back, I will definitely persuade him."
Chu Xi shook her head, "No... he has a lot on his plate right now, especially with the war situation being tense. Don't bother him with these small matters. I'm fine."
"That's true. Ever since my mother and sister-in-law passed away, I haven't seen him smile. Sigh, it actually pains me too, but I still put on a smile in front of him, afraid that he might feel sad." Chuxiong stroked his stubbled chin, showing a maturity that was different from his usual demeanor.
Li Hong felt warmth in his heart; his younger brother had grown up. After all they had been through, everyone had matured... A deeper sense of sorrow filled him as he turned to walk down the mountain.
The last words floated into his ears as Chu Xi said, "Master might have settled things; I need to hurry back. Remember to give this package to your brother; he will definitely find it useful."
Hearing this, Li Hong quickly stepped aside under the bridge.
A radiant figure emitting a faint white glow gracefully walked onto the small bridge. Dressed in flowing clouds and with several strands of long hair dancing in the breeze along with her Silver Moon Robe, she was immaculate and ethereal like a fairy gliding over the moonlit waves. Her white silk stockings and delicate shoes stepped over the mossy bridge, carrying a familiar elegant fragrance on the wind.
Watching Chu Xi depart, Li Hong jumped onto the small bridge, the scene deeply etched in his mind.
Another beautiful face floated into his thoughts, gazing at him without blinking, filled with an intense affection that seemed to say... never forget across millennia.
Li Hong sighed silently, closed his eyes and opened them again before slowly walking toward the Small Pavilion.
Chuxiong was startled when he saw Li Hong enter. He scratched the back of his head and said, "Brother, Chu Xi just left..." Realizing something, he didn't continue but took a beautifully embroidered package from the table and handed it to Li Hong. "Chu Xi asked me to give this to you."
Li Hong opened the package, revealing a series of translucent small jade bottles. A scorching heat emanated from the bottles. He poured one into his palm and was stunned: "Fire Glaze!"
"Indeed, it's Fire Glaze. Chu Xi found the formula and worked with the senior sisters from Nine Purple Peak for an entire month just to produce this much. It's meant for you to use against those Walking Corpses. Be careful with it; this stuff can explode!"
Li Hong's eyes grew slightly misty as he recalled a long time ago when that lively little girl had sneaked into the Li Fire Formation with him. The Strange artifacts had appeared one after another, and she had playfully stuck out her tongue at him while holding Fire Glaze in her delicate white hand...
His heart felt both sour and warm. He chuckled, stuffing the entire bag of Fire Glaze into his Cosmic Bag, and patted Chuxiong on the shoulder: "Let's go find Yun Jiuzi for a drink!"
With Little Fei in tow, he and Chuxiong each carried a Big Silver Ball and Small Silver Ball. Li Hong grabbed Chuxiong's wrist, and a beam of golden light swiftly shot out from Nine Vermilion Peaks.
On a distant peak, Chu Xi stood in her flowing white robes, her clear eyes following that familiar golden light without blinking. Only when the light vanished did she reluctantly withdraw her gaze, mumbling, "I knew you would come back, yet you still dare not face me. Have I turned into a fierce tiger? Am I going to eat you? Really..." But deep down, she felt joy; she knew that as long as he received that item, he would understand her feelings.
A blush rose again on her fair cheeks. She touched her hot face, twirled her skirt, and stepped onto Flowing Crystal heading far away, naturally towards Nine Purple Peak.
That stubborn person still needed more time...
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