“Master, let’s keep these people on as menial servants.” Shu Xin spoke naturally when she saw Xu Guan. “They’ve been Qin Rushan’s lackeys for so long—they’re actually quite good at waiting on people.”
Xu Guan would never have refused such a minor request from Shu Xin. But when he heard the latter half of her words, he paused, his expression visibly darkening. “Was this incident Qin Rushan’s doing again?”
As for that former fellow disciple, Xu Guan practically wished he could hack him into mincemeat.
He simply could not understand someone like Qin Rushan. He had betrayed the sect first and taken its cultivation manuals with him. Fine—then he should have stayed quietly in the Longevity Dao Sect and found some way to make amends to the Inquiry God Sect in the future, if only for appearances’ sake. But Qin Rushan had done nothing of the sort. Not only did he feel no remorse, he had gone even further, helping the Longevity Dao Sect suppress the Inquiry God Sect at every turn.
Even if the Inquiry God Sect was poorer, hadn’t their master spared no effort in raising and teaching him back then?
The debt of gratitude was enormous—so why did Qin Rushan hate the Inquiry God Sect so much?
If Shu Xin had been the one to answer, she could have explained it in a single sentence.
A small favor breeds gratitude; a great one breeds resentment.
Because the debt was too great to repay, he simply chose not to repay it.
And since he had already betrayed the Inquiry God Sect, naturally he had to betray it all the way.
As long as the Inquiry God Sect ceased to exist, no one would remember what he had done. Even if someone mentioned it occasionally, they would only say that Qin Rushan had been clever enough to jump ship before it sank.
“Since my disciple wishes it, you will remain in the Inquiry God Sect and behave yourselves.” Xu Guan swept his cold gaze over the captured disciples. “If I discover any improper intentions, I’ll beat you to death on the spot. My disciple is kindhearted and won’t kill you. I’m not the same.”
“Yes.” The disciples could only nod in agreement.
“My disciple, I acquired quite a few good things on this trip.” Xu Guan’s manner changed completely when he turned back to Shu Xin. “Come, come. Let Master pick some out for you.”
“That’s right, Eldest Senior Sister. Aren’t you preparing to break through to the Grotto-Heaven Realm? We found so many things that should be useful to you.”
“Eldest Senior Sister has worked so hard and contributed so much. She should choose first!”
“Eldest Senior Sister, are you tired? Have some water.”
The disciples immediately crowded around her, each eager to make a good impression on their Eldest Senior Sister.
“Go on, go on. Focus on your cultivation. Assign those servants some work—you can’t keep them around to eat for free.” Xu Guan waved the disciples away. “Your Eldest Senior Sister and I have matters to discuss.”
“Oh, all right.”
“Master, don’t talk for too long. Eldest Senior Sister is tired too.”
The disciples left reluctantly, but they knew better than to disturb their master and Eldest Senior Sister while they discussed important matters.
In any case, they would have plenty of time to learn from Eldest Senior Sister in the future.
Xu Guan and Shu Xin found a quiet room, where they could finally speak properly.
“Everything is here. If there’s anything you can use, take it as you please. You don’t need to report it to me specially.” With a sweep of his hand, Xu Guan filled the open space in the room with all the gains from his trip.
“We should still keep accounts.” Shu Xin smiled and shook her head. “Master, not only for me—even when the other disciples come to use resources, everything should be recorded clearly. That way, there won’t be disputes in the future.”
Xu Guan thought it over and agreed with Shu Xin’s assessment. “Why are you keeping these cultivators here? Surely you don’t truly intend to use them as menial servants.”
“There are two reasons,” Shu Xin replied. “First, I’ve noticed that my junior brothers and sisters are still rather too naïve. Master, you have protected them too well. If they were to leave the Divine Inquiry Sect and travel the world, they would likely suffer greatly. If they were lucky, they might endure a few setbacks and survive. If they were unlucky, there might not even be bones left of them.
“Since these people have come to our sect, they will certainly try every possible way to escape. When the time comes, they will inevitably try to take advantage of my junior brothers and sisters. If the others can learn a lesson from it, that would be for the best.”
Xu Guan sighed at this. “Our Divine Inquiry Sect is small, and it wasn’t easy for me to take in so many disciples. They all came from ordinary mortal families, with clean backgrounds, and none of them had particularly easy lives before. The mountain is lonely as well, yet they are all obedient and sensible. Naturally, I can’t help but look after them a little more.
“But you’re right. Spoiling a child is no different from ruining one. They’re grown now; I can’t treat them as I did before.”
Even if they later became cold-hearted or cunning, Xu Guan would still be satisfied—as long as they did not commit great evil.
In times like these, being able to protect oneself without harming others was already good enough.
“Second, keeping them here will make it easier for us to use them to pass along information,” Shu Xin said with a smile. “The Longevity Dao Sect cannot possibly be at ease about us. Rather than letting them send more spies of unknown caliber to infiltrate us, it would be better to keep these people within the sect. We can use the opportunity to gather information about the Longevity Dao Sect as well.
“Their families are still within the Longevity Dao Sect, so they will always be able to obtain some news. As long as even one of them proves useful, feeding and housing them will not be a loss.”
Xu Guan nodded repeatedly. In such matters, Shu Xin was far more capable than he was.
“Also,” Shu Xin continued after a pause, his tone taking on a hint of encouragement, “judging by the time, the Longevity Dao Sect should have learned by now that I am at the Divine Inquiry Sect. Based on what I know of them, they will certainly send someone to call on me. It may be someone I know, or it may be an enemy of mine. They may even put pressure on our sect.
“When that happens, I’ll need Master to help me withstand it.”
“Since I agreed to take you as my disciple, such a small matter is nothing,” Xu Guan said with a hearty laugh. “It’s not as though we only started opposing the Longevity Dao Sect yesterday. When you owe enough debts, one more makes no difference.”
“Then thank you, Master.” The smile on Shu Xin’s face became much more genuine. “I will be entering seclusion shortly, so I will not meet them beforehand.”
“Rest easy. Now that I have returned, I will guard the mountain gate well. Just focus on your cultivation in seclusion,” Xu Guan promised at once.
Shu Xin chatted with Xu Guan for a while longer, offering several suggestions regarding the jade slips used to record cultivation techniques, before taking his leave.
[Why didn’t you tell him that you plan to achieve a breakthrough just when the Longevity Dao Sect sends someone to visit?] the Sword Spirit asked curiously. [That way, for the sake of his own reputation, Xu Guan would only value you more highly.]
“Sword Spirit, not every word needs to be said, and not every matter needs to be brought to a perfect conclusion.” Shu Xin shook her head. “My master is indeed a good person, but people can change. Compared with the other disciples, I am still different. Even if the immense benefits I can bring make Xu Guan favor me for a time, when all is said and done, the people he truly trusts most are the disciples he has watched grow up. That is only human nature. So, in many respects, I must not only regard him as my master, but also as my superior.”
“And giving one’s superior a pleasant surprise at work—letting him save face before his rivals—can also count as a small gesture of goodwill from a subordinate.”
【You really do calculate everything with frightening precision.】 The Sword Spirit did not know quite what to make of it. 【Actually, you could try trusting others completely for once.】
“Well, people are capable of deceiving themselves. Most of the time, I do not even trust myself, so I suppose it depends on one’s perspective.” Shu Xin stretched lazily. “Come on, time to enter secluded cultivation. Let’s see just how terrifying these Three Winds and Four Fires truly are, enough to make cultivators turn pale at the mere mention of them.”
Longevity Dao Sect, the Lin family’s ancestral residence.
The Lin family ancestor summoned Situ Jian, the final disciple he had taken in at enormous cost.
The Lin family had spent lavishly on Situ Jian’s apprenticeship ceremony. It had lasted no less than three months from beginning to end, consuming an unknown quantity of resources, all to display the Lin family’s wealth and power to the outside world. Even after losing several spirit mountains, the Lin family remained one of the most powerful aristocratic clans within the Longevity Dao Sect.
Yet contrary to the rumors outside—that the Lin family ancestor adored Situ Jian and was sparing no effort in cultivating him—
In truth, the Lin family ancestor had barely met with Situ Jian. He had merely left behind a cultivation manual and instructed someone from the Lin family to deliver it.
The person who came to deliver it was none other than Lin Youwei.
Lin Youwei had never expected that the dual-cultivation partner she had once set her sights on would, in the blink of an eye, become an elder of her own family.
As a result, Lin Youwei had no choice but to settle for the next best option, choosing another cultivator of loose-cultivator origins with no influential backing as her dual-cultivation partner. This time, however, Lin Youwei had acted with great caution, and almost no one knew about it.
“Elder Situ, the ancestor instructed me to deliver this cultivation manual to you.” Lin Youwei took the initiative to show goodwill. “This manual has been passed down through the Lin family for generations. Every member of the Lin family cultivates it. It is no inferior to some of the sect’s high-grade techniques, and it can lead directly to the Mahayana realm. It is exceedingly precious.”
Situ Jian accepted the jade slip containing the manual and said blandly, “My thanks. You may leave.”
“Shu Xin left the Longevity Dao Sect just like that, and you truly do not care at all?” Lin Youwei could not help questioning him. “She may have caused all these troubles, but they ultimately began because of you.”
Situ Jian glanced at Lin Youwei, his expression cold. “Did they truly begin because of me? Or because of the Lin family’s greed?”
“How could I possibly be worthy of serving as one of your pawns? You had already contacted the ancestor long before I ever took an interest in you.” It would have been better if he had said nothing. The moment the subject came up, Lin Youwei’s anger flared. “This affair was a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it. Not only did I have to give up my entire fortune to make Shu Xin dissolve the marriage contract, I also became the laughingstock of everyone else.”
“What if we weren’t rogue cultivators?” Situ Jian asked lightly. “What’s done is done. There’s no need to argue over who was right or wrong, or who came out ahead. You should go back to your cultivation. I won’t hold your disrespect against you this time.”
With that, Situ Jian drifted away, leaving Lin Youwei standing where she was, her expression dejected.
There was no denying it. As unpleasant as Situ Jian’s words had been, they were the truth.
On the surface, this matter had been caused by Situ Jian. In reality, however, it stemmed from the oppression that the great clans inflicted upon disciples from humble backgrounds.
If Situ Jian and Shu Xin had been clan scions—or disciples of some powerful figure within the sect—would the Lin family have dared to force them to break off their engagement, or even try to kill Shu Xin?
No.
In the end, it was simply because the Lin family had initially assumed that these were two insignificant people whom they could shape and crush as they pleased. Naturally, they had paid them little attention. Once they saw that one of them had value, they took her for themselves and removed any unfavorable factors.
It was like plucking a flower by the roadside and simply stripping away its stem.
No one had expected matters to escalate this far.
Lin Youwei looked up at the sky over the Longevity Dao Sect. In the end, she did not continue questioning him.
Everyone was the same. What could she do about it?
After accepting the cultivation technique, Situ Jian began cultivating. In the eyes of the Lin family, he was advancing rapidly even after changing techniques. One day, he would surely carry the Lin family’s cultivation art to greater heights.
This was also the first time master and disciple had met since the apprenticeship ceremony.
“Shu Xin is in the Seeking God Sect. She has become Xu Guan’s disciple.” The Lin family ancestor spoke bluntly to Situ Jian, who stood below him. “Moreover, the Seeking God Sect has recently stirred up some interesting developments, and the sect intends to send someone there to test the waters.”
By then, Situ Jian already carried the aura of the Lin family’s cultivation art. In such a short time, it had grown denser than that of many Lin family cultivators, which improved the Lin family ancestor’s mood somewhat.
At least this one had proved useful.
“Back at my Dao Nascent Soul ceremony, Xu Guan promised to take Shu Xin as his disciple,” Situ Jian replied calmly and respectfully.
“One of our disciples has become a disciple of the Seeking God Sect, so naturally, the sect should send someone to pay them a visit. The Longevity Dao Sect once accepted a disciple from the Seeking God Sect, and now the Seeking God Sect has accepted a disciple from the Longevity Dao Sect. It makes for quite a pleasant tale.” The Lin family ancestor tried to glean some information from Situ Jian’s expression, but Situ Jian remained utterly calm, as though Shu Xin were a complete stranger with whom he had no connection whatsoever.
“What kind of person do you think Shu Xin is? If we wanted her to return to the Longevity Dao Sect, how do you think we should proceed? Speak freely,” the Lin family ancestor asked.
“She enjoys her comforts, dislikes putting herself through hardship, and is very adept at reading the situation,” Situ Jian replied. “If you want to persuade her to return to the sect, all you need to do is offer her enough spirit stones.”
“It seems you truly aren’t close to her.” The Lin family ancestor gave a derisive laugh. “That woman is ruthless and skilled at lying low. She has grand ambitions. A person like that cannot be tempted with benefits; she must be subdued by force. Only by breaking her bones and grinding away her spirit can we make her useful to us.”
Situ Jian could only remain silent.
“For this visit to the Divine Inquiry Sect, I specifically applied to the sect to lead the delegation myself.” The Lin family ancestor smiled meaningfully. “The sect also said that if Shu Xin wishes to return to the sect, that too can be discussed. Do you know how your master replied?”
“Master’s answer must naturally have been in the sect’s best interests,” Situ Jian replied calmly.
“I told the sect that Shu Xin’s origins are unknown, and that she is cunning by nature, harboring malicious intentions. She absolutely cannot be accepted into the sect.” The Lin family ancestor stood with his hands behind his back. “This time, I will personally lead a delegation to the Divine Inquiry Sect. Will you come with me? That tiny, backwater place they call the Divine Inquiry Sect—how could it dare oppose the Longevity Dao Sect? So long as we go there and demand answers, they will surely tie Shu Xin up and hand her over. What does it matter if there is a Great Vehicle realm demonic cultivator behind her? If that person truly valued Shu Xin, would they have cast her aside in the Divine Inquiry Sect? She was merely a tool to be used at will. The fact that she has managed to keep her life is already a stroke of great fortune.”
“This disciple is willing to remain in the sect and cultivate in peace. The karma between Shu Xin and me has long since been settled.” Situ Jian cupped his hands in salute.
“‘Settled karma,’ indeed. You truly are suited to be one of my Lin family.” The Lin family ancestor looked at Situ Jian and offered the praise in a strangely mocking tone. “Cultivate well. In the future, whatever kind of Dao companion you desire, you will be able to find. Since you do not wish to go, then you need not.”
“This disciple seeks only the Great Dao.”
“Hahaha.” In an instant, the Lin family ancestor appeared outside Situ Jian’s door and patted him on the shoulder. “You are still young; you do not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. Which cultivator did not begin by claiming to seek only the Great Dao? Wait until you have tasted the three winds and four fires, then see whether you still have the right to say such things. Across all the sects and cultivation clans under heaven, how do you think so many of them came to be?”
“‘Seeking only the Great Dao’? Hahaha.”
“Go back and cultivate the technique I gave you properly. It has been a long time since I heard something so amusing.”
Situ Jian watched the Lin family ancestor in silence, lowering his gaze only to look at his own hands.
If you truly had no interest in the Great Dao, then why did you give me the Lin family’s cultivation technique? Why test me again and again?
A faintly mocking smile touched Situ Jian’s lips.
He and Shu Xin were both walking toward their predetermined goals.
That was enough.
Within the Divine Inquiry Sect—
Shu Xin officially began her closed-door cultivation.
Xu Guan gave a strict order forbidding anyone from approaching Shu Xin’s secluded cultivation grounds. The disciples understood the seriousness of the matter and could only nod in agreement.
Yet, strangely enough, despite having obtained so many resources this time—and despite Yi Renjie having saved up enough spirit stones to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm and preparing to enter seclusion as well—their master seemed burdened with worry.
“Master, why do you seem unhappy? Are you worried about the results of Eldest Senior Sister’s and Second Senior Brother’s seclusion?” Yuan Dawei asked cautiously. “Eldest Senior Sister’s attempt to break through to the Grotto-Heaven realm may be difficult, but Second Senior Brother has long been ready to advance to the Nascent Soul realm. He should be certain to succeed.”
“It seems you all truly need to improve yourselves.” Xu Guan sighed. “Judging by the timing, the Longevity Dao Sect should be sending people soon.”
“Why would the Longevity Dao Sect send anyone? Ah—they’ve come to demand the release of Qin Rushan’s disciple, the one we captured!”
“Qin Rushan is just one man. He doesn’t even care about these disciples himself—so why would the Longevity Dao Sect send people here?” Xu Guan snapped. “Use your brain.”
Yuan Dawei looked a little aggrieved. How was he supposed to know?
Looking at his foolish-faced disciple, Xu Guan realized for the first time that perhaps he really had raised his disciples like pigs. “Hurry and gather everyone. Your master is going to give you all a proper lesson.”
“Oh.”
Xu Guan spent the entire night giving his disciples a thorough lesson, carefully analyzing the Longevity Dao Sect’s reasons for sending people here, as well as the methods they might employ.
The disciples listened with dazed expressions, and the suggestions they offered afterward were completely useless.
Sigh.
Xu Guan extended his divine sense and noticed that the servants were trying every possible way to eavesdrop on their gathering. At once, he found himself feeling newly hopeful.
No matter what, could these servants please hurry up and make their move—try to deceive his disciples a little, so they might finally wise up?
Speak of the devil: the very next day, the people from the Longevity Dao Sect arrived.
Unlike Xu Guan, who could simply take his disciples and head out with no more fuss than that, the Longevity Dao Sect’s delegation came with an extravagantly grand display.
Demon beasts drew their carriage, while luan birds flew ahead to clear the way—those were merely the basics.
Countless handsome men and beautiful women accompanied them as attendants, carrying all kinds of flowers and musical instruments. Music and fanfare followed them all the way, as though a true deity had descended to the world, drawing the attention of who knew how many people along the road.
The Lin family ancestor sat within an exceptionally exquisite carriage.
Only after several breathtaking beauties used their delicate hands to draw aside the curtains did he slowly descend from the sky.
“Sect Master Xu, it has been a long time,” the Lin family ancestor said amiably, accompanied by several disciples. He looked every bit like a kindly old man from the Lin family.
Several disciples who had once attended Situ Jian’s Nascent Soul ceremony with Xu Guan were now dumbfounded.
This was the Lin family ancestor who had broken off Eldest Senior Sister’s engagement and taken that heartless former fiancé as his disciple?
He didn’t look like a bad person at all.
They understood now. This was what their master meant by “the face of a Buddha, the heart of a serpent.” The more someone looked like a good person, the less likely they were to be one.
Seeing that it was this old man from the Lin family, Xu Guan’s expression did not improve. Even his cupped-hand greeting was conspicuously perfunctory. “Oh, so it’s Fellow Daoist Lin. My apologies, my apologies.”
Lin Jian did not take offense.
Both were at the Flawless Realm, and Xu Guan stood above his peers in strength. He indeed had the capital to act this way.
What a pity he had been born into such a rundown sect. Had he been as sensible as Qin Rushan, Xu Guan would likely have become someone even Lin Jian had to treat with considerable respect.
The Asking God Sect had some hidden reserves, after all, so it would not do to act too recklessly.
Otherwise, given Lin Jian’s temperament, he could have brought the Lin family’s retainers and elders and razed the Asking God Sect to the ground.
“You may wait outside. The Asking God Sect’s grounds are so precious that I’m afraid there may not be room for so many people to stand,” Lin Jian said, turning to his ceremonial entourage.
“Yes, Ancestor.”
After mocking the Asking God Sect for being small and shabby, Lin Jian turned back to Xu Guan. “Sect Master Xu, this old Lin fellow doesn’t have so many twists and turns in his belly. I speak rather bluntly—please don’t take offense.”
“Not at all.” Xu Guan was no longer the man he used to be. He knew perfectly well that these cultivators from aristocratic clans all put on a cordial face, while underneath they were no better than beasts. “My Wenshen Sect has long since fallen into decline. Apart from this single mountain peak, everything else is spotless—and poor. I was worried that if too many people came in, they might dirty my land.”
After saying this, Xu Guan swept his gaze over his disciples, signaling for them to greet their guest.
The disciples immediately understood and spoke in unison. “We wish Senior Lin blessings as enduring as the eastern mountains, and a lifespan equal to heaven itself.”
Xu Guan nodded, then turned to Lin Jian. “Fellow Daoist Lin, this is the first time you’ve met my disciples, isn’t it? You’ve come to pay us a visit, and your Lin family has always placed great importance on propriety. Surely you haven’t come empty-handed?”
A fat sheep had delivered itself to his doorstep. If he did not fleece it thoroughly, he would be letting himself down.
Over the past few months, Xu Guan had attended banquets held by various sects and dealt with cultivators of every sort. By now, he had cultivated an exceptionally thick skin.
Since the Longevity Dao Sect had come knocking to cause trouble, there was no need for him to be polite.
“Of course I brought gifts.” Lin Jian clapped his hands, and several female cultivators immediately stepped forward carrying gift boxes, opening them one by one before Xu Guan.
“I have brought ten-thousand-year spirit herbs rich in spiritual energy, Ninefold Spirit-Gathering Pills refined by our sect’s finest alchemists, as well as ten top-grade spirit stones.” Lin Jian looked at Xu Guan as he spoke. “The top-grade spirit stones in particular can only be produced at the very heart of a spirit vein. For a cultivator in the Flawless Realm, a single top-grade spirit stone is worth several hundred thousand ordinary spirit stones in cultivation.”
“Sect Master Xu, what do you think of these gifts?”
“Such generous gifts must come with a request, Fellow Daoist Lin,” Xu Guan said. Even he could not help but marvel at the Longevity Dao Sect’s extravagance upon seeing these treasures and resources.
These were all items that could not be bought even at a high price—rare treasures that one might never encounter.
For a high-level cultivator like him, they would be of immense benefit to his cultivation.
“The request is quite simple, actually.” A smile appeared on Lin Jian’s face. “We heard that Shu Xin has apparently joined your sect and even become your chief disciple, Sect Master Xu. I believe you may have been deceived by her. That girl already has a master, and the cultivation art she practices is rather strange. I fear she has ill intentions. During her time in my Longevity Dao Sect, she caused no end of trouble.
“Still, my disciple was once engaged to her, and he has never been able to forget her. So I would like to take her away on his behalf, to fulfill his lingering attachment. If Sect Master Xu agrees, I will present all these gifts to you.”
“Fellow Daoist Lin, I’m afraid much of what you’ve said is untrue. You should take these gifts back,” Xu Guan said, his expression darkening. “I will not see you out.”
“Sect Master Xu, you should reconsider.” Lin Jian was smiling, but his eyes carried a veiled threat. “This time, I have only come here for my disciple’s sake. If you hand Shu Xin over to me, then for the sake of my disciple, I may even be able to spare her life. What could be wrong with that?”
“Ridiculous. So many of your disciples have died—I’ve heard quite a bit about the shady dealings behind that.” Whenever Xu Guan felt that he had grown stronger, encountering these so-called cultivators from great clans reminded him just how far he still had to go. “Since when have you ever cared about your disciples? Your Flawless Realm cultivation is weak and your foundation unstable. You clearly used some forbidden technique. I’m afraid you have no hope of ever reaching the Great Ascension Realm in this lifetime. If you weren’t here as a representative of the Longevity Dao Sect, a cultivator like you, who relies on such cheap shortcuts, would never be permitted through my mountain gate. Please leave.”
As for his claim that he wanted to save Shu Xin’s life, that was even less believable.
Given how disgusting these great cultivation families could be, they had most likely set their sights on Shu Xin’s exceptional spiritual roots and outstanding talent. They would stop at nothing to imprison her somewhere and use her gifts and constitution to bear descendants for the worthless younger generation of their own clan.
And once the female cultivators used as breeding vessels saw their cultivation fall and could no longer produce gifted offspring, they would be mercilessly killed. Even their souls and flesh might be turned into materials for some demonic cultivator’s magical artifact.
Cultivators found it exceedingly difficult to have children in the first place.
Yet these cultivation clans continued to grow stronger by the day.
Behind their prosperity, no one knew how many innocent female cultivators—and even innocent male cultivators—had been forced to use their cultivation, blood, and flesh to produce heirs for them, paving their path toward the heavens.
Such a fate was worse than death.
The evil in human hearts was displayed most vividly within these clans.
Back when Xu Guan worked as a guard for hire, he had once discovered that the people he was escorting were low-level female cultivators who had been lured away under the pretense of being accepted as disciples. They were being sent to a certain clan to become expendable resources.
That was the first time Xu Guan had violated a contract. Working with a group of independent cultivators from within and without, he staged a “robbery” and seized the chance to let those women escape.
But that was all he could do.
He had no idea what fate awaited those women afterward.
That was why he tended to be overly protective of his own disciples.
He feared that, somewhere beyond his sight, his disciples might become one of those imprisoned victims.
Lin Jian had merely been displeased at first, but when Xu Guan exposed his dirty secrets so loftily, he flew into a rage.
“So, you are determined to make an enemy of the Longevity Dao Sect?”
“Enemy or not, we’ve already been at odds for many years,” Xu Guan said with a cold laugh.
“Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit—then I—” Lin Jian was about to make his move when a booming clap of heavenly thunder stopped him short.
A thunderclap rang out from the depths of silence.
From somewhere in the rear mountain, spiritual energy billowed forth. The clouds around it flowed and curled like water, circling that place.
The previously barren mountaintop, stirred by the overflowing spiritual energy, slowly began to bloom with tiny flowers.
Xu Guan had been so angered by Lin Jian that he was ready to strike, but at the sight of this phenomenon, he was immediately overjoyed.
“Hahaha! Fellow Daoist Lin, I don’t think you need to trouble yourself any further. Do you see that? Shu Xin—my excellent disciple—is about to break through into the Grotto-Heaven Realm!”
