"Big Brother, what's wrong? Are you still worried about what happened earlier?"
Chen Shanmu walked into the room. Seeing the worry still clouding Jiang Bei's face, he could not help asking, "Big Brother, you don't need to worry. Those people came for the Heavenly Wrath Mark, not you. Besides, haven't they all left?"
"I know. That's not what I was thinking about. What about you, Shanmu? When will you begin your seclusion?"
Jiang Bei asked.
"I've already asked my master for leave. I'll begin tomorrow. This seclusion will probably take a long time—months, perhaps even years!"
Chen Shanmu said with a smile.
"Good. Focus on your seclusion."
Jiang Bei said.
In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.
Chen Shanmu went straight into seclusion, devoting himself entirely to breaking through to the Tripod-Asking Realm.
Knock, knock, knock!
Jiang Bei was resting in his room with his eyes closed when someone suddenly knocked at the courtyard gate.
He went out and opened it to find a disciple standing outside.
"Senior Brother Jiang! The sect leader has ordered you to go to Dragon Flame Hall at once."
The disciple cupped his hands as he spoke.
"The sect leader wants me? All right, I understand."
Jiang Bei nodded, then left the courtyard and headed straight for Dragon Flame Hall.
When he arrived, he found not only He Qingtian and Wang Hanhai there, but also Xu Zijin, Yang Zhi, Han Feng, Lu Zhengchu, and Song Beijin.
Two middle-aged deacons stood to one side as well.
"Is everyone here?"
He Qingtian asked.
"Sect Leader, Chen Shanmu isn't here. He began his seclusion this morning."
A disciple gave the report.
"That's fine. He's only at the Half-Step Tripod-Asking Realm and wouldn't be able to handle this matter anyway. The nine of you will go."