Return to the Sect

"They've taken the bait!"

Sensing the violent vibrations from the fishing rod and the obvious impact of a foreign object inside the Spirit Jade Doll, Su Bai mentally shouted, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

He did not rush into action, but instead calmed his mind.

The fishing rod emitted an even longer hum, and at the same time, the light inside the Spirit Jade Doll suddenly stabilized, and the violent jolts ceased.

"Completely captured! Rise!"

Su Bai lowered his wrist and then steadily and powerfully swung the fishing rod backward.

With a soft splash, the Spirit Jade Doll, shimmering with a steady, fiery red light, broke through the Chaos water surface and was steadily lifted into the air.

Inside the doll, a vibrant, flame-like stream of Vermilion slowly wafted, occasionally touching the inner wall and creating delicate ripples.

The doll was illuminated as if it contained a small sun, making it stand out conspicuously in the dim light of the Lake of Rebirth.

Su Bai quickly retrieved his fishing gear and carefully removed the now scalding Spirit Jade Doll.

It feels warm to the touch, and the energy stored within is active and stable.

He dared not be negligent. He channeled Spiritual Power through his fingertips and added several layers of binding runes he had mastered to the original Sealing Formation on the doll's surface, ensuring that the Memory Fragment would not detach or dissipate its Spiritual Power midway.

After doing all this, he was driven by intense curiosity.

He withdrew his Spiritual Sense, transforming it into a thin yet resilient sensory tendril, which slowly reached into the interior of the Spirit Jade Doll and gently touched the surface of the Dao Fire red Memory Fragment.

In an instant, fragmented yet clear images and pieces of information flooded into my Consciousness:

The image of a simple-looking, resolute-eyed Purple-Robed Cultivator...

The daily routine of deep thought and sweating profusely while facing the Pill Furnace in the cave...

When casting Fire Element Law Technique, the difficulty—clearly exceeding the limits of his Spiritual Power —resulted in a slightly sluggish and excessively draining process...

In sect missions, fighting against Demon Beast relies more on experience and perseverance than on overwhelming Talent for Law Technique...

Ultimately, it is in old age, facing the white hair in the mirror, that one lets out a helpless yet serene sigh, and resolutely walks towards the Lake of Rebirth.

"Zhang Fan... a mid-Foundation Cultivator from the Jade Mist Sect Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, specializing in fire magic, Three Spirit Root Talent, but with mediocre Spell Talent..."

Su Bai withdrew his Spiritual Sense, understanding dawning on him.

This is a microcosm of countless ordinary Cultivator in the long history of the Jade Mist Sect who climbed step by step through hard work and fortuitous opportunity, only to stop at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

His name may never have left a significant mark on the sect's history, but his life's struggles and eventual acceptance of his inevitable end reflect the shared experiences of countless cultivators.

Su Bai took out the sect's Jade Slip containing information about the Lake of Rebirth and searched it carefully, but did not find Zhang Fan's name.

This was to be expected; most of the first pieces that were fished out were like this.

He then used his True Inheritance Disciple Token to report the information about the captured Memory Fragment, along with the names and general information of the Cultivator he had initially discovered, to the department in Steward of this matter in the Inner Sect Grand Hall.

Although the Lake of Rebirth Secret Realm is far away, the Jade Mist Sect has been operating for many years and has already set up a special Communication Formation connecting the sect. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Token sent a reply:

"Upon investigation, the Memory Fragment belonged to Cultivator Zhang Fan, Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, who was confirmed to Passing into Nirvana at the Lake of Rebirth 472 years ago."

This is the first Memory Fragment to be retrieved.

"According to sect rules, newly acquired fragments must be sealed by the sect for a hundred years. Only after this period can they be exchanged."

"As the catcher, you are rewarded with 2,000 Contribution Points. You may keep the fragments for now and hand them in upon returning to your sect."

"Two thousand Contribution Points... not bad." Su Bai nodded slightly.

For a single fishing trip, this reward was incredibly generous, almost equivalent to his annual stipend for two years of his True Disciple the Annual Quota.

But when one thinks of Qin Guan's fragment worth two hundred thousand, one realizes that the difference between them is like heaven and earth.

Fishing for Memory Fragment is indeed seven parts luck and three parts patience.

He carefully put away the sealed Spirit Jade Doll and cast his fishing gear back into the lake.

In the last two months, perhaps things turned around for the better, or perhaps this was just a one-time stroke of good luck, [Soul Spirit Fishing Gear] has not sent any more exciting tremors.

However, during this final period of waiting, Su Bai witnessed a different scene, which caused a subtle ripple in his State of Mind.

It was a day when he was meditating in his cave, and his Spiritual Sense senses were incredibly clear within a three-mile radius.

Suddenly, he sensed a surge of Spiritual Power carrying a dense aura of twilight and death, heading towards the lake from the depths of the Sand Bank.

Su Bai's heart stirred slightly, and he quietly extended his Spiritual Sense to look over.

An elderly man, dressed in a worn but neat Purple Elder Robe from the Jade Mist Sect, was seen walking with a limp.

His face was withered, his wrinkles were as deep as ravines, his white hair was sparse, and his Spiritual Power was scattered, faintly revealing an aura of decay.

Only one pair of eyes remained strangely calm when gazing at the Lake of Rebirth.

This was clearly a Foundation Establishment Elder was nearing the end of his life and had come to Passing into Nirvana away peacefully.

The old man also sensed Su Bai's probing Spiritual Sense, which was not malicious.

He stopped, turned his head slightly, and nodded slowly in the direction of Su Bai's cave, a faint smile even appearing on his lips, as if to say, "Fellow Daoist, it is fate that we meet here."

Su Bai stood up, walked out of the cave, and from a distance, solemnly bowed to the old man.

The old man nodded in return, but did not approach or speak. He simply walked to a deserted Sand Bank, found a flat rock, brushed away non-existent dust, and slowly sat down, like an old monk in meditation, facing the Chaos, chaotic lake.

Su Bai noticed that apart from the robe that indicated his status, the old man's waist was empty, and he had no Storage Bag or other items.

All the accumulation of a lifetime has surely found its proper place.

The old man sat there quietly for three days and three nights, as if he were having a final conversation with this desolate world, or perhaps reviewing his long journey of cultivation.

Su Bai didn't disturb them, but simply watched silently, savoring the strange tranquility that came with the approach of the finish line.

On the third day, in the Secret Realm where day and night were indistinguishable, when the dim Aurora moved to a certain angle and cast an even darker shadow, the old man's eyes, which had been slightly closed, suddenly opened.

His eyes held no more confusion or longing, only a calm acceptance of having seen through everything.

He slowly stood up, straightened his robes, and then turned towards Su Bai's direction. His lips moved slightly, and a clear, calm voice entered Su Bai's mind. "Junior brother, I am Han Li. Our paths cross here today."

"If by fortuitous opportunity you manage to retrieve the Memory Fragment, I hope you will know my name."

Having said that, he didn't look back, taking one step, then two, and walked towards the Lake of Rebirth that devoured everything.

The instant he touched the lake water, he didn't hesitate and jumped in!

Silently.

The Chaos lake water didn't even splash up much; it was just that the Whirlpool at the point where he landed suddenly accelerated its rotation, and its color seemed to deepen for a fleeting moment.

The old man's body and soul, containing the last glimmer of his life, melted and disintegrated rapidly, like snowflakes thrown into boiling water.

They transformed into countless tiny specks of light, too small for the naked eye and Spiritual Sense to detect, and were swept and washed away by the endless lake water, scattering into the vast "Sea of Memories" of the Lake of Rebirth, never to be found again.

The lakeside returned to deathly silence, as if the scene that had just occurred had never happened.

Su Bai in place, gazing at the spot where the old man had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.

The Elder who called himself Han Li was a complete stranger to him, but his composure and purity in facing his end left a deep impression on him.

"Cultivating immortality is inherently defying the heavens and fighting against fate."

"However, when their time comes, how many can be so at peace, leaving their final traces in this lake, hoping to continue in another form?"

Su Bai silently thought to himself, "The road ahead is long and fraught with thorns."

"I only wish that one day I can become truly powerful enough to break free from this cycle of reincarnation and see the scenery at the end of the great road."

He didn't linger, turned back to his cave, lifted the [Soul Spirit Fishing Gear] from the lake, carefully wiped it clean, and put it back into his Storage Bag.

The Secret Realm Jade Talisman in his pocket was slightly warm, indicating that the three-year mission period had expired.

Activating the Jade Talisman, a familiar Teleportation Ripple enveloped my entire body.

As the light and shadow shifted, the lifeless gray sand, the Chaos lake, and the dim Aurora quickly receded into the distance.

Thump!

A soft splash was heard, and Su Bai found himself in the underwater lava cave, protected by the blue light of the Jade Talisman.

Without hesitation, he charged upwards, piercing through the scorching lava layer and soaring upwards along the long cavern.

Before long, a cool, moist sea breeze, accompanied by starlight, swept over us.

He was already standing on that desolate Sea Island.

Above, there was the long-lost real night sky, with a bright moon and few stars, and the Milky Way like a ribbon, completely different from the eternally dark sky of the Lake of Rebirth, full of vitality and vastness.

"Call..."

Su Bai took a deep breath of the salty, fishy air and felt his heart expand.

He summoned the Azure Dragon Sword and leaped onto it.

Liquid True Essence from the Foundation Establishment Realm was injected into the sword, and the Azure Dragon Sword let out a joyful and clear long cry. The Sword Light surged and transformed into a blue rainbow that tore through the night sky, rushing towards the Jade Mist Sect at a speed far exceeding its previous speed!

It takes five days to get there, but only two days to return. As the sun sets and the evening glow fills the sky, the familiar outline of the Jade Mist Sect Mountain Gate comes into view.

The Sword Light fell, landing in the solemn and majestic plaza in front of the Inner Sect Grand Hall.

Three years have passed, and the sect remains unchanged, with its flying eaves and brackets, shrouded in clouds and mist.

The magnificent Fifth Rank crane still strolled gracefully at the edge of the Training Ground, sometimes preening its feathers, sometimes raising its head to look around, as if the three years had passed to it as nothing more than a brief pause.

Su Bai withdrew his gaze, a sigh escaping his lips.

For an individual, three years is enough time for dramatic changes to occur.

But for a behemoth like the Jade Mist Sect, and for Spirit Beast beasts and immortal birds with Lifespan, three years is but a fleeting moment.

In these three years, the Inner Sect must have held another grand competition, giving birth to new True Disciple and unfolding new stories of joy and sorrow.

All of this had nothing to do with him in the Lake of Rebirth.

Gathering his thoughts, he stepped into the Inner Sect Grand Hall.

The Elder Steward duty inside the hall had changed; he was a middle-aged Cultivator with a serious face and a composed demeanor.

"Senior brother, this Disciple Su Bai. I have returned from the mission at the Lake of Rebirth Secret Realm and have come to report back and update my cultivation information." Su Bai handed over his True Disciple Token.

The Elder Steward the Token, scanned it with his Spiritual Sense, and then carefully examined Su Bai.

A perfectly timed smile appeared on his serious face, "Your Spiritual Power is condensed and profound, your divine light is contained within... Congratulations, Junior Brother Su Bai, on successfully Foundation Establishment! From now on, you will be another True Disciple Elder of our Jade Mist Sect!"

Advancing to the Foundation Establishment is something to be congratulated on, no matter where you are.

He took out a magical Law Artifact resembling a compass, placed Su Bai's Token on it, and operated it for a moment.

A faint light flickered on the Token, and the information about Su Bai had been updated: his Cultivation Realm had changed to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, Annual Quota Contribution Points had been automatically adjusted to two thousand points per year.

The Token itself does not need to be changed; its material and internal array are sufficient for use up to the Golden Core Stage.

In the Jade Mist Sect, Inner Sect Elder are generally divided into two categories: True Disciple Elder who are promoted from True Disciple, and Elder are promoted from ordinary inner disciple after accumulating merits and reaching the required Steward level.

Although both belong to the Elder class and enjoy many privileges, the former usually has a more transcendent status and receives greater resource allocation and training.

The latter, however, often need to undertake more specific sect management duties.

Su Bai naturally belongs to the former category.

The Elder Steward out a set of neatly folded new clothes from the cabinet behind him. When unfolded, it was a deep purple Cloud Patterns Daoist Robe, the standard for an inner sect elder of the Jade Mist Sect Inner Sect Elder. The material was exquisite, and there was a faint spiritual light flowing through it.

"This is a standard Elder's Robe of Law, made of ' Cloud-Pattern Brocade ' mixed with a small amount of ' Ice Silkworm Silk.' It has the effects of cleaning, dust repelling, and slightly regulating temperature, and can barely be considered Tier 1 Middle-grade Law Artifact."

"If it is damaged or lost, you need to go to the Refining Institute to report it and have it custom-made at your own expense," the Elder Steward.

Su Bai thanked him and accepted the robe. He then channeled his Spiritual Power, and the ordinary True Disciple robes of a true disciple automatically disappeared, replaced by a Purple Elder Robe that seemed to possess a spirit.

The robe fit him perfectly, its deep purple color making his already fair complexion stand out even more.

His upright posture added a touch of majesty, making him a completely different person compared to the naive Inner Sect Chief he was three years ago.

Subsequently, Su Bai handed over the Spirit Jade Doll containing Zhang Fan's Memory Fragment, completing the final handover procedures for the Lake of Rebirth mission.

With everything settled, Su Bai lingered no longer.

He bowed slightly to the Elder in Steward and then turned to walk towards the palace gate.

As he approached the entrance, he did not walk. Instead, with a thought, his figure rose into the air and Sky-Flying directly from the dome above the main hall, a space reserved for Cultivator. He transformed into a purple shadow, disappeared into the twilight, and flew straight towards the Sword Academy.

Sword Academy.

As night deepened, more than ten Disciple remained in the Training Ground, some sitting cross-legged under the moonlight sensing the Sword Qi, others practicing basic sword moves with iron swords, their diligence as unwavering as ever.

Su Bai concealed his presence and silently entered the courtyard without disturbing the Disciple were immersed in their cultivation.

Two figures were already waiting under an old tree in the courtyard.

It was Xu Shangran and Zhao Shanhe.

Clearly, news of Su Bai's return to the sect and advancement to Foundation Establishment had already reached the Sword Academy before he did.

Xu Shangran stood with his hands behind his back, watching Su Bai gracefully land. His eyes revealed undisguised satisfaction and delight. He looked Su Bai up and down and smiled, "Your Spiritual Power is condensed, your spirit is strong, and your foundation is solid. Good! You have indeed advanced to the Foundation Establishment!"

He never doubted that Su Bai could successfully Foundation Establishment.

Su Bai approached and bowed respectfully to Xu Shangran: "This Disciple has lived up to expectations and has successfully Foundation Establishment. I am grateful for the academy Academy Master's concern."

"Haha, this isn't just luck."

Xu Shangran waved his hand, then his gaze fell on Zhao Shanhe beside Su Bai, his eyes filled with encouragement.

Zhao Shanhe looked at Su Bai with a slightly complicated expression, a mixture of admiration, emotion, and a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

He noticed Su Bai's gaze sweep over his waist, where a Mysterious Black Token, similar in style to his previous one but with different details, hung.

Su Bai smiled slightly, his tone gentle, with a hint of teasing. "It seems that you haven't neglected Shanhe during my three years away."

"Now, should I call you Junior Brother Zhao, or... True Disciple Zhao?"