A Pair of Sect Masters

In the dense forest, Lord Xingde and Seventh Mistress Zhou poured out their longing for each other, discussing their future plans. Unbeknownst to them, the moon had already climbed high into the sky.

Seventh Mistress Zhou had snuck out for the adventure and dared not stay long. Thus, they parted with reluctance.

Just as they were about to separate, they saw Ninth Mistress watching them from not far away, with Liu Xiaolou following behind her.

"Ninth Sister..." Seventh Mistress Zhou's face showed a flicker of panic, which she quickly suppressed.

Ninth Mistress sighed softly, glancing at Lord Xingde. "This must be Lord Xingde, right? Seventh Sister, let's go back."

Seventh Mistress Zhou nodded and smiled at Lord Xingde. "I'm going back."

Lord Xingde was worried and said to Ninth Mistress, "Ninth Mistress, I've heard Seventh Mistress mention you. Though you are not related by blood, you are as close as family..."

Ninth Mistress replied, "Lord Xingde, I will pretend tonight never happened, but this cannot happen again. This is extremely dangerous, not just for you, but for Seventh Sister as well. I don't know if Seventh Sister has told you, but she is to be married in half a year. Old Master Zhou personally arranged it last month. If your secret meetings at night were to get out, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Lord Xingde nodded, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Thank you, Ninth Mistress. Seventh Mistress told me. She is to be remarried to Elder Zhao of the Jinting Sect."

Ninth Mistress added heavily, "This matter was facilitated by Elder Hou of the Qingyu Sect."

The Qingyu Sect was the main clan to which the Zhou clan was affiliated, and the Jinting Sect, with whom the marriage was arranged, was also a renowned sect occupying the blessed land of Jinting Mountain. A marriage alliance between two great sects of the world was indeed something Lord Xingde and Seventh Mistress Zhou could not resist.

Seventh Mistress Zhou held Lord Xingde's hand, tightening her grip. Their eyes met, and everything was understood without words.

Liu Xiaolou sidled up to Lord Xingde, watching the two women leave. "This Ninth Mistress... what's her background?"

Lord Xingde shook his head. "How would I know?"

"Didn't you say Seventh Mistress often mentioned her?"

"I haven't heard her mention her."

"Alright... In any case, she's quite reasonable."

Lord Xingde countered, "When did she discover us?"

Liu Xiaolou replied, "An hour ago, not long after Seventh Mistress entered the forest. It startled me at first. But I explained your deep affection for Seventh Mistress to her for quite some time, and she was finally moved. So, she waited with me outside the forest. Don't worry, she promised to keep your secret and not report you."

Lord Xingde nodded.

Liu Xiaolou suggested, "If there's a first time, there can be a second. Don't mind what she said about this being a one-off. As long as she didn't report you this time, she's essentially in the same boat as us, whether she likes it or not. Next time, you can directly ask her to help contact Seventh Mistress. It will be much more convenient than using me, your fake nephew. This time was a close call. I was almost dragged into the Zhou family. Fortunately, I wasn't interrogated by them, but that might not be the case in the future..."

"Xiaolou, thank you."

"Your matters are my matters, Senior. It's a small thing! If you come again, it's not far, just over a hundred miles. So... shall we return to Taoyuan?"

Lord Xingde did not return to Taoyuan. Instead, he and Liu Xiaolou spent several days in various locations north and east of Dongting, searching for the remaining materials to refine the formation disk.

"The Lin Yuan Xuan Shi Formation is an illusion formation, and its essence lies in illusion. Therefore, illusion-inducing materials are essential. The most potent illusionary material in the world is likely the crest of the Colorful Splendid Sparrow. However, as far as I know, this sparrow can only be found in the Spirit Sparrow Garden of the Weiyu Xianghe Sect, so don't even think about it."

"The Weiyu Xianghe Sect? I heard it's one of the top ten sects. The cave-heavens they occupy are home to countless rare birds and exotic beasts, like a fairyland. I wonder when I'll have the fortune to visit Weiyu Mountain?"

"Cave-heavens are different from blessed lands. We don't even know where the entrance to a cave-heaven is, so how can we enter one?"

"Yes, if the Colorful Splendid Sparrow is out of the question, what about the Tiger-eye Frog? Or the Nine-foot Butterfly? Can we find them? Never mind, they seem very expensive..."

"Have you heard of these illusionary creatures too, Xiaolou? Tiger-eye Frogs are sold at the market town of Tianmen Mountain. Ten to fifteen spirit stones for an ounce of frog poison powder. Nine-foot Butterflies can be found at the market town of Yanzhou. Regardless of size, each one costs twenty spirit stones."

"Just tell me directly, Senior, are there any other materials that can be used as substitutes?"

"The Great Toad and Shang Shou Qing, when mixed together, have a similarly potent illusionary effect. This is a secret technique of my sect, Xiaolou, you must never pass it on. That's why we've come to the shores of Dongting Lake to catch Great Toads."

"What about Shang Shou Qing? It's winter now, and mushrooms don't grow in the mountains."

"I have dried powder of Shang Shou Qing prepared; it's in the artifact refining room."

"I see... Senior, you mentioned your sect earlier. Which sect are you from?"

"I am the thirteenth generation Sect Master of the Purple Extreme Sect."

"Are there any others in your sect?"

"My sect has always practiced single-lineage succession..."

"I understand. Actually, I am also a Sect Master. I am the fifth generation Sect Master of the Three Xuan Sect."

"Oh, right. Why is your sect called the Three Xuan Sect? What are the three xuans?"

"That's a secret of our sect!"

"Refining formation disks is also the greatest secret of my Purple Extreme Sect!"

"Alright, alright... It's actually Bewitching Incense, the Yin Yang Union Technique, and cultivation Profound Arts, collectively known as the Three Xuan."

"...Aren't those vulgar arts..."

"Senior, you can't say that! There are no distinctions of status among people, nor good or bad methods. My master always said there are thousands of paths to the Dao, and I choose one. What's high-class or low-class? It all depends on the cultivator's character! Even the best cultivation technique, if used by a profoundly wicked person..."

"Enough, enough, I misspoke."

"This isn't a matter of whether you misspoke or not, it's a matter of right and wrong in cultivation philosophy. If you persist with this mindset, Senior, you'll eventually stray into the demonic path!"

"Heh heh... Alright, I accept your teaching... Don't look so cross... The Purple Extreme Sect and the Three Xuan Sect are both excellent!"

"Of course they are, they sound profound... Oh, Senior, why don't our two sects form an alliance? We can support each other! We often do that over at Wulong Mountain..."

"Can we do that?"

"Why not? We are both Sect Masters, so it's decided with a single word!"

"No, I mean, is it interesting?"

"Does Senior find it uninteresting?"

"What do you think?"

"...Never mind... If it's uninteresting, then it's uninteresting..."

"Shh..."

"Huh?"

"Listen... that's the call of a Dongting Toad... Tonight is going very smoothly. I found one right away. The last time I came here, I had to search for days."

"Senior, should we catch a few?"

"Catch more! We only need that spot on its skin. If there's too little, it won't be enough! Be careful, these creatures are very alert and hard to catch..."

"Senior, wait a moment... Senior, move back a bit... retreat further..."

"How is it... is it ready... How much longer... Xiaolou?"

"Alright, come and collect them! One... two... three..."

"Are these... dead toads?"

"They're alive, just knocked out... Six... seven. Is that enough? These toads are found in nests? That saves us some trouble."

"Is this the secret manual of your Three Xuan Sect? Bewitching Incense?"

"That's right, Senior. What do you think?"

"I didn't see you light any incense..."

"Why else would it be called a secret manual? Does Senior think the methods of my Three Xuan Sect are low-class?"

"Impressive..."