Senior Brother Chen Will Definitely Approve! (Seeking Collection! Seeking Recommendation!)

A moment later, in the City Lord's manor of Luoshan City, Pei Ling, who had just finished washing up, was summoned by the butler. Full of unease, he arrived at the main hall.

As soon as he entered, he saw City Lord Duanmu, dressed neatly and exuding an elegant demeanor, sitting on the main seat. In his hand, he held a Soul Summoning Banner.

"Young friend Pei," City Lord Duanmu said as soon as he saw Pei Ling, his face immediately filled with sorrow. He gently placed the Soul Summoning Banner on a long table beside him and sighed, "I am truly sorry. The Human-Faced Spider was ferocious. Alas, I arrived too late, and Senior Brother Chen Huan has already perished in its maw. After much effort and a desperate struggle, I managed to retrieve his belongings."

"!!!" This is truly wonderful!!

The Human-Faced Spider is truly a good demonic beast!

Pei Ling was overjoyed inwardly. He forced himself to calm down, suppressing the upward curve of his lips, and stepped forward to feign comfort. "City Lord, please do not say that. You did not wish for such a thing to happen. The deceased are at peace; please accept my condolences."

After saying this, he was still a little uneasy and asked tentatively, "By the way, City Lord, besides Senior Brother Chen, what about the other senior brothers and sisters...?"

"Alas, when I arrived, I saw young friend Chen being harmed by the Human-Faced Spider," City Lord Duanmu said, his face full of sadness. "Afterward, I searched carefully, but unfortunately, I found nothing. I can only hope they return safely."

Hearing this, Pei Ling's heart sank. He thought, I truly hope those people die by the hands of the Human-Faced Spider.

Otherwise, even if they had no evidence to frame him, making it difficult to use sect rules against him, they would definitely find ways to retaliate.

Such hidden dangers are too troublesome. Should I go outside the city later and lie in wait to strike first?

As he was contemplating, he suddenly heard City Lord Duanmu sigh, "Regardless, you were a team. Since you are the only one left, I shall entrust the belongings of young friend Chen to you, young friend Pei. This Soul Summoning Banner is a top-grade talisman artifact, even one of the best recorded in the Hall of Many Laws of the Sacred Sect's Outer Sect. Having it will protect you and serve as a memento."

Saying this, he handed the Soul Summoning Banner over with one hand.

This good?

Pei Ling was stunned. The smile on his lips was almost impossible to suppress. He subconsciously reached out to take it, but just as polite words were about to leave his mouth, he looked up and saw City Lord Duanmu's immaculately clean outer robe, and a jolt went through him!

"City Lord!!!" Pei Ling suddenly pushed the Soul Summoning Banner back, saying righteously, "What do you take me for?! We juniors came to your domain to complete a mission, merely to deliver a letter for you. It was a small favor, yet you treated us with such hospitality, not only informing us about the Human-Faced Spider with sincerity but also bestowing upon us Spirit Wine to aid our cultivation."

"Such great kindness is like that shown to one's own children and nephews."

"We have no way to repay you. In fact, because Senior Brother Chen and the others provoked the Human-Faced Spider, we have caused you and Luoshan City much trouble."

"You did not hold any of this against us, and now this Soul Summoning Banner was retrieved by your hard work. If I were to accept it, wouldn't I become a shameless scoundrel?!"

He thrust the Soul Summoning Banner back into City Lord Duanmu's hand and said in a deep voice, "Please, City Lord, you must accept this Soul Summoning Banner. Consider it a small token of our apology!"

"This is not quite right, is it?" City Lord Duanmu sighed, his gaze mournful. "This Soul Summoning Banner is quite famous within the Sacred Sect's Outer Sect. Young friend Chen and his group have been preparing for it since they entered the sect, working hard for many years..."

"That's why you must accept it, City Lord." Pei Ling's back was soaked with sweat. Damn these grim sects are truly grim sects. I prided myself on dedicating myself to the path of survival for many years, but it seems my aptitude is dull, and I've only grasped the superficial aspects. I actually failed to see this old man's cruel nature.

He knew why the City Lord had so meticulously questioned their location earlier. He had thought it was genuine concern for rescuing them, but it turned out he was eager to kill for treasure.

If Pei Ling hadn't been meticulous and noticed the problem with the City Lord's attire regarding the "desperate struggle to retrieve belongings after much effort," and if he had accepted the Soul Summoning Banner just now, he would likely have met the same fate as Chen Huan, perishing in the Human-Faced Spider's maw.

Looking at the Soul Summoning Banner again, Pei Ling saw it as a death warrant, not a top-grade talisman artifact!

He firmly pressed City Lord Duanmu's hand and pleaded earnestly, "City Lord, if you refuse to accept it, it means you look down on us juniors in the Qi Refining Stage. You think our strength is too low, and the talisman artifacts we refine are not worthy of you!"

"This..." City Lord Duanmu hesitated.

Seeing this, Pei Ling pressed on. He lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, lamenting heartbrokenly, "City Lord! We are all disciples of the Sacred Sect. If you do not accept it, you will chill the hearts of us Qi Refining cultivators!"

"As you said, this Soul Summoning Banner consumed Senior Brother Chen's countless efforts. Therefore, even though Senior Brother Chen has fallen, he would definitely wish for the Soul Summoning Banner to find a worthy master."

"How can I, a mere junior, be worthy?"

"Only in your hands will this top-grade talisman artifact not be disgraced."

"Even if Senior Brother Chen knew this from the afterlife, he would surely agree!"

"Alas, young friend Pei, why are you doing this? Get up! Get up quickly!" Finally, City Lord Duanmu's expression relaxed. He picked up the Soul Summoning Banner with one hand and reached out to help Pei Ling up with the other, saying, "I will accept it, alright? As you said, we are all disciples of the Sacred Sect, why go through such a grand ceremony?"

Pei Ling also felt a sense of relief and got up.

The scene has passed, and the Soul Summoning Banner is with this old fellow. I should be safer now, right?

Wait!

He suddenly thought of something. The Aversion to Life Saber on his back seemed quite extraordinary too! Otherwise, why would Li Siguan and the other three have designs on it as soon as they met?

Pei Ling broke out in a cold sweat!

Although he had wrapped the Aversion to Life Saber tightly after killing Li Siguan and the others to avoid further trouble, this was a Foundation Establishment cultivator! Who knew if he had some method to see through the disguise and discern the quality of the Aversion to Life Saber?

What should I do?

Hand it over?

But if I hand it over, won't this old fellow still be wary and try to silence me?

And after handing it over, what will I use?

Pei Ling's mind raced, and he finally gritted his teeth, deciding to wait and see.

Perhaps City Lord Duanmu didn't notice the Aversion to Life Saber at all. Why should I create unnecessary complications?

In reality, Duanmu Yan did not notice Pei Ling's weapon. After all, he was just a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining who had just joined the sect, not from a prominent family. In his eyes, what good items could he possibly possess?

"Young friend Pei, after what happened," City Lord Duanmu said, satisfied with Pei Ling's perceptiveness. Stroking his short beard, his attitude softened, and he spoke gently, "I wonder when you plan to return to the sect?"

Return to the sect?

Pei Ling, who had just calmed down, felt his heart rise into his throat again.

Returning to the sect is impossible. I have no clue how to earn Spirit Stones. I can only stay outside and survive to protect my life.

Speaking of which, if I hadn't been in a hurry to escape the sect back then, I wouldn't have been tricked by Chen Huan and the others.

Now, this Luoshan City is far from the sect, and the families of Li Siguan and the others cannot reach here anytime soon. As for Chen Huan and the others, they are either dead or scattered, the Soul Summoning Banner has become the City Lord's spoils of war, and I have overcome many obstacles. I am even getting along famously with Duanmu Yan. Although Duanmu Yan is also grim, he is a capable person and speaks nicely, making it even more comfortable than in the Pei Manor of Luquan City.

I don't want to leave at all!

Thinking of this, Pei Ling showed a difficult expression. "This... City Lord, we came out on a mission. Although my senior brothers and sisters are all... I still want to try and complete the mission alone. This way, it will be a comfort to the souls of Senior Sister Chen and the others. Therefore, I am afraid I will have to trouble you for a while longer, City Lord."