At first glance, Qiu Yan appears intelligent and beautiful, with an air of ethereal grace.
At this moment, he's puffing out smoke, looking like a man from the dust and grime of the world.
In response to his words, Lu Li replied while driving, "I also really want to kill Colonel Ito."
To outsiders, these words sounded incredibly arrogant, Qiu Yan quipped:
"How interesting. Ito Tairon is a top-tier Innate Realm expert bestowed a title by Izumo Emperor. Where do you get your courage with such meager cultivation?"
"Since I'm just idling around while driving," Lu Li casually remarked.
"Low cultivation level doesn't mean you should be afraid... especially when facing beasts. Turning around and running away will only embolden them."
The last sentence was something his great-grandfather had told him when he was a child, and he was speaking from the heart at that moment.
But Qiu Yan lost her appetite for conversation after hearing these words.
She had intended to give him a warning and then try to recruit him, but this person was too naive and was just like those people from the Killing for Benevolence Society and the Dragon Gate Sect.
There's no point in talking to someone like that; just let them fend for themselves.
"What a waste of his talent."
Qiu Yan glanced at Lu Li's handsome profile, then looked out the window and said nothing more.
Nan Jinping, on the other hand, grew increasingly satisfied with Lu Li the more she looked at him. It was just a pity that young men like him were becoming increasingly rare... Otherwise, what was there to fear from the Izumo?
Hua Ruoxi, meanwhile, was quietly observing Qiu Yan.
This is a person placed by the Huashan Sect next to Governor Jiang Shixiang.
Their enthusiasm this time is probably because they're planning to turn the Jiu Shan Sect Hua."
Hua Ruoxi smiled faintly, but inwardly she was determined: [I absolutely cannot let them get away with this so easily.]
At this moment, the group had different thoughts.
The car sped along, Jiu Shan Sect soon came into view.
~~~~~~~~~~
When Lu Li saw the entire Jiu Shan Sect from afar, Lu Li somewhat disappointed.
This so-called "Jiushan" is actually just a small hill in the "Nandagang Wetland", with an altitude of less than 1,000 meters.
If it weren't for the magnificent palaces, it wouldn't look like a legitimate sect occupying Spiritual Vein at all.
However, the expressions of the three innate masters turned serious. Old Master Nan said:
"A mountain is not famous for its height, but for the immortals who dwell there. This place was originally flat land, but at the end of the previous dynasty, a Spiritual Vein suddenly emerged from the ground, raising this Hatoyama Mountain."
"Emerging from underground?"
Lu Li was somewhat curious, Hua Ruoxi smiled and said:
"We've heard people talk about Spiritual Vein and spiritual energy; they're actually just planetary [geomagnetic energy]."
"Geomagnetism..."
Lu Li immediately retrieved the relevant information from his mind.
Geomagnetism is the celestial magnetic field generated by the Earth Core.
It shields the Earth from deadly cosmic rays, carries heat from the Earth Core's core to the surface, and balances the gravitational pull that binds the atmosphere, making it fundamental to maintaining the ecosystem.
At this moment, Qiu Yan asked, "May I ask who told Manager Hua this?"
Hua Ruoxi smiled and said a name: "Xu Shou."
"He's the one who invented the steam engine and the ship!" Qiu Yan said regretfully, "It's a pity he can't cultivate."
Lu Li had vaguely heard of this person; he had many titles—pioneer of modern shipbuilding, father of chemistry, and so on.
It's a pity he was born in the wrong era; otherwise, he would definitely be a top-tier scientist.
Following this conversation, the car arrived at the Mountain Gate the Jiu Shan Sect.
Someone was already waiting to greet them.
The man was dressed in a blue Daoist robe, had a baby face, and a rather arrogant expression.
"Fan Shiji!"
Upon seeing him, Nan Jinping couldn't help but shout, "Where are the brother and sister you captured! Release them immediately!"
So this is Divine Heart Society, the director of the Jiu Shan Sect stationed at the Fan Shiji -kai.
He gave Nan Jinping a cold look; despite his baby face, his tone was very world-weary.
"The two siblings have a predestined connection to immortality and have already been accepted as disciples by the sect leader. You should all be happy about this."
"You..."
Nan Jinping was about to speak again, but Hua Ruoxi stopped her.
The old eunuch squinted and smiled, "Then please have Director Fan lead us to see the sect leader."
Fan Shiji bowed deeply and said:
"Our sect leader is currently in seclusion and cannot receive guests. As for the 'gift of hospitality,' Manager Hua, just name your figure, and our Jiu Shan Sect will accept it all."
This clearly means they are refusing to see me!
Hua Ruoxi's expression changed slightly, Qiu Yan sneered:
"The Jiu Shan Sect is utterly disrespectful! Three Innate Realm experts have come to our door, yet we still can't see our sect leader?"
The gaze of the innate martial artist swept over him like a knife, but Fan Shiji's baby face still wore an arrogant expression:
"It's not your Huashan Sect's place to speak in Jinmen."
The atmosphere became tense in just a few words.
Qiu Yan smiled instead and said to Hua Ruoxi:
"The Jiu Shan Sect is only making a fuss over nothing. We should leave and report the facts as they are."
Having said that, he turned to leave.
Lu Li frowned; he still wanted to go inside the sect to take a look...
Fortunately, at that moment, a deep, aged voice drifted down from the mountaintop:
[Toki, please let the guests come up.]
Upon hearing this, Fan Shiji bowed deeply towards the mountaintop. "I will obey your orders, Master."
He drew a strange short sword from his waist; it was actually a thigh bone!
Then, using that bone, he flicked it through the void...
In an instant, a semi-transparent "curtain" was lifted to reveal a doorway.
Fan Shiji gestured with his hand, "Guests, please come in."
This semi-transparent, curtain-like thing covered the entire mountaintop!
Lu Li's pupils contracted, instantly conjuring up the Mountain Protecting Great Array!?
At this moment, three innate beings, unfazed by such occurrences, entered the gate.
Lu Li lowered his head and walked in discreetly.
Fan Shiji scrutinized the cripple, the driver, and the insignificant henchman with a cold gaze.
He quickly labeled Lu Li and then dismissed the matter, leading the group towards the mountaintop.
Lu Li carefully lowered his head, using his peripheral vision to memorize everything here!
Layout, building purpose, cultivation level of the disciples who come and go...
[There aren't many people, no more than 500, but they all have the Spirit Refinement.]
[The higher you go, the higher your cultivation level and the more magnificent the buildings... Focus on this!]
By the time Lu Li reached the mountaintop, he already had a clear idea of what was going on.
Just then, the Kunlun Mirror in my Sea of Consciousness suddenly stirred, erupting with intense desire!
Looking up slightly, one sees a palace with upturned eaves and corners, with a plaque bearing the three characters "Spiritual Spring Hall".
What the Kunlun Mirror wants is inside!
Just Fan Shiji said, "The sect leader is here. Please, distinguished guests."
The three innate beings regulated their breathing and tensed their bodies.
This is where the Spiritual Vein is located. Although it looks empty, it is actually the most dangerous forbidden area in the entire sect.
An Out of Body True Master guarding Spiritual Vein can unleash extremely powerful combat strength! Not to mention the existence of Mountain Protecting Great Array!
The group filed in, with Nan Jinping slightly behind Lu Li to prevent any unforeseen events.
However, once inside the palace, everyone felt a little relieved.
An old Daoist priest dressed in a blue brocade robe was seen stroking his beard and smiling as he looked over.
This was none other than Fan Chengxun, the leader of the Jiu Shan Sect.
"My seclusion for some time has caused you all some concern."
Fan Chengxun smiled and bowed respectfully, displaying an air of otherworldly elegance and extraordinary demeanor; he didn't seem to have encountered any mishap.
He then said to Nan Jinping:
"Regarding the Chen Siblings, Shi Ji was too hasty. President Nan is free to take them home. I am truly sincere in accepting disciples and will personally visit them to ask for their services."
"Thank you... Sect Leader Fan."
Nan Jinping felt that the other person's smile was a little awkward, but she couldn't refuse someone who was smiling, so she could only clasp her hands in a fist salute.
Things seemed to be developing in a positive direction, but just then... Qiu Yan suddenly slapped her hand!
The Innate True Qi formed a gentle breeze that swept over Fan Chengxun's body... yet it rippled like water, as if a distorted image had been disturbed!
"This is a departed Divine Soul! Not the physical body!"