'Virtuous Golden Lotus' Seeds

After landing, Venerable White waved to everyone. "Yo, Shuhang, Little Sixteen, Fellow Fairy Lychee, I've kept you waiting."

Then, he took out his phone and said to Song Shuhang and Sixteen, "Shuhang, Little Sixteen told me on the phone earlier that he had something 'important' to tell me. Is it the message you posted in the 'Nine Provinces Number One Group'?"

"Yes, that's it." Song Shuhang nodded.

Since Venerable White had seen the message in the 'Nine Provinces Number One Group', there was no need for him to explain further. At the same time, his gaze fell upon 'True Lord Eternal Fire' behind Venerable White —this Confucian School True Lord had come with Senior White, so he must have known about this 'message' as well, right?

Venerable White spoke up, "Since this news concerns White Cloud Academy, I told Fellow Eternal Fire Huo about it."

True Lord Eternal Fire bowed to Song Shuhang and said, "Thank you for the news, Fellow Shuhang."

Song Shuhang returned the greeting—this True Lord Eternal Fire didn't seem surprised by the attack of the 'Nine Nether Demons' army. It seemed that the Confucian School had been prepared for the attack? Perhaps True Lord Yellow Mountain was right; White Cloud Academy was not weak.

At this moment, Fairy Lychee, using the technique of 'Group Secret Voice Transmission', asked, "Fellow Daoist Eternal Fire Huo, judging from your expression, it seems you already knew that the 'Netherworld' was going to attack White Cloud Academy?"

True Lord Eternal Fire shook his head and replied using the same 'Secret Voice Transmission': "I just learned of this news from Fellow Daoist Bai. However... for hundreds of years, our White Cloud Academy, or rather, our 'Confucian School,' has been on guard against attacks from the 'Netherworld.' After all, our Confucian School has always received special treatment from the 'Netherworld.' Whenever there are signs of revival in our Confucian Sect, the demons of the Netherworld arrive as scheduled."

The Fairy Lychee nodded gently. She also knew about the history of Confucian School. For thousands of years... or even longer, Confucian School had been severely suppressed by the 'Netherworld', and several times, it was almost wiped out.

The demons of the 'Netherworld' are said to be the common enemy of all cultivators, and even cultivators from other systems, but the relationship between 'Confucian School' cultivators and the Nine Netherworld is particularly extreme.

The two sides have a truly irreconcilable relationship.

Afterwards, True Lord Eternal Fire invited everyone to his residence for a gathering—after all, the square was not a place to discuss confidential matters.

During the journey, True Lord Eternal Fire calmly explained to everyone, "In fact, every time our Confucian School 'Grand Gathering' takes place, we prepare to repel the attack from the 'Netherworld.' At each 'Grand Gathering,' we are ready to fight; we are waiting for the arrival of the Netherworld Fiend. Fellow Daoist Bai should have already realized this."

Song Shuhang looked curiously at Venerable White— [White Cloud City] was bustling with activity, and to be honest, he couldn't see any signs of the Confucian School preparing for war.

"Hmm, while I was flying on my sword, I noticed something interesting." Venerable White brushed a strand of hair behind his ear and explained, "This time, I flew on my sword for almost an hour. I discovered that during this time, more than three-quarters of the Confucian School cultivators flying in the sky weren't 'traveling,' but patrolling and maintaining Vigilance. Besides that... I discovered that about a third of the other sects' 'fellow Daoists' Sword Flight in the sky were combat puppets of the Ink Sect. Moreover, they had very good 'illusionary formations' for cover. Even I only noticed their abnormality after several close encounters within an hour. They were incredibly realistic 'illusionary formations,' the kind of techniques used by a peak Seventh-Grade Spirit Venerable... or even an Eighth-Grade Profound Sage, right?"

"Fellow Daoist Bai guessed correctly. This is an array left behind by an 'Eighth-Grade Profound Sage' senior of the Confucian School. Unfortunately, we, his descendants, are unable to perfectly control the array he left behind," True Lord Eternal Fire said regretfully.

Song Shuhang looked around in disbelief.

Among the cultivators constantly passing by, wielding swords, knives, and various magical artifacts, were the majority Confucian School patrolling cultivators? And more than a third were combat-type Ink Sect puppets?

These Confucian School monks on patrol were all true 'Emperors of the Realm'; it was impossible to tell they were on patrol.

But thinking about it, it makes sense... The Confucian School does this every three years; they've been preparing for it for hundreds, even thousands of years, or even longer.

"No wonder there are flight restrictions in the skies above [White Cloud City]. Is this to limit the number of other cultivators in the sky?" Song Shuhang said.

True Lord Eternal Fire chuckled dryly and nodded, his face displaying an inscrutable expression.

"As expected of Confucian School cultivators, they use heaven and earth as a chessboard." Song Shuhang exclaimed. "As expected of Confucian School, their prestige is so high." He even had the thought of immediately joining the Confucian School of cultivation.

True Lord Eternal Fire continued to smile, remaining enigmatic and unfathomable.

After pondering for a moment, Fairy Lychee asked, "What if the great war between your Confucian School and the 'Netherworld' begins? What will happen to the many fellow Daoists who come to witness the ceremony? If not handled properly, it could become an internal conflict within your [White Cloud Academy]."

"In fact, most of the fellow Daoists who came to witness the ceremony this year are allies of our 'White Cloud Academy'. In addition, we have set up secret escape routes in 'White Cloud City'. Once the war begins, if any fellow Daoists wish to leave, we can guide them to evacuate through the secret routes," True Lord Eternal Fire explained with a smile.

The Confucian School has been preparing for this plan for a thousand years, or even longer. They have devised solutions to every conceivable problem.

"Just a retreat? That's quite a pity. If used properly, the fellow Daoists who came to observe the ceremony would also be a tremendous fighting force," Fairy Lychee said, squinting her eyes.

The ＠＃％×Fairy's words were loaded with meaning.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Fairy Lychee is quite right." True Lord Eternal Fire laughed, "Actually, our 'White Cloud Academy' has also prepared a plan for some fellow Daoists who are willing to stay and help. Or rather, it's an interesting activity."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the cave dwelling of True Lord Eternal Fire.

True Lord Eternal Fire led everyone into the cave, continuing to explain, "Have any of you fellow Daoists heard of the 'Virtuous Golden Lotus' Lotus Seed?"

The Venerable White stroked his chin and said, "I seem to have a vague impression, but I can't quite remember." However, he had acquired far too many treasures in his life, and even he himself couldn't recall exactly how many treasures were in his own treasury.

After pondering for a moment, the Fairy Lychee asked, "Is it the Golden Lotus Seed that, once consumed, guarantees the awakening of a 'special ability' and an extension of lifespan of fifty years?"

The treasures in the Cultivator World are incredibly diverse and varied.

The Fairy Lychee had once heard of a treasure called 'Golden Lotus Seed,' which, once consumed, would awaken a 'special ability.'

It's 100% certain that it will awaken, but what kind of 'special ability' it will awaken depends on luck.

Some can awaken abilities with extremely high offensive power, comparable to powerful spells. Others can awaken enviable support abilities, such as limb regeneration or rapid wound healing. Still others can awaken the divine skill of flight, fulfilling their dream of soaring before reaching the Fourth-Grade.

But a large portion of them also awakened abilities that are truly baffling. Things like teeth regeneration, the ability to make their tongues grow freely, the ability to change their nail colors to various shades, and the ability to control body hair growth...

What kind of ability one can awaken depends entirely on one's luck.

Moreover, this awakened ability can be continuously enhanced through practice. Alternatively, it can be strengthened by continuously consuming 'Golden Lotus Seed'.

For example, if someone awakens a talent for ordinary fire magic, through continuous practice, they can gradually increase the power of this fire spell.

At the same time, if he has many 'Golden Lotus Seed', he can obtain 'Fire Spells' of the Third-Grade or even Fourth-Grade level when he is at the Second-Grade Realm.

In addition... the Golden Lotus Seed's effect of 'extending life by fifty years' can also be seen as a precious longevity elixir, although it is only effective the first time it is taken.

"It is indeed this kind of Lotus Seed, but it is actually the Lotus Seed of the 'Virtuous Golden Lotus'," said True Lord Eternal Fire calmly.

"Oh, I remember now. I did indeed obtain these Lotus Seed before," Venerable White said, his eyes lighting up.

Senior White has obtained such Lotus Seed? With his unparalleled luck, what kind of terrifying 'special ability' would he acquire?

Song Shuhang asked curiously, "Senior White, what ability did you gain?"

"Yes, I didn't eat it myself," Venerable White recalled. "At the time, I felt that I already possessed enough magic and innate abilities, and there was no need to add any more special abilities. So, I fed it to a very cute little bird that I used to keep."

Song Shuhang: "..."

Fairy Lychee: "..."

Su Clan’s Sixteen: "..."

True Lord Eternal Fire felt like crying.

Venerable White said, "Haha, those Lotus Seed are really quite good. The little bird I raised back then awakened the talent of 'speaking human language.' It was clearly just an ordinary little bird, and then it could talk."

"And then what?" Song Shuhang asked curiously. He hadn't seen the little bird that Venerable White had been raising since he came out of seclusion this time.

"Of course it died. It was just an ordinary little bird. Even if the Lotus Seed had the effect of prolonging life, it died after being raised for more than fifty years," said Venerable White.

Song Shuhang: "..."

What a spendthrift... Senior White, Bai family of the Bai family!

"Cough cough." True Lord Eternal Fire felt a tickle in his throat and couldn't help coughing.

Fairy Lychee sighed, then asked, "Fellow Eternal Fire Huo, is the interesting event your 'White Cloud Academy' is going to hold related to this 'Virtuous Golden Lotus' seed?"

"Exactly," True Lord Eternal Fire replied, "Our activity involves exchanging 'Nine Nether Demons' for 'Virtuous Golden Lotus'."