Gathering of Heroes

After chatting for more than an hour, Wei Liang left in high spirits.

"Junior Brother Shen, it was only because you personally intervened that you not only resolved the grudges between the younger generation, but also gained a new ally."

"True Man Red Flood Dragon said with a smile."

"This isn't just my idea; Senior Brother Yuan thinks so too. Before our Grandmaster ascended to immortality, our Spirit Control Sect's merchant caravans had quite a reputation in the East Hua Cultivation World. We're just reopening the trade routes now."

Shen Long said.

The larger the Spirit Control Sect's trade routes, the stronger its ability to collect cultivation resources, and the greater the benefits to high-level cultivators like Shen Long. This also reflects the Spirit Control Sect's overall strength. Large forces' caravans travel everywhere, collecting cultivation resources and intelligence.

Shen Long and Yuan Rui discussed the future development of the Spirit Control Sect and both agreed that expanding trade routes and increasing revenue were essential to cultivating more disciples.

True Man Red Flood Dragon nodded, about to say something, when he took out a red Dharma Disk, cast a spell, and exclaimed in surprise, "Junior Brother Shen, Fairy Lin is hosting a gathering tomorrow night. Knowing you were coming, she insisted I bring you along."

"Fairy Lin? Which Fairy Lin?"

Shen Long asked, puzzled.

"Speaking of which, you two know each other. When you attended the Medicine King Assembly, wasn't there a fairy named Lin Qian Fairy Lin? She's a descendant of Fairy Xuanbing. Oh, and the Heavenly Mystery Rogue will also be attending. If you could ask him to do a divination, you might reap great rewards."

"That's what the True Man Red Flood Dragon explained."

"Fairy Xuanbing?"

Shen Long was utterly shocked.

Fairy Xuanbing is Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Southern Border Cultivation World. Unexpectedly, Lin Qian is a descendant of Fairy Xuanbing.

Needless to say, Heavenly Mystery Rogue is known as the number one diviner in the North Sea Cultivation World.

Among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, divination is relatively unpopular. Without talent, it's impossible to become a diviner. Divination is more difficult than Formation, and a high-level diviner is even rarer than Array Master.

In the entire Gan Yang Realm, there are fewer than five Nascent Soul Realm diviners, which shows how difficult divination is.

The Spirit Control Sect has been passed down for over 50,000 years, and has never produced a fourth-tier diviner.

"Heavenly Mystery Rogue, I've spent decades in the North Sea Cultivation World, always wanting to meet him, but unfortunately I haven't been able to. I never expected him to come to the Ten Thousand Swords Assembly. This is a rare opportunity."

Master Ice Silkworm exclaimed in surprise.

Shen Long nodded and said, "I've heard Fairy Chu mention Heavenly Mystery Rogue many times; Fairy Chu speaks highly of him."

Shen Long has been at the Nascent Soul stage for many years and has gotten to know many Nascent Soul Cultivator, including Alchemist, Artifact Refiner, formation Array Master, talisman makers, and winemakers, but no diviners.

"Yes! I've heard of Heavenly Mystery Rogue for a long time. He's a man whose whereabouts are unpredictable. I never expected to see him at the Ten Thousand Swords Assembly."

"True Man Red Flood Dragon," he said with a look of longing on his face.

He seemed to remember something and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Shen, you have quite the influence! Fairy Lin repeatedly reminded me that you absolutely had to come."

"I never expected she was a descendant of Senior Lin. It's a good opportunity to catch up."

Shen Long said.

After chatting for a while, Shen Long and Master Ice Silkworm got up and left, settling down at the Spirit Control Garden.

······

A Quiet Manor with a plaque bearing the three golden characters "Mysterious Ice Garden," a waterwheel corridor, and an artificial hill garden.

Lin Qian, Ye Hongyao, and a voluptuous woman in a gold dress were sitting in a Cyan Stone Pavilion, talking about something.

"Fellow Daoist Shen has also arrived. Fairy Ye, you will be able to meet again then."

Lin Qian joked.

"Fairy Lin, do you also have feelings for Fellow Daoist Shen?"

Ye Hongyao asked seriously.

"No, he rose to prominence too quickly. I just wanted to get to know him. Back then, we were all Core Formation Cultivator, and now we're all Nascent Soul Cultivator. He's on par with Grand Cultivators. His cultivation speed is far beyond my reach."

Lin Qian said.

"The Spirit Beast Control Technique can save a lot of time in arduous cultivation. He's not cultivating alone. When his Life-Bound Spirit Bird advances, he also benefits. Plus, with his identity as Alchemist, it's not surprising that his cultivation speed is faster."

The woman in the gold dress disagreed.

Su Yuman, born into the Su Family of the North Sea Cultivation World, is a fourth-level Alchemist.

"Fast cultivation speed is not a problem, but having the combat strength of the Nascent Soul Late Stage is a different story. Over the years, I have met many outstanding young talents, but compared to Fellow Daoist Shen, they are far inferior."

Lin Qian said seriously, her face showing admiration.

Ye Hongyao breathed a sigh of relief and said proudly, "Only a hero like Fellow Daoist Shen is worthy of me."

"Fairy Ye, I've heard that Fairy Chu of the Sun and Moon Palace is quite close to Fellow Daoist Shen."

Su Yuman said meaningfully.

"It's nothing, fair competition is fine. This is good, it shows that Fellow Daoist Shen is very outstanding."

Ye Hongyao said excitedly.

Su Yuman and Lin Qian exchanged a glance, smiled at each other, and said nothing.

······

In a secluded manor, Lin Qing was talking to Lu Qingshan.

"What? Junior Lin is dead and her cultivation has vanished? Who is the murderer?"

Lu Qingshan frowned and said.

"It's still unclear. Senior Sister Lin went to the North Sea Cultivation World business, and after some time, her Life Soul Lamp went out. We've already sent people to investigate, and we should be able to find out soon."

Lin Qing said.

Mo Wuya's junior disciple, Lin Yu, went to the North Sea Cultivation World on business, Life Soul Lamp went out. This matter has a great impact, and the Ten Thousand Swords Sect has already dispatched experts to the North Sea Cultivation World to investigate.

"Junior Lin has the cultivation of the Nascent Soul Middle Stage stage, possesses Spirit Treasure, and has mastered several powerful secret techniques. Ordinary Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivators are no match for her. There should be multiple culprits, or they may possess the combat power of the Nascent Soul Late Stage. Following these two clues should lead us to the true culprit."

Lu Qingshan said.

Lin Qing nodded and said, "With Senior Brother Xu leading the team himself, there shouldn't be any problems."

He seemed to remember something and asked, "I heard that Fellow Daoist Shen single-handedly killed the Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother, is that true?"

"It's absolutely true. The Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother's Mysterious Yin Staff was in his hands. I heard he had a Spirit Treasure that could pinpoint the Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother's location, as well as a fourth-tier Puppet Beast, which is why he was able to destroy the Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother."

Lu Qingshan's face showed admiration.

Before this, he only thought Shen Long was somewhat powerful, but he didn't expect Shen Long to be so strong that he could kill the Xuan Mysterious Yin Ghost Mother, Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator, all by himself.

"In the last great battle, he was only at the Nascent Soul Early Stage; now he's at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. His strength has increased by a tremendous amount!"

Lin Qing looked on with envy.

"I suspect he's been hiding his true strength. There's so little information about him. All we know is that he possesses two mutated fourth-tier Spirit Insect, but we don't know anything about his other Spirit Beast beasts and Spirit Bird. I've never heard of Nascent Soul Cultivator fighting him and emerging unscathed."

Lu Qingshan's expression was solemn.

"If what Senior Brother Lu said is true, Fellow Daoist Shen has been hiding his true strength all along, then this person's power is extraordinary. It seems that he was also holding back during the last mission we went on together."

Lin Qing sighed.

"I don't know then. Fortunately, we have no personal grudges against this person, and it won't do us any harm to be on good terms with him."

Lu Qingshan said.

······

Two days passed quickly.

Shen Long, Master Ice Silkworm, and True Man Red Flood Dragon arrived at the Mysterious Ice Garden. Led by a Green-Shirted Attendant, they came to a secluded courtyard where more than a dozen Nascent Soul were gathered in a Cyan Stone Pavilion. Lin Qian, Ye Hongyao, Su Yuman, and Chu Buyu were all present.

"Fellow Daoist Han, Fellow Daoist Shen, Fellow Daoist Lin, you've finally arrived! Please have a seat."

Lin Qian smiled and gestured for Shen Long and the other two to sit down.

"This must be Fellow Daoist Xu! I've long admired your name."

Shen Long's gaze fell on a tall, thin young man in a gold shirt, and he spoke enthusiastically.

He had seen the portrait of Heavenly Mystery Rogue before, but now he had finally met the True Person.

"Fellow Daoist Shen flatters me. Compared to you, I am far inferior."

Heavenly Mystery Rogue spoke gently and smiled, giving people a sense of approachability.