It had arrived.
Lu Li's heart tightened as he looked toward the entrance to the cave abode.
There he saw Bai Jinfei leading a group of people, slowly floating over.
At the head of the group was a middle-aged man in his mid-thirties. He had a fair, jade-like face and an elegant, refined bearing. Dressed in blue robes, with a white sword on his back and star-bright eyes, he looked like an immortal banished from the heavens.
Beside him followed a purple-faced old man, whose aura was formidable. He was also a Nascent Soul True Lord.
A group of people followed behind them.
Li Jing was among them.
Lu Li spotted Li Jing at a glance.
Their eyes met in midair. Sparks flew, but neither said a word.
"Junior Brother Li, congratulations."
Just then, the blue-robed man cupped his hands and offered his congratulations casually.
"True Lord Yellow Spring, there's no need to be polite. Please, have a seat."
Ghost Demon True Person narrowed his eyes and waved a hand casually. He didn't rise to greet him.
Only then did Lu Li learn that Ghost Demon True Person's surname was Li.
The blue-robed man before him had to be Li Jing's master, True Lord Yellow Spring!
Next, the purple-faced old man to True Lord Yellow Spring's left cupped his hands. "Old Ghost Li, I never thought you'd actually cultivate a Nascent Soul without getting beaten to death! Congratulations!"
His hostility was utterly undisguised.
"True Lord Flying Fox, if a wretch like you, who'll die without an heir, hasn't kicked the bucket, then I certainly won't."
Ghost Demon True Person replied coldly from his White Bone Throne.
"You!"
At those words, the purple-faced old man glared, his face flushing red.
But a moment later, he gave a cold snort. "One of these days, I'll test your Kunpeng Devil Art!"
"Anytime. Have a seat."
Ghost Demon True Person's expression was indifferent, with a hint of disdain.
"Hmph!"
The purple-faced old man flicked his sleeve, flashed forward, and took a seat at the upper left.
True Lord Yellow Spring floated over and sat down as well.
Li Jing and the others were led by the maids to a table off to the side.
At the same time, the Second Senior Sister began announcing the gifts. "True Lord Yellow Spring presents one low-grade magical treasure. True Lord Flying Fox presents ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. True Person Blood-Transforming presents one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. May Master enjoy boundless blessings and longevity."
When she finished, the entire hall fell silent.
Ghost Demon True Person looked deeply displeased.
In a word, these three gifts were miserly!
Did he need Mid-Grade Spirit Stones?
Besides, everyone knew the rules: Qi Refining cultivators used magical artifacts, Foundation Establishment cultivators used spirit artifacts, Golden Core cultivators used magical treasures, and those above Nascent Soul used Spirit Treasures.
A low-grade magical treasure for a Golden Core cultivator, presented as a congratulatory gift?
Wasn't that looking down on him?
Ghost Demon True Person's face turned icy, and a chilling Killing Intent radiated from his body.
Lu Li, standing beside him, felt it immediately.
But he kept his gaze lowered, calm as an ancient well, and didn't move a muscle.
It wasn't his turn to step in yet.
Soon, another guest arrived.
"Great Devil King Heaven-Shaking has arrived!"
At Bai Jinfei's loud announcement, a towering giant, over one zhang tall, strode into the hall, each step shaking the earth.
A purple-robed child followed behind him.
"Well, well, Old Ghost Li, you're not dead yet? Congratulations."
The giant curled his lips in greeting and tossed out a piece of white jade, rich with spiritual energy.
Second Senior Sister Meimei continued announcing the gifts. "Great Devil King Heaven-Shaking presents one High-Grade Spirit Stone. May Master enjoy ten thousand years of life."
Ghost Demon True Person's expression darkened again.
One High-Grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
It was hardly an impressive gift.
"Have a seat. Someone, get this big fellow a larger stone stool," Ghost Demon True Person ordered with a dark expression.
"Yes."
A maid answered and went to fetch another stool.
Then Great Devil King Heaven-Shaking sat beside True Lord Yellow Spring and True Lord Flying Fox, and the three began chatting animatedly.
Every so often, they let out deafening peals of laughter.
They acted as though Ghost Demon True Person, the guest of honor, wasn't even there.
The atmosphere was unbearably stiff.
"..."
Ghost Demon True Person's face was so dark it looked ready to drip.
Watching from the side, Lu Li felt embarrassed for him.
It seemed Ghost Demon True Person truly had no friends in the Yin Underworld Ghost Sect.
Just then, more guests arrived.
This time, it was a Golden Core True Person.
As soon as he entered, he offered formal congratulations and presented a gift.
It was a high-grade magical treasure.
Not bad.
Ghost Demon True Person then made awkward small talk with him.
At least the atmosphere wasn't quite so tense anymore.
Before long, guests began arriving one after another.
Most were Golden Core True Persons.
After presenting their gifts, the Golden Core cultivators noticed the strange atmosphere. Unwilling to pick the wrong side and offend anyone, they simply made excuses and slipped away.
And so, an hour passed, and the sun climbed high in the sky.
It was nearly noon.
Only around twenty people had gathered in the middle of the hall. They sat scattered about, and the place was anything but lively.
Among them were three Nascent Soul True Lords who had come from other Demonic Sects.
Their congratulatory gifts were laughably cheap, not even worth a hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
Clearly, they had come to make a scene and watch the fun.
Standing beside Ghost Demon True Person, Lu Li could feel the Killing Intent radiating from him. It was cold and sinister, almost solidifying in the air.
Besides, Lu Li had been on his feet all morning and hadn't received a single gift.
Ghost Demon True Person's dreadful popularity was on full display.
"Lu Li, if anyone provokes us later, cut his mother down!"
Suddenly, a voice, cold with barely suppressed fury, sounded in Lu Li's ear.
Lu Li's heart tightened. He straightened his expression and cupped his hands. "This disciple understands. Please rest assured, Master."
"True Lord Red Furnace has arrived!"
At that moment, Bai Jinfei called out and led two women floating gracefully into the hall.
One was around thirty, dressed in blue robes, her charm still very much intact. The other looked to be sixteen, wearing a green robe, pretty and bright-eyed.
It was Green Lotus!
"Junior Brother Li, congratulations on advancing to Nascent Soul. This Spirit Treasure is called the Soul-Devouring Rod. It's my gift to you. May you reach Spirit Transformation soon."
The blue-robed woman smiled warmly.
Her voice was soft and gentle, and her manner refined.
As she spoke, Green Lotus took out a long wooden box wrapped with a red ribbon. Holding it in both hands, she presented it to Meimei.
"Thank you, Lady Red Furnace. Please, have a seat."
Ghost Demon True Person's expression eased somewhat. He rose to greet her and ordered, "Someone, serve the finest tea."
"Sorry for the trouble."
The blue-robed woman inclined her head in return, her smile gentle and captivating.
Then she sat at the upper right and nodded with a smile to True Lord Yellow Spring, True Lord Flying Fox, Great Devil King Heaven-Shaking, and the others.
The three True Lords returned her greeting with nods.
It seemed Lady Red Furnace held no ordinary position in the Yin Underworld Ghost Sect.
Lu Li mused to himself.
At that moment, he caught sight of Green Lotus, standing behind Lady Red Furnace, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. Her smiling eyes curved like crescent moons.
Lu Li smiled back.
Naturally, everyone in the hall noticed.
Their expressions varied.
Several sharp, hostile gazes swept over Lu Li, as if they were looking at a romantic rival.
Does this woman really have so many worshippers?
Lu Li raised an eyebrow.
Suddenly, he felt a gentle gaze fall on him.
It came from the charming Lady Red Furnace.
The Nascent Soul True Lord looked Lu Li up and down.
Lu Li felt as if she could see straight through his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, leaving him completely exposed, with nothing hidden.
"Hm?"
The next moment, Lady Red Furnace let out a soft exclamation of surprise.
It seemed she had noticed something.
A flicker of puzzlement crossed her gentle, limpid eyes.
"Junior Brother Li, is this young man your newly accepted Core Disciple, Lu Li?" Lady Red Furnace asked softly.
"That's right. Lu Li, why don't you come forward and pay your respects to True Lord Red Furnace?"
Ghost Demon True Person turned to him.
At his words, Lu Li immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting. "This junior, Lu Li, pays his respects to True Lord Red Furnace! May you stay eighteen forever and remain as beautiful as a flower! May your magic power be boundless and surpass even the immortals!"
As soon as he said this, everyone turned to look.
Even Green Lotus, who had been massaging Lady Red Furnace's shoulders, froze for a moment.
"You little rascal, you certainly know how to sweet-talk."
Lady Red Furnace smiled gently. With an elegant sweep of her snow-white hand, a tiny golden sword, three inches long, appeared in her palm.
"This is the Flowing Gold Sword, a high-grade spirit artifact. Consider it my gift to you."
Lu Li turned to look at Ghost Demon True Person.
"Accept the True Lord's gift. And don't forget to thank her," Ghost Demon True Person said, a long-forgotten smile appearing on his face.
"This... Thank you for your generous gift, True Lord!"
Lu Li's face lit up. He held out both hands to receive the sword.
Just then, Lady Red Furnace gently picked up the golden sword and placed it in Lu Li's palm.
Whether intentionally or not, her slender jade-like fingers lightly brushed against Lu Li's palm.
They were so soft.
But in that instant, an invisible True Qi seemed to course through Lu Li's entire body.
Ding.
A system notification immediately rang out in his mind:
Your Purple Haze Sun-Refining Scripture sensed the presence of Supreme Daoist True Qi. It felt admiration and surged with excitement, increasing your cultivation speed by 10000%.
Almost in the same instant, the Purple Haze Sun-Refining Scripture began circulating automatically.
Progress +1+1+1+1... It kept climbing like mad.
Before you continue