I hoped this senior would rekindle his old affection.
After glancing in the direction where the white-haired elder had disappeared, Lu Li put away the jade slip, shook his head, and turned back toward the main hall of the cave abode.
Two gazes immediately turned his way.
They belonged to Lady Red Furnace and Green Lotus.
The two women rose, preparing to leave as well.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Li. Your Core Disciple has actually won the Scripture Protection Elder's favor and been taught the Heavenly Demon Twenty-Three Swords. He has a boundless future ahead of him."
Lady Red Furnace smiled gently, her eyes warm.
"Madam, you flatter me. He's still only at the Qi Refining stage. Those are just a few minor tricks, hardly worth praising."
Though Ghost Demon True Person spoke modestly, he made no effort to hide the proud smile on his face.
"These are no minor tricks. By tomorrow, I'm afraid the entire sect will know that your disciple is about to rise like a star and become a new star of the Yin Underworld Ghost Sect."
Lady Red Furnace continued to praise him.
"This junior doesn't deserve such praise."
Lu Li hurriedly spoke up.
"Really? You were so arrogant just now. How come you've turned modest all of a sudden?"
Lady Red Furnace looked at him with a beaming smile.
The more she looked at him, the more fondness shone in her eyes.
Suddenly, she sighed. "No wonder I took a liking to you the moment I saw you. It turns out you bear some resemblance to my late son. How about you become my godson?"
Huh?
Godson?
Lu Li froze on the spot, his heart tightening.
What kind of scheme was this? Lady Red Furnace, who might be a Dao Alliance spy, wanted to take him as her godson?
"Ah... Master?"
Green Lotus's small mouth fell open in surprise.
Her gaze kept darting between Lu Li and Lady Red Furnace.
On the other side, Bai Jinfei and Second Senior Sister Meimei were both astonished. Even a trace of envy appeared in their eyes.
This was a gift falling straight from the heavens!
True Lord Red Furnace was the Nascent Soul True Lord with the best chance of breaking through to Spirit Transformation. If she took him as her godson, he'd be a calf riding an eagle—soaring straight to the skies!
Ghost Demon True Person, however, narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening slightly, but he didn't refuse on Lu Li's behalf.
He simply watched Lu Li in silence.
Under everyone's gaze, Lu Li paused briefly, then cupped his hands and bowed. "This junior thanks True Lord for your kindness. But I'm afraid I'm not worthy."
"Oh? Why not?"
Lady Red Furnace gave a small, curious sound.
"Once a master, always a father!"
Lu Li straightened up, his face solemn. "Though I, Lu Li, am an orphan with neither father nor mother, my master has treated me with kindness as profound as a mountain, like the parents who gave me a second life! Though I'm a member of the demonic path, I still know how to write the word 'gratitude.' Until I've repaid my master's kindness, I couldn't rest in peace even in death! So I want to devote myself wholeheartedly to serving at my master's side. This junior truly isn't worthy of True Lord's affection!"
His words came from the heart, ringing with conviction. Anyone who heard them would be deeply moved.
Ghost Demon True Person immediately smiled with satisfaction.
He knew Lu Li was lying, of course, but sometimes even a lie was pleasing to hear.
On the other side, Bai Jinfei, Meimei, and Green Lotus were all a little surprised.
They had never expected Lu Li to refuse!
Lady Red Furnace smiled faintly. "I see. Junior Brother Li, you've truly taken a good disciple. Very well. Since you're unwilling, I won't press you."
"Thank you, True Lord."
Lu Li cupped his hands in gratitude.
"But you're so devoted and loyal. If I don't give you something, I'll feel bad about it. Take this treasure as a reward."
As she spoke, Lady Red Furnace took out a white jade round bottle and held it out to him.
The bottle was palm-sized, as white as mutton fat jade, and delicately carved with flowers, birds, fish, and insects.
"This... is a snuff bottle?"
Lu Li stared at it, stunned.
"That's right." Lady Red Furnace gave a slight nod and smiled. "Though this snuff bottle is only a spiritual artifact, it can store magical power. It's an unusual treasure."
"This..."
Lu Li hesitated, looking toward Ghost Demon True Person, unsure whether he should accept it.
"Since True Lord is giving it to you, accept it."
Ghost Demon True Person smiled.
"Then thank you, True Lord."
At that, Lu Li didn't stand on ceremony. He cupped his hands in thanks.
Then he took the White Jade Snuff Bottle with both hands and put it into his storage ring.
"Well, it's getting late. I should head back too. Junior Brother Li, farewell." Lady Red Furnace turned to him with a faint smile.
"I'll see you out, True Lord."
Ghost Demon True Person spoke at once.
"It's only a few steps. You're too kind, Junior Brother Li." Lady Red Furnace smiled and turned gracefully toward the entrance of the cave abode.
Green Lotus winked at Lu Li and sent him an inviting look. "Junior Brother Lu, remember to come visit me when you have time!"
"Next time, for sure."
Lu Li returned her look.
Soon, after a brief exchange of courtesies, Ghost Demon True Person saw Lady Red Furnace all the way to the Demon Welcoming Platform.
Lu Li, Bai Jinfei, and Meimei naturally followed along.
"Farewell, Junior Brother Li."
Lady Red Furnace spoke softly, smiling as she nodded.
"Take care, True Lord."
Ghost Demon True Person cupped his hands in farewell.
"Very well."
Lady Red Furnace smiled faintly and was about to fly away.
But just then, she seemed to remember something. Turning around, she reached out her snow-white hand and tapped Lu Li on the forehead three times.
Then, without saying a word, she swept up Green Lotus with her long sleeve and drifted into the sky, disappearing beyond the sea of clouds.
?
What did that mean?
Lu Li looked bewildered. He rubbed his forehead, completely at a loss.
Ghost Demon True Person was a little surprised too, but said nothing. With a flash, he shot back into the cave abode.
Lu Li and the other two hurried after him.
Back in the cave abode, Ghost Demon True Person sat on the White Bone Throne, a trace of a smile on his face. "Today, Meimei, Jinfei, and Lu Li, you all did very well."
The three of them listened with solemn respect and didn't say anything out of turn.
Ghost Demon True Person continued, "Meimei, you handled today's banquet with care and kept everything in perfect order. Not a thing went wrong, and you didn't cause your master to lose face. You put a great deal of effort into it, so I'll reward you with a treasure: the Mountain Sea Bright Moon Pearl."
As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeve. Twenty-four sparkling pearls shot out, circled in midair, and linked together into a necklace, which fell into Second Senior Sister Meimei's hands.
"Thank you for the reward, Master!"
Meimei, who usually wore a face as cold as frost, couldn't help showing her excitement and delight as she accepted the treasure and bowed in thanks.
Clearly, this treasure was no ordinary one.
"Jinfei, you contributed both money and effort, helping Meimei put on the banquet. You handled all the arrivals and departures without a single mistake, remaining neither servile nor arrogant and observing every courtesy. You didn't cause your master to lose face at all. I'll reward you with a damaged treasure: the Mountain-Splitting Halberd!"
As he spoke, Ghost Demon True Person flicked his hand again.
Buzz.
A streak of silver light flashed by.
A short silver halberd appeared in front of Bai Jinfei, spinning without end as it emitted a chilling, awe-inspiring gleam.
"Thank you for bestowing this treasure, Master!"
Bai Jinfei was overjoyed. He seized the silver halberd and turned it over in his hands, unable to put it down.
Though the Mountain-Splitting Halberd was a damaged treasure, its might surpassed that of any spiritual artifact!
"Lu Li."
Ghost Demon True Person's gaze shifted and settled on Lu Li.
"Yes!"
Lu Li immediately cupped his hands in acknowledgment.
Meimei and Bai Jinfei both cast strange looks his way.
The greatest contributor today had clearly been their junior brother.
The moment he appeared, he'd taken down three powerful opponents and helped his master hold his ground!
Otherwise, the banquet would have been a complete disaster. It might even have become a joke, one that people would mock them for in the days to come.
For such a great contribution, what kind of reward would he receive?
"Lu Li, you've already received the Flowing Gold Sword from Lady Red Furnace, so you don't lack a treasure. I'll give you a drop of Azure Flood Dragon Blood instead."
After Ghost Demon True Person finished speaking, a dark halo flickered behind his head.
Then the little blood-red fish swam out. With a sudden flash, it darted in front of Lu Li, opened its mouth, and spat out a green bead.
"Thank you for the reward, Master."
Lu Li promptly thanked him, extending both hands to catch the green bead.
It was very light.
And cool.
The moment the green bead touched his hand, Lu Li felt a chill, as if he were holding a handful of water from a cold well.
Looking closely, he saw that the green bead was about the size of a pigeon's egg. A hazy layer of green mist swirled around it, and as the mist gathered and scattered, a green flood dragon seemed to circle and roar within.
Two burning gazes immediately fell upon it.
They belonged to Meimei and Bai Jinfei.
Staring at the green bead with longing, the two suddenly felt that the treasures in their hands weren't so appealing anymore.
"Tsk, tsk, Junior Brother, after you consume this drop of Azure Flood Dragon Blood, I'm afraid your strength will increase again, reaching the terrifying power of one flood dragon—that is, a hundred thousand jin of physical strength!"
Bai Jinfei couldn't help sounding envious.
What? A hundred thousand jin?
Lu Li's eyes lit up. Without a word, a flash of yellow light appeared in his hand, and he put the green bead straight into his storage ring.
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