The streak of light contained news of several sects offering to send earth-element treasures.
Daoyinzi had also asked what Chen Cuo thought: should they accept these sects' goodwill, and if so, which one should they choose?
Chen Cuo pondered for a moment, then sent his will into the White Jade.
The White Jade trembled. The characters suspended in the air leaped about, rearranged themselves into several lines, then gathered into a beam of light that pierced the sky and returned the way it had come.
"News from the sect?"
Seeing the light depart, Chuiyunzi and Xi Ran hurried over from the side rooms where they were staying.
Xi Ran was especially blunt. "I didn't think much of it when we left the mountain, but looking back, the old man was acting strangely. I'm worried something's happened at the sect. Yet whenever I've asked, the answer has been that we needn't ask again."
Chuiyun looked as composed as ever, but he spoke much faster than usual. "Was it a message from Master? What did he say?"
Chen Cuo hid nothing from them and explained that several sects wanted to send an Earth Element Treasure.
"There's such a good thing?" Xi Ran stared, dumbfounded, then brightened with excitement. "What perfect timing! Junior Brother, you cultivate the qi of the five elements. If Great Hua Mountain gets one, you can absorb its essence!"
Chuiyun understood what was going on. He lightly tapped Xi Ran on the head and laughed. "You usually seem so sharp. How have you become muddleheaded at the crucial moment?"
"How am I muddleheaded?" Xi Ran covered her forehead with one hand. A glint flashed in her eyes. "Senior Brother, you mean... those sects are trying to trick us?"
"..."
Chuiyun shook his head and turned to Chen Cuo instead.