On the Floating Cloud Platform, before the Jade Palace, Li Ling sat cross-legged. Wisps of smoke dispersed in silence, carrying a fresh, elegant fragrance so faint it was almost imperceptible. Radiant light seemed to bathe his surroundings, peaceful and serene.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps disturbed his quiet cultivation, and a disciple's announcement came from outside the courtyard.
"Sect Master, Acting Sect Master Nie Yingzhi requests an audience."
Li Ling opened his eyes and answered calmly, "Send him in."
Before long, a middle-aged man in brocade robes walked in.
He was Nie Yingzhi, one of the Incense Accumulation Sect's nine true disciples. After all these years of tempering and training, he had not disappointed Li Ling and had successfully reached Foundation Establishment. Since he had achieved it at a relatively advanced age, he already looked middle-aged.
Yet it was precisely this experience that had honed his capacity, finally making him meet Li Ling's standards for someone who could safeguard their legacy. Thus, during these years of semisecluded cultivation, Li Ling had arranged for him to establish a family and career and serve as acting sect master, taking on responsibilities entirely different from those of Chi Yingting and the others.
Nie Yingzhi had come this time to report on the sect's recent major affairs and, in passing, inform him of an invitation from Northsky Island.
Speaking of why Northsky Island had invited Li Ling to leave seclusion, he said, "Elder Ma of the Myriad Treasures Tower seems intent on reorganizing the Shark-Slaying Alliance and putting considerable effort into exterminating the pirates.
"The various parties have responded enthusiastically, all because they discovered something unusual about the Greenfly Coin, that money treasure. Even the General Association has been alerted and wants to thoroughly investigate the reason..."
Hearing this, Li Ling chuckled and sighed. "Luo Jingwei