The middle-aged man, barely into his thirties, looked slightly taken aback. "You jest, Elder Meng. You often come to drink tea with our Old Ancestor. How could I not recognize you?"
Meng Chu exchanged a glance with Yin Du.
In truth, this man was Immortal Long, who had reincarnated many years ago, using a mortal body to nourish his remnant soul and cling to life.
He had once cultivated to the pinnacle of Core Formation, seeing his nature and understanding his mind, his true spirit thoroughly enlightened. Thus, the essence of his soul far surpassed that of ordinary mortals.
Yet, obstructed by the mysteries of the womb, he had still failed to awaken the wisdom of his previous life.
Just then, another disciple serving under Yin Du entered to report, "Old Ancestor, the tribute from Hanyin Mountain has arrived!"
"Oh? Bring it here at once." Yin Du spoke with evident delight.
Meng Chu smiled. "Another treasure for you, fellow Daoist? Those cave masters, island masters, and peak masters under you certainly offer tribute diligently."
Yin Du laughed heartily. "Yours are much the same, fellow Daoist."
As Grand Elders of the Ghost Soul Sect, a leading sect of the Nether Path, they controlled numerous lesser factions. The small local sects and clans, powerful forces ruling their respective regions, all gathered cultivation resources and supplied offerings for them.
It was tribute season, and the formidable Unorthodox Cultivators around Hanyin Mountain had somehow acquired a rare exotic flower, a spiritual orchid known as the butterfly-pattern orchid.
The plant was said to have the wondrous uses of Soul-Soothing, nourishing the soul, and repairing damage. It could be used in medicine and was beneficial even to a mighty cultivator like him.
Thus, Yin Du had attached great importance to the news and ordered his subordinates