After accepting the incense formulas Li Ling had given him, Venerable Longevity chose to announce the matter to his disciples. Everyone in Longevity Hall, who already held Li Ling in high regard, grew even more enthusiastic.
Now that the two sides were on friendly terms, with their interests bound together, exchanging favors on that foundation made it all the easier to grow close.
Having acquired the new incense formulas, Longevity Hall specially assigned a group of exceptionally talented disciples to study them. Li Ling was generous with his instruction as well, having the disciples accompanying him teach them.
Without anyone quite noticing, the Incense Path's lineage had spread into Longevity Hall.
Zhan Li and the others had recently been helping as teaching assistants, answering questions for Longevity Hall's people and helping them master the formulas. In return, they learned some beast-taming methods and gained opportunities to select suitable spirit beasts.
In private, some people puzzled over this and asked Li Ling why he was taking such an active role.
Li Ling explained, "Treasuring a worn-out broom simply because it is mine has never been my style. Now that the Incense Path has developed, the time is ripe to spread its teachings far and wide. Longevity Hall represents the Gathering Grotto Continent. If we want the Incense Path to take root here, we must rely on this organization.
"But developing the Incense Path is our business. Even the closest ally cannot do it for us. Only when it becomes their own business will they take the initiative.
"You ask why we should take the initiative in teaching them the methods of the Incense Path, but are they not also taking the initiative in learning our methods and helping us develop it?
"Furthermore, the range of spirit materials involved in our Incense