Mu Yun said, "An Inner Disciple named Zhou Huan stands behind him. Rumor has it that Jiang Yunya may possess some kind of spirit body, which drew his attention."
"An Inner Disciple?" Chu Mo looked at the voice transmission talisman in his hand.
"Yes," Mu Yun continued cautiously. "This man holds considerable standing in the Upper Mound Commerce Association. Jiang Yunya is one of his representatives in the outer sect."
A flicker of surprise crossed Chu Mo's eyes.
Possessing a spirit body was nothing unusual. Spirit bodies came in countless varieties, with all manner of bizarre effects. Any unusual physical trait that defied common principles could qualify as a spirit body.
The crucial point was that not all spirit bodies benefited cultivation. Some offered no help at all and instead became a burden.
A hundred years ago, a disciple in the sect had awakened a special spirit body. In combat, his true qi consumption was several times that of others, yet his spells gained not the slightest increase in power;
during ordinary cultivation, he absorbed the spiritual qi of heaven and earth far faster than others at his level, but his conversion efficiency was abysmal, leaving his cultivation to advance at a despairingly slow pace.
At the time, the matter had even attracted the interest of a Golden Core True Person, who expended numerous rare spiritual treasures to nourish and study him, hoping to discover the limits of this spirit body.
After several years, however, the True Person found that this physique truly offered its possessor no benefit whatsoever and was nothing but a burden. He immediately lost interest.
During his research, though, a chance twist of fate had led him to create a fairly powerful divine ability based on the spirit body's characteristics.
One could say that spirit bodies were entirely a matter of fate. No one knew whether the one they awakened would prove a helping hand or a shackle.
But the words "Inner Disciple" carried an entirely different weight.
In the Duo'e Sect, the only hard requirement for promotion to the inner sect was successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.
Whether Zhou Huan had taken an interest in Jiang Yunya out of curiosity or because of his exceptional talent, it meant that a Foundation Establishment High Person truly stood behind Jiang Yunya.
Chu Mo pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Do you know what connection Liu Xian... has to Jiang Yunya or the Upper Mound Commerce Association?"
"Well..." Mu Yun's soul form showed a trace of indecision. It searched its memories for a while before shaking its head. "I don't know the details. But the cultivation method Liu Xian practiced does seem to have come from Jiang Yunya.
"And Jiang Yunya is on good terms with Old Man Li at the Scripture Repository. Perhaps... Old Man Li was the reason he took notice of you, Senior Brother."
Jiang Yunya brought new disciples into the sect almost every month. Ordinarily, whether those new disciples lived or died, they would leave little impression on him.
Chu Mo lowered his head, deep in thought.
He gently shook the soul banner, drawing Mu Yun back inside, then lightly tapped the voice transmission talisman and left a reply:
[Senior Brother Jiang, I am deeply honored by your invitation. However, I have only just broken through, and my cultivation has yet to stabilize. I still need to spend some time in seclusion consolidating it. Once I emerge, I will certainly visit you in person to seek your guidance.]
There was no way he was going. Who knew what Jiang Yunya was thinking? Meeting in the man's cave abode was especially dangerous. If Jiang Yunya harbored ill intentions, Chu Mo would have nowhere to run.
Watching the voice transmission talisman fly away as a streak of light, he considered his next move. He needed to at least establish whether the other man had a red name first. He would stall for time and get a clear picture before deciding anything.
Yet things went against his wishes.
Early the next morning, Chu Mo stared expressionlessly at the figure in green before him.
"Tsk, tsk. Junior Brother Chu, getting to see you certainly isn't easy."
"My voice transmission talisman lingered outside your cave abode for half a month, only to receive a refusal in reply. With no other choice, I had to come find you myself."
Just as at their first meeting, Jiang Yunya still wore a gentle smile, but his strength had reached a new level.
[Level 8 · Duo'e Sect Grunt (yellow name)]
Chu Mo inwardly relaxed a little. At least for now, the man did not appear to be a hostile unit. He quickly put on an appropriately apologetic smile and cupped his hands.
"Please don't say that, Senior Brother. My cultivation is simply too shallow. Having just broken through, my aura is still unsettled. I feared conducting myself improperly in your presence, so I wanted to consolidate my cultivation a little before paying my respects."
His tone was sincere, and he adopted an exceedingly humble attitude.
Jiang Yunya waved a hand, his smile unchanged. "You're too modest, Junior Brother. To advance from an ordinary mortal to the middle stage in just a few short months-that sort of progress is rare among Outer Disciples."
His voice was gentle, as though his earlier words had been nothing more than teasing.
"You flatter me, Senior Brother. I merely had the good fortune to obtain a few opportunities, and with the help of this spiritual qi tide, I managed to break through. It was only luck."
Chu Mo replied modestly, then asked with curiosity, "May I ask what brought you here in such a hurry, Senior Brother?"
"Luck is also part of one's strength." Jiang Yunya chuckled, then stopped circling the subject and came straight to the point.
"To be frank, I took the liberty of visiting because I saw your outstanding talent and could not bear to let a lustrous pearl gather dust. I came to point you toward a promising path."
Jiang Yunya leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. "Have you ever considered joining our Upper Mound Commerce Association, Junior Brother?"
He coaxed him patiently. "You have considerable talent and have encountered good opportunities, but on the path of immortal cultivation, wealth, companions, methods, and a suitable place to cultivate are all indispensable.
"As it happens, the Upper Mound Commerce Association can provide everything you need: pills, dharmic instruments, cultivation methods and divine abilities, and even guidance from Foundation Establishment and Golden Core seniors.
"The association thirsts for talent. With your abilities, you would certainly be entrusted with important responsibilities if you joined."
What is this fellow getting at? Chu Mo's thoughts raced. At just the right moment, he showed a little temptation and hesitation, then asked probing questions. "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Senior Brother.
"But I've heard that the Upper Mound Commerce Association has strict admission standards. What virtue or ability do I possess to merit such regard from you?"
Seeing that he was tempted, Jiang Yunya's smile grew more sincere. "You're worrying too much, Junior Brother. By the association's rules, once you join, you're one of our own, and resources will naturally be directed your way. As for why I value you..."
He lowered his voice slightly, his tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning. "I heard that you returned this time with High Person Yuanbai?"
Chu Mo betrayed nothing and nodded slightly. "I was fortunate enough to receive the High Person's favor, and he permitted me to accompany him."
"There you have it."
Jiang Yunya nodded. "High Person Yuanbai belongs to the Hezhen Society, which frequently cooperates with our Upper Mound Commerce Association. Since you have won High Person Yuanbai's favor, you clearly share a bond of fate with our association."
He shifted the subject, seemingly speaking from the heart. "To be honest with you, Junior Brother, the association has recently been looking for promising people who can also make their voices heard within the Hezhen Society-people who are 'one of our own.'"
He paused deliberately, then grew a little more serious. "Besides, if this matter is handled properly, you might even catch Martial Uncle Zhou's discerning eye.
"If you receive his support, your future... hehe, surely I needn't say more?"
[Quest: [Jiang Yunya's invitation]] [Quest description: Jiang Yunya invites you to join the Upper Mound Commerce Association and attempt to secure advantages for the association within the Hezhen Society. Accepting the invitation will earn you a measure of Jiang Yunya's favor.]