"That's more like it! I'm a few hundred years older than you two, after all. It's only right that you pay your elder a little tribute!" Buddha Xuanmen laughed and immediately caught the purple bottle of Azure Jade Dew flying toward him.
Buddha Xuanmen turned the purple pot over, examining it from every side. "Little Brother Daoling, isn't it a bit wasteful to use this Violet Light Pot, which weighs nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine jin, to hold just one jin of Azure Jade Dew?" Had Li Xiaoya been there, he would surely have scoffed. What a load of hot air! That tiny wine pot weighs nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine jin? But the unfathomable methods of Immortal Cultivators were beyond anything mortals could imagine.
"Haha! That makes exactly ten thousand jin, doesn't it? Here's wishing you an early breakthrough into the Spirit Communion stage, Senior Brother Buddha, and ten-thousand-year longevity in one leap!" Heavenly Venerable Daoling replied with a laugh.
"Hehe! Your magical power is growing ever more profound, Senior Brother Buddha. It looks as though you've reached the great perfection of the Nascent Soul late stage, haven't you? You really do make your little sister envious!" Fairy Qingxia said, a trace of envy in her voice.
"Hahaha! You two reached the Nascent Soul late stage at such a young age. You're certain to enter the Spirit Communion stage and achieve ascension to the Immortal Realm sooner than I did!" Buddha Xuanmen laughed heartily.
"Ascension to the Immortal Realm is hardly so easy. Even the Spirit Communion stage is beyond what we can hope for!" Fairy Qingxia said, shaking her head.
"Indeed! Just look at those old seniors!" Heavenly Venerable Daoling agreed beside her.
Buddha Xuanmen said nothing. He tapped the bottom of the purple pot with his left hand, and a jade-green jet of wine shot from its spout, carrying a rich fragrance that seeped into the heart and lungs straight into his mouth. Only after taking a great mouthful did he laugh in satisfaction. "Hahaha! Excellent wine! Your brewing skills have improved yet again, Junior Brother Daoling!"
"You wine-drinking, meat-eating monk! No wonder the Buddha won't take you in!" Fairy Qingxia said with a smile behind pursed lips.
"All right! Seeing how sour you look, Junior Sister, I'll share a cup with you!" Buddha Xuanmen laughed. He tapped the bottom of the pot again, and three fragrant jets of wine flew into the purple wine cups Heavenly Venerable Daoling had placed on the stone table, filling each exactly to the brim without spilling a single drop. Then he patted his waist, and a jade-green gourd appeared in his hand. He opened it, and the wine in the purple pot streamed out of its own accord, filling the jade gourd in moments. He sent the purple pot back toward Heavenly Venerable Daoling and laughed. "Haha! The rest belongs to this old fellow!"
Heavenly Venerable Daoling caught the purple bottle as it drifted slowly toward him and brought it to his waist, where it vanished from his hand. "It's rare to see you being so generous, Senior Brother Buddha!" he said with a smile. He gestured invitingly. "Please, let's sit down and talk!"
The three had barely seated themselves at separate corners of the stone table when Buddha Xuanmen spoke first. "A while ago, I received your Ten-Thousand-Li Voice Transmission Talisman, Junior Brother Daoling, saying that Junior Sister Qingxia had found the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma, captured it, and brought it back to the sect. But yesterday, another Ten-Thousand-Li Voice Transmission Talisman arrived from you, saying that something had gone wrong with the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma and asking this old monk to return and help. Just what happened? You should know that, over these past few years, I finally found a hidden cave abode left by an ancient cultivator. These last few days were a critical point in breaking its restrictions. If you hadn't said this was a matter of grave importance concerning the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma, I would have needed to stay out there another two or three years."
"As for that, it would be best to let Junior Sister Qingxia explain!" Heavenly Venerable Daoling said, looking at Fairy Qingxia solemnly.
"Ahem! Ultimately, I have only myself to blame. This is what happened..." Fairy Qingxia took a small sip of wine and recounted everything in full.
"And so the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma possessed that mortal's body again. Then there was the spy, and we couldn't find a suitable practitioner of an earth-attribute cultivation method on the mountain at short notice. What's more, from what I observed, the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma lost at least thirty percent of its spiritual energy when the Spirit-Devouring Demonfire burned it. The three of us will have to find a way to replenish it. That's why we asked you to return and take charge, Senior Brother!" Fairy Qingxia's account took a full hour.
"From what Qingxia has said, this affair really has been one wave rising before another subsides. With the sect's survival at stake, I can hardly blame you two!" After hearing her out, Buddha Xuanmen's expression grew solemn as well.
"Indeed. It's strange that the Fire Dragon Palace actually sent a spy to infiltrate us. We truly failed to spot him!" Heavenly Venerable Daoling said with a bitter smile.
"Since the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma has possessed that mortal, let me take a look at him first!" Buddha Xuanmen said, draining his cup in one gulp.
"Of course. The boy is right here in my cave abode. Given the importance of this matter, I didn't dare let him stay anywhere else!" As Heavenly Venerable Daoling spoke, he pointed toward a corner of the hall. A streak of yellow light flew into the wall. Golden light flashed within it, revealing a secret chamber-the very chamber where Li Xiaoya was staying.
Li Xiaoya was fretting when the chamber door suddenly opened. He hurriedly sat up and cried in alarm, "Who's there?" Then he looked outside and saw Fairy Qingxia and Heavenly Venerable Daoling, along with someone who looked like a monk.
"Li Xiaoya, come out!" Seeing him sit up, Fairy Qingxia beckoned to him.
"Oh! Master Sister, you're here!" Li Xiaoya was delighted to hear Fairy Qingxia calling him, but inwardly he resolved that, no matter what, he would never reveal that he had let the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma go. With that thought, he jumped off the bed and walked out.
"Hmm! This mortal actually has a five-attribute spiritual root?" Buddha Xuanmen looked Li Xiaoya over as he approached, and a flash of surprise suddenly crossed his eyes.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you, Senior Brother. This mortal has a spiritual root. Fairy Qingxia has already decided to admit him into the sect, so he counts as one of our disciples now," Heavenly Venerable Daoling hastily explained.
Li Xiaoya reached the three of them in a few quick steps and said with a grin, "Daoist Daoling, sorry for all the trouble this morning!"
"Hehe! You're too polite, young friend!" Heavenly Venerable Daoling replied with an awkward laugh.
Li Xiaoya suddenly noticed that the man dressed somewhat like a monk had a peculiar gaze. The light in his eyes seemed almost solid as it pierced through Li Xiaoya's body, as though every one of his secrets had been discovered and laid bare. His heart tightened despite himself, and he asked with feigned nonchalance, "Ah! Daoist Daoling, who is this Daoist?"
"This is my senior brother, Buddha Xuanmen," Fairy Qingxia said beside him.
"Hehe! Greetings, Daoist Xuanmen." Li Xiaoya respectfully cupped his hands toward Buddha Xuanmen. Straightening up, he continued, "Master Sister! Are you going to take out the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma again today? Hurry up and take it out! I'm getting bored being shut up in there!"
"Yes. Once our two martial nephews arrive, we'll..."
"What's going on? The Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma isn't in your body at all anymore!" Before Fairy Qingxia could finish, Buddha Xuanmen suddenly stood up and thundered.