Although Master Tongtian did not understand why Hong Ze wanted to borrow his Qingping Sword, he still took it out without hesitation.
But the moment the Qingping Sword reached Hong Ze's hands, Master Tongtian regretted it immensely.
Hong Ze actually swung the Qingping Sword at the Moon Laurel Wood, chopping and hacking at it wildly.
Master Tongtian's heart bled at the sight. That is my sacred artifact for attaining the Dao. How had it become a firewood axe in your hands?
Hong Ze did not care how distressed Master Tongtian was. He simply continued chopping away without restraint.
Though his strikes appeared chaotic and disorderly, Yun Xiao froze where she stood.
Because from Hong Ze's movements, Yun Xiao sensed a faint yet traceable law.
She could not help gradually losing herself in it, gaining a more thorough grasp of the Grace Law.
Master Tongtian, too, had seen something extraordinary within it and could not help thinking to himself.
The Dao essence was circulating? This is Great Dao Essence? What exactly is so extraordinary about this boy? Such seemingly chaotic movements actually contained a supreme wondrous method.
Master Tongtian found his disciple increasingly inscrutable, yet his heart was filled with delight.
After all, with such a disciple by his side, it would be difficult for the Jie Sect not to prosper.
Even if the Heaven and Earth Tribulation Hongjun Daozu had spoken of occurred again in the future, the Jie Sect would be able to remain undefeated.
Of course, Master Tongtian did not realize that the coming Investiture of the Gods Tribulation was aimed precisely at his Jie Sect.
Otherwise, he would never have entertained such thoughts. He would have done everything possible to avoid what was about to happen.
Since Master Tongtian did not know, he naturally felt no concern whatsoever.
Instead, he said to Yun Xiao, "Watch every movement your Eldest Senior Brother makes carefully. Missing any of them will leave you with lifelong regret."
Yun Xiao nodded to Master Tongtian, then began observing every move Hong Ze made with her full attention.
Time flew by. A full half month passed, and the final string was finally installed.
This also meant that the Yun Xiao Qin Hong Ze had forged for Yun Xiao was completely finished at that moment.
However, a large pile of the materials Hong Ze had requested from Master Tongtian remained unused.
With a wave of his hand, Hong Ze unhesitatingly put away all those materials.
Then, carrying the Qingping Sword, he came before Master Tongtian.
"Thank you, Master. Without your Qingping Sword, this Yun Xiao Qin could never have been completed so quickly."
Seeing that Hong Ze made no mention of the leftover materials, Master Tongtian could only shake his head helplessly.
He reached out and took back the Qingping Sword, then asked Hong Ze.
"Is there anything about the qin you forged that you are dissatisfied with?"
Hong Ze sighed. "Although the materials are superb and the craftsmanship is nothing short of miraculous, it is ultimately only an ordinary item.
If it were sent into Eldest Grand-Uncle's Eight Trigrams Furnace and personally refined by him, perhaps it could become a magical treasure."
After hearing this, Master Tongtian could not help cursing inwardly. *This boy is getting more and more slippery. He even dares deceive his own master.
He had clearly forged an Innate Spiritual Treasure with a few casual strokes, yet he called it an ordinary item.
If this was an ordinary item, wouldn't Fuxi's Fuxi Qin have to be chopped up for firewood?*
While Master Tongtian cursed Hong Ze inwardly, Yun Xiao had already arrived before the Yun Xiao Qin he had forged for her.
With a face full of affection, she reached out to stroke its body, also sensing how extraordinary it was.
Yet Yun Xiao did not expose it. She merely bowed to Hong Ze in thanks. "Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother. Your junior sister will not stand on ceremony."
After saying that, she waved her hand at the Yun Xiao Qin and directly stored it within her Sea of Consciousness.
Seeing Yun Xiao place the Yun Xiao Qin Hong Ze had forged for her into her Sea of Consciousness rather than her Cosmos Sack,
Master Tongtian nodded in satisfaction. This disciple of mine has a good eye. She knows how extraordinary this Yun Xiao Qin is.
Because only by storing an Innate Spiritual Treasure in one's Sea of Consciousness could it become more perfectly united with its user's mind and spirit.
Master Tongtian then said directly, "You have both received the benefits you deserved. Go back to your Cave Dwellings and cultivate and comprehend properly. Your master still has matters to discuss with your Eldest Senior Brother."
Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao hurriedly bowed to Master Tongtian, then bowed to Hong Ze in farewell before joyfully returning to Three Immortal Island.
After seeing Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao off, Hong Ze spoke to Master Tongtian with a broad smile.
"Master, now that you have returned from Zixiao Palace, shouldn't this matter of temporarily managing the Jie Sect come to an end?"
How could Master Tongtian not understand that Hong Ze merely wanted some peace and quiet, unwilling to worry and exhaust himself over the Jie Sect?
But how could Master Tongtian let him have his way? During the time Hong Ze had managed the Jie Sect, he had produced six Great Luo Golden Immortals for the sect.
Thus, Master Tongtian immediately shook his head at Hong Ze. "This trip to Zixiao Palace gave your master some insights, and I need to enter seclusion for a thousand years.
During these thousand years, you will still have to temporarily manage the Jie Sect. With you here, your master has nothing to worry about."
Hong Ze's face immediately filled with reluctance. "Master, can't you stop making things difficult for your disciple?
During the years you were at Zixiao Palace, you had me temporarily manage the Jie Sect, and I do not know how many junior brothers were dissatisfied.
If not for the Water Fire Daoist Robe you bestowed upon me, your disciple would probably have been beaten severely and would still be bedridden recovering from my injuries."
Master Tongtian frowned after hearing this. After a simple divination, he understood the full sequence of events.
This left Master Tongtian deeply shocked. After all, Hong Ze's Water Fire Daoist Robe had been given to him by Master Tongtian himself. How could he not know its grade?
Although the Water Fire Daoist Robe could block Pi Lu Xian's attack for Hong Ze, it could not cripple Pi Lu Xian's cultivation.
Yet Master Tongtian could not detect the slightest abnormality in Hong Ze's expression.
In other words, everything Hong Ze said came from the bottom of his heart. He had not deliberately tried to deceive him.
Master Tongtian could not help thinking to himself, It seems this foolish boy does not know how extraordinary he is. In that case, I will let him remain ignorant.
He then said to Hong Ze, "As the Eldest Senior Brother of the Jie Sect, your cultivation truly leaves others unconvinced. Therefore, you must cultivate diligently.
Otherwise, at the Three Sects Dao Debate Assembly a thousand years from now, you, the Eldest Senior Brother of the Jie Sect, will bring shame upon our sect."
Master Tongtian then declared directly, "Your master will enter seclusion until before the Three Sects Dao Debate Assembly. During this time, your Eldest Senior Brother will continue managing the Jie Sect on behalf of all of you."
Seeing Master Tongtian issue a direct decree, Hong Ze knew that this matter could no longer be changed. He could only sigh and shake his head helplessly.
"Master, you are really setting your disciple up. When your disciples tear me apart one day, it will be too late for you to regret it."
Before you continue