At Lü Bufan's urging, Immortal Master Yuan Cheng finally crushed the Message Talisman Peak Master Qingming had left him.
"What happened? This Message Talisman only lasts half an incense stick. Explain it clearly!"
Qingming's voice came through the ripples of dissipating spiritual power from the talisman.
Immortal Master Yuan Cheng bowed. "Reporting to you, Peak Master: are you aware that the Elder Hall conscripted Longcheng Peak's disciples for a training expedition into the Great Yunmeng Marsh?"
"Elder Debian has already sent me word. Have those bastards from the Elder Hall or Jingbo Peak been making trouble for you?"
Yuan Cheng lowered his head. "No, trouble came knocking on its own! The Elder Hall sidelined us and kicked us out to attack what looked like the most dangerous island, but apart from a few insignificant Water Demons, the island was completely deserted! Then I discovered something extraordinary!"
"What?"
"A White Jade Stone Seat, with traces of an Immortal Artifact's aura still on it!"
"An Immortal Artifact's aura? Are you certain?"
"Yes! There seems to be Sword Qi lingering on the stone platform... its essence is contained within, its threads unbroken! It should be a Sword-Nurturing Platform..."
"Hiss... did it produce any unusual manifestations? Have the Elder Hall people noticed?"
"Reporting to you, Peak Master, it did! It's quite far from the Void Boat, but they should be able to detect it!"
Immortal Master Qingming's voice paused before he said, "I will report this to the Sect Master immediately! Guard the Sword-Nurturing Platform. Do not hand it over to the Elder Hall! If necessary, try refining it yourself... understood?"
With a bitter expression, Immortal Master Yuan Cheng bowed. "This disciple understands!"
Snatching benefits from under the Elder Hall's very nose was no small matter! If things went badly... his life could be