"System rewards?"
Long Aoyu's pupils contracted slightly, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Twenty thousand sect contribution points.
That was a fortune, enough for him to exchange for plenty of pills and rare natural treasures!
The Self-Created Soul Skill, "Heaven-Prison Finger," sounded incredibly powerful from its name alone, which differed by only two characters from Stronghold Chief Lin's signature technique.
But what truly shook him was that Martial Soul enhancement trait-Undying!
Long Aoyu was very curious, but he did not leave to inspect it.
With all ten elders and Du Busi in the council hall, Long Aoyu feared that too much fluctuation in his emotions would draw their attention.
The council hall fell quiet for a moment.
Jin Peng broke the silence first, turning to Du Busi. "Sect Master, we're finished on our end. When will you... begin?"
Du Busi smiled, his hands clasped behind his back.
"I'll enter seclusion shortly."
"But before I do, there are a few things I need to make clear."
Du Busi looked at Jin Peng. "While I'm in seclusion, Jin Peng will handle all sect affairs, great and small, on my behalf. Does anyone object?"
"No objections."
The elders exchanged glances.
Not only was Jin Peng dependable, but he was also the strongest and most senior among them. Naturally, they had no objections.
Du Busi nodded, then looked at Jin Peng again. "Old Jin, stay behind. I have a few things to tell you in private. The rest of you may leave. Go consolidate your cultivation."
The other nine elders dispersed.
Only Du Busi, Jin Peng, and Long Aoyu remained in the council hall.
Long Aoyu was about to leave as well when Du Busi raised a hand, signaling for him to stay. "Don't leave either, Xiao Yu. Stay and listen."
"Yes."
Long Aoyu drew back the foot he had just stepped forward with.
Long Aotian winked at him, then left side by side with Vina.
"Please go ahead, Sect Master."
Jin Peng stepped forward and stood before Du Busi.
Du Busi took the Heaven-Hiding Ring from his waist and brought out a dozen or so stalks of slightly lower-grade spirit medicine-Cinnabar Lotus, Snow Silkworm, Nine-Colored Moon Orchid...
"Distribute these spirit medicines among the sect's Soul Douluos and talented disciples according to their compatibility with their Martial Souls."
"Remember, give priority to those with high compatibility. Don't waste them!"
"Understood!"
Jin Peng accepted the spirit medicines and solemnly put them into his Storage Soul Tool.
Du Busi looked at him again, his tone growing a little graver. "This time, I'll be entering seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to rank ninety-nine. It could take as little as a few days or as long as a month or two."
"During that time, you will have full authority over negotiations with Spirit Hall."
"Discuss the specific terms with Old Chen when the time comes. But there's one point you must not compromise on under any circumstances: Spirit Hall must help us find people who have awakened Body Martial Souls!"
Jin Peng nodded firmly, his gaze serious.
"Rest assured, Sect Master."
"All Body Martial Soul cultivators come from the same lineage. We're all 'family.' Wandering outside is no different from being displaced and homeless. The Body Sect has a duty to bring them back into the sect. That is our ancestral teaching!"
"Mm."
Du Busi looked at him with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "I can trust you to handle things. Go prepare for tomorrow. Have Old Chen take Na'er to hunt for her fifth Soul Ring."
"What about Aotian?"
Jin Peng raised an eyebrow.
Long Aoyu and Du Busi exchanged a smile. "We've already picked out my brother's Sixth Soul Ring, but we'll have to wait a while."
"As long as you have it in hand."
Jin Peng turned and walked out of the council hall, his steps steady and his back straight.
Only master and disciple, Du Busi and Long Aoyu, remained in the council hall.
Du Busi sat down in a chair and looked at Long Aoyu. After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke. "Xiao Yu, there's something I want to tell you."
Long Aoyu paused. "Please go ahead, Master."
"Zhu Zhuqing."
Du Busi's tone was casual. "I can tell she has feelings for you too. Since you've both taken a liking to each other, I'll make the decision: let her take that Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone."
"It nourishes the tendons and strengthens the bones, opening the eight extraordinary meridians. It's just right for the Nether Civet Martial Soul."
Du Busi's thinking was simple.
Zhu Zhuqing was the future God of Speed, and she liked Long Aoyu. Giving her an immortal herb would be no loss either way.
However,
Long Aoyu had a different idea. "Master, I want to give her the Lovesick Heartbreak Red."
"The Lovesick Heartbreak Red?"
Du Busi froze for a moment, his gaze shifting slightly. "That divine-grade immortal herb?"
Recalling the records about the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Du Busi soon understood. "Mm, I didn't think it through."
"The Lovesick Heartbreak Red is indeed more suitable than the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone."
Du Busi's gaze grew meaningful.
"The conditions for picking the Lovesick Heartbreak Red are extremely demanding. Only someone whose heart will never change toward one person, whose love is sincere and absolute, can pluck it."
"If Zhu Zhuqing can pluck that Lovesick Heartbreak Red, it will prove that her love for you is sincere and absolute. Once she consumes it, her talent will improve tremendously, and everyone will be happy."
"On the other hand-"
Du Busi's voice deepened a little.
"If she can't pluck it, that means her feelings for you aren't without reservation! Then there's no need to give that immortal herb to an outsider."
Long Aoyu listened to his master's words without arguing.
Although doing this did carry a hint of using the Lovesick Heartbreak Red to test Zhu Zhuqing,
still,
he chose to do it.
Long Aoyu was not someone blinded by romance. On the contrary, he was very rational.
Du Busi glanced at Long Aoyu and asked nothing more. "Then decide for yourself."
"The Lovesick Heartbreak Red is yours. Give it to her after you've spent some time together. I hope she really can pluck it."
Du Busi stood, took out the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, and handed it to Long Aoyu.
Long Aoyu put it away.
Du Busi rolled his shoulders. "All right, I'm off to enter seclusion."
"I wish you a smooth seclusion and an early breakthrough!"
Long Aoyu looked up at his master.
"Mm."
Du Busi nodded with a smile, then turned and headed toward the rear chamber of the council hall without looking back.
"You'd better cultivate diligently too, brat. If I come out and find you haven't made any progress, watch out, or I'll spank your backside till it blossoms!"
After leaving the council hall, Long Aoyu went to the infirmary first.
He pushed the door open gently. Zhu Zhuqing was leaning against the head of the bed, drinking medicine. Her eyes brightened slightly when she saw him enter.
"You're back?"
"Yes, I got back not long ago."
Long Aoyu walked over and sat beside the bed, looking her over-
Her complexion was much better than before, and some color had returned to her lips. Her injuries seemed to be healing well.
"The old physician said I'm recovering quite well. A few more days of rest, and I'll be fully healed."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke softly.
"That's good."
Long Aoyu smiled, then began chatting with Zhu Zhuqing.
As Zhu Zhuqing spoke to him, smiles would involuntarily appear on her face. She smiled more than she had in the past several years combined.
Over the past two days, Zhu Zhuqing had thought about many things-
Late at night, when everything was quiet, the image of Long Aoyu scooping her into his arms always surfaced in her mind.
Zhu Zhuqing realized that she seemed unable to do without Long Aoyu anymore. She had already grown dependent on this boy who had saved her in her moment of peril, and she had become even more certain of her feelings.
Time slipped quietly by.
Seeing that it was about time, Long Aoyu said, "I need to go back and cultivate."
"All right."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded obediently.
"The old physician said I can get out of bed and walk around now. Tomorrow... can I cultivate with you?" Zhu Zhuqing suddenly asked in a small voice.
"Yes."
"Mm."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes curved into a smile.
Though she said little, her voice was gentle, without the slightest trace of coldness.
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