Yao Jie left with Chen Shuangbai's two Law Sword, saying he would melt them down again and add some spiritual materials from the sect's treasury to forge a flying sword full of spiritual energy for him.
Chen Shuangbai was slightly worried.
"Uncle-Master, [ Cold Spring ] and [ Green Parasol ] have been with me for six or seven years. If I melt them directly... won't that destroy their spiritual essence?"
Although he followed the lineage of the Law Sword, unlike the extreme Extreme Sword, once he chose a sword, he forged it into his natal magic Law Treasure, which grew stronger as its master grew stronger, and he would never abandon it for the rest of his life.
But these two Law Sword had been with him for a long time, and he had developed an emotional attachment to them.
Upon hearing this, Yao Jie's smile faded, and his expression became serious and earnest. He looked at Chen Shuangbai with a hint of approval and said, "You are able to cherish old friendships and value the spirit of old objects, which shows you truly love and understand swords. That's very good."
These weapon refiners poured their hearts and souls into every artifact they created, as if they were their own children.
Therefore, Yao Jie had some appreciation for Chen Shuangbai.
He added, "Don't worry, I've forged no fewer than ten natal flying swords; how could I not know the key to this?"
With his words, Chen Shuangbai felt relieved.
He then asked Chen Shuangbai what her needs were for the flying sword, or rather... what direction she wanted to lean towards in the forging process?
Chen Shuangbai pondered for a moment.
"The flying sword I envision must first and foremost be in harmony with my Cultivation Method, foundation, and even temperament, so that it can be used as naturally as my own arm, and with perfect coordination between our minds."
Yao Jie had heard many stories about Chen Shuangbai, so he nodded to indicate that he understood.
With the matter settled, Yao Jie did not linger any longer and left with his disciple Du Zifeng.
Before leaving,
Chen Shuangbai pointed towards Du Zifeng's disciple jade token at his waist and called out, " Senior Brother Du, please wait a few days. I'm going to host a feast in my cave abode. These are all my close friends; you must come and have a drink with me!"
Du Zifeng responded with a distant "Okay."
Back in the main hall on the peak, Yi Chongyue stroked his beard and said with a smile, "I didn't expect you to be so adept at social maneuvering, able to become sworn brothers with many factions within the sect."
This time, Chen Shuangbai was no longer modest, replying, "As the saying goes, those who follow the right path receive much help, while those who stray from it receive little."
"Isn't the purpose of our spiritual practice to make many friends?"
After listening, Yi Chongyue remained silent for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed.
"Hahaha, not bad! Not bad!"
After his attendant Deer Deep Waters Peak, Chen Shuangbai did not rush back to Verdant Hills Stream. Instead, he rode a cloud all the way to the outer gate.
Outer gate.
Lingfeng, where the Expenditure Hall) is located.
Lu Zhiyuan was so busy that he was almost overwhelmed.
In recent days.
He came from the Changlin Lu Lineage, which dealt in some elixirs and wanted to sell them from the Jing Kingdom to Ning Country, where elixirs were scarce, through caravans, hoping to make a profit to cover the clan's deficit.
Unfortunately, a branch of the Lu family in Changlin Lu Lineage had some shady dealings. They mixed a lot of spiritual materials that the Jade Spring Sect did not allow to be bought or sold, but which were helpful for demonic cultivation, into that batch of pills they were dealing in.
At first things were fine, but the people from the Evil Hunting Hall caught them red-handed and used that as leverage to expose their wrongdoing, eventually bringing the whole affair to light and severely damaging the reputation of the Changlin Lu Lineage within the Jade Spring Sect.
Although this was merely a clandestine affair, it still somewhat burdened the Lu Lineage clan members who were cultivating at the Jade Spring Sect.
Not only Lu Zhiyuan, but even Lu Songting, who had served as a steward in the Expenditure Hall for many years, had to avoid suspicion and dared not say a word because it concerned his own clan.
Lu Zhiyuan was not the kind of person without lineage or clan. If this was the will of the entire Changlin Lu Lineage... then he would most likely harden his heart and make a clean break.
But this is just one bad apple; how could it spoil the whole pot of soup from the Changlin Lu Lineage?
However, this matter was handled by the Evil Hunting Hall, and was eventually delivered to Shi Yubai Jade Guarding Hall, who Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator. But the Lu Lineage had no Foundation Establishment cultivators in their sect, so how could they possibly go up and say a few words to ask for leniency?
He was so anxious that his lips were burning, and his dao companion Huang Shanglan, seeing this, could only keep trying to comfort him.
" Lan'er, what do you think...? Should I go directly to the inner sect and ask Senior Brother Chen for help?"
Lu Zhiyuan seemed to have thought of something, and grabbed the hand of his dao companion beside him, saying with a hint of urgency.
Huang Shanglan sighed softly and said, "I've already found out. Senior Brother Chen is currently in seclusion, officially attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment, and hasn't emerged from seclusion for two years..."
It means... we can't find Chen Shuangbai, and we can't even see him.
"Secluded cultivation to advance to the Foundation Establishment..."
The light in Lu Zhiyuan's eyes dimmed instantly. He slumped back into his chair, covering his face with his hands. "Yes, Senior Brother Chen is exceptionally talented. His proper course of action is to cultivate in seclusion and Foundation Establishment. How could he be disturbed by such mundane matters as mine..."
Seeing his expression, Huang Shanglan felt a pang of pity and said softly, "Although the Lu Lineage is involved in this matter, it is ultimately not something that can be done by a unified force."
"The sect has strict rules and clear rewards and punishments. The person in charge is a scoundrel from that branch of the sect, and has no direct connection with the Lu Lineage family or you."
"We might as well do nothing and wait for the sect to decide our case and clear our names."
Lu Zhiyuan buried his face in his hands, and said in a muffled voice, "How could I not know!"
"But now, my innocence is no longer my biggest concern... What I care about most is the reputation of the Changlin Lu Lineage within the clan."
Once a reputation is damaged, how difficult is it to recover?
In the future, when members of the Lu Lineage move about within the clan, they will inevitably be inferior to others, and they will likely face obstacles in obtaining resources and accepting tasks within the hall.
maybe...
To avoid suspicion, the heads of the Expenditure Hall will dismiss several members of the Lu Lineage clan who hold positions within the hall. At that time... it will be a devastating blow.
The Changlin Lu Lineage was not a major cultivation clan; in the Jing Kingdom, they could barely be considered a middle-class Lineage. The strongest member of the clan was only the clan leader at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, with no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment.
Having finally produced a disciple of the Lineage with the potential to Foundation Establishment, they were even more eager to send him to the Jade Spring Sect, sparing no effort in supporting him, hoping that he could become a pillar of the Lineage.
But now... due to shortsightedness and internal strife within the clan, such a thing has happened. How could he not be extremely anxious?
Huang Shanglan opened her mouth, wanting to offer more advice, but didn't know what to say.
Although she had become Lu Zhiyuan's dao companion, she was not from any particular Lineage and therefore could not truly empathize with him. She could only quietly stay by Lu Zhiyuan side and offer silent comfort.
Just then...
Outside the cave abode dwelling where the two lived, a servant suddenly came to report, bowing and saying, "My lord, a high-ranking cultivator from a sect has arrived, saying he is looking for you?"
Looking for me? Who is it?
Lu Zhiyuan didn't even look up, just asked casually.
The servant replied:
"His name is Chen Shuangbai, and he says he's an old friend of yours, sir!"
Whoosh!
Lu Zhiyuan looked up abruptly, almost thinking he had misheard.
He jumped to his feet, rushed to the door, and personally opened the barrier.