The Holy Venerable Returns the Grand Gift
The statue maintains the solemnity and dignified manner characteristic of religious sculptures—its body is as straight as a pillar, and its hands are clasped together in front of its abdomen in an ancient Law Seals, exuding a solemnity that cannot be profaned.
However, upon closer inspection, an eerie and malevolent aura immediately comes to mind.
The statue is made of neither gold nor stone, and has a cold, pale white color, like that of old, withered bones. Its surface is covered with fine, dark red patterns like a spider web, as if dirty blood is flowing silently beneath the skin.
Its face was even more bizarre—its features were sculpted with exceptional clarity and depth, its brows were lowered as if in pity for all living beings, but a very subtle, upward-twisting curve was frozen at the corner of its mouth, a smile that was not quite a smile.
His eyes were sunken, and a faint light seemed to emanate from the depths of his empty pupils, giving the illusion that he was looking back when you gazed at him.
The statue's robes are intricately folded and ornate, yet the lines are unusually stiff and sharp.
Above the smooth topknot are auspicious clouds and precious pearls, but several twisted and coiled, snake-like, strange reliefs are also coiled around them.
Zhong Lan knelt before the statue with a devout expression, silently praying.
"The Greatly Compassionate Holy Venerable Who Delivers from Suffering and Hardship, believer Zhong Lan bows in reverence."
I am willing to offer ten years of my lifespan as a sacrifice, begging the Holy One to issue a decree: that my Divine Sense may guide this person to die suddenly after consuming the elixir.
Believers, with their flesh, blood, spirit, and soul, are at the command of the Holy One; we earnestly beseech Your mercy!
Zhong Lan knelt on the ground and waited quietly, but received no response.
Zhong Lan's heart sank.
He silently recited it again, this time increasing his lifespan from ten years to twenty years.
After this, the dark red patterns on the surface of the statue suddenly began to glow.
The statue's eyes moved, staring at Zhong Lan, a smile playing on its lips.
An invisible fluctuation suddenly emerged.
Zhong Lan noticed this invisible fluctuation and was immediately delighted.
"Believer Zhong Lan kowtows in gratitude for the Holy One's mercy."
After bowing deeply to the statue in gratitude, Zhong Lan immediately stood up and respectfully put the statue away.
In an instant, Zhong Lan felt her body become slightly heavier.
She knew that her lifespan had been taken away.
But Zhong Lan was not sad; on the contrary, she was unusually excited.
"With the Holy Venerable's help, Li Yunjing, how will you cope?!"
The image of the compassionate and Holy Venerable Who Delivers from Suffering and Hardship.
It was something Zhong Lan obtained by fortuitous opportunity when he was young.
After discovering the power of the idol, Zhong Lan became completely obsessed.
She discovered that she could offer sacrifices to the idol, which would then manifest its power and help her solve some of her problems.
With the help of the statue, Zhong Lan rose rapidly within the Clear Wind Pavilion.
He was able to become an elder because Zhong Lan offered sacrifices to the statue of the god.
However, gradually, the idols lost interest in ordinary offerings.
Zhong Lan could only continue to receive the help of the idol by sacrificing her own lifespan.
Moreover, as Zhong Lan became increasingly reliant on the idol,
The idol's appetite grew ever larger.
At first, their lifespan was only one or two years.
Just now, however, he directly took away twenty years of Zhong Lan's lifespan.
That bald cultivator was only at the Mid-Stage Qi Refining.
Zhong Lan could decide a person's life or death with a single thought.
If Zhong Lan hadn't been forced to do it herself, she wouldn't have sought out the statue.
With a long sigh, Zhong Lan returned to Xunxian Town with heavy steps.
Having lost twenty years of lifespan, one must properly replenish it.
Departing Maple Sect
The ceremony has ended.
Almost all the guests had left.
Li Yunjing did not leave immediately.
At Su Zhen's invitation, Li Yunjing will stay at the Departing Maple Sect for a while longer.
The main purpose was for Su Zhen and Li Yunjing to discuss the Fire Rosy Cloud Iron Mine.
"Brother Li, how about we go and take a look at the Fire Rosy Cloud Iron Mine in three days?"
Su Zhen held a cup of tea, blew on it to cool it down, and took a sip.
Li Yunjing nodded gently. "Okay."
"Then it's settled. We'll go take a look together." Su Zhen smiled.
Putting down his teacup, Su Zhen brought up another matter.
"Brother Li, now that our two families have formed an alliance, why don't we find a time for our disciples to have a proper sparring match?"
Li Yunjing felt helpless.
"Brother Su, my Luozhen Sect only has so many disciples; we can't afford to be tormented."
"Brother Li, why doesn't the Luozhen Sect recruit more disciples?" Su Zhen asked curiously.
Li Yunjing smiled helplessly, "Brother Su, with more disciples, there are many more mouths to feed."
As the head of the Departing Maple Sect, you must feel the same way, right?
Upon hearing this, Su Zhen was taken aback at first, then smiled and nodded.
"Brother Li is absolutely right."
Immediately afterwards, Su Zhen and Li Yunjing began exchanging experiences about being the sect leader.
Li Yunjing became interested.
Su Zhen has been the sect leader for seventy or eighty years.
This is a good opportunity to ask you some questions.
After their conversation, Li Yunjing learned a great deal from Su Zhen.
At the end of the conversation, Su Zhen added:
"Brother Li, the third day of the third lunar month is the annual Immortal-Seeking Assembly in Xunxian Town."
At that time, your Luozhen Sect can also participate.
Given the current reputation of the Luozhen Sect, it should be able to attract quite a few people.
Li Yunjing nodded slightly.
The Immortal-Seeking Assembly, also known as the Immortal Ascension Assembly.
It is a major event in which all major sects and Lineage participate.
The aim is to attract fresh blood and recruit new talent.
Therefore, on the third day of the third lunar month, many mortals will come here.
Li Yunjing participated in last year's Immortal-Seeking Assembly.
However, the Luozhen Sect in dire straits at that time.
Even if it's just fooling an ordinary person who knows nothing.
Seeing the dilapidated state of the Luozhen Sect, they all regretted their actions.
This year is different; the Luozhen Sect has flourished.
Its reputation resounded throughout the entire Xunxian Town.
If they participate again, it is expected to attract many ordinary people.
He chatted with Su Zhen for a while longer, discussing their experiences in cultivation once again.
Li Yunjing then bid farewell to Su Zhen and prepared to leave.
Su Zhen tried his best to persuade Li Yunjing to stay at the Departing Maple Sect for one night.
However, Li Yunjing frankly stated that he was too busy with official business to leave for too long.
Left with no other option, Su Zhen could only let Li Yunjing leave.
Watching Li Yunjing disappear,
Su Zhen then turned around and returned to the Departing Maple Sect.
Not long after Su Zhen sat down, the Grand Elder of the Departing Maple Sect came to him with a list.
"Sect Leader, this is the list of gifts received this time."
The Grand Elder handed the list to Su Zhen.
Su Zhen took it and looked at it.
At first, Su Zhen nodded as he read.
When you see Li Yunjing's name at the end,
Su Zhen immediately stood up.
"Brother Li actually gave me a Grade Three Nine-Spirit Pill!"
Su Zhen shouted it out, his voice becoming shrill.
His right hand, holding the list, was trembling slightly.
He never expected that Li Yunjing would give him such a generous gift.
Nine-Spirit Pill, one of the longevity-prolonging elixirs.
A single Nine-Spirit Pill can extend a cultivator's lifespan by fifty years.
The Grade 3 Nine-Spirit Pill is effective for Golden Core cultivators.
"Such a rare item, Brother Li... sigh..." Su Zhen sighed.
I'm really indebted to them now.
This Nine-Spirit Pill can extend True Person Liu's life by fifty years.
It may seem like a short time, but for the Departing Maple Sect, fifty years is actually enough.
Perhaps this will allow Departing Maple Sect to cultivate another Golden Core cultivator.
Previously, Su Zhen had also sent people to search for longevity spirit medicine or miraculous pills.
Unfortunately, the gains were minimal.
The longevity-extending spiritual items they found were either too low-grade.
Either the price is so high that Departing Maple Sect cannot afford it.
Li Yunjing's actions were like sending charcoal in snowy weather.
"Brother Li is a good man. His alliance with the Luozhen Sect was indeed the right decision," Su Zhen thought to himself.
At the same time, Su Zhen was also thinking about making concessions on the distribution of profits from Fire Rosy Cloud Iron Mine.
Meanwhile, Li Yunjing and the others were on their way Luozhen Sect.
Mo Xuan asked Li Yunjing curiously.
"Senior brother, what gift did you give this time?"
Li Yunjing smiled mysteriously:
"These are good things from Uncle Ding; they're perfect for the current Departing Maple Sect."
Mo Xuan's curiosity was even stronger.
What is it?
"Yes, what is it?" Shui Yao was also extremely curious.
Gu Xuan stared wide-eyed at Li Yunjing.
Li Yunjing chuckled.
"Hurry up and get going, don't ask any more questions."