Old Friends, a Secret Romance?

Outside Serene Valley, Li Yunjing formed a Method Formula with his hands.

He used Wind-Riding Escape and vanished from the spot in an instant, like a gust of wind.

The journey went smoothly, and after arriving at Xunxian Town,

Li Yunjing headed straight for the Immortal Alliance's compound.

As soon as he entered the large estate, Li Yunjing came face-to-face with a middle-aged man wearing a purple ritual robe.

"Sect Leader Li, a pleasure to meet you. I am Su Zhen, sect leader of the Departing Maple Sect."

Li Yunjing stopped and greeted Su Zhen.

The Departing Maple Sect was one of the sects that had once been on good terms with the Luozhen Sect.

But as the Luozhen Sect gradually fell on hard times,

it had taken the initiative to distance itself from those sects.

"Not long ago, I heard that you had reached Foundation Establishment, Sect Leader Li. I have yet to visit the Luozhen Sect to offer my congratulations. Please forgive me," Su Zhen said with a genial smile.

Li Yunjing shook his head slightly. "You're too kind, Sect Leader Su. It's a small matter.

"As it happens, two elders of my sect have also broken through to Foundation Establishment. The day after tomorrow, the ninth of December, the Luozhen Sect plans to hold a Foundation Establishment Banquet. I hope you'll honor us with your presence, Sect Leader Su."

Su Zhen was greatly surprised by Li Yunjing's words.

He hadn't expected the Luozhen Sect to have gained another two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Certainly, certainly," Su Zhen replied at once.

Previously, the Luozhen Sect had taken the initiative to distance itself,

so the Departing Maple Sect and the other sects that had been on good terms with it had gone a long time without contact.

Even so, the Departing Maple Sect and the others had kept a close eye on the Luozhen Sect.

Now the Luozhen Sect had hope of prospering again.

This was the perfect opportunity to pick up the ties they had let fall.

After greeting Su Zhen, Li Yunjing went farther into the estate.

He told several Immortal Alliance disciples that he wished to see Wang Qianxue.

Soon afterward, an Immortal Alliance disciple led Li Yunjing to the courtyard where Wang Qianxue was staying.

After the disciple reported his arrival, Li Yunjing entered the courtyard alone.

Wang Qianxue stood before a small pond, scattering fish food into the water.

"I hear you have something important to report. What is it?"

Wang Qianxue asked as she scattered the food.

Li Yunjing first bowed, then said:

"Deacon Wang, disciples of my sect have found traces of suspected bandit cultivators on Seven Ingenuities Mountain."

At those words, Wang Qianxue's hand paused.

Then she threw all the fish food in her hand into the pond.

Turning around, Wang Qianxue gestured for Li Yunjing to sit.

"Tell me everything."

After sitting down, Li Yunjing told Wang Qianxue what had happened.

When she learned that the small lineages of Seven Ingenuities Mountain, led by the Zhao Household, were actually growing Illusory Spirit Flowers, Wang Qianxue gave a soft snort.

"They're courting death, daring to grow such a forbidden thing."

Then Wang Qianxue looked at Li Yunjing.

"What do you plan to do with the Wang Household?"

Li Yunjing said, "If the Wang Household has nothing to do with the Illusory Spirit Flowers, I plan to make it a subordinate sect of the Luozhen Sect."

"Good. The Wang Household has some value, at least." Wang Qianxue nodded.

"I'll send people to investigate. If those small lineages really are connected to the bandit cultivators, I'll notify you.

"Be ready to wipe out the bandits at any time."

Li Yunjing nodded lightly.

"There's one more thing, Deacon Wang," Li Yunjing said.

"Two more people in the Luozhen Sect have reached Foundation Establishment, and we plan to hold a Foundation Establishment Banquet on the ninth of December to celebrate.

"The Luozhen Sect would like to invite you to the Foundation Establishment Banquet. I hope you'll honor us with your presence, Deacon Wang.

"As time was short, we didn't prepare an invitation. Please forgive us, Deacon Wang."

Li Yunjing stood up and bowed respectfully to Wang Qianxue.

Hearing this, Wang Qianxue's eyes widened slightly.

"Two more have reached Foundation Establishment? Your junior brother and junior sister?"

"That's right." Li Yunjing nodded.

Seeing this, Wang Qianxue smiled with relief.

"Good, good. Chengyu can smile even in the Yellow Springs now."

Li Yunjing's eyes widened as he looked at Wang Qianxue.

But he immediately lowered his head again.

The shock in his eyes, however, would not fade.

The Chengyu Wang Qianxue had mentioned was Li Yunjing's master.

His master's surname was Nangong, and his given name was Chengyu.

Wang Qianxue had addressed Li Yunjing's master by his given name.

It seemed the two had an unusual relationship.

Yet Li Yunjing had never known of any connection between his master and Wang Qianxue.

Even when they met, they had merely nodded in greeting.

As far as Li Yunjing could remember, they had exchanged no more than ten sentences.

A secret romance? Li Yunjing's appetite for gossip stirred.

Still, Li Yunjing only dared make such speculations about his master in his heart.

"Your master and I were one step away from becoming dao companions."

Just then, however, Wang Qianxue spoke of her own accord.

Li Yunjing looked up at Wang Qianxue, wanting to ask for details.

But mindful of his status, he hesitated to speak.

"Chengyu and I met a long time ago. He saved me once, and after that, we grew closer and closer.

"Eventually, things progressed to the point where we were going to become dao companions.

"But something happened, and we were forced to call it off.

"At the time, Chengyu's master was gravely injured and had little time left. No medicine could cure him.

"But Chengyu heard a rumor somewhere and believed it. He planned to venture deep into Hundred Miasma Mountain to obtain a millennial vermilion fruit and heal your grandmaster's injuries.

"In the end, he didn't find the millennial vermilion fruit, and your master was injured, leaving him with a hidden ailment. Your grandmaster also died.

"Because of that, he and I had a huge quarrel.

"In the end, we each blamed the other and completely severed our relationship."

Li Yunjing listened in silence.

He had never expected there to be such a story between his master and Wang Qianxue.

No wonder Wang Qianxue had taken such good care of the Luozhen Sect after his master died.

She still remembered her old feelings for his master.

"All right, that's all ancient history. Now that you know, don't go talking about it, or I certainly won't spare you."

Wang Qianxue looked at Li Yunjing with a smile.

Li Yunjing's expression turned solemn. "Rest assured, Deacon Wang. My lips are sealed."

Afterward, Li Yunjing bid Wang Qianxue farewell.

He left the Immortal Alliance compound and headed to the Golden Millet Pavilion, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, and other places.

He informed Jin Wuxu, Li Mingjie, and the others

that the Luozhen Sect would hold a Foundation Establishment Banquet on the ninth of December.

He hoped they could come to the Luozhen Sect for the banquet.

After inviting some acquaintances in Xunxian Town,

all that remained were a few sects that had once been on good terms with the Luozhen Sect.

Those sects all had compounds outside Xunxian Town.

Li Yunjing still needed to visit each one.

Before that, Li Yunjing first went to the Hundred Artifacts Pavilion.

He planned to commission a second-tier Spirit Artifact.

When he entered the Hundred Artifacts Pavilion, an attendant came forward to receive him.

But Li Yunjing said directly:

"I'm looking for Jiang Chuan."

The attendant paused. "And you are...?"

Li Yunjing showed his Luozhen Sect leader's token.

At the sight of it, the attendant left at once.

Before long, a burly, muscular man entered the hall.

When he saw Li Yunjing, the man grinned.

"Yunjing, you haven't been by in ages."

With that, the man pulled Li Yunjing along to the Hundred Artifacts Pavilion's rear courtyard.

In the rear courtyard, three artifact furnaces were refining Law Artifacts without pause.

Quite a few artifact refiners stood around the furnaces, keeping constant watch over the Law Artifacts being refined inside.

When they saw the man, they all greeted him.

He responded to each of them.

"Jiang Chuan, I haven't yet congratulated you on becoming the young master of the Hundred Artifacts Pavilion," Li Yunjing said.

The Hundred Artifacts Pavilion had been founded by Jiang Chuan's master.

Previously, however, Jiang Chuan had only been a Registered Disciple.

He had not yet been recognized and could not inherit the Hundred Artifacts Pavilion.

Things were different now. Jiang Chuan had passed the test

and had been formally accepted by his master as a True Disciple.

In the future, Jiang Chuan could inherit his master's mantle

and the entire Hundred Artifacts Pavilion.

This had happened a month ago.

At the time, Li Yunjing had been protecting Mo Xuan and Shui Yao while they reached Foundation Establishment,

so he had been unable to come to the Hundred Artifacts Pavilion to offer his congratulations.

"Yunjing, speaking of which, what have you been doing lately? You haven't come to see me in ages."

Jiang Chuan grinned as he asked Li Yunjing.

"Cultivating. What else?" Li Yunjing said.

When they entered a private room, Jiang Chuan gestured for Li Yunjing to sit.

Then he brought Li Yunjing a cup of spirit tea.

"Cultivating? Speaking of which, what realm are you at now? Have you reached Qi Refining Completion?"