An Old Friend, the Departing Maple Sect Leader

By daybreak, the battlefield had been cleared.

Gu Lin and Zhi Qianshu boarded the flagship together and thanked Chen Feng.

"Commander-in-Chief Chen, thank you for your timely support! If you had arrived any later, we wouldn't have been able to hold out," Gu Lin said, still shaken.

Chen Feng waved his hand. "Elder Gu, you're too kind. Upon receiving the urgent report, the sect leader immediately ordered the fleet to set off without a moment's delay. Fortunately, we made it in time, and the losses were minimal."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The sect leader originally planned to come in person, but just as he was about to set off, an old friend came to visit, and he couldn't leave for the time being."

He told me to bring the fleet over first to stabilize the situation. He'll probably come over to check on things after he's finished dealing with his business.

"An old friend?" Gu Lin was taken aback.

"I don't know exactly who it is either," Chen Feng shook his head. "I only heard that it's an old friend of the sect leader from Flying Immortal Prefecture, the sect leader of some small sect, who came specifically to pay a visit."

Gu Lin nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Zhi Qianshu, listening from the side, was filled with emotion. "Sect Leader Li is truly becoming more and more powerful. He even has a fleet now. When I first met him, he was just a young cultivator. In the blink of an eye, he has become a great figure who governs an entire province."

Chen Feng smiled and said, "Chief Zhi, rest assured, the sect leader said that the Biyuan clan is a friend of the Luozhen Sect. The fleet will leave ten escort ships here to assist in the defense, ensuring that the beast tide will not threaten the mine again."

"That's wonderful!" Zhi Qianshu was overjoyed.

With a fleet stationed there, we're not afraid of ordinary beast tides, or even a few more fifth-tier wild beasts.

Meanwhile, in Luozhen City, Li Yunjing stood at the Luozhen Grand Hall, watching several figures approaching from afar, a long-lost smile appearing on his face.

An old friend I hadn't seen for many years finally arrived.

There were three people who came.

Leading the group was a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a blue Daoist robe. He had a lean face and a gentle demeanor, with an iron sword hanging at his waist. He was none other than Su Zhen, the sect leader of the Departing Maple Sect.

He was followed by two elders, both of whom were at the Golden Core Stage stage, their expressions showing a mixture of restraint and anticipation.

"Sect Leader Li." Su Zhen strode forward, cupped his hands in a respectful greeting to Li Yunjing, and smiled warmly, "It's been many years since we last met. Sect Leader Li, your demeanor is even more radiant than before."

Li Yunjing stepped forward, personally helped him up, and said with a smile, "Sect Leader Su, you're too kind. Back in Five Aggregates Plain, we fought side by side, so full of vigor and spirit. It's been almost four or five years since we last met, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it's been almost five years," Su Zhen said with emotion, his gaze lingering on Li Yunjing for a moment, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Back in the Five Aggregates Plain of Flying Immortal Prefecture, Departing Maple Sect was quite famous, and one of its founders had broken through to the Golden Core.

At that time, the strength of the Luozhen Sect was inferior to that of the Departing Maple Sect, and its number of members was also small.

However, under Li Yunjing's leadership, the Luozhen Sect developed rapidly.

In just five short years, although Departing Maple Sect has undergone tremendous changes compared to before, Luozhen Sect has changed even more.

However, the development of the Departing Maple Sect still relied on the influence of the Luozhen Sect.

At that time, under the instruction of the founder of the Departing Maple Sect, Su Zhen took the initiative to propose an alliance with the Luozhen Sect, and Li Yunjing agreed on the spot.

It was precisely because of this that Li Luozhen Sect benefited from the Departing Maple Sect.

Looking at Li Yunjing, Su Zhen felt a deep sense of regret.

Those who were once equals have now become influential figures in the Dao Realm.

As for the Departing Maple Sect, it remains a small to medium-sized sect located in a corner of Flying Immortal Prefecture, with only about three hundred disciples. The strongest among them is only at the Peak Golden Core stage, having been stuck at the Nascent Soul threshold for over a hundred years.

Having heard that the Luozhen Sect had opened up a sixth state, Su Zhen thought long and hard before deciding to make the trip.

"Sect Leader Su, please come in." Li Yunjing stepped aside and led the three into the hall.

After they were seated and tea was served, Li Yunjing smiled and said, "These past few years I've been busy with sect affairs and haven't kept in touch much. I hope everything is alright at the Departing Maple Sect."

"Thanks to Sect Leader Li, everything is fine." Su Zhen put down his teacup and said slowly, "Over the years, the surrounding forces have been quite considerate of our Li Luozhen Sect Departing Maple Sect, and no one has come to cause trouble."

The disciples within the sect are cultivating peacefully, and I myself touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul two years ago; perhaps I'll break through someday."

His tone was sincere, without a trace of flattery, yet he also pointed out that Departing Maple Sect's peaceful existence was entirely due to the legacy of Luo Luozhen Sect.

Li Yunjing nodded slightly.

He overlooked that point.

Our own development has been too rapid, while our old allies are still standing still.

Although no one dares to bully them, their development is ultimately limited.

"It was my oversight," Li Yunjing said. "I should have taken care of things sooner."

"Sect Leader Li, you flatter me." Su Zhen quickly waved his hand. "The path of cultivation is inherently filled with fortuitous opportunity. The Luozhen Sect's current state is entirely due to Sect Leader Li's own hard work. We are already fortunate to have benefited from it; how could we dare to ask for more?"

He paused, took a deep breath, and finally stated his purpose:

"Sect Leader Li, I apologize for my intrusion in visiting today, but I have a favor to ask of you."

"Sect Leader Su, please speak freely," Li Yunjing said. "As long as it's within my power, I will not refuse."

Su Zhen's eyes were earnest. "I want to move my entire clan to Luozhen Province."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Su Zhen quickly explained, "Sect Leader Li, don't worry, we're not here to take advantage. Luozhen Province is a newly established prefecture, and everything is in need of rebuilding. We're short of manpower."

Although our Departing Maple Sect is small, we still have over three hundred disciples, all of whom are hardworking and dedicated.

He knows a little about alchemy, weapon crafting, talisman making, and farming.

Once we Luozhen Province, we can establish our own base and develop independently, and we will certainly not hold the Luozhen Sect back.

"I only hope to borrow the Spiritual Qi and fortuitous opportunity of Luozhen Province to give my disciples more options. If the sect can take this opportunity to advance further, then I will have done right by our ancestors."

He spoke very sincerely and adopted a very humble attitude.

Li Yunjing looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly smiled.

"I thought it was something serious." He shook his head. "Just this?"

Su Zhen was taken aback. "Sect Leader Li, what do you mean?"

"I agree." Li Yunjing answered decisively. "Departing Maple Sect is an old friend of the Luozhen Sect. I have never forgotten the friendship we shared in the Five Aggregates Plain. I welcome you wholeheartedly to come to Luozhen Province to develop your business."

Su Zhen suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Really?! Sect Leader Li, you... you agreed?"

He had expected to have to say a lot more, and was even prepared to be politely refused.

After all, Luozhen Province is the foundation of the Luozhen Sect, and not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can enter. I didn't expect Li Yunjing to be so straightforward.

"Why would I lie to you?" Li Yunjing laughed. "Luozhen Province is vast; even Luozhen Sect alone can't contain it all. Having a reliable ally is always better than having a stranger, especially one like Departing Maple Sect."

Su Zhen's eyes reddened with excitement.

He knew that taking this step might completely change the fate of the Departing Maple Sect.

"Thank you so much, Sect Leader Li! Words cannot express my gratitude!" Su Zhen bowed deeply. "From now on, Li Departing Maple Sect Luozhen Sect without any disloyalty!"

"You flatter me." Li Yunjing helped him up. "It's the same as before, just cooperate and help each other, there's no need for anyone to take the lead or be second."

Even so, Su Zhen knew in his heart that the Luozhen Sect of today was no longer the Luozhen Sect of the past, and the two sides were worlds apart in strength.

They call themselves allies, but in reality they are dependent on each other.

Even if it's just about attaching oneself to them, being able to board the big ship of the Luozhen Sect is an incredible fortuitous opportunity.

"You don't need to worry about the location," Li Yunjing continued. "Three hundred miles east of Luozhen City, there is a Clear Wind Valley with a mid-grade Spirit Vein and a tranquil environment, which is very suitable for your Departing Maple Sect's Cultivation Method."

I'll have Junior Brother Mo arrange it later and give that area to you.

The sect can lend you some of the initial materials and Spirit Stone needed for establishing the sect, which you can repay gradually in the future.