Chapter 286

"Clues to forming a Nascent Soul"

Wang Yu heard this and froze; his first thought went to the "Mirror of Refining the Moon" and its spirit, Gong Yue, even the flying tower, as his mind raced through possibilities.

Undoubtedly, the Mirror of Refining the Moon was a fourth-rank spiritual treasure; Gong Yue, its spirit, had served Master Jialan for many years and likely knew much about Nascent Soul matters.

Could he conceal this matter?

He could activate Overclock Mode and forcibly suppress all bodily anomalies, but the soul was a different matter—whether he could deceive this strange bird painting was uncertain.

Even if he said nothing, Yuan Tong would surely mention it to the Jin Dan elder of Jin Gang Temple; given the close ties among the four sects now, other sects' Jin Dan elders would soon learn of it.

Most importantly, he had no reason to conceal it!

The Nascent Soul opportunity was exceedingly rare, but only Jin Dan elders would pursue it—what use was it to him, a Qi Condensation disciple who hadn't even reached Foundation Establishment?

The only item he received from Gong Yue was a juvenile Qingfeng wolf pup; even if the sect seized it, the loss would be minor.

But if he deliberately concealed this, even if he passed this test, any future leak would ruin his standing in the eyes of the Four Symbols Sect's elders—he might lose the True Disciple position he was about to receive.

More importantly, the spirit Gong Yue had never asked him or Yuan Tong to conceal their encounter.

But to prevent accidents, he must involve Yuan Tong the monk as well.

Wang Yu reached this conclusion and no longer hesitated; he spoke:

"Report, Senior Brother: I once encountered Master Jialan's fourth-rank spiritual treasure, the Mirror of Refining the Moon, and its spirit, Gong Yue, within the Jialan Secret Realm. It appears tied to Master Jialan's reincarnation. Yuan Tong of Jin Gang Temple witnessed this with me—we both escaped the secret realm unharmed. The events unfolded as follows..."

"Fourth-rank spiritual artifact! A spirit! Stop! Don't say more... This is no longer something I'm fit to hear—I must summon several Jin Dan elders in person." Gu Shi Bo, who had been closely observing Wang Yu's expression, turned pale upon hearing the content and immediately shouted to halt him.

At this, Wang Yu instantly fell silent.

At the same moment, the red-haired man flicked his sleeve, and several message talismans shot out, vanishing into the ceiling. He then glanced at Wang Yu with a calmer expression and said gently:

"Wang Yu, don't worry. I didn't expect you truly encountered a Nascent Soul opportunity in the Jialan Secret Realm. If what you recount satisfies the elders, rewards will surely be yours."

"Will the elders really come to question me personally?" Wang Yu asked hesitantly.

"When Nascent Soul matters are involved, how could the elders not come themselves? Master Tianchan is nearby—he'll likely arrive first. As for our own Li Huo Elder..." Gu Shi Bo paused, as if considering how to phrase it, when a withered voice suddenly echoed inside the stone chamber.

"So, if Li Huo doesn't come, can't this old man ask about it?"

No sooner had the words spoken than a golden light pierced through the side wall, condensed, and took the form of an elderly man in golden robes—Master Tianchan.

"Dare not, bowing to Senior Brother Ximen."

"Bow to Master."

The red-haired man and Wang Yu bowed simultaneously to Master Tianchan.

But unlike Wang Yu's full reverence, the red-haired man's face changed again upon hearing Wang Yu's respectful address—he stared at Wang Yu in shock.

"I never expected it would be you who received word of Master Jialan from the secret realm. Clearly, you possess a share of fortune," Master Tianchan said Dandan ly to Wang Yu, ignoring the red-haired man entirely—yet none noticed the faint strangeness in his eyes.

"Should I now tell Master?" Wang Yu asked respectfully.

"Not yet. Wait until Li Huo and Ouyang come." Master Tianchan said, flicking his sleeve; three yellow cushions floated out and settled gently on the ground.

He sat directly on the leftmost cushion and closed his eyes in silence.

Seeing this, the red-haired man felt deeply awkward but dared not move a step—he stood respectfully beside Wang Yu.

Fortunately, within a few breaths, a faint white misty array pattern appeared on the floor in a corner of the chamber, followed by a cold, blue statue materializing out of thin air.

Its face was refined, holding a red spherical bead—it was the legendary Li Huo Elder, long believed mortally wounded and in slumber.

"Bow to Senior Uncle Li Huo."

"Wang Yu bows to Elder."

"Rise, all of you. Huh? It's you, little one? What a coincidence!"

A surprised male voice emerged from the blue statue, clearly taken aback.

"Li Huo, brother, your wound still hasn't healed? For such a critical matter, you can only appear as a mere avatar." Master Tianchan frowned at the blue statue.

"No matter. The Six Desires poison has been forcibly suppressed by magma energy—I'll need only another decade or so to refine it with spiritual flame, after which my cultivation will surge further."

From within the blue statue came Li Huo Elder's indifferent voice; then the statue blurred and appeared on the rightmost cushion, its legs bending as if a mortal, slowly settling into a cross-legged posture.

Master Tianchan raised an eyebrow but said nothing further.

For at that very moment, thunderous footsteps echoed outside the stone chamber, as if some colossal being approached step by step, shaking the ground.

The heavy footsteps halted.

With a "Boom!"

The thick stone door was effortlessly shoved open from outside, and a human-shaped, thick silver armor stepped inside.

It was called human-shaped because, besides its entire body gleaming silver and inscribed with countless dense spiritual runes, the armor revealed no flesh whatsoever—only two piercing eyes visible through its faceplate.

While Wang Yu was still stunned, the red-haired man had already bowed: "Bow to Senior Brother Ouyang."

"Big Brother."

"Senior Brother Ouyang."

Master Tianchan and the blue statue, seated on their cushions, rose at once and bowed with clasped fists.

"Disciple bows to Elder."

Only then did Wang Yu realize—he hurriedly performed the full kowtow.

This was the legendary Silver Cloud Elder—said to cultivate deep within the sect, never appearing before disciples. Even after years in the Four Symbols Sect, this was Wang Yu's first time seeing the true face of the White Tiger Mountain Elder.

"No need for such formalities."

"Had I not heard a disciple encountered the legendary fourth-rank spiritual artifact and its spirit, I wouldn't have emerged so easily," said Silver Cloud Elder from within the armor—his eyes appeared clear as a youth's, yet his voice carried the weight of age, casual and unrefined.