Chapter 13: Demonic Cult Spotted, Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure Descends

At the same time, within the Qingyun Sect.

A series of bell and cauldron chimes pierced through the entire sect; disciples from each peak arrived one after another to assemble at the sect plaza, while several peak masters walked quickly into the main hall.

One could see Sect Leader Daoxuan sitting upright in the main seat, his brows tightly furrowed as if contemplating something.

"Senior Brother, for what reason was the alarm bell suddenly rung?"

Longshou Peak Master Cangsong was the first to walk into the Sect Main Hall and asked Daoxuan urgently.

"Indeed, Senior Brother, I had only just returned to my peak when I heard your summons, and I rushed back here in a hurry; you aren't teasing your Junior Brother, are you?"

Tian Buyi joked.

"Sit down first!"

Daoxuan Zhenren had no mood for playfulness at this moment; after glancing around and seeing that everyone had arrived, he pointed to the seats already occupied by the others and said.

Seeing the serious expression on Daoxuan Zhenren, the several peak masters understood that Daoxuan had serious business to discuss with them. After sitting in their respective seats, they waited silently for Daoxuan Zhenren's follow-up.

"I just received news that disciples of the Demonic Cult, including the Ghost King Sect, have been spotted in the Jiuyin Mountain, several dozen miles away from our Qingyun Sect. Furthermore, all sorts of anomalies are occurring in the Jiuyin Mountain; scouts say it is as if some Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure has descended, and it is nine times out of ten that these Demonic Cult disciples intend to seize this Spirit Treasure."

Just as Daoxuan Zhenren finished speaking, he heard the several peak masters secretly express surprise.

"A Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure?!"

"How could a Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure appear in a place like the Jiuyin Mountain?"

"Senior Brother, do the scouts know what this Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure is?"

Those several peak masters asked one after another.

"It is not yet known what kind of Spirit Treasure it is."

Daoxuan Zhenren shook his head and said. The news he received was that the Jiuyin Mountain was suddenly filled with rolling thunder, and where the lightning fell, there were all kinds of strange phenomena and lights, with Qi rioting. Judging by the momentum, it was certainly some good item manifesting. As for what exactly the Spirit Treasure was, the scouts had low cultivation and dared not venture too deep into the Jiuyin Mountain, so they did not know.

However, what everyone understood was that anything capable of making these Demonic Cult members take action would certainly not be inferior.

"This matter does not seem to be false. Although we cannot figure out what the Spirit Treasure is, we must absolutely not hand this Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure over to the Demonic Cult."

"Therefore, I have specifically summoned you all. You are to each select suitable disciples from within your peaks to head to the Jiuyin Mountain together to search for the treasure. At the same time, it is also a trial; the sect will provide Protective Talismans to protect their lives."

Daoxuan Zhenren explained his plan in detail to the several peak masters, then cast his gaze toward Tian Buyi, who was sitting to the side and still curious about what the Spirit Treasure could possibly be, and said to him firmly: "Furthermore, I need to trouble Junior Brother Tian. I have tentatively decided that you will be the leader for this trip to the Jiuyin Mountain. If the Spirit Treasure can be snatched, then snatch it; if it cannot be snatched, there is no need to force it. What is more important is to protect the safety of these disciples."

"Senior Brother, you can rest assured and leave this matter to me. I will snatch the Spirit Treasure back, and I will also bring every single disciple back without losing one."

Tian Buyi was naturally happy to accept this heavy responsibility; not only was it an official errand, but he would also be the first to know what the Spirit Treasure actually was.

Just as Tian Buyi finished being happy, Shuiyue, who had not spoken for a long time, stood up at this moment and requested of Daoxuan Zhenren with a very serious expression: "Sect Leader Senior Brother, may I accompany Senior Brother Tian this time?"

Once these words were spoken, the several peak masters looked at Shuiyue in surprise.

They, as fellow peak masters, understood Master Shuiyue's temperament all too well. On ordinary days, she disliked joining in the excitement the most; most of the time she stayed within the sect to cultivate in peace, and she rarely participated in any outside affairs, declining them whenever she could.

Why was she volunteering today? Could it be that Shuiyue had some connection to this Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure? Shuiyue ignored these surprised gazes and continued to explain to Daoxuan Zhenren: "Sect Leader Senior Brother, there is a reason for this, which is inconvenient to explain in detail; I just happen to have important business that requires a trip to the Jiuyin Mountain."

"Very well! Since Junior Sister has volunteered, Senior Brother will naturally not refuse. Then you shall lead the team to the Jiuyin Mountain together with Junior Brother Tian."

Daoxuan Zhenren would naturally not refuse. It was even better to have someone coordinate; at the very least, with two peak masters acting together, the probability of obtaining the Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure would be greatly increased.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother!"

After Shuiyue received the agreement, her brows remained tightly furrowed.

Jiuyin Mountain, Jiuyin Mountain, the place Su Changqing went to was the Jiuyin Mountain. It was already filled with demonic beasts and dangerous, and now that the Demonic Cult had run over there, his cultivation was low and he only had the one talisman she gave him as a means to save his life—how could he possibly survive! She only felt worry for Su Changqing in her heart now, and deeply regretted why she had agreed to let him go alone. She wished she could arrive at the Jiuyin Mountain sooner to bring him back safely.

Following Daoxuan's orders, the peak masters took their disciples back to prepare.

Among them, Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu of Longshou Peak were both selected by Cangsong as candidates for this trip to the Jiuyin Mountain, while Dazhu Peak chose the eldest disciple Song Daren and the second disciple Wu Dayi. As for Zhang Xiaofan, he did not stand out at this time, so he was naturally excluded.

Upon receiving the news, Lin Jingyu was very excited. He was already at the sixth level of Qi Refining, but he had also encountered a slight bottleneck and could not advance.

Now that there was an opportunity for a trial, he could use this to break through the bottleneck and raise his cultivation to a higher level, not to mention that mysterious Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure. "I have heard that some Spirit Treasures have spirituality and will automatically recognize a master by chance. Master says I am a rare genius; perhaps that Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure will have a connection with me and recognize me as its master?"

Thinking this way, Lin Jingyu had already envisioned the scene of the Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure recognizing him as its master, with everyone casting envious gazes at him.

If it truly developed this way, what awaited him would be a soaring ascent, and by then, he would surely stun everyone at the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament.

Looking back at Shuiyue of Xiaozhu Peak, she only summoned Lu Xueqi, explained the ins and outs of the matter to her, and prepared to take only her along.

"Xueqi, Sect Leader Senior Brother just received news that Demonic Cult disciples have been spotted in the Jiuyin Mountain searching for some Heaven-Sent Spiritual Treasure. The sect has specifically ordered us to lead disciples to the Jiuyin Mountain to seize the Spirit Treasure, treating it as a trial. You will accompany me."

Shuiyue explained the matter in detail to Lu Xueqi.

"Jiuyin Mountain? Is that where Junior Brother went?"

Lu Xueqi suddenly remembered that while practicing in the main hall today, she heard her Junior Brother Su Changqing mention that he had asked for leave from his Master and said he was going to the Jiuyin Mountain.

She was practicing at the time, but she had noted this matter down.

She did not expect to hear this name again so soon, but why would her Junior Brother go to such a dangerous place alone?

Although she and Su Changqing did not have much interaction on ordinary days, they were at least fellow disciples of the same sect and peak; Lu Xueqi still held some feelings of sect camaraderie for him in her heart.

"Yes, Changqing told me he wanted to go to the Jiuyin Mountain to find the Huanglan Narcissus, so he has already gone alone. His strength is still weak, and I am worried, so I have decided to go there myself."

Shuiyue sighed softly and said to Lu Xueqi with great worry.

After the peaks finished selecting their disciples, they arrived at the sect plaza one after another to meet, and headed toward the Jiuyin Mountain together.

(End of chapter)