Ji Buwang's gaze flickered as Xu Yi was mentioned, then he shook his head slightly.
Elder Qingfeng sighed and strode away.
Once Elder Qingfeng left, the Zhongzheng Hall returned to silence, but Ji Buwang could no longer focus on sect matters.
As Elder Qingfeng had said, Ji Buwang had not contacted Xu Yi for thirty years since parting ways outside Shenzhou.
During this time, Ji Buwang had sent a few messages to Xu Yi regarding sect affairs, but they had all vanished without a trace.
If not for the eternal spiritual lamp within the sect, Ji Buwang would have suspected that Xu Yi had met with misfortune.
This emotion, known as concern, was unfamiliar yet difficult to relinquish.
Ji Buwang could not imagine what Xu Yi was experiencing, and could only wish them well from afar.
...
Beast Taming Sect.
"Junior Sister Yin, congratulations."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Xiong."
Yin Li looked at Xiong Zhuangzhuang, whose smile was radiant, and couldn't help but recall her past infatuation and feel a wave of emotion.
Fortunately, she had finally come to her senses and avoided making further mistakes, now having found a good partner.
"Senior Brother Xiong, Master said you specifically rushed back for my engagement ceremony with Senior Brother Cui. After attending the banquet, will you have to return to that place to continue your cultivation?"
The Kunlun Academy was not a secret to the elite disciples of the Five Great Sects, but to prevent news of the Kunlun Academy from spreading, disciples preferred to use other terms to refer to it.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang nodded, "That's right. My cultivation has not reached the Integration stage, so I cannot leave. I specifically requested leave to come back this time, and I will return after the engagement banquet."
"It's rare to return, Senior Brother Xiong, you must stay for a while longer," Yin Li said with a smile.
Just as Xiong Zhuangzhuang was about to agree, a disciple ran up from a distance, "Senior Brother Xiong, Senior Sister Yin, the Sect Master wants you to go to Sky Dome Peak."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yin Li exchanged a glance and immediately headed towards Sky Dome Peak.
The serene pool outside Sky Dome Peak was still and waveless. Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yin Li paused there for a moment, paid their respects to Martial Uncle Xuanwu, and then entered the cave dwelling.
Inside the cave dwelling, in addition to True Person Changshou, there were two other direct disciples of the Sect Master.
After exchanging pleasantries, the group turned to face True Person Changshou with clasped hands.
True Person Changshou sat at the head of the table. Seeing that everyone had arrived, he waved his hand and sent a jade slip to Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
"Read this," True Person Changshou said slowly.
Without a word, Xiong Zhuangzhuang took the jade slip. After reading it, he passed it to Yin Li beside him.
After all four disciples had read it, True Person Changshou retrieved the jade slip and looked at Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's thick eyebrows almost formed a single line as he angrily declared, "The demon race's wicked ambition is unquenchable; they have begun to stir again. I believe we should dispatch disciples skilled in tracking and tracing to hunt them down and annihilate them!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang had been to Zhuzhou, where the demon race lived, and had witnessed their cruelty and ruthlessness firsthand. He harbored a deep hatred for the demon race.
Although Yin Li and the other two felt Senior Brother Xiong's emotions were a bit too intense, they nodded in agreement with his proposal.
True Person Changshou nodded, "Continue."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang paused, then, as if remembering something, added, "Besides the demon race, we cannot relax our vigilance against the beast race. Who knows if they might collude with each other, like a nest of snakes and rats."
True Person Changshou continued to nod, still looking at Xiong Zhuangzhuang.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang, not understanding, could only shake his head, "Disciple has said all he has to say."
True Person Changshou frowned and looked at Yin Li, "You speak."
Yin Li pondered for a moment and ventured, "Master, are you perhaps referring to the matter of the Holy Maiden Cult?"
True Person Changshou finally showed a look of relief, coupled with some regret.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang was exceptionally talented and the most likely disciple to inherit his mantle. However, his temperament was a bit too impetuous, not as meticulous as Yin Li's. He still needed more tempering.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang finally understood True Person Changshou's intention and said with confusion, "Master, although the Holy Maiden Cult has strange aspects, they are insignificant compared to the demon race. The most urgent matter now is to eliminate the demon race."
"Senior Brother Xiong, your statement is incorrect."
Having received True Person Changshou's affirmation, Yin Li recalled the records on the jade slip and seemed to have an epiphany.
Seeing Xiong Zhuangzhuang still looking perplexed, she explained her thoughts one by one.
"Judging by the style of this jade slip, it should be from the Xuanji Sect, and the locations of demon race activities recorded on it corroborate this.
Since the Xuanji Sect is transmitting information to other sects, they would not include insignificant messages. Therefore, this Holy Maiden Cult likely holds a great secret."
True Person Changshou nodded with satisfaction, which was also why he had summoned all the disciples here.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and the other two disciples suddenly understood.
"That being said, the Holy Maiden Cult does seem problematic."
"Then, Master's intention is..."
True Person Changshou waved his hand and sent out another jade slip.
This jade slip contained the decision he and the sect elders had made after deliberation.
"Master, leave the investigation of the Holy Maiden Cult to Senior Brother Xiong and me. Junior Sister Yin has just gotten engaged; why should she also go through this ordeal," said Junior Brother Fei, the latest to join, with sincere words.
"Junior Brother Fei, what do you mean by that!"
Yin Li never expected to hear such words from her own junior brother.
Although she knew Junior Brother Fei meant well, she still found it difficult to accept his seemingly caring gesture as a veiled insult.
Was it simply because she was a woman?
"Senior Sister Yin, I, I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought since you just got engaged, why not stay with Senior Brother Cui..."
"Silence!"
Junior Brother Fei frantically waved his hands to explain, but was interrupted by a thunderous shout from Xiong Zhuangzhuang, leaving him flustered and standing frozen.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang ignored him and quickly comforted Yin Li, whose eyes were reddening with anger.
"Junior Sister Yin, Junior Brother Fei misspoke. I'll teach him a lesson for you later, so don't get yourself worked up."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang, while lacking insight into certain matters, was quite perceptive when it came to interpersonal dynamics.
Junior Brother Fei's words, though seemingly reasonable, were in fact completely misguided.
The task assigned by the Master clearly intended for all four direct disciples to go out and gain experience. However, Junior Brother Fei's words effectively excluded Yin Li, using her recent engagement as the reason.
This clearly indicated an unconscious tendency to treat Yin Li as someone who needed protection, disregarding her own strength, which was why Yin Li was naturally upset.
"Senior Brother Xiong, I appreciate your kindness, but you don't need to intervene for me. I will handle it myself."
Yin Li sneered and directly challenged Junior Brother Fei.
Junior Brother Fei's face turned ashen, and he cupped his hands in supplication, "Senior Sister Yin, I was wrong. I misspoke. How could I possibly be your match? Please spare me this time."
As Junior Brother Fei pleaded, he secretly signaled to his Master, hoping he would intercede on his behalf.
True Person Changshou slowly shifted his gaze away.
Mistakes deserved punishment.
Besides, he had no desire to draw this fire onto his old bones.
"Stop the nonsense. Didn't you think I should be recuperating in the sect? I want to see just how capable you are to say such a thing!"