"Indeed. I had initially expected it would take you at least a month to fully memorize this imprint technique, and several months to execute it flawlessly. It appears I misjudged you."
"To have learned it and performed it within less than a month, your talent surpasses even my youth. Young Li Xuan, from whom did you learn?" Elder Wan Feng nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Li Xuan and asked.
Li Xuan cupped his fists and replied, "Senior, my master never met my master. However, along the way, I have had several teachers. Elder Shan on the Eternal Continent also taught me a great deal."
"Shan? What is the full name of this benefactor of yours?" Elder Wan Feng asked with some surprise after hearing Li Xuan's words.
Li Xuan responded, "Elder Shan only takes disciples as core members. I was merely the seventh disciple, with six senior brothers and sisters before me. My senior siblings have perished while saving me. My purpose in coming to the Cloud World is actually to resurrect them."
"Besides that, I also wish to bring the mastermind behind the scenes to justice when my strength is sufficient. Ah, yes, my benefactor's name is Shan Wushuang."
"I never imagined your journey would be so arduous. So, you are now the sole disciple of your benefactor. Shan Wushuang, that name, I have heard of it. To think that a former peerless prodigy would end up in another realm."
"If you have earned his recognition, then your innate talent is indeed extraordinary. Young Li Xuan, do you know how difficult it is to resurrect your senior siblings?" Elder Wan Feng inquired.
Li Xuan nodded, "Baozun once told me that to resurrect a fallen Spirit Master, one needs to gather their scattered divine souls and also reach an extremely high realm of power. Though it is difficult, there is always hope."
"Since you are aware of this, I shall say no more. It is not that I doubt your talent, but I hope you can remain true to your original intentions and not become impatient or lose your composure," Elder Wan Feng stated.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I have noted it," Li Xuan replied, bowing respectfully.
"It is good that you have noted it. Now, I have said what I needed to say. If you encounter any cultivation problems in the future, you may come here to find me," Elder Wan Feng added after a moment's thought.
"Thank you, Senior," Li Xuan replied with a respectful bow.
Elder Wan Feng nodded, "Alright, I have said and done what I needed to. It is time for you to return."
"I take my leave, Senior," Li Xuan said, bowing respectfully to Elder Wan Feng.
As he stood up, Elder Wan Feng's figure had already vanished. Li Xuan smiled helplessly, bowed once more to the empty space, and then instantly disappeared.
...
"Qiu Jiuqian, Gong Hanfeng, when will your Commander Li Xuan return? It's been a full month. Other purple mission challengers have already completed their tasks and returned. Could it be they are afraid of being punished for failing and are hiding outside?"
"Exactly, Qiu Jiuqian, Gong Hanfeng. Since you are also participants in this mission, do you not dare to step forward?"
"If they hadn't been so quick to claim a mission, Commander Duan would surely have been able to claim and successfully complete it. Now, the earliest claimed of the ten purple missions still has no result, which is truly ironic."
"I heard that even Senior Brother Li Wenyu, with his advanced Divine Transformation realm strength, only completed his mission injured. With your two's strength, how could you possibly accept a purple mission?"
"Furthermore, returning within a few days after its completion clearly indicates you were recalled by Commander Li Xuan. And Commander Li Xuan, who has only just entered the early stage of the Quantity Change realm, might have perished without even a soul to collect his body?"
"..."
Outside the separate courtyard of Li Xuan's team, over a hundred people were gathered, discussing.
Inside the courtyard, Qiu Jiuqian and Gong Hanfeng and others listened to the discussions outside, their expressions quite grim. However, Li Xuan had specifically instructed them upon their return, so even though Gong Hanfeng was displeased, he could only endure it.
"Brother Qiu, Brother Gong, is Commander Li Xuan truly alright? It's been a month now, has Commander Li Xuan really encountered trouble?"
"Yes, Brother Qiu, Brother Gong. Please tell us some of the inside story. We are truly worried if we continue to be so anxious."
"Brother Qiu, Brother Gong, did Commander Li say anything else? At this point, please give us some hint."
"..."
Wen Qing and the others were unaware of the details, and these people had been coming to the courtyard to jeer for half a month. With their limited patience, they were naturally finding it hard to hold back.
Moreover, since forming the team, their reverence for Li Xuan had increased daily. If Li Xuan were truly to meet with misfortune, it would be a devastating blow to them. Their lives in the Wood Pavilion would undoubtedly become a nightmare.
"You all, stop worrying. Commander Li will be fine, and Commander Li Xuan will definitely return successfully. How high they jump now will be how hard they fall later."
"Honestly, I am also eagerly awaiting Commander Li's return. So that these guys can see who looks like a fool, constantly playing the clown."
Gong Hanfeng sighed helplessly, then a smile appeared on his lips as if he had thought of something.
"Brother Qiu, is what Brother Gong said true?" As soon as Gong Hanfeng finished speaking, Wen Qing and the others exchanged glances before turning their gaze back to Qiu Jiuqian to ask.
Gong Hanfeng pouted and shrugged helplessly. Between Qiu Jiuqian and Gong Hanfeng, everyone naturally had more faith in Qiu Jiuqian's steady demeanor. Although Gong Hanfeng's words had eased their worries, obtaining Qiu Jiuqian's affirmation would undoubtedly be a reassuring boost.
"Rest assured, what he said is true." Qiu Jiuqian nodded slightly, then his gaze shifted towards the Wood Pavilion's Mission Hall.
A purple light shot up into the sky, akin to thousands of lights, attracting everyone's attention.
"This is... the sign of a completed purple mission. Nine out of ten purple missions have been completed. Could this last one be... Commander Li Xuan?!"
Wen Qing and the others, who had already witnessed the signs of a completed purple mission, excitedly shouted.
This time, there were ten purple missions. Nine of them had been completed by half a month ago. Now that the sign of a completed purple mission appeared again, it was naturally the last remaining one.
This meant Li Xuan had returned!
"Let's go, to the Mission Hall!" Qiu Jiuqian and Gong Hanfeng exchanged glances, then their figures moved swiftly towards the Mission Hall.
Seeing this, Wen Qing and the others also quickly followed.
"Am I seeing things? How can there be a purple mission completion sign at this time?" The people still jeering outside Li Xuan's team's separate courtyard rubbed their eyes in surprise upon seeing the purple light column and asked the person beside them.
"If you're seeing things, then I must be too. Don't you notice Qiu Jiuqian and the others have already rushed towards the Mission Hall? Could it be that Commander Li Xuan actually completed the mission?"
"It's actually a sign of a completed purple mission. Has Commander Li Xuan returned?"
"No, I have to follow and see if it's true."
"..."
As Qiu Jiuqian and the others departed, the group outside the separate courtyard quickly reacted and rushed towards the Mission Hall.
Concurrently, in various separate courtyards across the Wood Pavilion mountain range, everyone saw the purple light column appear. After a moment's contemplation, figures moved and headed towards the Mission Hall.
"Commander Li Xuan, you truly surprise me. Haha, I just bet with Commander Mo Yu that you would succeed, and it seems I've won. Heh heh, I must go and see." Commander Zhang Xu let out a hearty laugh, then his figure moved and he vanished.
"Commander Li Xuan, I didn't expect you to actually complete the mission. Please accept these rewards." At the Wood Pavilion's Mission Hall, Elder Geng Tian looked at the Ten Thousand Peaks Spirit Wood, then at Li Xuan with a shocked expression.
As the host, he was aware of the mission's content.
Although this mission was weaker compared to the other nine purple missions, it was not easy to complete.
One must know that even Elder Geng Tian dared not show any disrespect to the existence of Elder Wan Feng. Now, Li Xuan had successfully retrieved the Ten Thousand Peaks Spirit Wood from Elder Wan Feng, which truly surprised Elder Geng Tian.
"Thank you, Elder Geng Tian." Li Xuan did not hesitate and, with a wave of his hand, collected the five jade bottles placed on the table by Elder Geng Tian.
"The Ten Thousand Peaks Spirit Wood is a sentient being. Our Wood Pavilion has a treasure land that is quite suitable for its dwelling. You need not worry about this, Commander Li Xuan. Furthermore, the issuance of this purple mission was actually to select ten disciples to cultivate in the Furnace of Creation."
"Commander Li Xuan, congratulations, you are one of these ten. Please accept this token." Elder Geng Tian nodded, then took out a golden token and handed it to Li Xuan.
"Elder Geng Tian, when will this Furnace of Creation open?" Li Xuan took the token and asked Elder Geng Tian with burning eagerness.
Originally, it was just Gong Hanfeng mentioning it, but he never expected to actually enter the Furnace of Creation for cultivation. This was undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity for Li Xuan.
"The specific opening time will be notified by the token, Commander Li Xuan. Alright, my task is complete, and it is time for me to report to the Pavilion Master and the others."
Elder Geng Tian smiled and then stood up, walking slowly towards the inner chambers.
Li Xuan bowed respectfully and looked at the golden token in his hand, a smile appearing on his lips.
He had finally secured a spot in the Furnace of Creation for cultivation!