Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 461: Return (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 461: Chapter 461: Return (Please Subscribe)

Southern Wilderness.

Yue Country, Xuanhai Sect.

Time hurried by; since Zhong Shenxiu had left, decades had passed.

As the Sect’s protective Ancestor, his decades of absence, especially after releasing the significant bombshell of the Qi Gathering Cultivation Technique, obviously caused turbulence.

Fortunately, Qingshi Zen Master and Xuan Ying along with other elders managed to maintain stability; they even spread the Qi Gathering Cultivation Technique to the outside world, causing it to flourish in the Southern Wilderness and build connections worldwide, thus avoiding the biggest catastrophe.

Moreover, a student of Ancestor Shenxiu, Zhu Long’er, proved to be incredibly fortunate - within just a few decades, he successfully condensed a Leakless Golden Core, which was even a Top-grade Pill! This stabilized the situation instantly.

Zhu Ling’er and Liu Wugen also accumulated profound cultivation, reaching the Refining Gang Realm and became elders of the Xuanhai Sect.

With these three contributing, along with the support of the Miao Xian Sect’s Miao Yin Immortal and another Middle-grade Golden Core Ancestor, Fei Hong’er, they managed to prevent any catastrophic downfall of the Xuanhai Sect.

This also spared Zhong Shenxiu from having to initiate a massive slaughter upon his return.

One day.

Within the sect’s gates.

A pretty young girl leisurely strolled outside the Sea Covering Hall—it was Zhu Ling’er.

Cultivators retained their youthful appearance well, and as a Refining Gang Cultivator, she wasn’t considered old, thus maintained her appearance as a pretty young girl, nearly the same as when Zhong Shenxiu first met her. However, there was now a hint of maturity in her eyes.

At that moment, she seemed to be troubled by something and heaved a soft sigh.

"Auntie, Auntie..."

Zhu Ling’er’s headache grew with these calls.

Following behind were several young boys and girls, all outstanding nephews and nieces from the Zhu Family.

Because of the influence of Zhu Long’er and his siblings within the Xuanhai Sect, standards were inevitably relaxed, admitting many Zhu family members regardless of their potential.

The Zhu family cultivators also grew bold, treating the Xuanhai Sect almost as their private property.

Especially after Zhu Long’er formed his Top-grade Golden Core, this attitude intensified.

Seeing Zhu Ling’er, those nephews immediately crowded around her, saying, "Auntie... those spiritual mines overseas should not be cheaply handed to outsiders; let us go instead."

"The position of managing the sect affairs, I’ve promised to Song Yun; I can’t give it to a second person."

...

Seeing Zhu Ling’er, the nephews brightened and bombarded her with requests, causing her to roll her eyes.

But they were all relatives, whether from her cousin’s or from her aunt’s families...it was really...tricky to handle.

Zhu Ling’er, after all, came from a merchant background, skillful and amiable in all her dealings as if it were ingrained in her bones, which made her lack a bit of the sharpness expected of cultivators.

Her nephews and nieces pleaded persistently, and she eventually relented, which led to the Zhu family’s influence growing further within the Xuanhai Sect, causing dissatisfaction among the non-related elders.

"Alright, within the sect, don’t call me auntie, call me Senior Uncle. I’ve got important matters to attend to; don’t follow me."

Zhu Ling’er put on her elder’s face and escaped into the Sea Covering Hall, finally sighing in relief.

The Sea Covering Hall was the heart of the entire Xuanhai Sect. After Zhong Shenxiu had left, a system was established where six elders and three students would confer together.

At this time, Qingshi, Xuan Ying, and other elders, along with Liu Wugen and Zhu Long’er, had already arrived.

Zhu Long’er was no longer the delicate child from before; he had grown into a man, elegant and noble with a much colder temperament.

As an Ancestor with a Top-grade Golden Core, beside him, in the spacious main seat, there was a throne-like chair, somewhat analogous to a regent’s.

Upon seeing Zhu Ling’er enter, he frowned and said, "Did those bastards bother you again, sister?"

"After all, we are relatives," Zhu Ling’er said with an embarrassed expression.

"But it’s all the hindrance of cultivation, my sister is too shy, and hardly anyone comes to ask me," Zhu Long’er frowned.

’That’s because... The third household’s Qi asked you for an easy task, and you directly sent him to the Sea Demon Battlefield. Within a year, he was gone... After that, who would dare to ask you?’

Zhu Ling’er rolled her eyes, feeling unsure whether she was envious or jealous.

Sometimes, she really wished she could be like her younger brother, solely devoted to cultivation, indifferent to everything else.

"You and our fellow senior brothers and sisters need not take it too seriously, it’s just a trivial matter."

Another young man laughed, it was Liu Wugen, whose cultivation had reached the Peak of Refining Gang, and it seemed he was on the verge of Core Formation.

"This gathering is to discuss our Xuanhai Sect’s moving beyond Yue Country... Our sect’s strength has increased significantly now..."

Qingshi Zen Master coughed and stepped forward.

Since the reform by Zhong Shenxiu, the Xuanhai Sect had weathered storms but had also developed prosperously.

Apart from Zhu Long’er, Qingshi Zen Master had also succeeded in forming his Golden Core. Though it was only a Seventh Grade Pill, he had become a Golden Core Ancestor.

And among the six great elders, there were elders who passed away, and their successors took their place, even producing a Sixth Grade Golden Core master.

"If we want to develop further, where should we go... Although the sea is vast, suitable islands for living are few... Nearby, our relationships with the White Water Sect and Miao Xian Sect are quite good."

Zhu Ling’er frowned.

"If we want significant development, we can only go north, into the heart of the Southern Wilderness..." Elder Xuan Ying coughed and said.

"North of Yue Country lies Wuxie Country, although there are no strong factions there, it is under the protection of Taixu Sect..."

Zhu Ling’er shook her head, "Taixu Sect is the number one sect of the Southern Wilderness, we should avoid conflict with them."

"Humph... What about Taixu Sect? Ever since Leng Yue Immortal defected, it has never been the same as before... They even troubled us over our cultivation technique before, we need to settle that grudge!"

The Sixth Grade Golden Core Ancestor exclaimed, "Taixu Sect has their Supreme Elder, but our Elder Zhu Long’er is not inferior at all!"

"What happened with Taixu Sect now?"

Suddenly, a voice, both unfamiliar yet familiar, resounded within the hall.

Zhu Long’er trembled all over, looking at the seat of honor where a young man had suddenly appeared, his eyes filled with tears as he knelt down and exclaimed, "Student greets the Teacher!"

"Teacher!"

Liu Wugen and Zhu Ling’er rubbed their eyes and, seeing Zhu Long’er kneeling, realized it was neither an illusion nor anything else and quickly paid their respects.

"Sect Leader!"

Qingshi Zen Master was overjoyed, "You’ve finally returned!"

"Yes... It’s been years since we last met. You’ve managed our sect very prosperously, but what issue do we have with Taixu Sect?"

Zhong Shenxiu suddenly felt a bit guilty, wondering if the exposure of cultivation techniques from Zhu Long’er and the others had been revealed?

In fact, being exposed was not a big deal, but if it connected to that incident from the past, it would be awkward.

Killing everyone from Taixu Sect to silence them would also be arduous work.

He had arrived too quickly and missed the earlier part of the discussion.

"Reporting to Teacher, it’s about the matter of expanding Xuanhai Sect’s influence..."

Zhu Ling’er explained with a smile.

"So, it’s such a trivial matter..."

Zhong Shenxiu breathed a sigh of relief inside.