Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit
Chapter 426: Plans of Tian-Xiang

Lu Ping’s lips twitched, “What the? This is stupid. I have something people tried their very best to obtain, yet I can’t do as I please with it!”

He quickly recovered and replied casually, “I wanted to tell you earlier, but there was no chance last night. I wouldn’t have tried my best to acquire the recipe if it weren’t for my master.”

As a frequent liar, Lu Ping found it easy to do so. When the two elders learned that Lu Ping was doing this under the order of Liu Tian-Ling, they both exchanged glances happily.

Tian-Hu said, “Let me have a look.”

Tian-Hu scanned the contents of the recipe.

A moment later, Tian-Hu calmly put down the jade scroll. Tian-Xue watched on impatiently and asked, “So? Is it usable?”

“It’s not the same as the previous ones. It’s usable!” Tian-Hu remained calm.

“Good! Good!” Tian-Xue was visibly happy.

Despite Tian-Hu maintaining a calm demeanor, Lu Ping could tell that this wasn’t the case from how hard he clenched his fist around the jade scroll.

After recovering from their complicated emotions, Tian-Xue chuckled and turned toward Lu Ping as she said, “What a cunning little fox. You’re just as sly as your master but not as cunning as she is. Bah. I’ll keep my word. Here are my treasures; you can only pick three of them.”

She did not give Lu Ping any chances to respond and threw him into the black portal she had previously opened.

After Lu Ping was sent away, Tian-Xue looked toward Tian-Hu, and said, “I never thought he would be so wealthy. He really lives up to his reputation as the wealthiest disciple.”

Tian-Hu calmly replied, “We all know about his growth. There’s nothing special about it. He’s earned his current achievements, having gone through countless battles and challenges. Everything he owns has been obtained from his effort, so how can we possibly ask for something from him, even if he has something we need? The fact that he was willing to submit the recipe only means that he still feels attached to the sect. A cultivator will eventually sever their emotions in the future; it is inevitable. But, with his attitude, emotions, and talent, his existence will only benefit the sect in every way if he can grow stronger in the future.”

Hearing that, Tian-Xue nodded. “Xuan-Feng mentioned this boy's journey in the East Ocean. I heard he’s also managing a faction in the Fallen Rift that is considerably strong. No doubt that Xuan-Feng is unhappy with Tian-Lin and Tian-Ling because of Xuan-Qin, so he caught me off guard when he acknowledged this boy.”

“Oh. I heard about that too. Tian-Xiang even went to meet this brat because of it. I was also told that the brat learned how to concoct the Health Prosper Pellet and managed to pull it off. His actions back then actually saved Xuan-Feng.”

“Xuan-Feng was depressed and lost his enthusiasm for cultivating after what happened to Xuan-Qin. Later on, Tian-Fan gave him a lecture and finally slapped Xuan-Feng. When Lu Ping returned from Fei Ling Island with the Core Forging Pellets, Xuan-Feng was supposed to receive one, but he turned it down. Fortunately, he received a 5,000-year-old Heavenly Wind Leaf with Lu Ping’s help. I was worried about Xuan-Feng’s chances of achieving a seventh-grade Golden Core, but now, he won’t be any weaker than Xuan-Cheng and Xuan-Shan.”

“But the 5,000-year-old Heavenly Wind Leaf is a tough nut to crack. If Xuan-Feng manages to melt it and put it to good use, he could be stronger than Xuan-Shan and Xuan-Cheng, even if he cannot match Feng Xu-Dao’s power. Anyway, I’ve already had the last Core Forging Pellet sent to him. I also told him to speed up things.”

“Good. But I thought the last pellet would be researched to learn how to concoct it. What happened?”

Tian-Hu merely scoffed and kept silent, causing Tian-Xue to stop asking.

A moment later, Tian-Hu broke the silence, “What are we going to do about the visitors from the East Ocean?”

Tian-Xue chuckled and replied optimistically, “What else? After arriving at the North Ocean, they visited the Xuan Ling Sect and gave them a handsome gift. Of course, the Zhen Ling Sect will want the same treatment as the Xuan Ling Sect. I suppose the other sects are also the same. The Xuan Ling Sect is the strongest in the North Ocean, and Dao-Sheng is the only late-Law Avatar Realm cultivator in the region, so they visited the Xuan Ling Sect first. They probably think that we are all beneath the Xuan Ling Sect.”

“I’m sure the Xuan Ling Sect is very lively and happy right now. They’ve received the acknowledgment from a great sect from the East Ocean!” Tian-Hu chuckled. “Senior sister, do you know how Senior Brother Tian-Xiang is doing?”

Tian-Xue’s expression turned serious, and she replied, “I haven’t heard from him since he arranged the matters when we last met in the Fallen Rift. I only know that he found Xuan-Qin before he threw himself into his cultivation. You heard about the recipe, right? The five-year Longevity Pill recipe came from the East Ocean. It’s probably the work of Xuan-Qin.”

Tian-Hu was relieved and smiled, “Well done, little one. With the two five-year Longevity Pill recipes and the previous recipes we gathered, we will be able to extend Senior Brother Tian-Kang’s lifespan by another thirty years. He will be able to enter the mid-Law Avatar Realm, and with that, his lifespan will increase and he will be able to help us win against the Xuan Ling Sect.”

Tian-Xue hurriedly chimed in excitedly, “I’ve been planning this for years. As long as he enters the mid-Law Avatar Realm, everything will be worth it!”

Tian-Hu kept quiet for a second, before asking again, “Hmmm. Senior sister, it’s been years. Is Senior Brother Tian-Xiang planning to summon Xuan-Qin back?”

“I have no idea. He didn’t say anything about it. Xuan-Lin, Xuan-Ling, and Xuan-Qin are all disobedient rascals that only listen to Senior Brother Tian-Xiang. The incident that turned Xuan-Qin and Xuan-Ling into enemies and caused Xuan-Qin to leave the sect out of anger happened over 50 years ago. Now that I think back at it, it seems we were all fooled by someone. Senior Brother Tian-Xiang anticipated something, so he headed to the Fallen Rift and started planning. Rumor had it that Xuan-Qin was going to advance to the Law Avatar Realm. With Xuan-Qin returning to the sect, Tian-Kang recovering from his injuries and advancing into the Law Avatar Realm, the Xuan Ling Sect won’t invade us even if something happens to Senior Brother Tian-Xiang. If he succeeds, then we’ll truly become the strongest sect in the region!”

As they were conversing, the black portal emerged and Lu Ping walked out of it before it dissipated. Lu Ping’s presence brought the conversation to a stop. Tian-Xue smiled, “Little fox, show me your choices.”

Her cheeky tone left Lu Ping speechless. He thought, “No wonder she’s been sent here to deal with all these old foxes. If it weren’t for her position and identity as a Law Avatar Realm elder of the sect, she’d have beaten me up as she pleased!”

Lu Ping chuckled and replied, “Junior grand aunt, you already know, don’t you?”

Tian-Xue frowned and reprimanded him, “Hurry! Just tell us! I was busy discussing some important matters with Tian-Hu. There’s no time for me to pay attention to you! If you’ve done as I’ve said, I will give you something else. Otherwise, I will skip it!”

Left with no choice, Lu Ping revealed the three items he selected from Tian-Xue’s collection.

“Oh? Spirit Gathering Pearls? Not bad. I heard you found and developed an island overseas. The island possesses three small spirit veins, one of which you stole from a clan that pledged its loyalty to our sect?”

“That’s nothing but rumors. Apart from the one I found in the monsters’ cave, the rest were all nurtured and created through the Spirit Gathering Pearls I found in my adventures.”

Tian-Xue gave Lu Ping an indescribable smile, but she did not pry any further. As for Lu Ping, he remained calm and wore a righteous expression, as if he did not do anything wrong.

Tian-Hu picked up one of the jade boxes and realized that it contained a jet black Golden Core.

Tian-Hu frowned. “The Mystic Turtle Golden Core? What’s this for?”

Lu Ping explained, “I have a pet tortoise monster. It’s in the Blood Condensation Realm. I’ve prepared this for its advancement into the Core Forging Realm.”

Tian-Xue glanced at the jet-black Golden Core, and said, “I once killed a Core Forging Realm Mystic Turtle during an adventure in the South Ocean. The Mystic Turtles are considered one of the stronger species of tortoise monsters. They aren’t as strong as Tyrant Turtles but they can still pose a threat.”

The third item was a wood-type wonder item, which looked just like tree roots.

Tian-Xue couldn’t help but voice out her curiosity, and ask, “Strange. I understand that my treasures aren’t the best, but there are still items far better than this. There are also some mysterious techniques, pellets, and more. Why this wonder item?”

Lu Ping smiled, “Great Ancestor, your collections are amazing, and I want to have them all. However, after careful consideration, I decided to pick the items I could use immediately. The rest of the items are no doubt powerful, but I cannot convert them into my own strength any time soon.”