Under the wild bird’s transportation, Gu Zuo and Gongyi Tianheng passed through layer after layer of thick fog and wall after wall of precipitous mountain peaks until they entered the very depths of the Sect.
Here, there was a lengthy mountain range and an enormous and vast building complex.
After the wild bird landed, the group made their way past a long flight of stairs, and arrived inside a prestigious palace.
Within the somewhat conspicuously unadorned main hall, there were a couple of people who were sitting in chairs.
Gu Zuo felt it was relatively strange that, whether it was Shuangyun Hall or the residences of other people with reportedly high and weighty positions, the atmospheres within were always very serene and dignified. However, the feeling that this place gave others was different. Even though it was still comparatively solemn, it didn’t make one feel too threatened.
Moreover, the people who sat in the chairs were average and unassuming at first glance.
There were three people.
Among them, one was quite old. He wore white robes, and his hair was graying. There were also faint traces of pill fragrance on his body. His posture was aged, but his eyes were lively. He should be that Golden-Level pharmacist.
The second person revealed a kindly smile after Xu Lingxiu entered. He wore yellow robes, and appeared to be a forty-something year old, middle-aged man. However, the expression in his eyes wasn’t like that of some high-ranked, middle-aged men who bore flourishing ambitions. On the contrary, he was gentle and placid, as if he had been in retirement for many years. Hence, he should be Xu Lingxiu’s paternal grandfather, the Grand Elder of the Xu Clan.
And the one who was both the most eye-catching and the most easily overlooked was the third person.
This man appeared to be forty to fifty years old, but with a second glance, he seemed to be only twenty to thirty years old. His eyes were as abstruse as the stars, but with careful observation, one would feel that he was average in every way.
His appearance wasn’t gallantly handsome. On the contrary, he was very ordinary. If he hadn’t shown up in this main hall and instead appeared in the middle of a crowd, one basically wouldn’t haven been able to spot him — Yet, for whatever reason, when one inadvertently looked into his eyes, a person wouldn’t be able to tear their gaze away.
There was no need for any words. He was certainly the leading role who summoned them here today. He was Qingyun Sect’s Sect Master.
After Gu Zuo and Tianheng came in, they diligently followed Xu Lingxiu’s lead, and paid their respects to the three seated people.
Regardless of experience, strength, or even age, those three people deserved their utter confidence — Even the Sect Master, who was the youngest one here, was around three hundred years old.
The Sect Master was good-natured, and still looked like an ordinary man: “Take a seat, you three.”
Xu Lingxiu sat down first. Then, Gu Zuo and Tianheng sat next to Xu Lingxiu.
Grand Elder Xu smiled and spoke first: “The contributions you two have made aren’t small. Sure enough, with one look today, both of you are dragons and phoenixes among men. You’re also rare talents of our Qingyun Sect. I’ve listened to Lingxiu talk, and it hasn’t even been one year since you two entered the Sect. You also haven’t received too much assistance from the Sect. It goes to show that your aptitudes are extraordinary. It makes one exclaim in admiration.”
Gu Zuo heard this, and felt a little embarrassed.
Why was it that, even if it was praise, it sounded so sincere coming from the top personages of the Sect?
Tianheng showed an appropriate smile: “These disciples don’t deserve your praise.”
Gu Zuo also hastily bowed his head.
At this moment, the Sect Master wore a faint smile. He opened his mouth: “Those who contribute to the Sect ought to be rewarded. The contributions made by you two are enormous. If there’s anything you want, there’s no harm in mentioning it. The Sect will definitely meet them.”
While he was speaking, he waved a hand.
From a corner, a person wordlessly came over, carrying a tray. The things on the tray were delivered before Gu Zuo and Tianheng.
Gu Zuo lowered his head and took a look. Ten tokens were tightly arranged on top of the tray.
The first token was an Elder Token. Every Elder of the Pharmacist Hall possessed this thing. And as for the name on this token, the words written were “Gu Zuo” — Unexpectedly, this was directly handed over to him, allocating the status of an Elder. Moreover, this Elder Token wasn’t the type that lacked authority. Rather, it was one that held a certain amount of power…
The next nine tokens were all blank tokens.
But, what did a blank token mean?
Gu Zuo didn’t know what these things were, but Xu Lingxiu did!
Xu Lingxiu explained without delay: “Each token can be exchanged for one thing from the Sect. You can also raise one request to the Sect. Junior Sect Brother Gu, this is an unprecedentedly generous gift of the Sect!”
Gu Zuo sucked in a cold breath.
Exchanging something with the Sect was one thing, but raising a request was totally different. After his astonishment, he promptly thought of a silly question — In that case, if his request was to make ten more requests, would the Sect honor it? Of course, this restless and troublesome way of thinking was quickly suppressed by him.
Right now, the important point wasn’t this. It was what he should ask for…
Subconsciously, Gu Zuo first put forward the discussions that he previously had with Tianheng: “I’ll exchange this for a stalk of spirit medicine.” He took out one blank token, and put it on the side, “This is also for exchanging a stalk of spirit medicine…” He took out another token and put it to the side, “This is also for a stalk of spirit medicine…”
He repeated this process over and over again.
Gu Zuo took out no less than five tokens, and wanted to exchange them for five stalks of spirit medicine.
Soon after, he took out the next token, but he hesitated: “I’ll exchange this one for a wisp of a first-class Earth Fire.” He took out the one after that, “This’ll be exchanged for a top-notch, attributed pill cauldron.”
Now, only two tokens remained.
Gu Zuo paused: “For these two tokens, I’d like to exchange them for something that can swiftly raise my family’s young master’s strength without any hidden dangers, and perhaps for something that can appropriately increase my family’s young master’s long-term salary… However, I’m not too clear about what’s suitable. I’ll have to ask that the Sect Master and my distinguished seniors take charge of this decision.”
It was such a short period of time. While it didn’t seem like he put much thought into it, nine blank tokens had already been used up in a clatter of tile against tray — In Xu Lingxiu’s opinion, the average person wouldn’t have done this.
These things appeared to be plentiful, but Xu Lingxiu felt that it simply wasn’t equal to the value of that psychic power technique. It seemed that Gu Zuo was being a little foolish.
However, Xu Lingxiu soon looked at the expressions of the Sect Master and the others.
Indeed, he failed to distinguish what that profoundly mysterious Sect Master was thinking, but he was capable of recognizing the mood of his family’s grandfather… It was clearly one of appreciation.
After that, Xu Lingxiu reconsidered things, and came to an understanding.
These requests were definitely ones that Gu Zuo had discussed with Tianheng! Truly, it suited their present selves. Most of all, the last two requests were quite tactful. Wasn’t the Sect capable of giving Gongyi Tianheng the most generous reciprocation?
The Sect Master nodded his head in praise: “Neither arrogant nor impatient. Very good.”
The Golden-Level pharmacist and Grand Elder Xu were likewise appreciative.
For such individuals who could recognize their own positions and not lose themselves to their own ambitions, so long as their luck wasn’t too bad, they would certainly become capable people in the future. On top of that, the Sect had already thoroughly investigated the origins of the two. Their family backgrounds were spotless. They really were talents who deserved to be meticulously nurtured.
Hence, after this bit of appreciation, everything that Gu Zuo requested was promptly fetched by the Sect Master’s dispatched people. As for the remaining two requests that focused on Tianheng, the Sect Master had come to a decision.
The Sect Master looked at Tianheng, and he was still very amiable: “This time, the Sect has taken hold of a small advantage, and you two have been so humble. I have decided to grant you the salary of an Elder. Merely, your present realm is insufficient. As you haven’t reached the Immortal Realm, it’s inappropriate for you to handle those miscellaneous tasks.
“Thus, you can only receive an Elder’s allowance, and an additional two hundred nominal disciple placements. Moreover, each of your current subordinate nominal disciples can obtain an Outer Sect disciple’s allowance. For those nominal disciples who’re strong enough to be promoted to Outer Sect disciples, they can get the salaries of Inner Sect disciples. In addition, some resources will be granted to you as a reserve.”
Naturally, Tianheng expressed his thanks at once.
These were benefits without any power attached to it. This appeared to be meaningless, but in reality, to have power was to have obligations. While he didn’t originally have any authority, he also didn’t have to undertake any obligations. Thus, he could freely obtain benefits. Even having so many placements, which could win the support of others, was already enough.
The Sect Master’s words had yet to end: “This will be considered one token’s request.” Following which, he continued to speak, “That second token will be exchanged for a token of passage to the Qingyun Mountain Range. Those who hold this token may have a turn of the True Qi Pond for the use of cultivation.”
Gu Zuo was astonished.
True Qi Pond? What was that?
However, he also didn’t interrupt. Instead, he looked at Tianheng.
Tianheng understood Gu Zuo’s intent. Because this was classified as his reward, he took the initiative to ask: “May I ask the Sect Master what this True Qi Pond is?”
The Sect Master smiled: “Naturally, it’s a place where true qi accumulates. For any Xiantian martial artists who cultivate in this place, their cultivation speeds will be several times faster than the outside world.”
This kind of unusual place actually existed!
Gu Zuo thought about it, and didn’t feel it was strange. Back when they were in the Cangyun Empire, wasn’t there the Blue Dragon Pool, that astonishing place which promoted cultivation? Qingyun Sect’s scale of operations was so huge that it wasn’t odd for there to be a special cultivation site, too.
At this moment, Tianheng pretended to hesitate slightly, and asked: “Would Ah Zuo be able to come with me?”
The Sect Master heard this, and his expression slightly stirred. After that, he just said: “Originally, one token would only allow one person to go, but the situation surrounding you two is unusual. I will specially pass along a two-person order with my Sect Master official seal on it. At that time, whether you two decide to go over separately or together, no one will be able to obstruct you.”
Tianheng and Gu Zuo listened, and hastily paid their respects: “Many thanks, Sect Master!”
Not long after, the things that ought to have been given to the pair were delivered. Gu Zuo obtained an inter-spatial tool. The stuff that was sealed inside were all good things. Additionally, the two of them each received a token. Written on Tianheng’s token was the location of the True Qi Pond as well as the names of the pair.
At this time, the Sect Master’s summons had come to an end. It was now Tianheng and Gu Zuo’s turn to say their goodbyes and depart.
But right at this very moment, Grand Elder Xu and that Golden-Level pharmacist stood up. They wanted to guide the pair to that True Qi Pond so that they could get to know the area.
Gu Zuo naturally felt flattered by this favor from a superior, but the Sect Master didn’t seem to think that this proposal was strange. The Sect Master waved a hand, letting them leave together.
Thus, a group of people really departed from this main hall.
Among them, Xu Lingxiu was also able to tag along to increase his knowledge.
While they traveled, Gu Zuo and Tianheng, as the younger generations, were obediently following their seniors. Unexpectedly, that Golden-Level pharmacist took the initiative to speak: “These two students, know that this is all thanks to that method you two took out.”
Of course, once Gu Zuo heard this, he promptly said: “I don’t dare to accept this praise.”
Likewise, Tianheng also wanted to be modest and humble, and so he expressed his own humility and reverence.
However, off to the side, Grand Elder Xu appeared to be unlike that icily arrogant Golden-Level pharmacist. At this time, he even took the initiative to join the conversation. He directly said to them: “You don’t need to feel frightened. A ‘thank you’ will suffice. With this, my most beloved Lingxiu will be even more promising from now on, and perhaps that Golden-Level pharmacist won’t be the end. In this Sect, maybe there’ll be even more Golden-Level pharmacists springing up some day. This is a blessing for the Sect.
He continued: “All rewards given by the Sect will eventually return to the Sect. In the future, my Xu Clan will have a great gift for the both of you.”
Tianheng and Gu Zuo watched as they spoke in such a way, and could only repeatedly say things like “You flatter me” and so on. However, any more modest refusals had ceased.
It didn’t take long for the group to reach that mountain range — That is, Qingyun Mountain Range.
There weren’t any buildings here; only caverns of various sizes. The place they headed towards was a hill which wasn’t that tall, and their final destination was a cavern halfway up that hill.
T/N: Thanks for the correction, Charysa.
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