Chapter 59: Chapter 55: Holy Land Envoy
"Tai Xu Holy Land?"
The name was not new to Chu Zheng; Fu Quanliang had mentioned it before during the last visit to the Song Residence.
The gifted individual from the Zhao Family of Great Zhou with high-quality Immortal Bone, Zhao Tingxian, had once served as the Saint Heir within the Tai Xu Holy Land.
"Indeed, when the Immortal Sect goes to war, the consequences are substantial; without checks and balances, it would affect billions of people. The surrounding dozens of countries would be dragged into warfare, affecting them for thousands, even tens of thousands of years. Holy Lands usually step in to mediate."
Fu Quanliang pondered for a moment before saying, "A Holy Land emissary visited three years ago due to the high-quality Immortal Bone matter. Sister Song had joined the sect for only half a month at that time and was just taken out by the Supreme Elder, so she missed the meeting."
"The news spreads this quickly?" Chu Zheng was somewhat surprised.
"Across tens of millions of miles, there are hundreds of big and small sects. Each sect, before accepting disciples, not only examines the bones but also uses Stepping Stones of Immortality for determination to reveal the true grade of Immortal Bones."
"What are Stepping Stones of Immortality?" Chu Zheng was surprised, having thought that Immortal Bones would be easy to discern.
"Stepping Stones of Immortality are sent out from the Tai Xu Holy Land and can sense the tier of Immortal Bones. The higher the grade of Immortal Bone, the stronger the reaction from the stone, said to be an avatar of an Immortal Treasure."
Upon hearing this, Chu Zheng's expression changed; his first thought was that the Tai Xu Holy Land was monopolizing talent, protectively absorbing all prodigies that could pose a threat.
Whenever a sect produced a genius, the Tai Xu Holy Land could pre-emptively bring them into the Holy Land, avoiding potential great enemies in the future and adding to their sect's heritage, undoubtedly killing two birds with one stone.
The strong remain strong.
Fu Quanliang looked around and said through a spiritual message transmission, "I heard that this emissary didn't come just because of the sect's war, but also partly because of Zhao Tingxian."
"What does this have to do with Zhao Tingxian?" Chu Zheng's expression grew even more puzzled.
"I heard it from a senior sister. The Phantom Spirit Sect within Great Zhou Territory has already evacuated. It's because Zhao Tingxian suddenly manifested his power, killing an Elder of the Night Light Pavilion right at the Song Residence."
"The Song Residence?" Chu Zheng gasped in a breath of cool air.
He had not anticipated that matters at the Song Family would alert an Immortal Sect Elder, who then died. If he had lingered longer at the time, he might have been dead by now.
Chu Zheng pondered for a moment, then asked Fu Quanliang for his opinion, "Do you think this battle could really start?"
"It would be best if it doesn't start, for if it truly begins, I fear it would end with both sides severely damaged. I would certainly be among the first to enter the battlefield."
Fu Quanliang frowned slightly, uncertainly saying, "I feel this matter should be resolved with the mediation of the Holy Land."
Chu Zheng had the same thought; the Phantom Spirit Sect wouldn't pay such a great price for Song Lingqing. If a genuine battle started, the Night Light Pavilion's power clearly outmatched them substantially.
The best choice for Phantom Spirit Sect would be to negotiate for some benefits under the mediation of the Holy Land.
Perhaps, that was the original intention.
Chu Zheng rubbed his brow, organizing his thoughts, his mind becoming clearer.
Three years ago, the special emissary from the Tai Xu Holy Land came because of the change in the Stepping Stone of Immortality, and so it was certain that a person with high-quality Immortal Bone existed.
If Phantom Spirit Sect intended to hide this, it was likely they wanted to preserve this individual as a backup plan for the sect.
Song Lingqing was merely a stand-in then; perhaps the shattering of her Immortal Bone was pre-planned.
Now, it had been some time since Song Lingqing's Immortal Bone was shattered, yet news of the changing True Disciple position had been delayed, perhaps intentionally waiting for this Holy Land emissary.
"Wait here a moment,"
Coming back to his senses, Chu Zheng took a bag of Waste Elixir into a thatched hut and spent nearly half an hour restoring the Zeroth Order elixirs.
He picked out two types of power-enhancing elixirs and filled several hundred pills in a sea bowl, stepping out of the hut to hand them to Fu Quanliang:
"These should still be of some use to you."
Looking at the sharply emanating pills in the sea bowl, Fu Quanliang was momentarily lost in thought. In his ten years in the sect, he had never seen so many power-enhancing Spirit Pills.
With so many elixirs, in Illusory Spirit City, one could exchange several superior artifacts.
"This is..."
Fu Quanliang quickly thought of the waste elixirs from earlier, a flash of shock flickering through his eyes. Just as he looked up to ask, he saw Chu Zheng shake his head.
"I understand."
Always prudent, he quickly grasped the situation, his expression solemn as he wrapped the bowl in a cloth bag.
Such an astonishing method was tantamount to creation; surely, even the Holy Lands would be moved.
Having known Chu Zheng for so long, this was the first time Fu Quanliang had seen a tangible benefit, inevitably stirring his emotions.
"These elixirs can only be consumed, not sold. The peril involved, you need not speak of it, as you already understand," Chu Zheng reminded him.
Although these elixirs were not high-grade, their medicinal power was absolutely several times stronger than that of similar elixirs.
In any elixir-making process, some of the medicinal power would inevitably be lost, but once restored, these missing parts would be replenished, something that no alchemist could achieve.
"I understand."
Fu Quanliang nodded, clutching the cloth bag tightly to his chest, "When I collect the waste elixirs, I will be more cautious, ensuring that no one discovers me."
With the support of these elixirs, even if his talent were poorer, entering the Spiritual Spring within a year would be as easy as flipping his hand.
This was equivalent to Chu Zheng changing his fate.
...
...
A few days later.
At noon, at the main peak of the Phantom Spirit Sect.
Inside the grand hall at the summit, stood over a hundred scattered figures, with two figures occupying the main seats.
Sitting in the chair in the middle was a middle-aged man clad in a moon-white robe, robust in stature, with hair as dark as ink and eyes deep as abysses, the marks of time etched upon his face.
Though he appeared to be nearly in his fifties, sitting in the chair, he was like a tiger lying in wait, surveying all around, the pressures suppressing all movements within the hall.
The envoy from Tai Xu Holy Land, Ling Qi, an invincible powerhouse who had stepped into the Divine Infant Seven Transformations.
His power alone could push through the entire Phantom Spirit Sect.
Beside him was a man in his thirties, clad in a blue robe, tall and handsome, with an aura as clear as the moon, the sect leader of Phantom Spirit Sect, Gu Chunyang, his cultivation having reached Divine Infant Perfection.
Ling Qi scanned the hall and spoke in a steady tone, "Where is the person?
Gu Chunyang immediately gestured, "Summon Song Lingqing."
A figure walked slowly into the hall and stopped at the center of the grand hall.
Song Lingqing raised her head, her gaze silently sweeping around— the Great Elders of both Inner and Outer Sects, the Elixir Hall, the Punishment Hall, several Peak Masters, and even the Supreme Elders in seclusion were all present.
Such a large assembly she had only seen when she first joined the sect. Recalling it now, her memory was somewhat blurry; at that time, the gazes of these elders were not focused on her.
Without waiting for Gu Chunyang to speak, Ling Qi had already stood up and with one step, was already standing in front of Song Lingqing:
"The child has suffered."
Ling Qi's gaze was gentle as he raised his hand to touch the back of Song Lingqing's head, his brow slowly furrowing, his eyes turning slightly cold:
"Is this the high-quality Immortal Seedling?"