The next morning, Fang Xuan woke from his meditation, feeling a bit out of sorts.
He couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong; he just didn't have that refreshed feeling from the previous morning.
As usual, he practiced his sword in the courtyard for a while, getting accustomed to the more agile sword momentum enhanced by his new spirit bone.
The black sword also seemed satisfied with the spiritual power generated by this new bone, as its baleful energy had become much more docile.
After finishing his practice, he casually tossed the sword aside.
Just as he finished tidying up, the disciple jade plaque in his storage ring glowed slightly; it was a message from the main peak.
Lu Qingsong had sent it directly, summoning him to the main peak hall for a meeting.
A meeting?
Fang Xuan knew in his heart that this likely had to do with the deaths of the elite disciples in the secret realm a few days ago.
He walked out of the room to find Ning Xian in the courtyard.
She was dressed in a plain green gown, her long hair still tied with that wooden hairpin, and her cold eyes turned toward him.
"Senior Sister, Lu Qingsong wants me to go to the main peak," Fang Xuan said.
"Mhm," Ning Xian responded, naturally walking to his side, her intention clear: she was coming along.
Fang Xuan didn't stop her.
He knew Ning Xian certainly wouldn't feel at ease otherwise.
The two walked out of the valley side by side.
.......
Upon reaching the main peak.
Ning Xian was still somewhat worried that Fang Xuan might do something foolish, so she directly grabbed his wrist. "Don't think about trying to take down Lu Qingsong."
"If you must... wait for later. I'll come back and handle it eventually."
Fang Xuan was stunned, not expecting his senior sister to still remember the words he had said specifically to provoke her before.
However, that was his original intention anyway.
"Mhm, alright..."
Ning Xian glanced at him, seemingly wanting to confirm if he had truly abandoned the idea, before finally gently withdrawing her hand.
"I'll wait for you here..."
.......
In the main peak hall, the atmosphere was much heavier than usual.
A fair number of people were already seated inside—peak lords, elders, and a small number of core direct disciples.
Fang Xuan found an inconspicuous corner to sit in and observed silently.
Sect Master Lu Qingsong sat high in the primary seat, still looking elegant and composed, though a hint of gloom touched his brow.
After all, those dead disciples were nominally the future pillars of the Qingyun Sect, and their loss was a "major setback" under his governance.
The theme of the meeting was indeed the follow-up regarding the secret realm incident and... the upcoming Southern Wilderness Dao Conference.
Although the Southern Wilderness was the smallest of the five regions, it still spanned tens of thousands of miles, with numerous kingdoms and a complex web of sects and families.
This Southern Wilderness Dao Conference was held once every ten years, hosted in rotation by several of the strongest sects.
On the surface, it was a grand event for the younger generation to exchange skills and showcase their respective powers.
In reality, it was the main stage for redividing territories and fighting for control over resources.
As a recognized power in the Southern Wilderness, the Qingyun Sect had dominated previous conferences.
This wasn't just about prestige; it was about practical interests.
Higher-ranking sects could obtain more resource allocations, attract better talents, and even catch the attention of certain major powers from the other four regions.
But now, almost an entire generation of elite direct disciples had been lost in the secret realm, leaving a severe gap in the younger generation.
It was hard to say whether the Qingyun Sect could maintain its top position in this conference.
If their ranking slipped and the news spread through the Southern Wilderness, it would be a heavy blow to the sect's reputation, and the subsequent chain reaction would be disastrous.
The people in the hall argued incessantly.
Some advocated for biding time, sending fewer people and keeping a low profile to protect the remaining core seeds.
Others argued that they must remain strong and go all out, maintaining the sect's dignity at any cost.
Finally, Lu Qingsong made the final decision. "For this conference, quality is more important than quantity. Our Qingyun Sect shall be represented by Fang Xuan and... Wu Hao."
Lu Qingsong continued, "Both are in the Void Core Realm and are at the peak of their potential, more than enough to display the might of our Qingyun Sect! We depart in three days for the Tianlan Kingdom to attend the conference, which will last for half a month."
"We do not seek to win everything, but we must show the grace of our Qingyun Sect. Do not let the sect's reputation fall."
When the meeting ended and the crowd dispersed, Lu Qingsong called out to Fang Xuan specifically. "Martial Nephew Fang, please stay. Follow me."
Fang Xuan thought to himself: Here it comes.
He followed Lu Qingsong to the rear of the hall.
Lu Qingsong stood by the spirit pond with his hands behind his back, facing away from Fang Xuan.
He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "When did you break through to the Golden Core Realm?"
Fang Xuan replied, "It was just luck."
"Luck?" Lu Qingsong turned around with a smile.
"A seventeen-year-old Golden Core... can that really be summed up by the word 'luck'? Martial Nephew Fang, you are very good—even better than I anticipated. Hahaha."
His words seemed to hint at something deeper, but Fang Xuan pretended not to understand and maintained his humble posture.
Lu Qingsong seemed satisfied with his attitude.
"This Southern Wilderness Dao Conference concerns the sect's face and, more importantly, the offerings the Qingyun Sect receives from the mortal imperial families."
"I place great hopes in you, so naturally, I cannot let you go empty-handed." As Lu Qingsong spoke, he suddenly waved his hand.
The colossal flood dragon in the pond abruptly lifted its head from the water.
Lu Qingsong reached out into the air with a casual grabbing motion.
"Roar—!" The flood dragon let out a pained howl, its massive body thrashing violently and making the pond water boil.
A palm-sized scale shimmering with a crimson-gold luster was forcibly torn from the reverse scale spot beneath the flood dragon's neck!
Blood instantly dyed a patch of the pond water red.
In extreme pain, the flood dragon lunged upward.
Lightning flickered on its twin horns as it actually tried to resist.
"Noisy." Lu Qingsong frowned slightly and waved his other hand casually.
An invisible, massive force pressed down, slamming the flood dragon's head hard against the edge of the pond. After a few struggles, it went completely limp.
As if he had only performed a trivial task, Lu Qingsong brought the still-bloody crimson-gold reverse scale into his hand and held it out to Fang Xuan.
"This dragon has thin traces of true dragon blood. This reverse scale is the essence of its being—incredibly tough and containing its natal essence and a hint of dragon's might."
"Keep it on your person. At a critical moment, it is enough to block a full-strength strike from a Transformation Realm cultivator."
Fang Xuan's heart stirred. A strike from the Transformation Realm?
The value of this reverse scale was practically immeasurable; he hadn't expected Lu Qingsong to be willing to give him something like this.
However, he remained expressionless on the surface.
He took the reverse scale. It felt heavy in his hand, and the vast energy contained within it startled him.
"Sect Master, this item is too precious. This disciple is unworthy... and while the Dao Conference is a match of skill, if I use this, I'm afraid..." He let his voice trail off.
Lu Qingsong looked at him, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.
What he wanted was exactly this kind of "knowledgeable" and "sensible" reaction from Fang Xuan.
"Take it," Lu Qingsong said in an unquestionable tone. "Since I am giving it to you, I naturally have my reasons."
"The Dao Conference is a sparring match on the surface, but you cannot be unaware of the hidden dangers beneath. Only with this protecting you can I feel at ease."
He paused, his voice dropping a few notches. "As for Wu Hao... kill him no matter what."
This was his true purpose.
He gave the reverse scale because Wu Hao certainly wouldn't be short on trump cards. He had to ensure Fang Xuan succeeded without any mistakes.
Perhaps fearing Fang Xuan might still feel hesitant, Lu Qingsong patted his shoulder with just the right amount of pressure. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. If Wu Hao 'accidentally' perishes during the conference, who can investigate?"
"As for within the sect... I have my own arrangements. You only need to remember, no matter what backup Wu Hao claims to have..."
He leaned closer, his voice icy.
"Kill him."
Having said that, without waiting for Fang Xuan's response, Lu Qingsong's expression changed instantly, returning to his elegant and gentle persona.
He pulled a storage pouch from his sleeve and pressed it into Fang Xuan's hand.
"Inside are some pills, talismans, and a flying artifact I used in my earlier years. They should be of help on your journey."
"Prepare well. We depart in three days. Upon your return, I will promote you to young sect master and prepare you to lead the Qingyun Sect in the future."
Looking at Fang Xuan now, he was more satisfied the more he looked.
A sharp, useful blade that seemed very easy to control.
Fang Xuan lowered his head and bowed. "This disciple obeys your command. I will not fail the Sect Master's trust."
"Very good. Go now." Lu Qingsong waved his hand in satisfaction.
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