Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit - Chapter 362
Chapter 362 – Trouble
Zhong Jian was quick to notice Lu Ping’s reaction, and asked, “Junior Brother Lu, what are you up to lately?”
Everyone present turned their attention to Lu Ping.
Ma Yu followed on from her lover, and said, “With Junior Brother Lu being a Master Alchemist, the sect won’t be willing to dispatch him out to the wild. He will likely be assigned somewhere on Tian Ling Mountain. Not to mention, he’s the only one who can concoct the extremely effective recovery pellets that even Great Ancestor Tian-Lu praised. The pellet was said to have greatly improved Senior Uncle Xuan-Sen’s recovery.”
Although the group of friends nodded in agreement, they knew Lu Ping well enough and were looking at him. Yao Yong said, “What a pity, if you don’t go out there and fight, your place in the North Ocean Prodigies will get replaced soon.”
Shi Lingling glanced at Yao Yong, and said, “Is the ranking that important? I certainly don’t think so. Whoever created it bore no good intentions. Many cultivators have died not from fighting monsters, but from schemes and betrayals from our own kind.”
Yao Yong smiled awkwardly and didn’t reply. He was somehow quite obedient when it came to Shi Lingling.
Amongst the group, Chen Lian knew Lu Ping the best, so he had kind of guessed what Lu Ping had in mind, especially when he saw him smiling quietly. Chen Lian said, “Lu Ping can never sit still. Since when has he stopped getting himself involved in things?”
The friends nodded in unison again.
First, he challenged Li Xuan-Liang and defeated the Mid Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master.
Then, he accepted Ouyang Wei-Jian’s challenge and defeated the Xuan Ling Sect sword genius in swordsmanship.
After that, he left to sea and saved Qu Xuan-Cheng from the monster race’s evil plan.
Finally, he revealed his worth as a genuine Master Alchemist and played a pivotal role in Xuan-Sen’s recovery.
As of now, Lu Ping’s reputation in the sect was already catching up with the second generation pillars like Qu Xuan-Cheng, Guo Xuan-Shan, and the other Late and Peak Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters.
Lu Ping smiled, “I am onto something and I will need your help.”
Yao Yong raised one eyebrow and smirked, “Worry not, a friend in need is a friend indeed. I will be there for sure.”
Du Feng and the rest also concurred. Lu Ping was moved to see that they had agreed without even knowing what he was planning.
Ji Zi-Xuan asked, “So, what are you planning, at least tell us so we can be prepared beforehand.”
Lu Ping smiled. Just as he was about to explain it to them, a clamor happened outside of the cave-dwelling, causing him to frown.
A sharp and unpleasant voice said from outside, “Fourth junior sister, I heard you’re having an open house for your new cave-dwelling. Look around, this is such a remote place with no one here at all. Nothing has changed even after you advanced to the Core Forging Realm. In the end, you still have to rely on us to help you liven up the place.”
Hu Lili could then be heard answering, “Elder senior sister, second senior sister, third senior sister, and junior sisters. Come inside, I’ve just moved in so many things are still lacking and haven’t been cleaned yet. I ask for your forgiveness if my place looks shabby right now.”
“Of course we will. You’re now an Enlightened Master, the second Core Forging Realm disciple besides elder senior martial sister. Teacher likes you, and a big shot has your back, of course we’ll treat you nicely!”
The second voice wasn’t as sharp as the first, but it was just as annoying.
Another voice interrupted, “That’s enough. Go in and take your seats. Fourth junior sister’s cave-dwelling is crude because it’s new.”
The third voice sounded majestic and fair.
“Humph, hypocritical!”
This voice was familiar to everyone, it was Hu Lili’s best friend, Zheng Jie. Although Zheng Jie hadn’t advanced to the Core Forging Realm yet, her hearty character made her choice of words extremely straightforward.
When Lu Ping and the others arrived, Hu Lili hadn’t fully furnished her cave-dwelling yet so they had gathered in her cultivation room inside to chat, while she and Zheng Jie, assisted by a few female sect disciples, were arranging the cave-dwelling.
As Hu Lili’s closest friend, Zheng Jie knew that Hu Lili’s talent in array formations had garnered her teacher’s appreciation. In addition to her speedy cultivation progress, she had attracted her senior martial sisters’ jealousy.
As a result, Hu Lili seldom had a good time in the sect with her martial siblings. However, her gentle personality meant that she wouldn’t contest with them. Instead, she only grew more focused on her own cultivation in order to catch up to Lu Ping.
Like a spark starting a fire, Zheng Jie’s words set the first voice into shouting, “Damn girl, what did you just say? I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
Zheng Jie was only a step away from the Core Forging Realm and had her friends in the cultivation room behind her, so she naturally wasn’t afraid to answer back, “Come on then! I said you’re a hypocrite, what are you going to do about it?”
Another voice said, “Fourth junior sister, your friend has no manners, you shouldn’t simply become friends with anyone. Now that you’re an Enlightened Master, don’t be blinded by people that flatter you.”
Hu Lili replied calmly, “Second senior sister, you worry too much. I know who my friends are, Junior Sister Zheng is my best friend and can represent my words.”
“Good, good!”
The first voice grew more high-pitched, and said, “Hu Lili, how dare you say this! You really don’t see us as your senior sisters anymore? Fine, I will teach her some manners, let’s see if you dare stop me! Don’t think so highly of yourself just because you’re now in the Core Forging Realm!”
Although the first voice had spoken as such, she didn’t make any moves as she was clearly still afraid of Hu Lili’s status as a Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master.
The third voice, that had previously sounded just, but was now just as annoying said, “Fourth junior sister, how can you say this? You’re losing your manners. I heard that your lover is a Great Ancestor’s disciple, is that why you’ve started looking down on us? Little third, go ahead and teach that damn girl a lesson, I will stop anyone who gets in your way!”
A wave of spiritual energy rippled inside the cave-dwelling, as the senior martial sisters tried making things difficult for Hu Lili..
Suddenly, a thunderous cold hum reverberated inside the cave-dwelling. The second senior martial sister and third senior martial sister turned pale would have almost collapsed to the ground if not for the junior martial sisters supporting them up.
The eldest senior martial sister, who was also in Core Forging Realm, took three steps back and wore a shocked expression on her pale-white face.
Inside the cultivation room, everyone saw Lu Ping’s cold and gloomy expression. Shi Lingling said, “We should go out.”
Then, the group stood up, while Yao Yong quietly sighed and murmured, “What a godly divine revelation! This freak…”
Lu Ping was taken back, before quickly realizing Yao Yong’s meaning. Even though his friends knew that his divine revelation was exceptional, it was even stronger now thanks to the divine revelation cultivation heritage from the Flying Cloud Minor World.
Yao Yong walked in the front with a serious expression and a majestic gait. In fact, this was his usual appearance in the sect, majestic and dominant like a warlord. Only when he was with his friends was Yao Yong able to be playful and unrestrained.
Hu Lili’s martial sisters all fell silent after hearing the footsteps. Apart from the seven official disciples of Enlightened Master Xuan-Chen, there were also a dozen other registered disciples inside the cave-dwelling.
Besides them, there were a few other disciples that Hu Lili was acquainted with in the sect.
The elder senior martial sister was looking around, she knew that they had offended someone with their words. Some of the disciples were even quietly planning their exit already.
Suddenly, a soft exclamation was let out from the crowd, “It’s Enlightened Master Fire Tiger!”
