Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 469 - 377 Heroes Gathering_1

Chapter 469: 377 Heroes Gathering_1

After chatting leisurely for over an hour, Wei Liang left in high spirits.

"Junior Brother Shen, it was only with your personal intervention that not only was the juniors’ grudge resolved, but we also gained an ally for cooperation,"

Red Flood Dragon True Person said with a smile.

"It was not my intention alone, Senior Brother Yuan thought the same. Before our Grandmaster ascended, our Spirit Control Sect’s merchant caravanas had quite a reputation in the Donghua Cultivation Realm, and now we are simply reopening these trade routes,"

Shen Long explained.

The broader the trade routes of the Spirit Control Sect, the stronger the capacity to collect cultivation resources, which benefits higher-ranking cultivators like Shen Long, and reflects the comprehensive strength of the Spirit Control Sect. Major powers’ merchant caravans roamed about, gathering cultivation resources and intelligence.

Shen Long had discussed the future development of the Spirit Control Sect with Yuan Rui, and they both agreed that expanding trade routes and increasing income was essential to train more disciples.

Red Flood Dragon True Person nodded and was about to say something when he took out a red Law Disk, input a spell, and said in surprise, "Junior Brother Shen, Fairy Lin is hosting a gathering tomorrow night. Having learned of your arrival, she insisted I bring you along."

"Fairy Lin? Which Fairy Lin?"

Shen Long asked, puzzled.

"You do know her. Remember the one named Lin Qian, Fairy Lin you met at the Grand Apothecary Meeting? She’s a descendant of Fairy Xuanbing. Oh, and Tianji Hermit will also be there. If you can persuade him to do a divination for you, you might gain a lot."

Red Flood Dragon True Person explained.

"Fairy Xuanbing?"

Shen Long’s face was full of shock.

Fairy Xuanbing was a Soul Transformation Cultivator hailing from the Southern Border Cultivation World, and Shen Long had not expected Lin Qian to be her descendant.

As for Tianji Hermit, there was no need to mention him; he was known as the number one Diviner of the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm.

Cultivation comprises hundreds of skills, and divination is a rather obscure one. Without innate talent, one simply can’t become a Diviner, and divination is even more challenging than Formation. A high-ranking Diviner is even rarer than an Array Master.

In the entire Qianyang Realm, there were fewer than five Nascent Soul Stage Diviners, which speaks volumes about the difficulty of divination.

In over 50,000 years of inheritance, the Spirit Control Sect has yet to produce a fourth-order Diviner.

"Tianji Hermit, I’ve been in the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm for decades, always wanting to meet this person, but unfortunately, I have never had the chance. To think that he is attending the Wanjian Meeting, this is a rare opportunity indeed," Ice Silkworm True Person said in surprise.

Shen Long nodded and said, "I’ve heard Fairy Chu mention Tianji Hermit several times, and she speaks very highly of him."

During his many years of Core Formation, Shen Long had met many Nascent Soul Cultivators including Alchemists, Artifact Refiners, Array Masters, Talisman Makers, and Brewers, but never a Diviner.

"Indeed! I’ve heard about Tianji Hermit long ago, his whereabouts are elusive, and I never expected to meet him at the Wanjian Meeting," Red Flood Dragon True Person said with a sense of longing.

He seemed to remember something and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Shen, you must have quite a reputation. Fairy Lin reminded me several times that you must attend."

"I didn’t expect her to be a descendant of Senior Lin either, it will be good to catch up on old times," Shen Long said.

After some more casual conversation, Shen Long and Ice Silkworm True Person got up to leave and settled down in the Spirt Control Garden.

······

In a quiet estate, a signboard bore the words "Xuanbing Garden" in golden letters, with waterwheels and covered walkways, artificial mountains, and gardens.

Lin Qian, Ye Hongyao, and a full-figured woman in a golden dress were sitting in a blue stone pavilion, discussing something.

"Taoist Friend Shen has also arrived, Fairy Ye, you will be able to see each other again."

Lin Qian said teasingly.

"Fairy Lin, do you have a fondness for Taoist Friend Shen too?"

Ye Hongyao asked seriously.

"Not really, it’s just that his rise was so swift, I was merely curious about him. Back then, we were all at Core Formation level, and now we’re all at the Nascent Soul Stage, he’s on par with great cultivators. His cultivation speed is so much faster than mine," Lin Qian replied.

"The Spirt Control Technique naturally saves a period of arduous cultivation. He’s not cultivating alone; as his Life-Bound Spirit Bird advances, he benefits as well. Plus, being an Alchemist, it’s not surprising that his cultivation speed is faster," the woman in the golden dress said, unimpressed.

Su Yuman, a member of the Su Family from the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm, a fourth-order Alchemist.

"Having a fast cultivation speed isn’t anything special, but possessing the combat power of the Nascent Soul Late Stage, that’s a different story. Over the years, I’ve met quite a few young prodigies, but compared to Taoist Friend Shen, they fall short."

Lin Qian said solemnly, her face showing admiration.

Ye Hongyao sighed with relief and proudly said, "Only a hero among men like Taoist Friend Shen is worthy of me."

"Fairy Ye, I’ve heard that Fairy Chu from the Sun Moon Palace has grown quite close to Taoist Friend Shen."

Su Yuman said meaningfully.

"That’s not a problem, competition is fair. Besides, it just goes to show how excellent Taoist Friend Shen is,"

Ye Hongyao said excitedly.

Su Yuman and Lin Qian exchanged glances, smiled at each other, and said nothing.

...

In a secluded estate, Lin Qing was talking to Lu Qingshan.

"What? Junior Sister Lin has died, and her soul has dissipated? Who is the killer?"

Lu Qingshan said, frowning.

"It’s still unclear. Senior Sister Lin went to the Northern Sea Cultivation World for some business, and after some time, her Life-Bound Lamp went out. We’ve already sent people to investigate, and we should be able to get to the bottom of it soon,"

Lin Qing said.

Meng Wuya’s junior disciple, Lin Yu, went to the Northern Sea Cultivation World on business, and her Life-Bound Lamp extinguished, which made a big impact. Wanjian Sect had already dispatched experts to the Northern Sea Cultivation World for investigation.

"Junior Sister Lin was at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, had spiritual treasures at hand, and mastered many powerful secret techniques; typically, Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivators are not her match. The killer must have been multiple people or someone with the combat power of the Nascent Soul Late Stage. Following these two leads, we should be able to find the real culprit,"

Lu Qingshan said.

Lin Qing nodded and said, "Senior Brother Xu is leading the team in person, so there should be no problem."

He remembered something and asked, "I heard that Taoist Friend Shen alone killed the Profound Yin Ghost Mother. Is that true?"

"Absolutely true. That Profound Yin Crutch of the Profound Yin Ghost Mother is now in his possession. I heard he has a spiritual treasure that could lock onto the Profound Yin Ghost Mother’s location, as well as a fourth-tier puppet beast, which allowed him to kill the Profound Yin Ghost Mother,"

Lu Qingshan said, his face showing admiration.

Before this, he just thought Shen Long was somewhat capable, but he didn’t expect Shen Long’s strength to be so formidable that he could kill the Nascent Soul Late Stage Profound Yin Ghost Mother on his own.

"In the last great battle, he was only at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, now he’s at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage; his strength has increased by no small margin!"

Lin Qing said with envy all over his face.

"I suspect he has been playing his cards close to his chest all along. We know too little about him. I only know that he possesses two mutant fourth-tier Spirit Insects, but as for other spirit beasts and spirit birds, it’s unclear. I haven’t heard of any Nascent Soul cultivator who has fought against him and come out unscathed,"

Lu Qingshan said seriously.

"If it’s as Senior Brother Lu said, and Taoist Friend Shen has always been playing his cards close to his chest, then his strength is extraordinary. It seems that during the last mission we went on together, he was also holding back,"

Lin Qing remarked.

"That’s unclear, but fortunately, we have no personal grievances with this person. Being on good terms with him wouldn’t do us any harm,"

Lu Qingshan said.

...

Two days went by quickly.

Shen Long, Ice Silkworm True Person, and Red Flood Dragon True Person arrived at Xuanbing Garden, led by a green-robed attendant to a quiet small courtyard, where a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators were gathered in a blue stone pavilion. Lin Qian, Ye Hongyao, Su Yuman, and Chu Buyu were all present.

"Taoist Friend Han, Taoist Friend Shen, Taoist Friend Lin, you’ve finally arrived, please have a seat,"

Lin Qian said with a smile, gesturing for Shen Long and the other two to sit down.

"This must be Taoist Friend Xu, I’ve long admired your reputation,"

Shen Long’s gaze fell on a tall and skinny youth in golden robes, as he said warmly.

He had seen portraits of Tianji Hermit, and was finally seeing the person in the flesh.

"Taoist Friend Shen flatters me too much. Compared to you, Xu is far behind,"

Tianji Hermit said in a gentle tone, smiling and giving an impression of approachability.