As expected, putting oneself in others’ shoes is the right way.
Song Knife has agreed to ’let bygones be bygones’ with me. This time Yu Xue sees me, she should be thinking of winning me over...
Xu Xing put away the second voice transmission talisman.
Next, he checked the third, fourth, and fifth voice transmission talismans.
The third voice transmission talisman was sent by the sect’s Tianlu Hall, asking Xu Xing to quickly retrieve the sect’s rewards.
Tianlu Hall’s functions were probably similar to those of Lu Shi Pavilion, but it generally served cultivators above the Returning Core stage. Lu Shi Pavilion, on the other hand, was responsible for Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Outer Sect Disciples. However, there were exceptions. For instance, during this trip to Purple Magpie Valley, Xu Xing had allowed his fellow sect disciples to benefit, and the opportunities in Purple Magpie Valley were indeed managed by Tianlu Hall.
Thus, the distribution of Xu Xing’s rewards was handled entirely by Tianlu Hall.
The fourth and fifth voice transmission talismans were from Inner Sect Disciples who wished to lease his three-acre spiritual field on Lingyin Peak and had sent him voice transmission talismans to seek his consent.
Voice transmission talismans could be sent privately, but they could also be sent via the sect’s Earth Palace Pavilion. Otherwise, if a cultivator’s aura were known to others, it could lead to great disaster. These latter two voice transmission talismans had been left for Xu Xing by these two Inner Sect Disciples, who had used the Earth Palace Pavilion. It wasn’t that these two knew Xu Xing’s aura.
I’ll go to Tianlu Hall to collect the sect’s rewards first.
This matter won’t take too long. As for Jiang Yan’s matter, there’s no need to hurry. Although a Ten Thousand Mile Voice Transmission Talisman is valuable, if it were truly urgent, Jiang Yan wouldn’t have hesitated to use one...
In Lu Shi Pavilion, one can make private use of public resources. A Ten Thousand Mile Voice Transmission Talisman in Lu Shi Pavilion isn’t expensive. Jiang Yan could use one without incurring much cost.
After weighing the information from the five voice transmission talismans, Xu Xing made his decision.
He executed an escape technique, transforming into a streak of Escaping Light, and sped towards Tianlu Hall.
About a quarter of an hour later, he arrived at a grand palace building in the Inner Sect and stated his purpose to the guarding House Elder.
Tianlu Hall served cultivators above the Returning Core stage. Without other business, cultivators below the Returning Core stage were not to disturb them casually. Furthermore, in the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, Deacons of the various halls and pavilions generally had Foundation Establishment cultivation, while House Elders had Returning Core cultivation. As for the Dao Pill Daoists and Nascent Soul Daoist Lords above them, they had already been promoted to the middle and upper echelons of the sect and no longer managed its mundane affairs.
The guarding House Elder was named Shen Zhou. After hearing Xu Xing’s purpose, he gave a slight hum and nodded, saying, "Junior Xu, you acted with benevolence during the Purple Magpie Valley expedition, and your actions aligned with the sect’s ideals. Regarding the loss of Spirit Shells... the sect must reward you. Your reward has been decided: it is a Seventh Grade Golden Cicada Sword Pill."
"This sword pill is worth twenty-one thousand Spirit Shells."
"Junior, please keep it safe."
Shen Zhou took out a Gold Silk Brocade Bag from his sleeve and handed it to Xu Xing.
Although his words were polite, his indifference was strikingly evident; he didn’t leave Xu Xing the slightest opportunity to interject.
"Thank you, House Elder Shen..."
Xu Xing also maintained his composure.
He didn’t try to curry favor and seek benefits as he had when interacting with Jiang Yan and Xuanzheng True Lord.
Ordinary House Elders, like Xuanzheng True Lord and others, seeing his good aptitude, had been willing to lower their status and call him Junior Brother Xu. For House Elder Shen Zhou to call him, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, ’Junior’ at this time was not in the least impolite. He was simply making it clear that he didn’t want much interaction with Xu Xing.
Perhaps he was self-conscious of his status, or perhaps he simply wasn’t an affable person. Both were possible.
If Xu Xing were a Returning Core Cultivator today, or an even higher Dao Pill Cultivator, House Elder Shen Zhou would likely show a different demeanor upon meeting him, and the dismissiveness in his tone would vanish.
My ability to advance cautiously, consolidating at every step, relies on my future prospects. Some people are willing to invest in me...
But there are still many who pay me no mind.
Realm is always paramount.
Xu Xing reminded himself.
He mustn’t only think of currying favor and neglect his Cultivation.
No matter how good his talent or how skilled he was at scheming, if he lacked the true capital to support himself, he would end up like when he had been an Eighth-Rank Official of Taipu Temple. Back then, he had thought of currying favor with superiors, only to be made a scapegoat due to his Commoner Families background, subsequently finding his door deserted.
Even the Zheng family, with whom he was to be joined by marriage, couldn’t be bothered to give him a second glance.
As they were speaking, a young man with white hair walked in through the entrance of Tianlu Hall.
Both of them instantly recognized each other.
"Immortal Foundation Realm... So fast."
Ye Jeming glanced at Xu Xing, sensing that Xu Xing’s aura was as ethereal as clouds, yet as firm as a coastal Reef, unmoved by wind, rain, or crashing waves.
Sensing such an aura, how could he not know that Xu Xing had successfully achieved ’Condensing Resplendent Clouds’?
Nearly four years have passed...
Ye Jeming was already in the Late Innate Stage; it’s not surprising he has now succeeded in building the foundation.
Xu Xing also thought to himself.
He failed to protect the Song Family Dynasty, yet Song Knife didn’t take it out on him? This man still wore such a calm and unruffled expression. It seems he must have powerful backing, unafraid of Song Knife, a True Monarch. If I’m not mistaken, he must be a disciple of a Family Line, though I don’t know from which specific Aristocratic Family...
The Ye Family of Penghu? Or the Fanyu Ye Family?
It should be the Ye Family of Penghu.
Xu Xing, relying on just a few trace clues, had roughly deduced Ye Jeming’s origins.
Among the Family Lines, the Ye Family of Penghu and the Fanyu Ye Family were well-known. Although these two Ye families were not among the Thirty-six Prominent Clans, their influence was considerable. Each family had one Nascent Soul Daoist Lord, and the remaining Dao Pill Daoists numbered about a handful.
"Jeming, you know Junior Xu?"