"This time being summoned back to the Sect, if my guess is correct, it’s very likely about entering that secret mission site.
I don’t know how long it will take to come back after going there, keeping the Iron Stem Orchid in the storage bag for too long isn’t feasible.
As for the other Spirit Plants, I’ll deal with them after returning."
Muttering to himself a few times, Chu Ning returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and took out the wooden sword made of Black Night Iron Soul Wood.
The wooden sword had turned into its original wood color, and Chu Ning tried to sense it with his Divine Sense, but there wasn’t a trace of Wood Essence Qi in it.
"It seems this sword is completely useless now."
Chu Ning sighed softly. This originally extremely hard wooden sword now seemed like he could snap it with just a gentle twist.
Putting the wooden sword away again, Chu Ning chose to cultivate the Refining Spirit Technique, treating it as making up for the lack of rest that night.
After cultivating for about an hour, as the sky brightened, a refreshed Chu Ning set off towards the Outer Sect training grounds.
Not long after leaving the house, he unexpectedly saw Mu Ling, someone he hadn’t seen for a long time, just coming out of the courtyard.
"Senior Sister Mu!"
Chu Ning greeted her, and Mu Ling was slightly taken aback when she saw him.
"Eh, Junior Brother Chu, weren’t you going to the Market? Why are you back?"
"It was the Sect’s call," Chu Ning replied truthfully.
Mu Ling looked up at Chu Ning, a bit surprised again:
"The Sect’s call? Participating in the mission requires at least the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining. You’re only at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer."
Chu Ning shook his head, "That’s unknown."
Then he looked at Mu Ling and smiled: "Congratulations, Senior Sister, on reaching the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining."
Mu Ling immediately waved her hand, saying:
"Nothing to congratulate about; the resources I used probably outnumbered yours by far, but my talent is still poor.
If there’s no gain from this Sect mission, I won’t think about the future."
Chu Ning was equally surprised by her words.
"Senior Sister is also participating in the Sect mission?"
Mu Ling nodded, and the two of them headed towards the Outer Sect training grounds together.
On the way, Chu Ning confirmed again with Mu Ling about her participation in the mission.
Moreover, Mu Ling mentioned that it was Elder Mu of the Sect who proactively mentioned it to her.
Although many disciples had guessed the reason for this gathering, not many truly knew it was to participate in the Sect mission.
After hearing those words, Chu Ning felt slightly less anxious.
Since even the descendant of a Golden Core Stage Elder like Mu Ling was going, it seemed the mission wasn’t too dangerous.
As they headed towards the Outer Sect training grounds, more people gradually came from different directions.
Aside from those like Chu Ning from the Outer Sect, there were also many servant disciples.
Chu Ning saw familiar figures from afar, including the Luo Hongping and Lu Yunfang couple, neighbors he hadn’t seen for a while.
Both of them had Sixth Layer Qi Refining cultivation, so their summoning seemed reasonable.
The other was someone Chu Ning had known since entering the Sect, Shang Zhaoxiang.
Besides, there were some servant disciples from Zone D, mostly with Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation.
Unlike Chu Ning, whose face remained calm, these people showed signs of excitement and anticipation.
When Chu Ning and Mu Ling arrived at the training ground, there were two cultivators, clearly in the Foundation Establishment Stage, at the entrance.
"Qi Refining Fifth Layer? Head to the western area."
A middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator glanced at Chu Ning and said directly.
Chu Ning immediately walked towards the west, glancing at Mu Ling beside him.
He noticed that the other Foundation Establishment cultivator didn’t make any requirements of Mu Ling; he just looked at her and let her in directly.
"Could it be that Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivators aren’t going on the mission together? Then why gather us together?"
Chu Ning thought, shaking his head slightly.
Then he went to the western area and sat down.
Having spotted Chu Ning, Shang Zhaoxiang also approached and sat beside him.
"Junior Brother Chu, long time no see."
Shang Zhaoxiang greeted him, and Chu Ning immediately stood up and cupped his hands in return.
"Senior Brother Shang!"
Shang Zhaoxiang, with a smile, looked at Chu Ning, speaking with admiration:
"It’s been over a year, and Junior Brother Chu has reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. Your rapid advancement in cultivation is truly enviable."
"Just a stroke of luck," Chu Ning didn’t know if Shang was aware of his time in the Outer Sect and Yan Workshop, so he chose not to mention it.
To Chu Ning’s surprise, Shang Zhaoxiang also didn’t delve into the topic.
Not even mentioning Cao Dongxin, whom they had known as neighbors before Cao disappeared.
However, Shang Zhaoxiang didn’t bring it up at all, only chatting about some interesting events in Spirit Plant Room D.
As they chatted idly, more people gradually arrived.
Looking around, Chu Ning noticed that altogether there were well over four hundred people.
"The Sect needs so many Wood Attribute Cultivation Disciples; could it be for the so-called Five Elements Qiankun Array?"
Chu Ning listened to Shang Zhaoxiang’s chatter, but his mind wasn’t on it at all.
A short while later, a voice suddenly resounded in the training ground.