The private courtyard's configuration was relatively complete, with a dedicated bathhouse inside.
He had been in secluded cultivation in the pill room for over two months, feeling like his whole body had gone sour. He repeatedly washed himself with cold water, only then feeling refreshed and clear-headed as he stepped out of the tub. Looking at himself in the mirror, he discovered that apart from being slightly darker, his appearance was still quite decent.
The sleazy air he had as a child had completely disappeared.
Glancing at his attire, a thought crossed his mind, and his martial outfit suddenly transformed into a set of white robes. With this change, his demeanor became somewhat different, but he noticed that this made his skin tone appear even darker, not quite matching.
Shaking his head, he changed back to his original ranger attire.
Right at that moment, a sudden boom came from outside, followed immediately by heavy raindrops pouring down. In the blink of an eye, it turned into a torrential downpour.
The rainstorm poured down heavily, the sky darkening immensely.
Lu Li walked out of the bathhouse, standing on the covered corridor, quietly watching the pouring rain. Simultaneously, a scent of damp earth rushed into his nostrils, causing his thoughts to drift unconsciously.
He remembered that both Chen Zhong and Qin Shouren had said.
Their favorite was precisely this kind of stormy weather because then, they wouldn't have to go out to herd cattle.
"In a flash, it's already been over seven years since I left."
Lu Li raised his hand, examining it left and right, "And I'm already twenty years old. I don't know when I'll be able to see through this Qi Refining Realm and become that Foundation Establishment great power who soars through the skies and tunnels through the earth."
Thinking of this, his eyes couldn't help but fill with a yearning expression. The scene from back then when Xiao Jue took him stepping on a lotus and traveling was unforgettable to him. But as of now, he was merely at the initial stage of the sixth level of Qi Refining.
"Nine spiritual roots, truly heaven's abandoned child." At this thought, a trace of bitterness involuntarily appeared on his face. He thought to himself, if only he were that legendary heavenly spiritual root, where would he need to rush around everywhere for resources like this.
"Master Qin, Master Qin..."
Just as Lu Li was pondering, a fat man holding a large black umbrella suddenly rushed out from the torrential downpour, arriving at the corridor and waving at Lu Li while shouting.
Lu Li tilted his head to look; it was actually Wan Hong'an. He couldn't help feeling somewhat surprised inside-didn't they just meet? What was he running over here for again?
Judging by his appearance, he seemed quite anxious.
Walking up to him, Lu Li asked curiously, "Lord Shopkeeper, what is it?"
"Master, Master Qin, someone from above has arrived. Please trouble yourself to come with me." Wan Hong'an said breathlessly.
Someone from above arrived? Lu Li was momentarily stunned, then immediately realized-it must be that so-called welcoming person who had arrived. Collecting his thoughts, Lu Li nodded and said, "Let's go."
"Alright." Wan Hong'an enthusiastically held the umbrella for Lu Li, and the two then left the courtyard.
In the discussion hall.
A lean, black-clothed man stood with his hands behind his back, calmly observing the three elderly men and one middle-aged man before him.
This person was actually Thousand Mechanisms Hall Master Ge Qiu of the Corpse Sect.
On both sides of the great hall, four powerfully imposing black-clothed men stood solemnly on each side, their eyes fixed straight ahead without glancing sideways, like sculptures.
Perhaps because the sky outside was too dark, the atmosphere inside the hall also seemed somewhat heavy. Li Xiuyun and the other three all kept their heads down without saying a word. Only when footsteps came from outside did this oppressive atmosphere ease up a bit.
Black-clothed people?
Lu Li had just arrived at the entrance when he abruptly stopped in his tracks, simultaneously feeling intense unease rise in his heart.
These people's attire was almost exactly the same as those two he encountered outside Bei Wang Valley. Could they be from the same organization?
"Master Qin, what's wrong?" After taking two steps, Wan Hong'an noticed Lu Li had stopped and quickly came back. At this point, nothing could go wrong.
As soon as Wan Hong'an spoke, everyone inside the hall turned their gazes toward Lu Li.
"Uh, it's nothing." Lu Li forced himself to remain calm. These people's auras were too powerful; each was at least at the eighth or ninth level. If he turned and ran, it would definitely be an unwise choice. He could only pretend nothing was wrong and follow along.
Walking inside, Wan Hong'an then left Lu Li and walked up to the leading black-clothed man, respectfully saying, "Sir, everyone has gathered. Please take a look."
"Are you sure they're all alchemists? If this seat discovers you're falsifying information, the consequences will be quite severe." Ge Qiu said expressionlessly.
"Yes, they all are. I dare guarantee it with my life." Wan Hong'an then took out five jade bottles and handed them to Ge Qiu, "These are the pills they refined. Would you please inspect them?"
Ge Qiu took them and roughly glanced, "Alright, consider your task completed. Your performance this time wasn't bad. This is a reward for you." Saying this, he handed a Storage Bag to Wan Hong'an.
Wan Hong'an didn't even look at it, directly kneeling down and kowtowing, "Thank you, Sir, for the reward! Thank you, Sir, for the reward!"
"Get up." Ge Qiu remained expressionless, suddenly shifting his gaze to Lu Li who was hiding behind Jia Tong, "What are you hiding for? Still not stepping forward for this seat to see!"
Now things were truly troublesome.
Lu Li's heart pounded fiercely. Lowering his head, he took two steps forward and stood in line with Jia Tong and the other three, stammering, "S-sir, please forgive this offense. I-I'm shy around strangers."
Shy around strangers?
Instantly, several gazes fixed on Lu Li.
"Seeking attention through cheap tricks!"
Li Xiuyun thought Lu Li was deliberately trying to catch Ge Qiu's attention and couldn't help showing a look of contempt.
However, when Ge Qiu tilted his head to examine Lu Li, he first frowned slightly, revealing a thoughtful expression, then his face lit up with joy. In two or three steps, he walked forward, laughing heartily at Lu Li, "Kid, you're truly my lucky star!"
This laugh completely bewildered everyone present. No one understood what Ge Qiu meant, including Lu Li who couldn't quite process it for a moment, "S-sir, what do you mean?"
"Haha, nothing much. You just need to know that our meeting is fate, that's all." Saying this, he even patted Lu Li's shoulder, "Little brother, don't be afraid. I'm not a bad person!"
Not a bad person?
Was he not part of the same group as those two? Or perhaps he simply didn't intend to pursue the matter against him?
At this point, Lu Li could only play along for now and take things one step at a time. So he simply grinned as well, "Hehe, I feel like I have quite some affinity with you, Senior."
"Bootlicker!" The contempt in Li Xiuyun's eyes grew even stronger, and at the same time, he couldn't help feeling somewhat sour inside.
"Right, affinity, affinity!" Ge Qiu grinned, giving a meaningful glance to the eight guards standing on both sides, "Begin."
Begin?
Everyone was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, but the eight guards had already surrounded them. Among them, five held small black cloth bags, intending to put them over their heads.
"What are you doing! What are you doing!" Seeing this, Li Xiuyun's expression changed, involuntarily taking two steps back.
Lu Li and the others' hearts simultaneously tightened.
Ge Qiu frowned slightly, calmly saying, "No need to panic. Our Sect has always been secretive. These hoods are only to prevent you from using Divine Sense to spy on the Sect's location. They won't harm you."
"That won't do either. I, Li Xiuyun, a dignified alchemist, how could I suffer this kind of humiliation? I swear on my character that I won't leak your Sect's location."
"Character?" A flash of cold light appeared in Ge Qiu's eyes.
Then, a crisp slapping sound echoed through the great hall.
Looking at Ge Qiu again, he seemed as if he had never moved, standing in place looking at his palm. Clearly, the one who struck just now was him.
This sudden change made Jia Tong and Ding Yiming, who were originally prepared to agree, instantly shut their mouths.
Seeing that no one else spoke, Ge Qiu then said, "I hope you recognize some facts. What I'm stating is a requirement, not a request."