Chapter 176: Chapter 160 Yan Ruyu: Master, what are you holding there, you hold! (Three in one 6400-word Chapter)_3
It wasn’t just him. The Artifact Sect and the Formation Sect were no different. For those engaged in such scholarly research, the higher their attainments, the less hair they had. If it weren’t for Lu Baicao’s unique Baicao Liquid, which could rapidly regrow hair, his old friends would have gone completely bald long ago.
Especially recently, any newly grown hair would be almost completely gone within a month. And even with the hair-growth solution, their progress in studying the extremely difficult and profoundly mysterious elixir formulas and Talismans was exceedingly slow.
Comprehension, innate talent... those were their critical weaknesses.
But if they had enough merit, their comprehension would improve significantly. They could become stronger without going bald! No one could resist such a temptation.
Moreover, and most importantly, while the Sanqing Immortal Sect was poor, it did an excellent job protecting the populace under its care. They hardly ever encountered any major natural or man-made disasters. As a result, such an excellent opportunity for delivering Human Souls wasn’t something one could easily come by.
Lu Baicao said in disbelief, "Is this information accurate? A million Human Souls... all that merit... You’re telling me that kid from the Divination Sect is kind enough to share it with everyone?"
Yan Ruyu confirmed, "It couldn’t be more accurate. Furthermore, it’s said that this Blessed Land Secret Realm can continuously draw in wandering souls from the void. It’s truly remarkable!"
Continuously drawing in Human Souls? Isn’t that an infinite merit-generating machine?
Lu Baicao’s eyes lit up. Without further hesitation, he raised his hand and summoned a crimson square cauldron.
He slapped the body of the cauldron fiercely.
DONG!
A deep, bell-like sound reverberated throughout the entire Alchemy Sect.
"Disciples of the Alchemy Sect, assemble!"
...
WHOOSH!
A streak of crimson light tore through the sky, ripping the void apart. In the blink of an eye, it arrived above Spirit Turtle Peak.
The Giant Cauldron hovered in mid-air, containing a small world within it. From his high vantage point, Lu Baicao looked down to see a teeming crowd bustling on Spirit Turtle Peak. In front of the Loan Hall, several long queues, like dragons, had formed. Countless disciples waited eagerly.
"This... is Spirit Turtle Peak?" Looking at the scene before him, Lu Baicao began to doubt reality. He swept his gaze across the area but couldn’t even find a place to land nearby.
Since when was the Divination Sect this bustling?
Left with no other choice, he could only control the Giant Cauldron to descend at the edge of the crowd. Then, leading his disciples, he headed straight for the front of the line, intending to enter the grand hall directly.
"Hey, hey, Old Lu!"
He had only taken a few steps before someone called out to him. Lu Baicao turned to look.
In the void, two figures slowly materialized, waving at him. It was You Wenshen, the Head of the Talisman Sect, who had spoken to him earlier. Standing beside him was the Head of the Artifact Sect.
Lu Baicao glanced at them and grumbled, "Some friends you are, not telling me about something so important. Just wait. After I’m done here, I’ll settle the score with you two!"
With that, he turned to leave.
You Wenshen grabbed him and pointed to the very end of the line. "Forget your business for now. Get in line at the back!"
Hearing this, Lu Baicao asked in astonishment, "Get in line? Are you kidding me?" He was the esteemed Head of the Alchemy Sect, an Emergence Stage Great Ability. When in his entire life had he ever had to wait in line?
You Wenshen said, "Who’s kidding? Isn’t it the same for everyone? The disciples from the Thunder Sect and Sword Sect arrived earliest. Senior Brother Ji Yan and Senior Sister Dugu are maintaining order from the shadows. Are you sure you want to cut in front of them?"
Lu Baicao shuddered. His Divine Sense swept across the surrounding void, and sure enough, he detected several extremely dangerous, undisguised auras. Cold sweat beaded on his back. He paid his respects toward a certain direction and then asked, a puzzled look on his face,
Is all this really necessary?
The merit from a million Human Souls is substantial, true, but... it’s not so much that Saint Manifestation stage experts would cast aside their dignity to fight over it!
You Wenshen just gave him a knowing smile and said nothing. Beside him, the Head of the Artifact Sect muttered, "Normally, it wouldn’t be. But there were too many people like you trying to cut in line, so everyone came to maintain order!"
Lu Baicao was speechless. "!!!"
You Wenshen sighed and patted his shoulder. "Old Lu, let’s forget about this batch of merit. We old-timers should leave it for the younger disciples."
This amount of merit wasn’t particularly significant for powerhouses of their level. But for the younger generation, especially the young prodigies, it could elevate their aptitude to a whole new level. It was an invaluable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
After a moment of silence, Lu Baicao said helplessly, "Fine. In that case, can you at least let my disciples slip in between your groups?"
You Wenshen replied instantly, "No way!"
The Head of the Artifact Sect added, "Impossible!"
Lu Baicao pleaded, "...Come on, do me a favor. What about our friendship?"
You Wenshen shot back, "Not even a little!"
The Head of the Artifact Sect said, "Senior Brother Zhan of the Physical Sect is right behind us. Why don’t you go ask him?"
Remembering that particular Head—the one known to uproot mountains at the slightest disagreement—Lu Baicao couldn’t help but shudder. He wisely chose to remain silent.
...
Meanwhile, high in the void, Sect Leader Zhuo Canglang stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze traveled over the fiery sea of clouds at sunset, finally resting on the lone peak that pierced through them. He remarked with a wistful smile, "It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this much excitement!"
Looking at the bustling Spirit Turtle Peak, he felt a strange sense of displacement in time.
It’s as if I’ve returned to eight hundred years ago, to the time before that great war. Back then, the Divination Sect was one of the foremost powers among the Three Hundred and Sixty Vessels of the Sanqing Immortal Sect. Its court was attended by ten thousand immortals. Countless Great Abilities, Venerables, and Earth Immortals traveled thousands of miles just to seek a single divination. What a magnificent sight it was...
And now, eight hundred years later, this lonely peak was bustling once again.
At his side, Ji Yan, Dugu Qingqian, Gong Shangyu, and the other Sect Heads couldn’t help but sigh wistfully as they listened to Zhuo Canglang’s reminiscent words. Gong Shangyu praised, "The Divination Sect declined from its zenith and weathered eight hundred years of hardship. Now, it shows signs of rising once more. Perhaps this is the will of heaven!"