Chapter 142: A Guest Arrives

Chapter 142: A Visitor

One year later.
Mount Hua, on the platform halfway up the mountain, outside the training grounds, before the Sword Command.

The massive, corpulent Brown Bear King sat on its haunches, leaning against a golden Moon Sable. Its eyes, narrowed into thin slits, glinted with greed as it stared fixedly at the spirit beast pellet held in the sable’s tiny paws, drool dripping in thick globules from its bear jaws.

Ning Qian, dressed in white with a lush, verdant green vine strapped to his back, stood beside the Moon Sable. He gestured toward the hulking brown bear while speaking to a neatly arranged line of disciples clad in white.

"This brown bear is a tamed spirit beast of our sect. Within the Spirit Herb Valley, the only brown bear you can trust is this King of Brown Bears. Should you find yourselves in danger, you may signal this bear for help; it and the Moon Sable will protect you. Remember, this journey into the Spirit Herb Valley is primarily for training. The flora and trees within can be lethal, so exercise caution in all things. Once you reach the boundary gate, you may return. Very well, gather with your respective teams as previously instructed. I am about to send you into the valley."

"Senior Brother, what about the reward? What is the reward for this training?" a young male disciple in white asked with great curiosity.

Ning Qian gave a gentle, modest smile. His gaze swept over the disciples, who were listening intently with respectful expressions. A smile touched his handsome face as he replied, "As a reward, among the teams that reach the boundary gate in the shortest time, carrying the most beast pellets, and demonstrating the best teamwork, some will earn the qualification to enter the inner sect."

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother! I have a question!" a young girl in white jumped up and shouted.

Ning Qian smiled, his tone refined and scholarly. "Yin Ling'er, what is your question?"

Yin Ling'er was a beautiful girl, appearing no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. Seeing the Senior Brother smile at her, she felt almost dizzy. She struggled to calm her pounding heart and said with a blooming smile, "Senior Brother, will the disciples who enter the inner sect this time have the chance to be accepted as apprentices by the inner sect masters?"

The crowd fell silent instantly. Everyone’s eyes fixed on Ning Qian, filled with intense longing.

Ning Qian smiled warmly at Yin Ling'er and said in a steady voice, "Remember, whether you can enter the inner sect depends on your strength. However, being accepted as an apprentice by our masters depends not only on strength but also, crucially, on your character. Now, my junior brothers and sisters, I am about to send you into the Spirit Herb Valley."

Ning Qian flicked his wrist. A plume of black smoke erupted from the Sword Command, instantly enveloping the assembled Mount Hua disciples...

After sending them off, Ning Qian turned to the Moon Sable and the Brown Bear King. He said earnestly, "Moon Sable, Brown Bear King, I leave them in your care."

The brown bear cast a reluctant glance at the Moon Sable, which was still happily crunching on a spirit beast pellet, and began to walk toward the black smoke, looking back every few steps. As it passed Ning Qian, the bear let out a few agitated roars before diving into the black smoke and vanishing from sight.

Ning Qian wore a wry smile, shaking his head at the spot where the bear had disappeared. "Of course I wouldn't skimp on the pellets, but pellets the size of your head..."

The Moon Sable finished its treat, patted its tiny paws, and stood up lazily. It sauntered toward the black smoke, but as it passed Ning Qian, it gave a few squeaks before strolling into the mist with its paws behind its back.

Seeing both spirit beasts enter the smoke, Ning Qian waved his hand, dissipating it. As the mist cleared, the disciples, the Brown Bear King, and the Moon Sable were all gone.

Ning Qian shook his head and walked away from the boundary marker. Just as he passed the training grounds and prepared to head toward the sect's main hall, a crisp, charming voice called out from behind him.

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother, wait for me!"

Ning Qian turned to see Duo'er, dressed in white with a large golden sword strapped to her back, running toward him with light steps.

"Senior Brother, Master Kong Se of the Huasheng Temple is here to see the Sect Master. Senior Brother Sun Yang has already accompanied him to the foot of the mountain. Please, Senior Brother, inform the Sect Master." Duo'er’s face was flushed, her eyes shimmering as she looked at Ning Qian.

Ning Qian frowned, looking troubled. "Master is currently pushing to break through to the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage; it is a critical moment, and I fear he cannot be disturbed. Junior Sister Lin Ke told me a few days ago that Aunt Wan is refining the Lesser Soul-Returning Pill, which is also at a vital stage. Aunt Nan is refining a second-grade Green Wood Vine, and Junior Brother Fan Fen said these days are crucial for him as well. Your master is also busy with her own breakthrough to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment and has no time to spare."

Duo'er’s face filled with anxiety. She paced back and forth, her voice laced with unease. "But Senior Brother, Master Kong Se of the Huasheng Temple is a distinguished guest. It wouldn't be right if no master or uncle were there to receive him."

"Aunt Ying is free; she could receive Master Kong Se." A cold voice suddenly spoke from behind them. Ning Qian and Duo'er turned to see Zisu, her expression icy, emerging from the training grounds. A faint spiritual pressure emanated from her. Zisu walked out step by step.

"Zisu, congratulations on your successful breakthrough," Ning Qian said, his refined face lighting up with genuine surprise and pleasure.

A look of delighted surprise immediately flushed Duo'er's face. She jumped for joy, then ran to Zisu’s side, clutching her hand. "Senior Sister, you succeeded! It’s been half a year, and you’ve finally reached Foundation Establishment!"

The frost on Zisu’s pretty face melted just a fraction. Her eyes flickered with a hint of evasion as she glanced at Ning Qian. "Thank you, though I am still far behind you."

Ning Qian sighed helplessly and touched the green vine on his back. Zisu was competitive; even though she had lost a bet to him a year ago, she refused to call him "Senior Brother." Ignoring her comment, he shifted his tone, frowning. "But I heard Junior Sister Ding Ning say a few days ago that she was going to accompany Aunt Ying into the Spirit Herb Valley for training. Surely Aunt Ying wouldn't have returned so quickly?"

"Without motivation, Aunt Ying naturally wouldn't return so soon. The Sect Master promised that if Aunt Ying could kill the Man-Eating Flower King within a day and traverse the Spirit Herb Valley, he would grant me a Foundation Establishment Pill. Aunt Ying returned from the valley yesterday."

A hint of gratitude flashed in Zisu's eyes, though it was unclear whether it was for Jiang Yan or Yun Ying...

"Ning Qian, who were you saying came here? The bald monk from Huasheng Temple?" A charming, delicate, and slightly alluring female voice drifted down from the air.

Everyone looked up to see a porcelain-doll-like young girl hovering in mid-air. Over the past year, Yun Ying had grown into a bright-eyed, sharp-toothed young girl. She hovered above, looking down at the group with curiosity.