Chapter 11: Taiyi Condensing Golden Core |
Lu Fengmian looked at Steward Yan of the martial arena and said, “Martial Uncle Yan, please have the arena send more people and activate the martial arena’s ‘Retrospective Water Mirror’. If there is any major dispute over a referee’s ruling, the recording can be retrieved for review.”
Steward Yan cupped his hands with a solemn expression and said, “Junior Brother Lu, rest assured. The Discipline Hall had already drawn up a detailed emergency plan. The manpower and resources had all been arranged properly, and the Retrospective Water Mirror had also been inspected to ensure it was functioning normally.”
The meeting proceeded with unusual efficiency.
In less than an hour, all major matters had been settled. After the meeting, only some administrative documents and specific scheduling arrangements remained for the Ceremonial Hall to handle.
“In that case, let’s end here for today.”
Lu Fengmian gave the final summary: “I must trouble all the elders and junior martial uncles to return to their respective peaks and pass this news on to the disciples, while also assisting the Ritual Hall in refining the details. I will be responsible for overall coordination and follow-up on this matter. If any unexpected situation arises, please contact me at any time.”
“May this small competition proceed smoothly, allowing Lingyun Sect’s outstanding talents to fully display their strength and inject fresh vitality into the rankings.”
Everyone rose, cupped their hands toward one another, and bade their farewells.
As the representatives from the various peaks left, the looks they cast at Lu Fengmian were all rather satisfied.
Elder Lin stroked his beard and smiled. “That is indeed so. His thinking was clear, his conduct impartial, and what was even more commendable was how calm, steady, and thorough he was. He did not look at all like a young man who had joined the sect only three years ago. With sect affairs entrusted to him, we can worry a little less.”
“This goes beyond merely worrying less. I think the current situation is running even more smoothly than when those old stewards were in power. At least in this meeting, there was no arguing and no delays.”
“Haha, well said…”
Inside the main hall, Lu Fengmian pinched the bridge of his nose and relaxed slightly.
During the past hour, he had needed to remain fully focused, pushing the agenda forward while also keeping an eye on the moods and latent intentions of all sides’ big shots; this had not been any easier than currying favor with Lord Fuzhu.
【Ding! Detected a change in core member recognition.】
【You have gained Elder Lin of the Ceremonial Hall’s approval.】
【You have gained Elder Leng Ye of Wanren Peak’s approval.】
【Current progress: 17%. Recognition units obtained: 36.】
Very good, another step forward. Lu Fengmian felt his spirits lift a little.
He packed away the jade slip on which the key points had been recorded and was just about to leave when he suddenly sensed something. He raised his head and looked toward the side door of the main hall.
There, in the shadows that should originally have been empty, a black figure was leaning against the wall at some unknown time.
Venerable Lingxuan had no idea how long he had been standing there. At this moment, he had his arms folded across his chest, a faint, meaningful smile at the corner of his mouth as he watched his disciple.
“Oh, the meeting ended?” Venerable Lingxuan said lazily. “It looked pretty good—much better than when I first presided over this kind of meeting.”
Lu Fengmian hurriedly stood and bowed. “Master, when did you arrive?” How had he not noticed him at all?
“I had been here for a while. Seeing your discussion in full swing, I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Venerable Lingxuan strolled over and patted Lu Fengmian on the shoulder, his tone filled with undisguised praise: “Good, very good. Clear logic, grasped the key points, able to control the situation—even those old fellows couldn’t pick out any major faults. Tsk, as expected of the disciple I chose.”
Lu Fengmian forced a smile, but inwardly complained: You were the one who specifically chose me, and then threw all the work at me!
“This was all thanks to Master’s careful instruction; this disciple merely did his best.” This was the standard answer for a “great master.”
Venerable Lingxuan was clearly extremely pleased and laughed. “No need. I know these trivial matters had cost you a great deal of energy. But if jade was to become something useful, it had to be carved; and this sect was the best whetstone. Look, how brightly it has been polished now!”
As if remembering something, he pulled out an inconspicuous little wooden box from his sleeve and tossed it to Lu Fengmian.
“Take it. This is your reward. You’ve been working hard lately.”
Lu Fengmian caught the wooden box and felt that it had some weight to it. There were no patterns on the box, nor could he sense any strong spiritual energy fluctuations.
“Master, this is…”
“A little suggestion. It may be of some help in consolidating your Golden Core realm.” Venerable Lingxuan waved his hand, his tone casual as he said, “Fengmian, keep working hard. Recently, I’ve had some new ideas about the ‘Great Dream Realization Art’. For next month’s small competition, as long as nothing urgent comes up, you can represent me completely.”
After saying this, without waiting for Lu Fengmian to react, that black figure seemed to melt into the air and quietly dissipated.
Lu Fengmian stood there, holding that inconspicuous wooden box in his hand, speechless for a long while.
He was going back into seclusion again? He did not even care about next month’s small competition? And was going to have me fully represent him?
He looked in the direction where his master had vanished, then lowered his head to look at the box in his hand, and in the end could only sigh.
Fine then. You were the master; what you said went.
He opened the wooden box. Inside lay a medicinal pill the size of a longan fruit, round as a bead and giving off a warm white glow.
The surface of the pill displayed natural cloud patterns, and its medicinal fragrance was rather restrained. Yet with Lu Fengmian’s keen perception, he could tell that the pure energy contained within this medicinal pill far exceeded that of any pill for consolidating cultivation he had ever seen before.
“Taiyi Condensing Gold Pill…” Lu Fengmian recognized this medicinal pill, and a trace of astonishment flashed through his eyes. This was a priceless treasure, with the miraculous effect of condensing gold and purifying the spirit.
That “hands-off” master of his, though not very reliable in daily life, was occasionally quite generous?
Lu Fengmian carefully put away the pill and walked out of Lingyun Hall. The afternoon sunlight was just right, spilling over the cloud-wreathed immortal mountains.
During the remaining time that afternoon, he still had to draft the formal documents for the meeting resolutions, which would be distributed to the various peaks, and follow up on the progress of the venue preparations.
As for the evening, he might be able to squeeze out a little time to try the effects of this Taiyi Condensing Gold Pill.
After dealing with the matters related to the sect’s small competition, by the time Lu Fengmian finally returned under the moonlight to the side hall of Luo Xia Peak, it was already the third quarter of the Xu hour.
The hall was silent, with only the night-luminous pearls embedded in the walls giving off a soft glow.
He took off his outer robe and casually hung it over the back of a chair, rubbed his somewhat stiff forehead, and planned to meditate for a while before taking the Taiyi Condensing Gold Pill.
He had only just sat down on the meditation cushion when his hand brushed against the storage ring, and he suddenly remembered something.
The Cold Pool Pearl Lord Fuzhu had given him that morning was still with him.
Although the pure water-attributed spiritual energy within that pearl was useful to him, it was not something he absolutely needed. On the contrary, Junior Sister Yun Heng cultivated “Cold Frost Heavenly Snow”, a cultivation method that fused the attributes of water and ice.
For her, whether it was for assisting cultivation in the future, condensing sword qi, or refining a life-soul treasure, this pearl was an excellent treasure.
Thinking of Yun Heng—that girl whose only pursuit, aside from sword practice, was almost nothing at all, and whose personality was cold and aloof—Lu Fengmian could not sit still now that there was finally something truly helpful to her.
He stood up once more, left the side hall, and walked toward another smaller, more delicate courtyard not far away.
That was the residence he had arranged for Yun Heng, who had only just recovered from her injuries; it was close to him for convenient care, and quiet enough to suit her cultivation.
The moment he stepped into the small courtyard, his gaze unintentionally landed on a moon-white outer robe hanging from the clothesline in the yard.
That garment’s style, material, even the traces on the cuffs where they had been accidentally cut by sword qi…
Lu Fengmian’s footsteps stopped.
Wasn’t this the outer robe that had mysteriously “disappeared” a few days ago after he had hung it out to dry? How had it ended up here with Yun Heng?