Half a cup of tea later, Wang Yang left with the Qilin Grass and Manli Flower, his heart filled with joy.
Chi Xiaoxi picked up a bucket of fertilizer and returned to the sapling, tending to it. "My divine tree," she murmured, "eat more, grow quickly, and continue to protect the Fire Talisman Sect."
Before Chi Xiaoxi could finish speaking, a melodious bell chimed from an unknown location.
She paused for a moment, then immediately dropped the bucket, circulated her spiritual energy, and rushed towards the sect's gate.
She remembered, this was the bell that rang only during grand sect ceremonies.
Something had happened, something big.
Chi Xiaoxi's expression was slightly flustered. She had been in the Fire Talisman Sect for so long, and this was the first time she had heard the bell ring at any other time.
Had someone come to challenge them?
Or had a major accident occurred?
With these questions in mind, her pace quickened.
Before her, Wang Yang, who had been on the way, reached the sect's gate before Chi Xiaoxi.
Outside the empty sect gate stood a tall figure.
It was Wang Yang's master, Zhan Fei, the sect leader of the Fire Talisman Sect.
"Master, what happened?"
Wang Yang stuffed the two spiritual herbs into his storage bag, then pulled out his formation disk and gripped it tightly, his expression cautious.
Zhan Fei's brows were tightly furrowed. "A small flying magical artifact is approaching the Fire Talisman Sect. Judging by its direction, it should be coming straight for us. You notify the other disciples to stay put and not come here."
If it were any other time, Zhan Fei wouldn't be this nervous, at least not to the point of sounding the alarm bell. But times were different. The atmosphere in Ang Province had been uneasy lately, and Zhan Fei dared not relax his guard.
"Yes, I'll notify them immediately."
Although Wang Yang didn't understand the implication, he followed his master's instructions and conscientiously took out his communication disk to send a message. Just then, his martial uncles from the north and south also arrived at the sect gate, joining the sect leader.
"Sect Leader, are the visitors ill-intentioned?" Martial Uncle Bei subconsciously stroked his long beard, looking worried. He had served as an elder in the Fire Talisman Sect for many years, and this was the first time he had seen the sect leader make such a grand display. He couldn't help but feel concerned.
"We don't know yet, but we must be prepared." Zhan Fei stared fixedly in the direction of the approaching flying vessel and replied in a deep voice.
Seeing the sect leader's somber mood, the martial uncles from the north and south stopped asking questions and stood by his side, waiting together for the unknown visitor.
"Master, Martial Uncle Nan, Martial Uncle Bei, Senior Brother, what's going on?"
The silence of the sect gate was broken by Chi Xiaoxi's pleasant voice.
Zhan Fei shot Wang Yang an displeased glance, but when he looked at Chi Xiaoxi, his tone softened. "It's nothing, you go back to the sect and stay there. Master will come to see you later." After speaking, Zhan Fei coldly said to Wang Yang, "Hurry and take your junior sister inside."
Wang Yang hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and stepped forward, saying to Chi Xiaoxi, "Junior Sister, you go back with Senior Brother. Master and the others are here."
"I'm not leaving, I want to stay with Master."
Although Chi Xiaoxi had been pampered growing up, she wasn't foolish. Seeing the expressions of her master and martial uncles, she knew that something had happened that even her master couldn't handle. In such a situation, she couldn't leave; she wanted to stand with her master.
Wang Yang glanced at Zhan Fei. Seeing that he remained motionless, he knew his mind was made up. He stepped forward, grabbed Chi Xiaoxi's arm, and tried to persuade her while pulling her towards the sect. "Junior Sister, you can't help here, you'll only cause trouble. You should go back."
"I won't!"
Chi Xiaoxi broke free from Wang Yang's grasp, quickly ran behind her master, tugged at his daoist robe, and said indignantly, "I'm not leaving, I want to be with Master."
"Chi Xiaoxi, how could you..."
Wang Yang put on a stern face, feigning anger, trying to scare Chi Xiaoxi back. But unexpectedly, Zhan Fei suddenly changed his mind and interrupted Wang Yang, "Forget it, let her stay."
"Hmph!"
Chi Xiaoxi triumphantly snorted at Wang Yang, almost making him jump with frustration. Even though it was the master who told him to take his junior sister back, in the end, he was caught in the middle.
Wang Yang, unwilling to give up, wanted to argue a few words, but Martial Uncle Nan's words made him completely abandon the idea. "Don't speak, the ship is here."
The attention of the five people from the Fire Talisman Sect was instantly drawn to the flying magical artifact that broke through the clouds and revealed itself before them.
It was a two-story, twenty-zhang-long wooden ship. The hull was made of rare wind-attribute wood, carved with intricate patterns.
Zhan Fei's eyes darkened. This ship was not cheap. The cultivator who could afford to use it either possessed great personal strength or had powerful backing. Regardless of which it was, Zhan Fei couldn't fathom the purpose of their visit to the Fire Talisman Sect. He prepared for the worst in his heart.
At this moment, the wooden ship slowly stopped not far from them.
The five people's attention was highly focused, staring intently at the wooden ship without blinking. When a figure stepped off the ship, their attention was immediately shifted.
"Sect Leader Zhan is so welcoming, I'm a little overwhelmed."
Zhan Fei looked at the composed female cultivator opposite him, his stern expression instantly softening, replaced by a smile of surprise. "Fellow Daoist Xu! It's you!"
The five members of the Fire Talisman Sect were all startled by Xu Yi's sudden arrival. When they recovered, they all breathed a sigh of relief and walked forward with smiles.
Xu Yi tilted her head and smiled. "What, Sect Leader Zhan wasn't here to welcome me? Then I must have been too presumptuous."
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Xu, how can you say that? If I had known it was you, Zhan would have led the entire sect to welcome you here." Zhan Fei showed great enthusiasm for Xu Yi's arrival.
His enthusiasm was so great that Xu Yi sensed something was amiss. However, Xu Yi didn't ask immediately. She said, "Sect Leader Zhan, besides me, a familiar friend has also come. Do you still recognize them?"
"Familiar friend?" Zhan Fei's tone was surprised.
"You two come out."
Xu Yi waved her hand behind her. The next moment, Wen Yi emerged from the ship with five junior sisters.
"Greetings, Sect Leader Zhan, greetings, two elders."
"This, this is..."
Sect Leader Zhan didn't recognize Wen Yi at first, but when Wen Yi looked up and smiled at him, he immediately remembered Wen Yi's identity. Furthermore, he had only met Xu Yi once, and the only person who could be called their old friend was this young one.
"Xiao Yi, it's Xiao Yi, isn't it? Hehe, after decades, you've grown into a young lady."
"Yes, Sect Leader, I am Wen Yi, and these are my five companions..." Wen Yi excitedly introduced her junior sisters' names to Zhan Fei.
Zhan Fei nodded with a smile, then looked at Xu Yi with some suspicion. After Wen Yi was taken away by her master, True Person Jing Qiu, they had had no contact. Zhan Fei was not surprised; True Person Jing Qiu's nature clearly wouldn't allow Wen Yi to set foot in the Fire Talisman Sect's territory again. However, not only had Wen Yi come now, but she had also brought her five companions, and they came with Xu Yi, which made it difficult for Zhan Fei not to overthink.