Xu Yi's visit was an occasion that warranted the personal attention of the sect leader of the Huofu Sect.
However, the sect leader was unfortunately in seclusion, so the entire visit was accompanied by the two Martial Uncles, Nan and Bei.
These two were currently agonizing over how to host Xu Yi to best demonstrate their sincerity.
Due to the Huofu Sect's financial straits, their once-beautiful scenery had long been neglected. Only the small path leading to the mountain gate was still presentable; they couldn't even take Xu Yi on a tour of the Huofu Sect.
Then, as they were talking, someone brought up the topic of formations.
Although the Huofu Sect was once renowned for its talismanship, crafting talismans later became their hobby, while formations became their lifelong pursuit.
Xu Yi, with her solid foundation in formations and her study of various schools of thought, easily struck up a conversation with the two Martial Uncles, Nan and Bei. They then extended the topic, delving into the variations and破解 of formations.
The disciples of the Huofu Sect could initially understand a bit, but later on, their heads spun, leaving them bewildered. They could only silently watch the three elders converse.
Xiao Yi also couldn't understand what they were saying, but that didn't stop her from watching her sister.
Several hours later, as dusk settled, Wang Yang, pushed by other disciples, had to grudgingly step forward to interrupt their exchange.
"Senior, Martial Uncles, it's getting late. Perhaps we could have dinner first and continue our discussion tomorrow?"
The two Martial Uncles, Nan and Bei, glanced at the sky, then at each other, and saw the blame in each other's eyes.
"Daoist Friend Xu, you see… alas, this is truly impolite, impolite," Martial Uncle Bei stroked his beard even faster.
Xu Yi was worried he might accidentally pull it out.
To ease their guilt, Xu Yi quickly took the blame. "It's my fault for getting too excited discussing with the two Daoist friends and losing track of time."
Martial Uncles Nan and Bei felt even more ashamed. m..oΓg
Although Grand Disciple Wang Yang's methods were still a bit immature, he had the basic etiquette of hosting guests down pat.
He and his junior disciples had already prepared a banquet. Seeing that the conversation had concluded, he immediately led the three to the banquet hall.
This banquet hall was normally never used; it had only recently been tidied up by Wang Yang and the other disciples.
After Xu Yi and Xiao Yi were seated, followed by the two Martial Uncles, the remaining disciples then took their seats.
Martial Uncle Bei was about to announce the start of the banquet when he noticed someone was missing and asked with a frown, "Where is Xiao Xi?"
The child was usually well-behaved. With distinguished guests present today, how could she be so rude?
Wang Yang stood up to explain for Chi Xiao Xi, "Junior Sister's medicinal fields have encountered some issues, and she went to handle them."
Martial Uncle Bei's eyebrows furrowed. How could it be so coincidental?
However, in this situation, it was not appropriate to ask further. He set the matter aside and quickly attended to Xu Yi.
The dishes of the Huofu Sect were evidently prepared with care at first glance. Although not as exquisite as the Jian family's, they possessed a unique flavor. Both Xu Yi and Xiao Yi ate with great enjoyment.
After the banquet, Wang Yang escorted Xu Yi and Xiao Yi to their rooms and offered some polite words about the inadequate hospitality before reluctantly taking his leave.
When Xu Yi opened the door to her room, her eyes gleamed at the scene within. She extended her divine sense outwards, confirming that there were no such items in Xiao Yi's room, before slowly stepping into hers.
As she crossed the threshold, a refreshing, rich fragrance immediately filled her nostrils. Xu Yi felt as if she had stepped into an ocean of flowers.
Various flowers filled every corner of the room, blooming in profusion, and even the floor was carpeted with fresh petals.
The combined scent of so many different flower petals was not jarring; instead, it was remarkably memorable.
Several plates of spiritual fruits of different varieties were placed on the table. These fruits still had dewdrops on them, looking as if they had just been picked.
Xu Yi picked up a spiritual fruit and shook her head. She had been mistaken; they didn't just look like they had been freshly picked; they truly were.
Recalling Chi Xiao Xi, who had been absent all evening, Xu Yi's lips couldn't help but curve upwards slightly.
What she saw and heard today gave her an excellent impression of everyone in the Huofu Sect.
Especially when she returned to her room and found such a surprise, even Xu Yi, who wasn't particularly observant, could discern the deep thoughtfulness behind it.
She felt a strange sense of unworthiness.
After some thought, Xu Yi decided to increase the value of the gift she planned to give tomorrow by a considerable amount as her token of gratitude.
That night, Xu Yi did not cultivate. Instead, she slept soundly with a pillow stuffed with dried flowers.
The next day, when Xu Yi went to find Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi immediately smelled the floral scent clinging to Xu Yi. She excitedly hugged Xu Yi's leg and sniffed her like a puppy, "Sister, you smell so good!"
Xu Yi, as if performing magic, produced a delicate, vibrant fresh flower from behind her back and tucked it into Xiao Yi's bun. "Then, I'll put one on you too, and you'll smell nice."
"Yay!"
Although Xiao Yi was still young, she understood the desire to be beautiful. She cautiously reached out her hand to touch the flower on her head all the way, giggling occasionally.
Xu Yi and Xiao Yi walked through the Huofu Sect for the time it took to brew a cup of tea without encountering anyone. Finally, they followed the sounds and found the members of the Huofu Sect practicing their morning exercises on the training ground.
The Huofu Sect had a rule: everyone from the sect leader down to the newly initiated disciples had to practice their morning exercises daily.
Xu Yi glanced at them and did not disturb them. Holding Xiao Yi, she ambled along the grand avenue of the Huofu Sect.
The Huofu Sect had a good foundation. Although the palaces were dilapidated, they did not carry an aura of decay, indicating that the materials used in their construction were of excellent quality.
To put it bluntly, even if the Huofu Sect's management faltered in the future, selling these materials would still sustain them for a long time.
"Sister, what is that?"
Xiao Yi pointed to a towering, charred wooden pillar ahead, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Let's go and see."
Xu Yi looked at it from afar and thought the thick wooden pillar resembled an enlarged fire poker. Upon closer inspection, it looked even more so.
This wooden pillar stood a good thirty feet tall, its surface marked with scorched and dry traces.
"Sister, this piece of wood looks like it was struck by lightning. It's so black and ugly," Xiao Yi said, wrinkling her nose.
Xu Yi nodded in agreement. Indeed, the marks on the surface of this wooden pillar were like those from enduring a lightning tribulation. Perhaps its original form was an ancient tree that had already developed sentience, but it had unfortunately died during its lightning tribulation.
Wait, ancient tree, lightning tribulation?
The smile on Xu Yi's face vanished. She took a few steps back to take in the full view of the wooden pillar and became increasingly shocked.
To verify her guess, she spread out her divine sense, surveying the entire Huofeng Mountain, and finally confirmed her suspicion.
She had actually seen this wooden pillar before.
And she wasn't mistaken; the predecessor of this wooden pillar was indeed a tree demon born from the nourishment of heaven and earth's spiritual energy.
It was just a pity that it failed during its final tribulation to transform, and its accumulated spiritual energy became a dowry for someone else.
Two thousand years had passed, and this wooden pillar had still not been damaged, remaining standing here. The only difference was the presence of a sect called the Huofu Sect.
Returning to a familiar place, Xu Yi was filled with a myriad of emotions.