When I awoke, it was broad daylight outside.
Opening my eyes, I found Old Mo lying beside me.
Like me, he was covered in bandages.
I didn't disturb him. kuAiδugg
I glanced around; the surroundings were somewhat unfamiliar, but we were likely still in the village.
As soon as I thought about getting up, my martial uncle, perhaps hearing some movement, walked in from outside.
Seeing me sit up, he said,
"You're awake!"
"Yes, Martial Uncle. Where is this? Are we still in the village?"
I asked.
My martial uncle nodded.
"Yes, we are. You were both injured, so you're temporarily staying at Li Da Niu's house."
"Martial Uncle, what about the matter at the Ghost Tomb?"
I continued.
"Don't worry, it's all resolved.
News has been spread, and various sects across the land are conducting self-inspections near their respective strongholds.
At the same time, this incident should bring the sects closer together..."
As we chatted, Old Mo also woke up.
Seeing us awake, Li Da Niu from outside hurried over with some congee for us to eat.
Having expended so much energy, we were indeed very hungry.
Everyone ate a little.
My martial uncle also recounted to us everything that had happened after we had fallen unconscious the previous night.
The malevolent spirits were eliminated, and the Ghost Tomb was razed by True Person Cang Song.
Inside, apart from a Yin gathering formation, there was nothing else.
Most of the Wudang disciples had already returned that morning.
Those with severe injuries were sent down the mountain overnight for immediate treatment.
We were among the last to leave.
After learning all this, we finally breathed a sigh of relief.
I looked at the color of the Purple Bone Vine.
It had turned somewhat dark.
This indicated that after the battle, a significant amount of lamp oil had been collected within the Purple Bone Vine, enough for at least several years.
Although this battle was perilous, and we nearly died here,
the harvest now seemed immense.
With more lamp oil, my cultivation had also broken through.
More importantly, I had killed my old nemesis, Crow Daoist, and met the leaders of the Netherworld Cult.
After resting for a while,
Qiu Xi, Xiao Yao, and the others also came over.
Everyone was injured, but upon seeing each other again, smiles adorned their faces.
Having experienced life and death together once more, their relationships had become even closer.
Now that everyone was awake and had regained some strength,
they decided not to stay here any longer.
So, after the group met, they planned to depart.
Li Da Niu's family and the villagers, including Old Master Li, learned of this and came out to see us off.
They said we had solved a great problem for their village and expressed their endless gratitude.
As we left, they brought us several pieces of cured meat, eggs, old hens, and old ducks, urging us to take them.
Their hospitality was overwhelming, and we simply couldn't refuse.
We few took a symbolic amount.
Then, we boarded the carriages that had been left here and departed from Li Family Village.
We had arrived as nine people.
Now, returning, there were only six of us: myself, Old Mo, my martial uncle, Xiao Yao, Qiu Xi, and Yun Xia Gu.
The others had left earlier.
On the way, everyone discussed the events of the previous night
and the next steps of the Daoist Alliance.
Yun Xia Gu said,
"If nothing unexpected happens, the Daoist Alliance will gather strength in a short period to launch an offensive against these evil spirits.
This morning, I received a summons from my sect.
Once we reach the foot of the mountain, Qiu Xi and I must return to Mount Qingcheng..."
Hearing this, I glanced at Qiu Xi.
Qiu Xi smiled,
"We have to part again, but I wonder when we'll meet next."
"When we meet again, I will definitely become stronger. Old Qin is already at the peak of the Profound Core realm. If I don't progress, the gap will only widen,"
Old Mo said.
Qiu Xi smiled,
"Yes! I'll go into seclusion once we get back!"
I laughed heartily.
Only my martial uncle and Yun Xia Gu remained silent, watching us chat and joke.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Yun Xia Gu and Qiu Xi left first, heading directly for Mount Qingcheng.
As for me, I had to visit Wudang, as my reward had not yet been collected.
When we arrived at Wudang Mountain, the surrounding Wudang disciples greeted us warmly, their attitudes very friendly.
We also responded politely.
Little did they know that from the battle last night, the nine of us from the younger generation had become famous throughout the entire Daoist martial world.
Now, both the Bai faction and the unorthodox cults were aware that the nine of us had fought against a hundred ghosts in Li Family Village last night.
It was also known that Old Mo and I, each single-handedly, had used special incantations to kill a Red-Clad fierce ghost.
This news sent shockwaves through the entire Daoist community.
Wang Qi, a disciple of Longhu Mountain, was utterly astonished.
He had thought I was only slightly stronger than him, which was why he lost in the competition.
Now, hearing that I could kill a Red-Clad ghost, he was completely dumbfounded.
The same scene was unfolding in various sects.
Especially among the younger generation, everyone was shocked and awestruck, followed by admiration and respect.
At the same time, while the younger generation might be formidable, we nine were able to hold back a hundred ghosts and fight against Yin fiends and fierce ghosts until reinforcements arrived.
If it were them, they probably wouldn't have lasted even five minutes.
This was the difference.
The community forums of the Bai faction were in an uproar.
There were detailed analyses and even speculations.
As for us, we had no time to pay attention to such things, nor did we even check.
All I wanted now was to claim the first-place reward from the competition.
I had to bring it back for Qing Dai, to restore her to her former self.
Therefore, after arriving at Wudang, I was directly led by my martial uncle to meet the Wudang Sect Leader, True Person Cang Song.
True Person Cang Song had just convened a video conference with the sect leaders of various factions.
Upon hearing of my visit, he immediately received me and my martial uncle.