"Believe it or not, go see for yourself."
Chen Xiao stretched lazily and said indifferently.
Su Meinan didn't say a word, and rushed into the mine pit, running from one end to the other. Then she was stunned.
All the spirit stones in this spirit stone vein had indeed been absorbed and refined by someone.
It was known that spirit stones, before being mined, were very difficult to absorb and refine.
Not to mention, the spiritual energy contained within an entire vein of spirit stones could only be described as immense.
Su Meinan was so shocked that her head buzzed. What cultivation realm did this commoner from the secular world possess?
She couldn't figure it out, nor did she dare to think too deeply.
In short, four words: terrifyingly so.
Su Meinan walked out of the mine pit, the shock on her face not yet completely gone.
"Do you believe me now?"
Chen Xiao asked.
Su Meinan didn't speak, but nodded blankly.
"Lead the way, I want to go to Zhenwu Sect!"
Chen Xiao said with his hands behind his back.
If it were last night, Su Meinan would never have agreed to lead Chen Xiao.
However, after witnessing Chen Xiao's terrifying refining ability, Su Meinan felt that this commoner from the secular world might be invincible.
The mere Zhenwu Sect would naturally be no problem.
Zhenwu Town was over five hundred kilometers away from Zhenwu Sect, which was a long distance for ordinary people.
But for Chen Xiao, who traveled by sword, five hundred kilometers was merely the time it took to brew a cup of tea.
Watching the mountains and fields flash by like silhouettes beneath him, Su Meinan felt like she had seen the light of day today.
"Brother Chen, ahead is Zhenwu Mountain, and Zhenwu Sect is inside."
Su Meinan shouted loudly, pointing to a patch of green mountains a few thousand meters away.
She was now fulfilling her promise and had officially become Chen Xiao's follower.
Amidst the mountains stood an ancient temple, predominantly dark green in color.
On the large stone slab in front of the mountain gate, the words "Zhenwu Sect" were carved.
In the Zhenwu Grand Hall, a Daoist named Tong, wearing a light-colored Daoist robe, ran in breathlessly: "Master, something has happened! Something big has happened!"
On the main hall, a middle-aged Daoist with a jade-like complexion was meditating with his eyes slightly closed on a meditation cushion.
Tong's shout disturbed him, causing him to frown slightly. He opened his eyes and asked, "What is it that causes such panic?"
"Just received news that all the family members of Saint Son Senior Brother have been killed... The Li family has been wiped out!"
The Daoist boy shouted loudly.
The Saint Son of Zhenwu Sect was the promising descendant of the Li family, Li Beiwu.
The middle-aged Daoist's expression faltered slightly. After a moment of thought, he said, "Summon the Saint Son."
"Yes, Master!"
The Daoist boy retreated from the hall. A moment later, a stream of purple light flew into the hall.
The stream of light flashed before the middle-aged Daoist and transformed into a young Daoist wearing a purple Daoist robe.
"Master, you were looking for me."
The purple-robed Daoist asked indifferently, his face as calm as still water, showing no emotional fluctuation.
"You've heard about what happened at home, haven't you?"
The middle-aged Daoist asked.
This purple-robed Daoist was none other than the Saint Son of Zhenwu Sect, Li Beiwu.
Li Beiwu's expression changed slightly, but it was only a fleeting moment before his face returned to its placid state. "I have heard."
"What do you plan to do?"
The middle-aged Daoist asked.
"We cultivators must strive for detachment from worldly emotions. Although the Li family gave me life, my fate was severed the moment I became the Saint Son of Zhenwu Sect. I have no significant ties to the Li family anymore."
Li Beiwu said in a cold tone, as if he were speaking of something unrelated to himself.
"Has it truly been severed?"
The middle-aged Daoist looked up, and Li Beiwu immediately showed a guilty expression.
"Disciple is dull-witted. Ultimately, I am unable to truly sever worldly attachments."
Li Beiwu sighed, speaking with hidden sorrow.
"There's no need to blame yourself. Let alone you, even the Sect Master and all the elders of the sect cannot truly achieve complete detachment. However, with the Heavenly Pride Competition imminent, I wish to hear your thoughts."
The middle-aged Daoist asked.
Upon hearing the middle-aged Daoist's words, Li Beiwu visibly relaxed.
He said, "The Heavenly Pride Competition is approaching, which is a great opportunity for me and for Zhenwu Sect. Since I am fighting for the sect, I will naturally not miss it."
"As for revenge... the identity of the enemy is unknown, and this disciple cannot risk his life. Therefore, I have decided to deal with the matter of revenge after the Heavenly Pride Competition. After all, the enemy will always be there, but the Heavenly Pride Competition, once missed, will never come again."
Li Beiwu spoke eloquently.
The middle-aged Daoist nodded, seemingly satisfied with this reply.
He said indifferently, "I have not misjudged you. Choosing you as the Saint Son back then was the right decision. Take this Spirit Gathering Pill; it will help you reach the Great Perfection of the Divine Transformation Realm before the Heavenly Pride Competition."
Saying this, the middle-aged Daoist flicked his finger, and a stream of red light flew towards Li Beiwu.
Li Beiwu reached out and caught it. It was a bright red, round pill.
Li Beiwu was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Thank you, Master!"
Showing his joy so openly, he is still too young...
The middle-aged Daoist frowned slightly and waved his hand, "You may go. In three days, we will depart for Houtu City!"
"Yes, Master, this disciple takes his leave!"
Saying this, Li Beiwu bowed and retreated.
However, at that moment, a mocking voice suddenly echoed in the hall: "Heh heh, what a detached cultivator you are, to be able to put aside such deep-seated hatred for blood. You bunch of dog Daoists, has your cultivation regressed your very essence!"
"Who dares to speak so presumptuously here?"
Hearing this voice, the middle-aged Daoist was suddenly greatly alarmed.
Li Beiwu also looked around vigilantly, searching for the speaker.
However, with his cultivation at the Great Completion of the Divine Sea Realm, he couldn't sense the opponent's presence at all.
But thinking that his Master, a powerful being in the Void Transformation Realm, also hadn't sensed the opponent's presence, Li Beiwu felt a sense of balance.
"Hmph, hiding your head and tail, so you're just a cowardly rat!"
Seeing that the other party did not show himself, the middle-aged Daoist provoked him.
Then, a black silhouette appeared before the two of them.
The silhouette gradually solidified, revealing a person completely shrouded in a black robe.
"Hmph, I wondered why I couldn't sense any aura. So you're wearing a treasure that isolates your aura!"
The middle-aged Daoist stated with certainty, recognizing at a glance that the black robe worn by this person was unusual.
However, in reality, the artifact that Chen Xiao truly used to shield his aura was not this black robe, but the relic, the Thunderous Divine Crown.
But Chen Xiao did not expose it. He was willing to let him pretend, as he wouldn't live much longer anyway.
"Who are you, to dare trespass into my Zhenwu Sect? Are you tired of living?"
The middle-aged Daoist asked.
Chen Xiao ignored him and looked at Li Beiwu, asking, "Are you Li Beiwu?"
Li Beiwu snorted and said proudly, "I am the Saint Son of Zhenwu Sect!"
"Alright, alright, Saint Son it is. I don't care who you are, the outcome will be the same anyway."
Chen Xiao said with annoyance, "To let you die with understanding, I'll tell you this: I'm here on behalf of someone to take your life!"