Chapter 145 Return to Position: This is the scene I imagined for welcoming the victor...
"Let's go, let's hurry back." Guan Wangzhen rushed forward first, followed closely by the other three. However, each of them stopped after walking a meter and looked at the other three in confusion.
Each person occupies a different position in the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), and their directions of travel are all different.
"This way!" the four said in unison, then paused, looking left and right at their companions' outstretched index fingers pointing in their respective directions.
There are no overlaps in any of the four directions.
The four of them stared at each other blankly.
Ji Mingran: "I remember it was in this direction. I walked this way during the sect entry competition."
“This is the closest direction,” Guan Wangzhen waved to the others, “Follow me!”
Zhu Shibai smiled and said, "This direction is open and there are very few monsters, making it easy to travel and more convenient."
Shen Qinglu slung his long sword over his shoulder, raised an eyebrow, and said, "I'll go this way for the sect entry competition and take first place."
Zhu Wangzhen and Zhu Shibai's confident demeanor vanished instantly, and they silently lowered their index fingers.
Ji Mingran: "But this is the main gate of the Dingsheng Sect." He then raised his hands and drew a square, above which was a plaque with the three large characters 'Dingsheng Sect' written on it.
The three of them immediately turned around and headed towards Ji Mingran.
"A plaque? The main gate?" Chen Qingluo, who always flew through the clouds on his sword, said, "I have to take a look."
"To be honest, I haven't really looked at it properly," Zhu Shibai said. "As a disciple of a sect, I shouldn't neglect it."
"That's right! The four of us are the heroes, so of course we should enter through the main gate, even though nobody really cares about the main gate. But we still have to have this ceremony. Let's go to the main gate!" Guan Wangzhen exclaimed excitedly. "Grandma is so thoughtful. I'll go first then. This time, I'm number one!"
Before he finished speaking, Guan Wangzhen dashed forward in a flash.
"Hey, hey, hey!" The other three, not to be outdone, caught up, shouting, "I'm number one!"
Ji Mingran took two steps symbolically, snapped her fingers with a smile, and appeared two body lengths ahead of the three running people. She looked up and then back at the three people catching up with her.
The three men below became agitated and shouted:
"No cheating! No cheating!"
"Grandma, let's decide the winner based purely on physical strength!"
"If you're tired, take a break. I'll pick you up after I win first place!"
"Okay, okay, okay." Ji Mingran replied, then turned around, clenched his fists, and ran forward laughing.
More than a year ago, she climbed the ten thousand steps of the Dingsheng Sect alone, step by step, to the entrance of the sect, and became a legitimate disciple of the Dingsheng Sect.
What once seemed like an insurmountable distance now feels surprisingly short, as she races alongside her three fellow disciples.
All four of them were at the Golden Core stage, and even without using any Taoist techniques, their physical abilities were far beyond those of ordinary people. In less than half a day, they had crossed three mountains, climbed high peaks, and jumped down into the secluded paths of the forest valley.
The four landed and immediately separated, their four gusts of wind missing their mark and striking the ground with a booming sound. Shen Qingluo, Guan Wangzhen, and Zhu Shibai swept through the branches and leaves with a light breeze and leaped forward silently, while Ji Mingran took a step back in tacit agreement.
Two giant wooden clubs, each ten meters long, appeared above Guan Wangzhen, who was charging at the forefront, and slammed down on him from the left and right.
Two blows landed on his head, but Guan Wangzhen didn't dodge. He put his hands on his hips and said in a leisurely tone, "Qi Ming, Yang Jingjing, don't say I didn't warn you. If this blow comes down, you two will be gone."
The two sticks suddenly stopped and shrank, and the disciple in the sky-blue robe holding the sticks tilted his head and peeked out from behind the sticks.
Upon meeting Guan Wangzhen's gaze, both of them suddenly narrowed their eyes in shock. Unable to control their strength while holding the sticks, they both fell onto the gravelly grass with a thud.
Ignoring the pain, the two cried out in surprise, "Great-Great Master!"
On the other side, Shen Qingluo dodged the sword aimed at her shoulder, extended her index finger, and gently pressed down, causing the sword tip to pierce the ground with a whoosh: "You've loosened your grip. Even if you hit the target, you can't relax, understand? Yingyue."
The blade slipped from her hand. The girl in black robes stared blankly at her sword, then looked up at the person who had so easily taken control of it.
She stared blankly, mouth agape: "Great-Great Master?"
With a whoosh, the water curtain that appeared out of thin air neutralized the magical attack before disintegrating and falling to the ground. Zhu Shibai smiled and said, "Shi Ling, it's been a while since we last met. Your water techniques have improved a lot."
Shi Jing's eyes lit up, overjoyed: "The Great Ancestor!"
The four disciples of the Dingsheng Sect, who had suddenly appeared, exclaimed in unison, "You're back?!"
Crouching behind, Ji Mingran carefully identified the four people lying in ambush. Huh? She recognized these four too. They were the first group of fellow disciples she encountered on her way to study the Cleansing Technique after finally obtaining permission to leave the peak.
"It really has been a while since we last met," Ji Mingran remarked.
Hearing her speak, the four of them turned their heads in unison, their eyes widening even more. "Little Great Ancestor! You're back too!"
"No, no." Yang Jingjing said incredulously, "We're incredibly lucky! We actually managed to run into you?"
He slapped hard, sending a sharp slap through the air.
Feeling the burning pain in his palm, Yang Jingjing exclaimed in surprise, "It really isn't a dream!"
"No!" Qi Ming lunged at Yang Jingjing, grabbing his neck with both hands: "You need to confirm why you hit me!"
While the two disciples from Kuangfeng were fighting, Shi Ling from Quanfeng and Chao Yingyue from Yaofeng had recovered from their shock and bowed to their sect ancestors: "Our masters have returned safely, which is a great joy for the sect."
Zhu Shibai asked, "Did you wait for us here specifically?"
"Yes and no." Shi Ling said, looking around. "We're here to confirm whether Hong Qizong and his group have really left."
Guan Wangzhen: "Hongqi Zong?"
"Yes, yes, Master Guan." Hearing their master from the main peak ask the question, the two disciples from Kuang Peak stopped fighting and hurriedly came forward to answer: "After the spiritual cultivation competition ended last month, the first and third elders of the Hongqi Sect led more than a dozen Hongqi Sect disciples to Lin Peak."
Ji Mingran and the other three exchanged glances, all noticing the surprise in each other's eyes.
How could someone from the Hongqi Sect appear in the territory of the Dingsheng Sect?
They were unaware of this situation.
After completing their escort mission, the three people other than Ji Mingran immediately returned to Hongqi Sect to hide. To avoid Hongqi Sect sensing the sect's jade token and thus capturing their location, the three did not use the sect's jade token again after reporting that they were safe. Ji Mingran, being in the Soul Devouring Array, had no opportunity to use the sect's jade token at all.
Although the four managed to escape Hongqi Sect, they were then struck by a violent lightning bolt and traversed a vast ocean without stopping, never once distracted from sending a message back to the sect.
Having been cut off from the sect for over a month, it's no wonder these four disciples were so surprised to see them.
"They're incredibly shameless. They just linger around the outskirts of Linfeng, searching everywhere like they're on patrol every day." Yang Jingjing, who also had a handprint on his face, said angrily, "They just keep lingering because we can't drive them away. They're really shameless."
The territory of Dingsheng Sect is extremely vast, almost covering the entire Central Continent. There are also many cultivators who come to Dingsheng Sect's Lin Peak for travel and training.
However, most cultivators merely pass through and stay; only the Hongqi Sect treats it as their own territory and searches everywhere for it.
Moreover, Hongqi Sect has always disliked Dingsheng Sect and had never been willing to set foot in their territory before.
Everyone knows what they're thinking.
"The day Elder Donglu led the group of observing disciples back, they all stood there, their eyes scanning each disciple, their faces increasingly gloomy. When they discovered that the fellow Daoist who resembled Ancestor Ji was not her, wow, their expressions were quite something." Qi Ming recalled with relish, "Since they couldn't find any trace of you, they all stayed behind."
"They even tried to sneak into the inner perimeter of Linfeng," Qi Ming added excitedly. "Hey! Guess what! Our sect's protective formation activated! They were ejected from the formation one by one with bang bang bang, and the scene was even more spectacular!"
He raised his index finger to his lips and said mysteriously, "We were wondering why the peak masters were still in seclusion when the Hongqi Sect had already come knocking. Turns out they were maintaining the great formation! The formation was unstable, so they hadn't announced its restart. Who knew the Hongqi Sect would come knocking on our door! We caught them red-handed! Their faces turned a whole host of colors—green, red, and white!"
Yang Jingjing shook his head and said, "But they're shameless and used to it. Even when we caught them, they still refused to admit it, saying they didn't notice the boundary and just wandered in by mistake, and other such nonsense. But from that day on, we didn't treat them politely either. Wherever they went, we disciples followed. After all, it's the Linfeng Domain. It's only natural for us disciples to show up every day."
Of course, they followed Hong Qizong nervously at all times, all to ensure that they could meet the returning ancestors before Hong Qizong.
The mission is now perfectly accomplished, and no further explanation is needed.
"As you said at the beginning," Shen Qingluo asked, "the people from Hongqi Sect have already left?"
A beautiful, questioning gaze fell upon them. The breathtaking beauty so close to them left the two disciples of Kuangfeng speechless, their faces flushed crimson like ripe shrimp. They stammered, "Yes...yes..."
Chao Yingyue pushed the two aside, bowed properly, and replied, "Reporting to Grandmaster, the disciples on duty who accompanied them said that ten days ago, the First Elder and Third Elder of Hongqi Sect glanced at the sect's jade pendant and their expressions changed drastically. After that, they hurriedly led the Hongqi Sect disciples to leave in batches, and today the last batch left. We are worried that there may be a trap, so we continue to investigate every day."
Shen Qinglu nodded, smiled, pulled the sword from the ground, and handed it to Chao Yingyue.
Chao Yingyue's expression froze for a moment, a blush rising to her cheeks, and she whispered, "Thank you, Grandmaster."
Ji Mingran pondered, "I understand the situation roughly." In short, Hongqi Sect's original intention was to intercept the Spirit Essence Stone. She broke Hongqi Sect's Soul Devouring Array, which caused their sect's protective sword array to lose its spiritual power attack, forcing the two elders who were outside to return.
There must still be Hongqi Sect disciples secretly investigating in this forest, but as long as the Spirit Stone is returned to its place, no matter how much the Hongqi Sect spyes on it, it will be to no avail.
Ji Mingran gestured to his companions, and the three understood.
"In that case, we'll go ahead."
The four figures vanished in an instant.
The realm of the Hongqi Sect is ancient and solemn, utterly silent.
Until a loud, boisterous voice broke the silence.
"hateful!"
At that moment, a fiery red figure passed through the Dingshengzong plaque.
"hateful!"
At this moment, a sky-blue figure passed through the Dingshengzong plaque.
Guan Wangzhen caught up angrily and arrived at the bottom of the plaque, glaring at the two who had arrived before him: "How come it's you two again who got there first?"
Like the two who arrived first, he turned around the moment he arrived, waiting for the people behind him.
Ji Mingran then appeared: "Keeping the original order isn't bad either."
From where they were just moments before to arriving at the sect's territory, the four of them took only a quarter of an hour, and arrived almost simultaneously, with only a slight difference in time.
She looked up once more at the rock plaque held high in the air by the stone pillars. The three characters "Ding Sheng Zong" were powerful and vigorous, and even after a thousand years, their majestic and ancient feel remained undiminished.
Seeing her come up, the three people standing side by side moved aside to make room for her.
Ji Mingran stepped into the space the three had cleared for her and stopped abruptly. "Huh?"
The other three noticed something was wrong and turned around following Ji Mingran's gaze.
The disciples of Dingsheng Sect bowed in unison and shouted, "Congratulations on the return of our Grandmaster!"
Now it was Ji Mingran and the other three's turn to be dumbfounded.
"That's right!" Guan Wangzhen was the first to react, grinned, raised his arms high, and walked into the welcoming crowd.
"Grandmaster Guan, this is our Grandmaster Guan from Kuangfeng!" The Kuangfeng disciples in their sky-blue robes cheered.
Ji Mingran exchanged a glance with Shen Qingluo and Zhu Shibai, a smile appearing in their eyes. They then followed Guan Wangzhen toward the peak masters who were standing in front of them, smiling.
With each step forward, disciples from the corresponding peak region cheered and raised their arms.
"Grandmaster Zhu, this is our outstanding Grandmaster Zhu, do you see him? So dignified!" The Quanfeng disciple was full of pride.
"Grandmaster Shen, this is our Grandmaster Shen of Yaofeng!!!" The Yaofeng disciples' voices were full of vigor, their shouts overwhelming the disciples of the other peaks. "The strong are invincible!"
Two golden figures suddenly appeared before everyone. Jin Yujinlu cried out, "Our Granny Ji! This is our Granny Ji, Granny Ji from Luanfeng! The incomparable Granny Ji!"
The scream was so piercing it could rupture eardrums that the other disciples immediately fell silent and covered their ears.
"Alright." Ji Mingran patted one of their heads with a smile, and Jin Yu and Jin Lu immediately shut up and obediently followed behind her.
The four peak masters and sect leader Yuan Liu stood beside the ancient spirit stone. As the four approached, Yuan Liu smiled and said, "You've had a hard time. Welcome back to the sect. It's a great blessing for the sect that you're all safe and sound."
Peak Master Qi Qingling winked at Guan Wangzhen: "You like this setup, right? It was my suggestion!"
Peak Master Zhu Huo looked Shen Qingluo up and down, and then raised one corner of his mouth: "Not bad, after going out for a while, your demeanor has become much more composed."
Peak Master Liu Zhiqing grabbed Zhu Shibai, let out a drunken hiccup, and slurred, "Disciple, disciple, it's good that you're back!"
Yuan Liu and Dong Lu then surrounded Ji Mingran, saying, "Uncle-Master, we are so grateful to have you with us. You have gone to so much trouble for us along the way."
Ji Mingran smiled and said, "It was actually quite fun, and I had a lot of fun too."
Yuan Liu stepped forward. The peak masters, who were exchanging pleasantries with their disciples, seemed to know what he was about to do. They patted the backs of their disciples' hands, paused their words, and looked at Ji Mingran with admiration in their eyes.
Yuan Liuchao's disciples said, "Today we gather here not only to welcome the disciples who will participate in the Spiritual Cultivation Competition to reclaim glory for the sect, but also to allow everyone to witness this grand event of the sect. This grand event will be announced by your Grand Ancestor Ji. At this moment, the disciples of Dingsheng Sect should remember it forever."
What else was there besides a welcome? The excited and noisy disciples of Dingsheng Sect quieted down and looked at Yuan Liu with blank expressions.
Yuan Liu turned to Ji Mingran and said sincerely, "Uncle-Master, it was my fault for not informing you of this beforehand. It may have made you uncomfortable in front of everyone. But after thinking it over, I believe that everything you have done for the sect should be known by everyone. With everyone as witnesses, if anyone dares to criticize you again, that person will become an enemy of Dingsheng."
Donglu said in a low voice, "Uncle-Master, don't be nervous. Just perform as usual. The peak masters are here and won't let anything happen to you. This time, we will not only announce to the sect, but also to the entire spiritual cultivation community, that your position is legitimate and unshakeable."
Gently patting the soft hand that was tightly gripping his palm, Ji Mingran's expression remained unchanged, instead showing even more of a smile: "This is not difficult, don't be nervous."
She withdrew her hand and turned to walk towards the ancient spirit stone.
Ji Mingran took out a spirit stone from the brocade pouch and casually tossed it into the ancient spirit stone. He smiled at everyone and made a hand seal.
More intricate and magnificent than fireworks overhead, a dazzling light bloomed in an instant, fine patterns swirling around the slender girl and spreading outwards, covering the entire sect's territory in a matter of moments.
The disciples of Dingsheng Sect immediately felt a gentle spiritual energy envelop their bodies, and their minds instantly felt incredibly at ease.
Their little ancestor was ahead, grinning as he said to them:
"Everyone, our sect-protecting formation, the Realm Formation, and the inheritance of the Treasure Pavilion have all returned."
Author's note: Sorry I'm late.
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