Chapter 152 The Eastern Chu Coast is Extremely Safe
The message was sent, and Nanmen Hong watched the jade token to see if it would be retrieved. Suddenly, he felt a pat on the shoulder, and a bright, cheerful voice rang out from behind him:
"Master Nanmen, what are you doing here?"
Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly flicked her fingers across the jade pendant, and the words that had appeared on it vanished instantly, leaving only an ordinary, unremarkable pendant. As she turned, her fingers deftly moved, and the jade pendant, which had been in her palm, slipped into her robes, disappearing into a storage ring within her sleeve.
Nanmen Hong's movements were fluid and natural; even if someone were standing nearby, they wouldn't notice anything amiss, simply thinking he was turning around to look at something because he heard a call.
Sure enough, the face right in front of me was all smiles, and her almond-shaped eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, were clear and bright, filled only with curiosity.
The slight tension caused by the sudden call dissipated, and Nanmen Hong's expression became more natural: "Young friend Ji, what is it?"
The long eyelashes that blinked just happened to cover the fleeting glance. When the eyelashes lifted, Ji Mingran's gaze was completely focused on Nanmen Hong in front of him. He smiled and said casually, "It's nothing. I just came to greet Master Nanmen since he was here alone."
She came here specifically, of course. She wasn't looking for Nanmen Hong, though; she was looking for a place with good signal.
Strangely enough, she had not received any messages from Yu Tianxing or Xiao Ji for several days. After arriving in the desolate continent, she sent a message to Qin Danniang, but there was still no response.
Ji Mingran suspected that the sect's jade token was not functioning well. The sect's jade token served as a communication token, relying on spiritual energy for communication. Disciples of the same sect practiced the same Daoist arts, so their spiritual energy connection was naturally stronger. Therefore, using the sect's jade token to contact disciples of the same sect was the smoothest. However, if contacting disciples of other sects, the other party needed to leave a trace of their spiritual imprint on the jade token to enhance the spiritual energy connection.
However, if one party goes to a place where spiritual energy is limited, the spiritual imprint cannot function, and thus cannot receive the letter in time.
The desolate continent is currently on high alert for an attack by demonic cultivators. Given that I am in the council hall, it is normal for me to strictly control my spiritual energy to prevent information from leaking out.
She then wanted to find a place with a slightly stronger spiritual energy.
Holding the jade plaque, I walked around the council hall and found Nanmen Hong in this inconspicuous corner.
Ji Mingran was certain that Nanmen Hong was using the communication jade tablet to communicate with people.
Just now, in the instant he turned around, she clearly caught a glimpse of a verdant shadow.
Moreover, she could sense the faint spiritual energy fluctuations emitted by the communication jade tablet. She herself used the sect's jade tablet to send messages every day, and she could distinguish the spiritual energy fluctuations generated by it even with her eyes closed.
However, judging from his expression, he clearly didn't want her to find out. Ji Mingran had deliberately teased him, but she hadn't expected such a strong reaction.
"You've reached the Golden Core stage?!" Nanmen Hong suddenly realized something was wrong, his voice rising sharply, his face filled with shock.
His voice was quite loud, drawing the attention of everyone in the council hall.
The girl in the light gray gauze dress standing in front of Nanmen Hong had a calm aura, and the spiritual energy surrounding her was refined and concentrated, indicating that she was indeed a Golden Core cultivator.
But... everyone looked closely.
Crane Xiu Zhenren: "Ji... Ji Mingran?!"
This Golden Core cultivator is actually Ji Mingran?
Even when she answered Nanmen Hong's questions, everyone could only hear her voice but not see her. It wasn't until the disciples of each sect dispersed to their respective teams that the four members of Dingsheng Sect separated.
Meanwhile, the council hall was in complete chaos. Each team leader was busy taking inventory of their respective groups of cultivators and giving instructions on important matters. Disciples from various sects were wandering around looking for their team leaders, getting to know their fellow cultivators, and discussing mission plans. Everyone was busy with their tasks, and no one paid any attention to one or two disciples in particular.
Ji Mingran took advantage of this break to quickly search for a place with strong spiritual energy, planning to confirm whether the jade tablet had received the message before rushing back to his team. However, he unexpectedly discovered Nanmen Hong.
Now that all the teams had finished regrouping, Nanmen Hong's shout drew everyone's attention to the source of his shock.
Shen Ting couldn't believe it: "She actually reached the Golden Core stage? How is that possible!" Just a few months ago, Ji Mingran had only reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and when the Spiritual Cultivation Competition started, she was only at the Qi Refining stage. How could she have advanced two levels in such a short time, and even jumped to the Golden Core stage!
Shen Ting's chest heaved, unable to calm down. At her age, she was only at the Golden Core stage!
It's one thing for Shen Qingluo to be a prodigy, but how come Ji Mingran, who is just an insignificant person, has also reached the Golden Core Realm just like her!
Zhu Shenglin's eyes flashed with panic for a moment, and he turned to look at Zhu Shibai with suspicion and uncertainty. The latter, however, remained calm, as if the matter was perfectly normal and reasonable.
It was true. Zhu Shengli immediately recalled the rumors of Dingsheng Sect recovering its lost heritage.
Could it be that the Dingsheng Sect has rediscovered the elixir inheritance and refined a high-level breakthrough pill for her to consume? Otherwise, how could her cultivation have improved so much in such a short period of time?
Ke Shibai clearly despised this path; if that were the case, he certainly wouldn't be so indifferent.
Zhu Shengli then thought again, could it be that the Dingsheng Sect really managed to create several different Daoist techniques for the same person? That's why all four of them broke through in their cultivation.
Shen Ting and Zhu Shengli were filled with countless thoughts, while Master Hexiu had only one thought: Oh no! The members of the Dingsheng Sect are all doing better than each other, and now it will be really difficult for them to get their Qilin Beast back!
The three immortals, who were about to set off, suddenly stopped and then revealed complicated expressions.
Quiet discussions rose and fell within the council chamber.
"My junior sister, Ji Mingran, is ranked first on the Elite List of the Spiritual Cultivation Competition. She advanced three levels in two years and broke through to the Golden Core stage in one fell swoop. Does this surprise you so much?" Zhu Huo said loudly.
When she spoke, the discussion immediately ceased.
"What's all the fuss about? She has many amazing abilities. If I were to list them all, wouldn't your eyes pop out of your sockets?" With a wave of her red-tasseled spear, she strode toward the door: "The troops left to guard Duyan City, patrol with me."
A line of cultivators stepped forward, turning back as they followed Zhu Huo away.
Zhu Huo's parting words, seemingly a rhetorical question, were actually a series of flattering remarks.
After all, not everyone goes to the spiritual competition to watch the contest, but all spiritual practitioners have heard of the top name on this year's elite list.
Her words only fueled everyone's curiosity.
Despite the varied and unfathomable gazes directed at him, Ji Mingran remained composed.
Is that so? That's the kind of reaction someone who knows her should have when they meet her again.
Even Chongjue, who was in the Mahayana stage, was surprised by her cultivation speed. How could Nanmen Hong not react at all when he first saw her and only asked her what was wrong? He was clearly flustered but pretending to be calm, so he did not notice at first.
Who is he contacting? He seems so guilty.
Ji Mingran suppressed the clues he had discovered and made up an excuse: "Yes, after the Spiritual Cultivation Competition, I traveled with my companions and had a fortuitous encounter, so I advanced in cultivation."
Anyone could see that this was a fabricated excuse. But with all eyes on him in the council hall, Nanmen Hong, not wanting to be discovered, urged him to leave, saying, "Young friend Ji's progress is incredibly rapid. With you on this trip, we are truly blessed. I see that the team on the Eastern Chu coast has already assembled. You should hurry up and go."
Ji Mingran followed his gaze and saw the leader of the team carrying out the mission on the East Chu coast, Ya Dongbai.
Another person I can be considered an acquaintance.
Ji Mingran glanced down at the sect's jade token, but there was no news.
It seems to be unrelated to spiritual energy sensing. Confirmed, "Okay." Ji Mingran turned and left.
The scrutinizing gaze shifted with Ji Mingran's movement, and Nanmen Hong quietly moved to another spot, his face grim: "You didn't tell me that she had already reached the Golden Core stage."
Chongjue replied very quickly: "This will not affect the plan."
Nanmen Hong held the jade pendant, a cold smile playing on his lips. It certainly wouldn't affect the plan, but informing him would have been just a matter of saying one more word, yet he couldn't be bothered to say it, or rather, Chongjue had never even considered mentioning it to him.
Chongjue's attitude towards him is evident.
High-level cultivators are just that arrogant.
Another image surfaced in his mind. Nanmen Hong's eyes darkened.
......
Ji Mingran took another look at the group that was traveling with him.
Most of them were disciples of Liuhuan Valley, with a few from the Zhu family, the Shen family, and the Hehuan Sect. The rest came from sects she didn't recognize. Judging from their casual conversation, they were array cultivators like herself.
Hmm, Ji Mingran judged that this was a logistics team.
Primarily a support role.
This aligns with what Nanmen Hong said about setting up a protective array.
The Beast Taming Sect provided their support team with a five-striped white tiger as a travel beast. Ji Mingran grabbed the tiger skin and directed the white tiger under his mount to come to the cypress tree on the east side of the cliff.
Let me first greet you: "Why isn't Master Nanmen with us?"
Ya Dongbai's tightly clenched lips parted slightly: "Master needs to stay in Duyan City to research medicine for the people who are seeking refuge from the disaster. Fellow Daoist Ji, rest assured, with us here, we can ensure that this team can travel back and forth intact."
"Oh." Ji Mingran didn't care.
She began to inquire: "Why isn't Dan Niang here this time? Wasn't it said that all the disciples participating in the final competition of the Spiritual Cultivation Grand Competition would be here? I see that you are all here, but she is not."
Ya Dongbai glanced at her sideways: "She's sick."
Ji Mingran: "Can alchemists also get sick? And even alchemists can't be cured in a short time? Is this very serious?"
The white tiger beneath the cypress tree on the eastern cliff suddenly leaped out.
It was obvious that he didn't want to say another word to her.
Ji Mingran turned his head and aimed at another Liuhuan Valley disciple. Just as he was about to go over and inquire, his sleeve was pulled.
He was an array cultivator she didn't know.
“Master Ji,” he said, “Liuhuan Valley has always been arrogant and haughty. Even if you speak, they will not listen to you.”
He seemed to know more: "There are a lot of formations set up on the coast of Dongchu, so normal demonic cultivators would not choose to come here. It is very safe. That's why a large number of disciples from Liuhuan Valley came to our team. In fact, they came here to collect herbs on the way."
"Gathering herbs?"
“The Eastern Chu coast belongs to the Hehuan Sect, and it’s not easy to enter Liuhuan Valley normally. They took this opportunity to go there to pick spiritual plants for alchemy.” He said helplessly, “We array cultivators are the real laborers.”
"Reinforce the formation." Since they were both formation cultivators, Ji Mingran encouraged him, "It's nothing to worry about."
The array cultivator paused for a moment, seemingly trying to understand from her perspective: "That's true. Readjusting and reinforcing the array is extremely difficult and prone to backlash, but compared to other fellow cultivators who directly attack demonic cultivators, we only suffer mental and physical exhaustion. Moreover, with the presence of the Flowing Illusion Valley, they can provide timely pills and supplies, and we can endure it."
“Besides,” he added, “the formation here is the strongest. Even if those demonic cultivators were stupid, they wouldn’t choose this place. And if they were to come, it wouldn’t be that demon Yu Tianxing. We are indeed much safer.”
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