Fan Mingzhu's expression softened slightly upon hearing her father's promise. She took a few deep breaths, feeling that time was passing too slowly, and wished she could jump back to the moment her father killed Shi Xuan.
Meanwhile, Shi Xuan, the biggest winner of the Silver Frost Secret Realm, was surrounded by his fellow disciples as he returned to the spirit boat of the Lianfeng Sword Sect.
Everyone chattered about the interesting things that happened in the secret realm, such as the medicine garden that their sect had contracted, the furious disciples of the Divine Cauldron Sect, and the tacit understanding they had developed by working together to kill demonic beasts... For a time, the atmosphere inside the Spirit Boat of the Lianfeng Sword Sect was quite lively.
Lin Daozi listened in a daze. These straightforward people from the Sword Sect had always been at the bottom in the secret realms except for killing demonic beasts, especially the herb garden, which had practically nothing to do with them.
So this time they actually booked the whole place?
After hearing their account of the process, Lin Daozi was even more satisfied with Shi Xuan.
This little rascal is quick-witted, lucky, and broad-minded; he's a promising talent.
The secret realm has vanished; there's no point in staying any longer. Lin Daozi counted the number of people, then started the spirit boat and headed towards the sect.
Lu Wenxing, He Weiqing, and Tang Nong were already waiting at Fuyu Peak, saying they were hosting a welcome feast for Shi Xuan. Tang Nong, who had recently returned to the sect, volunteered to prepare a large table of "delicious" spiritual food for Shi Xuan. Although Lu Wenxing bluntly stated that his junior sister probably wouldn't like the welcome feast.
Sure enough, before they even reached their destination, Shi Xuan heard the news and immediately turned around, pulling his master to the sect leader's main hall.
Shi Mingxiu had also heard about their performance in the Silver Frost Secret Realm and was stroking his beard with satisfaction when he saw Shi Xuan and Lin Daozi enter from outside.
As soon as Shi Xuan entered the outer gate, before even seeing anyone, he called out, "Sect Master, it's been a long time! I've been thinking of you a lot while I was away. I wonder how you've been?"
Only after saying this did he step through the door and see the sect leader in person. Shi Mingxiu was already immune to her sweet words, but it was true that the disciples had gained a lot this time, so he smiled at her sincerely and said, "It's the best that you all came back safe and sound."
"The sect leader is truly righteous, caring for us lowly disciples. Such a top-notch sect leader is hard to find even with a lantern! He is one of a kind in the entire cultivation world!" Shi Xuan showered the sect leader with compliments, praising him to the point of exhaustion.
Shi Mingxiu twitched his lips, thinking to himself, "If you had gone easy on me when you asked for things, I might have believed you."
Lin Daozi just followed behind with a cheerful smile, like someone watching the show.
The three of them took their seats.
Shi Xuan first recounted some details of the secret realm, allowing the sect leader to better understand what the disciples had done. Then, he took out two small boxes, offering one to the sect leader and one to his master, and said with a smile, "I have also gained something in the secret realm, so I'm sending some local specialties for you two to try. I've received quite a few benefits from you two in the past, so this is a way of returning the favor."
Although Shi Mingxiu was annoyed that this kid was always trying to take things from him, what benefits could a Nascent Soul cultivator like him possibly receive from a child who had just established his foundation?
But since she had given it to him, it was her way of showing filial piety as his disciple, and Shi Mingxiu accepted it with great satisfaction.
Lin Daozi was much more experienced than him. Although this disciple's cultivation was still shallow, she always won people's hearts when she gave gifts. He had previously received her flawless pills and homemade spirit wine, which were gifts that pleased him greatly.
Upon receiving the small box, Lin Daozi was naturally delighted and accepted it, saying, "Let your master see what good stuff this time is."
He opened the small box, inside which were ten leaves neatly arranged. The leaves were small, with a greenish-purple hue on the front and a purpleish-green hue on the back, making them quite unique.
"This is..." Lin Daozi seemed to disbelieve what he was seeing. How could these leaves look so much like the leaves of the legendary Enlightenment Tree? But this was obviously impossible. How could a Qi Refining stage secret realm have such a spiritual plant? Moreover, so many disciples in the past had gone to the Silver Frost Secret Realm, and no one had ever heard of seeing the Enlightenment Tree.
He held the box hesitantly. Seeing this, Shi Mingxiu became curious and used his divine sense to look at the box that Lin Daozi had opened. This surprised him as well.
As a Nascent Soul cultivator, he had seen all sorts of wonderful things. He thought it would be difficult to find anything that could stir his emotions, but unexpectedly, this mischievous monkey reciprocated and gave him a great gift.
He hurriedly opened his box, and like Lin Daozi's, it contained ten neatly arranged leaves of the Enlightenment Tree, which were quite beautiful.
"Enlightenment Tree?" Shi Mingxiu asked, just to confirm, since the leaves were so distinctive that even someone who had never seen an Enlightenment Tree before could recognize it at a glance.
Shi Xuan smiled and nodded, her eyes sparkling, two small dimples adorning the corners of her mouth, making her appear even more lively: "I am fortunate to have seen this tree in the secret realm, and it immediately reminded me of the Sect Master and Master. The Sect Master and Master have treated me so well, and this tree is my opportunity to repay them!"
Lin Daozi then realized that these really were leaves from the Enlightenment Tree. He laughed heartily and said, "Good, good, good! I appreciate Xuan'er's filial piety. You always think of your teachers first when there are good things. What can I say about you? In the future, you should also think more about yourself!"
Shi Xuan quickly seized the opportunity: "Of course, I must put my master first! Now that I've come to our Lianfeng Sword Sect, the Lianfeng Sword Sect is my home. I dare not forget it for a moment when I'm away from home, and I always put the sect first in everything I do! I am a member of the Lianfeng Sword Sect!"
"Although you're a mischievous little monkey, you have a good heart," Shi Mingxiu finally succumbed to Shi Xuan's sweet words. "All disciples of my Sword Sect should have your awareness! It's just that this gift you gave is very useful, but it's too valuable. I can't just take it for free. Here are some little trinkets for you to take back and play with."
As he spoke, he took out a pile of magical artifacts and spiritual plants, all of which were of very high quality, and placed them in front of Shi Xuan, saying, "I know you like these, so take them all."
Shi Xuan looked at the pile of good things and happily accepted them. These things were more useful to her now than the Enlightenment Leaf.
After receiving the gifts, he didn't hesitate to make an additional request: "Sect Master, I've used up almost all of the sword energy you gave me this time. Remember to collect more next time you practice your swordsmanship."
"He who takes a bribe is bound to be obliged," Shi Mingxiu said with a helpless smile. "You'll get your share."
Lin Daozi naturally couldn't fall behind. Having received valuable items from his disciples, he had no choice but to give back even more. He couldn't use ordinary magical artifacts and spiritual plants, but these Enlightenment Tree Leaves were among the few things he could use nowadays, so the choice was obvious.
After giving away a bunch of things, he automatically added: "I will also save up sword energy for you, but we cultivators should not rely too much on external things. Unless we encounter an insurmountable crisis, we should not easily use the sword energy of our masters."
"Disciple understands!" Shi Xuan readily agreed. "Master, rest assured, disciple will never slacken in my self-training just because I have obtained your sword energy!"
"By the way, there is one more thing I need to report."
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