Today, no major events happened in Jing State; everyone was just talking.
The Third Sword Pavilion, Divine Sword Cliff.
With one hand, Chen Mushi lifted the massive stone that sealed the cave, letting the fresh breeze flow in.
The wind carried in sunlight, illuminating the countless sword scars on the cave walls and the mountain of ancient books.
At this moment, six elders of the Third Sword Pavilion ascended to the cliff's peak on flying swords, bowing in respect.
"Welcome back, Pavilion Master."
The over two-meter-tall Chen Mushi stepped out from the cave, exhaling a breath of stale air.
"Go, fetch my sword box."
"Pavilion Master, do you have some business?" an elder asked.
"Nothing much." Chen Mushi flexed his wrist.
"I'm just going to the Seventh Sword Pavilion to find someone."
However, before Chen Mushi could take a second step, a paper sword descended from the sky, embedding itself beside his foot.
Picking up the paper sword and opening it, Chen Mushi found a note.
On it was a line of small, forceful characters.
[Don't go looking for trouble with Zhengyi; your sister is fine. Signed, your father.]
Clutching the note, Chen Mushi looked up and roared with anger.
"Hey, you old fool Zhengyi, how dare you snitch to the Sect Leader!"
To the west of the Cyan Thorn region, in a certain Cave Heaven Secret Realm, Blood Lion Helm.
Due to the Spiritual Snake Helm's obliteration, the remaining larger and smaller demon paths in the Cyan Thorn region had all entered a shell mode.
Especially the Blood Lion Helm, now the most notable in the eyes of righteous cultivators after the fall of the Spiritual Snake Helm.
For safety, the Helm Leader Blood Lion Ancestor immediately changed the secret pattern of the Cave Mansion's entrance and maintained all Teleportation Arrays in a half-activated state.
Only then did he summon trusted subordinates for a discussion at the helm.
To study the topic of how the Spiritual Snake Helm was destroyed.
The meeting hall in the Cave Mansion was brightly lit, with Blood Lion Ancestor sitting at the head of the table.
On either side of the long table sat his four Vice Helm Leaders and several trusted aides he valued highly.
To cater to the tastes of Blood Lion Ancestor, these people all had red hair, regardless of its length.
Blood Lion Ancestor rubbed his longest red hair, unable to think it through.
He couldn't understand how the Spiritual Snake Helm had disappeared just like that.
Clearly, he had only just harbored a little ill intention, not even having made any concrete plans.
"Who could have acted before me?"
"How could they be faster than me?"
"This doesn't make sense?"
"How could the righteous path act so cleanly and decisively?"
Everyone in the hall listened to Blood Lion Ancestor's self-talk, none daring to speak.
They were all insiders trusted by Blood Lion Ancestor and naturally knew some of his quirks.
For instance, you must never interrupt when Blood Lion Ancestor is talking to himself.
Because when he starts talking to himself, it's when he's in his worst temper.
If you speak correctly, you're stealing words; if you're wrong, you're interrupting his train of thought.
Depending on the severity of the matter, you might get a nasty scolding or be beaten half to death.
In any case, there's no good outcome.
Of course, staying silent isn't the answer either.
If Blood Lion Ancestor doesn't figure out the problem after all his self-talk, it's definitely not his fault.
It must be his subordinates' fault.
At this moment, he would ask, "What do you all think about this matter?"
If someone can really answer, it's good; not only won't they be beaten, but they might get a reward.
But if the answer is wrong, they're hitting the blade.
Just as Blood Lion Ancestor was about to speak up, everyone in the hall began exchanging glances, discussing with their eyes who to push forward to take the blame.
Suddenly, the flames in the brazier next to Blood Lion Ancestor changed.
A blurry human face appeared in the fire.
Seeing that face, Blood Lion Ancestor's expression changed.
"Leave." Blood Lion Ancestor waved to the people below the hall.
After they left, Blood Lion Ancestor respectfully bowed to the face in the fire.
"Messenger Sir? What instructions do you have?"
The face in the fire made a retching motion, emitting an extremely nauseating sound.
"Ugh, I have phlegm, hold on a second, ugh, cough cough, ptooey."
After the fire face finally cleared its throat, it spoke.
"The Spiritual Snake Helm is gone; now only your Blood Lion Helm remains in the Cyan Thorn region."
"The Sect Leader commands you to immediately recruit manpower and expand the demon path's strength."
"The Main Helm has sent me to investigate the cause of the Spiritual Snake Helm's demise, and you must cooperate."
"For now, these are the only two tasks."
"In the future, more instructions will come from the Main Helm."
After speaking, the face disappeared, and the flames returned to normal.
Blood Lion Ancestor paced back and forth in the hall with hands behind his back; truthfully, he was very reluctant to act.
Doing so would undoubtedly run into the Sword Sect's sharp edge, contrary to the shell strategy he had just settled on in his heart.
But he couldn't disobey the Main Helm; disobedience meant a quicker death.
So he had to find a way.
"Everyone, come back! Let's continue the meeting!"
The Seventh Sword Pavilion, Library Pavilion.
"Really? I'm young, don't trick me."
The small ball rolled back and forth on the table in front of Zhang Ze, who looked incredulously at Elder Wang.
"Why would I lie? Your Grandpa Wang was really quite handsome in his youth." Elder Wang pinched his chin and chuckled, satisfied with Zhang Ze's surprised expression.
"Alright. But how are you sure she'll help me, after all this hundred years have passed."
"You must believe in your Grandpa Wang's prowess."
"Back in the day, I was known as the Silence Love Saint in the Sword Pavilion..."
"And Aunt Mo Jingchun..."
Zhang Ze hadn't finished speaking when Elder Wang, whose old wound had been reopened, raised his hand with a faint flicker of thunder in his palm.
Though the topic had taken a strange turn, from the start Elder Wang was discussing the small ball with Zhang Ze, which was actually the Stone Pill.
While Elder Wang didn't recognize the Stone Pill, he had heard of it, and someone he knew was quite familiar with it.
Therefore, Zhang Ze heard a new Grandpa Wang bragging story.
According to Elder Wang himself, in his youth he once carried out a long mission in Cold City, north of Cyan Thorn, for the sect.
During the mission, he accidentally saved a Bird Demon.
A female one, even registered.
To repay Elder Wang for saving her life, the Bird Demon invited him to visit her home.
The Bird Demon's house was large, with a spacious house and yard.
Because she had many daughters.
Altogether seven, each a beauty, but according to Elder Wang's memory, at the time the seven sisters were only half-transformed.
So all seven had chicken claws.
But Elder Wang didn't mind.
After all, looks were everything.
The Bird Demon, in gratitude, said Elder Wang could marry her daughters, or even marry them all.
Old Wang was an honest man, declining repeatedly, saying that wasn't the way of the righteous path.
He said marrying one was enough.
Later, the banquet was quite lively...
As a result, an intoxicated Elder Wang mistakenly embraced the wrong person and took away the Bird Demon, the children's mother.
This mistake endured, leading to a hundred-plus-year romance.
To this day, the two still correspond regularly.
The reason Elder Wang shared this bragging tale...
was because the Bird Demon was actually a reincarnation of the Stone Pill.
Upon discovering the small ball by Zhang Ze's side was also a Stone Pill, Elder Wang sent a letter to his old flame, describing the appearance and state of the Stone Pill.
His old friend quickly replied.
The letter stated that based on her experience, such an active Stone Pill should awaken within half a year.
If it doesn't react after half a year, he can visit Cold City to find her.
"What's your decision? Go to Cold City now?" Elder Wang put away the Palm Thunder and asked.
"No, I'll calm down for half a year, wait until Foundation Establishment, then make a fuss." Zhang Ze coughed a puff of black smoke.