Chapter 779: Golden Core Ascendant_3

Sect Leader Changgeng, representing the Qinglan Sect, formally announced: “Chang’an Ascendant has achieved remarkable cultivation and exceptional prowess. He is hereby appointed as an Elder of the Qinglan Sect, united with our entire Sect to repel external threats and protect the Sect’s mining grounds.”

Li Ji’an returned the gesture one by one, and sincerely said: “Thank you, Sect Leader, thank you, Elders.”

“Li has reached today’s realm entirely thanks to the Sect providing Dao Field and Spirit Pill support. In the future, I shall devote myself fully to serve the Sect.”

Later, Li Ji’an got ready and left his seclusion to head to the Qinglan Sect’s discussion hall.

Upon entering the hall, through conversations with the various Elders, he finally learned that during his decade-long seclusion, Black Ze Lake unexpectedly ceased all actions against the Qinglan Sect.

Moreover, when faced with inspections of the Qinglan Sect’s mining grounds, cultivators from Black Ze Lake often retreated.

Over these ten years, the Qinglan Sect was stable, and the mining operations thrived, accumulating abundant resources.

Meanwhile, deep within Black Ze Lake.

True Monarch Yanze held a communication talisman, furrowing his brows, his face full of suspicion: “That little thief surnamed Li has actually advanced to the late-stage Golden Core Ascendant?”

“Did he truly spend ten years in closed-door cultivation within the Qinglan Sect?”

“Initially, that old Xuanji scoundrel intended to bait me with him, so how did he allow him to cultivate with peace of mind?”

True Monarch Xuansha also furrowed his brows and said solemnly: “This matter is indeed peculiar.”

“For the past decade, we’ve been secretly observing, yet that old Xuanji scoundrel showed no anomalies, neither signs of life span exhaustion nor signs of sustained injuries.”

“Could it be that our initial speculations were wrong?”

The third True Monarch of Black Ze Lake, an elder in a purple robe, upon hearing this, immediately frowned and sternly rebuked: “You two fools!”

“Regardless of whether the initial speculation was right or wrong, we have squandered precious time over these ten years!”

“Perhaps that old scoundrel was indeed injured back then but was merely holding on. These ten peaceful years may have allowed him to recuperate fully!”

The three then engaged in a heated dispute, each holding their ground.

Ultimately, after a round of deliberation, they reached a consensus.

Commencing today, they would resume provocations at the Qinglan Sect’s mining grounds to probe True Monarch Xuanji’s true situation.

Under no circumstance should Qinglan Sect or True Monarch Xuanji be given any chance to recuperate or expand.

After the session in the Qinglan Sect’s discussion hall concluded, Li Ji’an was filled with doubt.

He couldn’t understand why Black Ze Lake suddenly ceased actions against the Qinglan Sect, and for ten whole years no less, conveniently granting him an excellent opportunity for focused cultivation.

However, having just advanced to the late-stage Golden Core and becoming a Sect Elder, the immediate priority was to stabilize his cultivation and enhance his power. As for Black Ze Lake’s strange actions, investigation could be delayed to a future date.

Harboring this doubt, Li Ji’an left the discussion hall and returned to his Tianxiao Peak Dao Field.

Just as he stepped within the Dao Field’s perimeter, a familiar white light fell from the sky, and True Monarch Qingxiao’s figure appeared before him once more.

Compared to their first meeting a decade ago when she was aloof, True Monarch Qingxiao now had softened her attitude considerably.

Yet she still retained the demeanor of an elder towards a junior and straightforwardly addressed: “Xiaoli, congratulations on advancing to the late-stage Golden Core.”

Li Ji’an hastily bowed in salute: “Thank you, True Monarch, for your concern.”

True Monarch Qingxiao nodded slightly and then proceeded directly to the point, asking: “You are now a Tier Three High-Level Puppet Master; may I ask if you can craft another Tier Three High-Level Puppet for the Sect? This True Monarch will reward you at the highest merit rate.”

Upon hearing these words, Li Ji’an felt a wave of anxiety and quickly bowed his head, speaking with a mix of trepidation and apprehension: “Forgive me, True Monarch, this junior’s skills are still shallow and truly dare not boast excessively.”

“Creating this Tier Three High-Level Puppet previously had already exhausted all this junior’s efforts, taking not only a considerable amount of time but also depleting a large quantity of spiritual materials. At present, this junior has already run out of Tier Three High-Level spiritual materials. Should I want to craft another, I fear I lack the capacity, and wondered if the elder could provide the necessary materials?”

This is no exaggeration.

Ever since he left the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, he had been wandering, accumulating a fair amount of Tier Three High-Level spiritual materials. Yet, over these last ten years, while honing puppetry skills and crafting two Tier Three High-Level Puppets, those reserves had long been exhausted, now in dire straits.

True Monarch Qingxiao, upon hearing his words, did not appear surprised. Instead, she nodded calmly: “That’s a simple matter. You just focus on crafting the puppet; the Sect will fully supply the required materials, without you needing to worry.”

Her words barely concluded when she shifted her tone with added candor: “However, there is one thing I must inform you. The Qinglan Sect’s cultivators throughout generations have primarily specialized in array formations and Sword Dao and lacked people skilled in puppetry techniques.”

“While there are plenty of Celestial and Earthly Treasures within the Sect Treasure Vault, few high-tier spiritual materials needed for puppet crafting. Moreover, I am completely ignorant of the Puppet Path and unsure which spiritual materials suit your crafting needs, fearing to waste your time by fetching randomly.”

At this point, she pondered briefly and had made up her mind: “Here’s what we’ll do— accompany me to the Celestial Essence Immortal City at the center of Dao Source State’s mining area. That Immortal City is the most thriving in Dao Source State, gathering superior Celestial and Earthly Treasures across the entire mining area and surrounding regions. Surely, you’ll find the spiritual materials needed for puppet crafting there.”