Published: March 2, 2025
Chapter 139: Mission
As Liu Yu walked along, he encountered no obstacles, clearly indicating that someone had given prior notice.
Upon entering the main hall, he saw several people waiting there. A quick scan of the room revealed a familiar figure.
“Yan Qun'er?”
With her bright eyes, white teeth, and shoulder-length hair, she wore a simple pink long dress, her natural beauty reminiscent of a lotus flower emerging from water. Compared to years ago, she appeared to have matured significantly.
Seeing this person who often occupied his thoughts and left a deep impression, Yan Qun'er’s bright eyes flashed with surprise. However, considering the current situation, she refrained from greeting him.
Several foundation establishment cultivators stood on either side, while the sect leader, Zhuang Ziling, stood in the middle. At that moment, no one spoke, and the atmosphere felt somewhat heavy.
“My apologies for being late, Sect Leader Zhuang!”
Liu Yu expressed his surprise at seeing Yan Qun'er here, but he didn’t have any special feelings about it. After all, the help he had previously provided was primarily for his own benefit.
He maintained a calm composure, casually glancing at the others, then clasped his fists in respect toward Zhuang Ziling and spoke openly.
“It’s fine, Junior Brother Liu, your arrival is not too late. Please wait a moment, as a few fellow disciples have yet to arrive,”
Zhuang Ziling replied with a hint of a smile, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.
Liu Yu nodded and stood quietly to the side.
It seemed this group was headed to the front lines, and their moods were not cheerful. Most had little interest in conversation, and the hall fell silent, occasionally interrupted by the arrival of more foundation establishment cultivators.
After about half an hour, the last foundation establishment cultivator arrived. Zhuang Ziling cleared his throat and spoke:
“Now that everyone is present, I will be direct.”
“Indeed, due to unforeseen changes at the front, several of our fellow disciples have unexpectedly fallen, resulting in a weakened force at the front.”
“After discussions among several Golden Core Elders, it has been decided to dispatch you all for support. The spiritual stone mine is crucial to the interests of our sect, and you must all do your utmost!”
Upon hearing Zhuang Ziling's words, the eight foundation establishment cultivators reacted differently. Some looked grim, with expressions as dark as water, while others remained expressionless and calm. A few seemed unconcerned, as if they were already prepared.
As foundation establishment cultivators, even though Zhuang Ziling had slightly higher cultivation and held the position of sect leader, he had no authority to command them. His mentions of the Golden Core Elders were merely a show of force!
Liu Yu felt clear-headed; since they had been called here, it was evident that the factional struggles and upper-level disputes had already concluded with no room for negotiation—only orders to follow.
“Senior Brother Sect Leader, I have a divine ability that I’m close to mastering and cannot be away. Could you make an exception and arrange for me to go next time?”
One person suggested, trying to avoid the mission.
“Senior Brother Sect Leader, I, Cui Liang, have recently felt my bottleneck loosening slightly and could break through my realm in a few years. I am certainly not afraid for my life; rather, I can serve the sect better with higher cultivation!”
A middle-aged man wearing a blue robe with a prominent mustache spoke earnestly.
Liu Yu recognized this mustachioed man. Over the past three years, through Geng Yuanzhang's introduction, he had met several foundation establishment cultivators from the separate faction and discussed cultivation experiences with them. The man was named Cui Liang and was at the peak of the foundation establishment early stage.
It is worth mentioning that Geng Yuanzhang had passed away a year ago.
Liu Yu shook his head inwardly, thinking that what Cui Liang said was useless. Since Zhuang Ziling had summoned them, trying to evade responsibility at this juncture would not be that simple.