“System reward?”
Long Aoyu’s pupils constricted slightly, and his heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat.
Twenty thousand Sect Contribution Points was a huge sum of wealth, enough for him to exchange for many precious medicinal pills and heavenly treasures within the Sect.
The self-created Spirit Ability, Imprisoning Heaven Finger, also sounded extremely powerful just from its name alone, differing by only two characters from Village Master Lin’s signature ultimate skill.
However, what shook Long Aoyu’s heart the most was the final reward.
Spirit enhancement trait: Immortal!
Long Aoyu was extremely curious about this reward and wanted to inspect it immediately, but he did not leave the conference hall right away.
After all, the ten Elders and Du Busi were still present, and he was worried that his emotional fluctuations would become too obvious and attract their attention.
He could only suppress his curiosity for the moment and continue listening to the conversation.
The conference hall fell silent for a moment.
Jin Peng was the first to break the silence.
He looked toward Du Busi and asked, “Sect Master, we are finished on our end.
When will you, when will you start?”
Du Busi smiled faintly with his hands clasped behind his back.
“I will go into seclusion shortly.
However, before entering seclusion, there are a few matters that need to be explained clearly first.”
Du Busi looked toward Jin Peng and continued, “During my seclusion, all matters of the Sect will be managed by Jin Peng on my behalf.
None of you have any objections, right?”
“No objections.”
The Elders looked at one another before answering in unison.
Jin Peng not only handled matters reliably, but he was also the strongest and most senior among them, so naturally none of them had any objections to Du Busi’s arrangement.
Du Busi nodded and looked at Jin Peng again.
“Old Jin, you stay behind.
I have a few words to tell you privately.
The rest of you may withdraw first and return to consolidate your realms.”
The remaining nine Elders dispersed respectively, leaving the conference hall much quieter than before.
Just as Long Aoyu was preparing to withdraw with the others, Du Busi raised his hand and signaled for him to stay.
“Xiao Yu, don’t leave either.
Listen from the side.”
“Yes.”
The foot Long Aoyu had just stepped out pulled back immediately.
He turned around and returned to the conference hall.
Long Aotian winked at him before leaving side by side with Wei Na, leaving only Du Busi, Jin Peng, and Long Aoyu behind.
“Sect Master, please speak.”
Jin Peng stepped forward and stood respectfully before Du Busi.
Du Busi took out the Heaven-hiding Ring from his waist, then retrieved more than a dozen second-tier spiritual medicines from within it, including the Cinnabar Lotus, Snow Silkworm, Nine-colored Moon Orchid, and several other precious herbs.
“Distribute these spiritual medicines according to their compatibility with the Martial Souls of the Sect’s Spirit Douluos and talented disciples.”
“Remember, those with higher compatibility take priority.
Do not waste their medicinal properties.”
“Understood!”
Jin Peng accepted the spiritual medicines and solemnly stored them inside his own storage Spirit Tool.
These spiritual medicines were not Immortal Herbs, but they were still extremely valuable cultivation resources.
If properly distributed among the Spirit Douluos and talented younger disciples of the Sect, they could also nurture several promising experts.
Du Busi looked at him again, and his tone became slightly heavier.
“This time, my seclusion to break through to level ninety-nine may take as short as a few days, or as long as one or two months.”
“During this period, all negotiations with Spirit Hall will be entirely handed over to you.”
“As for the specific conditions, you can discuss them with Old Chen when the time comes.
However, there is one point that must never be compromised.
You must make Spirit Hall help us find people who have awakened a Body Martial Soul, and regardless of what happens, we must not compromise on this matter.”
Jin Peng nodded deeply, his expression becoming serious.
“Rest assured, Sect Master.”
Those wandering outside are equivalent to being displaced from their own home.
The Body Sect has the obligation to welcome them back to the Sect.
This is our ancestral precept, and I will never forget it.”
“Mn.”
Du Busi looked at him with a trace of satisfaction in his eyes.
“I am at ease with how you handle things.
Go ahead and prepare for tomorrow’s matters, and have Old Chen take Naer to hunt for her fifth Spirit Ring.”
“What about Aotian?”
Jin Peng raised an eyebrow.
Long Aoyu and Du Busi exchanged a glance, and a faint smile appeared on both their faces.
“My brother’s sixth Spirit Ring has already been scouted out, but it will have to wait for some time.
There is no need to rush.”
“As long as you know what you are doing.”
Jin Peng nodded.
He did not ask any further questions and turned around, walking out of the conference hall with steady steps and a straight back.
Soon, only the master and disciple, Du Busi and Long Aoyu, remained in the conference hall.
Du Busi sat down on his chair, looked at Long Aoyu, and remained silent for a moment before suddenly speaking.
“Xiao Yu, Master has something to tell you.”
Long Aoyu was slightly startled.
“Master, please speak.”
“Zhu Zhuqing.”
Du Busi’s tone was casual, as though he were discussing an ordinary matter.
“Master can tell that she also has feelings for you.
Since the two of you have taken a fancy to each other, then Master will make the decision.
Let her consume that Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone.”
“It nourishes the tendons and strengthens the bones while opening up the extraordinary meridians, making it extremely suitable for her Hell Civet Martial Soul.
With the assistance of such an Immortal Herb, her physical foundation and cultivation talent should both improve considerably.”
Du Busi’s thoughts were very simple.
Zhu Zhuqing was destined to become an extremely powerful Spirit Master, and she clearly had feelings for Long Aoyu.
Giving her an Immortal Herb would not be a loss for the Body Sect no matter how one looked at it.
However, Long Aoyu had other thoughts.
“Master, I want to give her the Yearning Heartbroken Red.”
“Yearning Heartbroken Red?”
Du Busi was stunned for a moment, and his gaze changed slightly.
“That divine-grade Immortal Herb?”
After recalling the records regarding the Yearning Heartbroken Red, Du Busi quickly understood what Long Aoyu was thinking.
“Mn, it was indeed Master who did not consider the matter thoroughly enough.
The Yearning Heartbroken Red is indeed more suitable than the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone.”
Du Busi’s gaze became profound.
“The plucking conditions of the Yearning Heartbroken Red are extremely harsh.
The person attempting to pluck it must never change their heart toward the person they love, and only someone with true and utmost affection can successfully pluck it.
If Zhu Zhuqing can pluck the Yearning Heartbroken Red, it means that her feelings for you are genuine and sincere.
After consuming it, her talent and foundation will be greatly enhanced, which would naturally be a happy ending for everyone.”
“Conversely…”
Du Busi’s voice sank slightly.
“If she cannot pluck it, then it proves that she does not like you without reservation.
In that case, there is no need to give such a precious Immortal Herb to an outsider.”
Listening to his master’s words, Long Aoyu did not refute.
Although this somewhat meant testing Zhu Zhuqing’s feelings through the Yearning Heartbroken Red, he still chose to do so.
Long Aoyu was not someone who became blinded by romance.
On the contrary, he was very rational.
The Yearning Heartbroken Red was too precious, and its effects were far greater than those of ordinary Immortal Herbs.
If Zhu Zhuqing truly possessed sincere feelings for him, then allowing her to obtain it would naturally be the best result.
If she could not pass the test, then giving away such a treasure would only be wasting one of the Sect’s most precious resources.
“Then you can make your own decision.”
“The Yearning Heartbroken Red is given to you.
After the two of you spend some time together and your relationship becomes more stable, hand it over to her.
I hope she really can pluck it.”
Du Busi stood up, retrieved the Yearning Heartbroken Red, and carefully handed it to Long Aoyu.
Long Aoyu accepted the precious Immortal Herb and properly stored it.
Du Busi stretched his shoulders and let out a relaxed breath.
“Alright, Master is going into seclusion.”
“I wish you a smooth seclusion and an early breakthrough!”
Long Aoyu looked up at his master and sincerely wished him well.
“Mn.”
Du Busi smiled and nodded before turning around and walking toward the back hall of the conference hall without looking back.
“You brat should also cultivate properly.
If this old man comes out of seclusion and sees that you haven’t made any progress at all, watch out for your blooming bottom!”
The corners of Long Aoyu’s mouth twitched slightly as he watched his master’s departing figure.
Even though Du Busi was about to enter a major seclusion to challenge the level ninety-nine bottleneck, his temperament had not changed at all.
After leaving the conference hall, Long Aoyu first went to the pharmacy.
He pushed open the door very gently.
Inside, Zhu Zhuqing was leaning against the head of the bed while drinking her medicine.
When she saw him enter, her eyes immediately lit up slightly.
“You’re back?”
“Mn, I came back not long ago.”
Long Aoyu walked to the bedside and sat down, his gaze falling naturally upon her face.
Her complexion was much better than before, and there was already some color returning to her lips.
Judging from her appearance, her injuries should have recovered quite well.
“The old doctor said my recovery is quite good.
After recuperating for a few more days, I should be completely healed.”
Zhu Zhuqing spoke softly, her voice no longer carrying the coldness she had shown when they first met.
“That’s good.”
Long Aoyu smiled and then began chatting idly with Zhu Zhuqing.
Their conversation was not particularly important, mostly consisting of ordinary matters concerning cultivation, recovery, and the events that had happened recently, but Zhu Zhuqing clearly enjoyed this quiet time with him.
Whenever Zhu Zhuqing spoke with Long Aoyu, a smile would involuntarily appear on her face, and the number of smiles she had shown during these past few days was already greater than all the smiles she had revealed during the previous years combined.
Over these past two days, Zhu Zhuqing had thought about many things.
Whenever night became deep and the surroundings fell completely silent, the figure of Long Aoyu picking her up during that crisis would always surface in her mind.
The memory had become increasingly vivid, and every time she recalled the scene, an indescribable warmth would spread through her heart.
Zhu Zhuqing gradually discovered that she seemed unable to leave Long Aoyu anymore.
She had already developed a deep sense of reliance on this young man who had appeared at the moment she needed help the most, and the feelings hidden within her heart had also become increasingly clear.
Time quietly passed as the two continued talking.
Seeing that the time was about right, Long Aoyu finally stood up.
“I am going back to cultivate.”
“Okay.”
Zhu Zhuqing nodded obediently.
The moment Long Aoyu was about to leave, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly seemed to remember something.
She looked toward him and asked in a low voice, “The old doctor said I can already get out of bed and walk around.
Tomorrow…
can I cultivate together with you?”
“You can.”
“Mn.”
Zhu Zhuqing’s eyebrows curved slightly.
Although she did not say much, her voice was gentle and soft, without even the slightest trace of the coldness she had once possessed.
The change was subtle, but Long Aoyu could clearly sense it.