https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-630-Unexpected-Gains-Leaving-North-Han/12946842/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-632-New-Situation-Demon-Mountain/12946849/
Chapter 631: Gathering at Nine Lotus Sect, Strange Atmosphere
Chapter 631: Gathering at Nine Lotus Sect, Strange Atmosphere
"This ancient teleportation array is here?"
Chu Ning couldn't help but be slightly taken aback when he saw the familiar teleportation array.
This teleportation array was the very same one he had used years ago to travel from the Eastern Sage Continent, located near the Nine Lotus Mountain.
"To teleport from the Eastern Sage Continent, one only needs spirit stones and not Origin Stones, and there's no need to rely on Essence Energy to activate the spatial force for teleportation.
Could it be because the distance is closer?"
Chu Ning pondered, not rushing out of the teleportation array, but instead, he carefully began to examine the array from within.
"This array was originally incomplete, lacking the setup for Essence Energy-assisted teleportation, and only required spirit stones to activate it.
So, back then, I didn't realize it could be used to travel to the Northern Chill."
Chu Ning was extremely familiar with this type of teleportation array powered by spirit stones and Origin Stones, and at this moment, after a careful inspection, he discovered the issue.
Recalling that the teleportation array on the Eastern Sage Continent was located in the Thousand Lakes and Islands, precisely where the Thunderfire Sect had been situated, it seemed that everything made sense.
However, for some unknown reason, these two teleportation arrays on the Eastern Sage Continent and the Western Alliance Continent had become incomplete.
At this moment, Chu Ning decided not to rush his departure. He summoned Bai Ling and began to rearrange and restore this ancient teleportation array.
Upon returning to the Western Alliance Continent, Chu Ning had only brought Bai Ling with him, while the Earth Rhino Dragon remained at Longsky Hall.
After the incident where cultivators from the Sky Curtain Continent entered the Northern Chill and were severely injured and driven back by Chu Ning, who also killed all the Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, the Northern Chill had become exceptionally stable.
The two major demon clans would no longer dare to cause any more trouble, and the several major sects within the Cold Rock Continent had also expressed their approval of Longsky Hall's actions after Lu Ziyou's visit.
Longsky Hall's influence in the Northern Chill was unparalleled, and logically, there shouldn't be any more chaos.
However, with Chu Ning's departure, Longsky Hall still required a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator to take charge.
Therefore, Chu Ning chose to leave the Earth Rhino Dragon at Longsky Hall.
At this moment, Chu Ning first arranged the ancient teleportation array, ensuring that in case of any emergencies, he could immediately use the array to travel to the Northern Chill.
After spending a day or two setting up the teleportation array, Chu Ning also arranged the Earth Rhino Illusion Array around its periphery.
This ancient teleportation array technique had already been lost, but the Earth Rhino Dragon had inadvertently obtained it from an early-year cultivator who had entered the Jiuyan Spirit Mountain.
Back when Chu Ning was near the Demon Slaughter Sect on the Sky Curtain Continent, he had already witnessed the power of this array.
The array's concealing effect was excellent, and even the divine perception of a Demigod Realm cultivator couldn't probe through it.
With this array in such a secluded location, it would be extremely difficult for any cultivator to discover it.
After completing all these preparations, Chu Ning headed straight towards the Nine Lotus Sect, flying away in a flash.
With nearly a thousand miles still to go, Chu Ning extended his divine perception, and soon, he sensed the direction of the Nine Lotus Sect.
With the cultivation of the True Spirit Art and his advancement to the Late-stage Nascent Soul, Chu Ning's divine perception had long been able to cover a thousand miles. However, he was still a step away from perfecting the True Spirit Art.
If he could achieve perfection in the True Spirit Art, he believed there would be further improvements.
"Compared to when I left, it seems like the territory has expanded by about thirty percent. It looks like the sect has developed well over these few decades."
A hint of a smile flashed across Chu Ning's face.
He had first traveled to the Sky Curtain Continent and then to the Northern Chill, totaling nearly eighty years.
For a high-level cultivator like him, this wasn't a long time.
However, for most cultivators, it was already a considerable period.
At this moment, Chu Ning's divine perception sensed the cultivators flying in and out of the Nine Lotus Sect. Since they were all Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators, he didn't recognize a single one.
Chu Ning's flying speed was exceptionally fast, covering a thousand miles in an instant.
With about a hundred miles left to reach the Nine Lotus Sect, Chu Ning didn't bother to conceal his aura and let it radiate freely.
At this moment, in the Nine Lotus Sect's discussion hall, Chu Ning's sudden release of his Late-stage Nascent Soul aura caused the faces of those present to change slightly.
More than ten people stood up immediately, subconsciously extending their divine perception towards the sect's exterior.
"It's Senior Brother Chu!"
The first to exclaim in delight was Yu Changge.
The next moment, several Nine Lotus Sect cultivators in the hall revealed delighted expressions.
Meanwhile, the other sect cultivators sitting in the hall all showed surprise on their faces.
"It's Chu Ning!"
Before these people could say anything more, Yu Changge's voice resounded throughout the Nine Lotus Sect.
"All disciples of the Nine Lotus Sect, listen up! Let's welcome the return of the Grand Elder!
Congratulations to the Grand Elder for advancing to the Late-stage Nascent Soul!"
After these words echoed throughout the Nine Lotus Sect, many of its cultivators were slightly taken aback.
Especially the newer disciples, they all looked up curiously towards the sky.
At that moment, the cultivators who were familiar with Chu Ning were overjoyed.
"We welcome the Supreme Elder's return to the sect!"
"Congratulations to the Supreme Elder for advancing to the Late-stage Nascent Soul!"
The next moment, led by the cultivators, a chorus of respectful and celebratory voices echoed throughout the Jiuhua Sect.
Ten thousand cultivators' voices rose into the sky.
Such a grand scene was so powerful that even though Chu Ning was still dozens of miles away, he could hear it clearly without using his Divine Perception.
Knowing that this was undoubtedly Yu Changge's doing, a smile flashed across his face, and he said loudly, "Greetings to all fellow sect members."
Although Chu Ning had spoken casually, every cultivator of the Jiuhua Sect felt as if he were speaking directly into their ears.
Such an ability was impressive, even for high-level cultivators.
However, the numerous low-level cultivators were awe-struck.
Everyone looked up, watching as Chu Ning transformed into a graceful figure and flew towards the Jiuhua Sect.
Then, with a faint smile on his face, he descended into the sect and disappeared from sight.
"Is this the Supreme Elder? He's so young!"
"He looks around my age, and he's already a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!"
The young cultivators who had never met Chu Ning before were filled with curiosity.
The cultivators who had seen Chu Ning before also expressed their astonishment.
"After so many years, the Supreme Elder still looks so young!"
"His cultivation has advanced from the Intermediate Nascent Soul to the Late-stage Nascent Soul, but the Supreme Elder doesn't seem to have changed at all."
...
Upon entering the sect's grand formation, Chu Ning descended directly outside the meeting hall.
He looked towards Yu Changge, who had come to greet him, and then glanced at the people behind Yu Changge, feeling a bit surprised.
He hadn't expected to see so many Nascent Soul cultivators in the Jiuhua Sect.
There were the Cloudsoaring Alliance leader Qin Changkong from the Guiyuan Sect, the Yu brothers from the Tahe Pavilion, the Jiuhua Sect's Supreme Elder He Yuexian, and Qu Yichen from the Tianyin Pavilion.
Even Lu Yuezhang from the Guiyuan Sect, who had given Chu Ning the Beast Spirit Secret Art, and Shentu Ping were present.
With a glance, Chu Ning realized that seven or eight out of ten Nascent Soul cultivators from the Cloudsoaring Alliance were there.
He couldn't help but feel surprised.
At the same time, Chu Ning also noticed that there were four Nascent Soul cultivators from the Jiuhua Sect.
Besides Yu Changge and Yu Yuan, who had condensed her Nascent Soul Palace when Chu Ning left, there was also the Second Elder Yuan Zhang.
And Cheng Qinghui, the senior sister of Cen Zijin.
It seemed that during the eighty years or so that Chu Ning had been away, both of them had advanced from the late-stage Golden Core to the Nascent Soul stage.
Chu Ning scanned the area, but Cen Zijin's figure was nowhere to be found.
"It seems that Zijin is either in seclusion, shielding herself from external disturbances, or she's not in the sect.
Otherwise, with such a commotion, she wouldn't have stayed hidden."
This thought flashed through Chu Ning's mind, and he smiled, bowing to the crowd, "Greetings, Sect Master and fellow cultivators. I hope you are all well."
Yu Changge stepped forward first, examining Chu Ning before bursting into laughter, "Excellent! Excellent! Fellow disciple, you've indeed advanced to the Late-stage Nascent Soul!
Our Jiuhua Sect now has another Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. This is indeed a cause for celebration!"
Seeing this, Chu Ning smiled at Yu Changge and said, "Sect Master, you've also been in the Intermediate Nascent Soul stage for quite some time."
Yu Changge nodded slightly.
"Compared to you, I'm far behind."
Although he said this, Yu Changge showed no signs of disappointment, and instead, his face was filled with joy.
Initially, Yu Changge had condensed his Nascent Soul before Chu Ning.
Now, Chu Ning had reached the Late-stage Nascent Soul, and Yu Changge had also advanced from the Early-stage Nascent Soul to the Intermediate stage.
Yu Changge was well aware that this couldn't be attributed to his slow progress but rather to Chu Ning's incredibly fast cultivation speed.
At that moment, the Nascent Soul cultivators behind Yu Changge also had peculiar expressions on their faces.
It was only when they truly saw that Chu Ning was in the Late-stage Nascent Soul that they fully believed it.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, it's been decades since we last met. I never expected that you would also advance to the Late-stage Nascent Soul. Congratulations!"
The first to speak was Qin Changkong.
As the leader of the Cloudsoaring Alliance, he had also fought alongside Chu Ning in the past.
Back then, at the Lingcang Sect, they had joined forces against the Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators from Heaven's Apex Alliance and the Beyond World Demon.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist," Chu Ning said, bowing to Qin Changkong.
Then, he turned his gaze to the Yu brothers from the Tahe Pavilion, feeling a bit surprised.
These two were originally only at the Intermediate Nascent Soul stage, but together, they had the strength to contend with Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
Therefore, the Tahe Pavilion's status in the Cloudsoaring Alliance was second only to the Guiyuan Sect.
Until Chu Ning's sudden rise, after advancing to the Intermediate Nascent Soul stage, he was recognized by all cultivators on the Western Alliance Continent as the first person below the Late-stage Nascent Soul.
(End)
Chu Ning was slightly surprised by the two brothers' advancement to the Late-stage Nascent Soul.
With their already harmonious collaboration, it seemed that few in the Western Alliance Continent would dare challenge them.
Noticing Chu Ning's gaze, the older brother, Yu Zhifang, gave a slight bow, his eyes revealing a complex expression.
"Brother Chu, we brothers were praised by many for reaching the Late-stage Nascent Soul.
But compared to you, we are still far behind.
In just a century or so, you've advanced from the Intermediate Nascent Soul to the Late-stage Nascent Soul.
Such speed is unheard of by Yu and the others."
As Yu Zhifang spoke, many cultivators nodded in agreement.
He Yuexian, who had previously shown favor towards Chu Ning, smiled and said, "Brother Chu, not long after you reached the Intermediate Nascent Soul, your abilities were already comparable to a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
With your advancement to the Late-stage Nascent Soul, your abilities must be extraordinary."
Upon hearing He Yuexian's words, both Qin Changkong and the Yu brothers' eyes flickered slightly.
Chu Ning, who heard He Yuexian's words, was slightly surprised.
He Yuexian's words seemed to have a hidden meaning, and her expression just now had a hint of anticipation.
Knowing that Qin Changkong and the Yu brothers were present, her words seemed to imply that Chu Ning's abilities surpassed all three of them.
"It seems that everyone gathered here today must be for a reason."
Chu Ning muttered to himself.
Unclear about the situation, he politely bowed and said, "Brother Gu, you flatter me. I've only been in the Late-stage Nascent Soul for a few years."
Then, Qu Yichen, Shen Tu Ping, Lu Yuezhang, and others greeted him, and Chu Ning acknowledged them one by one.
At Yu Changge's invitation, everyone re-entered the main hall.
Chu Ning noticed something interesting—everyone found their seats, but no one sat in the main seat.
The long hall had two rows of chairs, with Qin Changkong on the left and the Yu brothers on the right.
Yu Changge's seat was below Qin Changkong's, followed by the two deputy alliance leaders, Qu Yichen and He Yuexian.
"Is the sect leader sitting below Qin Changkong because of his status as the host, or has he gained some standing within the alliance?"
Chu Ning wondered to himself when Qin Changkong smiled and explained, "Brother Chu, you've been away for a while, so you might not know.
The Jiuhua Sect has been flourishing, and with Yu reaching the Intermediate Nascent Soul, he was appointed as a deputy leader."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning realized and smiled, "Good news!"
He glanced at the main seat, took a step forward, and was about to sit down directly.
This was the Jiuhua Sect, and Yu Changge, being only at the Intermediate Nascent Soul and a deputy leader, wouldn't dare sit in the main seat.
But Chu Ning, being at the Late-stage Nascent Soul, had no such qualms. He couldn't just stand there, so he naturally took the main seat.
Seeing Chu Ning heading for the main seat, the expressions of those present changed slightly.
Chu Ning's perception was sharp, and he could sense their subtle expressions, even without intentionally using his divine sense.
He paused momentarily, then turned to Yu Changge and asked, "Sect Leader, what are we discussing here today? Is there any significance to this seat?"
After Chu Ning's question, Yu Changge's face showed a hint of hesitation.
But then he looked at Chu Ning, and a smile appeared in his eyes.
"Junior Brother, everyone was indeed discussing important matters for the alliance.
As hosts, it's inappropriate for us to sit here, but you can sit without any issues."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning didn't hesitate. With a flash, he appeared in the main seat.
As soon as he sat down, He Yuexian spoke up, "Fellow cultivators, just now, we couldn't reach an agreement. Since Brother Chu is a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, he naturally has a greater say in alliance matters.
Let's hear Brother Chu's opinion."
Hearing He Yuexian's words, Qin Changkong immediately clapped and laughed, "That's right, we should ask for Brother Chu's opinion."
Before Qin Changkong finished speaking, Yu Zhifang frowned and said, "Brother Chu, where did you go during your travels? If you've just returned, you might not be familiar with the situation.
Since we've already reached an agreement, why complicate matters further?"
Hearing the words of the few, Chu Ning felt something strange in his heart.
(End of Chapter)
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