Shi Lang finished his ten steps trial, and the sword intent around him vanished. The phantom said, “I was not strong enough to deal with the pressure of the central plains. You are still young, so I wish you surpass me and make a name for yourself in the immortal realm.”
Shi Lang said, “Since we are done here, I will leave.”
The phantom nodded and vanished into the void. Shi Lang stood for a few minutes and then took a pill from his space ring. He consumed a spirit rejuvenation pill. He did not move immediately, and he replenished some energy in his body before he descended the monument slowly.
His eyes were firm when he walked, and gradually the pill’s effect made him regain some energy. Raksha said, ‘You need to rest.’
Shi Lang nodded and spoke, ‘I know, my mind is tired. More than that, I have no sword intent left inside me.’ 𝑂𝔳𝓛xt.𝓒𝒪𝐦
Raksha understood that he was worried as one of his trump cards was unusable. She said, ‘You do not have to worry. It will replenish soon.’
The two people talked to each other as they descended the monument and soon reached the bottom, and the elders were still waiting for Shi Lang. The people gazed at the young man to see if he had gained something. Shi Lang bowed to Lei Wang and the rest before he said, “Thank you, Seniors, for allowing me this opportunity.”
Long Shan asked, “Why are you thanking us, Xiao Lang? Did the Sect Leader not tell you? We owe you this visit to repay what you gave us.”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “Sooner or later, you all would have discovered the secret. I did nothing. However, it led me to gain a new understanding of my true goals, and my sword intent evolved a bit.”
Lei Wang nodded and said, “You do not have to tell us anything. It is obvious for us to be curious. However, what you gained is yours to keep.”
Shi Lang thanked him, and the people returned to the Dragon Sword Sect. Long Shan arranged a courtyard for the terran and said, “You can stay here for now. The secret realm doors will open one week later, and you can enter with the other sect’s disciples.”
Shi Lang nodded and thanked the old man before he entered the house in the courtyard. It had one living room, one bedroom, and a small practice room. Although it was not lavish, the setting had a rustic charm. He sat down on the jute mat in the meditation room and began to meditate.
He needed to restore the spirit energy and sword intent immediately. While he was meditating, time passed quickly. Shi Lang suddenly woke up from meditation when hunger overwhelmed him. He smiled and looked for something to eat in the house.
However, his search came to an end with nothing. The terran stepped out of the door and found Xia Lingtai walking over. He bowed and said, “Senior Brother Shi Lang, good evening. Grand Elder arranged for me to see if you need anything.”
Shi Lang waved his hand and said, “I do not need anything more than food. Most of the time, I spend it meditating and cultivating.”
Xia Lingtai smiled and said, “You should come along then. Tonight we will hold a feast before dealing with the beast tide in the eastern Misty mountains.”
Shi Lang was surprised and asked, “Beast tide?”
Xia Lingtai smiled and replied, “You are not from around here, so you probably do not know, but the neighboring Kingdoms all have to suffer a beast tide every ten years. They do not have much ability to defend against spirit beasts. So, the sect helps out in exchange for materials.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Would it be alright if I join you all this time?”
He wanted to see such a situation. It had been long since he had faced a beast tide. In his old life, when the earth had a cultivation aura, there were many places where beast tides would erupt, but the cultivators faced it bravely to gain experience and material. Shi Lang wanted to experience this sensation of rush one more time.
Xia Lingtai said, “I think you will need the sect leader to approve this.”
Shi Lang nodded, and then the two people exchanged words before Xia Lingtai took him around. The two people were moved around the sect, and Shi Lang found that the disciples were rushing. He could not help but comment, “The preparation is on the scale of a war.”
Xia Lingtai smiled and said, “Many people compete with us for the leftover corpses. Since the eastern barren lacks spiritual energy, we make up with the beast material.”
Shi Lang nodded, and the two discussed a few more things before they reached a diner. Xia Lingtai said, “Welcome to the Immortal Gourd. This is where you will find the finest spirit wine and best spirit food.”
Shi Lang smiled as they entered. The entire batch of the core disciples was present here. They all sat down, and one boy asked, “Brother Shi, what does it feel like to have beauties like Wen Lengxue, Bai Yan, and Miao Jing around you.”
Shi Lang was taken aback, and then he erupted into laughter. The rest of the people looked at him weirdly. Shi Lang did not expect that these guys will really talk like this. He calmed down and said, “Well, if you ask me, everyone has their temperament. When I first met Senior Sister Wen, we argued. She challenged me on the duel stage of outer disciples, and we were not good friends till that battle.
Senior Sister Bai, well, she is very much like a child. However, she is honest too. As for Senior Sister Miao, I do not have much understanding of her. I have only been in the sect for a few months.”
After talking, the young man picked up the gourd and took a swig of spirit wine before him. The people were all stunned. Bo Qingtan asked, “How long have you been cultivation?”
Shi Lang replied, “Ummm, almost forever, but I had some ailment that did not allow me to raise my realm. After that ailment healed, I entered the sect a few months ago and made it to the immortal soldier realm.”
The people nodded. This was a better understanding. Someone asked what it was, so Shi Lang said that someone as a child poisoned him, and his meridians were clogged up after the treatment. Thus it took time to remove the blockage. After they were all finished eating and drinking, Bo Qingtan took Shi Lang to the Elder hall. Unlike the Spirit Heart Sect, the elders all lived in the hall.
Bo Qingtan came to the entrance and said, “Elders, Disciple Bo is here to seek advice.”
One of the twelve elders appeared before Bo Qingtan and was surprised to see Shi Lang present at the scene too. He asked, “Xiao Tan, what is the matter?”
The young man replied, “Martial Uncle, Brother Shi wishes to participate in the beast tide.”
The old man stroked his beard and glanced at Shi Lang, who arched his hands and bowed. The old man nodded and said, “Very well, go on. However, Xiao Lang, it would be best if you always protect yourself at all times. If any harm came to you, we could not explain the matter to Sect Master Ling.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Yes, Elder, please rest assured.”
The elder nodded and said, “Go then, Xiao Tan, listen to the arrangements of the twelfth elder.”
The young man nodded and waited for the elder to return to the hall before they left. Shi Lang asked, “Are you all the disciples to the elders?”
Bo Qingtan nodded and said, “I know. You must be wondering why seven disciples are for twelve elders.”
Shi Lang nodded and Bo Qingtan said, “The rest of the elders had their own disciples, but they passed away fighting the demons on the central front.”
Shi Lang was surprised and said, “My teacher also had a disciple who passed away while fighting the demons.”
Bo Qingtan nodded and said, “I heard about him. I do not know if we are weak or what. Why do we have to keep losing people like this.”
Shi Lang replied, “Brother Bo, think of the demons as people who feed on induced fear. To induce fear you have to be reckless. You kill whatever and whoever stands in your way. You kill for pleasure.
While people like us, we have to make sure that others do not suffer in our battle. This is why we hesitate and we suffer.”
Bo Qingtan was surprised and remarked, “You seem to have a lot of experience dealing with demons.”
Shi Lang shook his head and replied, “I may not have faced demons, but I have faced terrorists.”
Bo Qingtan could not understand what Shi Lang was talking about but he did not ask much.
