Chapter 891: Dark Lightning Wood

"Junior Sister Fang, Senior Brother Zhao, please." The incarnation smiled and invited the two inside.

Zhao Songqiao was a quick-minded sort as well.

The incarnation had heard from Fang Ting that, after entering the sect, Zhao Songqiao had shown great attentiveness to her and often came to visit. At first Fang Ting had been wary of the old fellow, but when she saw he truly harbored no ill intent, had even helped with a few small matters, and was a fellow senior brother of the same sect, she relaxed her guard.

She had once mentioned in passing that Zhang Yue had become a true disciple of Landou Sect’s Yin-Yang Branch, and Zhao Songqiao immediately asked her to arrange an introduction.

Fang Ting found it hard to refuse, so when she came last month, she brought Zhao Songqiao along. The incarnation had seen plenty of such things before.

As a rogue cultivator who had toiled to the thirteenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm, Zhao Songqiao had tempered a will that must have tasted all the cold and warmth of the human world. The incarnation felt no particular dislike toward Zhao Songqiao’s desire to attach himself to someone stronger, though he would not draw too close either, simply maintaining polite appearances.

The three entered and took their seats. The incarnation brewed tea, glanced at their expressions, took a sip, and asked mildly, "Junior Sister Fang, you must have come for something, yes?"

"You could tell, Senior Brother?" Fang Ting looked astonished, then wrinkled her delicate nose and showed some difficulty in speaking.

That piqued the incarnation’s curiosity. Fang Ting had a forthright nature, and in her previous visits she had rarely fidgeted like this. He wondered what it was about.

"Hehe, Junior Sister, all your thoughts are written on your face. With Junior Brother Zhang’s eye, how could he miss it?" Zhao Songqiao chuckled and looked at Fang Ting. "If it’s hard to say, since this matter began because of me, let me explain it to Junior Brother Zhang."

"All right, Senior Brother Zhao, you tell him." Fang Ting exhaled in relief and nodded.

The incarnation only regarded the two with interest and said nothing.

Zhao Songqiao straightened, his expression tightening slightly. "Junior Brother Zhang, since you are already a true disciple of Landou Sect, you should know about the Dongming Island Dharma Assembly."

The incarnation paused, set down his cup, and asked, "Why does Senior Brother Zhao ask about the Dongming Island Dharma Assembly? Yanmiao Pavilion should also send disciples to participate, right?"

"That’s right, but only true disciples are allowed to attend, and I lack the qualification. At the assembly, true disciples from all sides cross techniques, especially Foundation Building seniors from each sect. If I could observe even once, it would greatly benefit my attempts to break through the barrier."

He sighed, then shifted tone before the incarnation could respond. "Fortunately, Junior Sister Fang has agreed to bring me onto Dongming Island to watch the assembly."

The incarnation glanced at Fang Ting. He was not surprised. With her status, few in Yanmiao Pavilion would be tactless enough to object.

However, when Fang Ting had spoken of Zhao Songqiao before, she had not sounded particularly close to him. The incarnation wondered how Zhao Songqiao had won her over.

"Will Senior Chen be the one taking you there?" the incarnation asked.

Fang Ting shook her head with a helpless look. "Master was supposed to lead the team to Dongming Island, but he is still in seclusion."

The incarnation could not help a wry smile.

Senior Uncle Chen and Daoist Huayang had well and truly formed a grudge. Most likely Senior Uncle Chen would not end his seclusion until he broke through to the middle stage of the Core Formation Realm and could face Daoist Huayang again.

"Then congratulations, Senior Brother Zhao! Among our batch you have the highest cultivation, and Senior Chen thinks highly of you. After the assembly, you will surely break through in one stroke. Of the few of us, Senior Brother Zhao should be the first to reach the Foundation Building Realm." He offered a fist-and-palm salute and did not ask further.

Zhao Songqiao waved repeatedly, and seeing how flattering the incarnation was, he had to continue. "When Junior Brother Zhang is about to break through the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm, you will know how difficult Foundation Building is. At my age, I have failed more times than I can count and long ago stopped hoping. I never thought Yanmiao Pavilion would take me in. This is the only chance of my life. I must fight for it, no matter what. Please help me!"

Seeing Zhao Songqiao’s earnest posture, the incarnation felt puzzled. "You have left me confused, Senior Brother Zhao. I entered no earlier than you, and my cultivation is not as high. How can I help you?"

"Junior Brother Zhang, you must have inquired what sort of place Dongming Island is."

After asking the incarnation to seal the cave dwelling’s barriers, Zhao Songqiao spoke in a low voice, "The island is no secret on Landou Island. It is rather peculiar, with wood-elemental spiritual qi especially abundant. It is particularly suited to the growth of spiritual herbs and spiritual woods, which require no care from cultivators. After the various sects discovered Dongming Island, they divided it up, with Landou Sect’s portion the largest and richest. But the most central area is Longxing Mountain at the center of Landou Sect's area, which is said to hold many rare spiritual herbs that tempt even Core Formation experts and nearly sparked great chaos. Later, the sects established rules, jointly sealing Dongming Island. Only at each Dongming Island Dharma Assembly is the seal opened and cultivators allowed to enter and pick spiritual herbs. It is also said that the disciples’ results at the assembly affect the final allocation of herbs..."

The incarnation listened quietly. He had already investigated Dongming Island’s situation.

It opened only after long intervals and was also a restricted ground, but he judged it unlikely to be connected to Douniu Peak. Even so, he planned to look around the island when the chance arose.

What Zhao Songqiao said matched what he had learned.

As for the spiritual herbs on Longxing Mountain, Landou Sect could not monopolize them. To placate the other sects, the assembly on Dongming Island existed.

The incarnation studied Zhao Songqiao. For him to have inquired so thoroughly, did he have any plans on Longxing Mountain? With so many sects watching it, even his true body would not dare such a brazen act. To trespass on Longxing Mountain was no different from seeking death!

"...Aside from Longxing Mountain, each sect also cultivates its own spiritual trees and spiritual herbs within the areas it has fenced off. The results are said to be much better than outside."

Here, Zhao Songqiao’s tone shifted. He bowed slightly. "Your sect has a grove of Dark Lightning Wood on Dongming Island. Since Junior Brother Zhang is both a true disciple and serves under Senior Jin Yan, you must know of it. I wish to ask Junior Brother Zhang to take me into that grove once."

"Dark Lightning Wood?" The incarnation looked surprised. "You even know about that, Senior Brother Zhao?"

Dark Lightning Wood was an ink-black spiritual wood shaped like a pagoda tree. Its special trait lay in a faint strand of yin lightning nurtured within. When used to refine artifacts such as flying swords, their power surpassed that of artifacts of the same grade by a margin.

However, that thread of yin lightning was far too weak and thin, useful only to lower-level disciples.

Landou Sect indeed had a sizable Dark Lightning Wood grove on Dongming Island. Jin Yan had mentioned that a batch on the island should have reached maturity.

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Zhao Songqiao shook his head. "The precious herbs outside Longxing Mountain were long since picked clean and turned into ordinary herb gardens. What spiritual plants the great sects cultivate is no secret."