Chapter 1243: Chapter 1240: Bad News

“Junior Brother Lu, these two Senior Brothers of Authentic Teachings are extraordinary. It’s said that Brother He has an Immortal Bone in his body, and his strength is formidable. Breaking through realms is as easy for him as drinking water.”

“Senior Brother Zhu is a descendant from one of the Divinity Transformation Ancestors within our sect. He possesses rare talents and can detect subtle differences between various Spirit Ores. His success rate at Refining Instruments is extremely high, and he is also skilled at nurturing the Spiritual Nature of High Rank Magic Artifacts, owning many magic treasures.”

“You should make good connections with them, Junior Brother. Perhaps one day they could be of great assistance.”

Suddenly, Mo Yuanfeng’s voice, as low as a whispering mosquito, reached Lu Xuan’s ear.

“Thank you, Brother Mo, for the information. I will keep it in mind.”

Lu Xuan replied to him through sending a voice transmission.

Mo Yuanfeng nodded slightly and continued to introduce several other young Nascent Soul cultivators who were present to Lu Xuan.

Although their identities were not as prominent as He Qingping and the other two, they were also among the most outstanding of the younger generation within the Sword Sect, each with limitless prospects.

Lu Xuan had previously had a brief acquaintance with two or three of them, and the rest had heard of his achievement in improving the Sixth Grade Sword Grass, and were all very polite in their behavior toward him.

“Junior Brother Lu, I would like to ask you for some advice on Cultivating Sword Grass. Please enlighten me, Junior Brother.”

Lu Xuan chose a corner to sit down and had just tasted a few Spirit Fruits when a handsome young man approached him.

“Feel free to ask, Brother Bai. Lu Mou will spare no detail.”

Lu Xuan replied with a slight smile.

The young swordsman in front of him was named Bai Chungang, from the Pure Yang Sword Summit, with an excellent understanding of swordsmanship.

In the course of their conversation, Lu Xuan learned that Bai Chungang had planted a Seventh Grade Sword Grass, which had been cultivated for nearly eighty years and was now in its later stages of growth.

Fearing any potential issues, he specifically came to exchange thoughts with Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan had Cultivated numerous High Rank Sword Grasses, even including an Eighth Grade Annihilation Absolute Sword Grass. Though that special ability played a crucial role, he had also accumulated some unique insights, and the occasional advice benefited Bai Chungang greatly.

“Thank you for your guidance, Junior Brother Lu.”

Bai Chungang said, his face full of gratitude at the end.

“It’s nothing, Brother Bai. We’re all learning from each other.”

Lu Xuan replied with a smile.

“Junior Brother Lu’s expertise in sword grass far exceeds my expectations.”

“However, I’m puzzled about something. Are you willing to devote all your lifelong efforts to Cultivating Spiritual Plants?”

Bai Chungang asked curiously.

“I can’t help it; I am just too fascinated by various Rare Spirit Plants, even to the point of putting my cultivation second.”

Lu Xuan shook his head with a wry smile.

“I don’t know if I should say this…”

Bai Chungang pondered for a moment before continuing, “In the end, Spirit Plants are just a minor path. Cultivation is the foundation for us cultivators.”

“Not hiding anything from you, Brother, I would be more than content if I could luckily break through to the Nascent Soul Realm. I dare not ask for too much.”

“From now on, I’ll take my cultivation one step at a time and just let it happen naturally.”

Lu Xuan earnestly replied.

“Everyone has their own aspirations. I hope Junior Brother Lu will think about his path for the future.”

“I’ll consider it carefully.”

Lu Xuan gave an insincere response.

He knew the other party meant well, but who could blame him for having a special existence like the Light Cluster.

With it, he could acquire various Divine Ability Treasure Items. Why would he choose to cultivate instead of ‘farming’?

Since the two had just recently met, it was already rare for Bai Chungang to offer advice. Hearing Lu Xuan’s response, he did not dwell more on the subject.

After the small gathering ended, Lu Xuan returned to his Cave Abode and went straight to the Spirit Field.

“Three hundred years of cultivation, and I’m nearing the Late Nascent Soul Stage…”

“If I could just increase the yield of the Origin Spirit Ginseng, I too could achieve this.”

Lu Xuan’s mouth curled up, and thin strands of Sword Qi surged from his fingertips, whistling as they fused into the numerous Sword Grass around him.

Unknowingly, a year had passed.

Lu Xuan remained in his cave dwelling, peacefully cultivating Spirit Plants, unconcerned with the secular disturbances outside.

During this period, neither the Sword Sect nor the Cultivation World had any significant events; the occasional interesting tidbit also failed to spark much of Lu Xuan’s interest.

Today, after practicing the Sleeve Universe Divine Power in his personal spatial realm, he returned to the cave dwelling.

No sooner had he appeared in the Spirit Field than the shrill voice of the White Ape rang out from outside.

“Master, Brother Ge Pu has come!”

Lu Xuan’s figure flashed, and he immediately appeared at the entrance of the cave dwelling, only to pause in surprise upon seeing the expression on Ge Pu’s face.

The usually gentle and refined Ge Pu had an extremely poor complexion, his eyes holding a depth of sorrow that seemed impossible to dissolve.

“Brother Ge, what’s happened?”

Lu Xuan asked with concern.

“The Soul Lamp of Junior Brother Huo… has been extinguished!”

Ge Pu let out a long sigh, his expression grave as he spoke.

“How can that be?”

Lu Xuan reflexively questioned, his tone laden with disbelief.

“It’s true.”

“Junior Brother Huo has been out for more than a decade, so I asked the brother in charge of watching over the Soul Lamps to keep an eye out for me.”

“Just now, I got the news from one of our brothers that Junior Brother Huo’s Soul Lamp has indeed gone out.”

Ge Pu heaved another sigh.

With Fire Scale Child not returning for so long, both had harbored ominous feelings, but without any specific information on his whereabouts or details, they could only wait in the Sword Sect.

But what they waited for turned out to be such dreadful news.

Lu Xuan dusted off his robe, his expression solemn, and faced the Sword Qi seascape, deeply bowing three times.

Scenes of the past flashed through his mind.

The moments they met at the Sky Sword Sect, the time he visited Fire Scale Child’s tribe to inspect Spirit Plants, Fire Scale Child helping him deal with an Evil Cultivator using Holy Baby Fruit as bait, their reunion at the Dongxuan Sword Sect.

“Junior Brother Huo, may you have a peaceful journey.”

“Sigh, Junior Brother Huo was simply too hasty in his endeavors.”

“The path of cultivation should be approached without rashness and impatience, advancing step by step. Even though he acquired many treasures from those Secret Lands, a single failure costs an unbearable price.”

Ge Pu lamented continuously on the side.

Lu Xuan silently nodded.

After Fire Scale Child’s return to the Sword Sect, his cultivation had not gone smoothly, even still unable to break through to the Condensing Pill Realm upon his own return.

The growing gap between his and his peers’ cultivation levels was something the once-prized talent of the heavens found difficult to accept. After breaking through to the Core Formation stage with Lu Xuan’s assistance, he became eager to explore Secret Lands, from which he gained many treasures.

But trouble comes to those who frequent dangerous places. Exploring Secret Lands was not like planting in the safety of the sect, as one would face countless hostile cultivators, demon beasts, and Monster Demon and Evil Haunted Will. Even as a Sword Sect Disciple, there was no guarantee of returning unscathed every time.

“Does Brother Ge know the specifics of how Junior Brother Huo met his demise?”

Lu Xuan gathered his thoughts and calmly asked.

“Not at the moment, but I’ll investigate thoroughly to see if I can get some information from other disciples.”

Ge Pu shook his head as he spoke.

“Alright, then I’ll have to trouble Brother Ge. If there’s anything I can help with, please just say the word.”

“If there is any information on who harmed Junior Brother Huo, remember to let me know.”

Lu Xuan set up a wooden table in the courtyard. On the table was Fire Scale Child’s favorite, the Heart Flame Wine, as he spoke solemnly.

Although he was low-key and cautious in his dealings, his friendship with Fire Scale Child ran deep. Having received news of his friend’s demise, there was an anger inside him that needed to be vented.