Immortal of the Nine Realms

Abbess Qing He’s eyes flashed with excitement. "Brother Tie Ma, this is my junior sister!" she yelped, then quickly approached the thirteen or fourteen-year-old little nun. "Junior Sister, has our master come out of seclusion?"

The little nun glanced suspiciously at Tie Ma and whispered, "Senior Sister, our master has just come out of seclusion yesterday. Didn't you follow her orders to leave the mountain for training? You should've spent a decade outside at least...."

"I’ve encountered some tricky matters and need her intervention. Let's catch up later." Abbess Qing He signaled to Tie Ma to enter the Concealed Moon Hermitage.

The little nun hurriedly stepped forward to stop her. "Senior Sister! It’s against the rules for men to enter the hermitage."

"This is Brother Tie Ma. He escorted me the whole way back. Oh, you won’t understand even if I explain. Wait until we see Master, she will naturally understand," explained Abbess Qinghe anxiously.

The little nun hesitated briefly, then allowed the two of them to enter together.

Tie Ma didn’t see many nuns inside, and when he would happen to see one, a trace of surprise would flash in their eyes when they saw him with Abbess Qing He.

"There doesn't seem to be much incense here, Abbess Qing He," commented Tie Ma.

It was then that a voice answered him, almost out of nowhere. "How many immortal sects have enough prosperous incense? There are limited resources in the world, and every cultivator requires a significant amount of resources. Where can we find the means to afford to support them all?"

A graceful figure had appeared in front of them. She assessed Tie Ma closely. The woman was tall, appeared in her thirties, and was exceptionally beautiful.

“Who are you?" Tie Ma was surprised. He had no idea where she had appeared from.

"Master!" exclaimed Abbess Qinghe in joy

Tie Ma suddenly realized who she was.

The woman introduced herself lightly. "I am Zhu Yue of the Concealed Moon Hermitage.”

Tie Ma bowed and saluted. "So, you are Master Zhu Yue. I have heard of you for a long time..."

"You are just an ordinary mortal,” said Abbess Zhu Yue. “How could you have heard of my name?” Her eyes snapped over to Qing He. “Qing He, it hasn’t even been a year since you‘ve gone down the mountain. Why did you return in such a hurry, and who is this mortal beside you?"

Qing He quickly lowered her voice and explained the situation. When Abbess Zhu Yue heard the words "Spirit Blood Sect," a trace of severity flashed in her eyes.

"The matters of the Spirit Blood Sect are not something we will get involved in," Abbess Zhu Yue said indifferently as she looked at Tie Ma. "You can leave the mountain now."

"Master?!"

Abbess Qing He was shocked! She did not expect that Zhu Yue would refuse so directly.

"The issues of the Spirit Blood Sect are deeply rooted. Aren't you afraid of bringing disaster to the Concealed Moon Hermitage? As long as we don't provoke them, they won’t provoke us,” stated Zhu Yue as she looked at Qing He.

"Senior, my lord is not willing to let you act for nothing. He is willing to make a deal that would be mutually beneficial to everyone. My lord naturally wouldn’t put anyone on the losing end of a deal, whether it is a mortal or a cultivator,” said Tie Ma calmly.

Hearing that, a smile rose on Abbess Zhu Yue’s face, one that didn’t reach her eyes. "A deal? Does your lord have the qualifications to do business with me? Just because he is a Qi Refining Realm cultivator?"

Tie Ma said in a deep voice, "I wonder if you have heard of the Purple Lightning Talisman before?"

"Purple Lightning Talisman?" Abbess Zhu Yue’s eyes flickered slightly. The Purple Lightning Talisman was quite famous in the cultivation world, but its inheritance was rare. At least, within the Flame Empire, no sect possessed a way to craft them!

"A ninth-tier empire should not be able to produce cultivators. Your lord must’ve obtained the inheritance of some cultivator. Does this inheritance include the Purple Lightning Talisman?" asked Abbess Zhu Yue lightly.

Tie Ma bowed, saying, "I have no idea how my lord obtained it, but what I do know is that he is very sincere in his request. Please consider our offer, senior."

“Sincere?" Abbess Zhu Yue smiled deepend. "I think your lord managed to obtain a few Purple Lightning Talismans from somewhere, but it doesn't mean he has the complete inheritance."

Abbess Qing He quickly added, "Master, I have personally seen him draw the Purple Lightning Talismans.” She quickly retrieved a stack of Purple Lightning Talismans from her person. She had used some of them on her way back here, but there were still dozens more left.

A strange expression rose on her master’s face when she saw the Purple Lightning Talismans.

“These were given to me by him. He said that if you are willing to help, he will pass on the complete inheritance over to me," said Qing He as she proffered them to her master.

She took them from Abbess Qing He’s hand and carefully examined them.

"Indeed...these are all authentic..." Abbess Zhu Yue couldn't help but glance at Tie Ma before shifting her eyes back to the Purple Lightning Talisman. Each Purple Lightning Talisman had a market value of at least ten low-grade spirit stones in the Flame Empire and was comparable to treasures with one or two soul imprints. The value of these talismans was immense, and they were in high demand due to their tremendous power. Even a low-grade Purple Lightning Talisman could provide a cultivator at the third or fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm a chance to turn the tide against someone at the fifth or sixth level of the Qi Refining Realm.

Moreover, what Qing He had brought out were mid-grade Purple Lightning Talismans! Which were even more valuable. How could an ordinary cultivator obtain so many of them?

Abbess Zhu Yue was now convinced that Fang Chen indeed possessed the inheritance of the Purple Lightning Talisman. Such an inheritance was nearly invaluable; it couldn't be measured in mere hundreds or thousands of low-grade spirit stones. In the Flame Empire, it was priceless!

"Follow me," said Abbess Zhu Yue, putting away the Purple Lightning Talisman and turning to leave.

Abbess Qing He was pleased while Tie Ma breathed a sigh of relief.

In a meeting hall.

Abbess Zhu Yue sat in the host seat, with Tie Ma and Qing He standing on her left. Soon, seven or eight abbesses walked in. Some looked old, while others were relatively young. Their cultivations were almost all above the ninth stage of the Qi Refining Realm, with one of them in the twelfth stage, only a step away from the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"Sect Master, why did you summon us?" The oldest abbess was the first to speak, her tone unhurried.

The rest looked at Tie Ma with a frown. At a glance, they could tell that Tie Ma was just an ordinary mortal, not to mention, a man. How could someone like that enter the Concealed Moon Hermitage?

Abbess Zhu Yue swept her gaze over everyone and smiled, "Senior Sisters, Junior Sisters, I have a major matter to discuss with all of you.”

The others were slightly surprised. A major matter that required the summoning of second-generation disciples surely involved the rise and fall of the sect!

Many of them showed shock and uncertainty. Did the Concealed Moon Hermitage provoke some formidable enemy?

Abbess Zhu Yue explained the situation slowly. She spoke about the Spirit Blood Sect and the inheritance of the Purple Lightning Talisman. Everyone was stunned and doubtful, but they finally believed her words when they saw the stack of Purple Lightning Talismans.

"Senior Sister Yan Xing, you are already 130 years old. If you don’t enter the Foundation Building Realm in the next ten years, you will die. However, the Foundation Building Pill is very expensive. Even if we exhaust all our resources, it will be difficult to obtain." Zhu Yue sighed softly, then continued, "If we have the inheritance of the Purple Lightning Talisman, we can accumulate a bunch of spirit stones in a short amount of time. There is a chance for us to get our hands on a Foundation Building Pill before your lifespan runs out."

A gleam flashed in the eyes of Yan Xing. She looked at Tie Ma and said, "Does your lord really have the inheritance of the Purple Lightning Talisman?" Her voice was hoarse.

"Absolutely," answered Tie Ma in a deep voice.

Abbess Qinghe nodded quickly. "I can testify as well."

"But this matter is of great importance. If we get involved and the Spirit Blood Sect finds out..." One of the abbess looked toward Yan Xing cautiously.

"If all of you agree, I will only intervene once. If it fails, it won’t be too difficult for us to get ourselves out of it, and the Spirit Blood Sect won’t be able to find out it was us,” Abbess Zhu Yue said with a faint smile.

"If that’s the case, then it’s fine."

The abbesses discussed for a moment, then nodded one after another. The temptation of the Purple Lightning Talisman inheritance was too great. It was a rare opportunity to enhance the sect's foundation, and they didn't want to miss it.

Senior Sister Yan Xing bowed slowly. "Senior Sister Zhu Yue, we will have to trouble you to make a trip.”

Tie Ma heaved a sigh of relief.

Success!

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