Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit

Once upon a time, Lu Ping was lucky enough to see the Wind and Snow Immortals in action. Back then, he was just a Blood Refining Realm disciple fighting the monsters on Xuan Qi Island together with Xuan Ling Sect disciples.

After the monsters failed in their schemes against the two sects' Enlightened Masters, the Great Ancestors from both races came forward and fought each other.

At that time, Lu Ping hadn’t even seen the Enlightened Masters fight, let alone the figures of the Great Ancestors. However, the heavenly phenomenon that arrived with the entrance of the Wind and Snow Immortals still inspired him tremendously.

Today, he finally saw the Wind Immortal, Great Ancestor Tian-Fan, so he bowed respectfully, "Disciple Lu Xuan-Ping, greets Junior Granduncle Tian-Fan."

Great Ancestor Tian-Fan smiled with a nod, while Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin said, "Alright, step aside and wait for your orders."

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin waved his hand, and the black door that brought Lu Ping here appeared in front of him. This time, Xuan-Shang was brought here.

Xuan-Shang was also quick-witted. This was Tian Ling Mountain and he was a Mid Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master; the only ones that could bring him here forcibly were the Great Ancestors. Hence, he quickly calmed down and respectfully greeted the Great Ancestors.

After that, Xuan-Lei, Xuan-Xing, and Xuan-Wei were also brought to the hall.

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin waited for them to finish their greetings, and then said, "You are bold to fight in front of the sect's place of inheritance. Do you think the sect is your garden?"

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin had always been easy-going, but right now he was serious and carried a strong majestic temperament.

Lu Ping and the others naturally didn't dare to talk back and quickly admitted to their mistakes.

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin then said, "Since you have wronged, you must be punished. The North Ocean sects have discovered a spirit mine in the northernmost region, with preliminary examinations showing that it may be a medium spirit mine. The sects are dispatching more cultivators to investigate the spirit mine further, our sect is no exception.

"But we are still at war with the monsters so manpower has become an issue. Since the five of you have come looking for trouble yourselves, you can have fun in the northernmost region where the extreme snow and icy weather will make things more interesting. Get it done properly and be rewarded accordingly. Otherwise, continue to stay there and suffer for the next ten years.

Xuan-Shang and the others nodded while Lu Ping looked puzzled.

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin saw Lu Ping's lack of response, and asked, "What's the matter? Do you have an objection?"

Lu Ping quickly answered, "Teacher Jiang, I only returned to Tian Ling Mountain to see my teacher. With my absence, Huang Li Island's defense is at risk."

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin casually waved his hand, "Just do as you are told and don't worry about your teacher, I will be on Huang Li Island myself."

Lu Ping couldn't believe his ears and looked at Jiang Tian-Lin in shock. Had the war reached the stage where even Great Ancestors had to be on the frontlines of the battle?

But quickly, he recalled the news from Qu Xuan-Cheng about the monster races forming an alliance across oceanic continents as well as a monster Great Ancestor that was operating in the area. Was this why Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin had to be on Huang Li Island, so that he could readily interfere with the war if required?

In fact, Lu Ping wasn't the only one shocked. Xuan-Shang and the others were feeling the same way.

After receiving their orders, Xuan-Shang and the rest excused themselves and left, while Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin asked Lu Ping to stay behind.

"You wanted to look for your teacher in Zhong Hua Palace, is there something you wish to report to her?"

Lu Ping thought for a moment, and then answered, "When the monsters were attacking Huang Li Island, I killed a Mid Core Forging Realm monster seahorse."

Immediately, Great Ancestor Tian-Fan, Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin, and Enlightened Master Guo Xuan-Shan's expressions turned solemn. Enlightened Master Qu Xuan-Cheng even stood up from his seat, and said, "Kid, why didn't you say so earlier?"

Lu Ping answered helplessly, "Junior uncle, you were in a hurry to return to Tian Ling Mountain and you also didn't ask. I only found out about the monster alliance after asking Junior Uncle Xuan-He."

Qu Xuan-Cheng sat back down quietly.

Guo Xuan-Shan pondered for a second, and then said, "In that case, the monster alliance must be true. The seahorses have never liked the North Ocean's cold waters, so they only settled in the East Ocean and the South Ocean. With this monster's presence, along with Junior Brother Qu's information from soul-searching the monster Enlightened Master, it looks like the North Ocean Alliance has to be ready for what's about to come."

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin smiled, "The sects have already bought it, but it takes an alliance to fight an alliance, and the North Ocean Alliance is nothing but a facade put up for a fake peace. In order to truly form an alliance, the sects will have to go through a round of infighting to decide a leader and the rankings."

Great Ancestor Tian-Fan said, "A proper North Ocean Alliance is inevitable, the sects know this as well. Everyone is now preparing to contest for larger authority in the new alliance. Additionally, our alliance also has to ally with other humans across the oceanic continents to match in scale with the monsters' alliance. The North Ocean has always been weaker, so it will be harder for us to secure a louder voice in the oceanic alliance with the East Ocean and South Ocean human alliances."

Lu Ping stood there quietly, listening to the discussion but not daring to speak a word. This was clearly a conversation that he wasn't qualified to listen to, but the leading figures didn't seem to mind his presence as if they had forgotten him completely.

After a brief discussion, Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin looked at Lu Ping with his usual smile, and said, "Is there anything else you want to report?"

Lu Ping asked, "Teacher Jiang, have you heard of a monster cultivator that goes by the name of Ao Yu in the Late Core Forging Realm?"

The instant Ao Yu's name was mentioned, Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin's eyes flashed with coldness, Enlightened Master Guo Xuan-Shan was surprised, and Enlightened Master Qu Xuan-Cheng frowned, and asked, "Kid, where did you hear this name?"

Lu Ping quickly explained how Lu Dagui had become an undercover spy in the monster race and listed all the things that Lu Dagui had experienced.

Apart from the snake trio's identities as Emerald Sea Spirit Snakes and Luan Yu's existence, Lu Ping had never hidden the monster cultivators that he had around him like Lu Qin, Dabao, and Dagui. In fact, he would gladly bring them to the limelight if they would benefit from it, like how Lu Qin became Jiang Xuan-Xuan's close friend, and how Dagui might be rewarded for his deeds.

A moment later, Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin said with mixed emotions, "Time flies, even Ao Yu is at his final stage."

Guo Xuan-Shan nodded, "He isn’t inferior to Senior Brother Tian-Lin and Senior Sister Tian-Ling, so the wonder item must be at least a Heaven-class mid-grade wonder item."

Qu Xuan-Cheng added from the side, "Do we need to let Junior Brother Xuan-Yin know?"

Great Ancestor Tian-Fan said, "Why not? Do you think you can hide this from him? Xuan-Yin finished forging his Golden Core earlier than both you and Xuan-Shan; he should've reached the Avatar Realm a long time ago already. He only stopped himself from the final step because of the past. Not only should you not hide it, you have to tell him as soon as possible."

Lu Ping had no idea what they were talking about, but he understood that this was a secret. Hence, he just kept quiet and acted like an invisible puppet. After that, he randomly gave an excuse and left the hall. After doing so, he realized that they were in Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin's Liberal Palace.

After Lu Ping had left, Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin looked at Great Ancestor Tian-Fan, and asked, "Junior uncle, what do you think?"

Great Ancestor Tian-Fan's eyes were closed as he was deep in thought. A moment later, he opened his eyes, and said, "The human-monster war is heating up, whatever happened on Huang Li Island shouldn't happen again, am I right?"

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin smiled, clasped his hands, and said, "Junior uncle is wise! This way, Tian-Ling won't have much to say after her return."

When Great Ancestor Tian-Fan heard about Great Ancestor Tian-Ling, he couldn't help but massage his forehead, "They all say that Jiang Tian-Lin, the Liberal Sage, is unfettered and not well versed in worldly affairs, but they have all misunderstood terribly as your calculations are far beyond their understanding. I will warn Xuan-Su and pass on your message. Has Tian-Ling not given up yet after all these years?"

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin smiled bitterly and shook his head without answering.

Great Ancestor Tian-Fan said, "Right now, we need harmony from within. Xuan-Qin has wronged, but are you not at fault too? Tian-Ling's character is commanding and assertive, but she has a clear sense of right and wrong, personal interests and the greater good. If not for her fair and just personality, those that sympathized with Xuan-Qin wouldn't have sided with Tian-Ling in that matter."

Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin continued to keep quiet, while Great Ancestor Tian-Fan sighed, and said, "Xuan-Qin is as talented as you and Tian-Ling. Before her departure, she was already the sect's second Grandmaster Alchemist. Senior Brother Tian-Xiang and I both support her return, but it takes more than our approval to bring her back, we still need yours and Tian-Ling's. If Tian-Ling cannot let go of the past, Xuan-Qin's return will only make things worse for everyone."

…

After leaving Liberal Palace, Lu Ping returned to his Wave Listening Palace on Tian-Ling Mountain. He took out a message sword and sent it to his Sixth Senior Martial Sister Xuan-Wei's cave-dwelling.

Among the disciples under Great Ancestor Liu Tian-Ling, Lu Ping was the only one that had set up his cave-dwelling away from Zhong Hua Palace. Furthermore, he was also the only one that seldom came back to stay on the mountain.

The next day, Lu Ping traveled to Tian Ling Palace to gather with Xuan-Shang, Xuan-Lei, Xuan-Xing, and Xuan-Wei. Then, the five of them walked into the teleportation formation and arrived in a snowy area.

As soon as they walked out of the teleportation formation, they saw a plain-looking cultivator waiting for them.