Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 102 The Demonic Sect Reappears
"Junior Brother Song."

Lin Qing's eyes were sunken, and at some point, a golden vertical line appeared on her forehead.

Perhaps he practiced some kind of cultivation technique...

Song Yan asked with concern, "Senior Brother Lin, you..."

"No problem."

Lin Qing waved his hand: "I was a bit too eager for quick success in my pursuit of a breakthrough a few days ago..."

"There was a slight mishap during my training, but it's all fine now."

"Oh, it's good that you're alright."

Song Yan nodded.

"You've promoted yourself to the inner sect, is this your first time here?"

Lin Qing welcomed Song Yan into the small courtyard of the cave.

He glanced at the sword case on his back with interest, but said nothing.

"Don't be shy, come in and have a seat."

Upon hearing this, Song Yan felt a little embarrassed: "Senior Brother Lin, please don't be offended. A few days ago, I was ordered by the sect to go to the Flower Festival in Beiya Mountain."

"It's a sect that returned just a few days ago."

Lin Qing suddenly realized: "Oh..."

He then revealed regret: "It's a pity that I made a mistake while practicing those few days, and later it was Senior Brother Lu Ziye who took over."

"Otherwise, I really would like to go and see the world."

It would have been better if Lin Qing hadn't mentioned it.

The mention of Lu Ziye reminded him of how his senior brother Lu had once exposed Lin Qing's past in front of them.

Thinking of the gentle and refined Senior Brother Lin in front of him, who was infatuated with Senior Sister Qin, Song Yan felt a slight chuckle.

Perhaps noticing that Song Yan's expression was a bit strange, Lin Qing asked, "Junior Brother Song, what's wrong?"

"No, it's nothing."

"Come, have some tea."

Lin Qing set out some simple tea sets on the table in the cave and poured a pot of spiritual tea.

"Tell me, what brings you to visit my place? You're not just here for a casual chat, are you?"

"..."

Song Yan then revealed the purpose of his trip: "Senior Brother Lin, to be honest, I came here this time to ask you something."

"Senior brother, do you know anything about the Breakthrough Pill...?"

"A breakthrough pill?"

Lin chuckled and scolded, "You brat, I haven't even broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining yet. If I really had news, why would I tell you?!"

"hey-hey……"

Song Yan chuckled dryly a few times: "Let's try our luck."

"but……"

Lin Qing suddenly fell into a deep thought, and after a moment of contemplation, she slowly spoke.

“I do know some information, and I can tell you about it.”

"Because this is not a secret, and the news will soon spread throughout the sect."

"Therefore, it's no harm in telling you in advance."

I was a little confused, but I listened quietly.

"I have some reliable sources, so I just got the information in advance. Besides, I wasn't planning on going anyway."

“A few days ago, a large number of demonic cultivators appeared on the border between our Chu and Qi kingdoms.”

"A large number of demonic cultivators?"

Song Yan was startled.

He had come into contact with quite a few demonic cultivators, but they were all just a handful and didn't amount to much.

It was probably formed by chance, through the acquisition of some scattered inheritances.

However, if demonic cultivators appear in large groups, it would be a cause for alarm in the cultivation world of various countries.

He didn't actually know much about demonic cultivation; most of what he learned came from his senior brother Lu Ziye's casual conversations.

Another part was revealed in a conversation between Senior Yu Zhen and him after Yu Zhen killed the Yellow-Robed Daoist Boy.

"That yellow-robed Taoist priest seems to originate from a demonic sect called the 'Yellow Springs Sect'..."

It seems that demonic cultivation is also divided into many branches. For example, the three early-stage Qi Refining demonic cultivators outside Shiliang Town were not like this yellow-robed Taoist.

However, he bears some resemblance to Jiang Hui, the Taoist master from Peach Blossom Village.

I'm not sure about other places, but in the Chu Kingdom, demonic cultivators haven't appeared on a large scale for many years.

A few troublemakers occasionally emerge, but they are quickly eliminated.

"The Qi Kingdom has already sent cultivators to guard the border, but since the main focus is on our Chu Kingdom, all six major sects have to send people there."

"The border between the states of Chu and Qi..."

Song Yan pondered for a moment: "Changping?"

"Yes, it's Changping."

Lin Qing let out a soft breath: "On the surface, it's just a matter of going to Changping to take turns guarding the area according to the batches. In reality, it's hard to determine whether there will be any conflict with the demonic path."

"This task takes a long time and carries high potential risks, in addition, the spiritual energy in Changping is relatively scarce..."

When Lin Qing finished speaking, Song Yan immediately understood.

"If it's just a regular mission reward, then very few disciples would be willing to go."

"Therefore, the six major sects have joined forces to set up a special reward for this mission, one of which is a breakthrough pill."

"This mission will last for two years and will be divided into four rounds. If you can participate in two rounds, you will make enough contributions to earn a Breakthrough Pill."

"Of course, if you can discover the movements of some demonic cultivators, or kill a demonic cultivator, you will receive additional contributions and can exchange them for pills in advance."

"..."

"I see……"

Song Yan nodded: "However, Senior Brother Lin, if inner disciples participate in this mission, wouldn't they be unable to participate in the sect's grand competition?"

He vaguely remembered that the inner sect competition was about to begin.

He himself was still an outer disciple and shouldn't have been able to participate; he just had this question.

Lin Qing shook her head: "That's not the case."

"This year's Inner Sect Competition has undergone significant changes. Firstly, the Inner Sect Competition has actually been cancelled..."

His words were astonishing, causing Song Yan's eyes to widen in surprise.

"The competition, which was originally limited to the inner sect, has now been opened to the entire sect."

"The original competition for inner disciples will remain unchanged. Outer disciples will also participate in open competitions similar to those for inner disciples, and will eventually have the opportunity to obtain breakthrough pills, break through to the late stage of Qi Refining, and be absorbed into the inner sect."

Upon hearing this, Song Yan first expressed his regret for the senior brothers and sisters who had traveled thousands of miles back to the sect to prepare for the competition.

Secondly, I couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

In this way, even without participating in the Changping mission, one would still have a chance to obtain the elixir.

Just as he was making plans, he heard Lin Qing pour cold water on his ideas.

"On the other hand... the time for this sect-wide competition has been postponed due to the appearance of demonic cultivators."

"Postponed? When will it be postponed to?"

"Postponed until that mission is over." Lin Qing gave a wry smile. "That is, two years from now."

"..."

Song Yan sighed softly, thinking to himself, "Why do these demonic cultivators always cause trouble?"

"Alright, then... does Senior Brother Lin know when this borderland mission will begin?"

"It's still early. All the mechanisms and arrangements are still being planned and coordinated. It may be a few more months before the mission actually begins."

"understood."

This is also something that can't be helped.

Taking a sip of the spiritual tea, the bitter aroma slightly dispelled some of the gloom in my heart.

After exchanging pleasantries for a few more moments, they got up to take their leave.

"Thank you for informing me, Senior Brother Lin."

"It's alright, since it's going to be public sooner or later, I might as well tell my junior brother sooner and do you a favor."

"When Junior Brother Song's path to immortality flourishes in the future, please do not forget the small favors your senior brother has done for you."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Senior Brother Lin still loves to joke around.

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(End of this chapter)