Murong Yue nodded and said nothing more.
Her cool, smooth hand moved up and down, carefully channeling spiritual energy into Shen Mo's lower abdomen to sense his spiritual energy.
Before long, she indeed detected the presence of a perfect Dao foundation platform and liquid spiritual energy.
Murong Yue opened her mouth in shock and finally spoke after a long pause, "You truly have reached the Foundation Establishment Realm."
After the shock came immense joy.
Murong Yue waved her hand, and a large number of pills and spirit stones appeared from her storage ring, landing beside Shen Mo.
"I bestow upon you ten bottles of Foundation Stabilizing Pills to aid your Foundation Establishment cultivation, three hundred medium-grade spirit stones, and two high-grade Profound-Grade spiritual weapons. These are your rewards."
The array of treasures filled with spiritual energy dazzled Shen Mo.
He quickly stored them all in his storage ring. Good things are always welcome!
Shen Mo nodded. "Earlier, I heard that Master seemed troubled?"
Murong Yue's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes! Now that you have reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, you can enter Qingxuan Cave!"
"Follow me! I will immediately convene a meeting with the elders."
As she spoke, Shen Mo felt a fragrant breeze sweep past him, and the next moment, he was flying through the clouds.
Beside him was Murong Yue's soft, cool body.
"I'm flying?" Shen Mo looked down at the ground, his eyes wide open.
This feeling was too wonderful.
No wonder mortals desire to become immortals, free to roam the heavens and earth.
In a few breaths, Murong Yue landed with him at the entrance of the grand hall halfway up the mountain.
The disciples passing by were stunned. They stared intently at Murong Yue and Shen Mo.
In the past, Murong Yue had been in seclusion for years, so many disciples didn't know who the Sect Master was.
But yesterday, Murong Yue had just held a meeting, so many disciples now knew that the mature and beautiful woman was their Sect Master, Murong Yue.
Today, Murong Yue appeared again, and there was a disciple with her?
The disciples immediately began whispering among themselves.
"Who is that male disciple? He's quite handsome."
"The Sect Master seems to value him a lot. I saw them flying down from the mountaintop."
"You don't know him? That's Shen Mo, the one who defeated Lei Xiaojun. He's really strong! Some even say he's a strong contender for the fifth true disciple position!"
"Get real. Recently, it was rumored that our sect has a Heavenly Physique disciple who wasn't even made a true disciple. Why would Shen Mo be chosen just because he's handsome?"
Shen Mo heard the disciples' discussions below and couldn't help but smile wryly.
At that moment, he saw Murong Yue flick her finger.
A strand of spiritual energy shot out, striking the large bronze bell at the entrance of the grand hall.
Dong, dong, dong!
The ethereal sound of the bell echoed through Qingxuan Sect.
This was the signal for the Sect Master to convene a meeting!
No matter what they were doing, all elders of Qingxuan Sect had to immediately drop everything and rush to the grand hall.
The disciples, however, were puzzled.
Hadn't there been a meeting just yesterday about Qingxuan Cave's early opening? Why were all the elders being called again today?
The disciples' discussions grew louder.
Meanwhile, Murong Yue had already led Shen Mo into the grand hall.
Cloud Mist Peak.
This was where Vice Sect Master Liu Yuanfeng lived. His son Liu Yunxuan and several of his disciples also resided here.
At this moment, Liu Yuanfeng was playing chess with Liu Yunxuan.
Father held the black pieces, son held the white.
On the chessboard, the black Knight was fiercely attacking the white formation.
Unless a miracle move was made, there was almost no chance for the white pieces to turn the game around.
Liu Yunxuan acknowledged, "Father, your chess skills are becoming more refined. I am far inferior."
Liu Yuanfeng laughed heartily, feeling pleased.
Liu Yunxuan joined in the laughter. "Father, you seem particularly happy today. Have you made progress in your cultivation?"
Liu Yuanfeng's laughter grew louder. "Yes, I have a premonition that within two years, I might reach the peak of the Core Formation Realm!"
"That's wonderful news! If you can break through to the peak of the Core Formation Realm early, our plans can..." Liu Yunxuan exclaimed excitedly.
Liu Yuanfeng glared at him.
Realizing his mistake, Liu Yunxuan quickly shut his mouth. "Sorry, Father, I got too excited."
"No matter. There's no one around to hear, but you must keep your mouth shut in public." Liu Yuanfeng sipped his tea calmly.
"Right now, we haven't completely sidelined Murong Yue. Once we do, you can say whatever you like."
Liu Yunxuan chuckled and then asked, "Father, is Qingxuan Cave really that important? Why did you have to use your connections to force Zhao Ting and Luo Shengnan to leave?"
Liu Yuanfeng replied sternly, "Do you know why it is opening early? It's because a great treasure is about to be born! This crucial information came from a divination by an old friend of mine at Hevenly Secrets Sect."
"Remember, no matter what treasure is in Qingxuan Cave, you must be the first to get it! Even though Song Chaofeng and I are temporary allies, his son must not get that treasure!"
"Yes! I will not fail you!" Liu Yunxuan replied with excitement.
Dong, dong, dong.
At this moment, the sound of the bell echoed. Both men furrowed their brows.
"Father, Murong Yue is convening a meeting of the elders," Liu Yunxuan said in a low voice.
Liu Yuanfeng's brows furrowed deeply, but he quickly composed himself. "Hmph, that indecisive woman has no cards left to play. I want to see why she is convening the elders."
On the other side.
The conversation between the Qingxuan Sect's Grand Elder, Song Chaofeng, and his son, Song Junjie, was almost identical to that between Liu Yuanfeng and Liu Yunxuan.
However, Song Chaofeng also wanted his son to firmly grasp the treasure in Qingxuan Cave and not let it fall into Liu Yunxuan's hands.
The sudden bell also took Song Chaofeng by surprise.
"Father, could there be any unexpected developments?" Song Junjie couldn't help but ask.
Song Chaofeng sneered, "What unexpected developments could there be? Qingxuan Sect, including Murong Yue, has a total of twelve Core Formation Realm cultivators, but six of them are already on our side."
"Her means of retaliation are dwindling," he said blandly. "This meeting is likely just for her to vent her frustrations!"
...
The Qingxuan Grand Hall.
This is the most luxurious hall in Qingxuan Sect.
It is usually kept tightly closed. It only opens for major meetings or significant ceremonies.
However, in the past two days, Sect Master Murong Yue had already held two meetings.
Therefore, this usually unnoticed grand hall had now drawn the attention of many disciples.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Streams of light appeared from various directions, landing in front of the hall.
Some elders even flew back from the Qingcang Mountains, hurrying to the hall.
Soon, all twelve Core Formation Realm cultivators, including Murong Yue, Liu Yuanfeng, and Song Chaofeng, gathered.
The grand hall doors slammed shut.
The disciples outside were chattering, speculating about the topic of this meeting.
Inside the hall, it exploded into an uproar after Murong Yue made an announcement.
"What? This disciple has reached the Foundation Establishment Realm?!" Song Chaofeng exclaimed in shock.
Liu Yuanfeng's face darkened as he stared at Shen Mo, saying nothing.
The other elders had various reactions.
But without exception, all were stunned.
Seeing their shock, a barely perceptible smug smile appeared on Murong Yue's lips.
Then, she dropped an even bigger bombshell, "Shen Mo not only reached the Foundation Establishment Realm but has also forged a perfect Dao foundation!"
As she said this, the three elders who had always supported Murong Yue were ecstatic, rushing to Shen Mo's side.
"Sect Master, is this... is this true? A perfect Dao foundation?!"
Elder Li, who was quite elderly, had tears in his eyes.
Everyone knew how to forge a perfect Dao foundation platform.
But it required both wealth and luck.
The five superior-grade Profound Grade treasures were not something money alone could buy.
Among everyone present, only Murong Yue had a perfect Dao foundation platform.
She managed it because her master, the former Sect Master, had devoted all resources to her cultivation.
Now, another perfect Dao foundation platform had emerged!
As staunch supporters of Murong Yue, they couldn't be happier. This meant Murong Yue had a worthy successor!