After the laughter subsided, Ding Hao said seriously, "After I pay a visit to my master, I plan to descend the mountain to seek out the Blood Demon Lie Shan and persuade him to join our sect. When I return to the mountain next time, we will surely make a great move and firmly take control of the Wuji Demon Sect in our hands. With Lie Shan guarding the Wuji Demon Sect, I'm eager to see if the Black Demon Sect still dares to act arrogantly towards our sect. Then we can settle all the old and new grudges at once!"
Once Ding Hao uttered these words, Hu Shuo's expression became excited. After a moment, he said, "Junior brother, are you confident that you can find Lie Shan in a short period of time? It would be better not to delay for decades. Since you made a great splash at the Soul Refining Sect Assembly, you must have offended many people. If you return too late, I'm afraid our sect will suffer a fatal blow."
After pondering for a while, Ding Hao said in a deep voice, "Senior brother, you are truly thoughtful. However, I have already made a plan in my mind. Before descending the mountain, I will go to the Purgatory Demon Sect to inform Feng Xingran and ask her to take care of our sect. If our sect encounters something that cannot be resolved, you can go directly to her in the Purgatory Demon Sect. She will surely have a way to help our sect get through the difficulties. When I return to the mountain, we can get back everything with interest."
Nodding, Hu Shuo said, "In this way, everything will be foolproof. Junior brother, you can leave without worry. I will surely guard our sect well during this period. With Miss Feng's help, there should not be a major problem. When junior brother returns to the mountain, we can then make a grand display."
Seeing Hu Shuo's words, Ding Hao felt surprisingly reassured. Although he had not seen this person's way of handling affairs, from his speech and conversation, he knew that this person was by no means ordinary. After leaving some cultivation items, Ding Hao took his leave.
He directly went to his master Chen Ling's residence. When he saw the illusion array at the door, Ding Hao knew that Chen Ling was inside. He said in a loud voice, "Your disciple Ding Hao has come to pay respects!"
As soon as the words fell, the illusion array in front of the door disappeared.
"You naughty boy, where have you been wandering around all this time? Why are you only coming to pay respects to me now?" Chen Ling's voice came from inside the room.
As soon as Ding Hao entered the room, the illusion array behind him automatically reorganized. Looking up and seeing Chen Ling's ugly face, Ding Hao felt a sense of intimacy in his heart. The previous unhappiness between him and Chen Ling had long been forgotten.
"Why does your disciple always feel that master is different from before? Has master already reached the late Nascent Soul stage?" Ding Hao guessed.
Hearing this, Chen Ling burst out laughing and said, "Your eyesight is really remarkable. Yes, your master has indeed reached the late Nascent Soul stage. It is all thanks to the cultivation method and crystals given by my good disciple. However, no matter how fast my progress is, it is still not as fast as yours, my good disciple."
After that, both of them laughed. Ding Hao said, "Hehe, there should be no distinction between you and me as master and disciple. If your disciple has good things, of course, he will first offer them to master."
"Stop flattering me. Where have you been all this time? You left the Purgatory Demon Sect without a word, leaving us idlers behind. You are really a busy person," Chen Ling scolded with a smile.
"Master, you are overstating it. It's not that Ding Hao didn't want to report to you. It's just that there is another hidden story..." Ding Hao recounted what had happened later, not hiding even the matter of seeing Sect Master Li Nantian when he left seclusion.
After that, Chen Ling lowered his head and remained silent.
After a long while, Chen Ling looked up at Ding Hao and said in a deep voice, "Your disciple finally trusts me. It really makes me very gratified. As for the matter of Cheng Xiong, your disciple can only be careful and on guard. Anyway, we all belong to the Broken Soul Mountain lineage. Coupled with the relationship with Feng Xingran, as long as you don't provoke him, he surely won't dare to attack you blatantly. However, you have to be careful that he might make a move in secret."
After a pause, Chen Ling said angrily, "Sect Master Li Nantian is truly despicable and shameless. He clearly has a treasure mountain but still pretends to be pitiful and deceives us into giving him our things. Such behavior is really chilling. If he could have informed us about the mine matter and used the full strength of the sect to mine, the obtained minerals would surely not be so few. How can we expect him to achieve anything with such selfish behavior? I will surely report this matter to several elders. We can't let him have his way."
Ding Hao deeply agreed with Chen Ling's words. After thinking for a while, he said, "Your disciple has come to see master this time because he plans to leave the sect and experience again. Although your disciple's cultivation level is not weak now, his experience is still lacking. Moreover, the best way to guard against Cheng Xiong is to stay away from the Broken Soul Mountain. Besides, at the Soul Refining Sect Assembly, your disciple offended many people. If he leaves the Wuji Demon Sect, others will have no excuse to take revenge on our sect."
After careful consideration, Ding Hao continued, "Hu Shuo, a third-generation disciple in the library, has a close relationship with your disciple and can be completely trusted. If master encounters any difficulties, you can go to him. He will go to the Purgatory Demon Sect to inform Feng Xingran and might be able to help master. When your disciple returns to the mountain, he will surely bring master a surprise. Hehe, then in the Purgatory Demon Sect, you and I as master and disciple will no longer have to be subservient."
"Oh, your disciple has such an arrangement. No matter what you say, master believes you without doubt. Hehe, from the first day I saw you, master knew that you were not an ordinary person. Since you have left a way out, you can just leave. Master is looking forward to your surprise," Chen Ling smiled.
"Your disciple will surely not let master down," Ding Hao smiled and then left the sect.
Two hours later, Ding Hao's figure appeared at the mountain gate of the Purgatory Demon Sect. When he arrived at the gate and saw the gatekeeper boy leaning against the wall, he stepped forward and cupped his hands and said, "Ding Hao, a third-generation disciple of the Wuji Demon Sect, requests to see Miss Feng Xingran of your sect. I hope fellow cultivator can convey this message."
The originally lazy boy stood up straight as soon as he heard Ding Hao's words and said seriously, "So it's Fellow Cultivator Ding Hao. Hehe, your name has been like thunder in my ears recently. My lady has already given instructions. Since it's Fellow Cultivator Ding's visit, there is no need to report. I will take Fellow Cultivator Ding up the mountain right away."
This boy was also a sensible person. Because of Feng Xingran's relationship, he surely didn't dare to be presumptuous towards Ding Hao. Compared with the treatment Ding Hao received when he accompanied Sect Master Li Nantian to visit the mountain last time, it was like heaven and earth.
Shaking his head, Ding Hao explained, "Fellow Cultivator, you have misunderstood. I don't plan to enter your sect. Please go in and inform her that Ding Hao is here. I will wait here."
"Oh, is that so? Well, I will go in and inform her. Fellow Cultivator Ding, please wait a moment," the boy said with a puzzled look and then rushed away.
A quarter of an hour later, a sound of something breaking through the air reached his ears. "You little rascal, you finally have the nerve to come and see Xingran. Humph, what a big shot. You even made this girl come to welcome you!"
Before seeing the person, the voice had already arrived first.
Ding Hao only heard a sound of something breaking through the air and knew that Feng Xingran must have left the messenger boy behind and rushed over first. He felt a warmth in his heart. Even when he heard Feng Xingran's accusatory words, he felt comfortable. He was startled. Could it be that he had already fallen in love with this woman?
Just as he was about to think carefully, Feng Xingran's figure appeared. This woman glanced around and, seeing that there was no one around, directly squeezed her delicate body into Ding Hao's arms. Ding Hao, feeling guilty, hurriedly pushed Feng Xingran away.
He said in a deep voice, "Is there a quiet place? I have something to discuss with you."
Seeing that Ding Hao pushed her away, Feng Xingran was about to get angry. But when she heard Ding Hao's words, her ears turned red. After a long while, she stammered, "What do you want a quiet place for? Don't you really want to do that? Isn't it a bit too soon?"
Hearing this, Ding Hao was completely speechless. He really couldn't understand what was in this woman's mind. Why did everything change completely when it came out of her mouth? After a moment, Ding Hao said with difficulty, "What are you thinking about? I really have something important to discuss with you. Stop thinking randomly. Hurry up and take me to a quiet place."
As soon as these words came out, Feng Xingran's relieved expression was slightly tinged with disappointment. She giggled and said, "You should have said so earlier. You scared me. Follow Xingran."
After that, she very naturally took Ding Hao's arm and pulled him to the left. A fresh body fragrance wafted into his nose. Ding Hao couldn't help but sniff it. His heart fluttered, and he let her do as she pleased.