Chapter 32: Chapter 29: Aid from the Immortal Sect
Chapter 32: Chapter 29: Aid from the Immortal Sect
"Phantom Spirit Sect?!"
Song Tonghai leaped to his feet, his expression full of disbelief, and Song Lingxue's face also brimmed with shock.
In their minds, they had never considered the possibility that the Phantom Spirit Sect would really reach out to assist them.
"Welcome them into the main hall, serve the good tea!"
Song Tonghai issued the order but quickly changed his tune, "I'll go to welcome them."
Before his words could finish, he summoned his Inner Qi, leapt onto the rooftop, and with a couple of bounds, arrived at the front gate.
Song Lingxue was a step slower; in the blink of an eye, she too arrived before the Song Residence's grand entrance.
Standing solo on the steps in front of the door was a figure clad in green; the material of his clothing was indiscernible, seemingly both silk and brocade. Under the brilliance of the sun, a faint sheen of flowing light flickered.
He appeared to be in his late twenties with well-balanced features. Though not particularly tall, his broad shoulders and sturdy physique were evident at a glance—no ordinary man.
"May I ask if you're a Superior Immortal from the Phantom Spirit Sect?" Song Tonghai inquired tentatively, somewhat uncertain.
At his words, the man on the stairs slowly raised his hand, his fingertip ignited with Spiritual Light, tracing a string of crimson patterns in the void. The next instant, a ball of fire appeared in midair, radiating intense heat.
"Phantom Spirit Sect's Outer Sect Disciple, Fu Quanliang, at the Sect's behest, has come to lend the Song Family a helping hand."
"Superior Immortal, please, come inside!"
Witnessing this display, Song Tonghai's eyes reddened slightly, nearly losing his composure, he stepped forward eagerly, welcoming Fu Quanliang into the residence, as if grasping at a lifesaver.
With the arrival of someone from the Phantom Spirit Sect, their stance was clear, demonstrating a willingness to provide protection. This alone was sufficient.
With an Immortal Sect's protection, the Song Family would surely sleep without worries.
Song Lingxue took a deep breath, a weight lifted from her shoulders. She leaned against the door, feeling somewhat weak for a moment.
The emotional pressure she'd endured recently was indescribable, but now she could finally breathe a sigh of relief, if only for a while.
After pausing for a moment, she was about to turn back into the residence when a rush at the end of the long street caught her attention. A rider emerged abruptly, stopping in front of the residence.
"Huh——"
Chu Zheng reined in his horse, his face carrying traces of travel.
"Chu Zheng?!"
Song Lingxue stood rooted to the spot, momentarily dazed, "How come you... returned?"
As she spoke, she instinctively glanced behind Chu Zheng.
"Don't bother looking."
Chu Zheng dismounted and strode into the residence, casually saying, "It's just me. The others have gone to Giant Marsh."
"Why have you come back alone?"
Song Lingxue followed his steps subconsciously, her tone slightly anxious:
"The affairs here are none of your concern. Even if you didn't wish to go to Giant Marsh, with your current strength, you're free to travel the world. Why insist on returning to this troubled water?"
"I'll leave when I wish to; no need for you to send me off," answered Chu Zheng casually, "I'm now a free man. Where I go is my own choice; there's no need for so many reasons."
On his way back, he felt the Qi within him flow more smoothly.
First, cultivate the heart in your practice. He was far from reaching the realm of being as immovable as a mountain, completely undisturbed by external factors.
For now, not forcing himself to do what he doesn't wish to, is the most comfortable state Chu Zheng could find for himself.
"Coming back now... it's actually not too bad."
Recalling the person who had just arrived, Song Lingxue's step lightened considerably, and a smile formed on her face:
"Just now, a Superior Immortal from the Phantom Spirit Sect arrived; from now on, there shouldn't be any more chaos,"
"Someone from the Phantom Spirit Sect came?" Chu Zheng couldn't help but be surprised, followed by confusion.
The Song Family's current predicament was not new; one could tell from the reactions of those people before that the Immortal Sect must have its own channels of information in the mortal world.
They neither came early nor late, but only after the Song Family had sent out a wide call for assistance. No matter how you looked at it, this resembled the actions of Li Mingzhou: it seemed like a show for certain individuals.
"Mm,"
Song Lingxue nodded, lowering her voice, "His name is Fu Quanliang, and he claims to be an Outer Sect Disciple of the Phantom Spirit Sect. He's currently in the main hall."
As they spoke, the two of them arrived at the main hall.
Upon entering the hall, Chu Zheng moved to one side without saying a word, silently observing Fu Quanliang from a distance, the perplexity in his eyes deepening.
In his perception, this Fu Quanliang's Yuan Qi within his body wasn't even as strong as Li Mingzhou's.
Although the Yuan Qi in a living being's body was not sufficient to completely judge their abilities, it was indicative of their general strength. This person's power, at best, was only on par with Li Mingzhou's.
Even as one of the Immortal Sect's people, he barely qualified as a novice on the path of cultivation, his achievements severely limited — a letdown for Chu Zheng.
Not to mention the Immortal Sect's people; even if two Great Grandmasters had appeared, this Fu Quanliang might not be able to withstand them.
Was the Phantom Spirit Sect only sending such a person to rely on the deterrent power of their name?
While doubts were growing in Chu Zheng's mind, Song Tonghai nervously rubbed his hands and looked towards Fu Quanliang, asking,
"May I ask, Superior Immortal, has the Phantom Spirit Sect received my plea for help?"
The matter concerned the life and death of the Song Family; at this moment, he didn't even have the inclination to ask when Chu Zheng had returned.
"A plea for help?"
Fu Quanliang paused briefly, responding somewhat hesitantly, "I have not heard of that. I am here on the orders of an Elder, to provide assistance to the Song Family for a while."
"I see, so the Phantom Spirit Sect still has the Song Family in their thoughts," Song Tonghai nodded repeatedly, feeling somewhat ashamed.
He had previously doubted whether the Phantom Spirit Sect intended to let his family fend for themselves; now, it seemed he had been overthinking it.
The people of cultivation were not all unfeeling, and they ought to care somewhat for the relatives of their disciples.
"Of course, Sister Song has a high-quality Immortal Bone; her future is boundless, surely she will become another Supreme Elder of the Phantom Spirit Sect."
Fu Quanliang waved his hand, his demeanor quite amiable:
"I've heard your Song Family has recently encountered some troubles; tell me about them. If I can resolve them sooner, I can return to the Sect Gate earlier."
Having said that, he sipped his tea lightly, his expression calm, exuding an air of nonchalance, his whole being radiating a powerful confidence — as if the troubles of the Song Family could be wiped out in a flick of his fingers.
"I'm not very clear on that,"
Song Tonghai said with some difficulty, slightly frowning,
"The other party is a Hidden Immortal Sect; we only happened to learn a name by chance and don't know the details."
"Immortal Sect?"
Upon hearing Song Tonghai's words, Fu Quanliang's movement froze, his hand holding the teacup suspended in mid-air.
After a moment of silence, he set down the teacup, his face no longer calm, his brow furrowed in concern, "What's the name?"
"It seems to be called 'Night Light Pavilion,' an existence in the Northern Country; surely you must have heard of them,"
Song Tonghai recollected for a moment, then nodded in confirmation, "Indeed, it is the Night Light Pavilion."
At those words, Fu Quanliang's complexion changed drastically, and he stood up abruptly, exclaiming,
"Are you certain it's the Night Light Pavilion, no mistake?!"