In the blink of an eye, more than three months had passed. One day, Lu Xin was cultivating when he suddenly heard Old Ancestor Yunhua and the others report, "Reporting to the Palace Lord, there is a matter that requires your decision."
"What is it?"
Lu Xin frowned. He usually acted as a hands-off shopkeeper regarding the affairs of the Eastern Flower Divine Palace, leaving them to handle it.
The fact that they needed to come to him this time meant they had likely encountered something difficult to resolve.
Old Ancestor Yunhua said, "Reporting to the Palace Lord, the Eastern Flower Trading Company of the Elephant Mountain Region in the south has reported that a crack has suddenly appeared in a mountain range in its central area, suspected to be a newly emerged secret realm, but..."
"But what?"
Old Ancestor Yunhua said uncertainly, "However, a mysterious black gas is constantly emanating from that crack. Those who went to investigate, upon being exposed to the black gas, either died suddenly or lost their minds, becoming mad and bloodthirsty."
"Oh?"
Lu Xin was somewhat surprised. "What are the local major powers planning to do?"
Old Ancestor Yunhua replied, "The several major sects with Transformation Gods have already sealed off the area, but they cannot stop the escaping black gas. Therefore, they reported the matter through the trading company, hoping that the Palace Lord can help resolve it."
Lu Xin frowned. The mysterious black gas that could make people lose their minds was likely a kind of violent energy. Having experienced the Void Demon Realm, this made him suspect it was demonic energy.
"Could it be that the crack leads to the Demon Realm?"
He was somewhat puzzled. He had just discussed the invasion of the Demon Realm with Tianzi Jin a few days ago. The last invasion of the Demon Realm had taken place through the Two Realm Abyss in the depths of the East Sea, a place he had also been to.
There was no mention of other passages.
However, if it really was a passage to the Demon Realm, then this matter would be significant, because it would mean that the invasion of the Demon Realm was about to arrive again, and it was very close to him.
Of course, these were all his guesses. Whether it was true or not, he still needed to investigate it himself.
In any case, according to past records, the top strength of the invading Demon Realm was equivalent to that of the Spirit Realm. With his current strength, there was nothing to panic about.
"Palace Lord, what are your plans?" Old Ancestor Yunhua asked.
"I will make a trip there. You guard the palace well."
"Yes."
The crowd withdrew, and Lu Xin did not delay. Through several teleportation arrays, he arrived at an Eastern Flower Trading Company in the Elephant Mountain Region.
"We have seen Pure Yang Palace Lord!"
The leaders of those major powers in the Elephant Mountain Region were all waiting here, and they all saluted upon seeing Lu Xin.
Lu Xin glanced at them. The strongest of these people were only in the early stage of Transformation God, four in total, equivalent to the original strength of the Eastern Flower Region.
"What exactly is going on?" He didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point.
A leading elder quickly explained the situation in detail, and then led Lu Xin to the mountain range. Even halfway there, they could see some rampaging demon beasts.
Many cultivators were constantly besieging them.
"Reporting to Senior, these were originally demon beasts of the Crouching Tiger Mountain Range. Affected by the black gas, they have all become violent and bloodthirsty. We are currently encircling and killing them.
Fortunately, although there are many demon beasts in the Crouching Tiger Mountain Range, the highest level is only sixth grade, so it won't cause a major disaster. It's just that the black gas is a bit difficult to deal with, and the range of diffusion is getting larger and larger now."
"If this continues, I'm afraid the entire Elephant Mountain Region will turn into a black gas region."
The elder's face was solemn.
Lu Xin frowned and remained silent. He was currently watching a group of people besieging a fifth-grade demon beast, and one of the figures was very familiar to him, it was Li Jingxuan.
The last time they parted, she was only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and now she was actually in the late stage of Golden Core.
He calculated the time, and it didn't seem like many years had passed in between. Even with the pills he gave her, it shouldn't have been so fast, and if he remembered correctly, this girl was only of upper-grade spiritual root.
"It seems that she has encountered many opportunities during her training."
Below, the fifth-grade demon beast, equivalent to the early and middle stages of Golden Core, had already been besieged and killed, and now they were dividing the spoils.
Li Jingxuan didn't move, but was wiping the long sword in her hand, which was the White Dragon Sword that Lu Xin had given her.
"Senior, is there someone you know below?" The elder couldn't help but ask, seeing Lu Xin staring below.
Lu Xin nodded, and then with a wave of his hand, he brought Li Jingxuan to the cloud top. Li Jingxuan was startled and was about to raise her sword in preparation, when she saw Lu Xin's smile.
"Grandmaster."
Her face lit up with joy.
Seeing this, the people next to her quickly said, "Senior, we will go ahead and wait."
"Go ahead, I'll be right there."
"Yes."
After the others left, Lu Xin looked at Li Jingxuan and blamed, "You girl, why did you run to the Elephant Mountain Region again? Do you know that your father is very worried about you?"
"I..." Li Jingxuan hesitated for a moment, and finally told the truth:
"Reporting to Grandmaster, after I separated from you, I encountered another opportunity and obtained a sword technique called 'Battle Heaven Sword Technique', which requires constantly improving strength through battle."
As she spoke, she took out a jade slip.
"Oh?"
Lu Xin heard about this kind of technique for the first time, and didn't refuse. He curiously took it and looked at it, and found that the rank of this technique was not low, and could directly lead to the Tribulation Transcendence stage.
"Then why did you run here?" He returned the jade slip to her after reading it.
Li Jingxuan explained, "Reporting to Grandmaster, going north from the Blazing Fire Region are all middle-ranked regions, with too many strong people, so I came south to the Elephant Mountain Region."
"I was planning to go back after this trip north, but I encountered a demon beast riot, so I temporarily stayed."
Lu Xin understood and said with relief, "It seems that you have listened to everything I taught you, and you know to train from small places. By the way, do you know that the Seven Luminaries Sect has become the Eastern Flower Divine Palace?"
Li Jingxuan nodded, "I know."
Lu Xin said, "Now that there is an unknown change in the Elephant Mountain Region, don't kill your way back. Go directly to the Eastern Flower Trading Company and take the teleportation array to leave early."
"Is it that mysterious black gas?" Li Jingxuan was a little puzzled.
Lu Xin nodded in confirmation and took out a jade box, "This is the Amethyst Star Pattern Fruit. Take it back and go into secluded cultivation to refine it."
He then explained the effect of the Amethyst Star Pattern Fruit.
Li Jingxuan quickly waved her hand, "Grandmaster, this is too precious, I, I can't take it."
Lu Xin put the jade box into her hand, "Take it, this was originally meant for you. The Face-Fixing Pill recipe you gave me last time was very useful, consider it a reward for you."
"But..." She still wanted to refuse.
Seeing this, Lu Xin said, "Haven't you always wanted to become my disciple? How can your talent be too low? After taking it, I will accept you as a disciple."
"Really?" Li Jingxuan was instantly overjoyed.
Lu Xin nodded. In fact, he had thought about this for a long time. This girl had been in contact with him very early, and he knew her character very well. There was nothing wrong with accepting her as a disciple.
Moreover, this girl seemed to have good luck. Every time they met, she had good gains.
"Disciple greets Master." Seeing him nod, Li Jingxuan quickly knelt down and kowtowed three times.
Lu Xin helped her up, "Alright, you go back first, remember not to stay too long. I will go back after I solve the matter here."
"Yes, yes." Li Jingxuan nodded quickly.
Lu Xin sent her down from the cloud top, and then went forward. Soon, he joined the four Transformation Gods and came to the Crouching Tiger Mountain Range.
"Senior, that is the black gas, and the diffusion range has expanded again."
Lu Xin frowned and looked, then reached out and grabbed a ball of it, and looked at it carefully.
