Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Chapter 135 Apprenticeship
After Zi Yang Sect and Gui Yuan Sect left, the two Jin Dan elders of Ming Yin Valley also returned to the mountain gate with their disciples.

There are only three sects left on the top of Dongxu Mountain: Lingyun Sect, Wanshou Mountain, and Tiangang Sword Sect.

Old Monster Qu summoned a giant roc and asked the remaining ten or so disciples of the Myriad Beasts Mountain to board the roc's back. Then he said to Jin Luoheng, "Fellow Daoist Jin, I originally had something to discuss with you, but the secret realm has changed. I guess you are too busy to split up. I will come to visit you again in ten days."

Jin Luoheng bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Fellow Daoist Qu. I will be waiting for you in ten days."

Old Monster Qu nodded, and with a flash of his body, he mysteriously appeared on the back of the giant roc.

The giant roc let out a sharp cry, flapped its wings and flew high, stirring up a cloud of dust.

The handsome Taoist frowned, raised his sleeves and waved them. A gust of wind blew past, sweeping away the dust.

Jin Luoheng's expression froze: "Daoyou Zhang, the matter of the spiritual herbs..."

Taoist Master Yingting waved his hands and said, "During this trip to the secret realm, thanks to Junior Brother Chen's help, our Tiangang Sword Sect was able to preserve some vitality and obtain a lot of spiritual herbs. How can we share spiritual herbs with your sect?"

Jin Luoheng's expression eased slightly, and he said with a smile, "In that case, I would like to thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhang."

The handsome Taoist turned to look at Chen Yuan and said, "Nephew Chen, you saved the life of our disciple. My Tiangang Sword Sect owes you a favor..."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and summoned a black flying sword, and pointed his finger at the sword. A black sword light fell off the sword, about half a foot long, with a deep luster that condensed and did not dissipate.

The handsome Taoist flicked his finger and sent the sword light in front of Chen Yuan, saying: "This sword can kill cultivators in the late stage of foundation building. If you inject true energy into it, it can be activated. Now I am giving it to my nephew Chen, it should be able to help you."

Chen Yuan caught the sword light with both hands, and without refusing, he bowed and saluted: "Chen Yuan thanks you, senior!"

Seeing Chen Yuan's decisiveness, the handsome Taoist's eyes flashed with admiration, and he bowed slightly to Jin Luoheng and Ji Bin: "Fellow Daoist Jin, Fellow Daoist Ji, we'll meet again later."

After saying that, he raised his hand and made a gesture. The black flying sword grew to several feet long. The disciple of Tiangang Sword Sect boarded the flying sword and flew away.

Now that the five sects have left, the Lingyun Sect will not stay either.

Jin Luoheng took out the giant boat, and Chen Yuan and twenty-one Qi-refining disciples boarded the boat together. The giant boat slowly rose into the air and flew to the north.

On the deck of the giant ship, Jin Luoheng stood at the bow, stroked his storage bag, and took out a white jade bead. There was a wisp of green mist inside, floating slowly.

"This is Yimu essence, which can sense the spiritual energy of plants and trees. Take out all the spiritual herbs in your hands, and don't hide anything."

Twenty-one Qi Refining disciples took out the spiritual herbs in their hands, but Chen Yuan did not make any move. He just stood aside and watched silently.

Ten years ago, before entering the secret realm, he heard from Mo Jingchun that after the trip to the secret realm, each sect would use Yi wood essence to check the storage bags of disciples to prevent anyone from stealing spiritual herbs.

Therefore, he had just taken out all the spiritual herbs without hiding anything.

The number of spiritual herbs taken out by these twenty-one disciples varied. The ones with the most were Yun Fang, Duan Changyu and the other four who followed Chen Yuan. Each of them took out nearly a hundred spiritual herbs, including some five hundred year old spiritual herbs.

There are only dozens or even twenty or thirty plants at most, and most of them are hundred-year-old or three-hundred-year-old magical herbs, with few rare species.

After everyone took out the spiritual herbs, Jin Luoheng threw the jade bead in his hand forward, pointed at a certain spot, and injected a trace of true energy into it.

The jade bead shone brightly, and the Yi wood essence contained in it spread out and turned into wisps of green smoke, which wrapped around the storage bags of everyone, including Chen Yuan.

After a while, Jin Luoheng nodded slightly, withdrew his true energy, and the green smoke shrank back into the jade bead and turned into the Yi wood essence again.

This energy is one of the five elements' essences. Only Nascent Soul cultivators can collect it from things of the five elements. It is extremely precious.

Jin Luoheng put away the jade beads and said, "Put away the spiritual herbs. After returning to the sect, the alchemist will personally check them. Those who contribute enough will receive rewards from the sect."

Everyone put the spiritual herbs back into their storage bags and breathed a sigh of relief.

Those who have collected more spiritual herbs can hardly hide their joy.

But those who collected fewer spiritual herbs were also quite fortunate.

For this trip to the secret realm, Lingyun Sect's rewards are even more generous than last time. The foundation-building pill is just the basics, there are also cultivation pills, mid-grade spirit stones, cultivation techniques, and even top-grade spirit tools, which are enough to excite the foundation-building cultivators.

All of these disciples who entered the secret realm were attracted by the generous rewards.

However, this trip to the secret realm was extremely dangerous, with only a few survivors. Being able to come out alive, even if you don't get the reward, is already a blessing.

Jin Luoheng said again: "Chen Yuan, you come with me, the others can choose any room to rest."

Chen Yuan bowed and said, "Yes."

Jin Luoheng turned and walked towards the third floor of the tower. Ji Bin followed him, and Chen Yuan lagged behind a few steps, following closely.

The third floor of the tower is an empty hall with only two cushions and a stick of burning sandalwood inside. There is nothing else in it. The decoration is extremely simple and elegant.

Chen Yuan was a little surprised. Jin Luoheng and Ji Bin looked normal and sat down on the mat.

Jin Luoheng saw Chen Yuan's expression and said in a gentle voice, "This boat is a top-grade spiritual weapon specially made by the Refining Pavilion for the trip to the secret realm. It is managed by the elders of the Jindan stage in the sect in turn, so the furnishings are simple."

Chen Yuan bowed and said, "Thank you, Elder Jin, for clearing up my doubts."

Jin Luoheng said, "No problem. I called you here because I have something to ask you." Chen Yuan said seriously, "I will tell you everything I know."

Jin Luoheng said: "Junior Brother Chen, please tell us in detail about your experience in the secret realm."

"Yes, after the disciple entered the secret realm..."

Chen Yuan immediately repeated what he had said before and added some details.

After he finished speaking, Jin Luoheng and Ji Bin looked at each other and nodded slightly.

They couldn't hear any flaws in Chen Yuan's words.

Moreover, Chen Yuan has contributed so many rare spiritual herbs to the sect and made great contributions, so some methods cannot be used.

Jin Luoheng said slowly, "Several decades ago, there was also a Qi-refining disciple in our sect who accidentally entered a spiritual medicine garden and obtained several five-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs and a broken stele, but unfortunately they were useless. Junior Brother Chen's experience is similar, but he was just luckier, and there is nothing surprising about it... Senior Brother Ji, what do you think?"

Ji Bin was silent for a moment after hearing this, then nodded and said, "Brother Jin, what you said makes sense. I have no objection."

He knew in his heart that Jin Luoheng was trying to agree with him on what to say. After returning to the sect, he would inform all the Jindan elders of this conclusion.

If it was an ordinary trip to a secret realm, Jin Luoheng could make the decision alone.

In the past few years, he has been in charge of the sect's secular affairs and can make decisions with just a word.

But this time, Chen Yuan brought out more than twenty eight-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs from the secret realm. After returning to the sect, they will definitely arouse the covetousness of the elders. He must think of an excuse to shut everyone up.

After Jin Luoheng and Ji Bin reached a consensus, they suddenly fell silent and the atmosphere began to become strange.

Chen Yuan was puzzled and didn't know what the two were going to do, but he didn't dare to ask. He could only remain respectful, bow slightly, and wait quietly.

The two looked at each other, and Ji Bin suddenly said, "Junior Brother Jin, do you want to go first, or should I?"

Jin Luoheng smiled and said, "Senior Brother Ji, please go first."

Ji Bin showed a hint of surprise on his face, and bowed to Jin Luoheng and said, "Then I won't be polite."

He turned to look at Chen Yuan and said solemnly: "Chen Yuan, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then several thoughts came to his mind.

He and Ji Bin had never met before, so why did Ji Bin accept him as his apprentice?

There must be something wrong when something is abnormal. He was born as a casual cultivator, with no background and mediocre qualifications. If there was anything worthy of Ji Bin's attention, it would only be the hundreds of rare spiritual herbs he brought out from the secret realm.

Thinking of the conversation between Jin Luoheng and Ji Bin, a bold idea emerged in Chen Yuan's heart.

He first showed a look of joy, then a look of hesitation. He glanced at Jin Luoheng and bowed deeply to Ji Bin: "I am very grateful that Elder Ji has taken a liking to me. But I have long admired Elder Jin's name, and I have already decided that after I build my foundation, I will worship Elder Jin as my master. So I beg Elder Ji to forgive me. I cannot agree to this."

Ji Bin stared at Chen Yuan, his expression unchanged, but his eyes turned cold. He said in a deep voice: "Nephew Chen, have you thought it through? I have thirteen disciples. If you can become my disciple, these brothers and sisters can all help you."

Chen Yuan said respectfully: "Disciple has thought it over. I beg Elder Ji to forgive me."

Ji Bin nodded: "Well, congratulations to Junior Brother Jin for getting a great disciple today."

He bowed to Jin Luoheng, then closed his eyes slightly and said no more.

From beginning to end, Jin Luoheng had a smile on his face and looked calm, as if he had expected this, yet seemed to not care about it at all.

It was not until this moment that he opened his mouth and said, "Chen Yuan, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Chen Yuan bowed deeply and said, "Disciple wishes to take Elder Jin as his master!"

Jin Luoheng nodded slightly: "In this case, I will accept you as my disciple, and we will perform the ceremony of becoming your disciple after we return to the sect."

Chen Yuan bowed again: "Disciple Chen Yuan, I pay my respects to the Master!"

Jin Luoheng smiled without saying anything, and turned his head to glance at Ji Bin intentionally or unintentionally.

Ji Bin opened his eyes, expressionless, and stroked his storage bag, took out a jade pendant, raised his hand and pushed it in front of Chen Yuan, saying: "Junior Brother Chen is joining Junior Brother Jin today, and I, the real master, have the opportunity to express my gratitude. I will give you this Chilong pendant. I hope you will practice diligently and have a long way to go."

Chen Yuan took the jade pendant with both hands: "Disciple thanks Uncle Ji for the reward!"

He looked at it carefully and saw that the jade pendant was carved with a lifelike dragon. It felt delicate and smooth to the touch, like virgin skin.

Jin Luoheng smiled and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother Ji. If I'm not mistaken, this Chilong Pendant is made of Bingxin Jade. It has the effect of calming the mind and absorbing spiritual energy. It is a rare auxiliary low-grade spiritual weapon."

Ji Bin closed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "It's just a small thing, not worth mentioning."

Make up for last night.

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(End of this chapter)