Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Sect Leader Yue probed his spiritual sense into the mustard seed ring. The next moment, an inconspicuous gray stone appeared in front of him, and the surrounding space began to distort.

"This should be the Cang Ming Stone that Kun Tong gave to Junior Nephew Yan. Junior Nephew Yan colluded with the transformed demon king in secret, deceived Elder Gu, and plotted to murder Fellow Daoist Chen. What he did was no different from betraying one's teacher and destroying one's ancestors. This Cang Ming Stone will be given to Fellow Daoist Chen as a small compensation." Sect Leader Yue raised his hand and gave it, and the Cang Ming Stone slowly flew towards Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan took the Cangming Stone, put it into the mustard seed ring, and said with a bow, "Master Yue is so righteous."

He clasped his fists and bowed to Elder Gu again: "I have wronged Elder Gu, please forgive me."

Elder Gu returned the greeting with a solemn gesture and said earnestly, "I failed to discipline my disciples properly, which resulted in such a scum among my disciples. I almost let you fall into the trap set by Kun Tong and Shi Man. I should apologize to you, Chen."

The two men apologized to each other, and the tense atmosphere in the hall suddenly eased.

But Qingliu Lay Buddhist had a serious expression and bowed to Master Yue: "Master, Junior Brother Gu was deceived by Junior Brother Yan, but he gave his token to Junior Brother Yan, allowing Junior Brother Yan to obtain the forbidden sky formation from the treasure pavilion."

"And under the slander of Junior Brother Yan, he persuaded the head master to issue an edict, forcing Fellow Daoist Chen to go to Hanzhou to deal with the Lion Barbarians. He cannot escape the blame."

"Fellow Daoist Chen is magnanimous and will not pursue the matter. However, if this matter is exposed and spread out, the cultivators in the world will think that our Haoran Sect cannot distinguish right from wrong and bullies cultivators from other sects, which will damage our reputation."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall became tense again. Elder Gu's expression became gloomy again. Everyone looked at Master Yue to see how he would deal with the situation.

Sect Master Yue stroked the three strands of short beard under his chin, pondered for a moment, and slowly said: "Elder Qingliu's words make sense. Elder Gu neglected to discipline him, so he must be punished. I would like to ask the elders to discuss how to deal with him."

Everyone clasped their fists and saluted: "Everything is up to the master to decide."

"Master, the decision is up to you..."

How could they offend Elder Gu at this time? Naturally, they just kept out of it since it had nothing to do with them.

Qing Liu, a lay Buddhist, naturally did not have such concerns and said, "In my opinion, how about extending Junior Brother Gu's guarding of the Hell of Fire by twenty years?"

Elder Gu's expression changed slightly, and he secretly sent a message to Sect Master Yue: "Sect Master, I have already agreed to guard the Fire Prison for 60 years. If it is extended for another 20 years, it will be impossible for me to hold on."

Sect Leader Yue did not answer. After a moment's silence, he shook his head slightly and said, "The fire poison in the Fire Prison is fierce. Extending it for twenty years is too dangerous. Elder Gu is not guilty of such a crime. Elder Qingliu's proposal is inappropriate."

"In my opinion, Fellow Daoist Chen is a casual cultivator who has just formed a fetus. Whether it is to improve his cultivation or to refine magic weapons, he needs natural materials and treasures."

"Why not let Elder Gu compensate Fellow Daoist Chen with a few treasures, and let this matter be over. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Everyone looked at Chen Yuan. He looked hesitant. After a while, he nodded.

Sect Leader Yue looked at Elder Gu again, and he agreed without hesitation: "What treasure does Fellow Daoist Chen need? As long as I can give it to you, I will never refuse."

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "I have just formed my infant son and I am in urgent need of a magic weapon. Elder Gu has a high level of cultivation and is an elder of Haoran Sect. He must be very wealthy."

"I don't want much, just a high-level magic weapon. This shouldn't be a difficult task for Elder Gu, right?"

Elder Gu frowned and said, "I only have two high-level magic weapons, which I have nurtured for hundreds of years and treat as if they were my life. It is difficult for me to agree. Please ask Fellow Daoist Chen to change the conditions."

"My cultivation is shallow, and I am about to practice in seclusion. Please, Elder Gu, take out two bottles of Nascent Soul early stage elixirs." Chen Yuan said again.

Elder Gu frowned and said, "Nascent Soul stage elixirs are so precious. I only have four in my hand. I am willing to give them all to you. I can't take out more."

Chen Yuan showed an unhappy look on his face: "Four Nascent Soul Early Stage Pills are too little. Fellow Daoist Gu promised to compensate with treasures. Is he just teasing me?"

Elder Gu thought for a moment and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen needs to improve his cultivation. Although I have few elixirs, I still have four thousand-year-old spiritual herbs that can be used to refine a furnace of Chengyang Pills. I am willing to give them to you."

Chen Yuan shook his head: "It's still not enough."

Elder Gu's expression darkened. "Fellow Daoist Chen, I was simply negligent in my discipline. I have already died to apologize for my sin. Fellow Daoist, please do not be too aggressive."

Chen Yuan said sternly, "Elder Gu is wrong. Your disciple colluded with the demon king secretly, causing me to almost fall into the demon king's ambush and survive."

"I just want some medicinal herbs. Elder Gu is a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, famous in Renzhou, and wealthy. Why is he so fussy?" "Elder Gu is unwilling to hand over his magic weapon or medicinal herbs. He has no sincerity at all. Where does he stand in regard to Sect Master Yue's order?"

Elder Gu's expression became even more gloomy: "I only have these medicinal herbs and medicinal herbs in my hand. I wonder what else Fellow Daoist Chen wants?"

When everyone saw this, they all laughed in their hearts. It was obvious that Chen Yuan was asking for an exorbitant price.

Chen Yuan said seriously: "I still need to refine a high-level magic weapon. As long as Elder Gu takes out another top-grade spiritual material, no matter what kind it is, this matter will be solved."

A cold light flashed in Elder Gu's eyes. Top-grade spiritual materials were also rare treasures for a cultivator in the middle stage of the Nascent Soul, and he only had three kinds in total.

But he was in the wrong first, and he could not repeatedly refuse Chen Yuan's request in front of Master Yue and the elders. Otherwise, if something unexpected happened again, it would be too late to regret it.

"I have a ball of flowing fire in my hand, which I will give to Fellow Daoist Chen." Elder Gu took out a piece of transparent jade from the mustard seed ring, raised his hand and sent it flying towards Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan reached out to take it. Inside the transparent jade, there was a ball of orange flame burning quietly, emitting a rich fire-attributed spiritual energy.

Chen Yuan probed with his spiritual sense and felt a slight burning sensation. He nodded and put the transparent jade away.

This ball of flowing fire is a top-grade fire-attributed spiritual material. It can be used as the main material for refining high-level magic weapons, or as an auxiliary material for top-level magic weapons. It is as valuable as Chongxuan Peak, but not as valuable as Cangming Stone.

Elder Gu then took out a jade bottle and four jade boxes and handed them to Chen Yuan. After Chen Yuan checked them one by one, he put them into the mustard seed ring.

Sect Leader Yue smiled slightly and said, "Well, the misunderstanding has been cleared up, and Fellow Daoist Chen has brought back the body of the Frost Jade Lion. We have completed our sect's mission, and everyone is happy. This matter ends here."

Elder Qingliu looked at Elder Gu deeply, then bowed to Sect Leader Yue and said, "Now that the meeting is over, I will take my leave now."

Chen Yuan followed suit, clasped his fists and bowed, then walked out of the hall with Mr. Qingliu.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, please stay!" Elder Gu suddenly said.

Chen Yuan paused, turned around, and looked puzzled: "What else does Elder Gu want to say?"

Elder Gu stared at him and said word by word: "That forbidden sky formation belongs to our sect. Please return it to our sect."

Chen Yuan smiled slightly: "Elder Gu, you are joking. This forbidden sky formation was obtained by me from Kun Tong, so it should belong to me."

Elder Gu narrowed his eyes and was about to speak again, but Sect Master Yue interrupted, "Fellow Daoist Chen is right. Although Junior Brother Yan secretly took the forbidden sky formation from the treasure pavilion, he gave it to Kun Tong, and it has nothing to do with our sect anymore. Now that it is in the hands of Fellow Daoist Chen, how can we ask for it from him?"

Daoist Chen clasped his fists and bowed: "Master Yue is fair in his dealings. I admire you."

After saying that, he turned and left, and Elder Gu did not try to stop him.

Mr. Chengli and Xinzhaisanren also said goodbye and left. Other Yuanying elders left one after another. Finally, only Sect Leader Yue, Elder Gu and Yang Liqian were left in the hall.

Sect Leader Yue said, "Elder Gu, please follow me. I have something to discuss with you."

Yang Liqian understood and bowed: "Yang will take his leave first."

The three of them walked out of the hall together. Yang Liqian flew into the sky, while Elder Gu followed Sect Master Yue to the top of Haoran Peak and descended into the distance.

The two walked into the hall where Master Yue usually practiced and sat down on the cushion. Elder Gu clasped his fists and bowed: "Thank you, Master, for helping me out."

Sect Leader Yue frowned and said, "Why do you and Elder Qingliu have a grudge? Chen Yuan is just a friend of his, why do you want to kill him?"

Elder Gu was silent for a while, then said, "Please forgive me, Master. This matter involves a secret, so I cannot tell you."

Sect Leader Yue stared at Elder Gu and said slowly, "No matter what grudge you have with Elder Qingliu, elders from the same sect must not kill each other, otherwise I will never let you off easily."

Elder Gu hesitated for a moment and said, "I will obey the orders of the Sect Master." (End of this chapter)