Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Qinyuan Sect

This giant flying boat was massive, specially designed by the family for transporting cultivators over long distances during expeditions and reclaiming territories.

The entire flying boat was divided into two sections. The outermost part housed family cultivators tasked with protecting everyone’s safety.

The inner area served as a gathering space for the group.

Zhou Luo glanced around casually and estimated that over twenty family youths were heading to the Qinyuan Sect this time.

Most sat cross-legged on the deck with eyes closed, conserving their energy.

Only a handful chatted idly.

The spiritual mine wasn’t particularly far from the Qinyuan Sect, requiring merely a few hours to reach.

Zhou Luo initially intended to sit down and cultivate.

Just then, a young man in a green robe approached with a smile. "Zhou Luo, I’m Lin Yueheng. A formation master."

Hearing he was a formation master, Zhou Luo instantly recognized him as aligned with the Great Elder’s faction.

Clearly, this was an overture of goodwill.

Zhou Luo responded politely, "Zhou Luo."

"I know you. Didn’t expect you’d secure first place in the Spiritual Pill Conference’s written examination," Lin Yueheng remarked, his gaze gentle.

"Just a fluke," Zhou Luo replied with a faint smile.

"Luck is part of one’s strength," Lin Yueheng stated as he drew a letter from his robe. "The Great Elder asked me to deliver this."

Seeing the golden envelope, Zhou Luo’s pupils contracted. He glanced sideways.

Not far away, Lin Xin was watching him—and not just her. Many others stared too.

Yet Lin Yueheng kept smiling, making no effort to conceal the exchange.

Resigned inwardly, Zhou Luo had no choice but to accept the golden envelope.

"The Great Elder said he awaits your return," Lin Yueheng concluded before retreating.

Clutching the golden envelope, Zhou Luo felt utterly exasperated.

Lin Yueheng’s actions had blatantly painted a target on his back—especially with this scorching-hot letter in hand. He nearly wished to hurl it away instantly.

Alas, under everyone’s watchful eyes, acceptance was his only option.

Resigned, Zhou Luo tore open the envelope to see what the Great Elder had written.

The letter’s contents appeared ordinary—merely a senior’s concern and encouragement for a junior, along with assurances not to worry about his wife and children.

Yet these routine phrases carried layered implications to Zhou Luo’s ears.

For example: "Jin Xuan manages Zhou Garden exceptionally well."

This not only emphasized Lin Jin Xuan’s status as mistress but also reminded Zhou Luo which side he belonged to.

It further mentioned how the family’s reduced punishment resulted solely from the Great Elder’s intervention, preventing Zhou Garden’s confiscation.

Each point unmistakably signaled the choice Zhou Luo ought to make.

The Great Elder’s reminders left him deeply unsettled.

Originally, Zhou Luo thought that person looked benevolent and kind, probably easy to get along with. But after the spiritual mine incident, he discovered that person was also deeply scheming.

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

After all, someone who dared to oppose the main family couldn’t possibly be a common man, could they?

Things hadn’t yet reached the point where he had to side with the Great Elder.

Perhaps, this time when he went to Qinyuan Sect, if he could become a disciple of some immortal, it would be like leaping over the dragon gate—he wouldn’t have to worry about these troubles anymore.

Zhou Luo had always remembered the Immortal Sect information Wang Yu Wei mentioned.

This had become his greatest motivation for seeking the Immortal Sect this journey.

After putting away the letter, Zhou Luo sat cross-legged. Just then, Lin Xin suddenly sat down nearby.

Zhou Luo’s spirits stirred, thinking she might ask about the letter.

But Lin Xin spoke in a low voice instead, "Lin Yueheng is sinister and cunning, not someone worth befriending deeply."

Faced with this warning, Zhou Luo was startled.

He didn’t know what the Third Young Lady truly meant by this.

Was it a genuine good-willed advice, or an attempt to sow discord?

Sadly, after uttering those words, she closed her beautiful eyes.

Zhou Luo glanced at her flawless face sideways, thinking that given her personality, she likely disdained scheming and discord.

So it must have been a reminder.

But why?

Zhou Luo noticed that since returning from the Spiritual Pill Conference this time, though Lin Xin remained aloof and proud, her tone towards him had grown more approachable, and she hadn’t kept a stony face constantly.

Could something else have happened at the Spiritual Pill Conference?

Zhou Luo only knew this Spiritual Pill Conference was held at the Wang Family, and Lin Zhi Shou and Lin Xin had taken nearly a month to return to the clan.

Presumably, they must have encountered some unknown trouble along the way.

Zhou Luo looked toward Lin Zhi Shou ahead, wanting to ask him but deciding it was unnecessary. So he closed his eyes to rest and relax his mind.

…

Time drifted away quietly, and the giant flying boat of the Lin Family finally entered the territory of Qinyuan Sect.

This was Zhou Luo’s second visit here.

On his first trip before, he had been inexperienced and hadn’t truly witnessed the full scale of the Immortal Sect.

Now, gazing down from high above, he realized how extraordinary this Immortal Sect was.

Qinyuan Sect stood amidst an unending range of mountains.

Within the vast, boundless expanse of mountains, numerous peaks rose tall.

On every peak lived countless Immortal Sect disciples.

Right at the center stood a colossal peak that loomed like a pillar supporting the sky, enveloped in swirling mist and glowing with a spiritual light.

The spiritual light flickered, faintly echoing with celestial music, while indistinct blurry buildings could be seen.

Zhou Luo stood on the flying boat, gazing deep into the distance, seeing only sparkling dots of radiance in the air that reflected off the mist and clouds, forming a majestic panorama.

These glowing spots intertwined with the clouds and mist like an enormous painting wrapped around the mountain summits, imposing and awe-inspiring.

This was the main peak of Qinyuan Sect.

But given their status, they could only go to a peak to the side.

It was the location of the Outer Sect of Qinyuan Sect, where Zhou Luo had once taken the sect entry test.

The flying boat gradually descended into that majestic mountain belt, and the rich spiritual energy stirred the hearts of those aboard, making them wear expressions of curiosity and excitement.

Whoosh—

Finally, the flying boat landed before a massive sect gate.

The gate was a giant stone door carved with various immortal birds and exotic beasts, towering tens of meters in height and dozens in width.

Each intricate detail on the door seemed lifelike, as if those immortal birds and exotic creatures would break free and soar from it.

At the top of the stone door, three large characters "Qinyuan Sect" were carved.

Legend had it those words were inscribed by a Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Immortal Sect—even Qi Refinement cultivators dared not stare directly, so none lifted their head.

Lin Zhi Shou led the group off the flying boat and approached the stone gate with humble reverence in his expression.

Ahead, several outer disciples decked in garb of Qinyuan Sect watched them with arrogant looks.

One young man strolled up, head raised with pride, and demanded haughtily, "Which family do you belong to?"

"We are from the Lin Family," answered Lin Zhi Shou deferentially.

"Do you have evidence?" the other pressed further.

Lin Zhi Shou produced a token granted by Qinyuan Sect and offered it.

After a cursory glance, he declared, "Not sufficient."

Lin Zhi Shou quickly caught the hint and took a storage bag from his robe.

Spotting that storage bag, his expression softened a bit. "Since you’re members of the Lin Family, head on through."