Wait a minute, where is my master?

Jiang Xiulan heard the young Taoist's question and set down the chopsticks in her hand, pondering for a moment before speaking.

"Young Taoist, I don't know much about the old friend of Senior Tianxing either. As a rule, I don't ask about the identity of the guests if the host who hires me to cook does not introduce them."

So, all I know is that the person is a fair-faced young man who had a very good relationship with your master, yet his strength is less than your master's.

The meal they had was at the Xuanxu Temple, where the man spoke with Senior Tianxing as if they were very familiar with each other.

They seemed to have known each other for a long time."

Upon hearing Jiang Xiulan's words, Jin Xu knew he might have to meet the man to learn more about his master's old friend, but he still had some doubts.

"Brother Jiang, since you do not know the details of this person, how did you know his strength was less than my master's?"

"Oh, at the dining table that day, the two started fighting over the last Jade Sunflower Shrimp. The fair-faced scholar was pinned down by Senior Tianxing and got a beating before he finally handed over the last shrimp to your master,"

Chef Jiang touched the band on his forehead, speaking with a hint of reminiscence.

"Master really is..."

The young Taoist was expressionless, and after a long thought, couldn't find the right adjective.

Seeing Jin Xu fall silent, Jiang Xiulan cheerfully explained further, "Young Taoist, you don't need to worry. Although the old friend was beaten, the two of them still acted as normal afterward. Such a relationship could only exist between the closest of brothers."

The young Taoist silently nodded, thinking that this made sense.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

The rice dishes brought by Jiang Xiulan were finished by the four people, and two women with trays and dishes walked out of the room to help take them to the kitchen.

Having practiced the Concealing Skill all night, Jin Xu decided to catch up on some more sleep to face his master's old friend tomorrow with a fresher appearance.

...

Early next morning.

Qingmu Academy, Gentleman Building, third floor.

The Old Dean was sitting upright on a bamboo bed, looking solemn as he slowly opened his eyes.

When he first opened them, they were dull and clouded, but then a burst of clarity emerged, making his eyes exceptionally bright.

This sudden change was astonishing.

If one were to look only at his eyes at this moment, they would likely assume the owner of these eyes was a vibrant young man, not an elder who had lived for thousands of years.

However, just moments later, a faint golden color, barely visible to the naked eye, flashed within his eyes.

The Old Dean suddenly started coughing violently, his eyes returning to their initially clouded state.

"Cough, cough... this little Taoist's Golden Thunderbolt is really troublesome,"

muttered the Old Dean of Qingmu Academy under his breath.

Since accidentally being grazed by Jin Xu, aside from waiting for the Qingmu Secret Realm to open to acquire Wood Spirit Liquid for healing,

he had also been trying hard to erode the invasive Golden Thunderbolt.

However, several months had passed with virtually no progress; the Golden Thunderbolt, containing powerful and aggressive Spiritual Power, behaved within his body much like the Big Bad Wolf stepping into Little Red Riding Hood's company—progressing unhindered and unrestrained.

No matter what methods the Old Dean used, he couldn't diminish the thunderbolt in the slightest, nor could he even slightly control its direction.

All he could do was consume a large amount of Healing Pills and Spiritual Power daily to repair the meridians damaged by the Golden Thunderbolt.

With such ongoing troubles, even the Old Dean of Qingmu Academy began to doubt whether the Wood Spirit Liquid that his disciples might successfully retrieve from the Secret Realm would truly be able to dispel this Golden Thunderbolt.

"I wonder where that old Taoist Tianxing has gone, and who exactly is this so-called disciple of his?"

The Old Dean muttered to himself as he rose from the bamboo couch and walked slowly downstairs.

"Teacher, your disciple seeks an audience with you."

A clear voice rang out.

Outside Gentleman Building, Dean Qingyun had arrived at the place without anyone noticing when.

"Come in."

The Old Dean stood on the stairs and slowly uttered a sentence before continuing down to the first floor.

Although his words were not loud, they miraculously reached Qingyun's ears. With his teacher's permission, the Dean crossed the threshold and stepped into the Gentleman Building.

"Teacher."

Qingyun first performed a disciple's salute before respectfully approaching the Old Dean, who had already seated himself on a bamboo stool.

"Cough cough... cough cough, speak. what is it?"

The Old Dean took out a jade bottle and poured some Healing Pills into his mouth like spilling beans, which somewhat eased his coughing, though his complexion still looked rather unwell.

"Teacher, to prevent the Demon Clan and Evil Cultivators from causing trouble during the opening of the Qingmu Secret Realm, the academy has dispatched many patrolling disciples, and recently their casualty situation has been somewhat strange."

"What happened? Have there been many disciple casualties?"

Upon hearing Qingyun's words, the already troubled face of the Old Dean instantly turned grimmer as he asked.

"The casualty situation is still within a controllable range.

The strange part is, in some areas, disciples patrolled for several days and didn't encounter a single member of the Demon Clan or Evil Cultivators, while other areas are very dangerous, and we've already lost two or three patrol teams. I spoke with Suihan Sanyou yesterday, who is in charge of overseeing the patrol operations, and we both agree that the Demon Clan and Evil Cultivators seem to be gathering with a plan and organization, as if they are plotting something major.

Therefore, shouldn't we inform the other Immortal Sects about this situation?

First, to prevent them from encountering danger within Qing State territory, and second, to have them exert some effort to help us eliminate the Evil Cultivators and Demon Clan in the region."

The Old Dean, hearing that his disciple had already made a decision, nodded and said in a deep voice, "You have a point. Inform the various forces of the Immortal Sects within Qingmu City that Qingmu Academy will be responsible for the security of everyone within the city, but once they leave the city, I ask my fellow Cultivation peers to be extra cautious.

As for asking for their help, heh, cough cough... cough, they are all the type to not act without profit; they won't risk fighting off the demons unless there's a reward big enough, like the mysterious strong individual from Gusu City, whom we could also imitate by offering a high price if I personally guarantee it."

Qingyun pondered the Old Dean's words and realized the rationale behind them.

After all, Qingmu Academy is the foundational stake in Qing State. Others would fiercely help eliminate demons, earning a good reputation at most, but the academy would undoubtedly reap the biggest benefits in the end.

"Teacher, about our arrangements to dispatch disciples on patrol..."

Qingyun hesitated, about to speak further.

"First, arrange for someone to see exactly what these gathering demons are up to, and then deploy all available instructors to patrol those key areas, at least three people per group.

Also, remind the masters within the academy to stop sealing themselves away and to remain on standby. And for the leaders of the Three Great Immortal Sects and Kunlun Immortal Palace, send someone to inform them as well. I always have a feeling that this Secret Realm opening is not going to be peaceful."

With the Old Dean's cultivation level, he already had the sensitivity to sense good and avoid misfortune.

"But Teacher, doing so will leave our academy exposed internally, in case the Demon Sect or someone else plans to take advantage of it."

In fact, Qingyun had considered all these arrangements, but such arrangement could easily lead to drawing the tiger away from the mountain, leaving them vulnerable to invasions.

This was also why Qingyun, seeing the Old Dean still injured, dared not make a decision lightly and instead came to consult his teacher.

"No need to worry. Although I am injured, I still have the strength to fight. On the day the Secret Realm opens, I myself will take charge of securing the academy," the Old Dean declared.

Upon hearing his teacher speak so, Qingyun said no more.

After agreeing, he suddenly added, "Teacher, your disciple has another matter to report."