220: Further to Haoyang Sect

"By the way, I sent messages to Senior Brother Song and the others, but why haven't they replied?"

Su Ling set down the spiritual fruit in his hand and asked casually.

Upon hearing this, the smile on Lu Tao's Face faded slightly as he gave a soft sigh. "The cleanup at the Jinhun Realm is nearing its end, and the Seven Sects have already finished dividing the resources. Our Bitao Sect was allocated the 'Soul Prison Cage' plane, and we currently need a large number of people to maintain order there... Senior Brother Song and the others were summoned by the Sect thirty years ago to be stationed there."

"Soul Prison Cage..."

Su Ling's heart stirred slightly. On the way to the Yunlan Realm, Clear Ripple Immortal Venerable had mentioned the situation of several subsidiary planes of the Jinhun Realm to him.

That Void-Rending Monarch Zera, who had perished by self-detonation, came from exactly that realm.

He looked up at Lu Tao with a hint of confusion. "Then why didn't you go?"

"I wanted to go! But Revered Master wouldn't let me!"

Lu Tao suddenly seemed to have all his strength drained as he slumped onto the jade table, wailing feebly, "You have no idea what I've been through these past decades... I soaked in the Hundred Refinements Spring twice and was locked in the Fentian Sect's volcano for twenty years straight! Your brother here has suffered greatly; it's bitter, truly too bitter..."

A trace of sympathy flashed in Su Ling's eyes, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

He remembered his Revered Master once commenting that the Immortal Golden Body Art Lu Tao cultivated was considered one of the strongest Body Refining methods in the Canglang Plane.

It emphasized perseverance and internal sharpness, being only half a step inferior to the Wuji Sect's foundational Cultivation Technique, the Imperial Dragon Elephant Art.

However, the requirements for cultivating this technique were extremely harsh. Not only did one need a Gold Spiritual Root, but they also had to endure hardships beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Tempering the body in the Hundred Refinements Spring and refining it in volcanic lava were all for the sake of polishing his physique to better align with that Taibai Void-Piercing Sword Dao.

There were dozens of people in the entire Bitao Sect cultivating this art, but other than True Lord Lu Feng, only Lu Tao had been able to integrate it thoroughly with the Sword Dao.

No wonder True Lord Lu Feng had been willing to give up on Liu Muyao back then just to take Lu Tao as a Personal Disciple.

"So, you've only just come out of seclusion?" Su Ling asked.

"I just broke through to the Late Nascent Soul Stage a year ago. Revered Master finally showed some mercy and let me out to catch my breath..."

Su Ling nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the Cold Jade Ring on his finger. A thought suddenly occurred to him. "In that case... would you be willing to accompany me to the Haoyang Sect?"

"Haoyang Sect?"

Lu Tao was stunned for a moment before he suddenly jumped up, grabbed Su Ling, and started walking out. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! If you go talk to my Revered Master, he'll definitely let us go!"

He didn't care why they were going to the Haoyang Sect; as long as he could temporarily escape his Revered Master's 'devilish clutches,' even just going out for some air was good.

With Su Ling, the Personal Disciple of Grandmaster Clear Ripple, putting in a good word, Revered Master would surely give him some Face.

"Fine, fine, fine, I'll go speak to him. Don't pull me!"

Su Ling was caught between laughter and tears as he was dragged all the way to the entrance of True Lord Lu Feng's Immortal Cave.

But no matter how Lu Tao shouted, the Immortal Cave's Formation remained tightly closed, with no response.

Left with no choice, Su Ling had to send out a transmission jade talisman, briefly explaining the situation.

In the past, through a chance encounter, he had obtained the Azure Heaven Thunder Treasure Talisman and had promised to return Pei Jianbai's remains to the Haoyang Sect.

He had gone once before and was nearly set up and killed by Liao Qinglin, a Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Haoyang Sect's External Affairs Hall.

But his status was different now; as a Direct Disciple of a Golden Immortal, Su Ling could go straight to the Haoyang Sect's mountain gate.

He no longer needed to go through others to pass messages or obtain permission.

Moreover, when he arrived, the Haoyang Sect would likely have to host him with great hospitality.

Therefore, Su Ling had this thought and prepared to head to the Haoyang Sect once more to settle this Karma.

After a short while, a streak of blazing white Sword Qi flew out from Sky-Sustaining Peak and hovered before the two of them.

As the sword light shifted, it condensed into a word written with powerful strokes—[Granted].

"Great! Revered Master agreed!"

Lu Tao immediately became jubilant, his previous listlessness swept away. He impatiently summoned the taixu boat and pulled Su Ling into it.

"Let's go, let's go! Setting off now!"

The flying boat turned into a streak of light, suddenly piercing through the clouds and heading straight for the Sect's transmission hall... Before leaving, Su Ling specifically sent a message to his Revered Master to inform her of his destination.

Only then did he step into the transmission Formation under Lu Tao's impatient gaze.

Amidst the shifting starlight, the two of them instantly turned into streaks of light shooting into the sky.

With Grandmaster Clear Ripple Immortal Venerable, who was skilled in the Law of Space, overseeing the Bitao Sect, the power of the Sect's transmission Formation was far greater than those in imperial cities.

When the two reappeared, they had already arrived within the borders of the Zhengyang Imperial City on Jinyang Island.

Originally, Lu Tao wanted to take this opportunity to have some fun and didn't want to come directly to Jinyang Island.

But Su Ling's thought was to return the remains first so he could go enjoy himself without any lingering concerns.

Therefore, they had transmitted directly here.

"Let's go, let's go, let's settle your business first."

As soon as they left the transmission array, Lu Tao threw out the taixu boat and impatiently activated it.

During the years Su Ling was away, he had basically been soaking in the Hundred Refinements Spring and the volcanic lava pools.

After finally resting for a year, he had still been restricted from going out by True Lord Lu Feng.

Now that he was able to leave the mountain, it was time to let loose; he was no longer willing to delay his playtime.

Su Ling understood; after all, this kid was fairly familiar with the location of the Haoyang Sect's mountain gate, so he let him take the lead.

As a low-grade spirit tool, the taixu boat was not restricted by the imperial city's flight prohibition Formations at all.

Furthermore, Lu Tao was the Direct Disciple of a True Immortal, and his medallion held significant authority throughout the Canglang Plane.

The taixu boat soared into the sky, drawing exclamations from the Cultivators within the imperial city.

The speed of the Low Grade flying Spiritual Artifact was extremely fast, and in just an hour, they arrived at a majestic mountain range.

Amidst the swirling white clouds, a flaming wheel resembling a brilliant sun stood tall.

It was precisely the entrance to the Haoyang Sect's mountain gate.

Upon arriving here, Lu Tao also restrained himself quite a bit.

He controlled the taixu boat to land slowly on the massive plaza in front of the entrance.

"I wonder which Fellow Daoists have graced our humble Sect with your presence? Please forgive our lack of a proper welcome!"

Before the two of them could even step off the flying boat, three Haoyang Sect duty Disciples dressed in Haoyang Righteous Qi Robes stepped forward to inquire.

Su Ling stepped out of the boat and landed before the three, saying calmly, "I am Su Ling, a Disciple of Bitao, and this is Senior Brother Lu Tao. We have come only to return the remains of your Sect's Senior Brother Pei Jianbai."

Lu Tao put away the taixu boat and stood beside Su Ling with his hands behind his back, nodding slightly.

This trip was a formal visit to the mountain, and every word and action needed to display the Sect's prestige.

It was not as casual as when they were at their own Sect.

Although he was somewhat boisterous, he still had this level of awareness.

"Senior Brother Pei Jianbai?"

The three Haoyang Sect Disciples looked at each other and frowned slightly.

It was true they were all Haoyang Sect Disciples, but they didn't know everyone.

Furthermore, Pei Jianbai had perished several centuries ago.

They probably hadn't even entered the Sect back then!

"Please wait a moment, Senior Brothers, while I send a message to ask the Deacon Senior Brother, and then I will invite you inside."

The one in the middle cupped his hands and spoke in a gentle tone.

Regardless of the two's identities, since they claimed to be returning the remains of a Sect Senior Brother...

For this alone, they had to be shown respect.

"No rush, please proceed, Junior Brother."

Su Ling said with a smile, gesturing with his hand.

Only then did that Disciple walk to the side and quickly release a transmission jade talisman.