102: Chapter 102

"Thank you for your trouble." Ling Hao tilted his head slightly and spoke gently to the young female Disciple pouring tea for him.

The Disciple was flattered and quickly bowed: "It is this Disciple's honor to serve tea to the Sect Master; I dare not call it a burden!"

Ling Hao's gaze swept over the other young Disciples standing in the hall, and he smiled encouragingly: "You may all withdraw. Cultivate diligently and reach Foundation Establishment soon. The future of the Sect needs pillars like you."

After his encouragement, the Disciples bowed and withdrew, leaving only Ling Hao and the few Sect Masters who had come to pay a visit in the hall.

In the guest seats below, Jing Hong, the Sect Leader of Liuyun Temple, sat in the primary position, followed by the Sect Master of the Yongyue Sect, the Sect Leader of the Hundred Refinements Gate, the Valley Master of Lingxi Valley, and other leaders of third-grade Sects.

Seeing Ling Hao's gaze, Jing Hong was the first to cup his hands, his face full of smiles: "True Venerable Yueying's cultivation is profound, and his might shakes the Qing State. It is even more rare that you are so considerate and caring toward your Disciples; you are truly a role model for us all! Everyone at Liuyun Temple is deeply impressed and admires you!"

His words both praised the unfathomable depth of his cultivation and lauded his heart for cherishing the younger generation.

The Sect Master of the Yongyue Sect was a beautiful woman with lingering charm. Her eyes shifted, and she smiled sweetly: "True Venerable's bearing is magnificent. Every word and action toward your Disciples just now displayed the demeanor of an elder. It is truly a great fortune for the Sect to have such a wise leader!"

The Sect Leader of the Hundred Refinements Gate had a rough and bold personality, and he chimed in with a booming voice: "Exactly! True Venerable is benevolent and kind. With you as their leader, the Disciples have a boundless future!"

Ling Hao waved his hand casually and said indifferently: "You Sect Masters are too kind. Enough with the pleasantries; let us get down to business."

Upon hearing this, Jing Hong immediately stood up and respectfully presented two jade boxes. He opened the first jade box, which contained a scroll suffused with Spiritual Qi.

Jing Hong unfurled it, and it was an extremely detailed and comprehensive map of the entire Qing State!

It not only clearly marked the major Sect powers of the Qing State, but also meticulously labeled the precious lands previously promised as offerings—such as the Yongyue Sect's Luoyu Spirit Mountain, the Hundred Refinements Gate's Black Iron Ore Vein, and the Lingxi Valley's Origin Qi Lake—as well as the many known spirit mines, Spiritual Veins, and rare resource points within the Qing State!

Ling Hao's gaze swept over the map, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. He had been somewhat vague about the distribution of powers in the Qing State, and this map was like timely rain, allowing him to understand the situation instantly.

Upon returning, he could arrange for Disciples to set up erosion suppression monuments and towers of laws in these precious lands!

"You have been thoughtful." Ling Hao nodded in approval.

Jing Hong opened the second jade box, took out a warm, smooth Jade Slip, and presented it with both hands: "True Venerable Yueying, this contains detailed internal maps of all the major precious lands. It thoroughly records the trends of the ore veins, the growth areas of Spirit Medicine, the locations of rare Materials, and everything else. This way, after your Sect's Disciples take over these lands, exploring and collecting resources will surely be twice as effective with half the effort."

Ling Hao took the Jade Slip, his heart clear. Good heavens, these old foxes were not only gifting land and resources, but even packaging "exploration guides" as well? This kind of "after-sales service" would definitely deserve a five-star review in his previous life!

Seeing that Ling Hao was in a good mood, Jing Hong seized the opportunity to step forward, a solemn expression on his face: "True Venerable Yueying, there is one more matter."

He said in a deep voice: "Recently, erosion qi winds have broken out frequently within the Qing State. Their intensity and scope are truly rare in a century!"

"Now, the Erosion Tide is surging and has become a spreading threat. In particular, the former territories of the Tianhuo and Diyin Sects, which were destroyed by the True Venerable, are the sources of the gushing erosion qi! When those two Sects existed, they only cared about themselves and turned a blind eye to the rampaging Erosion Tide."

"Now that they have been destroyed, there is no longer any power to suppress it, and the Erosion Tide has begun to spread throughout the entire Qing State, causing countless living beings to suffer!"

Jing Hong's tone was heavy, laced with pleading: "The rampaging Erosion Tide cannot be stopped by any single Sect or faction. We implore the Moonshadow Sect to act righteously, suppress the Erosion Tide, and return a clear and bright world to the Qing State!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Hao's brows locked tightly, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes: "The Erosion Tide is surging to this extent... could it be that fourth-stage or even fifth-stage Erosion Beasts and Erosion Demons have been born?!"

Yu Lingshuang had also spoken to Ling Hao about the matter of the Erosion Tide. Thanks to the existence of the erosion suppression monument, there was almost no Erosion Tide within three thousand li of the Moonshadow Sect.

Ling Hao had originally intended to wait until he promoted to a fourth-grade Sect before dealing with it. However, while the promotion mission was complete, the System was currently undergoing an update—

Jing Hong quickly bowed to explain: "Reporting to True Venerable, no fourth or fifth-stage Erosion Demons have been discovered yet. But in the Golden Sands Land within the former Tianhuo Sect's territory, over thirty third-stage Erosion Beasts have gathered! They are driving the Erosion Tide, sweeping eastward! All the Sects east of the Qing River have united to resist, yet they are still retreating step by step, suffering heavy casualties; we are truly powerless to resist..."

His tone was bitter; the sharp edge of the Erosion Tide was pointed directly at the eastern region where his Liuyun Temple was located!

Ling Hao's gaze narrowed slightly; the Moonshadow Sect definitely could not stand idly by regarding the matter of the Erosion Tide.

Publicly, sitting idly by would surely chill the hearts of the affiliated Sects and shake the Moonshadow Sect's prestige; privately, the former territories of the Tianhuo and Diyin Sects were rich in resources, and did he not still want those precious lands?

Although he hadn't yet promoted to a fourth-grade Sect, the Erosion Tide hadn't produced fourth-stage Erosion Beasts either. It just so happened that Xiao He and the others had all broken through to the Golden Core Stage, so he would let them go out and temper themselves first.

"I will dispatch my eldest Disciple, Chi Wanhe, second Disciple, Qin Zhaoxue, and third Disciple, Du Yuqing, to lead fifteen hundred inner Sect elite Disciples to help you wipe out the Erosion Tide!"

"This... the True Venerable's three high Disciples seem..."

Someone heard that three female Disciples were leading the army and instinctively wanted to question their cultivation, as they had only been at Foundation Establishment during the battle of Tianhuo.

The Sect Master of the Yongyue Sect reminded them in a low voice: "Silence! The True Venerable's three personal Disciples have all ascended to the Golden Core realm! Mere third-stage Erosion Beasts are nothing more than clay chickens and pottery dogs to them!"

She had vaguely heard about that shocking Five-Nine Minor Heavenly Tribulation.

Ling Hao did not pay attention to that small interlude: "If fourth or even fifth-stage beasts truly appear in the Erosion Tide, I will naturally take action myself!"

Upon hearing this, Jing Hong was overjoyed!

He knew full well the terror of Ling Hao's three personal Disciples.

They could sweep across their peers when at Foundation Establishment, and now that they had achieved Golden Core and had even withstood the Five-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, their strength was unfathomable! Coupled with those fifteen hundred elite Foundation Establishment Disciples of the Moonshadow Sect who had left such a deep impression on him with their rainbow-like Aura...

This battle was secured!

Moreover, there was also the final promise of Ling Hao, the pillar of stability!

"Thank you for your great kindness, True Venerable!" Jing Hong bowed in gratitude, his face then showing a bit of hesitation as he spoke cautiously: "True Venerable... we... still have one more request."

He paused, then braced himself to say: "I wonder... if it might be possible to obtain some of your Sect's 'Sheng Sheng Creation River water'? We are willing to exchange corresponding valuable Spirit Materials and resources for it!"

As the Disciples of the Moonshadow Sect descended the mountain to gain experience, the miraculous "erosion-cleansing" effect of the Sheng Sheng Creation River water had long since spread.

To outside Cultivators, this water could be called a supreme treasure for suppressing the backlash of erosion qi in their bodies and assisting in cultivation!

Countless people coveted it, but could not obtain it. This river water rarely left the Moonshadow Sect's mountain gate, and the Disciples were even more impervious to persuasion.

"Requesting river water?" Ling Hao raised an eyebrow slightly. The Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring was located on Xuanyin Peak, and the river water was actually formed by the overflow of the spirit spring mixing with the mountain streams.

The Disciples within the Sect basically used it for bathing and cleansing their bodies; if they wanted to drink it, they simply went to fetch water directly from the spring eye.

The river water flowed day and night, inexhaustible, so trading it for some resources was fine.

Looking at Jing Hong and the others, who were nervous and apprehensive, almost holding their breath, Ling Hao nodded indifferently: "Granted."

"Thank you for your generous gift, True Venerable!!" The few Sect Masters were instantly overjoyed and bowed repeatedly. To them, this Sheng Sheng Creation River water was worth even more than this request for aid!

Jing Hong and his party left, satisfied and overjoyed.

Ling Hao stepped out of the Guest Welcoming Hall and went straight to the Sect Main Hall on Tianyuan Peak.

"My Vice Sect Master Yu..."

However, not long after he entered... "Bang!" The hall doors were suddenly pushed open by a gentle force, and Ling Hao's figure stumbled out, looking somewhat "disheveled."

From inside the hall came Yu Lingshuang's clear rebuke, suppressing shame and annoyance: "You... you person! In broad daylight, you have no decorum! Get out!"

Ling Hao stood outside the hall, rubbed his nose, and clicked his tongue: "Sigh... you really can't take a joke..."

Just as he turned around, a bright yellow silhouette landed lightly, smiling beautifully; it was Huang Yutong.

"Sect Master~" Her voice was sweet and soft, "Could you spare a moment to come and sit in Huang Yutong's courtyard?"

She blinked, her smile deepening: "Oh right, since the last time we parted, Sister Qu Qingzhu and Sister Li Sumei... have been talking about you for a long time, Sect Master."

PS: Qu Qingzhu and Li Sumei are two of the three young women, including Huang Yutong, whom Ling Hao recruited in Jiuling City earlier.