190: Chapter 190 A Tribulation of a Loose Immortal

Tianyuan Floating Island, the courtyard below Haoran Tower. The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and clear dew still clung to the plants.

Ling Hao stood before a stone table. With a light tap of his fingertip, a 3D holographic map slowly unfolded before him. Scattered across the map were dozens of striking black marks, each black dot representing a spatial rift.

This was marked by Ling Hao based on information regarding spatial rifts collected by the Sect.

The southeast of Cangwu was vast, with numerous large and small cultivation states, and Qing State happened to be right in the center. Looking out, almost all surrounding states were infested with black dots, while only the territory of Qing State remained clear.

And one hundred thousand miles to the southeast, on the territory of Nanzhao Kingdom, a thick, ink-deep rift pierced through one-third of the country, sinister and striking.

That was where the Southeast Main Rift was located!

Those black dots were densely clustered in the east, southeast, and south directions of Qing State. Although there were scattered black dots in the west and north, they were much sparser.

This was the basis for Ling Hao's deployment of troops in the Sect Main Hall that day.

Six Disciples were to lead the attack on the three directions with the most pressure, while Hua Youyou and the others were responsible for clearing the scattered threats in the "rear"—if one considered the location of Qing State as the front line.

"What, worried about your few little Disciples?"

A voice, cold yet carrying a lazy hoarseness, came from behind him.

Ling Hao turned his head.

The carved wooden door of the side chamber was half-open, and a woman stood leaning against it.

Her long hair was unbound, cascading down like a waterfall, with a few strands sticking to her sweat-dampened neck. The cinnabar tear mole at the corner of her left eye made her look exceptionally enchanting.

A thin, ice-blue gauze dress was draped loosely over her body, one shoulder strap having slipped, revealing a large expanse of fragrant shoulders that put frost and snow to shame, along with alluring curves that were vaguely visible.

The hem of her skirt was messily wrapped around her plump waist, and those long, jade-like legs were clad only in tattered black silk stockings.

Threads connected the gaps everywhere, and one exquisite jade foot was almost completely exposed, its pearl-round, jade-moist toes painted with nail polish, shining with an alluring luster in the morning light.

Ling Hao's lips curled slightly, his gaze lingering on the messy scenery for a moment: "Coming out while disheveled?"

Yu Lingshuang cast a sidelong glance at him, carrying a trace of coquettish reproach: "What is there to fear? On this Tianyuan Floating Island, which Disciple has not yet witnessed the 'grace' of the Sect Master?"

"I am just worried that Deputy Sect Master Yu will lose her dignity in front of the Disciples," Ling Hao teased.

"Hmph," Yu Lingshuang snorted softly and swayed as she walked into the side chamber, leaving Ling Hao with a beautiful, lingering back view. "Last night was truly exhausting; I really don't know where you get so many tricks..."

Through the open door, the messy bed inside was vaguely visible, along with a pink rosy cloud dress...

Beside the stone table, Ling Hao and Yu Lingshuang sat opposite each other, their clothes now neat and tidy.

Both of their gazes fell upon the projected map.

"Counting the time, seven days have passed..."

Ling Hao's fingertip traced the southeast line. "Xiao He and Yingying should have reached the Jin State area by now. Although the spatial rift here is small, the Devilish Qi has been entrenched for a long time, so it will take some effort to clear."

Yu Lingshuang pointed to the east: "That rift on the border of Yan State is not far from the Southeast Main Rift. Qin Zhaoxue and Du Yuqing need to guard against a counterattack from the Demon Army. However, with their current Soul Transformation combat power boosted by the Sect domain, and in coordination with the sea-covering ship, there should be no major issues."

"In the direction of Black Water Marsh..." Ling Hao's gaze fell on the area marked with dense Devilish Qi in the south. "Xiao Wei is cautious, and Xiao Changning is meticulous. Having them watch the new rift to curb the spread of Devilish Qi is the most secure approach."

Yu Lingshuang nodded: "Hua Youyou and the others are clearing the scattered rifts in the west and north, which has the least pressure. If there are any disturbances in other directions, they can also provide support at any time."

After a review, there were no problems.

Yu Lingshuang's gaze fell on a spot on the map, and her eyes looked at Ling Hao: "Sect Master, if... if Senior Sister and the others move over, could they be temporarily settled at Wangyue Mountain?"

She pointed to a mountain range near the Moonshadow Sect in the projection. "This place is neither too far nor too close to the Sect, and there are no other Sect forces there."

"Naturally, that is fine." Ling Hao readily agreed and added, "You can use the Sect's Grand Array to channel thirty percent of the Spiritual Vein branches to nourish the earth Qi of Wangyue Mountain. If there is an urgent need, you may also call upon some items from the Sect's resource vault, such as the Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring, to help them in an emergency."

He looked at Yu Lingshuang, a playful smile curling the corners of his lips: "Of course... these will have to be repaid."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lingshuang's cold lips curved slightly. She knew clearly that Ling Hao's talk of "repayment" was merely giving her a way out, allowing her to accept this help with less of a burden.

"However," Ling Hao frowned, "are you so certain that they will come to join us?"

Yu Lingshuang turned her head to look at the northern horizon, silent for a moment, before whispering: "Revered Master... although she seems extremely cold and unfeeling, she would never sit idly by and watch her Disciples wither away."

"Looking across Cangwu State, only my Moonshadow Sect can offer them a chance to be reborn."

"Revered Master? Extremely cold?" Ling Hao caught these two key terms and, with great interest, scrutinized Yu Lingshuang's profile, which was as cold as an ice sculpture, teasing, "Could this Revered Master of yours be... even colder than you?"

In his impression, Yu Lingshuang was the pinnacle of an iceberg; except for those close to her, she almost never smiled at outsiders. Could there really be someone colder than her?

Yu Lingshuang turned her head back and stared at Ling Hao with extremely serious eyes: "Yes."

This short and solemn response instead piqued Ling Hao's curiosity even more: "That makes me... look forward to it."

"What is the Sect Master looking forward to?" The side chamber door opened again, and Chi Shuying walked out gracefully. She had changed into a new pink rosy cloud dress, her hair bun was perfectly neat, but a trace of lazy spring mood still lingered in her brows and eyes.

"Nothing." Ling Hao smiled.

Chi Shuying did not press the issue and turned to look at Yu Lingshuang: "Discuss that matter with the Sect Master. There is an accumulation of affairs at Fengling Sect, so I will head back first."

She gave Ling Hao a charming smile and then turned into a stream of light, leaving in a hurry.

"?" Ling Hao looked at Yu Lingshuang, his eyes questioning.

Yu Lingshuang took out a Jade Slip and handed it over: "This is the list of Elders I have drafted. Take a look first."

Ling Hao's Divine Sense probed into it, and a light screen unfolded before him.

The list contained mostly familiar names: Chi Wanhe, Qin Zhaoxue... Huang Yutong, Qu Qingzhu, Li Sumei... Hua Youyou, Jiang Wangqing, Jiang Tingyu...

But it also contained some unfamiliar names: Ximen Huaping, Shangguan Ping, Hua Qingdai...

"Are these the high-level Loose Cultivators you mentioned some time ago who came to join us voluntarily?" Ling Hao asked.

With the destruction of the Cangmu Sect, the Moonshadow Sect had risen to become one of the three poles of Cangwu, and its fame had risen rapidly. The Tribulation Platform balancing the Heavenly Tribulation, the Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring repairing true origins, the Five Elements Chaos Spirit Pool enhancing Spiritual Roots... all sorts of miraculous rumors held a fatal attraction for those female cultivators trapped by Bottlenecks or suffering from hidden injuries.

Yu Lingshuang nodded: "Yes. Some of them passed the Nine-Turn Corridor, and some could only pass the Ten Thousand Flower Heavenly Steps."

Ling Hao's gaze swept across and stopped on one name: "Shui Wanqing? You are appointing her as the Grand Elder of Fengling Sect?"

"This person is a First-Tribulation Loose Immortal," Yu Lingshuang explained. "She attempted the main Sect's Nine-Turn Corridor but failed to pass the sixth-turn test. However, her cultivation and experience are of great benefit to the newly established branch, and since she passed the Ten Thousand Flower Heavenly Steps, she was arranged at Fengling Sect."

"A First-Tribulation Loose Immortal?"