530: Chapter 530 Thanks

The peach blossom grove in the early morning was bathed in a pale golden mist. The peach blossoms, heavy with dew, hung low, and occasionally one or two petals were brushed off by the breeze, landing silently on the bluestone path.

There was a tall figure in front of the peach grove.

Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu's voice was clear and bright: "Is Moon Shadow Sect Master present? I, Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu, have come to deliver a thank-you gift on behalf of the Clan Chief."

The peach grove was silent for a moment, then Yu Lingshuang's cold voice came from within: "Young Tribe Leader, please come in."

Only then did Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu walk toward the depths of the peach grove. After passing through the grove, she habitually glanced toward the veranda.

At this hour, Baili Rou and Zhu Jin would usually be practicing sword techniques in the courtyard, Bai Zhi would be reading bamboo slips at the stone table, and Shu Lan would be sitting by the stream, washing her feet and humming a tune.

But today, the veranda was empty. Tea cups from last night remained on the stone table, yet not a single soul was in sight.

The peach grove was unusually quiet.

As Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu hesitated about whether to go further in, a moon-white figure turned out from the side corridor. Yu Lingshuang's cold face seemed covered in a thin layer of frost in the morning light.

Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu took a step forward, withdrew a pale cyan jade box and a storage ring from her sleeve, and offered them with both hands: "This is the thank-you gift prepared by the clan for Moon Shadow Sect Master—'Xuangang Myriad Spirit Liquid' for Body Refining and some Spirit Stones. Although they cannot compare to the Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring and lunar essence, it is a small token of the Giant Clan's sincerity."

She then withdrew a vermilion jade box. The moment she opened the lid, a thick, fire-attribute Spiritual Qi diffused, making even the air feel slightly scorching.

Inside the box lay a Spirit Medicine that was entirely vermilion, its branches and leaves flowing like flames, with a layer of pale golden soil wrapped around its roots. "This is 'Fusang Flame-Heart Grass,' an ancient fire-attribute Spirit Medicine. It can assist Mahayana Stage Cultivators in achieving a Breakthrough in minor Realms without any side effects. It is effective for those below the third level and can also serve as a Spirit Medicine to improve the quality of Fire Spiritual Roots. There are only three left in the Giant Clan, and the Clan Chief specifically ordered me to bring this one."

Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu's tone was solemn when speaking of this Spirit Medicine; she even straightened her back, and her eyes held a hint of anticipation.

This Fusang Flame-Heart Grass was unique in the outside world; across the entire Fusang Province, only the ancestral land of the Giant Clan still preserved this ancient species.

If not for the great kindness Ling Hao had shown the Giant Clan, Matriarch Ju Yingluo would never have used it so easily. Matriarch Ju Yingluo had even thought that if ordinary resources could not trade for the Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring and lunar essence, she would have used this. After all, the current situation of the Giant Clan was truly not very good.

Yu Lingshuang took the jade box, her expression calm, and she nodded slightly: "Many thanks to Matriarch Ju for her generosity."

Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu was stunned. She had expected the other party to at least show some surprise or ask a few more questions about the origin of the Spirit Medicine.

But this calm, "I understand" type of reaction left her feeling a bit dejected.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again, thinking that perhaps the Moonshadow Sect's foundation was so deep that they might not value this Spirit Medicine. Forget it; the intention had been delivered, and whether or not it was used was Moon Shadow Sect Master's business.

She remembered one more thing and added: "By the way, the clan has arranged a courtyard in the east of Fusang Main City, which is convenient for coming and going. If Moon Shadow Sect Master is not used to living in Meigu Valley and wishes to go to Fusang Main City, you can go there to rest at any time."

Yu Lingshuang nodded again in thanks: "You are thoughtful."

Seeing that her expression remained as cold and calm as ever, Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu did not linger. She turned and walked a few steps, then stopped, looked back at the direction of the row of pavilions deep in the peach grove, hesitated for a while, and couldn't help but ask: "Why haven't I seen Moon Shadow Sect Master?"

Yu Lingshuang followed her gaze toward a certain pavilion. The windows of that pavilion were tightly shut, and the door was firmly closed, as if it did not want to let in even a sliver of wind: "Cultivating in seclusion."

Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu followed her gaze and indeed saw that pavilion.

She sighed inwardly, thinking that Moon Shadow Sect Master truly lived up to his reputation. It was no wonder he possessed such unfathomable cultivation; even while a guest of the Giant Clan, he did not forget to Cultivate in seclusion. He was truly diligent to the point of being admirable.

Her gaze swept around the courtyard again, and she finally asked the question she had been holding back for quite some time: "Then... what about Fellow Daoist Baili and Fellow Daoist Zhu? Why isn't a single one of them to be seen?"

Yu Lingshuang glanced at that pavilion again: "They are also Cultivating in seclusion."

Young Tribe Leader Ju Yunxiu was slightly taken aback. She remembered Baili Rou and the others; although they did Cultivate when they were in the peach grove before, they were never this diligent. They would either pick flowers by the stream or sit on the veranda in groups of two or three, chatting idly, living very happily. Why had they all gone into seclusion the moment Moon Shadow Sect Master arrived? Her thoughts turned, and she couldn't help but think: It seems Moon Shadow Sect Master is truly very strict with their Cultivation, not even giving them time to rest.

She was about to leave when her footsteps suddenly paused, and an uneasy feeling surfaced in her heart. She looked back at the tightly closed pavilion and then at Yu Lingshuang. She had asked two questions just now, and both times Yu Lingshuang had looked toward the same pavilion. Could it be that Baili Rou and the others... were Cultivating in seclusion together with Moon Shadow Sect Master?

This thought spun around in her mind, but she didn't overthink it, shook her head, and strode out of the peach grove.

The sun rose in the east at the gates of Fusang Main City. As Sect Master An Suxin led An Ruosu and their group through the city gates, the gazes of the surrounding Cultivators gathered one after another.

Behind Sect Master An Suxin was an Undergoing Tribulation Supreme Elder and An Ruosu. Senior Sister Bai Zijin and Fang Qianyi were on the left and right, a few steps behind An Ruosu, followed by several female Elders.

Further behind were dozens of Disciples of the Sect Master's faction, all women, dressed in elegant pale green robes, with steady auras and solemn expressions. The group was particularly conspicuous at the noisy city gate.

Among the scattered seats, a sharp-eyed Cultivator lowered his voice and said: "Isn't that the Sect Master of Qingmu Cliff? Has Qingmu Cliff arrived at Fusang Main City so quickly?"

The person next to him replied: "Indeed. I remember there is still quite a while until the Dingding Ceremony. It seems Qingmu Cliff is quite concerned about the Golden Crow Holy Son's Dingding Ceremony, rushing here so quickly."

"What's the use of rushing? The Golden Crow Holy Son might not appreciate it. Look, she didn't even bring a Grand Elder, and there's no sign of a Supreme Elder. With just these few people, they still want to curry favor with the Golden Crow Holy Land?"

"Your information is outdated, isn't it? This one is no longer any Sect Master. Don't you know about the internal conflict at Qingmu Cliff?"

"Tell me more, tell me more..."

The few Cultivators immediately leaned their heads together, lowering their voices even further, while their gazes kept drifting toward Sect Master An Suxin.

Sect Master An Suxin ignored these discussions, her pace unhurried, but she turned her head and asked her daughter beside her in a low voice: "Are you sure Moon Shadow Sect Master will come to Fusang Main City?"

An Ruosu was slightly taken aback by her question, bit her lip, and said somewhat uncertainly: "I... I only heard him say that he would be going to Fire Turtle Kingdom and Tanggu Kingdom next. As for whether he will come to Fusang Main City..."

She lowered her eyes, her voice even softer, "That was just my guess."

Sect Master An Suxin shook her head, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes. Forget it; if there was no destiny with Moon Shadow Sect Master, then...

Suddenly, a slightly hesitant voice came from behind her—"Suxin?"

Sect Master An Suxin's footsteps paused, and she turned to look.

The light from the city gate was shining from behind that person, and in the backlight, a tall figure was walking toward her.

The figure was about six feet tall, and the morning light outlined his broad shoulders and slender silhouette, making him quite conspicuous in the crowd.

With every step he took, the surrounding Cultivators automatically stepped back half a pace to either side, clearing a path.

Sect Master An Suxin looked up at that face in the backlight, and a smile appeared on her face.