CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 15: HOW COULD THE SECT NOT PROSPER

"Junior Brother Huang Yu? You..."

Within the ruins, Senior Sister Ning Yao, the captain of the second team from Thousand Illusions Mountain, stared blankly at Lin Jing beside the Vermilion Bird’s illusion and spoke softly.

So powerful...

What is happening with this Huang Yu!

"Thank you all for conceding and guarding."

Lin Jing, who had regained his composure, smiled slightly and clasped his fists toward each of the "fellow disciples."

A group of good people!

Without them, comprehending the illusion and defeating the Little Vermilion Bird would have required great effort!

"Have you successfully manifested the aura of Vermilion Bird?"

"You defeated the Little Vermilion Bird at the third stage, was there any reward, is it the magic of Three Heads and Six Arms?"

Various True Inheritors from Thousand Illusions Mountain began to inquire.

Although Lin Jing had some reputation within the inner sect, he was still quite unfamiliar to these True Inheritors of Thousand Illusions Mountain.

Besides Senior Sister Ning who had carefully looked through Lin Jing’s information, other team captains were not very familiar with him.

Even now, they were a bit bewildered, not knowing where Lin Jing had popped out from.

Before Lin Jing could answer, time and space shifted among everyone, and the ruins entered the fourth layer.

Compared to the third layer, the Vermilion Bird in the fourth layer had changed—it was finally not at Early-Stage Foundation Establishment, but at Foundation Establishment Peak!

It had become much larger!

Everyone felt like facing a formidable enemy once again.

Senior Sister Ning, seeing this, took a deep breath and said: "Let’s stop here, we should withdraw! Don’t be greedy!"

"Junior Brother Huang, let’s go!"

"This is beyond what we can handle now."

"Alright!" Lin Jing, seeing this, also had no intention to continue challenging.

Given the people present, unless he revealed his three pet beasts, they definitely wouldn’t be able to defeat the Little Vermilion Bird.

Moreover, if Little Vermilion Bird received extensive damage, it might be transformed with Vermilion Bird bloodline!

The Beast Taming Sect’s fortunes are already more beast-centric than human; Lin Jing had no strong inclination toward the Vermilion Bird bloodline.

The subsequent legacy might be good, but to avoid being too conspicuous, Lin Jing chose to quit while ahead...

Swoosh.

Lin Jing exited the ruins.

Seeing Lin Jing’s withdrawal, other disciples from Thousand Illusions Mountain glanced at the Foundation Establishment Peak’s Little Vermilion Bird, swallowed hard, and also felt the exploration was accomplished, following their True Inheritor captains’ commands, they exited the ruins one by one.

As the disciples of Thousand Illusions Mountain gradually emerged, outside, Huan Gongming immediately sheltered the disciples upon seeing them.

He stood in the air, looking at these disciples and asked:

"Which disciple comprehended the aura of Vermilion Bird???"

He gazed sharply at the disciples, and at this moment, the disciples of Thousand Illusions Mountain naturally turned their eyes to Lin Jing.

"Is it him?"

Not only the disciples from Thousand Illusions Mountain, but also cultivators from Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and Flower Sect turned their gaze to Lin Jing, who was at the center of attention.

They completely did not recognize him!

He was not one of those renowned prodigies from Thousand Illusions Mountain!

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, disciple Huang Yu, with the protection of fellow Senior Brothers, successfully manifested the aura of Vermilion Bird... and by luck, defeated the Little Vermilion Bird at the third stage, obtaining the magic legacy." Lin Jing clasped his fists.

"Sect Leader, this disciple is named Huang Yu, recruited by Steward You a year ago as a genius into our Illusionary Killing Hall," the Nascent Soul Elder managing the Illusionary Killing Hall joyfully reported to the Sect Leader immediately.

"Good, good, good!" Huan Gongming said three ’good’ words in succession, quite pleasantly surprised, but suddenly his Nascent Soul’s external form unfolded, raising the hand of the form ominously and stared fiercely at the Vice Sect Leader of Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and the Flower Sect Leader.

"The exploration of Demon Ancestor Ruins by the three sects is our agreement, regardless of which sect harvests more, there shouldn’t be any grievance. You two, are you unable to bear a loss?"

Upon sensing the murderous intent of the two Nascent Soul Great Perfections, his gaze was extremely terrifying, as if unsatisfied answers from them would lead to confrontation.

The accompanying Nascent Soul elders from Thousand Illusions Mountain released their Nascent Soul external forms immediately, forming a standoff with the two sects.

"Heh... Certainly not." The Vice Sect Leader from Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and Flower Sect Leader released the intent from their eyes and chuckled, yet internally, they looked at Lin Jing with the thought that this boy definitely must not be kept.

Mastering the aura of Vermilion Bird... He would certainly become a major threat to Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and Flower Sect in the future.

Thousand Illusions Mountain must not be allowed to cultivate this disciple beyond Nascent Soul!

"Hmph." Huan Gongming snorted lightly and said: "It seems that this exploration of ruins should be considered concluded, why not retreat to our sects. The three sects have sustained significant casualties this time and need a period to recover..."

Among the initial three hundred Foundation Establishment disciples.

Only a little over one hundred seventy survived.

The loss of demon beasts from Ten Thousand Beasts Sect disciples was even more severe.

The three sects had suffered greatly.

However, the surviving disciples, the trials they’ve endured and the opportunities gained, increased their chances to advance to Golden Core.

Compared to Foundation Establishment, the sects ultimately value higher combat power such as Golden Core and Nascent Soul.

Huan Gongming withdrew his external form, turned, and spoke: "Disciples of Thousand Illusions Mountain, board the Flying Boat, return to the sect, disciple Huang Yu from Illusionary Killing Hall, come with me to report your rewards from this expedition."

"From today onward, you will be a True Inheritor of Thousand Illusions Mountain..."

......

Aboard the flying boat of Thousand Illusions Mountain.

Under the orders of Sect Leader Huan Gongming, Lin Jing followed him closely and entered a secret room.

Inside the room, Lin Jing explained his approach to constructing the Vermilion Bird illusion to Huan Gongming and re-manifested the Vermilion Bird illusion.

Seeing the Vermilion Bird illusion, Huan Gongming nodded and said: "To have mastered the Overlapping Illusion Technique to such an extent in just a year since entering the sect."

"To enshrine the stance of war as a deity, blending it seamlessly into the form, creating a stunningly perfect integration, not even most Golden Core Illusion Cultivators can achieve."

"It truly feels like witnessing the offspring of an ancient species! Unlike the things other disciples created through illusions before."

"Your mana control is astonishingly precise and terrifying! The most commendable aspect is your ability to complete this magic in such a short time, undeniably talented!"

While Huan Gongming praised, he also felt some regret internally, as he realized Lin Jing had used clever methods to create a Vermilion Bird with aura, rather than truly understanding the Demon Ancestor Vermilion Bird’s aura.

Yet, Huan Gongming understood that for a Foundation Establishment disciple to achieve what Lin Jing has—frightening away numerous talents from both sects—is remarkable enough. If he truly comprehended the Demon Ancestor’s aura, it would be unrealistic.

"Very good, thanks to the foundation you’ve laid, next time the disciples from Thousand Illusions Mountain enter the Demon Ancestor Ruins, they’ll perform even better!"

"Disciple is willing to leave the Vermilion Bird illusion in the sect through Soul Imprinting Technique for fellow Senior Brothers to understand, and also willing to submit the inheritance magic of Three Heads and Six Arms obtained from the third stage to the sect," Lin Jing said: "But I’ve yet to master Three Heads and Six Arms, making it difficult to transcribe in text form; it might require self-completion before transmitting the technique through a jade slip."

Having secretly learned Thousand Illusions Mountain’s illusion technique, and not intending to identify as a disciple of Thousand Illusions Mountain in the future, Lin Jing handed over his rewards as gratitude for the instruction.

"Hmm." Huan Gongming stroked his long beard and said:

"Initially, I intended to personally take you as my disciple, however, considering your extraordinary talent in illusions, it would be a delay for your prospects if I taught you. Currently, our Divinity Transformation Ancestor is in seclusion; when she emerges, I will inform her of your circumstances to see if she chooses to accept you as her disciple."

If all disciples were like this Huang Yu, Thousand Illusions Mountain would have limitless prosperity.

"Ah?"

Lin Jing was taken aback: "It actually wouldn’t be necessary to trouble the Ancestor, frankly, I’d rather become the Sect Leader’s disciple..."

"Not so." Huan Gongming shook his head, saying: "My mind is occupied with Divinity Transformation; if an ordinary genius, it could be different, but mentoring you would indeed be a delay."

"You are the future hope of Thousand Illusions Mountain!"