Xu Henshan’s words had already designated Qing Jun as his personal successor.
The cultivators of the Xu Family following behind him felt a mix of emotions.
But once the ancestor had spoken, how could they dare to oppose?
Furthermore,
The Xu Family cultivators who had come to Songyang Cave Heaven were mainly from Xu Changhe’s branch, naturally feeling close to Qing Jun.
The cultivators couldn’t help but whisper amongst themselves, their voices full of envy and jealousy.
"Tsk tsk, no wonder the ancestor is interested. This little girl is so young, yet already at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer..."
"Yes, I remember when she first arrived, she was only at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. After the baptism, it was not surprising she broke through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer. But in just three months, she broke through again to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer!"
"Sigh, during these times, the ancestor has given that little girl a lot of treasures. I’m sure if those treasures were given to me, I’d have reached Foundation Establishment!"
The little girl only thought these people were noisy.
What they cared about, she didn’t care at all!
These people were all bad!
Back when she was in the shanty town, none of them came to find her.
But once her master had trained her, they all rushed to be friendly.
She couldn’t really be treated as a little girl to be bullied, could she?
After all, she was a genius who had her master wrapped around her finger!
"Hmm... but I did eat a lot of good stuff at the Xu Family..."
The little girl furrowed her soft eyebrows in distress.
In that case, it would be embarrassing to kill them in the future.
Didn’t her master say that one’s mouth softens when eating others’ food?
But the little girl was far from grateful; she immediately clenched her small fists angrily,
"Originally, they owe it to my master!"
Xu Henshan saw the little girl’s face change and thought it was the cultivators troubling her, so he waved his hand:
"You all come with me, I still have things to say!"
"Yes!"
Everyone responded, following Xu Henshan to the deck.
Xu Henshan’s gaze fell downward upon the vast reed marsh and suddenly said:
"Pass my order, our Xu Family need not tread this weeping marsh anymore. Change our route, head to Gu Song Crossing, and from there, proceed to Stone Tablet Grove."
Having said that, he then blandly addressed Wei Shu, who was still organizing the team below:
"Guardian Wei, this place is perilous, may you take care of yourself."
The underlying meaning was already to part ways.
But, normally, Wei Shu was supposed to lead the Lingyin Sect forces, and all Lingyin Sect forces should have been at his command.
Wei Shu’s face turned pale, but he had no choice but to suppress his humiliation, bowing from afar to affirm.
"Wait a moment..." Xu Henshan seemed to remember something and casually instructed a Xu Family cultivator, "Later, go fetch a reed and a piece of Guardian Wei’s cloth."
The cultivator obeyed, quickly leaving the boat to head towards the Lingyin Sect team.
Xu Changfeng watched this, his eyebrows twitching as he speculated secretly:
Could it be, they are about to run into the Demon Sect’s group?
Is that why the ancestor intervened, to let the Lingyin Sect team have the ability to entangle them?
And our Xu Family can then detour quietly from Gu Song Crossing...
The Xu Family cultivator who was sent out soon returned.
He held a segment of broken blood reed and a piece of cloth torn from Wei Shu’s tattered Taoist robe.
"Ancestor." He respectfully presented the two items.
Xu Henshan nodded, and with a thought, took both items back into the boat.
Seeing that the little girl seemed intrigued by the earlier ambush, he decided to test her further.
"Girl, have a look at this."
Xu Henshan’s voice carried a hint of amusement,
"You said earlier it was a trap. Then guess, what exact method did they use?"
Qing Jun lazily turned her little head, her delicate nose slightly twitching, and her phoenix eyes suddenly lit up.
This...
This was the scent of her master!
She couldn’t be more familiar with this vitality-filled spiritual power.
Sometimes when she played with the little white fox and injured herself, her master used this kind of spiritual power to heal her, even blowing on her!
Hmm... Could it be the Ganlin Nourishing Technique her master used to water the Spirit Plants?
But why would her master be in Songyang Cave Heaven?
The little girl forced herself to suppress her inner joy, pretending to be profound as she pinched her chin:
"Old grandpa, on this reed and cloth, there’s pure Wood Element Spiritual Power, obviously someone secretly used the Spirit Plant Technique... But Songyang Cave Heaven is a Grotto Heaven from a thousand years ago; how would ordinary people know how to control the Spirit Plants within it? Qing Jun guesses this person must be extraordinary, or has entered the Grotto Heaven multiple times to understand the habits of its Spirit Plants."
"Hmm." Xu Henshan nodded with interest.
The little girl’s reasoning made sense.
This blood reed, even with his hundreds of years, he had never heard of it.
How could ordinary cultivators understand how to control the blood reeds?
Could it be... It was the handiwork of Jian Gu from the Refining God Sect?
Among those entering the Grotto Heaven, only his background was exceptional.
Qing Jun glanced at Xu Henshan, secretly relieved.
This way, they wouldn’t suspect her master, right?
Her master was just an ordinary Spirit Plant Cultivator!
"But... What is master doing in the Grotto Heaven, such a dangerous place..."
The little girl silently lay on the table, watching the scenery outside the window rushing by.
Her little mouth couldn’t help but curve slightly.
"Oh dear, can’t handle master, just so worried about Qing Jun... In view of master’s filial piety, when we return, I’ll reluctantly learn a few more new dishes!"
...
Emerging from the last dense patch of blood-colored reeds, the view suddenly expanded in clarity.
The fog was blocked by some invisible force behind them, instantly broadening their vision significantly.
Underfoot, the sticky swamp was replaced by solid black land.