"Sect Leader Xiao!"
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "I don't think I should accept. After all, we at Summit Villa didn't do much from beginning to end. The pills were also given by Xu Ming'an. Our contribution is not much, and I understand the principle of not accepting rewards without merit." Da Feng Xiao Shuo Wang
"Don't rush to refuse."
Xiao Muhan said, "Take a look at the treasure first."
"..."
Lin Zhao pondered for a moment. Why did this scene feel so familiar?
The next second, Xiao Muhan took out a crystal clear and radiant golden mirror from his storage bag and said, "This is a treasure my father obtained while traveling in the Great Wilderness. There's a small Taoist technique in the martial world called the Demon Mirror, which can reveal the true form of demons. This mirror can be considered the ancestor of Demon Mirrors. Although it's only a top-grade heavenly artifact, it's very effective in killing demons and can, to some extent, suppress the primordial spirits of great demons. You are a sword cultivator, and you can combine it with your flying swords for an invincible offense!"
"Suppress... the primordial spirits of demons..."
Lin Zhao's voice trembled slightly. Although this Demon Mirror was only a top-grade heavenly artifact, according to the rules of the martial world, the natal items refined by cultivators at the Twelve Realms were basically at the immortal-grade artifact level, and significant gifts also started from the immortal grade. Heavenly grade was slightly lacking. But this Demon Mirror was different. Although it was only an auxiliary artifact, once it locked onto a demon, it could suppress its primordial spirit, significantly weakening it. Lin Zhao spent all year round in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, where he encountered great demons frequently. He couldn't just run away every time he met one alone, could he? This Demon Mirror, while not the best, was the most suitable treasure for his mid-refinement!
With this, Lin Zhao, who needed three treasures for his Nascent Soul realm mid-refinement, had them all: the Golden Armor Immortal Robe, the Orange Gourd, and the Demon Mirror. Coupled with his own flying swords, it was already perfect!
"How is it?"
Xiao Muhan's smile was meaningful: "Lin Baiyi guards the Northern Region and slays countless demons. Our Azure Phoenix Sect gifting Lin Baiyi an auxiliary treasure for killing demons, is that not adding splendor to splendor?"
"More than adding splendor to splendor, it's simply sending charcoal in snowy weather!"
Lin Zhao clasped his fists and smiled: "Sect Leader's thoughtful consideration, Lin Zhao accepts this Demon Mirror. I dare not say anything else, but with this Demon Mirror in Lin Zhao's hands, it will surely help humanity kill more demons and will not let the treasure tarnish!"
"Since that is the case..."
Xiao Muhan smiled: "Lin Baiyi is fortunate to have the Demon Mirror, and the world is fortunate to have Lin Baiyi. As for me, Xiao Muhan... I am fortunate to have given this Demon Mirror. Furthermore, Xiao Muhan can give you a promise: if the Northern Four Tribes really launch a large-scale invasion southward, our Azure Phoenix Sect will not stand idly by. We will mobilize the entire sect to protect our human race's territory!"
Lin Zhao's chest was filled with heroic spirit. The peak cultivators he had recently interacted with on the mountains were all the backbone of the human race: the fiery and righteous Twelve-Realm Sun Qinghe, the Twelve-Realm sword cultivator Xiao Muhan before him, and the Thirteen-Realm Xiao Chen of the Azure Phoenix Sect who was about to ascend and refused to take any extra fortune. If the top cultivators of the world were all such people, what would he fear from the Northern Four Tribes?
"Phew..."
Lin Zhao looked at the sky and said with a smile, "Alright, we'll head back to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool for now. I need to hurry and mid-refine the Demon Mirror. Sect Leader, I won't disturb you further. Remember what I entrusted you with: help me deliver some things before your father ascends."
"Mm, okay!"
...
Evening, Natural Dwelling.
Lin Zhao was "in seclusion and cultivating" and had successfully mid-refined both the Golden Armor Immortal Robe and the Demon Mirror. The moment he walked out of the Natural Dwelling, the Golden Armor Immortal Robe had already emerged from the Spiritual Ruin and was worn on his body. The immortal robe was very thin, as if he were wearing a layer of translucent, thin fabric over his armor, but its defensive power was extremely strong. From now on, he would fight against expert players or some great demons of the Upper Five Realms wearing the Golden Armor Immortal Robe.
"Swish!"
With a slight raise of his hand, the mid-refined Demon Mirror in the Spiritual Ruin no longer resembled a bronze mirror. It was just a circular golden mirror surface. When Lin Zhao summoned it, a circular mirror surface floated above the lotus pond, casting down streaks of golden light. The few thousand-year-old turtles at the bottom of the lotus pond, illuminated by the Demon Mirror, scrambled away in a hurry. Although they were not demons, they were very close. The inherent Dao foundation of the Demon Mirror had a natural suppressing effect on demons, so a single test revealed how powerful the Demon Mirror was.
Basically, from now on, when killing demons, Lin Zhao could directly lock onto them with the Demon Mirror and then attack with his flying sword to kill them slowly. Weaker demons would be instantly killed, while stronger ones would be worn down. Clad in the Golden Armor Immortal Robe, he would be invincible.
With a wave of his hand, the Demon Mirror transformed into a beam of light and seeped into the Spiritual Ruin. He came to the gourd rack and squatted down again to examine the gourds on the rack. The red, orange, and yellow gourds were one batch, and the four gourds behind them were another batch. Thus, Lin Zhao was destined to be the first person in Summit Villa to wear an immortal gourd, which made him very happy.
As for the 500 golden eel coins given by Xiao Muhan, after deducting the 100 coins advanced by Summit Villa, the rest were given to Xu Ming'an. The finances of the Danxia Sect should be managed by this future sect leader. Although Lin Zhao was in Summit Villa, he could deduce that the construction on Danxia Mountain had already begun. Many stonemasons and bricklayers were now clearing the foundation on Danxia Mountain to build a larger Taoist temple. On the mountainside, the gate of the Danxia Sect should also be under construction.
Money makes the mare go. Nothing in this world is more useful than golden eel coins. As long as there are enough golden eel coins, not only can a large number of craftsmen be mobilized, but Lin Zhao even spent 50 golden eel coins to hire 20 Mohist disciples to be responsible for the design and construction of all the buildings of the Danxia Sect, including various formations and restrictions that needed to be prepared in advance.
...
A few days later.
On Danxia Mountain, the main hall had been completed, and the Taoist temples on both sides of the mountain slopes were also being built with great effort. Lin Zhao and Xu Ming'an discussed it and decided that since the main hall and the mountain gate were completed, there was no need to wait until everything was ready to establish the sect. They chose an auspicious day and held a not-too-grand ceremony for the establishment of the Danxia Sect.
Morning.
Lin Zhao led Sijie, Huang Tingyu, Tang Guangjun, and others to visit the Ancestral Hall of the Danxia Sect. Two portraits were hung in the Ancestral Hall. One was of Old Daoist Wang, and the other was of an old Daoist priest whom Lin Zhao did not know. Xu Ming'an, relying on his memory, had asked a painter to draw it. The old Daoist priest who had adopted Xu Ming'an back then, although his realm was low, held an irreplaceable position in Xu Ming'an's heart.
Besides Summit Villa, people from Fusang Great Wall also came: Lin Wanhua, Qin Yu, and Liu Xilong personally attended.
Not long after, Sun Qinghe of Medicine King Valley arrived with Sun Xingchun and Sun Yunnuan. A while later, Xiao Muhan of the Azure Phoenix Sect arrived with several elders to offer congratulations. At this moment, Danxia Mountain was more lively than ever.
Xu Ming'an began to draft the list of patrons for the Ancestral Hall.
Lin Zhao's attitude was very firm: he must be the Chief Unpaid Patron of the Danxia Sect. Xu Ming'an happily wrote down Lin Zhao's name. To him, Lin Zhao was more than just a best friend; he was like a true brother. Afterward, a group of first-class patrons were listed, including the four great sword immortals Lin Wanhua, Huang Tingyu, Sijie, and Tang Guangjun, as well as the two Twelve-Realm cultivators Sun Qinghe and Xiao Muhan. The second-class patrons were Chen Ben, Chu Yu, Mu Ya, Qin Yu, Liu Xilong, and others.
At noon, everyone drank and ate meat in the main hall.
Although the scale of the Danxia Sect's establishment was not large, the names and realms of its patrons were quite intimidating. At this point, it was likely that no one in the human world would dare to cause trouble on Danxia Mountain. Even if they were not afraid of Xu Ming'an or Lin Zhao, would they not be afraid of Lin Wanhua or Huang Tingyu?
In the afternoon, a spiritual boat engraved with the emblem of the Great Shang Dynasty landed on the mountain.
From the spiritual boat, an official from the Sea and Mountains Division of Baidi City disembarked, holding a genealogical register issued by the imperial court. He walked straight to Lin Zhao and respectfully said, "Young Hero Lin, Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess heard that your friend Xu Ming'an is establishing the Danxia Sect today. She was busy with state affairs and could not come, so she ordered me to bring the Sea and Mountains Division's genealogical register to officially include the Danxia Sect in the ranks of our Great Shang Dynasty's mountain sects, and to convey her congratulations!"
"Good!"
Lin Zhao was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't expected this matter to even reach Zhao Shutong. And this Eldest Princess was quite accommodating. Although the Sea and Mountains Division was not under her jurisdiction, she still managed to secure a spot for a mountain sect for the newly established Danxia Sect. One should know that the Great Shang Dynasty's Sea and Mountains Division was very strict, and a mountain sect that was not strong enough had no right to be recorded in the imperial registry. The Danxia Sect being recorded in the registry immediately after its establishment was a great honor.
...
In the afternoon, drinking tea in the pavilion.
Only Lin Zhao, Lin Wanhua, and Xu Ming'an were present. Sijie and Liu Liying were guarding under the trees in the distance.
"There's one more thing."
Lin Wanhua took out a treasure box from her storage bag, placed it on the table, and slowly pushed it towards Xu Ming'an. "Xu Ming'an, Fusang Great Wall did not prepare any gifts for this congratulatory visit. Here, this will suffice."
"Oh?"
Xu Ming'an opened the treasure box and saw a dark iron bull placed inside. Xu Ming'an was stunned, not understanding: "What is this?"
"A mountain-protecting great formation called the Iron Bull."
Lin Wanhua said with a smile, "I found it in the Great Wilderness. Although it's not as good as the Great Sword Umbrella of Summit Villa, it's still a decent formation. Later, I will send two Star River realm cultivators from Fusang Great Wall to help you permanently guard this mountain-protecting great formation. With Chi Zhongyu serving as a permanent first-class honorary chief patron here, according to the rules of the martial world, the Danxia Sect should also express something."
Xu Ming'an nodded heavily: "City Lord Lin, please speak!"
"Provide 100 Zhenyuan Pills and 10 Guiyuan Pills to Fusang Great Wall annually to help the growth of the new generation of our Fusang Great Wall." Lin Wanhua smiled lightly, "Not too much to ask, is it?"
"Indeed, it's not too much."
Xu Ming'an frowned, "It's too little. With my current refining speed, I can provide Fusang Great Wall with 300 Zhenyuan Pills and 50 Guiyuan Pills annually. Please, City Lord Lin, do not refuse!"
"Oh?!"
Lin Wanhua couldn't help but smile charmingly, and when she looked at Lin Zhao, her eyes were full of amusement. How could she refuse this?