Ding Fan, Luo Li, and Xiao Wei found a vehicle and arrived at the foot of Mount Lu without much delay.
With a day remaining until Mount Lu's auction event and the surrounding area being wilderness, everyone had set up temporary camps at the foot of the mountain.
As the trio reached the area, they lifted their heads and saw nurous scattered tents.
Ding Fan used his Divine Sense to briefly scout the surroundings.
At that mont, there were already over twenty Heavenly Level Martial Artists in the vicinity, with Earth Level Martial Artists appearing everywhere. And this wasn't even the main auction day yet—when it arrived, who knew how many experts would show up?
At this point, Ding Fan couldn't help but marvel at the scale of Mount Lu's auction event.
Upon arriving at the foot of Mount Lu, the trio didn't settle imdiately. Luo Li wanted to first visit the Spirit Sect mbers.
Ding Fan didn't have any objections—truthfully, even if Luo Li didn't intend to seek out the Spirit Sect, Ding Fan himself had plans to do so.
"Do you have a good relationship with the Spirit Sect?" Ding Fan asked Luo Li as they searched for the sect's location.
From the mont they reached Lushan City, many people had aligned themselves with the Ghost Sect. With its current prominent influence, Ding Fan was curious about Luo Li and her connection to the Spirit Sect.
Luo Li didn't hold back from explaining.
"In the Huangshan area, our Shi Family and the Qi Family have clashed for hundreds of years. But because our strengths are evenly matched, there's been a constant balance. Not long ago, the Qi Family aligned with the Ghost Sect. To protect ourselves, the Shi Family must seek the Spirit Sect's protection…"
After listening, Ding Fan nodded thoughtfully. It seed their reason for visiting the Spirit Sect was to counter the Qi Family.
"But Sister, Uncle clearly intends to make things difficult for us. The Spirit Sect is one of the Three Great Inner Hidden Sects. We don't have a letter, nor do any of us personally know the Spirit Sect mbers. If we go uninvited, they're unlikely to even acknowledge us. Besides, our Shi Family had injured a Spirit Sect disciple in the past—they won't kill us outright? That already counts as leniency," Xiao Wei grumbled unhappily from the side.
"Xiao Wei, don't speak ill of Uncle," Luo Li responded firmly, "He's also thinking of what benefits the Shi Family…"
Before Luo Li could finish her thought, Xiao Wei interjected heatedly, "I don't believe it. He just wants to get rid of us siblings."
"Xiao Wei, if you continue speaking ill of Uncle behind his back, I'll really lose my temper," Luo Li said, her face becoming stern.
Seeing Luo Li's serious expression, Xiao Wei stayed silent.
Though Ding Fan only overheard a few comnts in this sibling dispute, he quickly pieced together the bigger picture.
It seed their uncle truly harbored no goodwill toward the siblings.
Knowing full well that the Huangshan Qi Family had aligned with the Ghost Sect yet still sending the siblings to Mount Lu to seek refuge from the Spirit Sect—despite their strained relations—was nothing short of making things harder for them.
From these points alone, Ding Fan could ascertain their uncle had ill intentions toward them.
Still, as it was their family matter, Ding Fan refrained from comnting further.
After so inquiries and searching around, the three finally found the Spirit Sect mbers in a grove at the foot of the mountain.
As one of the Three Great Inner Hidden Sects, the Spirit Sect's presence naturally attracted attention, making them relatively easy to locate.
"Brother, we are mbers of the Huangshan Shi Family and wish to visit the Spirit Sect elders," Luo Li stated politely to a Spirit Sect disciple guarding the area.
"Huangshan Shi Family?" Upon hearing the na, the Spirit Sect disciple's expression darkened instantly. "What do you want with our elders?"
Given the Shi Family's prior assault on a Spirit Sect disciple, news of the incident was widespread among the sect mbers. Under these circumstances, the disciple wasn't about to let them enter easily.
"We've primarily co to offer an apology…"
Before Luo Li could finish, the Spirit Sect disciple interrupted, "Our elders aren't people you can simply et. If you really wish to apologize, ask your family to co. A couple of juniors thinking sweet words will suffice? Not so simple."
"You think being the Spirit Sect makes you so great?" Xiao Wei shot back angrily, watching as the disciple addressed his sister rudely.
Ding Fan, observing Xiao Wei, could only sigh inwardly.
Xiao Wei carried a heavy air of arrogance. With him breaking in, their chances of eting the Spirit Sect elders dwindled further.
The Spirit Sect disciple's deanor turned colder. "Being part of the Spirit Sect is indeed significant. If you disagree, why not co and try?"
"I'm not afraid of you!" Xiao Wei retorted, drawing out his longsword in one swift movent.
"Xiao Wei!" Luo Li hurriedly grabbed Xiao Wei's arm, trying to prevent further escalation.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
At that mont, four more Spirit Sect disciples stepped forward alongside the initial guard. Each one unsheathed their longsword, and the air thickened with tension.
"Wait…" Ding Fan suddenly spoke.
Because Ding Fan was in disguise, the disciples didn't recognize him.
Ding Fan took out a Jade Slip. "Friends of the Spirit Sect, could you deliver this to Elder Luv Shanqi?"
The disciples hesitated to accept the Jade Slip, wary due to Ding Fan's association with Luo Li and Xiao Wei.
"I am not part of the Huangshan Shi Family. This letter was entrusted to by an old friend of Elder Luv Shanqi," Ding Fan clarified.
After exchanging glances, one of the disciples took the Jade Slip cautiously. "Wait here."
One disciple carried the Jade Slip inside.
The Jade Slip had been secretly crafted by Ding Fan using his Divine Sense.
Given the current tense situation, without the Jade Slip, eting Elder Luv Shanqi would have been impossible—making conflict inevitable.
"You know Spirit Sect elders?" Luo Li couldn't help but ask curiously.
Ding Fan smiled faintly. "I suppose you could say that."
In truth, Ding Fan was the Spirit Sect Sect Master himself. The elders Luo Li ntioned would defer to him without question. What would her reaction be if she knew?
A short while later, soone erged from the Spirit Sect camp.
Luo Li and Xiao Wei glanced over, stunned.
Practically the entire Spirit Sect camp had mobilized—around thirty people surrounded a white-bearded elder as the group walked out.
The siblings were shocked. Could the Jade Slip delivered by Ding Fan be the reason for this grand reception?
The Spirit Sect was one of the Three Great Inner Hidden Sects. If true, who could Ding Fan truly be to warrant such treatnt?
Globally, only a select few individuals could command such a high-profile welco from the Spirit Sect.
The elder, escorted by his disciples, approached Ding Fan and the others. The previously guarding disciples bowed respectfully to the elder.
"Greetings, Elder Luv," they said.
Elder Luv?
Upon hearing the disciples' form of address, Luo Li and Xiao Wei beca even more astonished. Luv Shanqi was the Spirit Sect's Great Protector and leader of this delegation.
While they hadn't t him personally, his reputation was widely known.
"May I ask which of you is Young Master Zhou Fan?" Elder Luv asked politely upon arriving.
"That would be ," Ding Fan replied calmly from the side.
"Young Master Zhou, please co with —we can discuss matters further inside," Elder Luv said with notable respect toward Ding Fan.
Watching this spectacle, Luo Li and Xiao Wei exchanged incredulous glances.
Indeed, the Spirit Sect's grand reception was entirely due to Ding Fan.
Who was this extraordinary individual?
"Elder, these two are friends of mine—Luo Li and Xiao Wei of the Huangshan Shi Family," Ding Fan introduced the siblings before proceeding. "As for the prior conflict between the Spirit Sect and their family, they've co specifically to apologize."
Elder Luv nodded understandingly. "Friends of Young Master Zhou Fan are friends of ours—please join us inside."
Luo Li and Xiao Wei looked at each other in disbelief.
Earlier, the Spirit Sect disciples had glared at them with hostility. Now, after Ding Fan's intervention, their attitudes had undergone a drastic change.
With that, Ding Fan led the siblings into the Spirit Sect's camp.
A significant number of Spirit Sect disciples had arrived for this occasion, spreading across more than a dozen tents.
At the center stood a rather grand tent, and under Elder Luv's escort, the group entered this central tent.
Once inside, the group seated themselves according to customary roles.
"Elder Luv, previously the Royal Family wronged the Spirit Sect. We humbly ask for your forgiveness," Luo Li stood and spoke courteously.
Both siblings had followed Ding Fan here.
Though they were unaware of Ding Fan's identity, Elder Luv certainly knew and, out of respect, felt compelled to give Ding Fan face.
"What's past is past," Elder Luv said simply.
Luo Li hadn't expected such a generous response. She had assud the Spirit Sect would be far more unyielding in their stance.
And yet, one sentence from Elder Luv dismissed all grievances.
Luo Li was sharp—she knew she wasn't particularly exceptional, nor was Elder Luv unusually magnanimous. Judging by the elder's subtle and repeated glances at Ding Fan, she quickly deduced the true reason for his leniency.
It was undoubtedly due to Ding Fan.
This realization made Ding Fan appear even more enigmatic in Luo Li's mind.
Young and already possessing imnse cultivation power, a man who had easily defeated two top Qi Family experts. Now, at Mount Lu, he commanded considerable influence, enough to warrant Elder Luv's full delegation to receive him personally.
Who was this man?
"Aside from extending our apology, we also seek the Spirit Sect's protection," Luo Li explained, reporting on the Qi Family's alignnt with the Ghost Sect and its potential threat to the Shi Family.
Ding Fan subtly transmitted a ssage using his Divine Sense to Elder Luv's spiritual sea. "Protect the Shi Family; strengthen their forces."
When Elder Luv received Ding Fan's transmission, he was noticeably startled.
To communicate via Divine Sense—this was sothing unheard of.
......
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