Fearing changes due to any delay, after coming down from Qingmang Mountain, the bigwigs pulled out their phones and started contacting people who could help.
"Junior Brother Ku Hai, come to Qingmang Mountain. Come tomorrow. Don't you know how to book tickets? Just find any disciples of the 18th generation, they all graduated from college."
"Master Mao, can you come to Qingmang Mountain? What's the matter? Speak up."
"Fellow Daoist Liang, can you come to Qingmang Mountain? We have something to discuss."
After the three bigwigs finished their phone calls, their gloomy faces didn't ease much. They called those people just in case, but the best outcome, of course, was for their hopes that the drought demon wouldn't wake up.
"Are you done with your phone call? Let's eat if you are. The food is getting cold." While the others were on the phone, Elder Wu was already half full.
"Let's eat for now." As the host, Shen Qingzhu took the lead in lifting the chopsticks and beckoned the two masters to eat.
Yan Chongming clipped a dish, looked at Elder Yan who was eating happily across the table, and couldn't help but ask: "Have you informed your disciple?"
Elder Wu had no time to speak, so he could only shake his head.
"Fellow Daoist Wu, the rest of our fellow Daoists will gather at Qingmang Mountain tomorrow." Shen Qingzhu said, "Why don't you let the disciple come over tomorrow?"
"That's right. We haven't seen your apprentice's cultivation level yet. It's still a question whether we can support the Nine Cycle Profound Gate Array. Let her come earlier, so we can test her cultivation level in advance. If we can't, we'll find another way," said Yan Chongming.
Shen Qingzhu and Master Ci Hai also thought that Yan Chongming's proposal was reasonable, so they echoed with a nod.
"Do you have other suitable candidates?" Elder Wu looked at them askance.
The three frowned and did not speak. If they still had suitable candidates, they wouldn't have risked agreeing to let Elder Wu's apprentice come over.
Although they all had to admit that Wu Li's cultivation level was the highest among them, even if his apprentice was more gifted, her cultivation time was still short after all. Hence, they were more or less uneasy.
"It's not that I'm not making the call. I'm just afraid that she'll be unwilling to come over," Elder Wu explained helplessly.
"Why is your disciple unwilling to come?" Grand Master Ci Hai asked in confusion.
"My apprentice is money-loving. She never does anything for free." Elder Wu said bitterly, "Even if I am her master, there is personal consideration to talk about."
Why did they all feel that this was really in line with the style of the Luoshan Sect?
"Is it the tradition of your Luoshan Sect to see money?" Yan Chongming couldn't help but comment sarcastically.
"Don't you get paid for helping people catch zombies?" Elder Wu returned his dislike on the spot.
"You..." Yan Chongming was angered, but his eloquence was no match against Elder Wu.
"Alright, money is not a problem. Let your disciple come over." At present, a huge disaster was at stake, so any problem that could be solved with money wasn't a problem.
"Then you go on the Metaphysics Network and post a mission. Set a higher bonus, and she will definitely take it." Elder Wu inwardly praised his wit. Posting it on the Metaphysics Network would eliminate any chances of the others reneging on their agreement.
Although Elder Wu would help with the Qingmang Mountain affairs whether there was money or not, why not take the money that could be taken? Anyway, it would all be used to build roads and to improve the people's livelihood.
Shen Qingzhu had a disciple working in the Metaphysics Network. After hearing Elder Wu's suggestion, Shen Qingzhu immediately made a phone call to his disciple and asked him to post an S-Class mission on the website.
Elder Wu took advantage of him making a phone call and stealthily sent Joohyun a message: (An S-level mission will be updated on the Metaphysics Network in a moment. Your call next.)
Joohyun was in the evening study when she received this message. She curiously opened the Metaphysics website, and when she saw the S-Class mission that had just been updated and pinned to the top, she oohed and aahed and stood up from her seat. She then ran outside excitedly under the astonished gaze of the class.
"Third Brother, I can go to Qingmang Mountain." As soon as Joohyun left the classroom, she couldn't wait to call Lisa.
Lisa thought Joohyun hadn't given up and wanted to go to Qingmang mountain alone. He was moved, but also worried. "Irin, I know you want to go to Qingmang Mountain, but didn't you promise me to wait for Master Mao to find out the reason?"
"No, ah. I'm not going to go there secretly. I can go openly and honestly." Thinking of the mission she just saw, Joohyun's eyes glowed with excitement. "The Metaphysics Network released an S-Class mission about Qingmang Mountain just now. The bonus is 50 million."
Lisa was stunned. How could there be such a coincidence that a mission to Qingmang Mountain was released at this time?
"I have taken the mission, so I can not only go to Qingmang Mountain honestly and openly, but also can make money. It's a fortune. It's as much as what I earned in a whole year last year." Eighteen long years had passed, and the old man was finally reliable for a moment. He even found her such a two-pronged errand.
When Lisa heard this, he felt that things could not be so coincidental. Thus, he asked uneasily, "What is the task about?"
"It didn't specify. It only requires a Celestial Master with a high cultivation level," Joohyun replied.
Lisa's hunch that something was wrong intensified: "There is no specific information about the mission, but the bonus is so high. Irin, you should not just take it."
"It's okay, it's the Old... Grandpa who told me to take it, ah."
"Elder Wu?" When Lisa heard that it was Elder Wu who told Joohyun to take it, he was a little confused. Those that could be posted as S-Rank missions on the Metaphysics website must be very dangerous missions, but there was no way that Elder Wu would let Irin take the risk.
"Third Brother, I will go to Qingmang Mountain tomorrow. Whether the mission is successful or not, I will definitely bring back the spiritual artifact," Joohyun said with conviction.
"Toot-toot!"
A beep suddenly interrupted the phone call. Lisa glanced at it and said to Joohyun, "Irin, Master Mao called me. Let's talk later."
"En."
Joohyun hung up the call and booked herself a flight to Qingmang Mountain right after. Anyway, regardless of whether Lisa agreed or not, she would not give up this opportunity.
The Lou courtyard.
Lisa got on the phone with Master Mao: "Master Mao?"
"Lisa, I will go to Qingmang Mountain tomorrow," Master Mao said.
Lisa was entirely shocked: "You're going too?"
Master Mao wondered, "What? Are there others going?"
Lisa: "Irin said that Elder Wu asked her to go to Qingmang Mountain."
Master Mao Mao: "Perfected Lou He asked Little Friend Chen to go to Qingmang Mountain? Just now, Elder Yan also specifically called to ask me to go there tomorrow. It seems that something is happening at Qingmang Mountain."
Lisa guessed: "Will it be related to the spiritual artifact?"
Master Mao: "We don't know yet. Maybe it's related to the reason why Qingmang Mountain is classified as a restricted area for Metaphysics. I will not know exactly what the reason is until I arrive at Qingmang Mountain tomorrow."
Lisa said worriedly, "Master Mao, I feel that things are too coincidental."
They only discussed how to get to Qingmang Mountain in the afternoon. Why could something suddenly happen at Qingmang Mountain?
Master Mao knew why Lisa was so worried. During this period, Lisa's memory was constantly revived. He had even remembered some of the Metaphysics techniques that he had learned in his previous life and could be partly considered a member of the Metaphysics community. For people in the community, such subtle premonitions would often come true.
Master Mao: "In any case, let's wait and figure out what happened before we make a decision."
Lisa: "That's our last resort."
After ending the call, Lisa fished out the map that Master Mao had brought over from the desk drawer and spread it on the desk. He studied the five storage points of spiritual artifacts marked on it, and finally fixed his eyes on the Qingmang Mountain icon.
Qingmang Mountain was desolate and uninhabited. The weather was dusty all year round, and the feng shui in the place was terrible. It was really not a good place, but from the Metaphysics perspective, what would such a place be suitable for?
Lisa closed his eyes. He had this feeling that something had crossed his mind, but he failed to catch it. Nevertheless, he believed that this place must be related to his past life.
The appearance of each spiritual artifact was accompanied by a memory recovery. Lisa thought that he could not remember Qingmang Mountain because the fifth spiritual artifact was not recovered.
But... What was this vague, inexplicable anxiety and uneasiness he was feeling?
Lisa remained distracted for a while before he made another phone call to Joohyun.
Joohyun: "Third Brother, are you done talking with Master Mao?"
Lisa: "Yeah. Master Mao will also go to Qingmang Mountain tomorrow."
Joohyun was surprised. "Master Mao is also going? That's right. It's an S-Class mission after all." Joohyun thought that Master Mao had also taken the mission.
"Irin." Lisa's eyes were still firmly fixed on the coordinate point on the map that represented Qingmang Mountain. "Regardless of whether you can get the spiritual artifact or not, and no matter whether you can complete the S-Class mission or not, I just want you to come back safely."
"Why are you speaking so cautiously? It sounds weird." Joohyun replied with a gentle laughter, trying to shatter the inexplicably solemn atmosphere at the other end of the phone with her laughter.
Lisa also felt that he was too nervous. He looked away, walked to the window, looked in the direction of Imperial Capital University, and said softly, "I know you will be fine."
"That's for sure. My master always said since I was a kid that I have shit luck that others don't have," Joohyun said with some complacency.
Lisa chuckled, and the gloomy atmosphere dispersed a bit: "Irin, I can't accompany you again."
"It's okay, I'll be back soon. When I find the fifth spiritual artifact, I can find the sixth one, and then I can solve the evil spirit in your body. By then, you can go with me when I go somewhere again in the future," Joohyun said.
"Then promise me that you will come back safely, okay?"
"Okay!" As long as Lisa asked her 'Okay' in such a gentle tone, Joohyun's mouth would not be able to help but answer affirmatively every time.
The next morning, Joohyun flew to Hanjiang City on the same flight as Master Mao and the head of the Liang family. Afterward, they took an eight-hour car ride before arriving at the Shen family villa at the foot of Qingmang Mountain at 8 p.m.
When Joohyun walked into the house, she swept a glance at Elder Wu, who was sitting on a chair and munching on melon seeds. She ran to him in several steps: "Old Man."
"Hmm, eat melon seeds." Elder Wu casually grabbed a handful of melon seeds and handed it to Joohyun.
Joohyun grabbed it in her hand and didn't move. Just then, Yan Chongming, who once encountered Joohyun, was rattled: "The disciple you mentioned is her?"
"Yeah. Isn't she outstanding?" Elder Wu bragged.
Bah! Yan Chongming had never seen such a shameless person: "How old is she? Yet you let her come?"
Wu Li's apprentice was actually such a young girl, so the faces of several bigwigs who knew the truth showed worried and disappointed expressions.
How could this fledgling doll who was just starting out support the Nine Cycle Profound Gate Array?
"Tell him how old you are?" Elder Wu gestured to Joohyun.
"Eighteen. I will turn nineteen in a few months," Joohyun answered.
"Only eighteen? What can she do?" Yan Chongming expressed angrily.
"What's wrong with being eighteen? My eighteen-year-old apprentice can already catch millennium-old zombies. You were still being chased by zombies when you were eighteen, weren't you?" Elder Wu retorted sarcastically.
"You..." Yan Chongming was reminded of his black history long ago and was so angry that he almost lunged at Elder Wu for a fight.
The two were almost at their burial age, yet it seemed that they were uncomfortable if they didn't annoy each other several times in a day. Shen Qingzhu had a headache stopping the two. After everyone exchanged pleasantries for a while, Shen Qingzhu asked Grand Master Ci Hai to step forward again and tell the new four people about the Qingmang Mountain matter in detail.
Master Ku Hai, Master Mao, Celestial Master Liang, and Joohyun were incomparably shocked that a drought demon was actually sealed inside Qingmang Mountain. Obviously, they didn't expect to see this kind of creature that only existed in legends with their own eyes in their lifetime.
"Whether the drought demon will awaken or not is still unknown, but we have to prepare for the worst." Shen Qingzhu added, "The Nine Cycle Profound Gate Array requires nine celestial masters with high cultivation and abundant spiritual power to be able to operate, and you are the most suitable candidates we can think of."
When Shen Qingzhu swept a glance across the crowd and fell on Joohyun, the corners of his eyes couldn't help twitching. Obviously, he also had doubts about Joohyun's strength.
"They few of you have had a tiring trip today, so rest well tonight first. We will go up to Qingmang Mountain tomorrow." It was also a good opportunity for them to test the cultivation level of Wu Li's disciple. If she was incapable, they'd have to find another person.
Joohyun's room was arranged next to Elder Wu. As Joohyun and Elder Wu walked towards the guest rooms, she asked curiously, "It seems that the reason Qingmang Mountain was classified as a restricted area is because of the drought demon. But Qingmang Mountain was restricted twenty years ago. It was not classified before, which means no one knew that the drought demon was sealed here before."
"The birth of a drought demon must be accompanied by a heavenly phenomenon. How come no one outside seems to know about it? Even Master Mao and the others only heard about it today."
"Twenty years ago, before the drought demon fully awakened, we sealed it again. Thus, it did not cause any heavenly phenomenon," Elder Wu explained.
"I see. Otherwise how else could a mere Nine Cycle Profound Gate Array seal a drought demon so easily," Joohyun revealed a look of understanding.
Elder Wu abruptly stopped in his tracks. Joohyun was not paying attention and almost bumped into him. "Why did you suddenly stop?"
"Can't the Nine Cycle Profound Gate Array seal an awakened drought demon?" Elder Wu suddenly asked.
"Of course. A drought demon is not that easy to seal." After Joohyun finished speaking, she froze. "Old Man, don't you know?"
"..." Elder Wu shook his head with a complicated expression.
"Old man, something is strange with me lately." Joohyun frowned, "A lot more things seem to be popping in my head. And... My cultivation has also been refined a lot."
The old man looked at his stupid apprentice with a grave expression. For a moment, he seemed to see the ancient woman who had briefly appeared on the Soul Gathering Platform behind his stupid disciple.
The author has something to say:
The relationship between Young Wu and Young Yan has always been bad, so bad that the entire Metaphysics community knew that the two were at odds.
But at Young Yan's wedding, Young Wu traveled thousands of miles to give a big gift.
Young Yan: What the hell are you playing at?
Young Wu: I am sincerely happy for you, ah.
Young Yan: Do you think I will believe you?
Young Wu: Young man, be simple. Being too suspicious is a heart disease.
Young Yan:...