The emergency meeting in the Temple Master's grand hall lasted an entire night. When the next day's morning light pierced through clouds, scattering over Qingxu Temple's continuous mountain ranges, solemn and rapid orders, like invisible ripples, quickly spread to every corner of the sect.
The changes were almost immediate.
The first thing felt was the patrolling disciples. The teams that originally only patrolled important areas and fixed routes of the mountain gate doubled in number, and more small teams led by inner court elite disciples or even Foundation Establishment enforcement deacons appeared. Their patrol range expanded to all potential entrances and high points within fifty li of the sect's surroundings. Their eyes sharp, their spiritual sense repeatedly sweeping over their jurisdiction areas like combs, not letting go of any suspicious spiritual power fluctuation or unfamiliar aura.
The checks at the mountain gate also became much stricter. All entering and leaving disciples, regardless of status, needed to accept detailed questioning and identity jade token verification from the on-duty disciples. For visitors who weren't sect cultivators, even more advance reporting was required, personally led by familiar disciples or elders before they could enter. An invisible tension filled the air.
On the Merit Hall's task jade wall, quiet changes also occurred. All tasks requiring leaving sect grounds, especially to remote or potentially risky areas, had conspicuous "risk warnings" marked beside them. Even some simple D-grade and C-grade outbound tasks were temporarily frozen. When enforcement disciples distributed tasks, they would also repeatedly instruct receiving disciples to be cautious, suggesting traveling in groups, and strengthening the process of task reporting and return verification.
At the same time, a partial reinforcement plan for the sect's grand formation led by the Transmission Elder and assisted by the Formation Hall Elder also began. Several elders and core disciples skilled in formations worked day and night, stacking more auxiliary formations for warning, counter-stealth, and spiritual sense interference on formation nodes that were originally already solid as gold soup. Especially around the back mountain forbidden grounds, Scripture Pavilion, core disciple residences, and several important elders' cave dwellings, spiritual light flickered, and formation fluctuations were noticeably more active than before.
All these changes naturally drew all disciples' attention and discussion. Various guesses circulated privately.
"Heard? Seems like some external force has targeted our Qingxu Temple!"
"I also feel something's not right. The patrolling senior brothers all have such serious faces."
"Is it related to the last secret realm trial? Heard demonic cultivator activity is getting rampant again."
"Who knows. Anyway, better stay in the sect and cultivate honestly recently—the outside isn't peaceful."
Most disciples, though unclear about details, could also feel the atmosphere of an approaching storm, becoming more cautious than before, not easily going down the mountain unless necessary.
And Tang Xiaoqi, at the center of the disturbance, felt it even more directly and profoundly.
Not long after the meeting ended, his master summoned him to his cave dwelling, solemnly informing him of the Council of Elders' decision.
"Xiaoqi, the sect has decided to strengthen vigilance to respond to potential threats. To ensure your safety, before you possess sufficient self-protection ability, if not specially permitted by the sect or for important reasons, recently try to reduce going down the mountain—best to stay within the sect's core area to move about." His master looked at him, his tone brooking no argument, "This is for your own good, and for the sect's greater considerations. You bear a special opportunity and have become a thorn in certain forces' sides—cannot but guard against."
Xiaoqi was long mentally prepared, respectfully responding: "Yes, Master, this disciple understands."
"Mm." His master nodded, his tone softening, "You also needn't be overly worried or afraid. The sect's grand formation has been further reinforced, and internal and external patrols are strict. As long as you're in the temple, safety should be assured. Take this opportunity to calm your heart and properly cultivate the 'Everlasting Spring Art,' solidifying your foundation. When your cultivation improves further, or the situation clarifies, there will naturally be times for you to go down the mountain for experience."
"This disciple will certainly cultivate bitterly, not failing Master and the sect's great expectations."
Coming out from his master's cave dwelling, Xiaoqi could clearly feel that around his little courtyard, there also seemed to be more faint "gazes." Those weren't malicious but more like hidden sentries arranged by the sect, unremarkable, secretly guarding his safety. This made his heart warm, and also made him feel the responsibility was heavy.
He completely settled down, putting all energy into cultivation.
During the day, he still went to the platform outside his master's cave dwelling to cultivate the "Everlasting Spring Art." With deepening understanding of this technique and the settling of his mental state, he increasingly appreciated its true meaning of "accumulating thickly to burst forth thinly" and "life endless." Though spiritual power grew slowly, every strand was incomparably pure and condensed, like an old tree's annual rings, accumulating layer by layer, the foundation laid incomparably solid. During cultivation, the jade pendant on his chest continuously emitted warmth, blending with the Everlasting Spring Art's life-force spiritual power, as if also being better nourished in this peaceful and resilient environment.
At night, in his own little courtyard, he conducted the unshakable "heart-refining" and basic cultivation.
The "heart-refining" of the frying pan was still slow and arduous. Each night, he would expend large amounts of mind and spiritual power, like a foolish old man moving mountains, continuously warming that black pan. Progress was negligible—that faint spiritual throbbing and spiritual power absorption feeling came and went, extremely unstable. But he never gave up, patiently repeating this process. He believed that as long as he persisted unremittingly, quantitative change would eventually cause qualitative change.
The basic sword technique's practice also wasn't neglected. Though unable to go down the mountain for actual combat, he integrated his control of power, agility of movement techniques, and grasp of timing into each move and style, striving to hone this basic sword technique to perfection under limited conditions.
The rabbit spirit still came daily. Its changes seemed to have reached a plateau, with speed and spiritual intelligence far surpassing ordinary beasts. Occasionally, it could still help Xiaoqi find some fine low-grade spirit herbs. Having the little fellow's company also added a splash of color to Xiaoqi's monotonous cultivation life.
The atmosphere in the sect, though tense, was orderly. Disciples gradually got used to the strengthened vigilance, putting more energy into cultivation. The number of disciples exchanging for cultivation resources at the Merit Hall noticeably increased, and figures sparring and practicing on the martial arts grounds became more diligent. A loose-outside-tight-inside, actively preparing atmosphere quietly formed within Qingxu Temple.
Xiaoqi knew this brief peace was precious time the sect had won for him and all disciples. He had to seize every minute and second, working hard to improve himself.
This day, he was practicing sword techniques in the courtyard when suddenly he felt something. He withdrew his sword and stood, looking toward the courtyard gate. Eldest Senior Brother had appeared outside the wicker gate at some point, smiling as he watched him.
"Eldest Senior Brother?" Xiaoqi hurriedly stepped forward to open the gate.
"Training very diligently." Eldest Senior Brother entered the little courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the scene, nodding approvingly, "Seems the outside storms haven't disturbed your Dao-seeking heart."
"Eldest Senior Brother flatters me." Xiaoqi invited Eldest Senior Brother to sit beside the stone table.
"I came today on the Temple Master's orders to bring you some things." Eldest Senior Brother took out a storage bag, placing it on the stone table, "Inside are some sect treasury's high-grade 'Spirit-Nourishing Pills' and 'Foundation-Cultivating Pills' quite beneficial for consolidating your cultivation and nourishing your spirit and soul. Additionally, there are several jade slips recording some low-grade practical spells—like 'Light Body Technique,' 'Concealment Technique,' 'Vajra Shield.' Though you shouldn't go down the mountain, these spells can also be practiced within the sect—might save your life at critical moments."
Xiaoqi was moved in his heart, knowing this was the sect's tilt of resources toward him and protection. "Many thanks, Temple Master! Many thanks, Eldest Senior Brother!"
"No need for thanks." Eldest Senior Brother waved his hand, his expression gentle yet carrying a trace of gravity, "Xiaoqi, the sect is your backing, but the true path must still be walked by yourself. The situation is delicate right now—just cultivate peacefully. For outside matters, we're here."
"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother, I understand."
Seeing off Eldest Senior Brother, Xiaoqi gripped that heavy storage bag, feeling the sect's expectations and protective intent contained within, his gaze growing even more determined.
He looked up toward that protective mountain glow appearing even more hazy and deep under the reinforced formations above Qingxu Temple. Vigilance was already strict, and the storm was still brewing.
And he would silently accumulate power in the center of this storm's eye, awaiting the day of breaking the cocoon and becoming a butterfly, or rather, the sharp sword leaving its scabbard.