Chapter 345: Departure Preparations

Xiao Shou continued converting and absorbing the lightning energy without pause.

By the time he refined the very last trace of lightning power, the disciples who had gathered to watch his tribulation had already dispersed one after another.

Only Fu Young remained behind, quietly standing nearby as he protected Xiao Shou.

Xiao Shou closed his eyes and concealed his aura.

He recalled the Dark Night Spirit Sword back into his dantian, then cast a Cleansing Art to remove the layer of gray dust that had seeped from his body during the lightning tempering process.

Only then did he open his eyes and look at Fu Young. "Young’er, you’ve worked hard."

"I didn’t do much. The one who had it hard was Master while undergoing the tribulation." Fu Young looked at Xiao Shou. Seeing that he was completely unharmed, he smiled happily.

This time I finally wasn’t left in such a miserable state by the Heavenly Tribulation. Having merit really is wonderful.

Mistakenly believing that the Heavenly Tribulation had shown mercy because of his accumulated merit, Xiao Shou stretched comfortably.

Feeling the exhaustion weighing on his spirit, he yawned and asked, "How long was I in seclusion this time? Nothing happened in the sect, did it?"

"Two months and nineteen days." After telling Xiao Shou how long he had been in seclusion, Fu Young briefly summarized everything that had happened within the sect during that time. Then he said with concern, "Master, you look extremely tired. You should go back and rest properly first. We can discuss everything else after you’ve recovered."

After listening, Xiao Shou shook his head. "After such a long time, there isn’t much time left before the second day of the second lunar month."

"Hmm... Let’s do this. Tell everyone who earned a competition slot to prepare themselves. Advance each of them one year’s worth of spirit stones and medicinal pills. Then, three days from now, we’ll set out for Heaven Origin Mountain."

"We don’t need to leave that early." Fu Young understood that arriving early for the Heaven Origin Grand Competition had many advantages.

They could gather intelligence sooner, make thorough preparations, and give the disciples time to purchase magical treasures, medicinal pills, talismans, formations, and other useful items to strengthen themselves before the competition.

He had no objection to advancing the spirit stones and medicinal pills.

However, he disliked leaving so early.

He wanted his master to rest for a while longer.

Having also emerged from the Flower of Time’s internal space, he knew exactly how exhausting the accelerated flow of time within a sixth tier Flower of Time was on a cultivator’s soul.

It caused no direct physical harm.

Instead, the endless flow of time, along with the emptiness of memories and emotions, inflicted the greatest damage.

After coming out himself, it had taken him several days to readjust.

Only because of his endless longing for his master had he been able to recover his original sense of self.

He believed Tier 5 Flower of Time would have similar effects.

"Haha..." Xiao Shou smiled. "Young’er, you don’t need to worry. I’ve used the Flower of Time’s internal space more than once or twice before. I’ll be fine. I’ll recover very quickly. Besides, after we arrive at Heaven Origin Mountain, I can rest in the cave residence arranged by the competition organizers. The disciples can move around freely on their own. After all, arriving earlier will give them more time to prepare and gather information, which will only benefit them."

Xiao Shou’s words left Fu Young with little room to object. So, he could only nod and say, "Then once we arrive, you must get plenty of rest. Don’t push yourself."

"Mhm! Oh, right." Xiao Shou took out a jade slip containing the sword techniques he had recently created and handed it to Fu Young. "These are the new sword forms I developed. Take a look. They might be useful."

Then he asked casually, "How should we travel there? By teleportation array? It seems most sects use large flying artifacts or flying spiritual treasures."

In the original story, the Heavenly Void Sect had transported its disciples aboard a massive flying spirit ship. It was said that every sect did the same to display its foundation and prestige. The higher the grade, the larger the vessel, and the more impressive it looked, the better.

Xiao Shou actually owned such a treasure.

It was the Frostheart Fleeting Battleship, a top grade spiritual treasure.

What troubled him was whether they should travel in a high profile manner.

Besides, the headquarters of the Nine Treasures Pavilion and the Ten Thousand Wisdom Hall were both located in the Holy City of Heaven Origin Mountain.

Before every Heaven Origin Grand Competition, they held a large scale auction.

Since the tournament had been moved forward, would the auction also be held earlier?

If it was, Xiao Shou wanted to attend.

Perhaps he could buy something valuable.

Fu Young considered the matter before replying, "Everyone in the Sunfall Domain’s Alliance of Myriad Celesia already knows about you. They also know that you have an extraordinarily powerful grandfather. That is probably why they gave our previously unknown Eternal Prosperity Sect a place in the tournament."

"In that case, the more high profile our arrival is, the better. Keeping a low profile will only make others look down on us."

"Besides our own strength, we also have your grandfather’s reputation. Even if we arrive in a very conspicuous way, no sect or faction will dare target us. And even if someone does, we have nothing to fear in this world. So I think the best choice is to travel by flying ship. I’ll go and..."

"I see." Xiao Shou interrupted before Fu Young could finish speaking. Completely unaware of the confidence hidden in his disciple’s tone or what he was planning, Xiao Shou smiled and said, "Then let’s use my flying ship. He hasn’t flown in a long time. He must be terribly bored." As he spoke, he summoned the Frostheart Fleeting Battleship.