Cultivating Disciples to Breakthrough

"Do you perhaps know what kind of spiritual herb this is?!" Not knowing why Xuan Hao didn't respond, the young girl curiously asked with a questioning look plastered all over her face. Moving the Spirit Grade spiritual herb in her hand forward for Xuan Hao to get a better view of it.

"Yes, it's an Earth Flower Root…" Not wanting to tell her about how surprised he had been at her finding such a rare herb, Xuan Hao decided to just tell her the name of the herb that she had found.

"Really!? Earth Flower Root… I hope we can get a lot for this when we return to the sect! With such a powerful demon beast guarding it, I'm sure it will be worth a lot!"

Looking even more fascinated than before after having heard the name of the spiritual herb in her hands, the young girl quickly put the herb into a small bag together with the other herbs she had managed to gather so far.

"Let's return to the sect for now, it's already starting to get dark."

"It's already getting dark? I thought we could at least gather a few more herbs before we needed to head back…" Feeling disappointed at the fact that she would have to return to the sect again after having so much fun gathering herbs outside, the young girl clenched the small bag filled with herbs. Deep in though about something.

"Don't you have to return back home before your Grandpa Song realizes you are gone?"

"Ah! I forgot about that!"

Jumping up in surprise upon hearing what Xuan Hao said, the young girl soon began moving at lightning pace back towards the Flying Sword Sect.

Seeing this, Xuan Hao could only smile wryly as he followed after the young girl back towards the Flying Sword Sect.

…

"I hope we can meet again and gather herbs together like today! It was really fun! I have to hurry back before Grandpa Song returns… Bye!"

Waving both her hands as the young girl's figure disappeared into the constant stream of disciples in front of the Mission Hall, Xuan Hao could not help smiling a bit.

Even though the day had not gone the way he had expected.

Meeting a rather extraordinary disciple and going on a mission to gather herbs together with them, Xuan Hao still felt that his day was well spent.

During the mission, while he had not managed to figure out anything regarding what made the young girl special, he had at the very least managed to conclude that the Grandpa Song she was talking about, was indeed Elder Song.

So, in the future, he would be able to easily find the girl again through Elder Song if he got some clues about her special condition.

"Now that I think about it, I never asked her what her name was… Neither did she ever ask me about mine…" Muttering this to himself as he began walking back towards his pavilion, Xuan Hao could not help shaking his head.

Next time he met the young girl, he should make sure that he managed to get her name.

"Elder Xuan! What are you doing here!?"

Walking along the path back towards his pavilion, Xuan Hao suddenly heard a voice call out behind him as he quickly realized that he had not used his domain to hide himself this time around.

"Hello…?"

"Gong Bo! I'm an elder from the Alchemy Hall!"

"Ah, Elder Gong Bo… What can I help you with?"

Looking over towards the elder who had called out to him, Xuan Hao was met with the sight of a short elderly man whose face donned one of the most splendid beards he had ever seen.

Alchemy Hall? Does he perhaps want to talk about something related to the Alchemy Competition?

Thinking about this, Xuan Hao suddenly realized that while the Alchemy Competition was still a few weeks off from starting, they would still have to reach the location of the competition itself!

"We have been discussing the best time to leave for the alchemy competition and though it would be best to leave in two days' time… This way, we will be able to reach the location for the competition a few days before it starts. At the same time, we will also have more time in case some delays appear along the journey!"

Listening to Elder Gong Bo as he affirmed his thoughts, Xuan Hao nodded his head in understanding. The location of the Alchemy Competition was not really located anywhere close to the Flying Sword Sect in the first place and the only reason they had even delayed the departure until this point was due to the fact that Xuan Hao would come along with them. Allowing them to more safely travel without having to worry too much about possible attacks along the way.

"I understand Elder Gong Bo, you don't have to worry, I'm more than ready to leave now that my lectures for the outer and inner disciples finished."

"That's great! I will go back and inform the others that we are leaving in two days! Ah, can I trouble you to inform Qing Yi about this as well?"

Watching as the elderly man was about to rush off before asking him this, Xuan Hao could not help but chuckle a bit at the sight of the elderly man almost tripping over his long beard in the process.

"No problem, she is after all my disciple. Informing her about this is not troubling at all."

"Thanks! I will be taking my leave then!"

Hearing Xuan Hao's answer, the elderly man didn't wait around for even a second longer before rushing in the direction of the Alchemy Hall.

"Haha, looks like the elders from the Alchemy Hall are quite an interesting bunch!" Laughing to himself as he watched Elder Gong Bo run off, Xuan Hao decided that he would have to visit the Alchemy Hall at some point in the future before making his way back towards his pavilion.

...

Knowing that he would be leaving the sect together with Qing Yi to head towards to location where the alchemist competition was going to be held, Xuan Hao began preparing a few different things for both Chu Yang and Bai Ning to do while he was gone.

Making sure that they would at least have a few things to do while he was gone and at the same time also asking Elder Song to look after them and help in case, they ran into trouble during the time he was gone.

Something Elder Song was more than happy to do for him. Even with his busy schedule.

Having settled the matter of his second and third disciple within only a few minutes of returning to the pavilion, Xuan Hao didn't forget to inform Qing Yi about the fact that they would be leaving in only two days.

"Two days!? I still haven't finished perfecting my-"

The sight of Qing Yi, who had suddenly become extremely panicked after hearing that she only had two days left before they left for the competition, caused Xuan Hao to sigh.

"You don't have to worry so much about it, I'm sure you will end up doing great in the competition." Trying his best to calm down his now panicking disciple, Xuan Hao smiled wryly as he wondered what she would act like when they reached the location of the competition.

Well, it's understandable she is acting like this… After all, the competition is hosted by an Artisan Alchemist who is from the Sky Empire-

"There is no way for me to get the first place without perfecting those recipes!"

"…"

Listening to what Qing Yi was saying, Xuan Hao suddenly realized that there might be another reason for her panicked state…

Shaking his head at this thought, Xuan Hao quickly calmed down Qing Yi before making his way towards the place where the winged lion was peacefully sleeping.

During his journey out of the Flying Sword Sect, Xuan Hao knew that he would not be able to rush back to the sect in case something happened that Feng Chen could not handle while he was gone.

At first, Xuan Hao had been worried about this and had almost decided not to go with Qing Yi, but the presence of the winged lion changed his mind.

Now, with the winged lion present, Xuan Hao would not have to worry about anything happening to the Flying Sword Sect! Even if someone at the Domain Lord Realm showed up, they would now have to deal with the winged lion!

Roar?

Seeing Xuan Hao coming over, the winged lion let out a confused roar as it chewed down on a large grilled deer demon beast that the beast tamers had made for it.

The winged lion had already returned back to its original size at this point in time, as its large body took up most of the space behind the pavilion.

"I will have to ask you to protect the Flying Sword Sect over the next period of time… Soon, I will-"

Informing the winged lion about how he would be leaving for at least a month if not longer, Xuan Hao only left to return back to his quarters after seeing the winged lion understood that it would be protecting the Flying Sword Sect during the time he was not there.

With this, all his preparations were done and he was ready to leave for the alchemy competition together with Qing Yi!

Now all that was left to do, was wait until the day of departure arrived....