Chapter 894 - 369: Sect-Wide Welcome, Celestial Demon News

"It really is Chu Ning!

He’s already at the Golden Core Late Stage!

How is his Divine Sense stronger than yours, Sect Leader?"

Ge Liuyang’s barrage of questions went unanswered by anyone.

Everyone on the scene seemed to have the same curiosity as he did.

Everyone was looking in the direction Chu Ning was coming from.

After a brief moment, a beam of Escape Light approached rapidly, like a startling streak across the sky.

Chu Ning sensed the situation here from afar with his Divine Sense, so he came flying at full speed without reservation.

Everyone watched the unchanged appearance of Chu Ning, whose cultivation realm was now incomparable to before, with curiosity.

Faces showed an expression of surprise involuntarily.

Chu Ning flew to the front of the crowd, smiled, and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Sect Leader, fellow senior brothers, and fellow disciples, long time no see!"

Yu Changge looked at Chu Ning at this moment, and despite having many doubts, just smiled and said:

"Elder Chu returns in glory, and has advanced to the Golden Core Late Stage. Indeed a grand event for our Sect, most worthy of celebration!!"

Chu Ning also smiled and said:

"Sect Leader’s promotion to the Nascent Soul Stage is what’s truly worth celebrating."

Saying this, Chu Ning’s gaze swept across Ling Cang, Roger, Ge Liuyang, Fu Lihong, and the four Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Senior Brother Ling, Senior Brother Luo, Senior Brother Ge, Senior Sister Fu, and the other fellow disciples, I hope you’ve all been well!"

Ge Liuyang, being the most impatient, began yelling directly.

"You shouldn’t call us senior brothers; you’re now a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator, so we should call you senior brother.

Let’s skip the formalities, quickly tell us where you’ve been all these years, and how you suddenly became a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator."

Chu Ning was about to speak when Yu Changge interrupted with a smile:

"This is not the place for discussion. Let’s invite Elder Chu into the Sect for a detailed conversation.

Elder Luo, please head back to the Sect first and notify all cultivators; let everyone in the Sect welcome Elder Chu back!"

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

Roger promptly complied, then transformed into a beam of golden light, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

He is an Elder of Jiuhua Sect’s Golden Yuan Peak, versed in the arts of Gold Attribute, and once accompanied Chu Ning to the Golden Spirit Species Spirit Realm.

He’s immensely curious about what transpired with Chu Ning in the Golden Spirit Species Spirit Realm.

Yet, since Yu Changge has given orders, he naturally obeyed and returned to the Sect first.

Chu Ning originally thought to say it was unnecessary to make such a fuss, but reconsidered and refrained.

Showing ample respect for the foremost High Tier Cultivator is a tradition of the Jiuhua Sect.

Chu Ning already experienced this when breaking through to the Golden Core Stage.

After Roger flew away, Chu Ning, Yu Changge, and the others stayed behind.

Yu Changge sighed at this moment and said:

"Elder Chu, when the Golden Spirit Species Spirit Realm changed, and you were nowhere to be seen returning to the Sect, we once thought something unfortunate happened to you.

Fortunately, over fifty years ago, Fellow Daoist Shi Xuerong from Guiyuan Sect came to deliver a message.

She said Elder Chu was safe, merely transported to another place by a Teleportation Array.

We always thought it wouldn’t take you long to return, but..."

As he spoke, Yu Changge shook his head and said:

"More than fifty years have passed, without word from you, and it truly made everyone worried.

However, we were even more surprised by how quickly your cultivation advanced, already reaching the Golden Core Late Stage."

"Back then, Shi Xuerong and I were transported to No-Spirit Island by a spatial storm. Although the Teleportation Array was repaired,

it was random in its transportation. I was directly sent to Northern Cold Land, where I found some fortuitous opportunities.

I was lucky enough to reach East Saint Continent, giving me the chance to return to the Sect again."

Chu Ning briefly recounted his experiences over these years. He couldn’t share more detailed aspects, and the people present naturally didn’t ask too in-depth questions.

Chatting leisurely, the group quickly arrived at the Jiuhua Sect.

At this moment, Gong Yuyuan, Yuan Zhuo, Roger, and others were already waiting in front to welcome.

Throughout the Sect, cultivators had long since emerged from buildings, waiting, all gazing up at Chu Ning, Yu Changge, and others in the sky.

Yu Changge’s gaze swept across, and his voice soon resonated across the entire Jiuhua Sect.

"Elder Chu Ning has been away from the Sect for sixty years. Now returning, having advanced from the Early Stage of Golden Core to the Golden Core Late Stage!

Everyone in the Sect, join together in welcoming Elder Chu back!"

"Welcome Elder Chu back!!"

As Yu Changge’s words fell, the numerous cultivators below immediately cupped their hands high, full of loud greetings.

Chu Ning was no stranger to hearing such a spectacular collective shout in the Jiuhua Sect.

But that was over sixty years ago.

Listening to the loud shout of so many cultivators now, his heart couldn’t help but be slightly touched.

He immediately cupped his hands in return courtesy and said:

"Thank you, fellow disciples, for your concern. Chu Ning is deeply honored!"

After some polite words, Chu Ning proceeded with Yu Changge towards the assembly hall of Nine Spirits Peak.

Throughout the Sect, the voices of many Cultivators discussing were rising and falling.

"Elder Chu has returned, and has even become a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator, tsk, this is truly unexpected!"

"Sixty years ago, at that time, Elder Chu had just achieved Core Formation, and now he’s already at the Golden Core Late Stage!"

"Elder Chu is not just high in cultivation realm; his alchemy and refinement skills are also exceptional!"

...

Chu Ning, who was being discussed throughout the Sect, was currently sitting in the main hall.

Except for Tang Xuan, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and another Golden Core Cultivator who was in secluded cultivation, all the other Golden Core Elders were present.

Everyone was listening to Chu Ning recounting his experiences in more detail than before.

If the events of sixty years were to be told in full, even three days and nights wouldn’t suffice.

Chu Ning only touched on the main points, such as obtaining a Gold Spirit Seed in the Golden Spirit Realm.

As for the numerous experiences in the Northern Cold Land, he mostly glossed over them.

"So you acquired a Gold Spirit Seed for refinement, no wonder you could advance to the Golden Core Late Stage in just sixty years."

Upon hearing that Chu Ning obtained a Gold Spirit Seed, Roger’s face immediately showed a look of realization.

Back then, he also entered the Golden Spirit Species Spirit Realm, but he didn’t acquire a single Spirit Charm, let alone a Gold Spirit Seed.

Most of the other Golden Core Elders had similar expressions on their faces, and at this moment, Second Elder Tan Zhuo sighed:

"Elder Chu truly is a person of great fortune, considering how many perished in that Golden Spirit Species Spirit Realm.

To have survived with Elder Luo was already a great fortune, and who would have thought you could even acquire a Gold Spirit Seed."

Listening to Tan Zhuo mention the Gold Spirit Seed, Chu Ning could not help but ask:

"Right, after the space storm in the Golden Spirit Realm, how many people survived?"

"Initially, only over twenty people got out directly of the Spirit Realm, and later, more returned to their respective Sects.

Those like me who were teleported to other places in the Western Alliance Continent, according to the news, should not exceed twenty people."

Saying this, Tan Zhuo paused briefly before continuing:

"There might be others who, like you, Elder Chu, were teleported elsewhere, and it’s uncertain if they can return."

Hearing Tan Zhuo’s words, Chu Ning couldn’t help but click his tongue.

"Back then, the Cloud Peak Alliance, Celestial Extreme Alliance, and Demon Alliance together had a full two hundred people, and yet less than fifty emerged."

Chu Ning said with a sigh of relief and smiled:

"It seems not only I was fortunate; the whole Jiuhua Sect had good luck."

Upon Chu Ning’s words, everyone smiled.

Before Chu Ning’s return, one could not say the Sect was lucky, but with Chu Ning back, all three who entered the realm safely returned to the Sect.

For Jiuhua Sect, it indeed was extremely fortunate.

Gong Yuyuan laughed and said, "Then it appears, indeed, heaven blesses our Jiuhua Sect to thrive.

Not only did the Sect Leader advance to a Nascent Soul Cultivator, Elder Chu is already at the Golden Core Late Stage, perhaps reaching the Golden Core Late Stage Peak won’t take long.

Even advancing to a Nascent Soul Cultivator is very much possible."

After hearing this, everyone nodded. Back then, they had asked about Chu Ning’s age when he achieved Core Formation.

Now they naturally deduced that Chu Ning was just over a hundred years old, being a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator at such an age, thus having a great probability of advancing to a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

At this moment, Chu Ning thought of Tang Xuan and tentatively asked:

"I didn’t see Master Tang this time, is he in seclusion?"

"Yes, Senior Brother Tang is in seclusion." Yu Changge said with a slightly faded smile.

"The Supreme Elder, knowing his life span is insufficient, focuses primarily on seclusion and recuperation."

Chu Ning nodded, recalling another important matter in the Spirit Realm and immediately asked:

"By the way, back in the Spirit Realm, an Outer Celestial Demon appeared, as everyone should know.

What happened to that Celestial Demon?"

"That Celestial Demon also escaped from the Spirit Realm." Yu Changge responded.

"This demon possessed another Demon Alliance Cultivator, even the Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator from the Demon Alliance didn’t notice it at first.

Later, this demon indeed caused a lot of trouble for a while and even led to hostility between the Demon Alliance and the Celestial Extreme Alliance.

Moreover, after the Golden Spirit Species Spirit Realm episode, the two alliances had certain frictions and conflicts. For the past few decades, conflicts have been incessant.

At this time, the Western Alliance Continent is far more chaotic than before, and many Sect alliances are being dragged into it."

"That Outer Celestial Demon possessed a Cultivator who later broke through to a Nascent Soul Cultivator, but eventually got exposed during a clash with Celestial Extreme Alliance Cultivators.

It was only then did everyone realize it was causing trouble, yet the chaos had already begun, and it’s unlikely to settle quickly.

Moreover, that Outer Celestial Demon was severely injured by several Celestial Extreme Alliance Cultivators, concealed himself, and vanished without a trace."

At this, Yu Changge smiled at Chu Ning and said:

"Our Cloud Peak Alliance has been relatively stable these years, with each Sect continually recuperating and strengthening.

Elder Chu, your return to the Sect strengthens our Sect considerably."

Hearing this, Chu Ning immediately smiled and said:

"Sect Leader, I did not return alone this time; if the Sect is interested, our Jiuhua Sect’s strength could improve significantly."

Immediately, Chu Ning spoke of the Yaochi Palace matter.

Yu Changge, hearing Chu Ning out, unhesitatingly stood up and said:

"This is a good thing! Elder Chu, lead the way; let’s welcome the fellow Daoists into the Sect right now."