Emerging from his room, Li Lin immediately headed to the back mountain, where Little dragon (Little Dragon) and the Skywing Snow Lion, along with the Contrary Scale Demon Peng and other demonic beasts, had already arrived.

  From within his spatial beast pouch, Li Lin also released the Green Demon Python, the Bloodthirsty Demon Mantis, and the Lightning Black Panther into the back mountain.

  "Boss, the Contrary Scale Demon Peng is ready to breakthrough," Little dragon landed on Li Lin's shoulder.

  Li Lin's gaze followed the aura he sensed to a pile of earth in the back mountain, where the Contrary Scale Demon Peng was now crawling, seemingly at the brink of breaking through from the fifth to the sixth level—a significant hurdle that couldn't be overcome in just a few days.

  With a slight smile, Li Lin felt a bit of anticipation, knowing that once the Contrary Scale Demon Peng successfully broke through to the sixth level, it would be equivalent to having a martial commander-level powerhouse.

  "Lin'er, I also plan to go into seclusion for some time. My injuries haven't fully healed yet, and I need to take this opportunity to cultivate and strive for a breakthrough to the seventh level as soon as possible," Bai Ling's voice came to Li Lin's ear.

  "Go into seclusion in the secret chamber," Li Lin said lightly, acknowledging that although Bai Ling's injuries were treated along the way, they were far from fully healed.

  In the back mountain, there were now two cave secret chambers, and Li Lin took Bai Ling to the newly excavated one.

  "I need to go into seclusion for quite some time. If you need my help, call me out of seclusion," Bai Ling told Li Lin.

  "Rest assured and focus on your seclusion," Li Lin said lightly, then left the cave secret chamber.

  Inside the back mountain, Li Lin arranged for the Blood Jade Demon Tiger, the Dual-Headed Water-Fire Demon Jiao, the Taiyin Demon Rabbit, the Blood Lizard, the Green Demon Python, the Bloodthirsty Demon Mantis, and other demonic beasts.

  After everything was arranged, when Li Lin returned to the palace courtyard, it was already near dusk.

  The palace courtyard was now extremely lively. The Soul Ensnaring Poisonous Commander Dong Wuming, the Ghost Fairy, Bai Sasha, Fang Xinqi, Yan Qi, and now including Li Lin and Li Xiaobai, were residing in this courtyard. However, the courtyard's rooms were plentiful and not overcrowded.

  As nightfall just enveloped the sky, Li Lin was cultivating in his room when he heard the voice of the Ghost Fairy Bai Ying: "Lin'er, come with me."

  Outside the courtyard, Li Lin's figure immediately appeared outside, where under the dim night, there were already two figures, one black and one white, under the night sky.

  "Old Dong, Sister Ying, calling me out so late, is there something important?" Li Lin asked.

  "Now that you have returned to the Flying Spirit Gate, it's time to hand over the foundation of the sect to you," Bai Ying said lightly, her white clothes as pure as snow under the night sky, her beauty and fragrance unparalleled, making it hard to believe she was decades old.

  "Sister Ying, I've had a general look at the Flying Spirit Gate's strength today. Are you saying that the Flying Spirit Gate has been hiding its true strength?" Li Lin raised his eyebrows, having had a rough idea of the Flying Spirit Gate's strength. Though the external strength wasn't entirely known, overall, there had been some enhancement, with many elders and protectors making breakthroughs.

  "Do you think the strength of the Flying Spirit Gate these past two years is just that? You're underestimating us old folks," Dong Wuming stared at Li Lin and said, "Now, let's show you the true strength of the Flying Spirit Gate over these past two years."

  "The true strength," Li Lin raised an eyebrow, a slight smile on his lips, indicating that the Ghost Fairy Bai Ying and the Old Poisoner, Dong Wuming, had been quite busy these past two years.

  "Due to the interest in the medicinal herbs of the Misty Mountain Range over these past two years, many powers have been paying attention to the Flying Spirit Gate. Now, within the sect, I have several spies from major powers under my control, and dozens have been killed. So, the real strength of the Flying Spirit Gate has been kept in the dark," Bai Ying said lightly. "Call your Skywing Snow Lion here; it's not a short distance."

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  With a whistle, Li Lin secretly called over the Skywing Snow Lion and Little dragon. The three of them leaped onto the Skywing Snow Lion and, following the direction indicated by the Ghost Fairy Bai Ying, silently left the Flying Spirit Gate.

  "Old Dong, Sister Ying, how strong is the Flying Spirit Gate's true strength now?" On the back of the Skywing Snow Lion, Li Lin couldn't help but ask the two of them, filled with anticipation and curiosity.

  "You'll know when we get there. It shouldn't disappoint you," Dong Wuming said. "The forces we've developed over these past two years have employed some extraordinary methods. Just be aware that during extraordinary times, using extraordinary measures is a necessary evil."

  "I understand," Li Lin smiled slightly, knowing that Dong Wuming's "extraordinary measures" likely involved using poison pills for control. Developing a formidable force in over two years naturally required some unconventional methods.

  "I've already notified them during the day. They're probably waiting for us by now. Once you arrive, this foundation will also be handed over to you," the Ghost Fairy Bai Ying said.

  "Kid, who exactly was the senior who came with you today?" Dong Wuming asked Li Lin. "Don't hide it from me. That was definitely a strong person. I wonder how you managed to invite him."

  At that moment, the Ghost Fairy Bai Ying also looked curiously at Li Lin, naturally curious about the identity of the mysterious strong person from earlier.

  Li Lin smiled slightly and said, "To not hide it from Old Dong, he is considered my benefactor. However, I have always been dull, so I have not yet formally become his disciple."

  "What? With your talent and monstrous strength, that senior is still not satisfied?" Dong Wuming was shocked. He knew Li Lin's talent and strength. Li Lin had just won the championship of the Three Sects and Four Sects competition. To think someone would not be satisfied with such a disciple was terrifying.

  Li Lin smiled. It wasn't that his benefactor, Uncle Jiang, was dissatisfied with him; it was just that Uncle Jiang refused to formally accept him as a disciple, leaving Li Lin helpless.

  "Lin'er, there's one more thing you need to be aware of. I've roughly found the foundation for you, all strong individuals I've selected, each with their own specialties. However, they are also somewhat arrogant. Although they obey me, they might not necessarily obey you. You need to be prepared. Although I and the Old Poisoner have made them join the Flying Spirit Gate, it's up to you to truly win their loyalty," the Ghost Fairy Bai Ying said.

  Li Lin nodded slightly. The art of managing people is indeed complicated. If there really are strong and exceptional individuals, they are likely to have their own temperaments. Truly winning them over is definitely not an easy task.

  The Skywing Snow Lion spread its wings and flew, almost silently disappearing into the distance under the night sky.

  Inside a grand hall, eight figures were seated, among them six men and two women. One of the women, in her late twenties, had skin as white as snow and features as beautiful as a painting, truly a stunning beauty. Dressed in a gorgeous palace gown, her radiant beauty made even the most splendid attire seem dull by comparison, her demeanor exuding nobility.

  The second woman, in her mid-twenties, had a melon-seed face, long eyebrows, and slightly darker skin, but her graceful figure and radiant complexion, especially her eyes, were like clear water, truly like glowing pearls and luminous jade, exuding a subtle elegance, somewhat resembling Li Wushuang.

  Among the six men, all appeared middle-aged, each dressed in long robes or sturdy attire. The youngest among them, probably in his early twenties but extremely obese, was none other than Liu Yishou.

  "Liu Yishou, do you know what matter Priestess Bai has called us here for? I still have many matters to attend to," a man in yellow robes asked Liu Yishou. This man had thick eyebrows, broad shoulders, and exuded a fierce aura.

  "I'm not sure either. I just rushed back from Huamen Town. Priestess Bai insisted I come, otherwise, she would have the Punishment Hall deal with me," Liu Yishou said, narrowing his small eyes.

  "Liu Yishou, if you fall into my Punishment Hall, I won't show any favoritism. Just giving you a heads-up," a man in black robes said, in his late thirties or early forties, his gaze always carrying a chill as he looked at Liu Yishou.

  "Ouyang Hall Master, who doesn't know about your impartiality? Even bribing you is useless. But let me tell you, next time your Punishment Hall comes asking me for money, I'll handle it by the book as well," Liu Yishou said lightly, chuckling.

  "Ye Hall Master, since you're in charge of the Dark Hall, do you know why Priestess Bai has summoned us today?" a man in his forties, wearing splendid robes, asked the stunningly beautiful woman. His gaze was profound, and a noticeable black mole above his eye corner made him stand out.

  The beautiful woman smiled, her voice as sweet as a newly awakened oriole, and said, "Kang Hall Master, I'm not aware either. Master didn't inform us sisters; she just asked me to notify you all to come here."

  "This is strange. Priestess Bai has summoned the Dark Hall, the Martial Hall, the Punishment Hall, the Metal Hall, and the Spirit Hall to gather, with only the current External Hall's leader absent. This should mean something extremely important," the man in yellow robes commented.

  "We might as well wait a bit longer; Priestess Bai should be arriving soon," Liu Yishou suggested.

  "By the way, Liu Yishou, among us, you're the only one who has met the sect leader. They say the sect leader is still a youth. Tell us, what kind of person is the sect leader?" a young man in blue robes asked Liu Yishou. This man had the stature of a tall tree, sturdy and robust, with short, spiky black hair, exuding stubbornness.