623: half a month

The clouds and mist in the back mountains of the Sect seemed thicker than usual, and morning dew condensed on the branches and leaves of the pines and cypresses, making faint sounds as it dripped.

Half a month had passed since Lin Jing returned from the Forbidden Ground.

During this half month, the Lingxiao Immortal Sect, from top to bottom, was immersed in an unprecedented excitement.

The batch of elixirs obtained from the Xili Empire became the most sought-after treasures within the Sect.

The elixirs distributed to the Old Ancestors were naturally of paramount importance, while the remaining portion was used by Sect Master Xu Yuan as the highest-grade reward, bestowed entirely upon the Genius Disciples within the Sect—those young people whose Cultivation had advanced rapidly, whose potential was limitless, and who were regarded as the future pillars of the Sect.

Only a small number of elixirs were given to some Elders, as Disciples were, after all, the hope of the Sect.

However, the number of Genius Disciples far exceeded expectations; among the Inner and Core Disciples of the Sect, those with outstanding Aptitude were everywhere.

Bottles of elixirs were distributed, one for you, one for me, and in just over ten days, the remaining elixirs were exhausted. Many budding Disciples even failed to get what they wished for, inevitably feeling some regret and anticipation in private.

And the mastermind behind all this, Lin Jing, with the Heaven-Defying Opportunity she brought to the Sect, was specially promoted to Core Elder by Xu Yuan, overriding all dissenting opinions.

This promotion speed was extremely rare in the Lingxiao Immortal Sect's thousand-year history.

What followed was a more revered status, more abundant resources, and a more secluded and tranquil residence.

It was a mountain peak located deep in the back mountains of the Sect, only a few dozen miles from where the Old Ancestors Cultivated in seclusion.

The small courtyard was built against the mountain, surrounded by green bamboo, creating a serene and elegant environment.

And the subconscious conditioning device brought back from the Forbidden Ground was quietly placed by Lin Jing in an inconspicuous small mountain hollow behind the courtyard.

The device was concealed by a faint spiritual energy barrier, blending in with the surrounding rocks, grass, and trees. Without careful investigation, its trace would be extremely difficult to discover.

Now, with Lin Jing's change of residence, the radiation range of this device had quietly expanded.

It had already crossed the mountain hollow and spread deeper, even enveloping the Immortal Cave where the Old Ancestors had been in seclusion for many years.

The device operated silently, with only a faint, almost imperceptible silver-blue glow occasionally flashing at its core, like fireflies in the dark night, quietly rewriting the minds of certain individuals in an unknown corner.

Lin Jing stood at the edge of the mountain hollow, her gaze fixed on the device.

She stretched out a finger and pressed a button; the flickering energy values on the screen came into view: remaining energy: 8.7%.

"This energy is almost used up. It's time to return to the Forbidden Ground..."

She murmured softly, her voice carried away by the wind through the bamboo forest, with a hint of subtle certainty.

In the past half month, without the direct stimulation of He Dong's display of the Xili Empire's immense power, the continuous operation of the subconscious conditioning device, coupled with the Heaven-Defying effects of the elixirs, had already stirred up a hidden storm within the Lingxiao Immortal Sect.

In Lin Jing's secret investigation, the mental states of many Disciples within the Sect had quietly changed.

Most of them were Genius Disciples who had consumed the elixirs. They were already arrogant and had an extreme craving for higher Realms and longer lifespans.

The fact that the Xili Empire could easily produce such Heaven-Defying elixirs had long planted a seed in their hearts regarding its underlying foundation and strength.

Now, under the subtle influence of the device, that seed had already taken root and sprouted.

They began to unconsciously yearn for the Xili Empire, and a faint thought of leaving the Lingxiao Immortal Sect and joining that ancient power emerged in their hearts.

These thoughts quietly grew like vines, but they were carefully hidden deep within their hearts.

They knew that if these thoughts were exposed, they would undoubtedly be considered rebellious by the Sect, with unimaginable consequences.

Therefore, they continued to be diligent in Cultivation and respectful Disciples of the Sect in their daily lives. Only in the dead of night would that longing for the unknown distant lands quietly surface.

And this was only at the Disciple level.

What surprised Lin Jing even more was that, under her secret observation and investigation, the minds of several Sect Elders also began to waver.

These Elders had high Cultivation and were long past the age of acting impulsively, but the impact of the elixirs was too strong, coupled with the invisible influence of the device, they couldn't help but start to ponder.

Although the Lingxiao Immortal Sect was good, it was ultimately confined to this Realm. Was the Xili Empire, a power that could allow one to transcend this world and go to a broader heaven and earth, their true home?

However, these Elders were more cunning and hid their thoughts even more tightly.

They deeply understood the Sect's rules and strength and would never easily expose their ideas.

Moreover, those who harbored such thoughts at the moment were ultimately few, and each of them kept their mouths shut, so this hidden undercurrent had not yet been detected by other Elders or the Sect Master.

Lin Jing withdrew her gaze, took out an Empire badge and looked at it. She knew this was just the beginning.

After she returned to the Forbidden Ground again, replenished the device's energy, and even brought more "gifts" from the Xili Empire, this undercurrent would eventually surge into a tide, and the fate of the Lingxiao Immortal Sect would, unknowingly, completely lean towards the Empire.

On the stone table in the small courtyard, morning dew still glistened. Lin Jing sat cross-legged, her Divine Sense quietly spreading out, monitoring the movements of the Disciples influenced by the Indoctrination Device within the Sect.

Just then, a light, quick footsteps broke the courtyard's tranquility. Jiang Lu, with unconcealed ecstasy on her face, rushed in, her voice filled with eager claims of credit.

"Master! I've handled another Disciple! It's Hu Lei, a Core Disciple from the Enforcement Hall. He has clearly stated that he is willing to completely leave the Lingxiao Immortal Sect and join the Xili Empire!"

As Jiang Lu spoke, her chest rose and fell slightly, and her eyes shimmered with excitement.

Dressed in moon-white Disciple robes, her face was a little flushed, clearly having just rushed back from outside, yet she showed no fatigue, instead exuding a triumphant air.