Hearing Elder Dan's words, the Sect Master's face immediately changed. He angrily said, "Tianlu is too overbearing!"

Seeing this, Zhang Jingmo calmly said, "Sect Master, quell your anger."

As the person involved, Zhang Jingmo should have been the angriest, because the Luo'e Pill was unique to Kuchan Valley, refined from the lotuses in that golden pond. One flower could only refine one pill. Once consumed, the person would be marked by Kuchan Valley and become Tianlu's slave for life.

The further the person who took the Luo'e Pill was from Tianlu's Kuchan Valley, the more they would suffer. Tianlu could even freeze the dantian of the person who took this pill, preventing cultivators from making any further progress.

Suffering wasn't scary, having one's dantian frozen was the most terrifying. This was precisely why the Sect Master was so furious, cursing Tianlu for being too overbearing.

At this time, the spiritual energy in Zhang Jingmo's dantian couldn't even be used by himself, so his complexion was very poor. But he wasn't anxious, because as long as he left Kuchan Valley, no matter what he took, he had ways to resolve it.

Seeing Zhang Jingmo's haggard appearance, the Sect Master didn't have the heart to say more. He just told Elder Dan to take Zhang Jingmo back to rest.

Zhang Jingmo's eldest disciple Ji Jinglun was also present. Hearing this, he took the initiative to take on this task.

Zhang Jingmo didn't force himself to stay strong. After agreeing, he was carried back to his cave abode by Ji Jinglun.

After ten years away, there were no changes in the cave abode, except for one missing person...

Ji Jinglun was tactful. Without waiting for Zhang Jingmo to ask, he said, "Master, after you were taken, Junior Brother left to travel alone and has yet to return."

Zhang Jingmo angrily said, "Nonsense!" When he saw this scene in the water mirror in Kuchan Valley before, he really wanted to grab that little ghost Lu Guijiu and give him a beating. He was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, yet he dared to travel alone. Did he think his life was too long? And he even went together with that Su Yu... Who knows what improper things he might learn!

Ji Jinglun helplessly said, "I tried to dissuade him, but Junior Brother has always been stubborn. This disciple couldn't persuade him..."

Zhang Jingmo knew Lu Guijiu's temperament well. He was more stubborn than an ox. It would be strange if Ji Jinglun could persuade him.

Although he knew his disciple's personality, Zhang Jingmo was still somewhat angry. He said, "Then in these ten years, has there been any news of Lu Guijiu?"

But Ji Jinglun shook his head.

Zhang Jingmo sighed, "Forget it, I can't be bothered to care about him anymore. I'm like a clay Buddha crossing a river now, barely able to save myself. How can I have the mind to worry about him?" Although he said this, Zhang Jingmo still decided in his heart to send someone to investigate.

Ji Jinglun comforted, "Master, don't worry too much. Junior Brother is so clever, he definitely won't have any mishaps."

Zhang Jingmo shook his head. "Take me to bathe first."

After nodding, Ji Jinglun helped Zhang Jingmo to the bathroom, and then thoughtfully brought clean clothes for him to change into.

Zhang Jingmo thoroughly washed himself. Previously, whenever he thought about being held by Tianlu, he felt uncomfortable all over, as if he wanted to peel off a layer of his skin.

Zhang Jingmo spent a long time in this bath. Ji Jinglun thought something had happened to Zhang Jingmo and began to softly call for him outside the door before he finally climbed out of the bathtub.

Zhang Jingmo walked out, his pale face now had a hint of color. He said, "Jinglun, go and take care of your own business. Your master is not in any danger."

Ji Jinglun wanted to say something but stopped, obviously worried about Zhang Jingmo. The lotus of Jinze and the fortune of Kuchan Valley were connected. The Luo'e Pill made from the lotus was naturally not ordinary. Almost no one who ate it successfully escaped from Kuchan Valley.

However, just because others couldn't do it didn't mean Zhang Jingmo couldn't. He had lived so many lifetimes. Even if he didn't dare say anything else, his achievements in alchemy were definitely unprecedented and unmatched. So when he learned that Tianlu had fed him the Luo'e Pill, Zhang Jingmo was not too terrified. It's just that even so, his body would still suffer some torment.

Zhang Jingmo said, "I really have no problem. If something happens, I will send a message. Don't worry about me."

Seeing Zhang Jingmo say this so resolutely, Ji Jinglun had no choice but to agree.

Zhang Jingmo's return to the sect was not a small matter. But within a few days, the news that he had taken the Luo'e Pill quickly spread. Obviously, someone had deliberately manipulated this behind the scenes.

Zhang Jingmo's good friend Yu Fen also came riding the wind. This time he was not carrying wine in his hand, but had an anxious expression. He said, "Qingyuan, are you alright?"

Zhang Jingmo was just about to rest when he saw Yu Fen arrive. He said, "It's nothing."

After hesitating for a moment, Yu Fen still said, "The sect is spreading rumors that you took the Luo'e Pill..."

Zhang Jingmo calmly said, "Who said that?"

Yu Fen said, "I heard it from my disciples..."

Zhang Jingmo coldly said, "They're really asking for death."

Seeing that Zhang Jingmo's complexion was not bad, Yu Fen said, "So did you really take that Luo'e Pill?"

Zhang Jingmo's expression seemed to be smiling but not quite. "Of course I took it. If I didn't take that elixir, would Tianlu let me go?"

Yu Fen widened his eyes. "You, you really took it? Then what should we do—Qingyuan, surely you know how powerful that Luo'e Pill is."

Zhang Jingmo coldly said, "What choice did I have? If I wanted to leave Kuchan Valley, I had to take this Luo'e Pill whether I wanted to or not."

Yu Fen was very anxious for Zhang Jingmo, but he had no solution and could only sigh.

Zhang Jingmo found it amusing. "Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself first."

Yu Fen shook his head and sighed, "What do I have to worry about? Qingyuan, in these ten years, you haven't changed much..."

Zhang Jingmo said, "What did you expect?"

Yu Fen said, "I was worried that you were being bullied in Kuchan Valley. Sigh, it's all my fault for having too low cultivation. I can't help much and it's easy to cause trouble."

Zhang Jingmo laughed, "If you treat me to a few pots of good wine, I'll thank you."

Yu Fen said, "Okay! I'll bring a few pots of wine right now. You wait for me." He was also an impatient person. After saying that, he got up and flew out, looking like he was going to get the wine.

Taking advantage of this gap, Zhang Jingmo summoned Qingfeng and Mingyue and asked them if they had heard any news recently.

Although ten years had passed, Qingfeng and Mingyue still had great respect for Zhang Jingmo as the lord of the manor. At first, they hesitantly said there was no news. But when Zhang Jingmo asked more urgently, they tremblingly said, "There is news that... that Elder, you are actually already a person of Kuchan Valley, and this time you returned to the sect... just, just to gather information about Lingxu Sect."

Zhang Jingmo didn't get angry but laughed, "A person of Kuchan Valley?"

Qingfeng said, "They... said that Elder, you took the Luo'e Pill." The name Luo'e Pill was known to almost everyone in the cultivation world.

Zhang Jingmo said, "I understand. You two go down first."

Qingfeng responded with a yes and hurriedly left with Mingyue.

At this time, Zhang Jingmo's face was a bit gloomy. He didn't expect that someone would take this opportunity to kick him while he was down. But the means used were really too crude, making people sneer.

After thinking for a while, Zhang Jingmo decided to deal with this matter as soon as possible.