Sect Leader Niu Jinshui!
Qian Duoduo was stunned for a moment, then his face fell.
He had wanted to leave quietly and return quietly, but now that wouldn't be possible.
Inside the Purple Firmament Great Hall, Niu Jinshui slapped the armrest of his seat and said to Tang Honggong, "Good news, your nephew, who has been missing for almost a year, is back."
Tang Honggong's face lit up with joy, but he said, "Later, I'll give him a good talking-to. He didn't even say hello, assigned himself a mission, accepted it himself, and didn't show his face for a year. If he doesn't Cultivate properly, who knows how much his cultivation will fall behind!"
Ping Yundan, the Palace Lord of Xiongjin Mountain, whose expression was unclear, spoke up, "Your nephew has always had astonishing feats; perhaps his cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds."
A year ago, when Qian Duoduo was refining a Magic Treasure, he caused a Heavenly Tribulation in his Immortal Cave.
No one in Refining Spirit Sect could summon this Heavenly Tribulation, let alone withstand it.
Yet, this Purple-Gold Disciple, with a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivation, not only summoned it but also withstood it.
Tang Honggong snorted, "Even if he advances by leaps and bounds, at most he'll reach Foundation Establishment Late Stage."
Chu Wannian, the Palace Lord of Wen'an Peak, curled his lip, "Not everyone can be like you, Palace Lord Tang, who goes into seclusion and jumps from Golden Core Late Stage to Nascent Soul Initial Stage all at once."
Zhu Erkang, the Palace Lord of Beast Tooth Peak, fanned the black folding fan in his hand and also retorted to Tang Honggong, "I whip Caizhu, the Disciple of my peak, every day, and he's only reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage. You didn't do anything, and Jin Buhuan reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage. What are you not satisfied with?"
Tang Honggong's insincere words made Shang Wutui, the Palace Lord of Jianjian Peak, unable to resist adding another jab:
"If Palace Lord Tang doesn't want such a Disciple, give him to our Jianjian Peak. I guarantee I'll straighten him out completely."
While the Palace Lords were collectively denouncing Tang Honggong's understated showing off, Qian Duoduo, riding his Golden Rooster Sword, quickly arrived at the Purple Firmament Great Hall.
As soon as he stood on Preaching Mountain, he felt eight or nine Spiritual Awarenesses fall upon him, wanting to scrutinize him thoroughly.
His scalp tingled, knowing that not only the Sect Leader and Palace Lords, but also the Three Old Ancestors from the back mountain, were paying attention to him.
"Greetings, Sect Leader, and all Palace Lords!" Qian Duoduo walked into the great hall and bowed respectfully.
"Early Stage Golden Core!" Niu Jinshui exclaimed in surprise.
A year ago, when Qian Duoduo attracted the Heavenly Tribulation, he was only at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.
The Golden Winged Bird swallowed the Ethereal Weapon Tribulation and, in front of him, helped Qian Duoduo's cultivation rise to Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
And now, Qian Duoduo, standing before them, had actually skipped two stages, especially crossing the major hurdle from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, reaching Early Stage Golden Core.
From Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, only one out of ten Cultivators succeeds.
The process is difficult and extremely costly.
Zhu Erkang snapped his fan open and then closed it, huffing, "It seems I'll have to whip Caizhu again when I go back. He's still not working hard enough."
Chu Wannian puffed out his cheeks, turning his face into a ball, "Like uncle, like nephew; a pair of anomalies."
They were all experienced, knowing the difficulty of advancing from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core.
Qian Duoduo completing this process alone was truly astonishing.
Tang Honggong hid his joy and slowly said, "Bu Huan, you must have suffered a lot during your year of outdoor training, right?"
He didn't want Qian Duoduo to attract too much resentment.
These words were to tell the other Palace Lords that Qian Duoduo's advancement was earned with his life.
Qian Duoduo thought about the days of constant anxiety in Ba Ling Sect and quickly replied:
"The Heavenly Dao rewards diligence; sweetness only comes after enduring bitterness."
Niu Jinshui nodded, "Bu Huan has returned just in time. We estimate that in a month, Ba Ling Sect will launch the Three Sects War."
Qian Duoduo looked up, immediately understanding that the Sect Leader and Palace Lords were just discussing how to meet the challenge, and he had returned at the opportune moment.
He loudly declared, "Refining Spirit Sect is my home. I swear to defend Refining Spirit Sect to the death."
