"Compress, break through for me."

With a deep focus, Li Lin shouted in his heart, his hand seals changing swiftly, eventually controlling the spiritual energy within his mind's space to press down suddenly. Then, a muffled sound echoed in the space of spiritual energy within his mind, as a tremendous amount of energy expanded from the compression.

"Bang!"

Inside the space of spiritual energy in his mind, a muffled sound resonated simultaneously, and his body's aura began to shine brightly, climbing rapidly. The space of spiritual energy in his mind expanded several times in an instant, with violent spiritual energy surging once more.

At the same time, a massive invisible force rushed directly into the depths of his mind, further materializing his soul power. It had now completely turned into a substantial cloud-like mist, densely gathering in the depth of his soul.

His aura took a long time to stabilize. At this moment, Li Lin had reached the fifth level of a Spiritual Master, and he didn't stop there. He continued to refine the spiritual energy he had absorbed in his mind. The breakthrough had consumed less than half of the spiritual energy, and the energy of a sixth-level Spiritual Master had almost overwhelmed Li Lin, far surpassing the energy of two portions of Soul Spirit Divine Liquid.

The next afternoon, the three elders returned to JiuHua Sect, bringing back many surrendered disciples. Their loot from the three towns was significantly substantial.

"Sigh!"

Early the next morning, Li Lin slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes, which were as deep as stars, his aura incomparably stronger than two days ago.

"I've reached the peak of the fifth level of a Spiritual Master, yet not quite at the sixth level. Just a bit more needed," Li Lin murmured, feeling the abundant spiritual energy within him. He had refined all the energy from the sixth-level Spiritual Master he had absorbed, reaching the peak of the fifth level of a Spiritual Master, just shy of the sixth level.

"Swish swish…" As Li Lin left the secret chamber, the little dragon affectionately crawled onto him, flicking its tongue, and the Sky Winged Snow Lion also came over obediently.

"Sect Master," in the main hall of JiuHua Sect, Chang Lei and the other two elders handed over the loot from the three towns to Li Lin.

"Pack up everything, everyone leaves JiuHua Mountain and returns to Flying Spirit Gate," Li Lin instructed.

"Sect Master, are we just going to abandon JiuHua Sect's territory?" Chen XinJie asked in confusion.

"JiuHua Sect's territory doesn't concern us. Everyone, head back to Flying Spirit Gate now. The Grand Elder and I will return on the Sky Winged Snow Lion," Li Lin said.

"Yes, Sect Master," everyone responded without further questions and quickly went to make arrangements.

"You're quite willing to give up, JiuHua Sect's territory is not small," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing commented after everyone had left.

"Elder Dong, it's not that I'm willing to give it up, but that we don't have the strength to take it over. If we were to take over JiuHua Sect's territory, Ghost Martial Sect would not stand by idly," Li Lin said with a bitter smile. Destroying JiuHua Sect was justifiable, but taking over its territory would be indefensible, especially since the true owner of JiuHua Sect's territory was Ghost Martial Sect. Taking it over would be a direct provocation.

"Indeed, Ghost Martial Sect would not allow Flying Spirit Gate to take over JiuHua Sect's territory. Flying Spirit Gate doesn't have the strength right now; it's better to forsake it painfully," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing said, nodding in approval.

"One day, I will take it back," Li Lin said through gritted teeth, planning to reclaim the territory once Flying Spirit Gate grew stronger and no longer needed to worry about Ghost Martial Sect.

"Heh, I believe in you, kid. It won't take long," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing said, sharing a knowing smirk with Li Lin.

Below JiuHua Mountain, soon after, nearly six hundred people rode away, kicking up dust, leaving the once glorious JiuHua Sect deserted, with blood flowing into rivers at the mountain's base and hundreds of bodies lying unattended, deliberately left by Li Lin as a message to Ghost Martial Sect.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The surroundings of JiuHua Mountain saw many smaller forces noticing the changes in the past few days, gathering around only after Flying Spirit Gate's departure.

Witnessing the downfall of JiuHua Sect shocked many, and some recognized Flying Spirit Gate's involvement, spreading its fame in the vicinity and drawing attention to Flying Spirit Gate.

Shortly after Flying Spirit Gate's departure, a huge white beast leaped from the top of JiuHua Mountain, disappearing into the sky.

"Brother, when I grow up, I also want a flying beast that can take me flying everywhere," Li XinTong said excitedly, standing on the back of the Sky Winged Snow Lion with her arms open.

"XinTong, when you reach the level of a Spiritual Warrior, Master will catch a spirit beast for you," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing said.

"Okay, it has to fly and be a bit cute," Li XinTong immediately added her requirements, her little face beaming with joy. With the love from her brother and master, she gradually stepped out of the shadow of her father's death.

"The Sky Winged Snow Lion is extremely fast. After nightfall, we've already arrived at Flying Spirit Gate from JiuHua Mountain, while Zheng Ying and the others will take three days to return."

"Elder Dong, I plan to leave the ancient domain for a while," Li Lin, sitting cross-legged in his room, said to the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing.

"For how long?" asked the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing.

"I'm not sure, at least two years, maybe three," Li Lin pondered before replying. Now that the JiuHua Sect matter was resolved, it was time to think about returning to YunYang Sect. He must obtain the two items entrusted by Uncle Jiang.

"Two to three years, that long?" the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing exclaimed in surprise.

"There might be changes in the meantime," Li Lin said. Plans never change as quickly as situations do. According to YunYang Sect's rules, to leave the sect, ordinary disciples must reach the Martial Soul cultivation level, and direct disciples must reach the Martial General level, which takes time.

"What about Flying Spirit Gate?" After pondering for a while, the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing asked in a deep voice. Flying Spirit Gate had just started to get on the right track; without Li Lin, it would naturally be affected.

"I can only entrust it to Elder Dong. With you here, I'm at ease," Li Lin said lightly. With his departure from the ancient domain, Flying Spirit Gate, in the hands of this Old Poisoner, would naturally not encounter any problems.

"Leaving it to me is fine. Protecting Flying Spirit Gate is easy, but I can't develop it. As you know, I'm not interested in tasks that require thinking. Plus, my injuries haven't fully healed, and I don't have much time to manage Flying Spirit Gate," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing said after some thought.

"This…"

Li Lin frowned. He knew the Old Poisoner's character well; developing Flying Spirit Gate wasn't his forte. Currently, in Flying Spirit Gate, no one could take control of the overall situation. Liu YiShou could only make a name in business, and Huang BoRan wasn't up to it yet. As for Zhou YuHou, Hu NanSheng, and others, they were far from enough.

"When you need them, you realize how few there are," Li Lin thought to himself. There was no one in Flying Spirit Gate who could take overall control. His return to YunYang Sect meant that Flying Spirit Gate would be delayed for at least two years.

"Unless you find someone reliable. Flying Spirit Gate is in its developing phase, and two years is a significant delay. This would greatly impact Flying Spirit Gate," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing said.

"Currently, there seems to be no one in Flying Spirit Gate who can oversee everything," Li Lin sighed.

"Fine, I'll introduce someone to you. If you can get her to join Flying Spirit Gate, you'll be absolutely surprised in two years," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing hesitated before saying to Li Lin.

"That sounds great. May I know who Elder Dong is introducing?" Li Lin immediately asked eagerly, knowing that anyone the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing introduced would not be ordinary.

"A woman," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing said, looking at Li Lin, "A very terrifying woman, an old woman, a very strong woman."

"A very terrifying woman...?" Li Lin was taken aback. Anyone described by the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing in such a way was definitely not ordinary.

"Correct. This woman is very terrifying, has a bad temper, and if you provoke her, you could lose your life at any moment. Also, she's very strong. Even I would avoid her," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing seemed to recall the woman he mentioned, slightly raising his eyebrows as he spoke.

"Are you sure she can help Flying Spirit Gate?" Li Lin pondered for a moment before asking.

"Initially, not only the top forces in the ancient domain invited her to join, but even the Three Sects and Four Gates of the Spiritual Martial Continent tried to recruit her, all refused by her. Her wisdom and strategy are among the strongest I've ever seen. You tell me if she can help Flying Spirit Gate. However, those top forces didn't catch her eye; I'm afraid a small Flying Spirit Gate wouldn't even warrant a glance from her," the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing explained.

"Regardless, I've decided. I must try, no matter what. It would be great to invite such a strong person to join Flying Spirit Gate. Even if I can't, it would just mean my luck isn't good enough. Please, Elder Dong, tell me her name," Li Lin said determinedly, eager to try, especially since Flying Spirit Gate was in dire need of talents, and it was the Old Poisoner's recommendation.

"Are you sure you want to go?" the Soul Summoning Poison Commander Dong WuMing looked up and asked Li Lin.