Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 53: Is the target my Cloud Hidden Sect?

The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the faint chirping of insects coming from outside the window.

Su Wan tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, her brows furrowed: "If An Ran's speculation is true, and Master Shi Haisheng, or rather the Vajra Temple, played a dishonorable role in this... then what exactly is their purpose? Why go to such lengths to create this 'ghost flight,' and why would they help us, especially showing particular favor to you, An Ran?"

Wei Qingyi pondered, "Perhaps... their target from the very beginning was An Ran? Or perhaps, the Yunyin Sect that An Ran represents? Does Shi Haisheng know some sect secrets that we are unaware of?"

Feng Xiaolu slapped her thigh suddenly and whispered, "This is terrifying to think about! Junior Brother, could he be after your 'Nurturing' secret technique? Maybe he wants to trick you into becoming his 'exclusive weapon-refining apprentice' at the Vajra Temple?"

Chen Anran slowly shook her head. "I don't know."

Chen Anran couldn't understand it at all. If what his second senior sister said was true, then what was there for him to covet in their sparsely populated and impoverished sect that had no secret treasures?

Chen Anran wasn't quite sure how long the Yunyin Sect had been established. He only knew that their sect's teachings were diverse, ranging from talismans and formations to medicine and divination, but they didn't seem to possess any unique secret manuals that were truly astonishing and coveted by outsiders. Even their eldest sister, Su Wan, who had the highest cultivation level, was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

If there's anything special about it, it's the method of spiritual practice.

Chen Anran had read all the books of the Yunyin Sect, but he had never seen the Yunyin Sect's cultivation methods.

Each time Chen Anran was instructed on how to break through to the Qi Refining stage, it was done orally by his three senior sisters. Therefore, Chen Anran still doesn't know the name of his sect's cultivation method.

However, Chen Anran did not think that this method, which had kept him stagnant and made it difficult for him to even break through to the Qi Refining stage, was some profound secret manual that would be worth Shi Haisheng going to great lengths to seize.

But if we follow Feng Xiaolu's idea...

So who leaked the information that he owns the "Museum of Evolution"? It couldn't have been his three senior sisters, could it?

"I can't figure it out." Chen Anran finally shook his head, his brows furrowed. "Our Yunyin Sect, on the surface, doesn't really have anything worth the Vajra Temple going to such lengths to scheme for."

Su Wan seemed to have thought of something at this moment, and said, "Just half a month ago, I received formal messages from several sect leaders and family heads. After several discussions and negotiations, it was finally decided that the 'Righteous Path Assembly' after the New Year next year will be held at our Yunyin Sect."

"Why...why here?" Feng Xiaolu stammered. "Our Yunyin Sect is small in number and located in a remote area. In terms of scale and reputation, what makes us qualified to host such a grand event?"

Wei Qingyi's expression turned grave: "Something is definitely amiss. Senior Sister, how was this decision reached? Is there a clear reason?"

Su Wan sighed softly, a layer of worry shrouding her brows: "The message that came was vague, only saying that several highly respected seniors jointly recommended that the Yunyin Sect, with its ancient heritage and special status, hold a grand assembly at this time of spiritual energy revival, which is of great symbolic significance and can demonstrate to all righteous comrades in the world that they do not forget their origins and are working together for progress. But it did not specify which seniors made the recommendation."

She paused, looked at Chen Anran with a complicated expression, and said, "Now, combined with the information Anran brought back, I have to suspect that... perhaps the Vajra Temple, or Master Shi Haisheng, is behind this."

Chen Anran felt a chill rise up from her back.

If Shi Haisheng was indeed behind all of this, then what exactly was he plotting?

"Can you refuse?" Wei Qingyi asked in a deep voice.

Su Wan slowly shook her head, her smile tinged with bitterness: "Qingyi, you know it's almost impossible. No matter how small Yunyin Sect is, it's still a member of the righteous path. Such a grand event was decided by several major sects. If our small sects refuse outright, it would be tantamount to cutting ourselves off from the righteous path. At that time, we might not even have time to see the Vajra Temple make a move before being ostracized or even eliminated by other forces on the grounds of 'harboring ulterior motives'."

Feng Xiaolu stomped her foot angrily: "Isn't this bullying?! They're treating us like pushovers, expecting us to smile and fawn over them?!"

"It's probably more than just bullying." Chen Anran took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and analyze the situation. "If Master Shi Haisheng really is behind this, there must be a deeper meaning behind his decision to hold the conference at the Yunyin Sect. Perhaps... he wants to use this conference to achieve a goal that can only be achieved at the Yunyin Sect?"

Just as Chen Anran, Su Wan, and Wei Qingyi were at their wits' end, Feng Xiaolu said nonchalantly, "Whatever, we'll deal with whatever comes our way!"

Her witty remark eased the tense atmosphere considerably.

At that moment, Chen Anran suddenly remembered a "small matter" he had almost forgotten. He slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Look at my memory! I was so busy talking about those annoying things that I almost forgot the important matter!"

As she spoke, under the questioning gazes of her three senior sisters, Chen Anran reached into her cloth bag and rummaged around. In reality, her consciousness was connected to the Evolution Museum, and she quickly took out three Spirit Gathering Stones that had completed their evolution.

Suddenly, three warm, milky-white stones appeared in his hand. They were the size of eggs, with smooth, jade-like surfaces and a faint, ethereal light flowing within them.

"This is...?" Su Wan felt the strange fluctuations emanating from the stone, which could slightly activate the spiritual energy around her, and a hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Wei Qingyi and Feng Xiaolu were immediately drawn to the stone. They could clearly feel that their breathing became much easier near the stone, and the faint spiritual energy within them seemed to become more active.

"Spirit Gathering Stones!" Chen Anran smiled, placing three stones into the hands of his three senior sisters. "Take these, wear them close to your body, or keep them by your side while cultivating. They can gather and purify the surrounding spiritual energy in a small area, greatly benefiting your cultivation!"

"A spirit-gathering stone?!" Feng Xiaolu took the stone, immediately feeling a gentle warmth spreading along her arm. It was so comfortable that she squinted her eyes, then suddenly widened them in disbelief as she looked at the seemingly ordinary white stone in her hand. "Really? Junior Brother! You can even 'nurture' something like this?!"

Su Wan and Wei Qingyi also gripped the spirit-gathering stones tightly in their hands, feeling the tangible effect of the spiritual energy gathering, and their faces showed shock.

Such treasures, which can directly improve the cultivation environment, are of immeasurable value in the early stages of spiritual energy recovery!

Chen Anran rolled her eyes at Feng Xiaolu. "How could that be? Do you really think I'm omnipotent?"