Chapter 389

Chapter 389: Withdrawal

Seeing Mo Qianxun so enthusiastic, and looking at Fang Lie who was nodding frequently, Mao Mao finally relented and said, "If that’s the case, then I agree!"

"Haha, that’s great!" Mo Qianxun immediately sighed in relief.

Fang Lie couldn’t help but laugh, "Are you this happy? Although spiritual roots are rare, there are always some in every generation. You have seen some before."

"Hehe, you don’t know," Mo Qianxun explained with a smile. "While there are certainly many spiritual roots in the world, it takes nearly hundreds of years for us in the Mo Sect to find just one. Moreover, Mao Mao’s Plague Spirit Immortal Root is extraordinary, much more precious than the usual Five Elements spiritual roots!"

"Oh? Why is that?" Fang Lie immediately asked out of curiosity.

"In the spiritual roots, the Five Elements make up the vast majority. However, the mutated ones like the thunder type, poison type, and ice element are quite rare. Mao Mao’s Plague Spirit Immortal Root is one of the poison type spiritual roots, and as far as I know, it is hard to find one in thousands of years!" Mo Qianxun said. "Mutated spirit roots have special attributes, making them very powerful in battles, stronger than regular Five Elements spiritual roots by far. My Mo Lanyun is also a rare talent. Even the Xuan Sect actively approached her with generous offers to join. But compared to Mao Mao’s Plague Spirit Immortal Root, she is nowhere near."

"Hehe~" Mo Qianxun suddenly grinned mischievously. "If those stubborn old men from the Xuan Sect found out that I have a disciple with a Plague Spirit Immortal Root, they would probably be incredibly jealous!"

"Now I understand~" Fang Lie finally realized Mao Mao’s importance. But then he recalled the tragic days of the past and sneered, "Such a great spiritual root, yet almost destroyed by the rubbish of the Mo Sect. Do you know how many insults and curses Mao Mao has endured these years?"

"It’s all my mistake~" Mo Qianxun hurriedly said. "Don’t worry, from now on, if anyone dares to insult her again, I’ll slap them!"

At that moment, the Family Head of the Bai family suddenly walked in and directly addressed Mo Qianxun, "Sect Leader, I heard that Tianhezi has arrived? Why haven’t I seen him?"

The Family Head, having a connection with Tianhezi, immediately dropped his work to come over upon hearing of an old friend’s visit. However, upon entering, he did not see Tianhezi but instead found Fang Lie and Mao Mao without her hood.

Before Mo Qianxun could speak, the Family Head frowned and scolded, "Who is this ugly girl? She stinks and is exceedingly ugly; how can she have the face to appear before the Sect Leader? Fang Lie, you should discipline her more. A filthy thing like this should be dealt with quickly to avoid embarrassment!"

The Family Head held a deep grudge against Fang Lie, having thoroughly investigated his family background. Seeing Mao Mao, he immediately recognized her. After just suffering a significant loss to Fang Lie, he was already simmering with anger. But he dared not vent his frustration on Fang Lie, fearing the Benevolence Token could be used against him. Instead, he decided to unleash his anger on Mao Mao.

The old man thought to himself, I can’t deal with you directly, so I’ll take it out on this girl. Hopefully, this will make her lose all hope and just die, causing Fang Lie to be heartbroken!

However, just as the Family Head was spouting insults, he suddenly sensed something was off in the atmosphere. Fang Lie was not raging as he had expected but merely sneered in disdain. Mao Mao, as expected, burst into tears from the scolding, her tears flowing like precious pearls.

What truly concerned the Family Head was Mo Qianxun’s expression. Mo Qianxun’s eyes bulged, and a murderous aura radiated from him, as if he had a deep blood feud with the Family Head.

The Family Head panicked and quickly said, "Sect Leader Senior Brother, what’s wrong? Who made you angry?"

"It’s you, you scoundrel!" Mo Qianxun could no longer hold back and slapped him hard across the face.

With a loud smack, the Family Head was knocked to the ground.

The Family Head was stunned, covering his face in shock and exclaimed, "Sect Leader Senior Brother, why did you hit me?"

As he spoke, tears of grievance almost rolled down his cheeks. A dignified Thunder Tribulation Immortal, a senior Elder of the Mo Sect, would usually receive some respect from the Sect Leader; even criticism wouldn’t be harsh. Yet today, he had been slapped for scolding a girl, leaving him bewildered!

Little did he know that Mo Qianxun was even angrier and feeling even more wronged. Mo Qianxun pointed at him with a trembling finger, angrily scolding, "I just promised Fang Lie that whoever insults my Core Inner Gate Disciple again would get my slap! But you came in here and started cursing right away! Do you think my words mean nothing? Or do you look down on me?"

"What? A Core Inner Gate Disciple? Her?" The Head of the Bai Family gaped in disbelief. He hurriedly protested, "Senior Brother, have you gone senile? You’re the leader of the Mo Sect, a Semi-Immortal! How could you casually take in a Core Inner Gate Disciple?"

Among cultivators, many might have disciples, but these were divided into distinct ranks.

The lowest were Registered Disciples – not truly considered proper disciples.

Next came formal apprentices who’d undergone proper initiation rituals. They received teachings but weren’t granted the master’s full knowledge.

Core Inner Gate Disciples received personal, hands-on instruction with no secrets withheld – a bond closer than father and son.

The highest rank was the Successor, the single disciple chosen from Core Inner Gate Disciples to inherit everything upon the master’s death.

Given limited energy, most masters only trained three to five Core Inner Gate Disciples. As a Semi-Immortal, Mo Qianxun had personally taught only two: Mo Wanfang and Mo Lanyun.

Mao Mao would be his third Core Inner Gate Disciple, likely his final one.

Such disciples outranked ordinary Mo Sect Elders, nearly equaling the Head of the Bai Family himself. Selecting them required utmost caution – which explained the Bai leader’s shock at Mo Qianxun choosing this "ugly creature." Even current elite Mo Sect disciples lacked this qualification!

Mo Qianxun glared furiously. "Fool! Would I bother with mediocrity? Mao Mao possesses Immortal spiritual roots! Understand?"

"Immortal roots?" The Bai leader stammered, "But Senior Brother, I heard she only has a High-grade Spiritual Root…"

"If I’m wrong, I’ll pluck my eyes for your footstool!" Mo Qianxun roared. "Begone! Your shallow judgment shames our sect – insulting juniors without cause! She’s Fang Lie’s sister and Fang Gang’s goddaughter, from honorable lineage! Who gave you leave to abuse her?"

The chastised man hunched submissively. "I didn’t know…"

"Ignorance excuses slander?" Mo Qianxun thundered. "Apologize!"

"My mistake!" The Bai leader nearly wept, inwardly fuming: *Hypocrite! You ignored her past humiliations until her talent surfaced. Now you shame me to curry favor!*

Indeed, having followed Mo Qianxun for decades, he recognized this theatrical scolding – the Semi-Immortal wanted to ensure his new disciple’s loyalty by publicly defending her.

After dismissing the Bai leader, Mo Qianxun coaxed Mao Mao until her tears turned to smiles. Turning to Fang Lie, he declared: "See? My word is iron – I strike whom I choose."

"Impressive!" Fang Lie grinned, savoring his rival’s humiliation.

Mo Qianxun led Mao Mao away by her calloused hand. "Return home, Fang Lie. She stays with me now." Without waiting for objections, he vanished with the girl.

Fang Lie departed content – Mao Mao had gained an Enormous Bargain. His plans now turned to briefing his brothers, retrieving the earth’s magnetic force ship from Ten Thousand Flower Valley, and inspecting Iron-Walled Jin City. The Bai family’s inevitable interference would require vigilance – that fortress transfer would be fraught with traps.