Chapter 66
Translator: T_Fan
At dawn the next day, outside the cave abode in Qingyu Ravine.
Lee Hyun lay on his back with his fingers interlaced behind his head, listening to the waterfall as he gazed up at the stars in the night sky.
‘A Nascent Soul cultivator was seriously injured….’
To a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a Nascent Soul cultivator was like a natural disaster, an existence one could not even dream of defying.
Lee Hyun considered it no great difficulty to deal with a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, yet he had never once thought he could contend with a Golden Core cultivator.
Long ago, he had witnessed a battle between Golden Core cultivators at the Changchun Sect’s External Affairs Market. The methods they employed had been on an entirely different level.
So he could not even begin to imagine how powerful a Nascent Soul cultivator, someone beyond even them, might be.
And an existence like that had returned injured.
What would happen if Tier-4 cultivation nations went to war?
If Lee Hyun took part in the war and Nascent Soul cultivators happened to fight nearby, even being caught at the edge of the aftermath could put his life in danger.
‘Maybe running away really would be best? It is about time I left the Danxiao Sect….’
Around the time he had first been dispatched to Haimen Port, he had decided to remain in the Danxiao Sect for no more than another fifty years.
That time was almost up, but that did not mean he could simply leave without a care.
Lee Hyun considered himself fortunate when it came to choosing good sects. Both the Changchun Sect and the Danxiao Sect had been full of good people.
He had grown attached to them in his own way, so simply turning his back on them and leaving did not sit quite right with him.
As long as it did not put him in danger, he thought he would actually feel more at ease helping the Danxiao Sect a little.
‘For now, let’s see how things develop. There’s no guarantee a war will actually break out.’
…
A few days later, in the morning.
Dooong―
A low bell tolled in the distance.
The first toll spread between the mountain peaks and lingered for a long time. A moment later, a second toll followed.
‘That’s the summons….’
…
The plaza in front of the Danxiao Grand Hall was packed with people.
Foundation Establishment cultivators stood in groups according to their respective peaks. As newly arriving disciples continued filling the gaps, the number gathered soon approached a thousand.
As Lee Hyun headed toward the Yanxia Peak disciples, Liu Zhengyuan spotted him first.
“Senior Brother Li! Over here.”
Lee Hyun joined the Yanxia Peak disciples and looked toward the Danxiao Grand Hall.
Golden Core Elders stood on the stone platform in front of the hall.
Tan Yunsheng was among them.
Instead of the plain long robe he normally wore during lectures, he was dressed in an enchanted robe embroidered with cloud patterns, and a small gourd Lee Hyun had never seen before hung at his waist.
Around twenty Golden Core Elders had appeared. It was Lee Hyun’s first time seeing the Elders of the various peaks and Courts gathered in one place. Many of them were faces he had never even seen before.
Low conversations among the inner disciples continued without pause across the plaza.
“I heard one of the strongholds in Cang Kingdom fell.”
“Didn’t they say a Nascent Soul Elder was injured?”
“There’s no way the Wangu Sect would collapse that easily….”
Not long afterward, the doors of the Danxiao Grand Hall opened, and the Elders on the stone platform all turned at once.
A white-haired cultivator wearing a purple-gold enchanted robe with broad sleeves walked out from inside the hall.
The noisy plaza fell silent the moment he appeared.
Lee Hyun unconsciously slowed his breathing as well.
The man made no display of power whatsoever, yet knowing that he was a Nascent Soul Elder made Lee Hyun afraid even to meet his eyes.
The disciples all lowered their gazes.
Tan Yunsheng and the other Elders cupped their hands.
“We greet the Supreme Elder.”
The disciples gathered in the plaza also saluted in unison.
The white-haired cultivator stepped to the front of the stone platform.
“Raise your heads.”
His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly all the way to the far end of the plaza.
“Not long ago, an envoy arrived from the Wangu Sect of Cang Kingdom. Many rumors have been circulating because of it, so I will begin by telling you the facts that have been confirmed.”
A Golden Core Elder standing to one side of the stone platform swept out his sleeve, and an enormous map rose into the air.
A long coastline stretching from north to south, mountain ranges, and numerous islands appeared in light. Red dots marked the southern portion of the map, and among them, one narrow waterway shone brightly.
“This is Qingshui Strait in southern Cang Kingdom.”
The Supreme Elder pointed toward it.
“Not content with occupying Lan Kingdom long ago, the cultivators of the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance crossed the sea and advanced north, seizing this strait. Of the six major strongholds the Wangu Sect established in the southern waters, the supply routes to four have already been cut.”
As four points on the map turned red, sharp intakes of breath sounded throughout the plaza.
The Supreme Elder continued.
“One of the Wangu Sect’s Nascent Soul Elders went to relieve an isolated stronghold and engaged a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator known as the Blood Sea Patriarch. The enemy had prepared a blood-path formation near the strait. The Wangu Sect Elder’s life-bound spirit insect suffered severe damage there, and his own nascent soul was injured as well. He returned alive, but I am told he will be unable to return to the battlefield for some time.”
The disciples pressed their lips tightly together.
The white-haired cultivator watched their reactions for a moment before continuing.
“The Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance is estimated to have at least twenty Nascent Soul cultivators in total.”
‘More than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators!?’
The entire plaza erupted into murmurs.
The Supreme Elder waited for the noise to subside.
“However, only three Nascent Soul cultivators have currently been confirmed on the Cang Kingdom front. We are still determining who else may have crossed over.”
One of the Golden Core Elders on the stone platform spoke.
“They must have left a considerable number of forces behind in Lan Kingdom as well.”
“Indeed. They must defend both their original territories beyond the Nanming Sea and the lands they occupy in Lan Kingdom. The interests of the twelve sects do not always align, so it will be difficult for them to redirect their full strength here all at once. They once fought fiercely among themselves, which will also make internal unity difficult.”
The Supreme Elder pointed toward the northern portion of the map.
Cang Kingdom and Kun Kingdom lit up in succession.
“The Wangu Sect has three Nascent Soul cultivators, while our sect and the Biluo Sect each have two. Even excluding the Wangu Sect’s injured Elder, that still leaves six. If we make use of our existing strongholds and defensive grand formations and concentrate our forces where necessary, we should be able to oppose them. Furthermore….”
The Supreme Elder paused briefly before continuing.
“The Qianyang royal house has also responded to the Wangu Sect’s request, promising to send several Tier-3 gu warriors as support.”
If the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance continued north, Qianyang Kingdom, which bordered Cang Kingdom, would also be affected, so there was nothing strange about them offering assistance.
The Supreme Elder swept his gaze over the disciples.
“Of course, we cannot be certain that this alone will be enough to confront the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance. For now, we will maintain the defenses of our headquarters while sending manpower and supplies to Cang Kingdom. At the same time, we will reinforce the major strongholds throughout Kun Kingdom.”
As he lowered his hand, the map slowly rolled itself up and vanished.
“Each of you will have a role to play. Until your assignments are decided, do not leave the headquarters. Wait for instructions from your respective peaks and Courts.”
The disciples cupped their hands in unison.
“We obey!”
Their voices filled the plaza.
…
Three days later.
Six disciples, including Lee Hyun and Liu Zhengyuan, had gathered in Yanxia Peak’s Lecture Hall.
A newly issued deployment document lay on the table.
Tan Yunsheng looked first at Lee Hyun.
“Dongsan. This time, I want you to coordinate the work.”
Lee Hyun picked up the document.
「Support for Sanmen Island, Cang Kingdom.」
Below it were the assigned personnel, supplies, and duties.
“Sanmen Island… so we’re being sent offshore?”
“Yes.”
Tan Yunsheng unfolded a map.
An island was marked in the broad waters north of Qingshui Strait, with numerous shipping routes of varying sizes branching around it.
“It serves as a receiving point for cultivators and supplies withdrawing from the southern strongholds. The Wangu Sect requested assistance. Our sect and the Biluo Sect will each send personnel, and I am told that smaller local sects are already there.”
Liu Zhengyuan asked,
“Could the enemy appear there as well?”
“It is not the front line, but if fighting continues around the strait, more wounded cultivators and merchants fleeing the fighting will gather there. It seems the local alchemists cannot handle the demand on their own.”
Lee Hyun studied the map.
‘This is practically the front line….’
Tan Yunsheng pointed to the section listing their duties.
“What is most urgently needed right now are Tier-2 Qi-Restoring Pills and Tier-2 Detoxification Pills. The local stronghold will provide the medicinal ingredients required for alchemy and give priority to supplying the ingredients for those two pills. You will handle alchemy there and provide combat support if necessary.”
Lee Hyun did not take his eyes from the map.
Sanmen Island was surrounded entirely by ocean.
‘If I go in there and the sea routes get blocked….’
There would be no land on which to use the Earth Escape Art.
Going beneath the seabed would not solve the problem either. Charging blindly into a place where he knew neither the water depth nor the geological layers could lead to anything.
If a Golden Core cultivator pursued him, escaping would be difficult.
And what if a Nascent Soul cultivator attacked the island?
‘There’s nothing I could do about that.’
Tan Yunsheng continued.
“Golden Core Elders will be stationed there. Personnel from our sect’s Dharma Protector Court will accompany you as well. Even so, you must be prepared to protect yourselves.”
“When do we depart?”
“In fifteen days. Until then, finish your current work and inspect the medicinal ingredients and pill furnaces you will be taking.”
Lee Hyun set down the deployment document.
“Understood.”
…
A few days later.
Yanxia Peak had grown quite busy.
At the communal Alchemy Hall, there was never a pause in preparing medicinal ingredients. Even during hours when the disciples would normally have been resting in their own residences, they came out to affix seals to jade bottles and medicine boxes.
Just then, a streak of light flew toward Yanxia Peak, and a Foundation Establishment steward descended.
“Is anyone here assigned to Sanmen Island?”
Lee Hyun looked up.
“What is it?”
“The deployment to Sanmen Island has been put on hold. Those assigned are ordered to remain at their respective peaks and await further instructions.”
After handing over a document, the steward left, and Liu Zhengyuan approached Lee Hyun.
“Senior Brother. Has something happened?”
“I don’t know yet.”
At that moment, Tan Yunsheng also came down from the direction of the Lecture Hall, holding a voice-transmission talisman.
The disciples saluted him.
“Master. The Sanmen Island deployment….”
“I heard. The situation has changed.”
Tan Yunsheng looked at his disciples.
“Qianyang Kingdom has sided with the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance.”
…
Even after all the disciples had entered the Lecture Hall, no one spoke for some time.
Tan Yunsheng placed a jade slip on the table.
“I am told that the Qianyang royal house has broken the alliance it made with the Wangu Sect and sent an official state letter declaring that it will submit to the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance.”
Liu Zhengyuan asked,
“Is that true? Just a few days ago, they promised to send support….”
“It seems that was a deception. Cultivators from the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance have appeared throughout Qianyang Kingdom’s Gu-Rearing Institutes.”
Tan Yunsheng let out a short breath.
“The problem is no longer merely losing the support of their Tier-3 gu warriors. We are now in a position where we must suppress them.”
‘Hmm….’
Lee Hyun recalled the terrain of northern Qianyang Kingdom.
The long border adjoining Anling Kingdom, along with the spirit veins and passes around it.
‘If cultivators from the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance come through there….’
They could choose weak points in Kun Kingdom’s defenses and attack them.
The route leading to Haimen Port and the various cultivator markets throughout Anling Kingdom would also be affected.
Qianyang Kingdom occupied a broad expanse of land west of Kun Kingdom and Cang Kingdom, and its far western edge bordered the sea. Leaving it alone would threaten the supply routes running from Kun Kingdom to Cang Kingdom. If the enemy advanced east and seized the major routes, the movement of supplies and personnel between the two cultivation nations could be cut off.
One disciple asked cautiously,
“How can a mere Tier-3 martial nation like Qianyang Kingdom betray Cang Kingdom and Kun Kingdom? Wasn’t Qianyang Kingdom the Wangu Sect’s lackey?”
“It was. Long ago, when the Qianyang Divine Demon killed a Golden Core cultivator from Kun Kingdom, the Wangu Sect even stepped in to prevent him from being punished.”
“Then why….”
Tan Yunsheng looked at the jade slip.
“I am told there is a sect in the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance called the Dongming Sect.”
Lee Hyun’s eyes widened.
‘The Dongming Sect! Aren’t those the same characters used in Life-Bound Gu?’ [TL Note: Dongming (同命) is the same compound used in Life-Bound Gu (同命蠱), literally meaning “sharing the same life”.]
“The Qianyang royal house has always kept the cultivation methods of the Gu Path completely hidden from outsiders. But cultivators of the Dongming Sect recently confirmed within Qianyang Kingdom used methods remarkably similar to theirs. Reports say even the way they handle symbiotic spirit insects and the characteristics that appear when they employ the Gu Path are alike.”
Tan Yunsheng tapped the jade slip with a fingertip.
“Their inheritances have not yet been directly compared. Still, it seems highly likely that the Qianyang Divine Demon had some sort of connection to the Dongming Sect.”
“Wasn’t the Gu Path something the Wangu Sect created for them?”
“There were rumors to that effect, but in truth, the Wangu Sect never claimed to have created the Gu Path.”
Tan Yunsheng paused briefly to choose his words before continuing his explanation.
“Come to think of it, their methods are entirely different. Simply handling gu does not mean everyone uses the same methods. The Wangu Sect excels at raising and commanding spirit insects. They center their forces around a powerful life-bound spirit insect, using it to command several insect swarms, with different species assigned to attack, defense, poison, and tracking.”
Lee Hyun thought of his fuzzbees.
Tan Yunsheng continued.
“At lower realms, they directly control a small number of spirit insects. Once they reach higher realms, however, they are also said to command entire groups through lead insects. A Nascent Soul cultivator of the Wangu Sect can supposedly control tens of thousands of insects in this manner. Of course, keeping the insect swarms from interfering with one another while coordinating them with one’s own techniques requires great proficiency in both the Insect Control Art and the manipulation of divine sense. It is an extremely difficult style of combat.”
“Then the Gu Path inheritance of Qianyang Kingdom must have originated from the Dongming Sect rather than the Wangu Sect….”
“At present, that seems the most reasonable conclusion. The Wangu Sect has no Gu Path lineage like the one practiced in Qianyang Kingdom. But the origin of an inheritance and whether the one who obtained it actually belonged to that sect are separate matters.”
Tan Yunsheng looked around at his disciples.
“It seems the Wangu Sect suspects that the Qianyang Divine Demon traveled to the Nanming Sea long ago. There are even claims that he fled the Dongming Sect with its inheritance. If he never advanced beyond a Tier-3 gu warrior, his lifespan should have run out by now. His successors may have sought the Tier-4 gu warrior inheritance that they themselves lacked. However, it has not yet been confirmed how long the Qianyang royal house has been secretly colluding with the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance.”
Lee Hyun organized his thoughts as he listened. Whatever the truth might be, one thing seemed certain: the gu warriors of Qianyang Kingdom were now enemies.
“Master.”
Lee Hyun spoke.
“Back at Haimen Port, I once sent spirit insects implanted inside demon beasts to the headquarters. Then could those spirit insects also have been….”
Tan Yunsheng nodded.
“I suspect they were probably the work of the Dongming Sect.”
“I see.”
When the Lecture Hall fell quiet again, Tan Yunsheng rose from his seat.
“The headquarters will determine a new response. Until then, do not travel far. Remain here and wait.”
“Yes, Master.”
Lee Hyun thought it was actually fortunate that he no longer had to go to the island in the south.
…
The headquarters grew even busier.
Lights remained on late into the night at the External Affairs Court and Intelligence Hall, while the number of voice-transmission talismans flying between the peaks increased sharply.
Several Golden Core Elders had already left through the Mountain Gate with their disciples.
…
The next day, Tan Yunsheng summoned his disciples once more.
“Our Yanxia Peak will be going here.”
Tan Yunsheng’s finger stopped over southeastern Anling Kingdom on the map floating in midair.
It was some distance from the border with Qianyang Kingdom.
“One of the joint defensive strongholds of the Danxiao Sect and Biluo Sect will be established here.”
One disciple asked,
“Master, will you be coming with us as well?”
“Yes.”
Tan Yunsheng called out the names of ten disciples, including Lee Hyun.
“You will follow me. Those who remain will handle the headquarters’ alchemy work. We will also take support personnel from among the Qi Refining disciples.”
“What about supporting the Wangu Sect?”
“Some Elders have already left for Cang Kingdom, and medicinal ingredients and pills are being sent through other routes.”
Tan Yunsheng moved the small markers placed on the map.
One marker moved down toward Cang Kingdom, while the others clustered densely along the border with Qianyang Kingdom.
“We will establish strongholds centered around Golden Core Elders. The Nascent Soul Elders will watch the movements of the enemy’s Nascent Soul cultivators and keep them in check.”
Lee Hyun studied the terrain around his destination.
A long mountain range stretched to the east, while a supply route extended northwest. That road connected to various cultivator markets in Anling Kingdom and continued toward Haimen Port.
‘About twenty thousand li (about 7,840 km) from Tunnel No. 3… If anything, I suppose this battlefield is close to home for me.’
Tan Yunsheng continued.
“Our sect and the Biluo Sect have also requested support from the Azure Cloud Sect, Taixuan Sect, and Jinding Sect of Xuan Kingdom, a Tier-4 cultivation nation. If Kun Kingdom falls into crisis, they will hardly remain unaffected.”
Tan Yunsheng put away the map.
“We depart in ten days. Until then, inspect your magic tools and pills. Once we march out, there is no telling when we will return through the Mountain Gate. Those of you who have saved up contribution points should obtain whatever you need now. Do not hoard them until you lose the chance to use them at all.”
“We will keep that in mind.”
…
The following day.
Out of curiosity, Lee Hyun visited the Artifact Court, but Foundation Establishment cultivators were waiting in line outside the hall, while carts loaded with supplies constantly came and went.
From what he heard, stockpiles were being depleted rapidly as more supplies were sent to the front. The cost of importing replacements from outside had risen as well, so the exchange prices had increased not only for combat magic tools, but also for all kinds of formation plates, formation flags, talismans, and pills.
Even so, disciples continued crowding in, making it difficult to obtain the items they wanted.
‘Everyone’s thinking the same thing.’
Lee Hyun considered what he already possessed.
The Profound Gate Sword, six bronze flying swords and the black-iron longspear, the Black Scale Inner Armor and Profound Iron Buckler, and the Protective Bell. He also had the Nine-Bend Dust and Sand Formation, a Tier-2 defensive formation he could deploy in an emergency.
‘I certainly don’t lack magic tools.’
…
After returning to Qingyu Ravine, Lee Hyun arranged jade caskets from his storage pouch across the table and floor.
He took out his talismans one by one and examined how much spiritual power remained in their talisman inscriptions.
Thanks to buying a large stockpile along the way, he still had quite a few usable ones left.
He broke the seals on his pills as well and checked their condition.
Having worked as a Tier-2 alchemist, he naturally had plenty of spare pills for his own use.
Next, he took the Bonefuzz puppets from his storage pouch.
Over the past forty-eight years, Lee Hyun had increased their number all the way to Bonefuzz No. 20. In addition to the restriction that activated the Fireball Art, he had inscribed each Bonefuzz with a flight-suppressing restriction that employed Earth-Origin Force.
The flight-suppressing restrictions operated by consuming spirit stones and were weaker than the Earth-Origin Force Lee Hyun could wield himself, but when several Bonefuzz puppets combined their strength, they were quite useful.
After repeated training, the Tier-2 fuzzbees had also grown accustomed to activating both types of restrictions while controlling the Bonefuzz puppets.
‘Hopefully I won’t need to use even these….’
Lastly, Lee Hyun examined his identity token. Over the past fifty years, he had accumulated contribution points through alchemy work and other duties, and after spending what he needed, he still had 1,780 points remaining.
‘They’re worthless if I never spend them, right?’
…
The Inner Pavilion of the Scripture Pavilion.
There were more people here as well, though it was not as chaotic as the Artifact Court. After all, cultivation arts and techniques could not be put to immediate use merely by reading them right before a war.
Even so, several people had crowded around the list of combat techniques near the entrance.
Lee Hyun first examined the list of Way of the Sword inheritances beside it and soon found a familiar name.
The fee to access the 《Great Unity Heavenly Dipper Sword Canon》 was still 370 contribution points.
Following the lineage of inheritances below it, he came across a similar name.
《Great Unity Earthly Fiend Sword Canon》
A Tier-3 Way of the Sword inheritance for Golden Core cultivators.
The contribution points required to access it amounted to a staggering 950!
Lee Hyun read the overview.
Building on the condensing and refining of sword qi, sword forms, and light splitting taught in the Great Unity Heavenly Dipper Sword Canon, it continued the Way of the Sword at a level suited to the Golden Core realm.
‘I can’t use any of this right now, but….’
There was no guarantee he would have another chance to access it later.
Moreover, it was the successor inheritance to the sword art he had already learned. It was better to secure this than to reach the Golden Core realm and begin learning an entirely different Way of the Sword from scratch.
‘Let’s take this first. That’ll leave me with 830 contribution points.’
Lee Hyun wrote down the name of the inheritance he intended to access, then headed toward the section containing skill inheritances.
‘The sect might collapse, so I should secure the inheritances I need to become a Tier-2 formation master and artifact refiner as well.’
Keeping his remaining contribution points in mind, he went through the lists one by one.
Collections of completed formation diagrams and secret refining methods for specific magic tools also caught his attention. However, if he chose those as well, he would run short on contribution points.
What he needed immediately was the foundation required to advance from Tier 1 to Tier 2. He could obtain more specialized inheritances later if the opportunity arose.
For formation inheritances, he first chose the 《Definitive Explanation of Formations》 and 《Commentary on Formation Deployment by Terrain》. They cost 120 and 140 points respectively.
The former covered the fundamentals of formation inscriptions and spiritual-power manipulation required for Tier-2 formations, while the latter explained how to examine terrain and the flow of spirit veins when deploying formations. They seemed likely to help him gain a deeper understanding of the formations he already knew and improve the formations in his tunnels.
For artifact-refining inheritances, he chose the 《Spirit Material Refining Method》, 《Comprehensive Guide to Magic-Tool Restrictions》, and 《Essentials of Restriction Inscription》.
They cost 160, 220, and 180 points respectively.
Together, the inheritances covered everything from refining spirit materials to the principles behind constructing restrictions and the techniques used to inscribe them into magic tools. They were well suited to organizing what he had learned while making Bonefuzz puppets and filling the gaps in his knowledge.
Lee Hyun added up the prices of the inheritances he had chosen once more.
The five skill inheritances cost 820 points, and adding the 950 points for the Great Unity Earthly Fiend Sword Canon brought the total to 1,770.
‘Ten points left, huh….’
That seemed like a very efficient use of them.
Lee Hyun placed the Great Unity Earthly Fiend Sword Canon first on the list, followed by the two formation inheritances and three artifact-refining inheritances.
Once he had organized the list, he approached the cultivator in charge.
“I would like to access these inheritances in order. Please begin with the Great Unity Earthly Fiend Sword Canon.”
The man looked over the list and raised his eyebrows slightly.
“If you begin studying these now, I doubt you’ll be able to make use of them before you depart.”
“I intend to study them later.”
The cultivator in charge asked no further questions. He took Lee Hyun’s identity token and deducted the access fees for all six inheritances.
Ten contribution points remained.
He handed back the identity token together with an inheritance chamber token.
“Go to Inheritance Chamber Two.”
…
After entering the inheritance chamber, Lee Hyun received the jade slip containing the Great Unity Earthly Fiend Sword Canon and poured his divine sense into it.
Its contents were vast and difficult, but for now, memorization took priority over understanding.
He then accessed the remaining inheritances one after another. After returning to Qingyu Ravine, he copied the contents of all six inheritances in full into blank jade slips and stored them safely in his storage pouch.
…
He spent the rest of his time inspecting Yanxia Peak’s supplies for the campaign.
Together with the disciples in charge, Lee Hyun verified the quantities and separated the prepared supplies from those that had yet to be processed.
Liu Zhengyuan closed a jade casket and said,
“I ended up buying a shield.”
“Did you find one you liked?”
“Yes. I spent quite a lot of contribution points, but… I felt like it would keep bothering me if I left without buying one.”
“Good choice. Have you finished bonding with it?”
“I finished last night.”
Lee Hyun nodded.
Liu Zhengyuan hesitated briefly before continuing.
“Senior Brother, you don’t seem particularly nervous.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You’re acting just like usual.”
“Being nervous won’t change anything.”
“…I suppose not.”
“Empty your mind and focus on what you can do. It’s easier that way.”
…
The night before their departure.
Lee Hyun slowly looked around Qingyu Ravine, clearing away every trace of himself that remained in his residence.
He used the Cleansing Art to gather and eliminate even the dust accumulated in the corners. He did not leave behind so much as a single strand of hair.
…
The next morning.
Flying boats rose beneath the clouds over the Danxiao Range.
The ornate flying boats at the front carried Golden Core Elders, while vessels carrying disciples and supplies followed in a long line behind them.
Restrictions securing various materials and boxes of medicinal ingredients to the decks glimmered faintly.
Lee Hyun checked the final seal before withdrawing his hand.
Liu Zhengyuan and the other disciples also organized their respective belongings. Inside the cabins, the Qi Refining disciples reread the transport manifests and their assigned duties.
A short while later, Tan Yunsheng crossed over from the flying boat ahead and landed on the deck.
“Have you forgotten anything?”
“We’ve checked everything.”
Tan Yunsheng nodded, then stood beside the railing and gazed back at the receding Yanxia Peak.
Through the mist, the roof of the communal Alchemy Hall and the pine trees were still visible.
He turned toward Lee Hyun.
“Dongsan.”
“Yes, Master.”
“You are skilled in combat. I would like you to look after your less experienced Junior Brothers. If an enemy you cannot handle appears, inform me.”
“Of course.”
Tan Yunsheng looked around at the more senior disciples, including Song Qiming, Yue Wugou, Mei Sujun, Fang Jiyun, and Chen Xiaoying.
“The same goes for all of you.”
“Yes.”
The disciples bowed their heads. The flying boat gradually picked up speed.
The peaks of the Danxiao Range receded behind them, while vast forests and winding rivers spread out below.
⚬──────────✧──────────⚬
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