Chapter 70
Translator: T_Fan
When the half-wrecked flying boat touched down, a plank that had barely been clinging to the edge of the deck fell away.
Thud.
The Qi Refining disciples emerging from the cabin flinched at the sound.
“Please disembark slowly.”
A Qi Refining cultivator from Xuan Kingdom dressed in blue enchanted robes approached the flying boat. Several Qi Refining cultivators carrying stretchers followed behind him.
While Mei Sujun and Chen Xiaoying handed over the injured, Song Qiming took out his identity token and the personnel roster.
“I’m Song Qiming of Yanxia Peak, Danxiao Sect. We withdrew from Qingshi Market.”
“Qingshi Market….”
The other man looked up from the roster he had been flipping through.
“It says here that Elder Tan Yunsheng was leading your group.”
“He stayed behind to fight Golden Core cultivators from the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance. We don’t know where he is now.”
The Xuan Kingdom cultivator pointed toward the long halls on the northern side of the clearing.
“We’ll take the injured over there. The rest of you, please confirm your headcount first. If any fellow disciples who were separated from you arrive later, we’ll let you know.”
…
The checkpoint was already packed with people.
Inside one of the halls was a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Danxiao Sect’s Infirmary who had arrived earlier. He sat Liu Zhengyuan down, cut away the clothing stuck to his shoulder, and examined the wound with his divine sense.
“Your meridians aren’t severed. However, you must not channel spiritual power forcefully through this arm for the time being.”
The cultivator used a technique to set the shattered bone fragments back into place. While Liu Zhengyuan gritted his teeth and endured the pain, the cultivator gave him medicinal liquid containing dissolved Tier 2 Bone-Forging Powder, then placed a hand on his shoulder.
As the blue light of the Wood-Aspect Healing Art seeped into the wound, the swelling rapidly subsided and the torn flesh knitted together.
“Keep circulating your qi like this and absorb the medicinal strength. You should be able to move your arm again in a few days.”
…
Even after sending the others to their temporary lodgings, Song Qiming remained in the clearing for quite some time.
Whenever he saw light approaching from the south, he raised his head, but the only arrivals were flying boats that had been scattered or small groups of Foundation Establishment cultivators flying in together.
As the night deepened, the lamps around the clearing lit up one by one.
Just then, the cultivators atop the checkpoint rose to their feet.
Three streaks of light were approaching through the southern sky.
“It’s the Elders!”
Song Qiming flew out first, and the Yanxia Peak disciples waiting outside the hall quickly followed him.
Three people descended into the clearing.
Tan Yunsheng, the long-bearded Elder from the Biluo Sect, and the female Biluo Sect cultivator who wielded the bronze mirror.
The blue-robed Elder from the Danxiao Sect was nowhere to be seen.
The left sleeve of Tan Yunsheng’s enchanted robe was almost entirely gone. A long, charred mark ran across his exposed arm, and the gourd at his waist had lost much of its former luster.
The other two Golden Core cultivators were in even worse shape than Tan Yunsheng.
“Master!”
When Song Qiming approached, Tan Yunsheng raised a hand.
“I’m fine. What about the children?”
“Zhengyuan injured his shoulder and is being treated, but his life is not in danger. Most of the junior disciples from Yanxia Peak only suffered minor injuries. As for the Qi Refining outer disciples… quite a few of them lost their lives.”
“I see.”
Soon afterward, a Golden Core cultivator from Xuan Kingdom appeared and escorted the Elders inside. Tan Yunsheng gave Song Qiming a brief instruction before following them.
“Look after the children. I’ll go assess the situation first.”
…
Three days later.
A Golden Core Elder of the Danxiao Sect visited their checkpoint.
He had been part of the group that evacuated the sect headquarters earlier. He said that the people and supplies transported aboard several flying boats had entered Xuan Kingdom through different checkpoints and had already been divided among several strongholds farther inside the kingdom.
The checkpoint where Lee Hyun’s group had arrived primarily received cultivators coming from Qingshi Market and western Kun Kingdom.
It seemed that most of those who had crossed over from the Wangu Sect had taken other routes.
…
That afternoon, the Yanxia Peak disciples gathered in a large room at their temporary lodgings.
Tan Yunsheng, whose complexion had improved, sat in the seat of honor. A sealed letter bearing the seal of the sect headquarters lay before him.
“The Supreme Elders have decided on a course of action.”
The disciples straightened.
“One Supreme Elder is recuperating, while the other is contacting acquaintances and looking into what can be done from here. For the time being, they have concluded that rebuilding the Danxiao Sect’s headquarters somewhere else in the near future will be difficult.”
Liu Zhengyuan asked,
“Would moving to another kingdom be difficult as well?”
“How could we find a place capable of housing two Nascent Soul cultivators, several Golden Core Elders, and countless disciples? Spirit veins of that scale already have owners wherever you go.”
Tan Yunsheng looked down at the sealed letter.
“Under the current circumstances, we can no longer maintain the sect in the same form as before.”
Song Qiming asked quietly,
“Then what will happen to the disciples?”
Tan Yunsheng raised his head.
“Starting today, each of you may seek your own residence and livelihood. You may join another sect or leave to become a rogue cultivator. You will not be punished under the sect rules for doing so.”
The room fell silent.
One disciple’s lips moved hesitantly.
“Is the Danxiao Sect… going to disappear?”
“The Supreme Elders remain, and so does our sect’s inheritance. Some Elders also intend to carry on our lineage elsewhere.”
Tan Yunsheng paused for a moment.
“However, from now on, the sect headquarters will no longer be able to provide you with residences or cultivation resources. There will be no more regular missions, nor contribution points awarded in return. Some of the supplies managed by the various peaks and divisions will be sorted out and distributed, while the inheritances will be entrusted to those who intend to carry them on.”
Yue Wugou clenched and unclenched his hands over his knees.
“If the sect headquarters is rebuilt someday, will we return?”
“Who knows… I have no idea when such a thing might happen. Even I don’t know where the Supreme Elders or the sect master will go, or what they intend to do from now on.”
Tan Yunsheng looked around at his disciples.
“Even if the day comes when the Danxiao Sect is rebuilt, no one who has already established themselves in another sect will be forced to return.”
Lee Hyun touched the identity token at his waist.
‘I didn’t think it would end like this.’
He had expected to be the one to leave the Danxiao Sect first, only for the Danxiao Sect to collapse before he could.
Tan Yunsheng also explained the conditions they had to observe while in Xuan Kingdom.
They were forbidden from seizing the spirit veins of existing sects or clans by force. They could negotiate with the owners to buy or lease a spirit vein, but establishing a new Mountain Gate required separate consultation with the power governing that region.
…
Only a few days after the sect’s decision was announced, the number of visitors to their temporary lodgings increased sharply.
They had come to recruit talent.
Foundation Establishment stewards from the Azure Cloud Sect and Jinding Sect asked the disciples about their spiritual roots and ages.
They said cultivators with a single spiritual root would immediately be accepted as inner disciples if their age and realm were suitable. Those with dual spiritual roots, as well as cultivators with mutated spiritual roots and relatively few root attributes, could also receive favorable treatment if they met the same conditions.
The cultivators from the Taixuan Sect asked more questions about practical skills.
After checking what kinds of pills they could refine, what level of formations they could repair on their own, and how much experience they had cultivating spirit plants, they immediately requested interviews with several cultivators.
The Golden Core Elders were all exceptional cultivators and seemed to be receiving decent offers from various sects, but disciples like Lee Hyun had no way of knowing the detailed terms of those negotiations.
…
Lee Hyun received an offer as well.
The Taixuan Sect asked whether he was interested in working with spirit plants and alchemy. However, because he had triple spiritual roots and was advanced in age, they said he would have to serve as a Foundation Establishment steward in the Outer Gate.
Lee Hyun read through the terms.
“I’ll think it over.”
The other man did not look particularly disappointed.
“There are so many alchemists from the Danxiao Sect that the opening may be gone soon. Are you sure you want to hold off?”
“Yes.”
After the man left, Yue Wugou peered at the document Lee Hyun had received.
“Tsk… No one knows how to recognize your true worth. Fools, all of them.”
“Haha. I really am fine with it.”
…
The disciples gradually began making different choices.
One young disciple with dual spiritual roots kept reviewing the terms offered by the Azure Cloud Sect.
A fellow disciple beside him asked,
“Are you really thinking of joining them?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Couldn’t we settle somewhere among ourselves?”
“Where?”
“Hmm…”
Every disciple had different circumstances.
Some needed to search for family members who had lived in Kun Kingdom, while others intended to seek shelter with cultivation clans they had not contacted in years. There were even disciples who planned to return to life as rogue cultivators.
…
Five days later.
Tan Yunsheng gathered his disciples and said,
“I’ve decided to accept a position as a guest elder with the Taixuan Sect. It seems I’ll also have opportunities to conduct research with their alchemists. They appear to have quite a few medicinal ingredients and pill recipes that I have never worked with before.”
For the first time in a long while, strength returned to his voice.
“If any of you wish to come to the Taixuan Sect, tell me. I’ll see if I can find a position for you. However, it will be difficult for all of us to live together on one peak as we did before. You’ll likely be assigned to different places according to your skills and cultivation realms.”
Tan Yunsheng slowly looked over his disciples.
“I’m sorry I cannot look after all of you. I am your Master, but I am also a cultivator who still dreams of pursuing the immortal path. There is still much cultivation I wish to pursue. This battle also made me painfully aware of my shortcomings. I am not in a position where I can afford to spend my time somewhere without a Tier 3 spirit vein.”
Tan Yunsheng was not particularly old among Golden Core Elders, and he was still a cultivator who could aspire to the Nascent Soul realm.
Song Qiming was the first to cup his hands.
“I’m glad things worked out, Master.”
The other disciples offered their respects in turn.
Several Yanxia Peak disciples, including Chen Xiaoying, who possessed dual spiritual roots, were already considering offers they had received from the Taixuan Sect.
A few days later, those among them who had received favorable terms decided to follow Tan Yunsheng together with Chen Xiaoying.
***
Fifteen days later.
Heiwu Market in southwestern Xuan Kingdom.
It had originally been a quiet place, but its streets were now packed with cultivators who had crossed over from the south.
People wearing the enchanted robes of the Danxiao Sect and Biluo Sect were common sights, and spirit-insect pouches still bearing the Wangu Sect’s insignia could occasionally be seen as well.
Goods hastily put up for sale were piled high along the roadside.
There were old pill furnaces, damaged formation plates, and broken magic tools, but most of the goods were spoils taken from cultivators of the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance.
Long lines had formed at the shops selling pills deeper inside the cultivator market. Meanwhile, a cultivator selling magic tools from a roadside stall could not attract a single customer.
“Hold on. Aren’t you interested in this flying sword?”
“Who would buy it at that price now? Ownerless magic tools are lying around everywhere.”
Off to one side, two cultivators began arguing while haggling over an item, but they stopped as soon as a cultivator patrolling the market appeared.
Rumors had been circulating for days that bandit cultivators were prowling outside the market.
Lee Hyun passed through the crowd and entered a medicinal-ingredient shop.
Song Qiming, Fang Jiyun, Yue Wugou, and Mei Sujun were seated inside.
The medicinal-ingredient merchant across the table spread out a map.
“This is Xu Kingdom.”
A vast territory was marked to the west of Xuan Kingdom, while even farther west, forests and mountain ranges seemed to cover the rest of the map.
「Cangmang Forest」
“Isn’t there a sect in Xu Kingdom with a Nascent Soul cultivator?”
When Song Qiming asked, the merchant nodded.
“There is a great sect called Baoguang Temple. It is the greatest power in Xu Kingdom. However, unlike the three great sects of Xuan Kingdom, it does not often interfere in the affairs of smaller sects.”
“You mean we may claim a spirit vein and establish a Mountain Gate?”
“As long as you do not seize one that already has an owner. In particular, there are still quite a few undeveloped Tier 2 spirit veins along the eastern frontier of Cangmang Forest.”
The medicinal-ingredient merchant pointed to several small dots on the map.
“These are all sects or clans established by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Some were founded by several people joining forces, while others were established by people who migrated here from other kingdoms.”
Yue Wugou crossed his arms.
“If it’s such a good place, why are there still unclaimed spirit veins?”
The merchant laughed.
“Demon beasts come down frequently. Obtaining a spirit vein and making a living there are two different matters.”
“What level are the demon beasts?”
“Along the frontier, they’re generally Tier 2 or below. If a Tier 3 demon beast appears, the monks of Baoguang Temple take action. That’s why few of them settle in the area for long.”
Mei Sujun asked,
“If we report one to Baoguang Temple, will they immediately come and deal with the Tier 3 demon beast?”
“That I cannot say. It’s not as if the monks are standing by, ready to come the moment they’re called. That’s why even small sects generally prepare defensive formations and somewhere to retreat to whenever possible.”
The merchant pushed the map slightly closer.
“There are several places around here where I source medicinal ingredients. If you wish, I can introduce you so you can go there first and ask about the local circumstances yourselves.”
…
After leaving the medicinal-ingredient shop, the group found seats at a teahouse on the outskirts and spread the map out again.
Lee Hyun asked,
“Are you truly thinking of going there?”
“We haven’t decided yet.”
Song Qiming looked toward the western side of the map.
“But I think it might be nice for us to establish a small Mountain Gate of our own and spend our later years there.”
Fang Jiyun set down his teacup.
“A trading company in Xuan Kingdom offered me a position. The terms weren’t bad. But if I joined them, I would spend the rest of my life managing someone else’s medicinal ingredients and pill furnaces. I simply couldn’t bring myself to feel interested.”
“Would joining a sect be any different?”
Yue Wugou spoke.
“Who would offer people of middling aptitude like us particularly good treatment?”
Mei Sujun looked at him.
“There’s no need to sell yourself short.”
“Well, that’s true. Still, I’m tired of working under someone else.”
Song Qiming continued,
“We should be able to earn spirit stones through alchemy. There’s no need to build a large herb garden from the start either. We could secure a small spirit vein, establish cave abodes and an alchemy room, then trade with a nearby cultivator market.”
“We’ll need a defensive formation as well.”
“Indeed. It would also be good if an artifact refiner and formation master came with us. I’ve seen quite a few fellow disciples from other peaks who have nowhere else to go, so I intend to ask whether they’re interested.”
Lee Hyun studied the map.
A small Mountain Gate where Foundation Establishment cultivators could live together, built around a Tier 2 spirit vein.
It seemed they intended to create a small power of their own.
Most of the cultivators who had failed to receive appealing recruitment offers from Xuan Kingdom’s great sects were disciples who had joined the Danxiao Sect long ago.
Those whose cultivation realms were low for their age and aptitude, and who therefore had little hope of breaking through to Golden Core, were treated less as people worth nurturing and more as manpower that could be put to immediate use, even if they possessed useful skills.
For people who had once been inner disciples of the Danxiao Sect, that was quite a blow to their pride.
Song Qiming turned his gaze toward Lee Hyun.
“What does Junior Brother Li plan to do?”
“I was planning to live as a rogue cultivator.”
“I thought as much.”
Song Qiming looked disappointed.
Lee Hyun glanced at his other fellow disciples.
‘Hmm… Is it really all right to let them go off like this?’
To his eyes, these naive fellow disciples were like ducklings charging toward the water the moment they saw it.
They had spent most of their lives under the sect’s protection, so he had his doubts about how well they would adapt to settling in unfamiliar lands without anyone backing them.
‘Something about this doesn’t sit right…’
Lee Hyun set down his teacup.
“I’ll go with you for now.”
“Really?”
Yue Wugou raised his head.
“Yes. I’ll stay with you for a while, just until you settle in. After that, I intend to leave and take care of my own affairs.”
Song Qiming looked at him for a moment before nodding.
“Even that much would be a tremendous help.”
“With the fearsome Junior Brother Li along, mere Tier 2 demon beasts won’t stand a chance.”
Yue Wugou laughed, and Mei Sujun immediately replied,
“Senior Brother, you should learn how to hunt demon beasts from Junior Brother Li before he leaves.”
“Did I say I wouldn’t? I was thinking exactly the same thing.”
Lee Hyun scratched his head.
‘I just need to keep an eye on them for a little while.’
He thought of the location of Tunnel No. 3 and the route he had traveled so far.
Although he had entered Xuan Kingdom, he was actually closer to Tunnel No. 3 than he had been while at the Danxiao Sect headquarters.
If he went as far as the area near Cangmang Forest west of Xu Kingdom, the distance would grow again, but there was still plenty of water stored in the tanks.
Even excluding the half year he had spent at Qingshi Market and the time since the evacuation, his calculations said the supply should last at least another two years.
‘It’s not as if I have to stay with their sect forever. If settling down looks like it’ll take a long time, I can just make a few trips back to Tunnel No. 3 in the meantime…’
…
The tenth day after arriving at Heiwu Market.
Almost everyone who intended to leave had decided on a destination.
Among those who planned to follow Song Qiming to Xu Kingdom were several Foundation Establishment cultivators from other peaks. Two cultivators skilled in formations, two artifact refiners, one talisman maker, and one sword cultivator from the Dharma Protector Court joined them. Around eighty Qi Refining disciples who had asked to be taken along were also accepted.
…
The next morning.
A flying boat hovered over the clearing outside Heiwu Market.
It was not the same vessel they had ridden from Qingshi Market. That flying boat would have cost too much to repair, so they had removed and sold whatever useful components remained.
The new flying boat was smaller and older than the previous one, but it could carry around a hundred people, and its restrictions were intact.
As the flying boat slowly rose, Yue Wugou shook the railing.
“This should do.”
Song Qiming turned his gaze forward.
“We head west.”
The flying boat accelerated beneath the clouds.
***
Fifteen days later.
After traveling one hundred thousand li (about 39,200 km) westward from southwestern Xuan Kingdom, the group’s flying boat entered western Xu Kingdom.
Xu Kingdom had vast plains and cities.
Small temples could occasionally be seen on the low hills beside the road. Some were places where mortals burned incense, while spirit light flowed above the Mountain Gates of others.
But the farther west they traveled, the fewer human settlements they encountered.
The forests between the cultivated fields gradually grew broader, until eventually every mountain peak and valley was covered in deep green.
The distant mountain ranges vanished into clouds and mist, with no end in sight.
It was Cangmang Forest.
…
A cultivator market east of the forest.
Two monks in yellow enchanted robes stood atop the walls. Beside the gate was a large stone stele engraved with the prohibitions that had to be observed in this region.
Lee Hyun descended from the flying boat and stopped in front of it.
「Do not intrude upon the territory of another Mountain Gate or clan.
Do not enter areas forbidden by Baoguang Temple without permission.
When securing a new spirit vein, report its location to a nearby stronghold so that territorial boundaries do not overlap.」
Below that were further rules concerning demon beasts.
「Upon discovering a demon beast of Tier 3 or above, report it to Baoguang Temple.
Do not recklessly take eggs or newborns.
Do not release poison or burn the forests to exterminate entire groups of demon beasts.
Refrain from killing unless necessary to protect your residence or spirit fields.」
Yue Wugou tilted his head after reading the last part.
“Why does it forbid killing them?”
A rogue cultivator in gray robes passing nearby laughed.
“Be careful. If you go so far as to destroy their nests, the monks will come looking for you.”
“Are we not allowed to fight even when defending a spirit vein?”
“You can kill them then. What else are you supposed to do if you can’t drive away a creature that attacks people? They merely want you to drive it off if you can.”
The rogue cultivator added,
“If you bring Baoguang Temple news of a Tier 3 demon beast, the monks will be delighted. Especially if it’s one that should have formed a demon core.”
…
Before choosing a spirit vein where they would settle, the group visited a trading company in the cultivator market to gather information.
Dried medicinal ingredients and demon-beast carapaces were piled in the rear courtyard.
When the owner of the trading company heard they were from the Danxiao Sect, he immediately invited Song Qiming and several others into an inner room.
After Song Qiming and Fang Jiyun discussed spirit veins and the medicinal-ingredient trade with him, Yue Wugou asked about what they had heard earlier.
“Why is Baoguang Temple so eager to hunt Tier 3 demon beasts? Are they really doing it out of Buddhist compassion to save all sentient beings?”
The owner refilled his teacup.
“Because of the demon cores. Baoguang Temple is said to possess a special secret method for using Tier 3 demon cores to refine Golden Core Condensing Pills.”
Fang Jiyun’s hand froze.
“Golden Core Condensing Pills!? You mean the Golden Core Condensing Pills needed for a breakthrough to Golden Core?”
“Yes. Though I don’t know the specific pill recipe.”
Song Qiming said,
“Then Baoguang Temple must have a great many Golden Core cultivators.”
“It does. There isn’t a single sect in Xu Kingdom that tries to contend with Baoguang Temple.”
The owner pointed toward the carapaces piled outside.
“When the monks hunt demon beasts, they take the demon cores and any useful materials first. Whatever remains is released to trading companies like ours.”
Yue Wugou laughed as though he found the whole thing absurd.
“Wait, they use demon cores for alchemy themselves, yet tell us to refrain from killing?”
“Haha. If everyone kills off all the smaller ones, there will be fewer beasts left to form demon cores later.”
The owner’s answer was perfectly matter-of-fact.
“That’s why they particularly dislike people taking eggs or newborns. Hunting itself is forbidden in some areas deeper inside the forest.”
Mei Sujun set down her teacup.
“Then….”
“Well… you may want to watch what you say in front of the monks.”
The owner laughed.
“Some of them genuinely do dislike pointless killing. Baoguang Temple is enormous, so naturally all sorts of people belong to it.”
…
Fang Jiyun still seemed preoccupied by the mention of Golden Core Condensing Pills.
“If they possess such a secret method, wouldn’t cultivators from other kingdoms come here trying to buy Golden Core Condensing Pills?”
“Many do, in fact. But there are rumors that those pills have a problem.”
“What sort of problem?”
The owner lowered his voice slightly.
“They say cultivators who achieve Core Formation with them find it difficult to reach the Nascent Soul realm. Exactly what goes wrong is not known outside the temple.”
“You mean they damage one’s cultivation foundation?”
“Some say that, while others claim there is another reason. I don’t know. I only tell customers what I’ve heard, because pretending to know more would only risk offending the monks who come here to buy goods.”
Lee Hyun drank his tea as he listened.
Golden Core Condensing Pill.
For a moment, he remembered Senior Brother Tao Wenqian receiving that pill and sharing drinks with his fellow disciples.
It was a pill that even the Danxiao Sect could not easily refine.
‘Does that mean demon cores can substitute for the main ingredient? Wait, then if I could obtain that pill recipe… I wouldn’t need to spend years growing the main ingredient for Golden Core Condensing Pills in Tunnel No. 3. If I hunted enough Tier 3 demon beasts to make more than fifty Golden Core Condensing Pills, couldn’t I break through to Golden Core throughout my entire body?’
Lee Hyun was briefly tempted, but the rumor that achieving Core Formation with Baoguang Temple’s Golden Core Condensing Pills made it difficult to progress to the Nascent Soul realm bothered him.
Besides, only his lower dantian had reached Foundation Establishment Stage 6. The rest of his body was still merely at Qi Refining Stage 9. There were still many things he needed to master and temper first, so this was not something he needed to investigate in a hurry.
The owner continued,
“Even so, plenty of people seek them out. Setting the Nascent Soul realm aside, how many cultivators have no path to Core Formation at all? Golden Core cultivators can live for more than five hundred years, while the Nascent Soul realm is practically legendary to begin with, beyond the reach of most… To the majority of cultivators, Baoguang Temple’s Golden Core Condensing Pills are every bit as precious as ordinary Golden Core Condensing Pills.”
Song Qiming nodded.
The owner set down the teapot and took out a map.
“More importantly, you said you were searching for somewhere to settle. Let me first show you the areas that have only recently become available for development.”
…
Song Qiming and the owner spoke for quite some time.
In short, two months earlier, the monks of Baoguang Temple had subjugated a Tier 3 demon beast that had settled nearby. Afterward, rogue cultivators exploring the surrounding region had discovered several new Tier 2 spirit veins.
The group paid the trading company spirit stones for the information and decided to send several Foundation Establishment cultivators ahead to investigate the area.
…
Four days later.
Lee Hyun sat on the edge of a cliff, looking down into a valley where a stream ran through the depths below.
His fellow disciples were busy inspecting various locations for a place to establish their new settlement, but Lee Hyun merely wandered around as though he were watching someone else’s affairs.
In truth, he intended to leave soon, and his fellow disciples were already grateful that Lee Hyun had accompanied them this far. They made no effort to trouble him by consulting him over every detail of establishing the new Mountain Gate.
Lee Hyun intended to protect his fellow disciples if a Tier 2 demon beast appeared, but after arriving, he found there were no demon beasts in the immediate vicinity at all.
With everyone else bustling around while he alone remained carefree, he felt strangely out of place.
Lee Hyun took out a map of Xu Kingdom from his storage pouch.
His hand stopped as he examined the various place names in the surrounding region. One of them sounded familiar.
‘Hm? This place…’
It was a place name he had seen not long ago in a report submitted by members of the Two Heavens Society.
Lee Hyun had ordered the society to expand northward roughly fifty years ago. Since then, the Two Heavens Society had increased its number of strongholds in Xuan Kingdom, while some members had also advanced into Xu Kingdom along the western trade routes.
Lee Hyun pointed back and forth on the map between the cultivator market where the Two Heavens Society had a stronghold and the valley where he now stood.
They were not very far apart.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never met the members in this area in person. Before I return to Tunnel No. 3, I should hold a meeting here.’
⚬──────────✧──────────⚬
Join our discord server: https://discord.gg/96hMXymzMP