On a deserted island in the Congyun Sea, Sikong Yi and Baili Chen swept their surroundings with careful scrutiny. Only after confirming they hadn't been followed did they enter the hidden cave dwelling they had constructed.
The interior was cramped and crude, yet Sikong Yi felt profoundly secure within it.
His avatar, Baili Chen, took up a vigilant post at the entrance while his true self stretched out on the bed, fully at ease, and turned his attention to the future.
If my deductions are correct, the anomaly at the center of the Congyun Sea is likely the precursor to Cloudwater Palace's emergence. And the Cloudwater Model would be within those ruins.
One hundred thousand contribution points.
A flicker of desire passed through his eyes, followed quickly by a thread of hesitation.
It is likely that someone who inherited Cloudwater Palace's legacy is still alive in the world. If I enter while impersonating a disciple and they discover me...
The thought alone was enough to sour his mood. Some time ago, his avatar had suddenly sensed that someone else, somewhere in the Congyun Sea, was also practicing the Sea-Calming Sword Art.
This was a Golden Core technique he had obtained from the remains of a Cloudwater Palace disciple years ago. In the current age, no one else should have known it existed.
And yet it had happened.
His first instinct had been that Cloudwater Palace still had living heirs, and he had initially moved to follow the link and investigate.
But the closer he drew to the source, the more a deep foreboding pressed in on him.
To go would mean certain death.
Convinced of this, the terrified Sikong Yi had fled immediately.
In hindsight, it made sense. How could a mere Qi Refinement cultivator hope to contend with a sect thousands of years old?
After his narrow escape, Sikong Yi had been restless, unable to eat or sleep properly, constantly fearing that the other practitioner would track him down through their shared technique link.
A Golden Core technique is precious, but compared to my life, it's nothing.
After much hesitation, he had reluctantly dissolved the Sea-Calming Sword Art, leaving only the pure cultivation within his dantian. His avatar's combat power had plummeted as a result.
He had also grown far more cautious. He avoided going out unless absolutely necessary, preferring to remain within the Tianxuan Mirror or this hidden cave dwelling.
Now, as the day of Cloudwater Palace's opening drew nearer, his ambitions stirred once more.
"One hundred thousand contribution points... one hundred thousand contribution points..."
He muttered the phrase under his breath, and slowly, resolve hardened in his eyes.
That old turtle Taiyi has lost his wits. I'll get to him first. Then I'll re-cultivate the Sea-Calming Sword Art, pose as a Cloudwater Palace disciple, and trick my way to obtaining the Cloudwater Model.
The moment I leave Cloudwater Palace, I'll dissolve the cultivation again and head to the Tianxuan Mirror to claim the reward. Even if that descendant senses something amiss and comes looking, it should be too late by then. My only task is to be faster than him. Fortune favors the bold.
Decision made, Sikong Yi let out a long, relieved breath. He was settling in for a good sleep to conserve his energy when he suddenly detected movement at the entrance of the cave dwelling.
His expression changed at once. He sprang up and rushed to the entrance, joining his avatar in a state of high alert.
"Fellow Daoist Baili, are you there?"
The words sent Sikong Yi's heart lurching.
Who is this? How do they know my identity? How do they know the location of this cave dwelling?
In an instant, countless faces flashed through his mind, and he dismissed them all.
He narrowed his eyes. Neither he nor Baili Chen responded. Instead, he drew an artifact from his storage ring and gathered his power in readiness.
When no answer came, the voice outside spoke again. "Heh, Fellow Daoist Baili. Pardon the unannounced visit, but there's no cause for alarm. I bear no ill will.
"I'm here solely to discuss the reward for the Cloudwater Model. One hundred thousand contribution points."
Sikong Yi's heart lurched so violently that the artifact nearly slipped from his grip.
His expression shifted through several changes. After a long pause, he finally spoke, directing his avatar to answer in a deliberately hoarse voice. "What do you mean?"
The man outside chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Baili, let's not feign ignorance. Do you truly believe you are the only one in this world who knows the Sea-Calming Sword Art?"
Persuaded at last that this was no bluff, Sikong Yi held his silence for a long moment before asking quietly, "What do you want?"
"What do I want? What a question." A light scoff. "Naturally, I want a share of the spoils. A hundred thousand contribution points—who wouldn't covet that?"
Learning the man's purpose, Sikong Yi felt a wave of relief move through him. After another lengthy deliberation, he finally released the entrance restriction, and his true self and avatar stepped out together, backs pressed to one another.
Blocking the entrance was an unremarkable middle-aged cultivator with a gaunt face and a wispy goatee.
"No need for such tension. I truly mean no harm. I am Han Wuyou!" The man cupped his hands and offered a slight smile.
"Just get to the point." Seeing that the visitor was only at the late-stage Qi Refinement realm, Sikong Yi relaxed somewhat.
After some exchange between the three, Sikong Yi learned the truth of the matter.
It turned out that Han Wuyou had secretly witnessed Sikong Yi's avatar using the Sea-Calming Sword Art in a previous fight. Though Han Wuyou's cultivation level was not high, his knowledge was broad and his reading of ancient texts extensive, broad enough to recognize the technique as a Cloudwater Palace art.
The strange phenomena at the center of the Congyun Sea had also caught his attention. After observing the site briefly, he had concluded it signaled Cloudwater Palace's imminent emergence. Connecting this with the mission's one-hundred-thousand contribution point reward, he deduced that Baili Chen, possessing Cloudwater Palace's inheritance, must be confident of retrieving the Cloudwater Model from the ruins.
So he had followed in secret and paid this quiet visit.
"If I acquire the Cloudwater Model, it will be through my own skill," Sikong Yi said sharply. "Why should I share the spoils with you?"
"Heh, you jest, Fellow Daoist. Surely you wouldn't want it widely known throughout the Congyun Sea that you've obtained an ancient sect's legacy?" Han Wuyou stroked his beard, a cold glint in his eyes.
Killing intent rose in Sikong Yi's chest. Before he could act on it, the man spoke again. "Don't worry. You won't be giving something for nothing.
"You have your path to wealth; I have my ladder to heaven.
"If you are willing to share a portion of those hundred thousand contribution points, I can offer you a clear path forward in return, Fellow Daoist.
"With the three of us working together, a hundred thousand contribution points is only the beginning!"
Sikong Yi's interest sharpened. "Explain."
Han Wuyou smiled faintly. "Our strength is insignificant. Even with a hundred thousand contribution points in hand, we'd just be sitting on a dwindling fortune, burning through it quickly. Am I right?"
Sikong Yi considered this, then nodded slowly. "The rate at which Qi Refinement cultivators earn contribution points is indeed slow. But once I break through to the Foundation Establishment realm..."
Han Wuyou waved a dismissive hand. "What of the Foundation Establishment realm? How many Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Congyun Sea still struggle daily for those pitiful contribution points? Even without eating or drinking, a Foundation Establishment cultivator would take a decade or two to save up a hundred thousand."
"Then what brilliant method do you have?!" Sikong Yi shot back, nettled.
Han Wuyou tilted his chin up slightly, an air of pride settling over him. "Have you ever heard of Master Li Fan?"
Sikong Yi went still, then his whole body gave a sharp shudder. "You mean... that cultivator from the ancient Heavenly Mechanisms Sect, peerlessly skilled in the art of divination, whose wealth could rival a nation?"
Han Wuyou nodded, visibly smug. "Correct! I am acquainted with Master Li..." He paused. "...'s friend, Senior He Zhenghao!"