"Control?! How can we control it? Although the Refining God Sect is indeed the head of the Yan Kingdom, that sect acts tyrannically and erratically; when have they ever considered the other sects or even the common people of Yan Kingdom?"
Mentioning the Refining God Sect made Old Man Ye’s suppressed anger rise again. His old face flushed slightly red, and his tone was full of indignation and dissatisfaction,
"Those sword lunatics only care about their Dao. They can’t tolerate other sects in their eyes! Why would they care about our Lingyin Sect’s life or death? They might even hope for us to battle until both sides are badly hurt!"
His grievances had been accumulating for a long time, and at this moment, they poured out as he rambled on incessantly.
Chen Ye shuddered inwardly as he listened intently, secretly thinking that it was no wonder the atmosphere in the Lingyin Sect had been so oppressive recently, with major families making frequent moves in the shadows; the root cause was right here!
From Old Man Ye’s words, Chen Ye gradually gained some understanding of the current structure of the Yan Kingdom.
In the cultivation realm of the Yan Kingdom, the five-sect structure was distinctly defined.
The Refining God Sect, which dominated the north and was renowned for its swordsmanship;
The Ten Thousand Puppet Sect, which occupied the west and excelled in controlling puppets;
The Spirit Treasure Sect, stationed in the center and specialized in artifact refining;
The Medicine King Valley, reigning over the south and famous for alchemy;
And the Lingyin Sect, located in the east, which was versatile in all aspects.
Initially, the Lingyin Sect and the Refining God Sect were considered the twin dominators of Yan Kingdom, and the righteous Lingyin Sect was even more popular.
However, consecutive upheavals abruptly halted this momentum...
Three hundred years ago, the Hundred Herbs Valley event erupted.
Adjacent to Medicine King Valley, the Hundred Herbs Valley, which was equally proficient in alchemy, was forcibly annexed by Medicine King Valley.
Many cultivators from Hundred Herbs Valley refused to submit and fled eastwards into the territory of the Lingyin Sect seeking refuge.
The Lingyin Sect took the opportunity to absorb these talents who carried the legacy of alchemy, and established two new peaks within the sect—Danxia and Hundred Herbs Peaks!
Since then, the Herb Pavilion also added the business of pills.
However, it also laid the groundwork for a deep grievance with the Medicine King Valley—within the boundaries of Lingyin Sect, there were hardly any industries of Medicine King Valley, providing clear evidence of the enmity.
In fact, not long ago, some major figures within the Lingyin Sect planned to ease the relationship with Medicine King Valley, intending to take the lead in establishing the Medicine King Pavilion in Moon Rhinoceros Lake District.
Unfortunately... this plan was shelved after Bai Susu boldly killed a Foundation Establishment True Man from Medicine King Valley.
Of course, in the long run, the initial decision to accept Hundred Herbs Valley was still more beneficial than detrimental. Even though they completely offended Medicine King Valley, the benefits and overall strength enhancement brought by Danxia Peak were tangible.
But the winds of change are unpredictable, and times change...
The Lingyin Sect borders the Emotion Crossing Sect, and the two sects have had numerous bloody, fierce large-scale conflicts over territory, resources, and even the contention of Daoist traditions.
During this time... the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect had secretly stolen a large number of cultivator corpses from the Lingyin Sect to refine into puppets.
Such actions are outrageous to both gods and men!
The entire Lingyin Sect was outraged upon discovering the truth, and the sect was filled with indignation!
Immediately afterward, they erupted into several strong confrontations with the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect.
Though both sides suffered losses, the grudge was irreversibly established.
Thus, the Lingyin Sect found itself besieged on three fronts.
To the south, they were at odds with Medicine King Valley; to the west, they opposed the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect; and to the east, they were in constant conflict with the Emotion Crossing Sect. Under the immense external pressure, the sect gradually showed signs of fatigue, and several Golden Core True Men fell in battles with the Emotion Crossing Sect.
To make matters worse, ten years ago, Bai Li, once considered a sign of revival and the harbinger of prosperity, mysteriously fell with several other true disciples.
"The sect’s situation has actually deteriorated to such an extent."
Chen Ye silently clicked his tongue.
And now Bai Susu has inexplicably disappeared... No wonder the Lingyin Sect is so anxious, going so far as to engage in a frenzied battle with other sects in the Three Thousand Great Mountains.
Thinking of Bai Susu, Chen Ye felt guilty.
Frankly, although Bai Susu was arrogant, she had indeed treated him well.
Pity that she has been missing for a month, and he hasn’t found an opportunity to render assistance.
"Hmm... You are a Spirit Plant Cultivator, dwelling long in Lisong Valley and seldom involved in the sect’s external conflicts, so naturally, you don’t feel it deeply. Moreover, this great battle inadvertently triggered several long-sealed Cave Heaven Secret Realms in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, further complicating the situation... It is said that True Inheritor Bai and True Man Ye are trapped in one of these secret realms."
Old Man Ye threw out another heavy piece of news.
Cave Heaven Secret Realm?
Just hearing the name, Chen Ye knew the competition in the Three Thousand Great Mountains must be extremely fierce!
Having digested all this intricate information, Chen Ye finally revealed the true purpose of his trip:
"Old Ye, since the Three Thousand Great Mountains are so lively now, surely, those rare treasures and second-tier spiritual objects, which are hard to find on ordinary days, will appear in significant numbers, right?"
Old Man Ye was slightly taken aback by these words, and a flicker of understanding passed through his cloudy old eyes. He had known that Chen Ye wouldn’t part with a middle-grade Spirit Stone just to listen to his ramblings: "What? You brat, are you planning to target those second-tier spiritual objects?"
"Indeed."
Chen Ye did not hide his intentions and nodded calmly,
"I have reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and faced with a bottleneck on my path, it’s time to strategize for Foundation Establishment. I’ve been thinking, Lingyin Sect has always had a decent reputation. Those loose cultivators who’ve obtained opportunities, if they wish to exchange their scorching treasures for Spirit Stones without venturing into those perilous black markets, finding a stable market nearby is the best choice. And this Yunxi District, backed by the Three Thousand Great Mountains, must surely be the preferred place for many?"
"This..."
Old Man Ye hesitated at these words.
Second Tier Spiritual Objects, while not exactly expensive, cannot compare to Second Tier Magical Treasures.
However, a Spiritual Object would still cost around a thousand Spirit Stones!
He rubbed the Middle Grade Spirit Stone in his hand, hesitatingly said,
"Second Tier Spiritual Objects pertain to the strength of the sect and are considered strategic resources. Once acquired, as per the rules, I must immediately report it to the Guardian to prevent any incidents... therefore, the Herb Pavilion does not have Second Tier Spiritual Objects."
Chen Ye felt a bit disappointed.
Within the sect, such precious resources are never open to stewards. After all, those who can be stewards are those with limited potential, having been eliminated from among the disciples, let alone someone like him, who came from a loose cultivator background.
"However, considering your diligent cultivation, if next time there are Spiritual Objects available, I can find a way to leave you some, but you must bring enough Spirit Stones! Hmm... Speaking of which, the Songyang Cave Heaven just recently appeared a few days ago, and some have already entered to explore. Presumably, within a month, the first batch of cultivators will emerge."
Just as Chen Ye felt disappointed, Old Man Ye continued in a leisurely tone.
...
"Aunt Mao, are we leaving?" The little girl clutched the bell and cautiously asked, "But Master hasn’t returned yet..."
Mao Qingzhu was packing her luggage and sighed:
"Auntie intended to stay for a few more days, but yesterday, Xu Buhui went into the Songyang Cave Heaven within the Three Thousand Great Mountains. He’s not in the Xu Family... it’s a good time to return to the Xu Family, which would save us a lot of trouble."
She pondered silently in her heart.
The emergence of a Cave Heaven.
It attracts not only loose cultivators.
Disciples of various major sects and family cultivators are also seeking opportunities.
Brother Ye would surely understand... Without Xu Buhui, only Xu Qingsong remains in the Xu Family, who is much easier to deal with.
"Oh..."
After hearing Mao Qingzhu’s explanation, the little girl responded and said nothing more.
She quietly packed her luggage, folding her master’s green robe neatly into her small bundle, carrying it on her back.
"Hmm? Qing Jun, don’t you have a Storage Bag? Why do you put the Spirit Stones and this... clothing in your bundle?" Mao Qingzhu asked in surprise.
"Because... because the Spirit Stones are too heavy, and Master’s clothing is too smelly! If bad people come, Qing Jun will throw these away and run for her life!" The little girl said seriously.
"..." Mao Qingzhu did not understand.
But if Chen Ye were here, he would understand the little girl’s feelings.
Previously, in the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District’s Herb Pavilion, Qing Jun often helped out and earned quite a few Spirit Stones.
She cherished these Spirit Stones immensely, keeping them in her small bundle, so she could always feel her precious Spirit Stones close by.
The little girl squeezed her bundle tightly, raised her porcelain-white face, her already-lustrous eyes became moist, yet no tears fell. She cautiously asked:
"Aunt Mao, can we wait for Master for a little while longer? Just... just a little bit! If we’re in a hurry, then forget it."
"Silly girl, of course, we’ll wait for your master."
Seeing this, Mao Qingzhu understood immediately.
Previously, when Qing Jun said, "But Master hasn’t returned yet...", she hadn’t grasped what Qing Jun meant and simply explained the reason for leaving today.
It might have made the little girl mistakenly think there was not even time for a last goodbye.
She reached out, pulling the soft little Qing Jun into her embrace: "Alright, we’ll wait for Master to come back. Hmm... with the Sound Transmission Jade Pendant, even if we go to Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, Qing Jun can still hear Master’s voice!"
As for Dragon Sleep Mountain, located within the Xu Family and isolated by an array, it couldn’t use the Sound Transmission Jade Pendant.
But at this moment, Mao Qingzhu wouldn’t say that.
"Hmm!"
The little girl nodded heavily, burying her little face into Mao Qingzhu’s warm embrace.
She knew, Master had been running around tirelessly because of her hidden ailment, allowing her to undergo the Xu Family baptism.
So she shouldn’t cry.
Yet she... just couldn’t help it.
She didn’t want to be apart, not even for a day.