Yao Zheng Sheng sighed. "I dare not refuse Fellow Daoist Shan's invitation."
After leaving the auction, Wei Zhong noticed several cultivators directly pursuing the buyer of the Dustfall Pill. These were all cultivators with their eyes on the pill. Turning back to the Azurewood Sect's pavilion, Wei Zhong muttered, "It's not just the Foundation Establishment cultivators anymore. Even the Azurewood Sect's Core Formation experts won't be able to sit still."
Outside Bright Moon Market, two streaks of escape light materialized. A white-browed, white-bearded elder blocked their path. "Where do you two think you're going, Fellow Daoists?"
The figures emerged, revealing Duan Delong and Yu Xianglan, the Hall Masters of the Azurewood Sect.
"We were merely taking a stroll," Duan Delong replied.
The elder grinned. "Such pretense hardly befits Core Formation cultivators. Cease your pursuit now, or I'll be forced to intervene."
Yu Xianglan and Duan Delong exchanged a glance before bowing to the elder. "We would be honored to experience Senior's power."
Both Yu Xianglan and Duan Delong were seasoned Early Core Formation cultivators, nearing the Mid-stage. The elder, however, exuded the overwhelming pressure of a Late Core Formation master. Facing him two-on-one, they held no advantage—in fact, they were at a disadvantage.
Wei Zhong sat in a tavern in Market City, observing the sudden shift in the clouds above. He sipped his wine, shook his head, and mused, "The power of Core Formation is truly terrifying. The residual force from their battle has altered the weather patterns for miles around.
I must guard against complacency. Cultivation should prioritize stability above all else, or I might end up like those cultivators who died senselessly fighting over the Dustfall Pill."
As he pondered this, a woman in green robes approached his table. "Fellow Daoist Chu Zhong?" she inquired.
Wei Zhong looked at her, slightly puzzled. "This Daoist is indeed Chu Zhong. May I ask your name, Fellow Daoist?"
The woman gave a graceful bow. "My name is Rong Ju, from the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild..."
Above, the white-browed elder flicked his sleeve, unleashing a torrent of spiritual energy that swept away a patch of verdant clouds. As the cloud fragments rained down upon the forest below, the trees withered instantly, leaving behind only blackened, decaying trunks.
With another casual gesture, he shattered Yu Xianglan's Water Dragon Technique. A flick of his toe sent the yellow magic sword, which had attempted to flank him, crashing to the ground.
"You, Pill Refiner," the elder sighed, pointing at Duan Delong. "Instead of focusing on perfecting your alchemy, you've strayed down this poisonous path. What a waste."
Duan Delong remained impassive. "Senior, surely you know that toxicology is merely the counterpart of pharmacology. By that logic, isn't the Poison Dao simply another facet of the Path of Alchemy?"
The white-browed elder casually crushed another venomous bee that darted toward him, eliciting a faint pang of regret from Duan Delong.
"There's some truth to your words," the elder conceded. "It seems I was being too narrow-minded."
He then turned to Yu Xianglan. "And your Kun Dao techniques are quite impressive, though the foundation of your cultivation method is lacking. Your spiritual energy must be nearing its limit by now."
Sweat beaded on Yu Xianglan's forehead. As the elder had surmised, her spiritual energy was dangerously low. Two more techniques would likely deplete it completely, forcing her to resort to other measures—though whether those would pose any threat to this man remained uncertain.
Moreover, the Azurewood Sect had no desire for a deadly feud with him. She withdrew her technique and retreated. "Senior's mana is profound; this junior humbly acknowledges her inferiority."
Duan Delong echoed her sentiments.
Stroking his white beard, the elder knew his objective had been achieved. With a slight shift of his foot, he dissolved into white mist and vanished.
The two disciples exchanged glances, shook their heads, and then transformed into streaks of escape light to return to their sect.
Inside the sect's council hall, Nie Yuansen set down a formal invitation and looked at the returning pair. "You were stopped?"
Yu Xianglan nodded. "It was a Late Core Formation cultivator, likely the hidden expert from the auction. Senior Brother Duan and I exchanged a few blows, but realizing we were outmatched, we abandoned the pursuit."
Nie Yuansen shrugged indifferently. "Abandoning the chase was wise. After all, we were merely probing the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild's intentions. Now that we understand their objective, there's no need for further action."
He tossed the invitation card onto the table for the others to examine.
"The Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild actually wants to establish a branch within our Azurewood Sect? Do they take our sect's weakness for granted?" Duan Delong said indignantly.
Yu Xianglan added, "They've always confined themselves to the state capital, only operating as itinerant merchants in prefectural cities. Why this sudden change of strategy?"
"Who knows?" Nie Yuansen replied. "At least a Nascent Soul power humbled themselves enough to inform us. We have no choice but to comply, do we?"
The two disciples understood the matter was irreversible.
"What about the inheritance issue? Zheng Sheng is still being detained by Shan Qin."
Nie Yuansen pondered briefly. "Give it to them. It's just a fragmented inheritance. Moreover, we should provide the original text to demonstrate our sect's sincerity."
Yu Xianglan rubbed her forehead worriedly. "I fear the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild's true intentions lie elsewhere."
"Fellow Daoist Shan," Yao Zheng Sheng said, "I've told you repeatedly, our Azurewood Sect does not possess the complete legacy of Venerable Spring and Autumn. All we have is the Spring and Autumn Water Refinement Manual, which barely reaches the Core Formation stage. As for the secret techniques to enhance one's cultivation base that you mentioned, we've never even heard of them."
Shan Qin smiled faintly. "True Disciple Yao, you jest. The Azurewood Sect has controlled the Clear River Secret Realm for a century. How could you have failed to obtain Venerable Spring and Autumn's complete legacy?"
Yao Zheng Sheng spread his hands in exasperation. "If what you say were true, Fellow Daoist Shan, why would the Azurewood Sect remain a mere Core Formation-level power confined to Wild Plains Prefecture instead of seeking greater glory in a major city? Believe it or not, as you wish."
Just as he finished speaking, a message sword arrived. Upon reading its contents, a conflicted expression flickered across Yao Zheng Sheng's face. He retrieved a jade slip from his Storage Pouch.
"This is the original Spring and Autumn Water Refinement Manual our sect obtained from the Secret Realm. It covers cultivation from the Qi Refining to the Core Formation stages. As for the Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation realms beyond that, the Azurewood Sect truly possesses no such knowledge."
Shan Qin accepted the jade slip and scanned it with her divine sense, a hint of disappointment crossing her face.
Shan Qin stowed the jade slip away and clasped her hands in a respectful bow. "Two Soul Nourishing Pills will be delivered to True Disciple Yao shortly. Allow me to congratulate you on your appointment as Young Sect Leader of the Azurewood Sect."
Yao Zheng Sheng returned the bow. "Farewell!"
As Yao Zheng Sheng departed, a white-browed elder materialized behind Shan Qin—the same Late Core Formation cultivator who had intercepted Duan and Yu earlier.
"Elder Yan, what do you think? Are the Azurewood Sect and True Disciple Yao telling the truth?"
The elder shook his head. "It's hard to say. These minor powers seize control of ancient Secret Realms and then rule over the surrounding lands. It's entirely possible they've failed to acquire the true inheritance despite centuries of effort."
"Venerable Spring and Autumn... he was a legendary figure who performed countless miracles millennia ago. What a pity we arrived too late."
"Miss, don't force the issue. If the inheritance is truly lost, it simply wasn't our fate to obtain it."
"Besides, the Azurewood Sect might be deliberately concealing it. We should keep an eye on them—they'll slip up sooner or later."
Shan Qin nodded. This was precisely why she had established a foothold within the Azurewood Sect.