The sudden reappearance of demon cultivators, long thought to have vanished from the cultivation world, struck a chilling note in everyone's heart.
Ji An suddenly raised a question that had been lingering in his mind.
"How exactly does the sect determine when the Demon Calamity will erupt?
And how large could the margin of error be?"
Liu Yu nodded slightly.
"I think it might come a few years earlier than expected, though it's unlikely to arrive much sooner.
Still, who can say for certain? All we can do is prepare as best we can."
Mu Qingwan spoke softly after a moment of thought.
"I've read through many records about past Demon Calamities.
Every outbreak has been a catastrophe for cultivators.
For the Central Continent, the western regions and our sects and clans serve as a buffer zone in the war.
Each time the calamity ends, only two or three out of ten sects and clans survive."
Du Huaiyuan, who had been channeling his energy to refine the lingering effects of the spirit wine, now looked much more sober.
"A small boat fears the waves, but a great ship can't turn quickly.
Once a sect's foundations are set, there's no escaping a war like this.
The patriarchs can only focus on strengthening their forces before the storm hits.
Personally, I think the sect is handling things quite well. They've been expanding outposts nonstop.
"The other two sects are doing the same.
If we can establish enough strongholds deep within the Ten-Thousand Mountains, it'll be like driving wooden stakes into a riverbed before the flood. It might not stop the torrent, but it'll slow the surge of the demonic tide."
"I've also heard that in recent years, even rogue cultivators can rent those remote outposts for long periods.
That's smart, using every ounce of manpower available."
After learning about the impending Demon Calamity from his master, Du Huaiyuan had gone through many ancient records himself.
He discovered that after every calamity, waves of sects and families from the Central Continent would migrate westward.
Among the three major sects in the Western Continent, the Golden Spirit Sect and Yuanhe Mountain had themselves migrated from the Central Continent roughly three thousand years ago.
For that reason, he remained optimistic.
After all, Falling Maple Valley, their sect, had survived the previous calamity, back when the entire Western Continent had only three Golden Core cultivators in total.
Now, after centuries of mergers and growth, only three great sects remained.
All the small and medium ones had long since perished, making coordination of power far easier than before.
More importantly, there were now seven Golden Core patriarchs across the three sects, an assurance of formidable top-tier strength.
After three thousand years of peace and development, the human cultivator world had become far stronger and more prosperous than it had been during the last outbreak.
Ji An nodded thoughtfully, then smiled.
"In my opinion, the three sects should share more of their profits and draw the rogue cultivators firmly into their ranks.
The more people we bind to our cause, the stronger the defense line will be when the calamity comes."
Rogue cultivators were far less disciplined than sect disciples, but their numbers exceeded those of the three great sects many times over.
If properly utilized, they could shoulder a great deal of the pressure once war broke out.
However, when the fighting truly began, the sects would inevitably conscript these rogues, and many of them would only go through the motions, contributing little real effort.
Even more would likely vanish into remote, low-spirit regions to hide. With no personal stake in the fight, why risk their lives? They'd wait for the great sects to clean up the mess since the demons' primary targets would surely be the spirit veins themselves.
Liu Yu nodded slightly, smiling.
"That's a problem for the patriarchs to worry about.
We just follow orders.
The sect is putting all its strength into cultivating the main spiritual vein.
The master told me that in ten or twenty years, it should reach the third tier.
"When that happens, even under siege by multiple Golden Core–level great demons, our mountain-protecting formation will be unbreakable.
Unless a Nascent Soul–level demon personally joins the battle, and there's never been a recorded case of that happening in any past Demon Calamity.
"Honestly, I see this calamity as a great opportunity.
If we temper an indomitable Dao heart through battle and survive the war, our future paths will be far brighter."
That was the real reason Liu Yu had joined the Disciplinary Hall to seize fate by the throat and fight for the resources he'd need to reach the Origin Ascension realm.
With his Fire-aligned spiritual constitution and the Blazing Sun Furnace Scroll he practiced, he held natural advantages in both cultivation speed and fire-based combat.
Du Huaiyuan chuckled, raising his brows in admiration.
"Haha, while I'm scheming how to stay alive by the skin of my teeth in wartime, senior brother is already seeking the opportunities hidden within danger.
I'm nowhere near that level of courage."
He pulled another jar of spirit wine from his storage pouch, cracked the seal with a thump, and grinned.
"After words like that, we owe you a hearty toast!"
Mu Qingwan straightened her expression, her tone sincere.
"Senior brother's resolve is admirable. I, too, am impressed."
They all raised their bowls and drank deeply.
Du Huaiyuan laughed as the heat coursed through him.
"Your path is far too perilous for me, senior brother. I'll stay behind the lines and focus on logistics.
Once I refine more potent pills for the sect, they'll see my worth in the rear and stop assigning me to combat missions.
"When the time comes for you to buy elixirs, I'll even give you a discount!"
Li Lingyu pursed her lips and teased with a smile.
"You're not being honest, senior brother.
You cultivate a water-aligned alchemy method, while he practices a fire-based cultivation art. How could your pills suit him?
"If anyone's going to refine elixirs for Liu Shixiong, it should be Senior Sister Mu.
Don't you agree, Senior Sister?"
She turned toward Mu Qingwan, and on the side of her face that the others couldn't see, she gave a playful little wink.
Du Huaiyuan looked puzzled.
"That's not right.
Junior Sister Li is also an alchemist. Your wood-attribute pills, rich in vital energy, would suit Senior Brother Liu just fine.
Why insist it has to be Sister Mu?"
Mu Qingwan's face flushed slightly pink.
Liu Yu, however, remained composed and shifted the topic with his usual calm:
"Speaking of pills, you're all working in the Alchemy Hall, aren't you? How are the sect's medicine reserves holding up?"
Mu Qingwan cleared her throat softly, her voice gentle.
"At the moment, they're quite sufficient, though our workload has increased sharply.
When I first joined the Hall, I could finish my daily quota in just over an hour.
Now it takes nearly three, even though my pill success rate and total output have both risen."
Du Huaiyuan nodded in agreement.
"The sect has begun stockpiling pills on a large scale. I've heard that many spirit herbs from the various gardens are reaching maturity; these heavy assignments will likely continue for several more years."
He then turned toward Ji An and asked curiously:
"Junior brother, where did you choose your cave residence? And what sort of sect tasks are you planning to take on?"
Ji An replied with a faint smile:
"I'm just a spirit farmer, so naturally I'll stick to cultivation and planting assignments.
My cave is on Crimson Flame Peak.
Perhaps because of the growing demand for alchemical materials, the sect now needs far more spirit charcoal, and that peak is well suited for cultivating the spiritwood used to make it.
Spiritwood is easier to maintain, too, leaving me more time to train and refine my spells."
Du Huaiyuan scratched his head thoughtfully.
"I know that place.
I once considered choosing Crimson Flame Peak myself; it's actually great for brewing spirit wine.
But since my cultivation follows the Water Path, living there would've made progress nearly impossible, so I gave up on it.
You cultivate Wood Qi, and even for you, that spot will be rough going.
Don't tell me you picked it because of the extra ten mu of spirit farmland the sect offers there?"
Ji An chuckled.
"That was part of the reason."
Liu Yu looked mildly surprised.
"I know that area as well; the spiritual energy there is fierce and violent, not ideal for long-term cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Still, that intensity of Metallic Wind and Blazing Fire Qi can be used to refine and purify one's mana."
Foundation Establishment cultivators trained to comprehend the intent within their techniques to polish their spiritual power until it birthed the Primordial Flame.
Liu Yu thought privately that Ji An clearly aimed to reach the Origin Ascension realm one day; his choice of cave alone said as much. That casual mention about "extra farmland" was only a modest cover.
Even so, he mused, moving there now is premature. It would be more advantageous to settle there later, once Ji An's cultivation reached the late Foundation stage.
He smiled.
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you often, Junior Brother.
I plan to visit Crimson Flame Peak now, and then it'll help me refine my own mana."
Crimson Flame Peak had long been leased to the Chen clan of Puyun Mountain, and even though Liu Yu had wanted to meditate there to temper his fire energy, it hadn't been convenient.
Now that it belonged to his junior brother, the issue vanished, and it was a fine excuse to strengthen their bond.
Ji An laughed.
"You're always welcome, Senior Brother. I'll keep the place ready for you."
Friendship, after all, deepened through such exchanges of courtesy.
He then asked everyone about the preparations for moving into a cave residence, and somewhat indirectly mentioned the unpleasant visit from Chen Xingyun and Zhu Qinghao a few days earlier.
Du Huaiyuan slammed his fist lightly on the table.
"That Zhu shixiong!
To pressure you alongside outsiders just because you wouldn't change your choice, it's clear now he doesn't see us as true brothers."
Mu Qingwan nodded.
"Because of our master's scattered way of accepting disciples, the rest of our senior brothers and sisters are far ahead in cultivation.
We never studied under her together, so there's little shared sentiment between us. Naturally, the relationships feel distant."
Li Lingyu's tone turned serious.
"But to the Chen clan, your choice must look like a deliberate strike at their wealth.
You should stay alert, Junior Brother. Never underestimate human greed."
Her father had been a rogue cultivator, and she'd grown up hearing tales of how treacherous people could be.
Ji An smiled lightly.
"Thank you for the warning, Senior Sister. I won't be leaving the sect for a few years anyway; they won't be able to touch me here."
By then, he thought, his spells would be honed enough that he could defend himself against most threats.
The gathering turned into a true exchange of resources.
Liu Yu, who often handled beast materials from his duties, took Ji An's order for hides and monster blood. Ji An intended to pick up talisman crafting again.
Once an alchemist's skill grew, completing sect assignments often yielded a few extra pills for personal profit, as was customary.
Li Lingyu specialized in refining Azure Spirit Pills, and Ji An arranged to buy directly from her.
Foundation Establishment–grade pills were scarce, and without an alchemist connection, it was nearly impossible to buy them privately.
Li Lingyu and Mu Qingwan, in turn, placed advance orders with Ji An for batches of spirit charcoal and supplementary herbs for alchemy.
Du Huaiyuan grinned.
"Junior Brother hasn't even moved into his new cave, and his profits are already lined up. I'm jealous.
I'll order some charcoal too: made from Ziyang Wood and Clear Bamboo, five hundred catties a year, payment upon delivery."
Ji An blinked in surprise.
"But Senior Brother, you use water-based methods in your alchemy, what do you even need spirit charcoal for?"
Du Huaiyuan winked mysteriously.
"It has its uses. You'll find out later."
Then he leaned closer with a conspiratorial grin.
"By the way, Junior Brother, the shadow pool beneath Crimson Flame Peak is perfect for fermenting spirit wine.
Let me borrow the spot now and then.
You'll get your share of the profits. I'll give you a few jars every batch."
Ji An laughed.
"You're welcome to use it anytime, Senior Brother. Just don't accuse me of stealing a sip or two."
Du Huaiyuan rubbed his head sheepishly.
"I'll keep count of every jar!"
Everyone chuckled, chatting a while longer before taking their leave.
Outside the cave, the setting sun cast slanted light over the green bamboo, its violet, tear-shaped markings glowing like streaks of blood, eerie yet beautiful.
Ji An lingered behind, taking out a crimson longsword and sighing.
"Senior Sister, it's been three years and still no buyer. I'll have to sell it in Azurecloud Immortal City instead.
When the time comes, we'll go together and split the proceeds once it's sold."
He also planned to purchase formation disks and other supplies there and felt safer having a companion along.
Li Lingyu nodded.
"All right. Once you set the date, contact me.
The sect doesn't sell the main herbs I need for pill refining, and without a spirit farmer I can trust, I'll have to buy them from outside anyway."
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