Chapter 29: 029 Part 1

Once the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s Lifeless Bell began to toll, it would continue until the day the evil tide erupted.

Daoists could deduce the trajectory of the evil tide’s changes, but the timing was only an estimate; no one could state a precise moment. Daoists in The Lifeless Land would try to relay messages to their friends and relatives, giving a time range. But those solitary rogue cultivators couldn’t get more information; they could only rush back upon hearing the Lifeless Bell.

Some were cautious and decisive, immediately abandoning their current tasks. Others thought to take advantage of the time before the evil tide truly arrived to earn more Merit Points and search for more valuable items. The great powers of the past roamed the Wild Domain; finding a single relic of theirs could lead to a meteoric rise. In the end, it all boiled down to a “gamble,” betting one’s life against the evil tide.

Wei Mingyi heard the “warning bell” from Wu Chongyun’s mouth and relayed the news to the Sect Leader and the various Daoists in Yangchun Terrace. Having dealt with a minor evil tide before, and with little understanding of the Wild Domain’s true evil tide, they had never faced such an earth-shattering impact directly. Their fellow Daoists’ faces were all composed. Some junior sisters even rubbed their fists, ready to temper themselves further when the evil tide arrived.

Su Xuanjing pondered for a moment, then said, “We return to the sect when the evil tide arrives.” During the minor evil tide, the highest-level wraiths were at Golden Core. But according to what Lang Fengya had said, when the true evil tide erupted, wraiths with power comparable to Nascent Soul would be countless, and forces capable of shaking mountains, at the Grotto-Heaven level, might even appear. Under such circumstances, she would not allow her sect members to use the wraiths for cultivation.

Wei Mingyi nodded in agreement, also thinking it better to return to Chongyuan Sect. She had already upgraded the Spirit Vein to Profound-Rank; the air in her own home was fresher.

While Wei Mingyi and the others were discussing the evil tide, Lang Fengya indeed came. Her face was filled with anxiety, her expression grave. After paying her respects to everyone, she said solemnly, “The Lifeless Bell has sounded. The Heavenly Dao Alliance has issued a warning: the evil tide is about to erupt. This time, the timing has changed, for some unknown reason.”

After one evil tide ended, there would often be a gap of several years. The Heavenly Dao Alliance would provide an estimated deduced time. While they couldn’t pinpoint the exact day, the margin of error was within three months. This time, the sounding of the Lifeless Bell didn’t match the prediction given after the previous tide, catching everyone off guard.

Yangchun Terrace’s Mountain Protection Array could resist an artificially triggered minor evil tide, but it might not withstand the sweeping impact of the true evil tide. When the evil tide came crashing down overwhelmingly, even a Grotto-Heaven Daoist caught within would likely be torn to shreds by the surging wraiths. Lang Fengya didn’t know what the Chongyuan Sect group planned, but as a friend, she felt compelled to warn them.

She said seriously, “The Heavenly Dao Alliance’s encampment in The Lifeless Land is the most fortified and can withstand the evil tide’s impact. When things truly become unmanageable, Grotto-Heaven Daoists from the families will also intervene. Fellow Daoists, you should retreat to The Lifeless Land as soon as possible. While the bell is still tolling, there’s still time. Once the bell stops, The Lifeless Land will be completely sealed, no entry or exit allowed.”

You all? Wei Mingyi listened without any change in expression. She caught the unspoken implication in Lang Fengya’s words. She asked, “And what about Fellow Daoist Lang? Aren’t you returning to this… The Lifeless Land?”

A strained, bleak smile appeared on Lang Fengya’s face. She said, “After the evil tide erupts, its reach is extremely wide, but it can’t truly cover the entire Wild Domain. There will be slightly sparser areas. When that time comes, I and a group of fellow Daoists will search for gaps.”

Take Yangchun Terrace, for example. The fact that it still had ruins was because it hadn’t been trampled over. Lang Fengya had trained and adventured in the Wild Domain for many years, experiencing several evil tides. She had witnessed too much death; her fellow Daoists had withered one by one. She had survived by luck, but she couldn’t say what the future held. All she could do was prepare a simple coffin. Preserving her Dao body intact would be best. If not, then it would simply be a complete return to heaven and earth.

As her words fell, Lang Fengya was silent for a few moments. Seeing Wei Mingyi staring intently at her, she pursed her lips and said, “I have enemies in The Lifeless Land. Even if I could make it there, it wouldn’t be safer than being in the Wild Domain.”

The Lifeless Bell brought a warning, and with it, chaos. It was like a signal of “indulgence,” setting many hearts and minds astir. Sometimes, killing an enemy wasn’t easy, but causing some sabotage to prevent someone from reaching The Lifeless Land in time was much simpler. Once back in The Lifeless Land, no one would pursue the matter. Because the evil tide had arrived; everyone had to defend at the edge of the restriction array; they couldn’t rely solely on the array covering The Lifeless Land.

Wei Mingyi blinked. Her mind was quick, and she soon understood that there were not a few people in situations like Lang Fengya’s. She had the intention of selling land, but she also had to bring it up at the right time. Lang Fengya seemed not to trust Yangchun Terrace’s restriction array, so she would likely also have doubts about the Fire Element Dwelling. After thinking for a moment, she asked again, “Fellow Daoist Lang, is the probability of finding a safe place high?”

Lang Fengya sighed deeply. “Of those who traveled with me in past years, not one in ten survived.”

Wei Mingyi asked again, “Between searching for a safe place and staying at Yangchun Terrace, which would Fellow Daoist choose?”

Lang Fengya was silent for a rather long time. She didn’t answer Wei Mingyi’s question, instead saying, “I am friends with all of you, but my other friends may not necessarily be your friends.”

She had always been lucky. The Chongyuan Sect Daoists she encountered were a rare breed with a conscience. But ultimately, this was Chongyuan Sect’s encampment. How could she dare bring those people in? The fellow Daoists she had met in the Wild Domain couldn’t possibly be as pure as those in Chongyuan Sect; some were even villains.

Wei Mingyi understood Lang Fengya’s meaning. She also knew in her heart that Yangchun Terrace could accommodate Lang Fengya but wouldn’t let those strangers in. Lang Fengya had a good grasp of boundaries. However, Wei Mingyi also understood one point: if there was a place similar to Yangchun Terrace, even if she harbored doubts deep down, Lang Fengya would still choose it, because the path ahead was already a dead end.

“I have a place, similar to Yangchun Terrace, that I can sell to Fellow Daoist.” Having probed from Lang Fengya what she wanted to know, Wei Mingyi raised an eyebrow in a smile. She didn’t beat around the bush and stated her offer directly. Taking out a map of the Wild Domain from her sleeve, she pointed at a plot not far from Yangchun Terrace. “The Fire Element Dwelling.”

Lang Fengya was stunned. She hadn’t expected Wei Mingyi to say this. She subconsciously turned to look at the other Chongyuan Sect members. Their faces were calm and serene, showing absolutely no intention of interfering. It was only then that Lang Fengya suddenly realized that during her conversation with Wei Mingyi, both the Sect Leader and the Assistant Master of Chongyuan Sect had stopped speaking, clearly displaying an attitude of complete delegation to Wei Mingyi.

After a long hesitation, Lang Fengya asked, somewhat uncertainly, “Sell?”

Seeing Lang Fengya’s expression, Wei Mingyi thought, doesn’t the Heavenly Dao Alliance sell everything? Why does Fellow Daoist Lang look so shocked?

She continued her composed explanation: “That place is called the Fire Element Dwelling. Underground lies a Yellow-Rank fire vein. It also has a Mountain Protection Array. However, there are still some wraiths inside the array that we haven’t had time to clear out. If Fellow Daoist wants that land, Fellow Daoist will have to clear them out personally.”

Lang Fengya: “…” She was struggling hard to digest Wei Mingyi’s explanation. Buying and selling land was indeed common in the Pure Domain, but this was the Wild Domain! Every inch of land here was ownerless. Everyone knew that encampments, in most cases, were solely held. “Selling land” was a novel term. And having a fire vein and a Mountain Protection Array was even more bizarre. Was Fellow Daoist Wei telling a story? After a moment’s pause, Lang Fengya said, “Fellow Daoist, don’t jest.”

Wei Mingyi frowned.

This business was really hard to do.

She said seriously, “I can swear a Dao oath. I’m not joking.”

Lang Fengya subconsciously glanced at Su Xuanjing, who had the highest cultivation.

Su Xuanjing didn’t quite understand, but that didn’t stop her from nodding in agreement with Wei Mingyi. She said, “It’s not a joke.”

Lang Fengya fell silent.

Not a joke?

Realizing this, her heart pounded fiercely, and blood rushed to her head. She took a deep breath: “A Spirit Vein… a Mountain Protection Array that can withstand an evil tide… I, I…” She gave a bitter laugh. “I can’t afford that price.”

Wei Mingyi smiled. “That’s alright. It can be paid for with other items.”

Lang Fengya immediately became alert. A buzzing sound rang in her head, and she instinctively cried out, “I won’t cut out my Golden Core!”

Wei Mingyi: “…” She glared at Lang Fengya. She wasn’t running an underworld business. “Fellow Daoist Lang, what are you thinking? Pill Jade and Merit Points can be offset with medicinal materials. If you truly can’t offset it all, you can also pay on credit.”

Lang Fengya gave an awkward laugh. “What medicinal materials?”

Wei Mingyi lowered her gaze, looking towards Wu Chongyun, who was silent beside her. Her expression softened considerably. “Nightless Spring, Hundred-Year Pill, Ginseng-Completion Fungus, and Fetal Grass.”

The Assistant Master had already researched the recipe for the Spirit-Restoring Pill. Nightless Spring could be bought, and Wind-Housing Soul was available at Yangchun Terrace—these didn’t need substitutes. As for the Millennium Pill, the one in Shizun’s hand had to be kept. They could use the Hundred-Year Pill as a downgrade.

As for Frost-Dispelling Flower and Cloud Mountain Herb—the former was for revival power, the latter for neutralizing medicinal properties—they had respectively found Ginseng-Completion Fungus and Fetal Grass as substitutes. They could use their own Merit Points on the Heavenly Merit Ledger to buy them, but with so few people, and not fully understanding the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s rules, it was better to let Lang Fengya and her group find them faster.

Furthermore, items obtained from the Heavenly Dao Alliance were all registered. That prescription had been researched by the Assistant Master, but Wei Mingyi wasn’t sure if anyone outside knew it. What if the person who poisoned Shizun was deeply knowledgeable in pharmacology? If someone traced the clues back, it would be problematic.

While speaking, Wei Mingyi rested her hand on the armrest of the wheelchair. She suddenly felt the front whisk of the horsetail whisk lightly brush across the back of her hand. She looked towards Wu Chongyun and saw her tilting her head slightly up to look at her, her eyes like pools of clear water, displaying a bright, spirited look as they moved, unlike her previous coldness, dead as ashes. Wei Mingyi slightly raised her fingers, pinching the whisk’s strands. A very faint tugging force transmitted back. Wei Mingyi pressed and released, quietly teasing Wu Chongyun.

Her gaze didn’t linger on Wu Chongyun for long. She turned back to Lang Fengya and said, “I also have conditions. You must spread the name of my Chongyuan Sect. Oh, and the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s forces are not allowed to set foot in the Fire Element Dwelling.” The Heavenly Dao Alliance had a monopoly on pills and magical artifacts! How could that be allowed!