Chapter 49 Part 1

Leaving the family behind, Shizun must have endured so much hardship.

The ways of the aristocratic clans are too wicked. But if you grow up in that environment, your understanding can easily be clouded, or you might sink into the mire alongside them.

Without a cataclysm, how could clarity ever dawn? And what was the price? Beyond the visible poison, were there also wounds of the heart? When Shizun faced that Perfected One from the Wu Clan, she felt no hatred—perhaps even still harbored some affection. How did that dilemma torment her?

Wei Mingyi pondered this, gazing at Wu Chongyun, whose expression was utterly desolate. She didn’t know what to say to comfort her. Earlier, they could speak with smiles, but now, knowing the truth, her heart grew heavy, and all words of consolation seemed insubstantial. She could only try her best to comprehend her Shizun’s feelings, yet she could never truly share her suffering.

“It’s all in the past.” Wu Chongyun turned and met Wei Mingyi’s eyes. She seemed to guess what Wei Mingyi wanted to say and gave a faint smile, her face betraying neither sorrow nor joy.

Wei Mingyi’s lips moved hesitantly. She tried her best to muster a bright, easygoing grin. “Shizun still has me. Do I count as your family?”

Wu Chongyun nodded. “Mm. You do.”

Wei Mingyi grinned, then changed the subject. She now knew Wu Chongyun had come from the Wu Clan of Spirit Mountain, but how had she left? Who had inflicted the Wither and Flourish Poison on her? These questions lingered unanswered. But since Shizun didn’t want to speak of them, she wouldn’t dig into those old wounds.

The return trip was smooth.

Wu Jianhuan had cleared away the Daoists around Supreme Peak, and with Wei Mingyi and the others altering their appearances, no one paid them any heed.

When they reached Chongyuan Sect, it was November. Mountain peaks appeared and disappeared through the clouds, ringed with a circle of white snow.

Sect members were few, all familiar faces. They were thrilled to see Wei Mingyi and the others.

The Heavenly Dao Champion—a title long monopolized by the aristocratic clans—had been won by Wei Mingyi! It was an unprecedented event, utterly inspiring! The two Senior Sisters of Chongyuan Sect remained reserved, but the Junior Sisters from Hidden Moon Sect crowded around Wei Mingyi, chattering nonstop, eager to know how she had fought her way to victory. Wei Mingyi loved the liveliness, but now she had no choice but to cast a pleading glance at Wu Chongyun.

Wu Chongyun pretended not to see, the corners of her lips curving into a faint smile.

Only when the Sect Leader appeared was Wei Mingyi freed. She let out a silent breath, bowed in salute, and followed the Sect Leader to Chongyuan Hall. Hua Xiaozhu and Xie Xianqing were already there, disputing the properties of medicinal ingredients.

“Shizun?” Wei Mingyi prompted.

Wu Chongyun slowly swept her sleeve, handing both the Cloud Mountain Herb and the Millennium Pill to Hua Xiaozhu.

“With the herbs we now have, we can attempt it three times at most. The Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Elixir is a heaven-tier pill. Refining it requires nine revolutions, and my magical power isn’t enough to sustain the pill fire.” Hua Xiaozhu accepted the herbs, pressing her lips together as she explained to Wei Mingyi. She added gravely, “We might have to wait. I’ll devise a way to study the formula and simplify it as much as possible to improve the success rate.”

Wu Chongyun lowered her eyes. “There’s no rush.”

In truth, Wei Mingyi was quite anxious, but some things couldn’t be forced. As for asking another alchemist to help—even if they knew one, and even if they could reach that level of power, would they dare trust them? She nodded. “With Assistant Master’s talent, soon heaven-tier pills will come as easily as picking flowers.”

Once the herbs were secured, half the burden on her heart was lifted. Wei Mingyi understood nothing of alchemy and could only heap praise on Hua Xiaozhu. When the topic ended, she produced the items she had obtained during the Heavenly Dao’s Paragon Debate and handed them all to Su Xuanjing. “These are resources needed for cultivation. Sect Leader, please arrange them.”

Su Xuanjing said, “These are your own gains. We—” She had never expected to take anything from Wei Mingyi; over the years, Chongyuan Sect had already received many benefits.

Wei Mingyi raised an eyebrow and laughed freely. “Without Chongyuan Sect, I’d be nothing.” If Su Xuanjing hadn’t rescued her, during that time she was unconscious, she might have been devoured by wild beasts in the wilderness before her Cheat Item even appeared—or fallen into the hands of an aristocratic clan and been dissected. The Cheat was aimed at making a name for herself. She couldn’t do it alone; the stronger Chongyuan Sect became, the more it would benefit her.

Senior Disciple Sister Meng Bujue had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment 2nd Layer, while Senior Sister Mo Xuanxiao was still at the 1st Layer. Feng Cangcang, originally at the Foundation Establishment 3rd Layer, had gradually refined her cultivation to perfection. Once enough External Medicine was available, she could begin forming her Golden Core. Thanks to heaven-tier spiritual energy and Penglai Purple Qi, Wei Mingyi had caught up from behind—but she couldn’t forget them the moment she achieved something herself.

Seeing Wei Mingyi insist, Su Xuanjing no longer refused. She carefully sorted through the Qiankun Pouch’s contents. After a long while, she took out a ball of light. Earlier, Wei Mingyi had overlooked it; now it drew a flicker of curiosity.

Su Xuanjing handed the light to Wei Mingyi. “Keep this Daoist robe for yourself.”

Wei Mingyi blinked. “A Daoist robe?” She tried channeling a wisp of magical power into the light. Instantly, the light unfurled. What appeared in her hands was a snowy-white Daoist robe, lighter than clouds and smooth to the touch. “Shizun?” Wei Mingyi turned to Wu Chongyun, thinking of offering it to her.

“No need. You wear it.” Wu Chongyun said, “An earth-tier Daoist robe, the Supreme Pure Clarification Robe. It can ward off the filth of the Wild Domain.”

Wei Mingyi gave an “Oh” and draped the robe over herself. As soon as it settled on her body, it melded like water, leaving no trace, and didn’t alter her original clothing. Only a cluster of nebula-like light swirled at the hem, vanishing after a few breaths. Cangwu City had clothing shops, but their quality was far inferior. The great aristocratic clans, perched high above the clouds, monopolized so many advantages.

“Sect Leader, should our sect recruit people?” Wei Mingyi suddenly asked.

Su Xuanjing had already considered this. Over the years, in fact, only two more had joined. She thought for a moment, then said, “In the Three Cities, we haven’t found anyone with sufficient talent.” Spirit veins didn’t affect the lives of mortals, but if one wanted descendants to have the talent for cultivation, the closer to a heaven-tier spirit vein, the better. Take the Four Great Clans—over thousands of years, families clustered together, nourished by spirit veins, producing many naturally gifted children. How could the poor and remote compete?

“Some time ago, after discussing with Sect Leader Li of Hidden Moon Sect and Sect Leader Qi of Spirit Heart Sect, we established the Great Harmony Academy in Cangwu City. There, students will study the newly compiled Mind Nurturing Chapter. Whether they can succeed depends on their own perseverance and fortune.” As for bone structure—unless one followed the “transplantation” path advocated by the clans—chances could only be fought for through unwavering will. Even if the immortal path remained out of reach, they could at least strengthen their bodies.

This step had been taken because the Mountain Protection Array now covered Cangwu City as well. Under the current circumstances, Su Xuanjing wouldn’t casually allow others onto the mountain—but sending sect members into Cangwu City risked danger, too. If luck turned foul and a passing Daoist abducted them, that would be disastrous. Now, however, that worry was gone, so Su Xuanjing naturally began thinking about development.

“If there are suitable candidates, do we bring them into the mountain gate?” Wei Mingyi asked.

Su Xuanjing nodded. “Not just bone structure—character must be examined, too.”

Wei Mingyi felt reassured. These matters she didn’t understand as well as Su Xuanjing, anyway. A Sect Leader just handled all sorts of things. She only needed to look after Shizun and sell land.

Thinking of land, a thought stirred.

Since she had entered seclusion to prepare for the Paragon Debate, she had paid little attention to Yangchun Terrace. A year had passed in the blink of an eye. She knew that to a cultivator, a year might be no more than a breath’s span, but if someone was anxious, the sensation of “a year’s time” would probably stretch endlessly long.

After finishing the discussion about the debate, Wei Mingyi returned to Yangchun Terrace in the Wild Domain. Originally, outside there had only been “Thousand Autumns Enterprise” and its attached Public Pavilion, but now a small, makeshift camp was slowly forming. Quite a few cultivators came here to replenish pills and rest.

The advertising space on the Public Pavilion had initially been left untouched, but gradually the cultivators figured out some of its quirks—as long as nothing was damaged, it seemed fine to post a little something. Numerous messages had been left: besides inquiring about pills that Thousand Autumns Enterprise didn’t sell, people also asked about artifacts, talismans, and the like. Questions were answered; if Thousand Autumns didn’t have something but another cultivator did, they traded among themselves. Beyond that, some rogue cultivators wanted to buy land but feared they couldn’t afford it, asking what they might offer in lieu of payment.

Wei Mingyi paid no attention to the people outside. She was somewhat surprised. Among those who left messages, none were from the Three Sects. Did the Three Sects have such strong self-restraint? Or had they simply expelled these people from the master-disciple lineage? “I thought the Daoists of the Three Sects would see the aristocratic clans acquire Imaginary Village and want to buy land themselves,” Wei Mingyi remarked to Wu Chongyun.

Wu Chongyun crossed her arms, looking languid and weary. She hadn’t wanted to come, but Wei Mingyi had dragged her here. Inside the Wild Domain, everything was gray and hazy, the wind mingling with the irritating chatter of people. After a moment, she replied, “They have their own pride.”

Wei Mingyi suddenly understood and made a comment: “They fear the rogue cultivators’ writing will sully their noble purity.”

Wu Chongyun: “…”

Wei Mingyi thought for a moment, then contacted her contact in the Wild Domain, Lang Fengya.

Lang Fengya happened to be at Fire Element Dwelling, making it quite convenient for her to come to Yangchun Terrace. Upon receiving Wei Mingyi’s message, she set out immediately and, in no time, arrived at Yangchun Terrace. Under many watching eyes, she crossed through the Mountain Protection Array and entered, stirring a considerable commotion.

Cultivators often came here and could see shadowy figures inside, but for a long time, the Daoists within paid them no mind—as if they were mere immortal phantoms. Now that Lang Fengya had appeared, it meant the master of Yangchun Terrace had shown themselves again! This news was immediately relayed by cultivators back to the Lifeless Land, reaching the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the stationed Daoists of the Three Sects.

Inside Yangchun Terrace.

After exchanging greetings with Wei Mingyi and Wu Chongyun, Lang Fengya eagerly asked, “Fellow Daoist, was it you who became the Heavenly Dao Champion?!” Ever since she’d learned that the champion’s name was “Wei Wuwang,” this thought had lingered in her mind. When Wei Mingyi had first inquired about the debate, she hadn’t given it much thought, assuming Wei Mingyi had only participated. Never had she imagined that the final champion would belong neither to the aristocratic clans nor to the Three Sects!

How could an ordinary person possess such ability? Even if they had won the title, they would never have walked out of Supreme Peak alive—but Chongyuan Sect was different. They could open treasure ground in the Wild Domain, and they had a Grotto-Heaven protecting them! That meant the world the clans had forcibly shaped was slowly being torn open at the seams. Not only in the Wild Domain, but even in the Pure Domain, they could come and go freely! This was the first turning point in thousands of years—their hope!