Chapter 50 Part 2

Wu Chongyun continued seriously, “The five-element substances are also divided into yin and yang natures. You can gather them yourself, or buy from the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Beyond that, you’ll need pure yang and pure yin objects. They’re very special—artifacts can’t contain them; they must enter your body at the first possible moment.” She glanced at Wei Mingyi. “Once you reach the 3rd Layer, once I’ve recovered.”

Wei Mingyi rarely heard Wu Chongyun use words like “recovered.” Even when they’d retrieved the medicine last time, Shizun had only said, “There’s no rush,” with no urgency or worry at all. But now—she forgot her own Dan Seed ingredients and asked, delighted, “Shizun has a way to assist the Assistant Master in refining the antidote?”

Wu Chongyun said lightly, “Refine the medicine together with me.”

Wei Mingyi: “?” Her heart tightened, and even her lips went dry. She asked carefully, “And the odds of success?”

Wu Chongyun didn’t want to answer, but Wei Mingyi had already draped herself over her, arms circling her waist, making it impossible to ignore. After a moment of quiet, she said carefully, “Not zero.”

Wei Mingyi: “…” She was about to laugh out of sheer frustration. Zero-point-zero-zero-zero-one was also “not zero.” “The Assistant Master won’t agree.”

Wu Chongyun: “Indeed.”

Wei Mingyi detected not the slightest hint of self-reflection in Shizun’s tone—it even carried a trace of regret. She lifted her gaze and said earnestly, “Shizun, don’t do anything reckless. Or else I—”

“I’ll just—”

She wanted to say a few threatening words, but the moment she met Wu Chongyun’s eyes—clearly livelier than in the past—Wei Mingyi immediately backed down. She lowered her head, forehead resting on Wu Chongyun’s shoulder, raising and dropping it several times. In the end, only a long sigh remained.

Wu Chongyun also lowered her head, her cheek tickled by Wei Mingyi’s hair. She reached for the whisk at her side, intending to brush Wei Mingyi away, but the moment the whisk touched Wei Mingyi’s wrist, she regretted it. She gave only two light, moderate taps and asked, “Are you teaching me?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Wei Mingyi said, leaning close to Wu Chongyun’s ear and murmuring softly, “I’m begging you.”

The warm breath was more stirring than the drifting strands of hair. Wu Chongyun’s heart skipped a beat, and the tips of her ears began to flush. She said nothing, only poked Wei Mingyi with the whisk. When Wei Mingyi caught it, she naturally let go. Raising her eyes to Wei Mingyi’s bright smile, she said with prim decorum, “Mm. I understand.”

Wei Mingyi blinked.

What did Shizun understand now?

–

Not long after the commotion over the wicked wraith on the Lifeless Land died down, the Daoists of the Three Sects came to visit again.

“Does Fellow Daoist know about the wicked wraith gaining intelligence?” Ren Piaoping of Jade Emperor Sect asked gently.

Wei Mingyi nodded. “I’ve heard.”

“A thorough inspection of the Lifeless Land was conducted and confirmed there was only this one. Although no second case has appeared so far, we can hardly remain optimistic. We all agree: if there’s one, there will be more.” Ren Piaoping continued.

Wei Mingyi held back her impatience and asked, “And then?”

“This means resisting wicked wraiths will be even harder from now on. It can move like a person. If it disguises itself well, it might go undetected,” Liu Yuqi of the Pure Clean Sect cut in, staring at Wei Mingyi. Expressionless, she said, “With such ability, can Chongyuan Sect just stand by and watch the situation worsen?”

“Yes,” Wei Mingyi said lazily.

Every cultivator Liu Yuqi had ever met cared deeply about face. No matter what they did, they would wave a banner of a noble cause to win fame for themselves. Someone like Wei Wuwang of Chongyuan Sect, who adopted an attitude of “none of my business, not my concern,” was a first. The Pure Clean Sect was accustomed to using “lofty principles” to pressure others, but faced with such a person, they were utterly helpless.

Wei Mingyi added, “The Heavenly Dao Alliance has already decided to buy land. If you can’t afford it, just say so—don’t keep wasting time. As for dealing with wicked wraiths, the alliance is contributing too.” She wouldn’t agree to the alliance’s terms, but that didn’t stop her from using them to pressure the Three Sects’ Daoists.

Liu Yuqi’s expression turned extremely ugly. She wanted to say more, but Ren Piaoping stopped her with a look. Ren Piaoping fixed her gaze on Wei Mingyi and said seriously, “Cooperating with the Heavenly Dao Alliance is no different from conspiring with a tiger. Please think carefully, Fellow Daoist, and don’t focus only on immediate gains.”

Wei Mingyi smiled. “Oh, so that’s what Jade Emperor Sect thinks? But we’re only following the example set by the Three Sects.”

Ren Piaoping: “…” Continuing this topic would only bring more awkwardness. She offered no explanation, but said, “If all the Pure Land in the Wild Domain falls into the hands of the aristocratic clans, the Dao paths of the master-disciple lineage and rogue cultivators will be squeezed even further.” Right now, regardless of background, anyone could use Merit Points in the Wild Domain to exchange for resources. But if the clans truly gained a firm foothold, the Pure Land here would become just another Pure Domain.

Wei Mingyi nodded, signaling understanding. She didn’t spare the Golden Core Perfected One any face and spoke frankly: “But in my eyes, the Three Sects and the aristocratic clans are not that different.” Before Ren Piaoping could answer, she looked at Liu Yuqi with a smile. “I received the true teaching of Purification, cleansing filth inside the Eternal Cosmos Heavenly Realm. My words and deeds are the very embodiment of the Pure Clean Sect’s ideals. Yet the Pure Clean Sect doesn’t so much as say thank you—instead, they want me to cripple my own cultivation.”

“The master-disciple lineage broadens its reach to those with affinity. If I’ve obtained this method, doesn’t that prove I have affinity? The Pure Clean Sect wants to abolish my cultivation simply because I refuse to enter their gates. How is that ‘people with affinity’ any different from the aristocratic clans’ ‘one family’? You claim to differ from the clans by not harvesting the bone structure or Golden Core cultivation of talented disciples—but when bone structure is lacking, you may not do it, but have your disciples refrained?”

“Even if not, when the ‘Sky-Mending Art’ researched by the Shifang Celestial Palace appeared, did you ever oppose it? Did you ever fight for anyone? By staying silent, you became accomplices.”

A tremor ran through Ren Piaoping’s heart. She stared at Wei Mingyi in shock, her lips moving soundlessly.

“Let’s get back to the business at hand.” Wei Mingyi smoothly steered the topic back. “Like the Heavenly Dao Alliance, the Three Sects have no right to haggle.”

Wei Mingyi’s words were merciless, but they made her stance clear. She was dissatisfied with both the clans and the master-disciple lineage. She would cooperate, but she wouldn’t lean toward either side.

After a cold silence lasting several breaths, Ren Piaoping said, “We’ve brought a heaven-tier artifact.”

“Oh?” Wei Mingyi finally showed a flicker of interest.

Ren Piaoping continued, “This item is called ‘Wish Fulfillment.’ It allows the user to achieve their heart’s desire with absolute certainty.”

Wei Mingyi’s heart jolted. Hearing its effect, her first thought was of the antidote Shizun needed. If they had it, wouldn’t success be guaranteed? But on second thought, she felt something was off. If it were truly so useful, wouldn’t Nascent Soul Stage 3 cultivators use it? With it, they could reach Grotto-Heaven with absolute certainty, right? Yet no new Grotto-Heaven had appeared among the Three Sects.

As if doused with cold water, Wei Mingyi cooled from body to soul. She looked at Ren Piaoping and asked, “The limitations?”

Seeing that Wei Mingyi hadn’t been blinded by the heaven-tier artifact, admiration flickered in Ren Piaoping’s eyes. She said, “This item was inherited from Taiyi. It has three uses in total. The predecessors of Jade Emperor Sect and the Pure Clean Sect each used it once. Only the final use remains.”

Wei Mingyi said nothing. Even with only one use, the value of this wish-granting divine artifact was still immeasurable. The item was jointly owned by the Three Sects—so its current ownership lay with Heavenly Origin Sect? Wei Mingyi turned to Zhang Tianxin. “What does Perfected One Zhang say?”

“Its last activation was a thousand years ago. The Nine Provinces have long since lost the method to awaken it.” Zhang Tianxin was very candid. Heavenly Origin Sect had established its mountain gate and founded its sect as a result of the game between the aristocratic clans and the master-disciple lineage. Back then, Jade Emperor Sect and the Pure Clean Sect had given up this artifact, but as for practical use—it had none. This time, Liu Yuqi had suggested bringing it out. As for Heavenly Origin Sect’s loss, the other two sects would compensate with other items. Zhang Tianxin felt it wasn’t entirely honorable, but she had to consider her sect, so she agreed. Whether this artifact was accepted or not was up to Wei Wuwang herself.

Wei Mingyi: “…” Using a heaven-tier artifact that no one knew how to use to trade for land? The Three Sects had really thought this “thoroughly” through—even stingier than the Heavenly Dao Alliance. What was she supposed to do with something useless? Keep it as a decoration?

“Perhaps Fellow Daoist’s elder knows the activation method?” Zhang Tianxin, guessing her thoughts from her shifting expression, added. In their eyes, Chongyuan Sect was already a colossus, though shrouded in mist, its existence unclear. As she spoke, Zhang Tianxin produced the artifact and placed it in her palm.

Wei Mingyi glanced at the artifact. It looked like a bone fragment stripped from something, possibly refined into a heaven-tier artifact, for a faint golden light flowed over its surface.

Even the Three Sects didn’t know how to use it. Wei Mingyi guessed that this time, Shizun wouldn’t have an answer either. Just as she was debating whether to swap for something else, her Cheat Item’s panel flashed violently, filling her vision with a cascade of golden sparks.

Wei Mingyi: “…” Could it be the Cheat Item knew? Her gaze sharpened. She said to Zhang Tianxin, “Perfected One, may I examine it?”

Zhang Tianxin, unafraid of any tricks Wei Mingyi might have, said openly, “Of course.”

But the moment Wei Mingyi touched the bone fragment, a sharp flash of golden light erupted, and the fragment vanished!

Wei Mingyi: “.” She’d only wanted to look—who knew the Cheat Item would swallow it just like the Celestial Overseer Token? Could she pretend she didn’t know? She looked up with a blank, bewildered expression at the Three Sects’ Daoists, whose faces had changed drastically, while her thoughts drifted to the system panel to observe the Cheat Item’s changes.

Mm, her Achievement Points and Talent Points hadn’t increased, and her cultivation hadn’t leapt forward either.

After poking around for a while, she found an “attribute” entry.

After devouring the bone fragment, the heaven-tier artifact’s effect had been isolated.

Its uses were numerous, but at this moment, nothing mattered to Wei Mingyi more than Wu Chongyun.

In an instant, she decided to use this effect on refining the Wither and Flourish Poison antidote. Even if the Assistant Master lacked sufficient magical power, under the divine artifact’s impetus, she could refine a perfect antidote.

“It seems Fellow Daoist’s elder has already found a way to use it,” Zhang Tianxin said, her gaze profound.

Wei Mingyi badly wanted to pretend she knew nothing and squeeze a few more benefits out of the Three Sects. But her pure conscience still played its part. Looking at the Daoists with their varied expressions, she moved her fingers, spent a thousand Achievement Points, and unlocked a plot of land.

The Vast Desert Wilds.

Wei Mingyi produced the pre-prepared contract and made the deal with the Three Sects’ Daoists. Without wasting words, she took out the Wild Domain map, marked the unlocked spot, and said, “Here. But the wicked wraiths locked inside—I’ll trouble the Perfected Ones to clear them yourselves.”

The Three Sects’ Perfected Ones: “?”