Chapter 21: Go Quickly Please Invite That Great Being
Panyin Mountain, Soul Refining Sect.
Zhu Biliang, the Sect Master of the Soul Refining Sect, was meditating in the quiet cultivation hall, seated in front of the Spirit Severing Incense Burner, attempting to break through his current bottleneck.
He was also the only strong cultivator in the Soul Refining Sect currently, at the sixth layer of the Nascent Soul Realm, and the last shred of dignity for the sect.
With a cultivator at the Nascent Soul Realm overseeing the sect, they could barely survive in Qixia Isle. However, when faced with top-tier powers, they had to bow and scrape to stay alive.
Although Zhu Biliang wanted to increase his strength quickly, he had been stuck at the sixth layer for too long, with no sign of advancement.
“Sect Master, this disciple seeks an audience!”
“Have the Elders handle it if it’s important, don’t disturb me,” Zhu Biliang said with annoyance.
“It’s concerning intelligence about the Wuhua Palace.”
The mention of the Wuhua Palace caused a shift in Zhu Biliang’s demeanor.
In the past, the Soul Refining Sect had a mighty cultivator in the Void Comprehension Realm and was a top sect in Qixia Isle!
Now, they had been reduced to voluntarily giving up spirit-rich lands and hiding in desolate mountains to avoid attention.
All of this was inextricably linked to the Wuhua Palace.
“Come in,” Zhu Biliang said, suppressing his anger.
A disciple of the Soul Refining Sect entered the quiet cultivation hall.
“Could it be that Chen Ye has returned?”
“No, there is no news of Senior Brother Chen Ye at all,” the Soul Refining Sect disciple reported truthfully.
“With the Blood Soul Pills, high-grade Talismans, and Jade Token Magical Artifacts gifted by that great being, Chen Ye should have already escaped unscathed and returned to the Soul Refining Sect.” Zhu Biliang was perplexed.
However, the disciple of the Soul Refining Sect could not offer any explanation, and Zhu Biliang eventually dropped the matter.
“What about the Wuhua Palace?”
“The Wuhua Palace Mistress broke through to the Integration Stage a few days ago,” the Soul Refining Sect disciple replied.
“What did you say?!” Zhu Biliang’s eyes widened in fury, and he abruptly stood up.
“Everything this disciple says is true! Some days ago, there was a heavenly phenomenon indicating a cultivation realm breakthrough in the Wuhua Palace, and just yesterday, the Wuhua Palace officially announced to the world that the Wuhua Palace Mistress, Luo Lihong, is now a mighty cultivator at the Integration Stage.”
“Damn it, she beat me to it and stepped into the Integration Stage!” Zhu Biliang cursed in agitation.
With Luo Lihong now in the Integration Stage, coupled with the Heartbreak Flower, they would likely have to avoid anyone from the Wuhua Palace in the future.
“Sect Master, if that were all, it would be fine. After the Wuhua Palace Mistress’s breakthrough, she opened up trade channels between the various major sects, including us, the Soul Refining Sect,” the disciple continued.
The Wuhua Palace was a major sect for Pills. When it came to cultivation, Pills were indispensable.
Previously, the Wuhua Palace had been cautious, and their transactions with other sects were quite conservative. Now, with the Wuhua Palace Mistress having entered the Integration Stage, a mighty being capable of contending with the Void Comprehension Realm, they naturally had no more reservations.
“What do they want to trade with us?” Zhu Biliang asked curiously.
“It’s the Marrow Cleansing Elixir.”
The Marrow Cleansing Elixir could be used by cultivators before the Golden Core Realm and was a mid-grade Spiritual Grade pill.
It could not only shape the body and cure illnesses but also increase meridian strength, allowing cultivators to withstand large amounts of Spiritual Energy after reaching the Golden Core Realm.
Although its effects were outstanding and it was quite popular, only mighty Pill Cultivators could refine it.
“Oh, that’s good. The Soul Refining Sect has recently taken in several promising talents who need this Marrow Cleansing Elixir.”
“B-b-but, Sect Master, their price is more than three times the normal price,” the Soul Refining Sect disciple trembled, saying, “It’s increased to over ten thousand Spiritual Stones per pill. For ten pills, that’s a total of a hundred thousand Spiritual Stones.”
“What?” Zhu Biliang thought he had misheard.
“They also said that if we refuse the transaction, they will cut off all trade channels with the Soul Refining Sect in the future.”
“…They are going too far! Luo Lihong! I’ll f*** your mother!!”
Zhu Biliang was so enraged that he smashed the Spirit Severing Incense Burner in front of him. The spirits within scattered, scaring the Soul Refining Sect disciple to prostrate on the ground.
Cultivation depended not only on talent but also on the corresponding financial resources.
To cultivate super powerhouses, massive resources were required from the start. The initial height determined the future ceiling.
This was why itinerant cultivators rarely achieved much, while major sects and powerful factions continuously produced strong cultivators.
Zhu Biliang had recently taken in a group of talented disciples. He had planned to use the sect’s remaining reserves to trade for some pills from the Wuhua Palace, and then let Chen Ye steal the Wuhua Palace’s cultivation techniques to train these disciples.
But now, the Wuhua Palace was suddenly demanding an exorbitant price, shattering Zhu Biliang’s plans and cutting off his fallback.
“What should we do, Sect Master? Should we refuse this unreasonable transaction—”
“Idiot!” Zhu Biliang kicked the Soul Refining Sect disciple away. “Only the Wuhua Palace can refine this Marrow Cleansing Elixir, not to mention that we will need other pills in the future. If these channels are cut off, who will we buy from!”
“B-b-but… we can’t just be extorted like this, can we?”
“A tiger brought low by dogs is bullied by dogs! We have no choice but to accept their terms,” Zhu Biliang said, looking ten years older, “But before that, we need to consult that great being.”
Hearing the words “that great being,” the Soul Refining Sect disciple’s eyes lit up.
A few years ago, Zhu Biliang had come into contact with a mysterious mighty being who had maintained close ties with the sect.
The Sect Master had even said that the Soul Refining Sect had a chance to be restored.
All the recent plans, including Chen Ye’s infiltration, were guided by this mysterious great being.
Everyone in the Soul Refining Sect held that great being in immense reverence.
Gritting his teeth, Zhu Biliang solemnly declared, “Quickly, go invite Lu Lai Demon Ancestor!”
…
“Young Palace Mistress, I may have to go out for a while.”
Ye Changsheng found Luo Yingying to explain his mission.
“Oh, really?” Luo Yingying replied listlessly.
Ye Changsheng understood Luo Yingying’s state. She had recently had a falling out with her favorite sister, so it was no wonder she was feeling down.
“The Palace Mistress has assigned me and Senior Sister Xiaoxing to go and trade for pills with the Soul Refining Sect. We depart tomorrow.”
“The Soul Refining Sect… they are very dangerous. Brother Chang, please be careful.”
“I understand. Young Palace Mistress, please rest well.”
“Mhm, okay…”
Luo Yingying nodded, quite absentmindedly.
Ye Changsheng bid her farewell and returned to his room to pack.
He hadn’t expected this mission to come so quickly.
The Soul Refining Sect and the Wuhua Palace had long-standing enmity, and any cultivator would understand how outrageous the pill prices were in this transaction.
But the critical point was that the Soul Refining Sect had readily agreed?
It was obvious that the Soul Refining Sect would not let this matter rest and would definitely plot something.
The Wuhua Palace’s actions had clearly angered the Soul Refining Sect. Luo Lihong had played a game of “borrowing a knife to kill,” trying to push him into a fiery pit.
“Is this a challenge to me?”
Ye Changsheng closed his eyes, carefully analyzing the sequence of events.
Interesting. Luo Lihong, then I will steer the situation in a direction you did not anticipate.
