"Take them away and have them face the wall in solitary contemplation for thirty years. No one is to visit them without my permission!"

「Back at Shenxiao Sect's Yunti Peak.」

Daoist Yunxiong waved his large sleeve, and Gan Xingba and Nian Yiyi were thrown down like rolling gourds. Several vine-like spirits hurried forward, hoisted the two of them up, and staggered toward the Cliff of Contemplation on the back mountain of Yunti Peak.

Thirty years should be just about enough for Sixth Brother to break through to the Blood-Stained Realm.

Standing beside Daoist Yunxiong, his hands tucked into his sleeves, Qi Xiu's eyes were clear, bright, and transparent.

"You little rascal, you're just like your Second Senior Sister—so clever and crafty. Nothing can be hidden from you two."

Hearing Qi Xiu's words, Daoist Yunxiong turned to give his young disciple a sideways glance.

"A person of profound fortune who endures great calamities will also enjoy immense blessings. After this ordeal, Xingba will smoothly break through to the Blood-Stained Realm. Speaking of which, we really should thank those bastards from the Gao Family for this. The Yin Yuan Myriad Marvel Body—such a Divine Marvel physique is not easy to come by. Xingba's father wanted to ensure a bright Dao Path for him, so when he was born, he fed him three Spirit Black-Gold Pills. This Divine Marvel medicine has given Xingba an extraordinary constitution, making cultivation much easier for him and far surpassing that of ordinary people. However, it also made his temperament arrogant and caused him to be impulsive and restless. Even now, he has yet to digest all its medicinal power. Now, with this Yin Yuan Myriad Marvel Body to align with his yin and yang, he will be able to completely digest the remnants of the Spirit Black-Gold Pills within him and thus make a breakthrough to the Blood-Stained Realm in one fell swoop."

Leading Qi Xiu to a crescent-shaped pond of clear blue water, Daoist Yunxiong beckoned him to sit down together.

"Xiuer, about your trip to Jiang'an Prefecture, did you understand why the Gao Family went to such lengths to push Xingba to become the governor, even having Gao Fourth, the Dao Expert, protect him from the shadows?"

The water in the pond was tranquil, like a still mirror. At that moment, a withered leaf fell, rippling the surface.

After a brief silence, Qi Xiu slowly said, "It's because of the current situation in Dianchuan Province."

A hint of interest appeared in Daoist Yunxiong's eyes as he prodded, "Go on, elaborate."

"During this trip down the mountain, I discovered that the situation in Dianchuan Province is far worse now than it was four years ago. The Demonic Evil Cultivators are using the Scolding Sacred Heart to greatly expand the 'Evil Domains' and erode the normal boundaries of the world. The entire Dianchuan Province is battered and bruised everywhere. And the lands that have been overtaken by the Demonic Evil Cultivators, even if regained, are uninhabitable for ordinary people. They have become complete wastelands, barren lands, dead lands. If this continues, Dianchuan Province will be like a silkworm-eaten mulberry leaf, losing more and more land. The countless living beings will have no place to stand. The Gao Family, holding the office of Dianchuan Festival Envoy, naturally does not wish for this situation to continue. But the Gao Family alone is not powerful enough to sway the situation in the entire Dianchuan Province. So, they've set their sights on all the Sects and Aristocratic Families within the province. The initial Subdue Demon and Exorcise Monster Order was merely to ensure that the Sects and Aristocratic Families protected their own territories. Everyone was sweeping the snow before their own doors, and the encroachment could not be effectively curbed. Right now, the Gao Family's plan is to have all the Sects and Aristocratic Families in Dianchuan Province take an active role in worldly affairs. They intend to unify the province's forces under one command, twisting them into a single rope. Only then can they contain, or even reverse, the dire situation in Dianchuan Province. And Sixth Brother is the catalyst they plan to use to initiate this strategy. To escort and protect, to establish fame and acclaim! What the Gao Family takes great pains to scheme for is not Sixth Brother, but for our entire Shenxiao Sect!"

"Hahaha, good disciple, good disciple." After listening to Qi Xiu's analysis, Daoist Yunxiong stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his eyes filled with pride. "If Xingba had even half, no, a third of your wits, he wouldn't have been used by others, joyously hopping about like a fool."

Standing up and looking at the still waters of the pond, Daoist Yunxiong's expression grew solemn. "If it weren't for your timely arrival, effective investigation, and interception of that foolish child, and if he had really accepted the imperial appointment and made it onto the list of officials, the Gao Family would undoubtedly have thrust him into the limelight right away. You also saw those sixty-nine Three-Poison Infant Pond Formations in Jiang'an Prefecture, didn't you?"

"Mhm."

"The Three-Poison Infant Pond Formation gathers the filth of the human world and can condense an extremely Yin and evil substance called [Infant Marrow]. For others, this [Infant Marrow] is a deadly poison, but for those with the Yin Yuan Myriad Marvel Body, it can enhance the concentration of Yin Yuan blood within their body. Xingba's cultivation has grown so quickly largely due to that woman feeding him her own Yin Yuan blood. If he were to come to power, those sixty-nine Three-Poison Infant Pond Formations in Jiang'an Prefecture would be his grand debut. The newly appointed governor's first act: breaking the demonic formations! Saving tens of millions in Jiang'an Prefecture from calamity! At that time, the Gao Family would lend further support at just the right moment, making the matter a fait accompli. Then, even if our Shenxiao Sect refused to acknowledge it, the world might not believe us."

"Gao Tianxiong is the Military Governor of a province, a high-ranking official holding significant territory; how could he resort to such despicable means?" Qi Xiu said softly.

"It may not necessarily be Gao Tianxiong's idea. This old White Tiger is advanced in age, senile and confused, and he has lost his children in his later years, leaving no descendants. Undercurrents have long been surging within the Military Governor's residence. The Gao Family is no longer as it was."

Mentioning Dianchuan Festival Envoy Gao Tianxiong, Daoist Yunxiong's eyes showed a hint of sorrow. He was once one of the twelve grand heroes of the Great Xuan Dynasty, who could suppress the entire province with his own strength. Who would have thought that his later years would be clouded with such regret?

"Master, you said earlier that you wanted to issue a challenge to the Gao Family. Are we really going to go to war with them?" Recalling what Daoist Yunxiong had said to the elderly Gao family member, Qi Xiu touched the ring on his hand.

Shenxiao Sect, a venerable institution as the second most influential force on the Righteous Path, possessed profound heritage and inscrutable strength. The Gao Family, as a family of the Military Governor, were powerful overlords of an entire province. Would these two colossal entities truly engage in war so readily?

"War is unlikely, but a challenge letter will still be sent. It represents the stance of our Shenxiao Sect. I have already reported this matter to the Dianzheng Court. They will handle it themselves. You deserve the primary credit for this affair. When the Gao Family's compensation arrives, I, your Master, will ensure you receive a grand gift."

Through his words, Daoist Yunxiong conveyed one meaning: Shenxiao Sect and the Gao Family would not go to war. But the Gao Family must humble themselves and admit their mistake, winning back the face they had caused Shenxiao Sect to lose. Compensation was also a must. As to how much, that would be a matter for the major figures of both sides to settle. But seeing the look on Daoist Yunxiong's face, it seemed the Gao Family might have to bleed a great deal this time.

With these matters resolved, Qi Xiu resumed his tranquil cultivation on the mountain. He was naturally calm and preferred stillness over action. After beginning his cultivation, various circumstances had led him to travel far and wide, unable to live in peace. Now that he had the protection of his sect and no longer needed to worry about his safety, his tendencies as a homebody were fully realized. He immersed himself entirely in cultivation, spending each day either honing his skills or perusing various ancient tomes to alleviate spiritual exhaustion.

Half a year passed in this manner.

His fifth senior brother, Ge Ping, came to the courtyard to find Qi Xiu.

"You're leaving the mountain?" Hearing that Ge Ping had come to bid him farewell, Qi Xiu was somewhat surprised.

Ge Ping had a temperament very similar to his own: calm and steady. Perhaps it was also related to the Wood Dao True Scripture Volume he cultivated, which might be why, when all of Daoist Yunxiong's other disciples had left the mountain to travel, only Ge Ping had remained. Now, this senior brother, as tranquil as the Forest Sea, was voluntarily proposing to leave the mountain to travel.

"Yes, I have no choice but to depart," Ge Ping began. "In fact, when you came to Yunti Peak three years ago, my cultivation had already reached the Great Perfection of the Dao-Entering Realm and had been there for quite some time. Despite years of dedicated practice and trying every possible method, my cultivation hasn't advanced the slightest bit.

"I am already eighty-five years old. One must typically break through to the Blood-Stained Realm before a hundred; if I cannot do so within the next fifteen years, then for this lifetime, I will be stuck in the Dao-Entering Realm."

Displaying a hint of helplessness, Ge Ping spread his hands; he genuinely did not want to leave the mountain. The sect was quiet and peaceful, whereas the outside world was complex and turbulent. But his master had told him that to break through to the Blood-Stained Realm, he needed an Opportunity. It was like Little Six, Gan Xingba; it was precisely by enduring this calamity from the Gao Family that he found the opportunity to break through to the Blood-Stained Realm. If he stayed within the sect always, even another eighty years of practice might not lead to a breakthrough.

"I see. I hadn't realized there was such a story behind it." Nodding thoughtfully, Qi Xiu pondered to himself. When it's my turn to break through to the Blood-Stained Realm, will I also have to endure such an ordeal?

"Then have you decided where to go, Fifth Senior Brother?"

"Not yet." He looked down and smiled sheepishly, somewhat embarrassed. "I joined the sect when I was thirty-five. In the blink of an eye, fifty years have passed. The world has changed so much; I'm afraid I'll get lost as soon as I step out the gate now."

"Yes, the changes outside are quite significant indeed." Recalling the scenes of devastation he had witnessed just half a year ago, Qi Xiu could deeply relate. So much had changed in just three years. Senior Brother Ge had not left the mountain in fifty years. Stepping into society now, he might struggle to even discern the cardinal directions.

"I came to find you not only to bid farewell but also to entrust you with something."

"Please speak, Senior Brother."

"I will be traveling to seek my breakthrough Opportunity, with no set time for my return to the mountain. Please look after Bai Ling in my courtyard for the time being. She is lively and a bit noisy. If she's left alone in the courtyard for too long, I'm afraid she might fall ill from melancholy," Ge Ping said with a light laugh.

"That's a small matter, not a problem at all. I'll have Qingyi bring her over tomorrow; they can keep each other company."

"Also, this is for you." From his sleeve, Ge Ping took out a palm-sized, exquisite bamboo segment, entirely verdant green and jade-like, and handed it to Qi Xiu. "The Magic Artifact I found for you before to ward off the incursions of Heart Demons wasn't ideal. This is a spiritual root I cultivated myself, the Tranquil Heart Illuminating Bamboo. It's much better than that Magic Artifact. Keep it with you. Should Heart Demons attempt to invade, this precious bamboo will automatically glow as a warning and protect your soul."

"Isn't this a bit too precious?" Qi Xiu looked at the Tranquil Heart Illuminating Bamboo Ge Ping handed him but didn't take it.

Magic Artifacts that guarded against Heart Demons were extremely expensive. This Tranquil Heart Illuminating Bamboo, being a rare spiritual root, was undoubtedly of considerable worth.

"We are fellow disciples, brothers of the same sect. Acting like this makes you seem distant." Forcing the Tranquil Heart Illuminating Bamboo into Qi Xiu's hand, Ge Ping stood up and cupped his fists. "Today we part, and I know not when we shall meet again. Little Junior Brother, let us say our goodbyes here. Take care."

His expression serious, Qi Xiu also rose to his feet, cupping his fists in return. "I hope Senior Brother finds his Opportunity soon. Take care."

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