A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Lu Qian felt enlightened and deeply bowed, "Thank you, senior!"

Xi Chan Daoist waved his hand, "Hey, I said I would look after you."

With these words said, Lu Qian’s attention returned to the matters at hand, his mind also busy with deducing future scenarios. Even the allure of Taiyi Paradise seemed diminished.

At this moment, eighteen treasure ships had already landed, and another glow shot out from the giant whale, revealing Miaomiao Profound Monarch gracefully descending and standing mid-air.

"Later disciples, respectfully send off the Immortal Monarch!"

Above the firmament, bells and chimes resounded in harmony, immortal music echoed, and heavenly flowers cascaded.

The giant whale let out a long hum, ethereal and distant, drifting in all directions.

Another explosion of Gang Wind sounded, the whale’s twin fins spread wide, slowly ascending into the sky. Waves of space ripples began to surge; at this moment, the azure sky looked like the sea, with the giant whale joyously swimming in the ocean.

Its speed increased and then abruptly shook, disappearing in the ripples of space. The ripples dissipated, the waves calmed, the sky and earth expanded as the Gang Wind subsided.

The firmament was wide and clear, and the Void Refining Giant Whale, the Overlord Sect family, again vanished into the void, as though it never appeared in this world.

Only the eighteen brilliant treasure ships landing on the ground proved that Taiyi Paradise had truly descended here just moments ago.

Lu Qian took a deep breath, knowing that this scene would be forever etched in his heart.

"Let’s go." Xi Chan Daoist saw escape lights descending back into Plum Blossom Marketplace, and once more took hold of Lu Qian.

The two wasted no time, speeding into the city. The cultivator guarding the entrance of the Grand Array saw the escape light approaching from afar and was about to obstruct them but immediately saw the golden light from the spiritual toad atop Xi Chan Daoist’s head, and suddenly shivering, loudly ordered the guards to clear the way.

Thus, Xi Chan Daoist wrapped Lu Qian in a golden light, speeding through; even upon entering the city, they directly ignored the prohibition against flying, crashing through with no one daring to impede them. The cultivators below first witnessed the thousand-mile giant whale swimming through the void and now this formidable figure, speculating on which distinguished personage this could be.

In the few blinks of an eye, the two had arrived before the twenty-five-story Spirit-Gathering Tower. Following the base of the tower upwards, the spiritual Qi became increasingly abundant, and by the time they reached the top floor, the abundance of spiritual mechanisms made one shiver.

It was only at this moment that Lu Qian realized that the fourth-level high-tier spirit vein was floating mid-air here. Plum Blossom Market was constructed according to the height of the spirit vein, forming this twenty-five-story Spirit-Gathering Tower. The highest layer was where the spirit vein resided, with spiritual Qi flowing downward, filling the entire tower, and then dissipating outward.

The meeting this time was scheduled for the twenty-fourth floor.

Standing before the White Jade Gate, adorned with images of various immortals and immortal beasts, Lu Qian took a breath. Seeing him ready, Xi Chan Daoist knocked on the door.

Circle after circle of spiritual light appeared at the place where he knocked, and after a moment, layer upon layer of arrays on the door dispersed, and the door silently opened.

Clouds drifted ethereally, and Lu Qian’s heart jolted.

The scenery inside was not that of an ordinary conference room, but a massive hall entirely constructed of white jade!

Twenty-four jade pillars, each of considerable thickness, supported the dome, everywhere were intricately beautiful sculptures and carvings. Dense spiritual Qi emanated from the mouths of nine jade dragons carved on the ceiling, with the hall shrouded in mist and haze, filled with immortal aura.

The space here was even larger than the newly constructed Minglong Mountain Hall of the Yunshan Sect. It seemed impossible; after all, it was just one floor of a tower, seen from the outside, how could it be so vast!

Unless... this was space folding!

Could it be that the power of the Primordial Spirit already enabled space folding? Or was there other mystical means? No matter what, this White Jade Hall alone fully demonstrated the strength of the Xuanwei Sect.

Inside the door, stood a Golden Core Master, now seeing Lu Qian and Xi Chan Daoist, he announced loudly, "Yunshan Sect Leader Lu Qian has come to pay respects!"

Xi Chan Daoist gently tugged Lu Qian’s sleeve, and Lu Qian respectfully knelt to the floor, "Yunshan Sect Leader Lu Qian pays respects to Miaomiao Profound Monarch, pays respects to Yuan Xu Spirit Monarch, pays respects to Kai Xuan Spirit Monarch, pays respects to all Upper Truths."

Kai Xuan Spirit Monarch, also known as Sikong Sheng’s Daoist name. Truth be told, Lu Qian found this Daoist name lacking in taste, but of course, he, as a minor figure, had no place to criticize.

Miaomiao Profound Monarch’s voice resonated from the depths of the hall, "Enter and converse within."

Then guided by the Golden Core cultivator, Lu Qian followed Xi Chan Daoist’s steps, proceeding to the depths of the hall.

Stepping over seventy-seven pieces of white jade relief tiles, Xi Chan Daoist stopped, and Lu Qian quickly glanced up.

He saw, ten zhang ahead, a jade throne floating mid-air with Miaomiao Profound Monarch seated upon it, attended by a Nascent Soul Spirit Monarch behind him.

On either side of Miaomiao Profound Monarch were rows of floating jade thrones. To his left sat Yuan Xu Spirit Monarch with the Spirit Beast Sect’s Golden Core attending. On his right sat Kai Xuan Spirit Monarch Sikong Sheng, along with several Golden Cores from the Sikong Family, including one from the Qinglian Sect—a Golden Core Perfection.

Xi Chan Daoist bowed to the Profound Monarch and stepped back behind Yuan Xu Spirit Monarch, leaving only Lu Qian alone in the hall.

Lu Qian dared not look too much, unable to discern anyone’s expressions. He promptly bowed again, hearing Miaomiao Profound Monarch say mildly, "Rise and speak."

Lu Qian let out a sigh of relief and had just stood up when suddenly a shout of anger erupted!

Behind Sikong Sheng, a Golden Core man with a full beard yelled, "When presenting to the Profound Monarch, why didn’t your sect’s Golden Core come? Sending just a mere Foundation Establishment is clearly an affront to us!"

In a flash, he leapt in front of Lu Qian, his right leg descending like an axe, with thunderous claps echoing through the air!

"Impertinent behavior must be disciplined!"

Though he spoke of discipline, that kick carried the strength to shatter mountains, like a meteor aimed at Lu Qian’s head. Even a slight hit would crush his skull.

It was clearly murder! He aimed to dominate first, intending to kill Lu Qian before anyone could react!

Even if Lu Qian expected some trouble, he hadn’t anticipated the Sikong family using this as an excuse to brazenly attempt to kill him upon first meeting.

As the direct lineage Golden Core Mid-Stage from a Nascent Soul family launched this fierce attack, the tremendous force bore down with the violence of thunder. Lu Qian, merely a Foundation Establishment, had no time to dodge, let alone withstand!

Yuan Xu Spirit Monarch’s eyes flared with anger, spiritual power just rising, when Lu Qian lifted his head, glancing at the Golden Core.

Purple light flashed.

The Sikong family’s Golden Core let out a muffled groan, his spiritual power dissipated, body limp, turning the axe kick into a split, sliding horizontally before Lu Qian.

The hall fell into silence.

The Profound Monarch, Spirit Monarch, Golden Core Masters, all watched as the bearded man splayed into an awkward posture before Lu Qian.

Tsk. Lu Qian curled his lips; what an eyesore.

Yet, this Sealing and Forbidden Talisman worked beyond expectations. Initially, it was just to delay his movements for Lu Qian to dodge easily. Unexpectedly, it worked so well. Perhaps the Sikong family’s martial cultivators focused too much on physical refinement, with ordinary cultivation in spiritual sense, and totally off guard by a Foundation Establishment’s intricate spiritual sense attack.

Xi Chan Daoist couldn’t hold it anymore and let out a breath, then several Spirit Beast Sect Golden Cores laughed out loud. The Qinglian Sect’s Golden Core Perfection pinched his thigh hard, while the Nascent Soul behind Miaomiao Profound Monarch had his face flushed red.

Even Miaomiao Profound Monarch’s lips twitched. He had been preparing to chastise Sikong’s presumptuousness, but the Golden Core who rashly attacked ended up showing off splits before a Foundation Establishment. He was at a loss for words.

Sikong Sheng’s face twisted, steam billowing from his head as he roared, "Bastard!"

Yuan Xu Spirit Monarch was one step ahead, hooking a finger to pull Lu Qian to his side. Sikong Sheng’s slap sent a monumental barrier flattening the Golden Core, sending him flying.

The Golden Core spat blood, finally breaking free of the talisman, veins bulging, face purple, screaming, "How dare you insult me! Die!"

He kicked off mightily, with a rumble, the white jade floor turned to dust, body shooting forth, charging at Lu Qian.

But Lu Qian just stood quietly, looking at him like a fool.

Sure enough, Miaomiao Profound Monarch’s voice shouted in anger, "Outrageous!"

With a swoosh, Lu Qian couldn’t see what happened as the Golden Core flew back faster, embedding into the ground with a massive crash.

Amid Sikong Sheng’s ghastly expression, Miaomiao Profound Monarch withdrew a finger, coldly saying, "Is this how the Sikong family’s cultivators behave, without any decorum?"