A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Master Cangfeng’s face showed a hint of surprise, followed by a sudden realization.

"Is it for Lin Le?"

The three sects have been allied for a long time, and naturally, they have some understanding of each other’s key members. Moreover, with Lin Le at the helm in the construction of the Treasure Pavilion and Nocturnal City, his exceptional talents have been recognized by both Master Cangfeng and Ye Xiao.

At the same time, his Spiritual Root condition is not a secret.

Lu Qian nodded. Master Cangfeng remarked, "Although Lin Le is talented, he is, after all, only a Pseudo-Spiritual Root. To go to such lengths for a Pseudo-Spiritual Root, Lu Qian, you are a Sect Leader like none I’ve seen before."

After a pause, he suddenly sighed, "In terms of caring for disciples, I’m not as good as you."

Lu Qian’s heart stirred, knowing he was reminded of the matter concerning Yan Hengzhou, and he continued along the topic.

"The matter of the Spirit Vein is fundamental. By rights, you should have guarded it closely. How could Yan Hengzhou have known such a secret?"

Master Cangfeng shook his head, "He did not learn it from me. I guess it was from Yan Beixing."

"Yan Beixing is the Sect Leader’s Disciple and the one I have designated as the future Sect Leader, so he is among the few who can know this secret."

"But I never expected Yan Beixing to indulge Yan Hengzhou so much that he would even reveal such a secret."

"Yan Hengzhou was pampered since childhood. To put it nicely, he shows youthful exuberance; to put it bluntly, his eyes are above the top, with ambitions that exceed heaven, having never faced any setback. Under Yan Beixing’s doting, he believes everyone under the sky owes him something."

"The cause of Beixing’s death is inconvenient for me to disclose, and his body remains forever in Tieyuan County, leaving Yan Hengzhou with a grudge and very dissatisfied with me. Coupled with this recent challenge from Tianci..."

"A single misstep leads to a series of mistakes. If I’d paid more attention to his situation earlier, this change would not have occurred today."

Lu Qian listened quietly and said in a deep voice, "Now that the matter of the Celestial Monarch’s arrival and the Spirit Vein of Heaven-Sundering Sword Peak has already spread far and wide, and both events took place in Liangxiang County. Rumors are terrifying, and when they ferment, no one knows how these two matters will be intertwined."

Master Cangfeng’s face also turned grim, "I fear all forces in Cangzhou will focus their eyes here, and even if our three sects join hands, we will be powerless."

"To protect the Innate Spiritual Qi, we must first understand two things," Lu Qian said. "First, which sects will come to seize the Innate Spiritual Qi. Second, when they will take action."

"Let’s talk about the second one: the timing of the enemy’s action. Undoubtedly, it will be before the Spirit Vein is completely destroyed. But no one can say for sure when the Spirit Vein will be destroyed. May I ask, Master, how long according to the current rate of decline?"

Master Cangfeng pondered for a moment, "Still about fifteen to twenty years."

Lu Qian clapped his hands, "Exactly, even you, the owner, can’t predict it with certainty. Furthermore, the speed of the Spirit Vein’s decline may fluctuate, suddenly accelerating or decelerating."

"Thus, for those intent on seizing the Innate Spiritual Qi, the time to act must be significantly advanced to ensure the Spirit Vein is under their control when it shatters. At the very least, they must be able to monitor the decline of the Spirit Vein in real time."

"Therefore, the time we have left is probably not much, and the enemy will soon take action."

Master Cangfeng nodded, the feeling of being in the open while the enemy is hidden is indeed both tense and exhausting.

"Now let’s talk about the first one: which sects will come to seize the Innate Spiritual Qi? In other words, how much impact does this Innate Spiritual Qi have, and what level of enemies can it attract?"

The world’s Spirit Veins are not static and will change with the passage of time, either rising or falling in grade. Overall, more fall than rise.

However, the fluctuation that causes a grade drop differs entirely from the fluctuation leading to a Spirit Vein’s annihilation. The Spirit Vein of Heaven-Sundering Sword Peak has been confirmed to eventually be destroyed.

The strength of the Innate Spiritual Qi birthed when a Spirit Vein shrinks and fades is determined by the highest grade the Vein has ever reached. The Spirit Vein of Heaven-Sundering Sword Peak, historically, has always been Fourth-Level Mid-Tier, so the Innate Spiritual Qi it can produce is considerable.

Based on past research, the Innate Spiritual Qi derived from a Fourth-Level High-Tier Spirit Vein is sufficient to allow Nascent Soul Cultivation to steadily ascend a Small Realm, and although the Fourth-Level Mid-Tier of Heaven-Sundering Sword Peak may not allow an ascent, it falls short by only some margin.

If used on Master Cangfeng, who can break into the Late-Stage Golden Core within this or next year, taking this Spiritual Qi would surely advance him directly to Golden Core Perfection, with plenty to spare!

This is also why Lu Qian is certain that Master Cangfeng desperately needs help and can request a wisp from him.

Achieving Golden Core Perfection directly, with the esteemed Nascent Soul position in sight, how could Master Cangfeng possibly give up? Compared to this, previous grievances can be set aside for now.

Even if there were originally some forces or loose cultivators contemplating purchase or exchange, using relatively peaceful means to acquire the Innate Spiritual Qi, Master Cangfeng’s reluctance to yield would ultimately lead to forceful plunder.

Master Cangfeng, following Lu Qian’s thoughts, pondered, "Probably the entire Cangzhou, and even the prefectures closer to Cangzhou might have those who act upon hearing the news. Besides sects, there are loose cultivators. The allure of no side-effect cultivation advancement is simply too great."

Lu Qian shook his head, "I think we must first rule out the Xuanwei Sect."

However, Master Cangfeng didn’t agree, "How precious is Innate Spiritual Qi! Even if Miaomiao Profound Monarch cannot use it themselves, wouldn’t they want it for their disciples or closest kin?"