Chapter 589 - 501: 5 Years
"Jade Void Sword Sect... Heh..."
"When the time comes, I’ll settle the score with you all..."
Su Ye’s eyes narrowed, a cold smile playing on his lips.
For the past few years, he had been in Linyue Immortal City, playing the part of a Qi Refining cultivator, but he hadn’t slacked in the slightest when it came to gathering intelligence on the Yaoguang Sea Region.
The Inner Sea Cultivation Realm was prosperous, so naturally, there were many organizations in the intelligence business, such as the Celestial Knowledge Tower and the Wind Rumor Tower, both of which had branches in Linyue Immortal City.
And with the corrosive power of his Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect, secretly controlling a few of the branch managers and making them utterly loyal to him was not difficult at all.
At this point, Su Ye could make them die with but a single thought.
Besides, Su Ye’s orders were simply for them to provide some intelligence.
𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Therefore, even though Su Ye’s public identity was merely that of a Qi Refining cultivator, he could grasp all the information in the Yaoguang Islands and control the overall situation without ever leaving his home.
He knew everything about the major events of the past five years like the back of his hand!
’After the battle at the volcanic Grotto Heaven, the Jade Void Sword Sect took the lead, attempting to unite the nine major sects to cast a wide net across the Central Sea Region, hunt down Qinghua and me, and eliminate us completely.’
’But they were being far too optimistic. The nine sects all have their own agendas and allegiances. How could they possibly be of one mind?’
’So, besides the Jade Void Sword Sect, only two of the nine sects, the Brahma Pure Sect and Tingchao Pavilion, truly intended to join forces.’
The Brahma Pure Sect was one of the upper three sects. During the dynastic change on the Xuan Continent, its founders had raised an army in the name of religion, rampaging across the land for a time and occupying more than ten provinces with immense power and prestige!
Unfortunately, they were outmaneuvered by a single move and defeated by the founding emperor. They failed to establish their Earthly Buddhist Kingdom. From then on, they were viewed with suspicion by the new dynasty and had no choice but to flee to the Yaoguang Sea, hide their identities, and rename themselves the Brahma Pure Sect.
This sect maintained a neutral stance between the Jade Void Sword Sect and the Star Casting Hall.
However, because they required a large number of mortal followers to cultivate with the power of incense and faith, the Brahma Pure Sect utterly detested the Blood Moon Demon Palace, which frequently performed blood sacrifices and slaughtered countless people.
As for Tingchao Pavilion, they were the Sword Sect’s loyal lackeys, always cheering from the sidelines.
However, aside from these two, the other sects showed little interest in the Jade Void Sword Sect’s proposal.
Even a sect like the True Treasure Pavilion, which was more inclined to side with the Jade Void Sword Sect, only went through the motions.
And as for the Star Casting Hall, they agreed to pursue the Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect, but only if they were the ones to lead the effort... As a result, the talks ended on bad terms.
’What’s more, the vast majority of the search effort was focused on Qinghua...’
I have to say, when it came to dealing with the Blood Moon Demon Palace, the cultivators of the nine sects were quite skilled.
All sorts of detection-type Secret Techniques emerged one after another!
In contrast, Su Ye, with his Guiyuan Fetal Breath, kept his aura deeply hidden and was very difficult to locate.
Therefore, Miss Sanhua had been forced to reveal herself two years ago.
She fought a great battle against a Sword Sect Nascent Soul and immediately fled after being wounded.
This battle shook the Yaoguang Sea and drew a great deal of attention!
’So...’
’I was able to develop in peace, lying low and biding my time until my own wings were fully grown...’
’Thank you, Qinghua.’
Su Ye was satisfied.
Time was on his side.
...
Thoughts flashed through his mind as he weighed the pros and cons.
In a good mood, Su Ye picked up a watering can and began watering a few spiritual flowers in his courtyard, cultivating a sense of tranquility.
Just then, an elderly servant who looked like a butler walked in from outside the courtyard, bowed, and spoke.
"Young Master, someone has sent a calling card requesting an audience. They wish to ask you to perform alchemy."
"Mm," Su Ye replied placidly, continuing to water his flowers without much concern.
His public identity was that of an Alchemist, so requests for pill concoction were commonplace.
Cultivators had a high demand for medicinal pills for a wide variety of needs: breaking through realms, cultivation, healing injuries, dispelling poison, extending lifespans... all of these required the aid of pills.
As a result, Alchemists were highly sought after.
DRIP. DRIP.
Su Ye finished watering the flowers and set down the watering can.
He took the calling card and glanced at the beginning, where he saw "Qin Yun of the Drunken Moon Sect." He was slightly surprised and smiled playfully. "Qin Yun? It’s actually that kid?"
"In that case, I’ll see him."
...
「The main hall.」
Dressed in the robes of a Drunken Moon Sect outer disciple, Qin Yun sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead, his heart filled with apprehension.
Five years ago, after parting ways with Su Ye, he had lived up to his family’s expectations at the Drunken Moon Sect’s Ascension Ceremony, joining the sect with his superior-grade Spiritual Root.
He became an outer sect disciple.
Compared to the ordinary youths who had to serve as menial disciples upon first entering the sect, his treatment could be considered quite generous.
However, everything is relative.
Was being an outer sect disciple really that impressive?
The Drunken Moon Sect was large and deeply rooted. With nearly 10,000 outer sect disciples, Qin Yun was utterly inconspicuous among them.
The Qin Family had a shallow foundation and couldn’t provide him with much help. If he wanted to obtain more resources and have a future on the path of cultivation, his only choice was to climb his way up!
He couldn’t hope to become a true disciple, but becoming an Inner Sect Disciple was still something he could strive for!
"The decennial Outer Sect Grand Competition... anyone in the top thirty can be promoted to the inner sect," Qin Yun muttered to himself.
Of course, among the nearly ten thousand outer sect disciples, experts were as common as clouds.
There was no shortage of veteran outer sect disciples at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, who were just one Foundation Establishment Elixir away from attempting their breakthrough.
They were all under sixty years old, so they hadn’t been expelled from the outer sect and sent away on assignments yet.
At the same time, they had been building their strength for a long time, rubbing their hands in anticipation of the Outer Sect Grand Competition, hoping to use it to get promoted to the inner sect and compete for a Foundation Establishment Elixir!
As for Qin Yun, he was currently only at the sixth layer of Qi Refining. It was nearly impossible for him to compete with them for a spot.
However, he had been in the Drunken Moon Sect for less than ten years.
Therefore, as a newcomer, he was given some preferential treatment. In this Outer Sect Grand Competition, as long as he could fight his way into the top one hundred, he would be promoted to the inner sect!
If he performed exceptionally well, he might even be taken as a disciple by a Foundation Establishment master or even a Core Formation elder!
’Of course, even so, competing for a place in the top one hundred is no easy task. At the very least, I’ll need a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivation base, a few trump cards, and some decent luck with the draw...’ Qin Yun mused to himself.
He was currently at the peak of the sixth layer of Qi Refining. If he could obtain a Green Essence Elixir, his promotion to Late-stage Qi Refining was practically guaranteed!
However, breakthrough pills... were not exactly rare. In Linyue Immortal City, even many controlled resources could be obtained as long as one had the status and wealth.
But Qin Yun’s status was too low, and the Qin Family was too weak.
For a moment, he looked around and realized that the only way he could obtain a Green Essence Elixir was through this "Mr. Li," with whom his family had a positive connection.
His First Rank Perfect Alchemy Skill also had a decent reputation.
Therefore, Qin Yun planned to ask him to concoct a Green Essence Elixir this time.
Before long, Su Ye arrived at the main hall and exchanged pleasantries with Qin Yun.
During their conversation, Qin Yun frankly stated his request.
"A Green Essence Elixir? That pill is not easy to concoct, but I do have some confidence."
Su Ye smiled. With his fifth-rank Divine Sense, as long as he was slightly serious when concocting a first-rank pill, he could achieve a nearly one hundred percent success rate.
Since the alchemy itself wasn’t an issue, the focus of their discussion shifted to the materials and compensation.
Su Ye and the Qin Family had a positive connection, but he couldn’t possibly concoct the pill for free. That wouldn’t fit Mr. Li’s persona.
’With the Qin Family’s resources, they probably can’t even afford the compensation for concocting a Green Essence Elixir, let alone the materials... Could it be that this guy has secretly saved up some wealth?’
Su Ye’s curiosity was piqued.
He then saw Qin Yun slap his Storage Pouch and take out a jade box.
"Mr. Li, I only have forty percent of the materials for the Green Essence Elixir."
"However, by a fortunate coincidence, I obtained a stalk of Dragon Beard Grass. Can I use this to cover the cost of the remaining materials and your compensation?"
"Hm?"
Su Ye was slightly surprised.
Dragon Beard Grass was one of the supplementary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Elixir. For someone with his "Mr. Li" identity, this was definitely a handsome reward!
It was more than enough to cover the cost of materials and his compensation.
However, Dragon Beard Grass was even more difficult to obtain than a Green Essence Elixir. Where did Qin Yun get it?
’Tsk...’
Su Ye fell into thought.
’This thing is most likely stolen goods...’
He gave Qin Yun a second glance, his thoughts stirring. ’Qin Yun... Drunken Moon Sect... Jade Void Sword Sect... Nascent Soul...’
A preliminary plan began to form in his mind.
’I’ll give it a try. It’s just a casual move on the board, anyway. There’s no rush,’ Su Ye thought to himself.