I Have a Compass for Opportunity

Liou Yuan looked Liou Zhen up and down, discovering that his complexion was normal, unlike the pale look when he left yesterday. It was evident that the injuries inflicted by Liou Le Yao and the other three had mostly healed.

"My big brother is really strong. Such serious injuries, and he has recovered in less than a day."

"Or maybe he wasn’t injured at all? Did he deceive Liou Le Yao into continuing the pursuit?" Liou Yuan thought with a hint of malicious humor.

Liou Zhen surveyed Liou Yuan’s cave dwelling and felt the Spiritual Qi inside with satisfaction, praising it.

"The cave dwelling is not bad; it’s sufficient for your use at the Qi Cultivation Realm."

"When you reach the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, you can consider using elixirs to enhance your cultivation."

This is the consensus among disciples of the Five Extremes Mountain and even throughout the Cultivation Realm.

Elixirs should be used to enhance cultivation when progressing from the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer to the Ninth Layer.

If done through time alone, progressing from the eighth to the ninth layer requires a hundred sixty strands of Spiritual Power, which is too time-consuming.

Anyway, during Foundation Establishment, one can undergo Washing Marrow to eliminate pill toxins, alleviating concerns about the effect of elixirs on future cultivation.

"Do you have elixirs prepared?" Naturally, Liou Zhen needed to ensure his brother’s preparedness regarding elixirs.

He had just exited seclusion to learn that his debts incurred while crafting Foundation Establishment Magical Artifacts had been settled by Liou Yuan, utilizing points gained from discovering the Cyan Jade Iron Ore Vein. He was worried that Liou Yuan hadn’t reserved money to purchase elixirs for himself.

"Don’t worry, big brother, I’m prepared. Liou Tao contributed quite a few top-grade elixirs to me." Liou Yuan cheerfully shared the story of seizing Spirit Attachment Elixirs from Liou Tao’s storage bag after dealing with him.

Liou Zhen nodded repeatedly.

"Spirit Attachment Elixirs are indeed excellent elixirs; those from prestigious families almost always choose them when breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer."

"A single bottle of Spirit Attachment Elixirs is still too few; I’ll help you find more elixirs during this period."

Seemingly afraid that Liou Yuan would refuse, Liou Zhen added, "Life-and-death battle is no trivial matter. You should use all available means to enhance your cultivation during this period."

"As your brother, regardless, I’m a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Now that we’ve emerged from seclusion, the cultivation materials for the two of us can still be earned."

"Then thank you, big brother." Liou Yuan didn’t show any formality with his brother and agreed with a smile.

After discussing Liou Yuan’s cultivation situation, Liou Zhen walked slowly to the stone table and sat down.

Liou Yuan quickly brewed tea for his brother and handed it over.

The two brothers, after a short reunion in Yanhe City, rarely had time to be alone like today.

Liou Zhen then asked about Liou Yuan’s swordsmanship, clearly intending to offer his brother some guidance.

Liou Yuan immediately told Liou Zhen about his mastery of Jade Tide Pure Water Swordsmanship. He even drew the Canglan Sword and activated two major sword glows of Green Tide and Sushui.

Liou Zhen looked at the two sword glows on the Canglan Sword, faintly merging into Sword Qi, and didn’t conceal the satisfaction in his eyes.

"Not bad, you’ve already got the aura of Sword Qi. In two years, you’ve achieved mastery of Jade Tide Pure Water Swordsmanship and even nurtured Sword Qi. My brother Liou Yuan is more talented than me."

Liou Zhen said this entirely to encourage Liou Yuan.

Liou Yuan had witnessed the terrifying talent of his brother firsthand.

Regarding swordsmanship, among all Inner Sect Disciples of Five Extremes Mountain, none could surpass his brother.

Liou Zhen then began imparting insights on nurturing Sword Qi to Liou Yuan, resolving some of his cultivation issues.

Time passed like this for a day and night, with seven to eight pots of tea brewing.

Throughout the Outer Sect, Liou Yuan was the only one receiving personal instruction from Liou Zhen wielding the Snow Shattering Sword.

This day and night, he gained immensely.

Greater than what he had learned during a year at the cliffside lesson.

"When Xiao Yuan breaks through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer using elixirs and with Sword Qi accompanying him, I’ll be reassured about the life-and-death battle in the Chaotic Scene."

After saying this, Liou Zhen slowly stood up from the stone table.

He asked Liou Yuan, "Earlier you said the magic imprint was left by someone when you purchased the Array Disc at the Treasure Pavilion."

"Do you know who did it?"

At this point, Liou Yuan’s gaze instantly cooled as he looked at his brother.

Liou Yuan roughly guessed what Liou Zhen intended, and after some contemplation, shared his inference with Liou Zhen.

"When buying the jade disc, the shopkeeper at the Treasure Pavilion accompanied me throughout."

"He personally handed the jade disc to me."

"Nine out of ten, it was that guy who did it."

"Good!" Liou Zhen responded.

He trusted Liou Yuan immensely.

Liou Zhen knew his brother was sharp and wise from witnessing his confident speech on the Spirit Ascension Platform, reversing unfavorable circumstances in a few sentences.

Since Liou Yuan made a judgment, it was unlikely to be wrong.

After uttering a single approval, Liou Yuan saw his big brother’s moon-white long robe sleeve flutter, True Essence enveloping him as they soared into the sky.

Heading towards their destination, which was indeed the Treasure Pavilion on the fifth peak.

Liou Yuan still heard Liou Zhen’s calm voice as they departed, "Brother will take you to kill."

Within the Treasure Pavilion, filled with myriad magical artifacts, elixirs, and spiritual objects.

Shopkeeper Shi Yongning stood behind the counter, his mood rather agitated as he looked at the disciples coming and going, lacking the inclination to greet them.

His gaze sometimes anxious, sometimes gloomy.

His figure somewhat hunched, his luxurious attire meticulously arranged, sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing his bony, vein-bursting hands.

His long, slightly yellow fingernails resembled eagle talons, as he held a token between his claw-like fingers.

The token was the source of his restless anxiety.

The token bore a large ’Summon’ character, it was a summons order from the most powerful hall at Five Extremes Mountain, the Law Enforcement Hall.

After the commotion at the Spirit Ascension Platform yesterday, today a disciple from the Disciplinary Hall had delivered this summons.

The implication was clear: it was to investigate the matter of the magic mark on Liou Yuan.

There’s no need for investigation; the Foundation Establishment members of the Disciplinary Hall have the means to trace origins. By using some tracing magic on the magic mark, they could easily find the one behind it.

This summons was fundamentally not for summoning but directly intended to send Shi Yongning into the Disciplinary Hall.

As Shi Yongning was a part of the scheme to assassinate Liou Yuan, he would inevitably be implicated.

One might even say the evidence was irrefutable, leaving no room for escape.

Thinking about how his family’s three Foundation Establishment members had already been detained in the Inner Sect Disciplinary Hall, if he, this small fry, were also caught, he wouldn’t escape unscathed.

"Damn it! How could Liou Yuan possibly kill Liou Tao?"

"And how could Liou Zhen defeat Liou Le Yao?"

Shi Yongning cursed the incompetence of the Liou Family members, anxiously unaware that the temperature within the Treasure Pavilion was starting to change gradually.

Within the luxurious Treasure Pavilion, white frost began to emerge on the stone pillars and floor, and many magical artifacts became coated with white frost and snow.

The disciples inside picking out items were shivering from the cold; despite attempts to use spiritual power to resist the chill, it proved ineffective.

Whoosh! The cold wind swept across Shi Yongning’s face, instantly clearing his chaotic thoughts.

Only then did he realize that his clothing was unknowingly covered with a layer of white frost.

By the time he reacted, crystals were already forming between his eyebrows.

Shi Yongning, chosen by the Liou Family to be in charge of the Treasure Pavilion, was certainly no fool.

He seemed to realize something, his face drastically changing, blurting out, "The Snow Shattering Sword, Liou Zhen!"

As the last word fell.

Bang! A white flower of winter blossomed over his chest.

The white crystals, together with his body’s blood, burst forth.

In an instant, Shi Yongning lost all signs of life, his face frozen in an expression of terror, ultimately covered by white frost and turning into an ice corpse.

"Murder! The shopkeeper is dead!"

"Who dares commit murder in Five Extremes Mountain!"

"Has an enemy invaded? Why is the Mountain Guarding Array not responding."

The Treasure Pavilion descended into chaos, filled with the terrified screams of Outer Sect disciples.

At this moment, above the Treasure Pavilion.

Liou Yuan’s expression was peculiar, having witnessed the shopkeeper’s death firsthand.

The shopkeeper’s spiritual power had already begun to dissipate, clearly dead beyond any doubt.

Liou Yuan turned to look at Liou Zhen beside him; the latter had merely flicked a finger nonchalantly just moments ago.

A cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer was killed just like that.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator killing someone at the Qi Cultivation Realm is like slaughtering chickens." Despite Liou Yuan having seen multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators, he couldn’t help but marvel at the disparity between the two realms.

Moreover, the one who struck was his elder brother, an outstanding Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Killing an enemy who had wronged him before, Liou Yuan couldn’t be happier to see this.

But for Liou Zhen to commit murder in such a public setting, it was evident that the matter couldn’t just end this way.

"Aren’t you afraid the Disciplinary Hall will hold you accountable, big brother?"

Liou Yuan was furrowing his brows, pondering how his elder brother should wrap things up.

Almost simultaneously with Shi Yongning’s death.

A furious, aged voice suddenly rang out from the buildings surrounding the Treasure Pavilion: "Liou Zhen!"

The voice resonated in all directions, carrying a thick True Essence.

Upon entering Liou Yuan’s ears, it shook him until his mind went blank.

Afterward, he saw an elderly figure dressed in Disciplinary Hall attire rise from below, with two Foundation Establishment members from the Disciplinary Hall following him.

"Inner Sect Disciplinary Hall! This luck couldn’t be good!" Liou Yuan’s expression froze as he watched the elderly figure fly towards him.

On the other side, the old man pointed at Liou Zhen and loudly berated him face-to-face: "You’ve become increasingly unruly."

"Apprehending and executing punitive actions have always been the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Hall. When is it your turn as an Inner Sect disciple to interfere?"

"This is a violation!!!"

The elderly man was over seventy, with a daunting presence akin to a volcano ready to erupt.

His tall and slender figure stood rigid like a stubborn pine.

His eyes were bright, intense flames burning deep in his pupils, radiating indisputable authority.

Facing the elder’s direct reprimand, surprisingly, Liou Zhen did not refute but calmly said, "Mr. Ya speaks wisely; I will follow Mr. Ya back to the Disciplinary Hall to be punished."

After speaking, Liou Zhen advised Liou Yuan beside him, "I shall return to the Inner Sect first; focus on your cultivation peacefully. As long as elder brother lives, no one would dare to target you clandestinely from now on."

Saying this, Liou Zhen calmly placed his hands behind his back.

Mr. Ya looked at Liou Zhen in front of him with complicated eyes; as Ya Kuan, he could certainly see through Liou Zhen’s actions.

Nonetheless, rules are rules. Committing murder right before him, as a Disciplinary Hall Elder, Ya Kuan could not possibly overlook Liou Zhen.

With a wave of his large hand, he instructed the Foundation Establishment members of the Disciplinary Hall beside him: "Bind him and escort him to the Disciplinary Hall."