Iron Palm Mountain peak, Great Hall.

Yi Zhengyang leaned back in the Taishi Chair, giving orders, "Keep an eye on those people for me. Send disciples to test what cultivation those two maidservants have. It’s impossible for them to not hide their cultivation while traveling. Their names might even be fake."

On Yi Zhengyang’s left sat a gaunt man with an evil expression. His hands were just bones wrapped in blue skin, Early-Stage Golden Core Cultivation, he was Chai Chong, the Left Elder of the Iron Palm Sect.

"Sect Leader, are you sure they come from the Green Dragon Realm? It’s said to be the realm of the Eastern Star Alliance’s leader. Even back when the Iron Palm Master was here, we couldn’t afford to offend them."

Yi Zhengyang sneered, "A phoenix fallen into adversity is no better than a chicken. Besides, that boy doesn’t look like a legitimate Dragon Shepherd at all. He might just be an ordinary cultivator from the Green Dragon Realm. We haven’t had contact with the outside world for over a hundred years, nor have we had outsiders. Even if that boy dies here, no one might know."

"However... I’ve got use for him; during this period, fulfill his requests as long as they aren’t excessive, make him complacent. Elder Zong, how is the Cloud-Breaking Charge that you’re cultivating coming along?"

On Yi Zhengyang’s right sat a burly man with a hammer at his waist, Elder Zong Lie of the Iron Palm Sect. He rumbled, "The Cloud-Breaking Charge can only be refined by Artifact Refiners above the Fifth Level of Divinity Transformation. To repair it, you need at least Sixth-Level Refining skills. But... I’m lacking materials; repairing it is somewhat difficult." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Even if it’s difficult, find a way to repair it!" Yi Zhengyang angrily slapped the table, "You wouldn’t want to die with the Iron Palm Realm!"

"Yes, yes, I’ll try harder, try harder." Zong Lie continuously nodded.

Yi Zhengyang dismissed them with a wave, muttering coldly as they walked away, "If it weren’t for that boy bumping in, one of you would definitely have to die, helping me breakthrough to Nascent Soul!"

Suddenly, there was some noise from the rear hall, and Yi Zhengyang shouted, "Get out here!"

A late-stage Foundation Establishment, dashing red-robed woman walked out from the rear hall. Her skin was slightly dark, but she was beautiful with eyes containing a stubborn streak.

"Can you stop using me as a tool to win over people’s hearts?"

Yi Zhengyang couldn’t even be bothered to glance at Yi Zhanying, "I provide for your cultivation, and you should give me a little something in return. Without me, you wouldn’t even be able to establish your foundation. Don’t be too ungrateful!"

Yi Zhanying clenched her fists tightly, "Is it me being ungrateful or you being insatiable? I’ve already married once and accepted my fate once for you, and what happened afterward? You killed my husband with your own hands; doesn’t this time look to be the same?"

Bang!

Yi Zhengyang shattered the table with a palm strike, "Insolence!"

Yi Zhanying chuckled coldly, unfazed by Yi Zhengyang’s rage, "This time you won’t use me again."

With that said, Yi Zhanying turned and left.

"If you have the guts, get out of the Iron Palm Sect and see if you can still live as carefreely outside!"

There was no response. Yi Zhengyang sat down angrily, his expression fluctuating between dark and bright.

*

Xie Jingshan needed to heal his injuries, so he could only stay in the courtyard arranged by Yi Zhengyang. Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi, two somewhat unruly maidservants, used the excuse of wanting to appreciate the Iron Palm Sect’s scenery to wander around its outer sect territory.

The Two Realms Transmission Array was in the forbidden area of Iron Palm Mountain’s back mountain, previously forbidden but now abandoned, guarded by only two Early-Stage Qi Cultivation disciples.

After Jiang Yuebai clearly learned its location, she released the Puppet Avatar.

The Puppet Avatar had already been engraved with the Divine Concealment Talisman and Turtle Breath Talisman. Inside the Iron Palm Sect, no one could uncover her.

Jiang Yuebai’s original body stayed near the back mountain, pulling Lu Nanzhi along as they chatted with several female disciples of the Iron Palm Sect, while another divine thought controlled the Puppet Avatar searching for the Two Realms Transmission Array.

Soon, in a depression in the back mountain, Jiang Yuebai found the broken transmission array stone pillars.

A total of nine stone pillars, half collapsed, were entangled by vines blooming with tiny purple flowers, lying sideways in the wild grass. The ground in the center of the pillars was also engraved with complex talisman arrays, severely damaged by wild vegetation roots.

At first glance, Jiang Yuebai felt hopeless. The entire array was essentially shattered into pieces, with no clue where to start repairing.

Patiently, Jiang Yuebai took out pen and paper, replicating all the talisman array marks from the stone pillars and ground, also collecting some rubble from these places, taking them back to see what materials could substitute.

Once finished here, Jiang Yuebai stealthily retrieved the Puppet Avatar, heading back to Xie Jingshan’s place with Lu Nanzhi.

Halfway through, sudden sounds of fighting came from the side woods. Looking over, they saw two Early-Stage Foundation Establishment disciples of the Iron Palm Sect chasing and fighting fiercely.

As one of them ran out of the woods, the other charged with a rapid assault, launching fist shadows aggressively toward Jiang Yuebai’s face.

Lu Nanzhi was about to draw her sword when a gleam of awareness flashed in Jiang Yuebai’s eyes as she stopped Lu Nanzhi, waving a single hand to summon a black stream of water, transforming into a black water dragon before them, coiling around both of them, blocking the fist shadows.

This was such a clear probe, Jiang Yuebai of course could see it. Since her identity was suspected, she leaked a part to ease Yi Zhengyang’s mind.

Seeing the black water dragon, the two disciples’ eyes brightened, continuing their fake battle around both Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi.

Fist shadows collided, turbulent winds roaring.

"Anan, you don’t need to act, watch me." Jiang Yuebai transmitted her voice to Lu Nanzhi. She, being a Demon Cultivator, could not act publicly, also wishing to maintain some mysterious, unfathomable air.

"If you want to fight, go roll elsewhere to do it!"

Jiang Yuebai shouted angrily, continuing to command the Water Dragon Binding.

The Black Dragon roared, angrily striking at them, instantly exploding with late-stage Foundation Establishment might.

Both disciples were startled, trying to flee but too late, struck harshly by the Black Dragon, crashing into several trees before landing heavily, bleeding, and seriously injured.

Jiang Yuebai quickly covered her mouth, showing a guilty expression, "Let’s hurry away."

She pulled Lu Nanzhi and left, winking mischievously at Lu Nanzhi as they moved away, whispering, "No one likes someone they can’t control. Revealing a bit to Yi Zhengyang so he thinks he knows us will stop further probing, easing things compared to being perpetually on guard."

"You’re really crafty." Lu Nanzhi teased with a laugh, "How about the transmission array over there?"

Bringing that up, Jiang Yuebai drooped sadly, "Repairing it is akin to rebuilding. I’ll go back and look further. I felt some familiarity when replicating it earlier."

"If it’s beyond repair, that’s okay. I just heard the Right Elder Zong Lie of Iron Palm Sect is an Artifact Refiner. When night falls, we’ll go probe his place."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, "Actually staying here a few more days has benefits; I noticed their Martial Arts disciples’ techniques differ greatly from those of the Earth Spiritual Realm. Their way of using and driving Spiritual Energy is bold and forceful, incredibly potent. I spent ten years in the Demon Clan, predominantly researching Demon Arts, most Little Demon Techniques are auxiliary, limited by plant bloodlines, and there aren’t many Great Demon Techniques at my disposal."

"I believe I still need to focus primarily on Daoist Spells. Currently, I’ve hit a bottleneck in spell cultivation; the spells I master all cap at five layers, yet I feel there’s more beyond that, something restricting further advancement. So I’m hoping to study other Daoist Sects’ techniques and spells, seeking breakthroughs."

Lu Nanzhi agreed, "I’m the same with Sword Dao; refining a sword technique to its utmost, seeking further breakthrough becomes challenging. I considered more diligent cultivation, but hearing you say that, perhaps I should also ponder the Hundred Sword Dao, extracting the essence, creating my own unique Sword Dao."

"Then let’s visit the Iron Palm Sect’s Cultivation Technique Pavilion. I have some low-level cultivation techniques from the Earth Spiritual Realm; maybe we can exchange them."

"Alright!"

With that settled, the two immediately asked for directions, heading to the Iron Palm Sect’s Cultivation Technique Pavilion.

Upon reaching the entrance, they encountered a late-stage Foundation Establishment red-clothed female cultivator. The female cultivator’s expression changed upon recognizing them, warning them coldly.

"If you don’t want to die, leave the Iron Palm Sect quickly."