The arrival of such a large group naturally made waves among the Martial Arts Sects of the two provinces.

Having entered someone else’s territory, Sect Leader Hong Baichuan personally took a Treasure Artifact to visit the Martial Arts Leader of Lingnan Dao.

The Cyan Mountain Profound Daoist Sect.

During the Third Watch of the Night, while the mist in the Cyan Yue Mountain Range had yet to dissipate, Hong Baichuan had already ordered his men to carry the Gilded Iron Box and start up the stone steps.

The nine-thousand-step Inquiry Celestial Ladder radiated a damp chill from its moss in the morning light. He, however, did not let his disciples carry the load for him. Grasping the bronze lock himself, he shouldered the wooden box.

This was a custom of the Northern Foundry Sects, as well as a principle of survival. Whenever visiting another sect to pay their respects, the Sect Leader must personally carry the gift to show that he "carries the Dao through martial prowess, and regards his craft as heavily as a mountain."

Back in Yanbei Dao, when Celestial Craft Cave had to face the invasion of the entire Incense and Candle Sect in Cangzhou alone, the Jiuyao Sect offered no support. They didn’t even send a single person, completely ignoring their plight. Naturally, this left a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone in Celestial Craft Cave’s various halls.

Although Celestial Craft Cave was renowned throughout Yanbei for its Weapon Forging Technique, it was ultimately not a top-tier sect with a Ninth Realm Grandmaster in residence.

While in Cangzhou, the Incense and Candle Sect conspired with the Imperial Court’s lapdogs, which nearly led to the annihilation of Celestial Craft Cave. Almost half of the sect’s members were killed or wounded.

The Flying Kite Disciples sent to the Jiuyao Sect went straight to their mountain gate. For three days and three nights, they waited, but not so much as an echo of a response ever came.

Celestial Craft Cave’s annual tribute to the Jiuyao Sect had never been small, yet in the sect’s hour of life and death, they simply stood by and watched.

The day he personally presented the Eight-Treasure Gilded Armor to the Jiuyao Sect Leader, he received a promise that their sects were "branches of the same tree." That promise had long since turned to ash, along with the corpses piled beneath Celestial Craft City. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

It was a dishonorable affair.

The Jiuyao Sect probably never anticipated that Celestial Craft Cave would up and leave so decisively, relocating their entire establishment in one fell swoop.

Following behind, Xu Yunfan, who carried the Thunderfire Qilin Hammer and the Profound Steel Hidden Mechanism Box on his back, lifted his head to gaze at the colossal mountain.

He hadn’t gone to the Ghostly Wail Abyss, but Hong Baichuan had dragged him along to put on a good face. After all, among the talented members of the younger generation, Xu Yunfan was the most outstanding.

Although Celestial Craft Cave had come to pay their respects, they also needed to show off their own strength.

Otherwise, how could they expect others to look upon them with high regard?

That being said, Xu Yunfan, who had been dragged out by Hong Baichuan, felt a sense of unease. He had read many novels in his past life.

’In those stories, as soon as a genius from another family emerged, the local top sect would take one look, see that this newcomer outshone their own prodigies, and decide that simply wouldn’t do. They had to strangle the genius in the cradle.’

’If they sent an expert to "end" him early, he’d have no one to cry to.’

"What do you think of this place?"

Hong Baichuan turned to look at Xu Yunfan.

Xu Yunfan was in the middle of pondering the potential difficulties they might encounter when he heard Hong Baichuan’s question. Without missing a beat, he replied, "It gathers the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, and holds the elegant rhythm of mountains and streams. It harbors talents that transcend the common crowd, and manifests a spirit of extraordinary grace."

"Well said, well said!"

Before his voice had even faded, a long laugh suddenly echoed up from the steps below.

Hong Baichuan, however, wasn’t the least bit surprised. At the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster Realm, he had sensed someone approaching from the bottom of the steps long ago.

Xu Yunfan looked toward the voice and saw a figure in a Celestial Cyan Jueqiao Robe emerge from the mist.

A Jade Bone Fan was perched on the man’s shoulder. Its ribs bore cracks that spread like ice crystals, and as he walked, the Star Constellation Map painted in Jiao Mo on its surface swayed gently, appearing like a flowing river of stars.

As he drew closer, his face came into view, and even Xu Yunfan couldn’t help but praise him inwardly. ’What a handsome young nobleman.’

’He truly possessed a fine bone structure.’

His eyebrows were like dark pines dusted with snow, his eyes like stars quenched in a Cold Pool. The frost on the tips of his hair, not yet melted, was caught by the mountain wind and shattered, scattering onto his shoulders.

Though dressed as a scholar, his imposing body stood like an iron tower. Where his black sash was tightly cinched, the contours of his muscles were faintly visible, like coiled, gnarled dragons.

Xu Yunfan’s pupils contracted.

’Such a physique! He’s clearly cultivated the Outer Three Harmonies of muscle, bone, and skin, reaching the Perfection Realm in at least two of them. He’s a Grand Martial Master of the Outer Three Harmonies!’

Lingnan Dao was comprised of nineteen states, and the Cyan Mountain Profound Daoist Sect was undoubtedly number one. Even the Great Zhou Government Office’s influence here couldn’t compare to that of the Profound Daoist Sect.

Unfortunately, when the Incense and Candle Sect was running rampant, this sect had only protected its core three states, turning a blind eye to the others.

"I am Su Zhenhe. It is an honor to meet you, Sect Leader Hong."

The folding fan snapped open with a sharp SWISH, startling a winter sparrow from a branch thirty feet away.

His voice was as crisp as the ring of a sword, yet his bearing was as gentle as jade. It made it difficult to tell if he was a Martial Artist or a refined nobleman.

He left a deep impression.

Hong Baichuan stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "Twenty years ago, Daoist Guanshan said the Profound Daoist Sect had produced a qilin-child. Seeing you today, I can tell your bearing is truly extraordinary."

"My master is already waiting at the sect gate to welcome you."

Su Zhenhe clasped his hands in a salute. The fact that Daoist Guanshan himself would be waiting at the gate to greet them was a testament to Celestial Craft Cave’s importance.

After all, in the current Mortal World, having a superior-quality weapon could greatly enhance one’s Martial Power.

To say nothing of a Weapon Casting Sect capable of forging Treasure Artifacts.

These words made the smile on Hong Baichuan’s face grow even wider.

Su Zhenhe’s gaze swept over Xu Yunfan, seemingly by chance. "This brother has a composed and solid bearing. Could he be Sect Leader Hong’s prized disciple?"

Xu Yunfan returned the salute with clasped hands, stated his name, and then said with a smile, "I fall a bit short of that. For now, I am merely a True Inheritor of the Weapon Casting Hall in Celestial Craft Cave."

Upon hearing this, Su Zhenhe did not look down on Xu Yunfan in the slightest, remaining perfectly courteous.

"Brother Xu, you are mistaken. To be brought along by Elder Hong, you must certainly have extraordinary qualities. You shouldn’t sell yourself short."

Sect Leader Hong was even more delighted to hear this. No wonder the Profound Daoist Sect had sent Su Zhenhe alone to greet them. The man was incredibly astute, and the way he spoke was perfectly tailored to make others feel good.

Xu Yunfan, however, felt nothing. In his past life in the corporate world, he’d seen plenty of people like this. The moment they met, they’d heap praise on you, whether you were a beauty or a beast.

It got to the point that after being called "handsome" so many times, he actually started to believe it.

Unfortunately, that confidence was ultimately shattered by someone calling him a "prick."

This man seemed polite on the surface, but Xu Yunfan could hear the faint clang of steel in his breathing. He had a pretty good guess as to what Su Zhenhe was truly thinking.

The Cyan Mountain Profound Daoist Sect, also known as the Cyan Mountain Xuanzhen Temple, was the leader of Lingnan Dao and one of the Six Top Sects. Of course it had its own pride.

If not for Celestial Craft Cave’s special status, any other sect paying a visit wouldn’t have received this kind of treatment.

The three of them ascended the stairs, the frost on the bluestone slabs cracking under their feet.

Su Zhenhe chatted and laughed at ease, but the movements of his billowing sleeves concealed his use of the Seven-Star Step, each footfall landing precisely on a node in Xu Yunfan’s flow of qi.

’Testing me?’

Xu Yunfan’s expression remained neutral. He glanced at Hong Baichuan, who seemed not to notice, still carrying the Gilded Iron Box and chatting cheerfully with Su Zhenhe. The way they called each other "Elder" and "junior" was incredibly cordial.

He shifted his heel by half a step. The stone fragments crushed beneath his boots left a perfectly straight line in his wake. Though each step left a mark, his footfalls were silent, and with that silent movement, he neutralized Su Zhenhe’s attempt to disrupt his qi.

The name of this Light Body Skill, Flying Leg, might be unrefined, but with his current level of insight, Xu Yunfan could still appreciate the exquisite nature of its movement techniques.

Su Zhenhe’s expression froze for a fraction of a second before returning to normal.

Meanwhile, Hong Baichuan, seeming to have just said something amusing, let out a laugh that rumbled like thunder in his throat.

’This old fox...’