Ever since Bao Yan of the Hidden Blade Pavilion was revealed to be a spy for the Great Zhou Imperial Court, the position of Pavilion Master has remained vacant.

As part of Bao Yan’s direct lineage, Qi Huan was naturally, if subtly, marginalized. Qi Huan was astute enough to understand the situation; he didn’t try to stand out, instead focusing on diligently performing his duties.

In recent times, at least, the other departments’ views on him had improved significantly.

If all went as expected, once Qi Huan stepped into the Muscle Training Realm, the position of department head might fall to him in the next selection.

’A man this rational, why would he get mixed up with Pei Yan?’

Xu Yunfan’s mind raced, but his expression remained calm. He smiled. "What good news brings Senior Brother Qi here, personally escorting Pei Xingzou?"

Qi Huan naturally heard the sarcasm in Xu Yunfan’s voice, but he feigned ignorance. His expression unchanged, he said, "The quinquennial Various Sects Martial Arts Performance of Lingnan Dao is upon us. If you can secure a ranking, Junior Brother Xu, not only will the Profound Daoist Sect grant you Spiritual Elixir Pills, but there are also numerous Divine Skills to be won. As an outside Sect, we must participate if we wish to integrate into the Lingnan Martial Arts world."

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan raised an eyebrow, though he wasn’t surprised. He knew from his time in Yanbei Dao that the Jiuyao Sect held a similar event every five years, inviting the many martial artists of Yanbei Dao to participate.

Counting the days, he was surprised that Lingnan Dao’s event was being held at almost the same time as the Jiuyao Sect’s. He had learned from his master, Zhan Yan, that under normal circumstances, the other five top sects would almost never send people to participate in another Daozhou’s Martial Arts Performance. To do so would be tantamount to issuing a direct challenge.

The implications could be major or minor.

For this envoy from the Sword Pavilion, which held sway in Jiangnan Dao, to cross into a different Dao was quite intriguing.

Seeing his expression, Pei Yan chimed in, his tone gentle yet tinged with an undeniable excitement.

"Brother Xu, this Martial Arts Performance is no small matter. Lingnan Dao is the Profound Daoist Sect’s place of origin. Its Martial Dao flourishes, and it is home to countless sects.

This quinquennial event gathers the elite disciples from all the major sects in Lingnan Dao and even its surrounding regions. It’s the perfect opportunity to display one’s strength and exchange Martial Arts knowledge."

Xu Yunfan smiled faintly and politely declined. "Pei Xingzou speaks reasonably, but how could an unknown nobody like myself have a turn at such a grand event?"

’What a joke. I wouldn’t step half a foot outside the sect’s gates even if it killed me. With the Ginseng Doll in hand, I plan to cultivate the Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique to Great Success before even considering leaving. If I get the chance, I’d rather learn Sect Leader Hong Baichuan’s Ultimate Skill.’

’Going out to gallivant right now would be sheer foolishness.’

Pei Yan shook his head. "Junior Brother Xu, you are too modest. I can see your Martial Arts are extraordinary. Just now, you were practicing the Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique. To be able to wield it at the Outer Three Harmonies Realm is truly remarkable. Furthermore, you possess the Celestial Craft Forging Technique, making you a rare talent indeed.

During this Martial Arts Performance, all the major sects will be scouting for disciples with potential. If you can stand out, your future achievements will be limitless."

Qi Huan echoed from the side, "Pei Xingzou is absolutely right. Junior Brother Xu, you may not know this, but the rewards for this performance are extremely generous. Besides the Spiritual Elixir Pills and Divine Skills from the Profound Daoist Sect, the top twenty participants will also get the chance to enter the Profound Daoist Secret Realm for cultivation."

"The Profound Daoist Secret Realm?"

Xu Yunfan was a little curious.

Pei Yan said, "The Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit is just beginning to rise again. Although it’s not much, some powers that transcend the mortal world are awakening. The Profound Daoist Secret Realm is a cultivation holy land sealed by the Cyan Mountain Xuanzhen Temple two thousand years ago. It is said to contain boundless Spiritual Qi, as well as numerous Divine Skills and Treasure Medicines. The opportunities within are naturally countless.

The secret realm has not yet fully opened, and there are very few people within the Profound Daoist Temple who can use the Active Array, which is why we have this opportunity. As long as your bone age is not over twenty-five and you place in the top twenty of this Various Sects Martial Arts Performance, you can enter. Of course, after you come out, you must give the original Divine Skills and Spiritual Elixir Pills to the Profound Daoist Sect, keeping only a rubbing copy for yourself and half of the Spiritual Elixir Pills. This is a heaven-sent opportunity."

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan couldn’t help but feel a little tempted.

’But it’s a shame. I have the Ginseng Doll that even a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster would go crazy for. Why would I need to take this risk?’

He looked at Qi Huan and suddenly laughed. "Senior Brother Qi has contributed the most to the Celestial Craft Cave. His talent is outstanding; he’ll surely be able to win a rank for us. I’ll just wait for next time... yes, next time."

Qi Huan was taken aback, as if he had never expected Xu Yunfan to say such a thing.

’Logically speaking, among the Profound Daoist Sect’s Inner Sect, Outer Sect, and True Inheritors, you probably couldn’t even find twenty practitioners under the age of twenty-five in the Flesh Refining Realm. There might even be experts at the Blood Exchange Realm.’

’Among the Six Great Sects of Da Zhou, which one isn’t selfish? Without some benefit for themselves, would they be this kind?’

’When the Celestial Craft Cave was first established in Lingnan Dao, if it hadn’t been a Great Foundry Sect with countless Mechanical Masters, re-establishing a sect in Lingnan Dao would not have been an easy task.’

’To that end, Hong Baichuan had to use his personal connections and even presented a Treasure Artifact—one of the Celestial Craft Cave’s most prized possessions—as a greeting gift, just to get the Profound Daoist Sect to adopt its current attitude.’

’Now that the Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit is just re-emerging, the Profound Daoist Sect is just going to generously let others explore its secret realm?’

Xu Yunfan remained noncommittal. No matter what the two said, he continued to politely refuse.

In the end...

"Junior Brother Xu, are you truly turning your back on this opportunity?" Qi Huan’s voice was laced with deep regret.

Xu Yunfan glanced up. The clock on the tallest tower in Celestial Craft City was approaching Noon.

He gestured with his hand, having the disciple who brought his meal place the food on the stone table in the courtyard. The moment the food box was opened, a fragrant aroma, accompanied by billowing steam, washed over his face. "My cultivation has reached a bottleneck. I need to study the changes in my Strength day and night. I dare not take a single step outside."

Seeing Xu Yunfan’s persistence, Pei Yan and Qi Huan left.

As he departed, Qi Huan gave Xu Yunfan a deep, meaningful look before turning to follow Pei Yan without another word.

Xu Yunfan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He had seen a hint of avarice in Qi Huan’s gaze.

The way he looked at him... it was filled with a certain greed...

***

「A month passed in a flash.」

The last rays of the setting sun spilled across Xu Yunfan’s back. A rising white mist enveloped three scorched maple leaves as they fell into the medicinal pool.

The Ginseng Doll struggled, grimacing as it panted. The Qi of Ginseng spilling from its mouth carried the metallic, sweet scent of rust.

Two streams of white vapor shot from Xu Yunfan’s nostrils, the Qi Force shredding a withered leaf that had drifted toward his brow.

The ribbon tied to the bronze bell on the eaves swayed gently. A chill in the wind, like shards of ice, reminded him that today was the third waning moon since the Winter Clothing Festival.

As twilight soaked the scabs under his ribs, the opening stance of his Thousand-Pound Mountain-Shaking Hammer Technique shattered a half-rotten ginkgo tree seventy feet away.

As the Red Flood Dragon Mountain Coiling Strength coursed through him, the ochre leaves covering the ground swirled into a vortex within the blast of air. The twilight, sliced by the leaf-blades, outlined his Profound Steel Hundred-Forged Body. His knotted muscles resembled the unglazed clay of an old kiln, its surface ready to crackle.

The Profound Steel Hundred-Forged Body was the advanced version of the Copper Body Skill. It required a method of forging the body from both inside and out, complemented by cleansing with many rare medicinal baths.

That very medicinal pool had been specially dug for him by disciples from the Celestial Craft Department, on Fu Jin’s orders, so he could soak in it immediately after practicing the Profound Steel Hundred-Forged Body.