Translator: CinderTL

When Xue Cong heard Hong Yi’s question, his eyes flickered, and his gaze landed on Song Wen.

He clearly didn’t want to answer Hong Yi’s question, at least not truthfully. But he also worried that fabricating a story might displease her, so he decided to divert her attention to Song Wen.

"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, your cultivation surpasses mine, so the treasures you seek must be extraordinary. Why don’t you answer Fellow Daoist Hong Yi first?"

As Xue Cong had hoped, Hong Yi’s eyes immediately locked onto Song Wen.

Unlike Xue Cong’s smooth-tongued evasiveness, Song Wen remained calm and composed, his demeanor as upright and honorable as a virtuous gentleman.

"I was fortunate enough to enter the Turbid Spirit Realm thanks to Senior Bai Wei’s assistance. As an elder of the Spirit Jade Palace, and with Fellow Daoist Hong Yi being a disciple of the same sect, I will answer your question truthfully. This is the least I can do to repay Senior Bai Wei’s kindness."

Hong Yi’s eyes brightened slightly, and her gaze softened as she looked at Song Wen.

"No wonder Elder Bai Wei allowed a rogue cultivator like you to enter, even knowing the Turbid Spirit Realm contains treasures like the Pure Origin Heavenly Dew and the Heavenly Soul Mushroom. You truly are exceptional—honest and upright, unlike the scheming rogue cultivators we usually encounter."

"Fellow Daoist Hong Yi, you flatter me," Song Wen replied. "I’m merely returning a favor, and your praise is undeserved." He continued, "Upon entering the Turbid Spirit Realm, I have no specific objective. My only hope is to find one or two extraordinary items that might benefit the Spirit Jade Palace. If I can achieve that, my journey will not have been in vain. Should the Spirit Jade Palace deem me worthy, I would be honored to join its ranks."

Hong Yi’s satisfaction with Song Wen deepened. She nodded slightly and turned to Xue Cong.

"Fellow Daoist Xue Cong, Fellow Daoist Gou Jun has already stated his purpose. It’s your turn now."

Xue Cong glanced sideways at Song Wen, his expression momentarily surprised. It was unclear whether he was astonished by Song Wen’s candor or amazed by his silver tongue, which had so easily charmed Hong Yi.

"Well..." Xue Cong hesitated before replying, "Like Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, I have no particular goal. I would be content with obtaining one or two rare items."

Hong Yi shot Xue Cong a disdainful look, clearly disbelieving his near-identical repetition of Song Wen’s words.

She then ignored Xue Cong entirely, engaging Song Wen in conversation about various topics, occasionally mentioning Bai Wei, seemingly trying to cultivate a connection with her through him.

Bai Wei was a seventh-rank alchemist, and countless cultivators both within and outside the Spirit Jade Palace sought her services.

Three days later, another massive flying ship pierced through the sky.

It was the ship of the Myriad Swords Pavilion.

As soon as the ship stabilized, a figure shot out from it.

It was Jian Xiao himself.

Jian Xiao hovered in mid-air, his aura restrained yet radiating a sharp, indomitable presence, like a sheathed blade poised to strike.

His piercing gaze swept across the towering pavilions built atop the mountain below as he called out in a clear, resonant voice.

"Jian Xiao has arrived late. I apologize for keeping the members of the Spirit Jade Palace and Profound Sky Sect waiting."

Instantly, several figures soared from the mountain peaks below—both Myriad Swords Pavilion disciples who had already been stationed there and members of the Spirit Jade Palace and Profound Sky Sect. Fan Kang, Wang Qiuyue, and Bai Wei were among them.

Soon, eight figures stood suspended in the air, all cultivators at the Body Integration Stage.

After exchanging polite greetings, Zhao Ce, a Body Integration Stage cultivator from the Profound Sky Sect, asked, "Now that the three sects have gathered, when shall we enter the Turbid Spirit Realm?"

"Why wait? Let’s proceed now," Jian Xiao replied.

"Fellow Daoist Jian Xiao and the young friends from the Myriad Swords Pavilion have traveled far and must be weary. Why not rest first?" Zhao Ce suggested.

"No need for rest," Jian Xiao said with a hint of arrogance. "I personally piloted the Giant Flying Ship the entire journey, so none of my disciples have expended any energy. As for myself, the minor expenditure of spiritual power and mental focus is insignificant."

Zhao Ce didn’t immediately respond to Jian Xiao. Instead, he turned his gaze to Fan Kang.

"Fellow Daoist Fan Kang, what is the Spirit Jade Palace’s position?"

Fan Kang replied, "We defer to your judgment, fellow daoists. Our sect is ready to depart at any moment."

Zhao Ce nodded. "In that case, let us proceed as Fellow Daoist Jian Xiao suggests and activate the Turbid Spirit Realm immediately."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Ce, Fan Kang, and a female cultivator from Myriad Swords Pavilion slowly descended to hover in mid-air above a mountain valley below.

The three cultivators floated in the air, each summoning an ancient array disk that appeared to be crafted from a material resembling both wood and metal. Simultaneously, they formed magic seals with their hands, their fingertips emitting brilliant spiritual light that converged upon the array disks.

The array disks glowed intensely, and golden talismans spiraled upward like living dragons, soaring into the heavens. The talismans converged in the clouds, coalescing into a blinding golden radiance, resembling a colossal Blazing Sun descending upon the world.

"Activate the formation!" Zhao Ce roared.

At his command, the colossal Blazing Sun unleashed a golden pillar of light that pierced the earth.

The golden pillar struck the mountain valley, causing the ground to tremble violently.

Towering trees around them swayed wildly, their leaves rustling like crashing waves.

The golden light didn’t penetrate the rock; instead, it rippled outward like a gentle breeze, forming a swirling golden vortex in the valley.

"This is the gateway to the Turbid Spirit Realm! Enter quickly!" Zhao Ce declared.

"Myriad Swords Pavilion disciples, heed my command! Follow me into the Turbid Spirit Realm!" Jian Xiao’s voice boomed like a bronze bell, staking his claim to be the first to enter.

Turning to Wang Qiuyue and the other Body Integration Stage cultivators beside him, he added, "Fellow Daoists, the Myriad Swords Pavilion will take the lead."

With that, Jian Xiao transformed into a blur of motion, charging headfirst into the vortex.

From the Myriad Swords Pavilion’s Giant Flying Ship, over a hundred figures surged forth, plunging into the golden vortex at the bottom of the valley in Jian Xiao’s wake.

Yet one figure emerged from the ship but didn’t immediately dive into the vortex. Instead, he approached Wang Qiuyue.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, what a small world! I didn’t expect to meet you again so soon. The Turbid Spirit Realm is fraught with peril; you must tread carefully."

The speaker was Gu Huang, his severed arm fully restored as if it had regrown, leaving no trace of the injury.

Wang Qiuyue’s expression remained serene, as if she hadn’t noticed the veiled threat in his words, or perhaps she simply disregarded Gu Huang, who was only a minor cultivation realm above her.

"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Gu. I will certainly remain vigilant. However, you should also be cautious yourself—lest you stumble at the last step."

Gu Huang’s eyes flashed with malice as he glanced at Wang Qiuyue before turning away without another word, descending into the golden vortex below.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Fellow Daoist Bai Wei, the Profound Sky Sect will now enter the Turbid Spirit Realm as well," announced a female cultivator from the Profound Sky Sect, her cultivation at the Body Integration Stage.

Wang Qiuyue nodded. "Fellow Daoist Tang He, please proceed."

Once the hundred-odd members of the Profound Sky Sect had vanished into the vortex, Wang Qiuyue and Bai Wei finally led Song Wen and their group of several dozen into the Turbid Spirit Realm.

(End of the Chapter)

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