Chapter 2078: Jade Sun Divine Nectar

Wuxia and Xianxia

The patriarch's son still shuddered, remembering how the talisman message had been delivered to him. Someone who could act on him without a sound was likely a Void Realm Dual Cultivator! What did it mean for such a powerful cultivator to appear in the Changyou clan's territory and approach their father and son in this manner? He dared not think too deeply.

Seeing his son's worried look, the Changyou clan patriarch frowned deeply. "Such panic, what kind of demeanor is that! How can I confidently hand over the patriarch's position to you in the future?"

The patriarch's son looked utterly ashamed.

The Changyou clan patriarch snorted, then stepped out of the manor. His figure grew increasingly faint until he vanished completely, without alarming anyone inside the residence.

Outside the manor lay the Sacred Lake, its vast waters shimmering. An ancient stone hall flickered in and out of sight at the lake's center, emanating a powerful aura. The most elite guards of the Changyou clan protected that place. The Changyou clan patriarch gazed at the ancient hall, seemingly hesitant. Soon, he transformed into a wisp of smoke and sped off alone towards the outside of the sacred grounds, neither contacting other clan elders nor summoning guards.

Flying out of the sacred grounds, he entered a region of rolling mountains. This was undoubtedly also a cultivation holy land, yet no Changyou clan members had established cave dwellings here, to avoid offending the sacred grounds. The mountains were covered in pines and cypresses, filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. The Changyou clan patriarch traversed mountain after mountain, then abruptly stopped. He revealed his form in mid-air, staring intently ahead.

On a mountaintop, a person stood. This person stood with their hands behind their back, facing away from him. Their figure was indistinct, as if shrouded in a layer of mist, making it impossible to discern their appearance or determine which tribe they belonged to. A sharp glint flashed in the Changyou clan patriarch's eyes as he secretly activated his Spirit Eye technique, yet he couldn't see through the mist at all. As this person stood on the mountaintop, it seemed to the Changyou clan patriarch that only this individual remained in the entire world, or perhaps this person was the world itself. Just a moment ago, he hadn't noticed this person's presence at all; they seemed to have appeared out of thin air. However, the Changyou clan patriarch was certain that this person hadn't appeared suddenly; they had been there all along. He could only perceive them when they wished to be seen. There was no need for further testing; the opponent's cultivation level was self-evident.

The Changyou clan patriarch hadn't brought any clan elders along, as numbers were meaningless against a Void Realm Dual Cultivator. If the other party harbored ill intentions, even if he hid in the Sacred Lake, he wouldn't be confident in fending them off. However, the fact that the other party had used this method to deliver the message, without harming him or his son, subtly implied a degree of goodwill. The Changyou clan patriarch's expression was solemn. He flew closer, bowed respectfully to the mysterious figure's back, and said, "May I ask which senior has graced our humble tribe with your presence? Min Zhuo pays his respects here."

"You've read the letter."

The mysterious person slowly turned around. Min Zhuo's heart gave a heavy leap. From within the mist, a pair of deep eyes seemed to gaze at him, their intent—whether benevolent or malicious—unclear. The mysterious person did not reveal their identity, which Min Zhuo had already anticipated. He nodded slightly.

"Heh heh..." The mysterious person let out an inscrutable laugh. "You don't seem to believe what's written in it."

"The letter states that a great calamity is about to befall my clan, yet it doesn't specify the origin of this disaster. This sounds like an exaggeration, and I, your junior, find it genuinely hard to believe. However, this matter concerns the prosperity of my entire clan, and as an unworthy patriarch, I had no choice but to come." Min Zhuo raised his head, his tone neither servile nor arrogant. "Senior, could you please enlighten this junior?"

The mysterious person looked towards the northeast and said faintly, "What if your enemies now possibly have more than one Void Realm Dual Cultivator guarding them?"

"What?" Min Zhuo was greatly shocked.

The Changyou clan's enemies were currently only the foreign tribes from the Land of Filth. There were indeed exceptional talents among them, such as Fairy Liuli, but it was absolutely impossible for her to break through to Void Realm Dual Cultivation so quickly. He had already touched that barrier and confirmed one thing: Azure Spirit Qi offered almost no help in breaking through to Void Realm Dual Cultivation. The Changyou clan, at least, had a foundation accumulated from ancient times. What did those foreign tribes have? For the mysterious person to claim that the foreign tribes had more than one Void Realm Dual Cultivator was simply preposterous!

Before Min Zhuo could retort, the mysterious person said faintly, "Some time ago, a powerful demon cultivator traveled here via a spatial teleportation array. Hmm, according to those foreign tribes, it should be called the Void Refinement Stage. This demon's whereabouts are currently unknown, but it has likely headed east. If he meets with his own kind, do you think these foreign tribes would pledge allegiance to this demon?"

Even though Min Zhuo was shrewd, his expression changed upon hearing this news. Rumors had always circulated that the struggle between the Water Tribe and the Sky Tribe was not confined to the Ethereal Human race itself, and that the Sky Tribe's higher clans deliberately befriended the East Sea merfolk. However, the Ethereal Human race inherently did not welcome foreign races into the Fog Sea. Even the demon cultivators they were on good terms with rarely appeared in the Fog Sea. The territories of the various Ethereal Human tribes were separated by fog tides, and travel required passing through spatial teleportation arrays. Only powerful demon cultivators could enter the heartland of the Fog Sea. These powerful cultivators were elusive, and smaller tribes simply couldn't get in touch with them. Therefore, the Changyou clan wasn't worried that the Storm Realm would contact the East Sea merfolk. Nevertheless, the Changyou clan had taken precautions, consistently hunting down scouts dispatched by the Storm Realm to keep them confined. But if a powerful demon cultivator came on their own accord, the Changyou clan wouldn't be able to defend against them.

"After all, the other party is an outsider. Perhaps they have reservations and haven't acted rashly for now. But once they decide to move against you, heh heh..." The mysterious person chuckled. "There's an ancient alliance. Zhu Yan won't sit idly by and watch the Changyou clan be exterminated, but that's all. Do you think you and your clan elders would be spared? The conflict started with you, and the consequences must be borne by you, or even your entire clan. That's the rule. The outcome is that you will all perish, and the Changyou clan will become a slave tribe." The mysterious person's tone was calm, devoid of any manipulative intent, simply stating a fact plainly. A fact that terrified Min Zhuo.

Min Zhuo's expression constantly shifted. This news was too dreadful. If it were true, the Changyou clan would be on the brink of survival. But why was this person warning him? Was it merely out of goodwill? Who exactly was this person?!

"Senior..." Min Zhuo opened his mouth, then suddenly saw the mysterious person raise their right hand. White light flickered in their palm, and a jade bottle appeared. Inside the jade bottle was a single drop of milky white spiritual essence, emitting a gentle white glow. Every three breaths, a streak of profound yellow light would flash, appearing unusually dense and heavy, as if weighing ten thousand jun. Min Zhuo was startled at first, finding the spiritual essence somewhat familiar. He then immediately thought of something and exclaimed, "Jade Sun Divine Milk!"

Jade Sun Divine Milk was one of the spiritual medicines produced in the Fog Sea. It was said that its place of origin was controlled by a certain superior clan, and its quantity was scarce. What little trickled out was even rarer, making it something smaller clans like theirs dared not even dream of. Min Zhuo wished to break through to Void Realm Dual Cultivation and required external medicinal aid. He had considered Jade Sun Divine Milk, but immediately dismissed the idea, content if he could acquire other spiritual medicines of lesser potency. The preciousness of Jade Sun Divine Milk lay in its ability not only to aid breakthroughs but also to solidify one's foundation. He also noticed that the Jade Sun Divine Milk in the bottle had been refined, a feat only a Void Realm Dual Cultivator could personally accomplish, which would undoubtedly elevate its medicinal properties further. It could be said that if he consumed this drop of Jade Sun Divine Milk, he would soon be able to attempt breaking through his bottleneck, and his chances of success would greatly increase.

A flicker of greed flashed in Min Zhuo's eyes. The allure of the treasure was immense, but he did not lose his head. He took a deep breath, calming himself. "Senior, what is the meaning of this?"

"Consume the divine milk, break through to Void Realm Dual Cultivation, and perhaps you can weather this tribulation."

The jade bottle floated from the mysterious person's palm, drifting between them. Facing the easily obtainable divine milk, Min Zhuo's gaze grew a few degrees hotter. Fortunately, he remained clear-headed.

"The other side has two Void Realm Dual Cultivators. Even if this junior breaks through, how could I be their match?"

The mysterious person said meaningfully, "When the time comes, someone will naturally come to assist you."

Min Zhuo's eyes flickered, and he suddenly felt a suffocating sensation. It seemed he had fallen into a grand conspiracy. He had a premonition earlier that such a great benefit wouldn't come for free. The other party intended for him and the Changyou clan to become their pawns! Min Zhuo fell silent. Even if he understood, what good would it do? Did he dare refuse? Could he resist the temptation of the Jade Sun Divine Milk?

"If this junior accepts the Jade Sun Divine Milk..." Min Zhuo's voice was a little dry. "Senior, what do you intend for this junior to do?"

"How can one not avenge a blood feud against one's kin? Do what needs to be done," the mysterious person said faintly. He took a step towards the outside of the mountain, vanishing instantly, leaving only a single sentence behind. "The divine milk is here. You can take it whenever you wish."

The mountaintop was empty. Min Zhuo gazed at the Jade Sun Divine Milk, caught in a struggle. Ultimately, he did not reach out. Instead, he turned and flew towards the Sacred Lake, leaving the Jade Sun Divine Milk where it was. It was clear that the mysterious person had left a restriction on the Jade Sun Divine Milk. Only he, in the entire Changyou clan, could see it, so there was no fear of others taking it. If a Void Realm Dual Cultivator truly passed by and took the Jade Sun Divine Milk, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. He needed to think carefully.

The patriarch's son was still guarding outside the quiet room. Seeing his father return safely, he visibly relaxed and hurried to meet him. "Father..." Unexpectedly, his father completely ignored him, entered the quiet room, and immediately sealed it with a formation restriction. The patriarch's son, blocked outside the door, grew increasingly anxious.

Inside the quiet room. Min Zhuo sat cross-legged. As mystical mist entered his senses, he grew increasingly calm. He meticulously recalled every word and every action of the mysterious person, as well as the meaning behind their words. Was the great demon's arrival at this time a coincidence, or was there another scheme afoot? What was the true identity of the mysterious person? Why were they targeting the great demon and instigating him to oppose it? What was their ultimate goal? And how much did these people truly know...?

Time flowed silently, and the lamp oil did not seem to diminish. After an unknown period, a ripple finally appeared in Min Zhuo's expression, as if he had just awakened from a dream. His eyes slowly moved, gazing eastward, his expression profound. After a long time, his lips moved slightly, muttering almost imperceptibly, as if in a trance.

"Mount Daiyu..."

Lu Ye.

Now, Lu Ye had been completely renovated. Most of the palaces and pavilions had been relocated to the lower ground, leaving the bamboo groves rustling softly, restoring a sense of serene tranquility. The disciples of Qingyang Temple had also been moved out of Lu Ye, each seeking out spiritual mountains and beautiful peaks to establish temporary cave dwellings.

Currently, Qingyang Temple had no defensive capabilities against the outside world. It would only truly be on track once the first layer of its mountain-protecting formation began to take shape. For now, the entire temple was bustling with activity. Li Yu'fu and Shen Chen were currently in a quiet room in Lu Ye, working together to refine formation artifacts. Shen Chen's ability to become the leader of the Heavenly Craftsmanship Alliance left no doubt about his mastery of artifact refining. However, some formation artifacts were too complex, still requiring Li Yu'fu's assistance.

The two sat facing each other, a water orb floating between them, emitting a faint blue glow. Inside the water orb was a spiritual banner, its surface plain white and empty. Shen Chen's expression was serious as he sent streams of incantation seals towards the water orb. Li Yu'fu merely had to watch Shen Chen and mimic his movements, making his task easier. After absorbing over a hundred incantation seals, the water orb finally stirred. Its surface rippled, and thin streams of water emerged within, swirling rapidly around the spiritual banner. Suddenly, one stream of water, like a whip, fiercely lashed the spiritual banner. The banner's surface shuddered violently, then swallowed the water stream, and a blue mark appeared on its surface. As this phenomenon continued, more and more marks appeared, forming an incredibly complex pattern, which finally erupted in dazzling blue light. Once the blue light dissipated, the spiritual banner fell into Shen Chen's hand. Its surface had turned light blue, soft as water, surpassing the finest silk in the world.

"Finally, one is complete! Thank you for your assistance, Senior Brother!" Shen Chen took a deep breath. He had wasted a lot of spiritual materials these past few days, which put him under great pressure. Li Yu'fu saw this and comforted him, "Junior Brother, there's no need to rush. With your abilities, by diligently studying and proceeding step by step, you will surely refine them all." Shen Chen shook his head. He viewed these as trials from his master, determined to show his best side. Putting away this banner, Shen Chen laid out more spiritual materials and began to study the next type of formation banner.

Just then, Li Yu'fu's expression subtly changed. He looked outside and said, "We have a distinguished guest. I'll come back later, Junior Brother." He flew out of Lu Ye and saw a crane carriage approaching from the horizon. The cranes had pure white wings and were extraordinary and majestic. On the crane carriage sat a lean, ascetic Daoist, who was gazing at the ground. Li Yu'fu flew forward to greet him. The Daoist also saw him and proactively stopped the crane carriage. "Greetings, True Monarch." Li Yu'fu bowed respectfully.

The newcomer was none other than True Monarch Hegao, the current Master of the Eight Scenery Temple, whose status was revered and cultivation profound. Currently, the Sweet Dew Chan Monastery, the Eight Scenery Temple, and the Sky Haze Tower formed the Alliance of Three Sects, remaining the overlords of Zhongzhou. Li Yu'fu knew that the other party must have learned that Qingyang Temple was establishing its sect here and had come specifically to probe them.

Qingyang Temple had made no attempt to conceal their actions. Huan Hen had been recalled from the front lines, Shen Chen had taken leave from the Heavenly Craftsmanship Alliance, and essentially all other Qingyang Temple disciples, apart from those with garrison duties, had been transferred here. Only Jade Slave remained in charge of the North Sea. News of Qingyang Temple re-establishing its sect had spread throughout the Storm Realm, and several groups of cultivators had already arrived during this period.