Chapter 67: The Superstitious Ancestor

The night sky was clear, the moonlight bright, and a few clouds drifted idly.

Yet, outside the cave dwelling of the Sixth Peak, the Vajra Sect Patriarch, standing with his back to the moonlight, appeared somewhat dim. In this gloom, the worry on his face seemed even more pronounced.

He didn't actually grieve much over the lost valuables; what truly angered him, making him almost "spit blood" at the time, was the destruction of his sect's gate. As for the spirit stones, they were merely what he had placed in plain sight. His true concern was that his adversary would grow increasingly powerful within the Seven Blood Eyes Sect.

With his heart pounding with anxiety, he looked up at the cave dwelling before him. It was silent, offering no response. After what felt like half an incense stick of time, a sigh finally emanated from within the cave dwelling.

"You Lingzi, long time no see."

The Vajra Sect Patriarch's Daoist name was You Lingzi. However, for many years, both within and outside his sect's region, he had been widely addressed as "Patriarch." Consequently, it had been a long time since he heard his own Daoist name spoken by anyone else. Upon hearing it now, a look of reminiscence appeared on the Vajra Sect Patriarch's face, and he let out a soft sigh.

"Long time no see indeed."

As their words echoed, the massive stone door, which had been sealed shut, slowly rumbled upwards, revealing the profound darkness within. From that gloom, a figure gradually emerged. The figure's gait was peculiar; each step seemed deliberate and unyielding. Once fully revealed in the moonlight, it was an old man, clad in a deep blue Daoist robe. Beneath his graying hair was a face that appeared stern and rigid.

He stopped before the Vajra Sect Patriarch. As the mountain wind swept past, it lifted a corner of his robe, revealing what lay beneath: not legs of flesh and blood. His legs, shockingly, were crafted from artifact-refining materials, emitting a faint blue glow that made them seem even colder under the moonlight.

"Since it has been a long time," the blue-robed elder began indifferently, looking up at the clouds in the night sky, "then why have you come here today?"

Although he and the Vajra Sect Patriarch stood side by side, there was an unmistakable sense that the Patriarch was somehow inferior to him.

The Vajra Sect Patriarch wore a pained expression. After a long silence, he finally began to speak about Xu Qing.

"My sect suffered a terrible misfortune... Before that little thief left, he savagely plundered our resources and then maliciously set fire to everything, burning the Vajra Sect to the ground. If this person were merely ordinary, I wouldn't have given it much thought. But I spent a fortune investigating and discovered that after he joined the Seven Blood Eyes Sect, he seems to be gradually establishing himself. This has left me constantly uneasy, repeatedly recalling the ancient texts I've read over the years.

Based on my extensive reading of ancient texts, I've come to realize that individuals like him are almost always blessed with an unstoppable, great destiny. I was foolish then; I shouldn't have merely acted with just myself and two sect elders. I should have either mobilized the entire sect to eliminate him at any cost, or, alternatively, reconciled and offered compensation. Alas, the opportunity was missed. My analysis indicates that if he cannot be suppressed before he fully matures... then my demise is inevitable! I have a strong premonition that once this individual rises, he will undoubtedly bring bloodshed to your Seven Blood Eyes, leading your sect to the brink of annihilation. The ancient texts describe such scenarios precisely. I fear that a mere casual word from him could, in time, reduce my Vajra Sect to dust."

The Vajra Sect Patriarch finished, lowering his head with a bitter expression.

The blue-robed elder standing before him gradually adopted a strange expression. He looked at the Vajra Sect Patriarch, then slowly shook his head. "You Lingzi, after all these years... why are you still so fanciful? A mere nobody, and in your mind, he possesses a grand destiny, capable of bringing bloodshed and ruin to the Seven Blood Eyes Sect? And he can wipe out your Vajra Sect with a single word? How can you even imagine such things?"

"You don't understand," the Vajra Sect Patriarch sighed, "I trust my own instincts..."

Witnessing the Vajra Sect Patriarch's conviction, the blue-robed elder gently shook his head. His acquaintance with the other man was superficial, having only interacted a few times many years ago. At this moment, he felt a certain degree of nonchalance.

"Which peak did this young man join?"

"The Seventh Peak... My extensive investigation revealed his name is Xu Qing, and he joined the Demon Hunter Division," the Vajra Sect Patriarch admitted in a low voice, knowing concealment was futile.

"The division isn't important. Our sect's disciples in the outer regions, though cultivated like vipers and allowed to fight among themselves like wolf cubs, must still abide by certain unbreakable sect rules..." Seeing the Vajra Sect Patriarch's crestfallen expression, the blue-robed elder sighed. "Very well. At most, I will pressure this young man to return what he took from your Vajra Sect. If he lacks sufficient funds, he can compensate with all his personal belongings."

With that, he retrieved a jade slip, transmitted a message through it, then gestured towards the Vajra Sect Patriarch. "It's done; I've made the arrangements. But as for you, spend your time on proper cultivation. After all these years, you're still stuck in the early Foundation Establishment stage, showing no progress. Stop constantly poring over those nonsensical ancient texts, muttering superstitions day in and day out. If you continue, I worry you'll develop inner demons."

The Vajra Sect Patriarch wanted to speak, but hesitated. This was not entirely the outcome he had hoped for. However, seeing the other man's resolute demeanor, he sighed inwardly and ultimately bowed with cupped fists.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Xu Qing opened his eyes from his cross-legged meditation and glanced down at the leather pouch by his side. This was a gift from Huang Yan the previous night, containing three exotic beast materials: two rhomboid bones and a single feather. All of them glowed with a red light, seemingly originating from the same source, and their aura was quite remarkable. The only drawback was their lack of durability; their primary benefits were in spellcasting and speed enhancements.

"I wonder how many spirit stones these will fetch when sold."

"And my white pills, I've accumulated almost another thousand..." Xu Qing took stock of his assets, then stepped out of his Dharma Boat and headed to his usual breakfast stall.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man with no cultivation, an ordinary resident of the main city. He wore a simple, honest expression, and upon seeing Xu Qing, he broke into a wide grin. He had a strong impression of this handsome young man from the Demon Hunter Division. Unlike other Seven Blood Eyes disciples, Xu Qing carried no air of ferocity and was always polite. So, without needing Xu Qing to order, the owner quickly served him several steamed buns, steamed eggs, and even a complimentary plate of side dishes.

Xu Qing thanked him, then sat down and slowly began to eat with his chopsticks, a utensil he was now accustomed to using. After finishing every last bite, he placed a spirit coin on the table before standing up and heading towards the Demon Hunter Division.

The Demon Hunter Division's roll call was straightforward: one merely needed to touch their identity token against the bluestone in the Xuan Department courtyard. Xu Qing, well-versed in the routine, completed his roll call. Taking advantage of his duties, he then walked through the streets under the morning sun. Along the way, he encountered several Demon Hunter Division disciples, most of whom greeted him politely. After the battle against Night Dove, Xu Qing had established a certain reputation within the division.

As he walked through the streets, Xu Qing bought a few pears, eating them as he made his way to the pharmacy. His plan was to sell his white pills first, then sell the materials Huang Yan had given him the previous day, to determine how much more he needed to acquire the giant whale skull.

Soon, the pharmacy came into view. It was the same one where he usually bought and sold herbs and elixirs, bustling with people coming and going. Xu Qing was a regular customer here. His arrival was immediately noticed by the busy shopkeeper, whose eyes lit up. He stepped out from behind the counter, smiling as he spoke.

"Haven't seen you in a while! Are you here to buy herbs or sell pills this time?"

"Selling pills."

Hearing Xu Qing, the shopkeeper's enthusiasm grew. He merely glanced at the pills Xu Qing presented and promptly offered twenty spirit stones.

"Aren't you going to examine them?" Xu Qing asked, looking at the shopkeeper.

"Your pills need no inspection," the shopkeeper said, waving his hand with a smile.

Xu Qing nodded, confident that every pill he produced was of superior quality. He cupped his fists in salute, then exited the shop.

As soon as Xu Qing left, the pharmacy manager quickly retrieved a jade slip. After transmitting a message to his owner, he called a clerk, placed Xu Qing's pills in a box, and instructed the clerk to deliver them immediately to the Second Peak. The astute clerk, knowing that the owner seemed to highly value these pills, quickly dashed out of the shop and took a shortcut to the Second Peak.

Before long, the box was delivered to a cave dwelling on the Second Peak and placed before a young girl. The girl appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a light orange Daoist robe. She sat there with a simply adorned face, raising her hand to take a pill from the box and examining it closely. In the sunlight, her skin was fairer than snow, and her eyes sparkled like clear spring water. Her raven hair was styled into a princess bun, adorned with a hairpin featuring pearl flowers and dangling tassels, giving her an air of lively grace. This young girl was none other than the owner of the pharmacy, and the very person Xu Qing had encountered outside the shop that day.

As she examined it, the girl let out a soft gasp. Her delicate eyebrows lifted slightly, and her eyes widened in surprise. "The purity is even higher?"

She had previously studied Xu Qing's pills and found that while she could achieve a similar quality, she couldn't consistently do so. This sparked a competitive spirit within her. "If a disciple from the Seventh Peak can do it, there's no reason I, a cultivator of the Pill Dao, cannot!"

With a flick of her delicate hand, various medicinal herbs flew in from around her. Her expression turned serious as she began the refining process.

While she was about to challenge Xu Qing in the art of alchemy, Xu Qing himself was walking through the streets. As he observed the artifact-refining workshops of the Sixth Peak disciples, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. He wondered if it was his imagination, but as he passed by these shops today, several Sixth Peak proprietors seemed to be glancing at him, either intentionally or coincidentally, as if trying to confirm something. In the past, this had not been the case.

"Are they observing me?" Xu Qing narrowed his eyes. This unusual behavior heightened his vigilance, prompting him to avoid all Sixth Peak shops. He didn't enter any of them to sell his materials. Instead, he returned to berth seventy-nine at the port and resumed his cultivation, maintaining a high level of caution.

Several days passed without any disturbances. Xu Qing remained hesitant but vigilant, using his daily duties to pass by the Sixth Peak shops and secretly observe them repeatedly. The watchful gazes towards him never reappeared, yet Xu Qing still felt uneasy. He decided to wait a few more days, and after thoroughly confirming everything was normal, he finally selected a shop that had shown no unusual observation of him from the start, intending to go there.

The truth was, to upgrade his Dharma Boat, he would eventually need to visit a Sixth Peak shop for materials. Almost all Sixth Peak shops dealing with Dharma Boat materials were located in the port area, as if monopolized, and those in other districts generally didn't carry such inventory. Thus, despite a lingering sense of unease, Xu Qing prepared to take the risk.

Xu Qing walked briskly through the streets, maintaining his vigilance. Just as he was about to reach the shop he had chosen, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind him.

"Xu Qing."

Xu Qing turned to see the stout figure of Huang Yan not far behind him. Huang Yan had spotted Xu Qing from a distance. Now, he enthusiastically waved and jogged over, his fleshy body jiggling with each step. Upon reaching Xu Qing, he spoke triumphantly.

"Xu Qing, guess what? My senior sister messaged me back again, haha! Come on, I'm so happy today, I'll treat you to some 'egg'!"

Having spoken, he tried to pull Xu Qing away. Xu Qing stepped back, avoiding his grasp. However, recalling the peculiarity of the "egg" drink and the materials Huang Yan had gifted him days earlier, he hesitated.

"I need to sell some materials."

"Sell materials? What do you need? I can give it to you," Huang Yan offered generously.

Xu Qing shook his head.

"Alright then, I'll come with you to sell your materials, and then you can come with me to drink 'egg'. It's settled!" Huang Yan beamed, clearly eager to share his joy. He looked around, then pointed to a nearby shop. "Let's go to this one. I've been here a few times; it's pretty good."

Xu Qing turned his head to the shop Huang Yan was pointing at. Coincidentally, this was also his intended destination. Many disciples were inside, either buying or selling. Xu Qing's gaze swept across the interior, spotting an acquaintance: Zhang San. Zhang San, who was also purchasing materials, noticed Xu Qing at the entrance and greeted him with a smile.

"Come on, let's finish selling quickly. Drinking 'egg' is the most important thing!" Huang Yan said, looking at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing's gaze swept over the shopkeeper inside. Without further hesitation, he walked directly into the shop. The shop was spacious, spanning two floors. Various exotic beast materials, each of considerable value, hung inside. As Xu Qing approached, the shopkeeper behind the counter looked up. The middle-aged shopkeeper, with a handlebar mustache, appeared shrewd. He looked at Xu Qing, then spoke with a smile.

"Greetings, fellow disciples. What can I help you with today?"

"We're here to sell materials."

Xu Qing spoke calmly, stepping up to the counter. Under the shopkeeper's watchful gaze, he extracted the contents of his leather pouch. These included not only the items gifted by Huang Yan but also some gains from his bounties on wanted criminals. The shopkeeper glanced at Xu Qing, then surveyed the materials laid out on the counter. He picked up a few, examining them thoughtfully. After a careful inspection, he looked up and gave Xu Qing a deeply significant look. His expression then gradually darkened, and his eyes sharpened.

"Young friend, there's something amiss with these items of yours. A few days ago, the Vajra Sect reported to our Sixth Peak that a large amount of resources had been stolen from their sect. These items of yours... they are all recorded as belonging to the Vajra Sect. Young friend, what is your intention in bringing stolen goods here to sell to us? Could it be that the Vajra Sect's theft is connected to you? Is it possible that a dignified disciple of the Seven Blood Eyes, from the Seventh Peak no less, would stoop to stealing from the Vajra Sect?"

The shopkeeper was clearly doing this on purpose, his voice growing steadily louder until it resonated throughout the entire establishment. Instantly, disciples from all peaks inside the shop fell silent, turning their attention en masse to the scene.

Xu Qing showed no surprise, only a faint sigh in his heart. He felt he had been cautious enough, yet still hadn't avoided this. Now realizing it was connected to the Vajra Sect Patriarch, a murderous intent instantly flared within him, accompanied by a strong sense of danger. He deduced that whoever was assisting the Vajra Sect Patriarch had to be an influential figure from the Sixth Peak. He scanned the shopkeeper's neck in front of him, then the various materials displayed on the surrounding shelves, before glancing towards the sea. A cold glint appeared in his eyes as he weighed his options: to strike swiftly and flee, or to argue his case reasonably.

But just as Xu Qing was contemplating, the stout Huang Yan beside him suddenly widened his eyes, then leaped up, slamming his hand violently on the counter with a resounding bang.

"Stolen goods? Is this also stolen goods?"

The stout young man picked up the exotic beast bone he had given Xu Qing, his eyes blazing with unprecedented fury, as if he himself had suffered a profound humiliation. He roared, "This damn thing is *my* stuff! How dare you call *my* property stolen goods?"

Enraged, the stout young man hurled the bone in his hand directly at the shopkeeper's face.