Storm Clouds Gather

For the past few months, ever since he had picked up Liu Tianlong's Storage Bag, Song Qingming had never felt at peace. This trip to Qinghe Market was not only to purchase the materials and pills he needed, but also to inquire about Liu Tianlong and see whether he was truly dead.

After all, he was still only a young man in his early twenties, without the deep, calculating composure of those seasoned cultivators. The wealth that had fallen into his hands for no reason often left him feeling inexplicably guilty. During the time he had spent outside the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, he had sometimes even feared that he was dreaming, that upon waking he would find himself back at the time he had just left Qinghe County.

Unfortunately, he had still failed to get the answer he wanted from Fourth Uncle. The Liu Family's shop had also closed under unusual circumstances, stirring fresh worry in his heart. After lunch that afternoon, Song Qingming bid farewell to Song Changqiu and his wife, then left Qinghe Market with a heavy heart.

Within the Lu Family compound in Qinghe Market, Lu Yuanfeng stared at the communication Spirit Talisman he had just received. His expression was somewhat grim as he paced alone through the courtyard.

Lu Yuanfeng was the Foundation Establishment Cultivator the Carefree Sect had stationed at Qinghe Market. He had guarded the market for nearly thirty years, and it had always remained calm and peaceful, without any serious mishaps. Yet today, he had unexpectedly received a voice transmission reprimand from the Elder of the General Affairs Hall, leaving him quite displeased.

Spiritual light flashed in Lu Yuanfeng's right hand as he swiftly formed a hand seal. A streak of golden light shot from his hand and flew beyond the courtyard. Before long, a mature-looking white-clothed Cultivator strode quickly into the yard.

The moment Lu Yuanfeng saw him, he promptly said:

"Wencai, I have just received word from Martial Uncle Guangling. The Jingyuan Mountain Liu Family secretly harvested the Five Elements Spirit Fruit Tree within sect territory behind the sect's back. Take several men to the Marketplace first and seal the Liu Family's shop. Keep the Liu Family cultivators under guard."

Yuan Wencai replied with an embarrassed expression, "Master, the Liu Family's shop in the Marketplace has been closed for nearly half a month. They have likely withdrawn long ago. Liu Tianlong had always been honest and dutiful before. How could he have grown so bold this time, daring to set his sights on the Five Elements Spirit Fruit Tree? Isn't that simply courting death?"

"Forget it. It seems Liu Tianlong had planned for this long ago. Arrange for someone to notify the Huang Family and have them send someone to Jingyuan Mountain with us tomorrow." Lu Yuanfeng spoke blandly, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Master, how does the sect intend to deal with the Liu Family this time? Should we inform Fifth Junior Brother?"

"Liu Tianlong must die. Martial Uncle Guangling's letter instructed that all other Liu Family cultivators be sent to Volcanic Rock Mountain to mine ore for thirty years. Do not tell Huo Lin for now. Your master will naturally protect whoever needs protecting. Jingyuan Mountain will temporarily fall under the sect's administration. As for the mortals under the Liu Family's rule, we shall see whether nearby families can take some of them in. The rest will be moved directly to Qinghe Market." There was a trace of sorrow in Lu Yuanfeng's tone. He then waved a hand, signaling Yuan Wencai to withdraw.

Yuan Wencai was the first disciple Lu Yuanfeng had accepted after reaching Foundation Establishment. He had always been exceptionally loyal to his master and deeply trusted by Lu Yuanfeng. He had followed him in guarding Qinghe Market for nearly thirty years.

The reason he had asked was entirely because of his Fifth Junior Brother, Huo Lin. Huo Lin's Dao companion happened to be a female cultivator of the Liu Family, and the two had always been deeply devoted to one another. Now that the Liu Family had met with disaster, the two of them would likely be implicated. Seeing that his master Lu Yuanfeng already had a plan, Yuan Wencai finally left at ease.

Qinghe County, Du Family of Gemstone Peak

Inside the Du Family's Council Hall, Du Shaoying, the Du Family patriarch, looked at the several Du Family Elders before him with anger on his face.

"Shaokang, explain this. What exactly happened to Yu Cheng? All of you came back, so why did he suddenly join the Carefree Sect?" Du Shaoying asked Du Shaokang, who stood trembling before him, his face full of displeasure.

Du Shaokang had truly been unlucky. On this trip to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, he had been responsible for leading the team. One of the Du Family cultivators who had died happened to have been quite close to Patriarch Du Shaoying, and as soon as he returned, Du Shaoying questioned him until he was left speechless.

As for Du Yucheng, a junior whom the family had never valued much, Du Shaokang had initially believed that he had died after being swept into the pool. Only after returning did Du Shaokang learn that the soul imprint he had left on the Family Genealogy was still lit. Knowing that he was alive had even brought Du Shaokang some joy.

But today, news had arrived from the Du Family cultivators within the Carefree Sect: Du Yucheng had joined the Carefree Sect and become an Inner Disciple. Du Shaokang had been stunned on the spot. He truly did not know whether Du Yucheng had gone mad, or whether the person in the Carefree Sect who had admitted him had water in his brain.

A great sect like the Carefree Sect had always been strict in accepting disciples. Cultivators from ordinary backgrounds who joined the sect generally had to begin as low-status outer sect menial disciples. One or two hundred such disciples were recruited each year, and the competition was exceedingly fierce.

Only those with backing within the sect, or those recommended by the major affiliated cultivation families, could become Inner Disciples directly. But the requirements were much higher: they had to be cultivators with at least Three Spirit Roots, or people exceptionally gifted in cultivation arts. Otherwise, becoming an outer sect menial disciple was less comfortable than cultivating within one's own family.

Du Yucheng's Spirit Root aptitude was not high, nor did he possess any particularly impressive cultivation art. Du Shaokang could not understand what the Carefree Sect had seen in him. He had racked his brains for a long time without finding an answer. Faced with Du Shaoying's questioning now, he could only shrink his head and remain speechless.

Although the Du Family had gained a decent harvest from this trip to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, the inexplicable loss of two cultivators at once still had a major impact on the family. The Du Family had never had many cultivators to begin with, and now it had suddenly lost two young cultivators. No wonder Patriarch Du Shaoying was so furious.

However, although they knew Du Yucheng had joined the Carefree Sect, they did not know the details. Now that Du Yucheng had become an Inner Disciple of the Carefree Sect, he had gained a sliver of hope of reaching Foundation Establishment. His status had changed so completely that heaven and earth had turned upside down, leaving the Du Family unsure how they should face him in the future.

At Jingyuan Mountain, Liu Tianlong sat upon his sickbed. Several Liu Family Elders sat before the bed, all wearing alarmed expressions.

Over the past few months, although Liu Tianlong's injuries had recovered considerably, his face had always retained a worn, ruined look. After this journey into the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, it was as though all his vital blood and essence had been drained away, turning him in an instant into an old man with one foot in the grave.

Liu Tianlong coughed softly, straightened himself, and forced up his spirits before asking a Liu Family Elder beside him in a quiet voice, "Tianquan, everyone from the Marketplace has been brought back, correct?"

"Rest assured, Patriarch. The shop in Qinghe Market has closed for business. Meng Cheng and the others withdrew ten days ago, leaving only mortals behind to watch the shop," Liu Tianquan hurriedly answered his respected patriarch.

Liu Tianlong had served as the Liu Family patriarch for nearly forty years. When he had taken over as patriarch, the Liu Family was still in decline. The various powers around the Liu Family all eyed this former Foundation Establishment Family like tigers watching their prey. Relying on his exceptional courage and insight, Liu Tianlong had swiftly stabilized the family's downward slide and slowly restored much of its vitality. Over the years, he had always been deeply beloved by the clansmen.

Liu Tianlong nodded. "A few days ago, Meng Chen sent word from the Carefree Sect. Someone had presented a Water Spirit Fruit Tree to the Carefree Sect and become an Inner Disciple. It should be the one we discovered on this trip. I fear that our journey to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range has already been exposed."

"Could it have been one of those people whom the Black Feathered Python swept into the pool that day? That person truly had a life as tough as grass. Not only did he not die, he even found the Water Spirit Fruit Tree's location. Alas..." another Liu Family Elder sighed.

Liu Tianlong considered it, then said, "It should have been. I had people investigate those swept into the pool that day. There were three in total. Wu Ziyuan of the Wu Family died in the pool. Song Qingming of the Song Family also returned a month later. Only Du Yucheng of the Du Family has remained missing and has yet to return. The one who went to the Carefree Sect should be him. My Storage Bag must have fallen into his hands as well, allowing him to deduce the Water Spirit Fruit Tree's location."

"Damn the Du Family! Who would have thought that after our Liu Family labored and plotted for decades, they would reap the benefit in the end? Had we known this would happen, we might as well have directly offered this Water Spirit Fruit Tree to the Carefree Sect." As the Liu Family Elder spoke, his eyes grew redder, and deep in his bones he already hated the Du Family until his teeth itched.

Liu Tianlong gave a bitter smile. "Our failure today was not entirely our own fault. Man proposes, Heaven disposes. Our Liu Family's fortune simply was not enough. I have already sent Meng Xin away from Jingyuan Mountain. The family cannot drag her down. From now on, she can only rely on herself."