Chapter 17

Tai Cang smiled faintly, knowing the matter was settled. Now that he had gained another One-Click Max Level opportunity, once the Supreme Five Qi reached completion, he would need to find new ways to increase his strength.

With that thought, he spoke again. "Also, before the battle, I forged the Yinghuo Sword. With this top-grade acquired spirit treasure, my combat power increased considerably."

"Though it is an acquired spirit treasure, it can multiply my strength. That is also one reason I was able to defeat my senior brothers so easily."

"Spirit treasure!"

At those words, everyone's breathing quickened.

Tai Cang had previously promised to help them forge acquired spirit treasures. After spending many years in the Kunlun Mountains, they had accumulated quite a few heavenly materials and earthly treasures. If those could be refined into spirit treasures, their strength would surely soar.

"Junior Brother Tai Cang!" Guangchengzi asked impatiently. "You said before that you could help us forge artifacts. Did you mean it?"

Yuding and the others stared intently at Tai Cang, their eyes brimming with anticipation. Having witnessed the might of acquired spirit treasures, they naturally did not wish to miss this opportunity.

"Of course." Tai Cang agreed readily.

He had already intended to use the Twelve Golden Immortals to vent his dissatisfaction. Now that Guangchengzi and the others had taken the bait themselves, he naturally would not refuse.

The thought of the Twelve Golden Immortals wielding top-grade acquired spirit treasures to defeat the Jie Sect direct disciples, making Tongtian lose all face, only deepened his inner sneer.

Tongtian favored his direct disciples, while Duobao schemed in the shadows. He would not let those debts go so easily.

"Good!"

Having received confirmation, Guangchengzi and the others were overjoyed. They did not even care to finish their wine, hurriedly rising to their feet. "Please wait a moment, Junior Brother. I'll be right back!"

With that, he rode a cloud straight toward his dwelling.

"Senior Brother, wait for me!"

"Senior Brother, you're far too impatient!"

Seeing this, how could Cihang and the others remain seated? They hurriedly cupped their hands toward Tai Cang. "Please wait, Junior Brother. We'll return at once!"

The group rode clouds and mist, swiftly leaving the valley.

Yuding walked over to Tai Cang, took out a Qiankun Bag, and handed it to him. "Junior Brother Tai Cang, please see whether these materials will suffice." His expression was somewhat tense; this was all the wealth he had amassed.

Tai Cang took the bag. After inspecting it with his divine sense for a moment, he looked up and said, "The materials are good. They can forge two high-grade acquired spirit treasures. What would you like?"

"A sword and a whisk!" Yuding was ecstatic and hurriedly cupped his hands in thanks.

"It is no trouble." Tai Cang smiled indifferently, then sat cross-legged and began refining artifacts.

Seven days later, Tai Cang had finished forging magical treasures for all Twelve Golden Immortals. Everyone gathered to drink merrily, departing one after another only the following morning.

Tai Cang returned to his residence. After setting down layers upon layers of restrictions, he took out a water-element spirit item and closed his eyes in concentration. It is time to condense the Supreme Water Qi.

As his cultivation technique circulated, the essence of the spirit item was continuously absorbed. One day, Tai Cang suddenly opened his eyes.

Water Qi merged with Metal Qi, and his mana surged more than tenfold.

Next came the Supreme Wood Qi. Tai Cang did not slacken in the slightest and continued cultivating.

More than a dozen years passed in the blink of an eye.

Wood Qi took form. As the three qi converged, his physical body grew vastly stronger, and his innate foundation showed faint signs of breaking through.

It was time for the Supreme Fire Qi. Tai Cang took out a Fusang Tree branch and cultivated in seclusion for over thirty years.

Once the Fire Qi was formed, he immediately began condensing Earth Qi.

Outside the valley, the three San Xiao sisters arrived gracefully.

"Eldest Sister, are you sure it is here?" Bixiao looked around doubtfully.

"Without a doubt!"

Qiongxiao's expression was solemn. "I went to great lengths to uncover this information."

"After Junior Brother Tai Cang left the Upper Clarity Palace, he settled here beside Yuding of the Chan Sect."

"The acquired spirit treasures used by Cihang and the others were all forged by Junior Brother Tai Cang."

At this point, Qiongxiao pouted. "Junior Brother is really something. He knows the Chan Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals will soon become our enemies, yet he still forged magical treasures for them."

Yunxiao and Bixiao exchanged silent looks.

They had thought more deeply than Qiongxiao and understood the many interests entangled in the matter.

Both Duobao's and Tongtian's actions had gone too far. Tai Cang had suffered so much unfair treatment merely because he was an inner disciple.

"Eldest Sister!"

Bixiao spoke first. "Why don't we go in and take a look?"

"If Junior Brother Tai Cang truly is here, we can persuade him to return to the mountain."

"Good!"

Yunxiao's gaze was resolute. "Let's go."

The three of them immediately headed toward the valley.

"Stop!"

A cold shout rang out.

Sword light descended, leaving a boundary line across the ground.

Yuding drifted down, frowning as he said, "Why have the three of you from the Jie Sect trespassed into my dwelling?"

He knew that San Xiao had come for Tai Cang, yet he pretended otherwise.

Tai Cang had come here back then precisely because of the unfair treatment he had received in the Jie Sect.

After spending this time together, Yuding and the other Chan Sect Golden Immortals had come to hold Tai Cang in high regard. How could they allow San Xiao to disturb him again?

"Why pretend not to understand, Senior Brother Yuding?"

Yunxiao said gravely, "We came only to see Junior Brother Tai Cang. I hope Senior Brother will make this convenient for us."

The three women's gazes fell upon the sword and whisk in Yuding's hands, leaving them with mixed feelings.

Those two acquired spirit treasures possessed extraordinary power and had clearly been forged by Tai Cang.

Thinking of the coming Three Sects Competition, where they would have to face the fully armed Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, their hearts grew even heavier.

"Hah!"

Yuding sneered. "I fear you three have come to the wrong place. Tai Cang is not here."

"If you have no urgent business, leave at once. I still need to prepare for the Three Sects Competition."

"Do not deceive us!"

Qiongxiao snapped angrily. "Junior Brother Tai Cang is clearly within the valley. My information cannot be wrong."

"The spirit treasures in your hands were all forged by Junior Brother Tai Cang. Are you blocking us now because you fear he will forge magical treasures for us and let us surpass you?"

As soon as those words were spoken, Yunxiao and Bixiao also fixed Yuding with sharp gazes.

No matter what, they had to accomplish their purpose today.

If they could not bring Tai Cang back, the Jie Sect would have no chance of victory in the Three Sects Competition.

"Is that so!"

Yuding seemed to come to a realization, then sneered. "What a fine case of burning the bridge after crossing it. What a fine Jie Sect way of doing things."

"When you need someone, you call them brothers. When you do not, you cast them aside like worn-out shoes. How utterly arrogant."

"San Xiao, let me make this clear today. This valley is my place of cultivation. No one from the Jie Sect may enter. Those who violate this order—will be killed without mercy!"

A powerful mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal aura erupted from Yuding. The sword and whisk in his hands shone with dazzling radiance, poised to strike.

"Yuding, how dare you be so rude!"

San Xiao flew into a rage at the sight.

Yuding was clearly trying to prevent them from meeting Tai Cang.

In an instant, the three immortal maidens released the pressure of early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortals at the same time, glaring furiously at him. The atmosphere instantly grew tense to the extreme.

"San Xiao, do not act so brazenly!"

"Disciples of the Jie Sect, how can this place permit you to run wild!"

Several sharp shouts rang out at once.

Guangchengzi, Taiyi, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang stood in the air. In the blink of an eye, they had landed beside Yuding. The five summoned their magical treasures, and Grand Unity Golden Immortal-level mana fluctuations surged around them as well.

"Junior Brother, what happened?"

Guangchengzi asked in a deep voice.

Taiyi and the others also wore puzzled expressions.

Yuding had always kept to himself. Aside from associating with fellow disciples, he never went out. How had he formed a grudge with San Xiao of the Jie Sect?

"Allow me to explain, Senior Brothers."

Yuding cupped his hands in salute and immediately told them everything about San Xiao's intention to find Tai Cang and have him forge acquired spirit treasures for the Jie Sect.

"Outrageous!"

"Those from the Jie Sect are truly shameless!"

Upon hearing this, Guangchengzi and the other five were furious. The coldness in their eyes deepened, and the magical treasures in their palms hummed. "San Xiao, if you know what is good for you, leave immediately."

"Otherwise, today we shall witness the methods of you Jie Sect direct disciples!"

"If you want to fight, then fight! Do you think we fear you?"

Qiongxiao refused to yield, stepping forward to attack.

"Little Sister, wait!"

"Do not act rashly!"

Yunxiao and Bixiao hurriedly stopped her.

If Yuding had been alone, the three sisters would naturally have had no fear. But now Guangchengzi and the others had all arrived. In a six-against-three battle, they had no chance of victory, especially when their opponents wielded magical treasures forged by Tai Cang.

"Eldest Sister!"

"Second Sister!"

Even after being pulled back, Qiongxiao remained unwilling. "Are we just going to leave it at that?"

"Withdraw for now."

Yunxiao made the decision at once. She coldly swept her gaze over Guangchengzi and the others, grabbed Qiongxiao, and turned to leave.

Seeing San Xiao retreat, Guangchengzi and the others relaxed slightly. They did not fear a conflict, but with the Three Sects discussion of Dao imminent, rashly causing trouble would certainly earn their master's punishment.

Watching San Xiao disappear into the distance, Guangchengzi said in a grave voice, "This matter will not end here."

"Since the Jie Sect has set its sights on Tai Cang, they will surely try something again."

"Junior Brother Yuding, we shall remain here for now and leave only when the Three Sects discussion of Dao begins."

Yuding nodded. "With you Senior Brothers standing guard, I can rest easy."

"If they had come sincerely to ask for a meeting, that would have been one thing. But they insist on exploiting Fellow Daoist Tai Cang. How can we let them succeed?"

"Indeed."

After a brief pause, Guangchengzi turned to Taiyi. "Junior Brother Taiyi, hurry and summon Qingxu and the others."

"With the combined strength of our Twelve Golden Immortals, let us see who still dares disturb Fellow Daoist Tai Cang's peaceful cultivation."

"I obey, Senior Brother."

Taiyi cupped his hands and accepted the order, immediately transforming into a streak of light and departing.

After he left, Guangchengzi and the others also turned and entered the depths of the valley.

Thunder rumbled, and heaven and earth changed color.

Dark clouds churned above the valley. Amid flashes of lightning and roars of thunder, the entire space grew oppressive.

"What happened?"

"What is going on?"

Guangchengzi and the others' expressions changed drastically. Thinking that Jie Sect cultivators had attacked, they hurriedly flew toward the depths of the valley.

The moment they reached Tai Cang's residence, they saw countless dark clouds gathering and circling overhead.

A clear shout suddenly rang out.

The wooden house exploded with a crash. Amid flying splinters, Tai Cang stood in midair. Mana roiled around him. Though he was still at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, the pressure he emitted was already comparable to that of a late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

"What a powerful aura!"

"Fellow Daoist Tai Cang has improved again."

Guangchengzi and the others looked shocked, their eyes filled with astonishment and envy. They knew Tai Cang had been in seclusion for a hundred years and had assumed he was attempting to break through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. They had not expected such an astonishing improvement.

"At last, it is complete."

Tai Cang slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the surging power within him, a smile appeared at the corner of his lips. He raised his head to the sky and traced through the air with two fingers of his left hand.

Sshh—

Sword qi shot into the heavens, instantly tearing apart a thousand miles of dark clouds. Sunlight poured down, making him appear like a celestial god descending into the mortal world.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Tai Cang."

Guangchengzi and the others stepped forward to offer their congratulations. Though shocked by his advancement, they were sincerely happy for him.

"Greetings, everyone..."

Tai Cang was about to respond when he realized that his form of address was inappropriate. Seeing that Guangchengzi and the others called him Fellow Daoist, they clearly intended to set aside the distinction between sects and associate with him as equals. He immediately changed his words with a smile. "Greetings, Fellow Daoists!"

This response greatly pleased Guangchengzi and the others. It meant that their relationship had become one of pure fellowship between Daoists, no longer bound by sectarian differences.

"Fellow Daoist Tai Cang, why did you not directly advance to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm?" Guangchengzi could not help asking. Given Tai Cang's current state, a breakthrough should have come as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

Yuding and the others also looked at him in confusion.

"The time has not yet come." A sharp light flashed in Tai Cang's eyes. "I will make plans after the Three Sects discussion of Dao."

He had already cultivated Five Qi Towards Origin, and the Grand Unity realm was within easy reach. But to ensure his plan proceeded smoothly, breaking through now might instead create unforeseen complications. If Sect Master Tongtian sent him to participate in the discussion of Dao because of it, would not all his previous support for the Twelve Golden Immortals have been wasted?

"Eldest Senior Brother!"

An urgent cry came from afar. Taiyi rushed over and cupped his hands. "Master has ordered us to gather at the Primordial Clarity Palace at once."

"The great powers of the primordial world are about to assemble. The three sects will hold a banquet before the grand gathering."

"The great powers of the primordial world have arrived one after another."

"A grand banquet of the three sects!"

Tai Cang and the others exchanged looks, all showing surprise.

They had not expected such an arrangement before the grand gathering.

Guangchengzi recovered first and hurriedly said, "In that case, we should not stay any longer."

"Let us quickly gather at the Primordial Clarity Palace."