As signs of the Qingchuan Secret Realm's closure appeared, unwillingness surfaced on the faces of many cultivators scattered throughout the secret realm.
Yet no one could stop the secret realm from closing. Cultivators scattered across the land were expelled by the realm's rejection and gathered together at the entrance and exit anchored by the Azurewood Sect.
The rogue cultivators and sect cultivators mixed together consciously split into two groups. Quite a few rogue cultivators were still beating their chests and wailing:
"Just a little more, just a little more and I would have gotten that spirit herb..."
There were no shortage of such complaints. A ticket costing three hundred spirit stones was not something everyone could earn back.
Others had robes covered in blood. After their journey through the secret realm, several limbs were missing, and they clutched their wounds in agony while warily watching everyone around them.
Behind them, the secret realm entrance began to churn and shrink, radiating terrifying spatial fluctuations. Zhao Bai watched the passage collapse, even the array flags used to stabilize it destroyed along with it, and let out a helpless sigh.
The Qingchuan Secret Realm was finished.
From this day onward, the Azurewood Sect no longer possessed a means of entering or leaving the secret realm. With this treasure trove of resources destroyed, if the sect wished to develop, it had to turn its gaze outward, toward the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.
"The secret realm expedition has ended. Please depart swiftly. If you found any precious spirit herbs, you may register them with the sect disciples remaining here later. Alchemy arrangements will naturally be made for you."
As soon as those words were spoken, eight cultivators immediately stepped forward from among the rogue cultivators. It seemed they were the ones who had gained something within the secret realm.
More than a hundred rogue cultivators had entered the secret realm, yet only a mere handful returned with gains.
Wei Zhong stood amid the crowd, looking at the rogue cultivators whose faces held equal measures of joy and sorrow.
It seems some people gained quite a lot as well. It just wasn't spirit herbs, but spirit beasts, spirit stones, and the like—or simply the belongings of other cultivators.
As the first person departed, the remaining cultivators set out on their return journey, following the marks they had left on the way in.
Wei Zhong moved amid the crowd on a flying sword, without using the Soaring Cloud Art he was skilled in.
That was because Lu Yibin, dressed in white, remained where he was after the many sect cultivators had left, staring at the departing rogue cultivators as though searching for something.
Zhao Bai came to Lu Yibin's side.
"Yibin, how were your gains?"
Only then did Lu Yibin withdraw his gaze. He turned back and bowed. "I did not fail Master's trust."
He then presented a ring.
Zhao Bai seized it and probed inside. An irrepressible delight appeared on his face.
"Good, good, good! You completed this mission exceedingly well. Think carefully about what reward you want. The sect certainly will not mistreat you."
Lu Yibin bowed even lower.
"This disciple has only one request. I ask Master to refine my remaining five first-tier flying swords into second-tier ones."
"Easy enough, easy enough!"
Forging second-tier flying swords was no difficult matter for Zhao Bai. Moreover, what his disciple needed were merely ordinary low-grade second-tier magic swords. Their specifications differed somewhat from ordinary second-tier magic swords, requiring only that they be incorporated into that paper fan.
For Zhao Bai, these matters required only minor adjustments and little effort.
Thinking of the coming effort to reclaim the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, these magic artifacts could also strengthen Lu Yibin's power. Zhao Bai was more than happy to see it happen.
After leaving the Azurewood Sect, Wei Zhong wore an expression of concern, as though recalling everything he had done in the secret realm and fretting over having missed some opportunity.
"Brother, did you gain anything in the secret realm? Whether spirit beasts or spirit herbs, I will offer you a good price."
It was a rogue cultivator beside him who stepped forward, intending to purchase any good goods Wei Zhong possessed.
Wei Zhong thought to himself, My gains were indeed substantial. You just can't afford them.
Yet his face revealed regret as he replied,
"Alas, I fear I must disappoint you, Brother."
As he spoke, Wei Zhong took out a Flame Sauce Fruit he had once looted from the secret realm.
"I saw several places in the secret realm where spirit herbs grew, but regrettably I lacked the ability to retrieve them. I only picked these little red fruits containing a trace of spiritual energy. I do not know what they are. What price can Fellow Daoist offer?"
When the man saw Wei Zhong take out the item, a trace of disdain flashed across his face.
"This thing of yours isn't worth spirit stones. You should keep it yourself."
With that, he waved his hand and left.
Wei Zhong again put on a regretful expression as he stored it in his Storage Bag. He then merged into the departing stream of people, entered the marketplace, found an unoccupied corner, and resumed Chu Zhong's appearance.
He rode his flying sword back to his small courtyard. After entering, he took out Nine Colors.
There had been no place for it to make an appearance during this secret realm expedition.
Though this courtyard was not large, he could perhaps dig an ornamental fish pond. If Big Gold could shrink its body a little, it could keep Nine Colors company and guard this residence with it.
As for himself, naturally, he would hole up in the cave-heaven and cultivate.
After scattering a spirit rain over the surrounding spirit fields and using a spell to clear away the pests in the fields, Wei Zhong returned to the cultivation room in his small courtyard. With a flicker, he entered the cave-heaven treasure.
The scale of the cave-heaven had expanded considerably after taking in that spirit mine, while the concentration of spiritual energy had also increased substantially.
Wei Zhong entered the cultivation room, looked at the three items on the table, and fell into indecision.
Should he immediately switch to cultivating the Spring Autumn Water Refining Art?
His Azure Wave Art proficiency had already reached the Master level and would soon enter the Grandmaster tier. Its cultivation speed would certainly surpass the Spring Autumn Water Refining Art, which he had not yet cultivated.
He had only eight years of lifespan left and still needed the Azure Wave Art to farm lifespan. If he rashly switched to the Spring Autumn Water Refining Art, he might be unable to maintain his current Late Stage Qi Refining cultivation for the sake of his lifespan.
After pondering for a moment, Wei Zhong made his decision.
He would not rush to switch cultivation arts. He would first continue farming the Azure Wave Art.
At the very least, he needed to leave himself fifty years of lifespan before switching to the Spring Autumn Water Refining Art. With those fifty years of lifespan as a foundation, he would be a cultivator possessing the combat power of the Late Stage Foundation Establishment for a short time.
That would be enough for him to fear none of the vast majority of current threats.
Name: Wei Zhong Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 9 (99%) Cultivation Art: Azure Wave Art · Master (24%); Nourishing Body Art · Proficient (51%) Dao Method: Years Dao Method Lifespan: 134/142
This Years Dao Method truly differed from ordinary Dao Methods. It had no progress bar.
It seemed Bai He had been somewhat right. The inheritance of the Spring Autumn Water Refining Art was not simple.
Thinking of the Five Elements Attribute, could there also be portions such as a Metal Refining Art or Wood Refining Art?
Could the Years Dao Method also be incomplete?
Wei Zhong's thoughts grew more animated.
But all of it was ultimately speculation. Wei Zhong sighed and put down the cultivation art Jade Slip.
He silently recited in his heart, Spend levels twice.
Name: Wei Zhong Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 7 (99%) Lifespan: 114/142
He then circulated the Azure Wave Art. A wisp of spiritual energy was drawn in and refined into spiritual power within his body, and Wei Zhong broke through the barrier of Qi Refining Level 8 as naturally as water flowing into a channel.
Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 8 (1%)
Spend another level!
Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 7 (1%) Lifespan: 104/142
Mm, maintaining Late Stage Qi Refining cultivation will keep my combat power from falling too much.
From now on, he would keep bouncing back and forth between Qi Refining Levels 7, 8, and 9. After accumulating enough lifespan, he would cultivate to the complete Qi Refining Level 9 before switching to the Spring Autumn Water Refining Art.
Just as Wei Zhong was immersed in cultivation, the Azurewood Sect issued an announcement that it would begin developing the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, located in the eastern part of Mangyuan Prefecture.
Before long, the vanguard army led by the Law Hall Master set out.
This vanguard army consisted of elite disciples from the three halls, with four True Inheritor Disciples alone among them.
Second True Disciple Lu Yibin, Fourth True Disciple Lin Muxue, Fifth True Disciple Luo Zhigang, and the newly promoted Eighth True Disciple Luo Mingyan.
That Seventh True Disciple, being an alchemist of high standing, was not among this vanguard force.
As for the First, Third, and Sixth True Inheritor Disciples, very little news concerning them circulated among cultivators, as though someone had deliberately concealed it.
What puzzled Wei Zhong was that the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, once regarded as a perilous land by human cultivators, had allowed the Azurewood Sect to establish itself there with ease. In only one year, the sect had firmly planted its roots.
The various precious cultivation resources transported back from the front were displayed to rogue cultivators without reservation, sparking fervent discussion among them.
That same year, many rogue cultivators joined the Azurewood Sect to form its second cultivator army, pointing straight toward the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.
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