Inheritance

Yao ZhengSheng let out a sigh:

"Since Daoist Shan has invited me, I dare not refuse."

After Wei Zhong left the auction, he discovered that several people had directly pursued the person who had won the Dustfall Pill.

These were all cultivators who coveted the Dustfall Pill. Looking back toward where the Azurewood Sect was gathered, Wei Zhong muttered, "It is not just the Foundation Establishment cultivators. I fear even the Azurewood Sect can no longer sit still."

Outside Bright Moon Market, two streaks of escaping light appeared. A white-browed, white-bearded old man blocked their path:

"Where might you two Daoists be going?"

The two revealed themselves. They were none other than the Azurewood Sect's two hall masters, Duan Delong and Yu Xianglan.

"The two of us were merely taking a stroll."

The old man grinned:

"Being so secretive is not the bearing of Core Formation cultivators. You two should stop here and cease your pursuit, lest this old man be forced to act."

Yu Xianglan and Duan Delong exchanged a glance, then cupped their hands toward the old man.

"We were just about to experience Senior's divine abilities."

Yu Xianglan and Duan Delong were both veteran Early Core Formation cultivators, not far from breaking through to the middle stage.

Yet the old man before them radiated the pressure of Late Core Formation. Facing two opponents alone, he held no advantage and was instead somewhat outmatched.

Inside a restaurant in the market, Wei Zhong watched the abruptly shifting clouds on the horizon. Sipping his wine and shaking his head, he sighed inwardly, The might of Core Formation is terrifying indeed. Even the lingering shockwaves from their battle have changed the weather for several li around.

Sure enough, I cannot grow complacent. Cultivation must still prioritize steadiness, or I may end up like those cultivators fighting over the Dustfall Pill, dying without ever knowing why.

Just as he was lamenting, a woman in green robes approached his table. "Are you Daoist Chu Zhong?"

Wei Zhong looked at the woman before him, somewhat puzzled. "This poor Daoist is indeed Chu Zhong. May I ask who you are, Daoist?"

The woman in green gave a graceful bow.

"My name is Rong Ju. I am from Cloud Gathering Commerce..."

On the horizon, the white-browed old man swept his sleeve, surging spiritual power tossing aside a patch of green cloud. It crashed into the forest below, where the trees instantly withered, leaving behind only dark brown, decayed trunks.

With another finger strike, he shattered the Water Dragon Spell unleashed by Yu Xianglan. A flick of his toe sent a yellow flying sword, which had been seeking an opening to strike at his side, tumbling away.

"You are an alchemist, yet instead of properly studying the art of pill refinement, you have created such poisonous techniques. You have truly strayed onto a crooked path," the old man said with a sigh, pointing at Duan Delong.

Duan Delong's expression remained unchanged. "Does Senior know that the principles of poison are the principles of medicine? Then why can my path of poison not also be the path of alchemy?"

The white-browed old man casually crushed a poisonous bee that had launched a surprise attack, making a trace of pained reluctance appear on Duan Delong's face.

"Your words do make some sense. This old man was too attached to appearances."

He then looked toward Yu Xianglan.

"And your spells are rather good as well, female cultivator. Unfortunately, the foundation of your cultivation art is somewhat lacking. By now, your spiritual power should nearly be exhausted, should it not?"

Sweat ran down Yu Xianglan's forehead. Just as the white-browed old man had said, the spiritual power within her was already in dire straits. If she cast her spells two more times, it would likely be completely depleted. She had no choice but to use other methods, though whether they could threaten this man was still uncertain.

Moreover, the Azurewood Sect did not wish to fight him to the death, so she withdrew her spell and retreated.

"Senior's divine abilities are profound. This junior admits she is inferior."

Duan Delong acted likewise.

The old man stroked his white beard. Knowing that his purpose for this trip had been achieved, he lightly shifted his feet and transformed into a plume of white smoke as he departed.

The two left behind looked at each other and both shook their heads before turning into streaks of escaping light and returning to the sect.

Within the sect's council hall, Nie Yuansen set down the invitation card in his hand and looked toward the two who had returned.

"You were stopped?"

Yu Xianglan nodded. "It was a Late Core Formation cultivator, likely the hidden person from the auction. Senior Brother Duan and I exchanged several moves with him. Knowing we could not defeat him, we abandoned the pursuit."

Nie Yuansen, however, said indifferently, "It is fine to abandon it. We were merely testing Cloud Gathering Commerce's attitude anyway. Now that we know their purpose, that is enough."

As he spoke, he tossed the invitation card in his hand onto the table for the two to examine.

"Cloud Gathering Commerce actually wants to establish a branch in our Azurewood Sect's territory. Are they treating our Azurewood Sect as weak?"

Duan Delong said indignantly.

Yu Xianglan added, "Cloud Gathering Commerce has always remained within the provincial city. In the outlying prefectural cities, it merely acts as a traveling merchant. Why are they acting so differently this time?"

"Who knows? In any case, a Core Formation Power has lowered its head and done us the courtesy of informing us. We have no choice but to comply, do we?"

With matters having reached this point, the two understood that there was no way to reverse it.

"Then what should we do about the inheritance? ZhengSheng is still being held up by that Shan Qin."

Nie Yuansen considered for a moment.

"Give it to her. It is merely an incomplete inheritance, so let her have it. Not only should we give it to her, we should give her the original copy as well, to demonstrate our sect's sincerity."

Yu Xianglan rubbed her forehead and said worriedly, "I am only afraid that Cloud Gathering Commerce's intentions lie elsewhere."

"Daoist Shan, I have already said that the Azurewood Sect does not possess the inheritance of the Spring Autumn Honored One. We only have a Spring Autumn Water Refining Art that barely reaches Core Formation. As for the secret technique Daoist mentioned that raises cultivation, I have never even heard of it."

Shan Qin smiled.

"Young Master Yao, surely you jest. The Azurewood Sect has controlled the Qingchuan Secret Realm for a hundred years. How could you possibly have failed to obtain the complete inheritance of the Spring Autumn Honored One?"

Yao ZhengSheng spread his hands helplessly.

"If it were truly as Daoist Shan says, why would the Azurewood Sect remain merely a Core Formation Power in Mangyuan Prefecture? Why would we not go to the provincial city and unfurl our grand ambitions?

"At this point, whether Daoist Shan believes it or not is up to you."

The moment he finished speaking, a Message Sword suddenly arrived. After hearing what it contained, a trace of struggle appeared on Yao ZhengSheng's face.

He took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Bag.

"This is the cultivation art our sect obtained from the secret realm, the original Spring Autumn Water Refining Art. This art encompasses the Qi Refining through Core Formation realms. As for Nascent Soul and even Spirit Transformation beyond that, the Azurewood Sect truly has never obtained them."

Shan Qin accepted the Jade Slip and examined it with her divine sense, revealing a hint of disappointment.

She then put it away and cupped her hands.

"Two Soul Nurturing Pills will be delivered to Young Master Yao shortly. Here, I offer congratulations in advance on Young Master Yao's ascension to the position of Azurewood Sect's Young Sect Master."

Yao ZhengSheng returned the gesture. "Farewell!"

As Yao ZhengSheng departed, a white-browed old man appeared behind Shan Qin. He was the Late Core Formation cultivator who had just intercepted Duan Delong and Yu Xianglan.

"What does Old Yan think? Were the Azurewood Sect and this Young Master Yao speaking the truth?"

Old Yan shook his head. "Hard to say. These large and small factions occupy a secret realm left behind by their predecessors and lord it over a region. It is not impossible that they have lacked the ability to obtain the inheritance for centuries."

"The Spring Autumn Honored One... He was a figure who created countless miracles thousands of years ago. What a pity. In the end, we still arrived one step too late."

"Miss, do not force the matter. If the inheritance has truly been lost, then our karmic fate has simply not yet arrived.

"Besides, perhaps this Azurewood Sect is merely stubborn and willfully concealing it. We need only send people to watch them. Sooner or later, they will reveal a flaw."

Shan Qin nodded. That was precisely why she had tried to establish a branch within the Azurewood Sect's territory.