Returning After Departure

Murong Ziyao rose to her feet, her expression cold and her purple robes snapping in the wind. She gazed down into the furnace and said, "It seems there is more than one."

Sure enough, no sooner had she spoken than four more rays of spiritual light emerged from the pitch-black abyss beneath the furnace.

In an instant, robust and overbearing Mystic Qi howled forth, erupting like a subterranean spiritual spring.

A refreshing, intoxicating fragrance of alchemy wafted up from the depths, gathering in midair and manifesting strange phenomena. The disciples stared, their eyes wide and their jaws dropped in astonishment.

"A manifestation of the Heaven Mending Pill—it is indeed a Heaven Mending Pill!"

"This pill has the effect of elevating the grade of one's spiritual meridians. If one can refine it, they might even achieve Flawless Spiritual Meridians."

A scion of a noble family shook his head, squinting as he said, "That is an exaggeration. Flawless Spiritual Meridians cannot be forged by a single pill. This pill is merely a gimmick; those who achieve Flawless Spiritual Meridians must possess innate talent, foundation, and comprehension that are already supreme."

In the Dragon Ridge Hundred Academies, the number of young geniuses who had achieved Flawless Spiritual Meridians over the past hundred years could be counted on one hand.

Most of them had been the victors during battles in the Immortal Treasury and had consumed Heaven Mending Pills, which created a misconception among many disciples that it was the consumption of the pill that had granted them their Flawless Spiritual Meridians.

In truth, their own innate talent was already extremely high; even without the pill, they would have been able to perfect their spiritual meridians in the future!

"Fellow Daoist Tushan, Fellow Daoist Murong, let us join forces to secure the pills!"

Jiang Beixuan spoke up at this moment.

Beneath the furnace, the five Heaven Mending Pills carried a terrifyingly thick amount of Mystic Qi, like a vast and boundless ocean. For a moment, the very ground beneath them shuddered, making hearts race with alarm.

"Agreed!"

Tushan Jiuyuan and Murong Ziyao accepted.

This Senior Brother Jiang was quite meticulous; he had not called upon Jiang E or Wei Daowu, who were by his side, but had instead chosen these two, clearly fearing that the others might harbor concerns that he intended to seize all five Heaven Mending Pills for himself.

In fact, if he had truly intended to do so, he would indeed have had the opportunity.

Jiang Beixuan possessed the highest cultivation base, and with two geniuses assisting him, success was not out of the question.

All around, thick Mystic Qi continued to erupt, the rumbling sound like thunder rolling beneath the earth.

The disciples kept their eyes fixed on the precious pills.

Xu Yan frowned, his mind racing as he channeled the Edict and probed downward with his divine sense.

The Edict is sensing something more than just the Heaven Mending Pills.

A thousand thoughts crossed Xu Yan's mind. The Miaoyuan Edict in his palm was burning hot, appearing more restless than it ever had before; clearly, some monumental treasure existed down below.

Every time a precious pill emerged from the furnace, Xu Yan could sense the energy of heaven and earth being swallowed by that entity, refining all things before finally purging the pill.

What is it... could it be an alchemy furnace? Xu Yan speculated inwardly.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

At this moment, Jiang Beixuan and the others utilized their robust Mystic Qi, joining forces to temporarily suppress the five Heaven Mending Pills.

However, the efficacy of these pills was truly overbearing; although the three possessed immense magic power, they found the suppression somewhat strenuous.

The pills were about the size of a thumb, shimmering with a deep, dark luster in the twilight.

Upon closer inspection, the surface of each pill was covered in fine, intricate patterns—veins formed naturally by heaven and earth, resembling the trajectories of stars or the textures of growing plants, encompassing the myriad phenomena of the universe.

"Heaven Mending Pills..." Some disciples watched intently, their eyes filled with longing.

Just by inhaling a wisp of the pill's aura, they felt their own spiritual meridians stir to life.

With five pills in play, the three had to divide their magic power into five streams, and they were beginning to struggle.

The Heaven Mending Pills trembled slightly, causing strange phenomena to manifest in the sky—the roars of dragons and tigers, a truly terrifying sight.

Tushan Jiuyuan's vertical pupils narrowed. She surveyed her surroundings and said in a low voice, "Two remain. Who will take them?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Jiang Qingcheng smiled faintly. A vast, gentle, emerald-green Mystic Qi roared out, supporting one of the Heaven Mending Pills as he said, "I shall take the burden off the fairy's shoulders."

Beside Xu Yan, Qin Yiren also made her move. Extreme Yin Qi howled, and the world grew dark. Without a word, she stabilized one for herself.

"Everyone, place your bids!"

Jiang Qingcheng said loudly, his eyes narrowed.

Hearing this, the crowd reacted with varying expressions.

The rogue cultivators and disciples of the lower sects had no capital to compete with them and could only watch the spectacle with boredom.

Had it not been for the share of spirit stones, they would have left long ago.

The disciples of the five great ancient families and the Nine Star Kui Island looked at one another.

If there had been only one Heaven Mending Pill, they would surely have fought until they were bloodied, but with five appearing, the atmosphere became somewhat subtle.

"Five thousand spirit stones."

Qin Yiren spoke suddenly.

Xu Yan heard this, his peripheral vision catching the movement as he looked toward her.

How much spiritual wealth does this Fellow Daoist Qin possess to be so extravagant? Xu Yan felt a tremor of shock.

The disciples of the noble families wore varied expressions, all turning their gazes toward Qin Yiren in unison.

Tiandu Immortal City was an outsider, yet not quite an outsider; its overall strength was slightly weaker than the ancient families, but the city held a special status as an ally of the Divine Sect, and most of the Immortal Cities dealt in merchant trade.

The spiritual wealth accumulated by this Qin Yiren might well be even greater than that of the ancient families.

Most noble disciples did not wish to incur the enmity of the Immortal City line, and they had no intention of competing.

For a moment, seeing that no one else spoke, Qin Yiren was slightly taken aback, then she calmly cupped her palm and retrieved the pill.

"My thanks to all fellow daoists for their consideration."

Qin Yiren said coolly, producing a porcelain bottle to seal the Heaven Mending Pill before tucking it away.

Jiang Qingcheng smiled and said, "I, too, bid five thousand spirit stones."

Having said this, just as Jiang Qingcheng was about to collect the treasure, Tushan Jiuyuan spoke up directly.

"Six thousand!"

"Fairy, what is the meaning of this?" Jiang Qingcheng stared, eyes wide.

"The highest bidder wins; does Fellow Daoist Jiang have any questions?" Tushan Jiuyuan glanced at him, her expression blank.

Jiang Qingcheng raised an eyebrow, his expression one of helplessness.

He only had so many spirit stones on him; he could not afford to go any higher. It had been agreed beforehand that transactions could only be made within the Immortal Treasury and that no credit was allowed.

Tushan Jiuyuan narrowed her vertical pupils and calmly retrieved a Heaven Mending Pill.

Following this, Han Xiaolin of the Cloud Dream Great Marsh made a bid—also six thousand—and took the Heaven Mending Pill that Jiang Qingcheng's magic power had been supporting. Han Xiaolin smiled and cupped his hands toward Jiang Qingcheng, saying, "My apologies, Brother Jiang. Once we are out of the Immortal Treasury, if you have the chance to visit my clan's Great Marsh, I shall treat you to some spirit wine!"

"Take it then." Jiang Qingcheng appeared indifferent, flicking his finger to send the treasure into the other's hand.

Two remained, which were taken by Murong Ziyao and Jiang Beixuan.

For the next incense stick of time, no more treasure pills escaped from beneath the furnace.

Jiang Beixuan counted the number of disciples present, then had Jiang E and Wei Daowu distribute the spirit stones from the auction to everyone. The group of rogue cultivators and lower-sect disciples finally reached this moment.

Expressions of joy mixed with wry smiles appeared on their faces.

Counting the Heaven Mending Pills, a total of twenty-five treasure pills had emerged from the Heaven and Earth Furnace, auctioning for over thirty-seven thousand spirit stones.

Xu Yan received seven hundred and twenty; it was no small sum!

After the stones were divided, some Taoists left directly without even glancing at the furnace, while others lingered, squinting as they peered downward.

"Why, do you intend to go down and take a look?"

Jiang Qingcheng looked at Tuoba Ke not far away, who was holding a formation disk and appeared to be probing downward constantly with his divine sense.

Tuoba Ke ignored him, frowning as he probed for a few moments before shaking his head to himself. "There is a killing array lurking below; it would be best not to risk it."

He spoke to the Nine Star Kui Island disciples beside him, and the group turned back, leaving the area and flying off toward Spirit-Sealing City.

The Immortal Treasury had been open for many days, and having witnessed the opportunity of the Heaven and Earth Furnace, many geniuses did not waste time. After leaving the furnace, they flew toward the eastern territory of Spirit-Sealing City, evidently intending to depart the Immortal Treasury.

Within the span of an incense stick, more than half the people at the Heaven and Earth Furnace had departed, leaving only a dozen or so, all of whom were rogue cultivators or disciples of lower sects.

Because the energy of heaven and earth in this place was extremely dense, they lingered to cultivate for a time, hoping to try their luck and see if any more pills might fly out.

But the result left them deeply disappointed.

Beneath the Heaven and Earth Furnace, things had become completely calm, and the Taiyi God-Lock Array seemed to be showing signs of repairing itself.

"Let's go, let's go; time to leave the treasury," a rogue cultivator said.

Yang Qian, carrying his great blade, rose from his seated position and looked at Xu Yan beside him, saying in a low voice, "Brother Xu, shall we leave together?"

Both had received guidance from the Dharma King. He came from a lower sect, which was essentially no different from being a rogue cultivator, and since both had grievances with Nine Star Kui Island, they had struck up a simple friendship.

"The energy here is rare; I wish to cultivate for a while longer."

Xu Yan thought of a thousand things, speaking in a low voice.

"Then I shall take my leave first. We shall meet again in the Dragon Ridge Hundred Academies!" Yang Qian cupped his hands with his blade, adding, "Do not miss your opportunity, Fellow Daoist. If you fall behind and fail to enter the Upper Three Academies to cultivate, this trip to the Immortal Treasury will have been in vain."

Xu Yan smiled and cupped his hands in return. "My thanks for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Yang. I shall keep it in mind."

One after another, the cultivators flew away. Qin Yiren, possessing a Heaven Mending Pill, feared complications and took her leave of Xu Yan immediately, preparing to exit the Immortal Treasury.

By the time the sun set and the sky turned dark, the vault of the Immortal Treasury was dotted with stars.

Xu Yan narrowed his eyes. He also departed the area temporarily, fearing that others might grow suspicious.

Not until the dead of night, when no one was around, did Xu Yan return stealthily to the foot of Furnace Mountain.