Not My Fault, Hysterical

"I have served this sect longer than anyone. Just because my cultivation is only at the seventh layer of the Core Formation Realm, beneath Yun Shengya's, I can't become a supreme elder? Why?"

"Hmph! Of course I betrayed the sect. Shen Xinghu promised that once the sect was destroyed, he would make me a supreme elder and let me use its resources as I pleased!"

"With enough resources, how could I fail to break through the bottleneck that has held me for a thousand years, reach the eighth layer of the Core Formation Realm, or even step into the Nascent Soul Realm?"

"My lifespan is nearly spent. I'll die either way, so why not betray the sect and take a gamble? I merely failed!"

Huang Guchen spoke on, heedless of everyone else.

"It's all your fault, not mine!"

He roared at Mo Lingyuan and Jin Pingqi like a madman, his eyes full of resentment and his heart full of bitter unwillingness.

"Unreasonable!" Mo Lingyuan looked at the hysterical Huang Guchen, furious beyond restraint. "Die!"

Crack!

Under the crushing pressure, Huang Guchen and his Source Core turned to ash.

"Not my fault! Not my fault!"

Huang Guchen's stubborn cries still echoed through the hall.

"Sigh..." Mo Lingyuan sighed, took out a Storage Bag, and handed it to Jin Pingqi. "Put the resources inside to good use and distribute them wisely. Make sure nothing like this happens again."

"Yes, Ancestor!"

"Elders, if you need anything in the future, speak up. Don't grow as stubborn as Huang Guchen and commit an unforgivable wrong."

Mo Lingyuan turned to warn the assembled elders.

"Yes, Ancestor!"

"Now that this matter is settled, I shall continue my travels and training. See that the sect is well managed."

"Yes, Ancestor!"

Heavenly Mist Sect.

Inside the sect.

The Discussion Hall.

"Elder Mo, how did matters at Azure Feather Sect turn out?"

Seated in the place of honor, Li Moqing asked with concern.

Zhang Xingfeng and the other three looked equally concerned.

"Thank you for your concern, Sect Master, and everyone else's. Everything has been taken care of."

Mo Lingyuan answered calmly, though the memory of the dead sect members and Yun Shengya brought a trace of sorrow to his face.

"Sect Master, these are the resources I found at Starwave Sect."

Mo Lingyuan took out a Storage Bag. "I took the liberty of giving a portion to my sect."

"As you should."

Li Moqing nodded in understanding.

"The remainder contains thirteen hundred Supreme Source Stones, twenty-five hundred High-Grade Source Stones, forty-nine hundred Middle-Grade Source Stones, and eight thousand Low-Grade Source Stones."

"Six hundred Storage Bags, eight Yellow-Tier Middle Grade Cultivation Arts, one Top-Grade Yellow Tier Cultivation Method, two Top-Grade Yellow Tier Cultivation Arts, and more..."

Mo Lingyuan presented the Storage Bag as he continued.

No wonder it was the second-ranked sect in Search Province. Even after a portion was given away, so many Source Stones remained. The sect won't be short of them for some time.

Li Moqing accepted the Storage Bag and considered this to himself.

"Elder Mo, you must be tired after your journey. Go and rest."

Li Moqing set the thought aside and smiled.

"Yes, Sect Master. I shall take my leave!"

Mo Lingyuan turned into a streak of light and departed.

"The Qigu Secret Realm will open in three days. Xingfeng, Muxue, Guyu, the three of you must cultivate diligently."

Li Moqing turned to remind them.

"Yes, Master!"

Zhang Xingfeng and the other two answered solemnly.

The next day.

Search Province.

"Earth-shaking news! Starwave Sect was wiped out by Azure Feather Sect?"

"What happened? Come on, tell us!"

"Just yesterday, Starwave Sect's ancestor Shen Xinghu broke through to the Fourth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm and led his people in an assault on Azure Feather Sect..."

"Huh? How did Shen Xinghu dare attack Azure Feather Sect? Wasn't he afraid of Mo Lingyuan? Mo Lingyuan is at the Fourth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm too!"

"Don't interrupt. Let me finish. Mo Lingyuan had left the sect long ago to travel and train..."

"I see. I never expected Azure Feather Sect to lose over ten thousand members in that battle, along with Supreme Elder Yun Shengya!"

"That's why Azure Feather Sect announced it would hold a disciple recruitment assembly in one month and lower its admission standards somewhat!"

"What? Then why aren't we rushing over?"

"Exactly! Azure Feather Sect is Search Province's First Sect, and it's lowering its admission standards. This is a chance that comes once in a hundred... no, a thousand years! We can't miss it!"

"What's the rush? There's still a month. Besides, do your children have Spiritual Wisdom?"

"How will we know unless we try?"

"Exactly! Whether my family rises to prominence depends on this!"

Southern Domain of Qitian.

Pill Forging Sect.

In an attic.

"Shijie, have you reached the peak of the eighth layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm?"

"Master, I'm ashamed to say I still lack a little cultivation."

"No matter. Take this Supreme Cultivation-Boosting Pill. You should reach the peak within two days!"

"Master, a Supreme Cultivation-Boosting Pill quadruples cultivation speed, and the sect has only twelve. It's so precious that I hardly dare accept it!"

"What's so precious about it? I told you to take it, so take it."

"Yes, Master. Then I'll gratefully accept!"

"Remember, you must reach the peak within two days, but do not break through."

"Ah? Master, why?"

"I want you to enter the Qigu Secret Realm. Once inside, find a place where no one is around and break through. Who in the secret realm will be your match then? Its treasures will be yours for the taking."

"I understand, Master!"

"One more thing. You must bring back the secret realm's greatest treasure. If anyone stands in your way, kill them without mercy!"

"Yes, Master. I won't fail you!"

Two days later.

On the western side of the border between Search Province and Heaven-Opening.

The Secluded Mountain Range rose across thirty thousand li. This was none other than the Qigu Secret Realm!

Outside the Qigu Secret Realm, cultivators already filled the air and the ground. Even many mortals had come to see the spectacle.

"I never imagined the Qigu Secret Realm would be so vast. It must be even grander inside!"

Many cultivators gazed at the unbroken mountains in awe.

Before now, they had only heard of the Qigu Secret Realm. Seeing it at last, they understood how majestic it was, a sight rarely found in the world!

"Hahaha! I'm going to make a fortune. There must be treasures everywhere inside. I'll snatch everything I can, and anyone who blocks me dies!"

Xiang Nitian, a cultivator at the seventh layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm, laughed aloud with utter confidence.

"Oh? You dare spout such big words when you're only at the seventh layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm?"

To his surprise, a scornful voice sounded behind him.

"Who dares look down on m—"

Xiang Nitian turned and began to snap at the speaker, but stopped halfway through and hurriedly changed his tune with an ingratiating smile. "So it's Brother Quchu and the gifted disciples of Moon Reflection Sect. Forgive my rudeness!"

The newcomers were Feng Quchu and the two hundred disciples sent by his sect. Every one of them was a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, a force not to be underestimated!

"Who's your 'Brother Quchu'? Don't act as though we're close!"

Feng Quchu looked down on him and spoke arrogantly.

"Yes, yes. Brother Quchu is right!"

Xiang Nitian bowed at once in apology.

"Well, I have something to attend to, so I'll leave you all to it!"

He straightened with an awkward smile, then hurriedly flew away as a streak of light. Inwardly, he scoffed, Hmph! What's so impressive about him? He's only throwing his weight around because his sect ranks ninth among Heaven-Opening's forces.