Pill Forging Sect, Proud Sword Sect

"Xiang Nitian had some nerve, daring to lose his temper at Feng Quchu. Good thing the brat was quick on his feet and ran!"

"Exactly. Feng Quchu was at the Foundation Establishment Realm Eighth Layer, and the Moon-Reflecting Sect ranked ninth in strength. They'd sent two hundred Foundation Establishment Realm disciples this time. They looked determined to claim the supreme treasure!"

"Don't cross them in the secret realm. They're no saints!"

"Shh, keep your voice down! If they hear you, they'll kill you right here!"

The nearby cultivators couldn't help whispering among themselves at the sight.

Whoosh!

As they spoke, streaks of light tore across the sky toward them.

The newcomers wore green robes embroidered with yin-yang twin fish and rode gourds of every color. They were Hua Shijie and the Foundation Establishment Realm disciples sent by the Pill Forging Sect.

"Whoa! Look, it's the Pill Forging Sect!"

"No wonder they're the third-strongest force in Heaven-Opening. They actually sent eight hundred Foundation Establishment Realm disciples. Looks like they want the secret realm's supreme treasure even more!"

"Of course. Didn't you see Sect Master Liao's personal disciple Hua Shijie among them?"

"Why does Hua Shijie look so confident, as if the supreme treasure's already his for the taking?"

"Who knows? Maybe they have some secret weapon they can't tell anyone about."

"The Pill Forging Sect is famous for alchemy, and their poison-pill techniques are almost impossible to guard against. Watch out for them!"

"This old man agrees with you!"

The arrival of the Pill Forging Sect set the cultivators abuzz.

"Some secret weapon they can't tell anyone about? Pah! They're just putting on airs! They'd better not run into me in the secret realm, or I'll wipe them out!"

Feng Quchu watched Hua Shijie and the others, utterly unconvinced.

"Look over there! The three great Lineages are flying in together. But everyone from the Dongfang Family looks miserable!"

"Of course they do. The Dongfang Family survives mainly by making talismans, but the Wang Family controls the best Talisman Paper in Heaven-Opening. I heard the Wang Family recently cut off their supply. How could they be happy?"

"So that's what happened. The Dongfang Family must be in a terrible spot!"

"Well, they're only the tenth-strongest force. They can't compete with the Wang Family."

"Right, the Wang Family ranks seventh!"

Seeing the three great Lineages fly in, the cultivators launched into another round of chatter.

Somewhere outside the Qigu Secret Realm.

"There are many cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm Eighth Layer inside the secret realm. When you go in, be careful."

Mo Lingyuan looked at Zhang Xingfeng, Dongfang Muxue, and Chen Guyu, his warning solemn.

"Yes, Elder Mo," Zhang Xingfeng and Chen Guyu replied seriously.

Dongfang Muxue, however, gazed at the Dongfang Family hovering in the distant sky. Distracted, she drew her brows together.

How she wanted to go tell her family she was safe. But she feared that if she went, she might never return. After all, the Wang Family had...

"Muxue." "Second Senior Sister." "Second Senior Sister."

Seeing her like this, Mo Lingyuan and the other two called softly to her.

Dongfang Muxue turned back. "Understood, Elder Mo."

"Muxue, are you all right?" Mo Lingyuan asked with concern.

"Thank you for asking, Elder Mo. I'm fine."

Dongfang Muxue forced a smile.

"All right. Take these. There are Source Qi Pills and Healing Pills inside. You may need them."

Though Mo Lingyuan didn't believe her, his expression remained still as an ancient well. He took out three bottles of pills and handed them to Zhang Xingfeng and the others.

"Thank you, Elder Mo!" The three hurriedly accepted them.

"They're here! They're finally here!"

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted excitedly.

Finding the outburst odd, everyone looked into the distance. A group of Azure Feather Sect disciples, led by Jin Pingqi, was flying toward them atop all kinds of weapons.

"Tch! It's just the Azure Feather Sect. I thought it was someone important."

"Exactly. They're only the strongest force in Eastern Search, an ordinary major power. What's so exciting?"

"Right! I thought the Proud Sword Sect, the strongest force in Heaven-Opening, had arrived!"

When the Southern Region cultivators saw it was the Azure Feather Sect, they clicked their tongues in disdain.

The Eastern Region cultivators were particularly annoyed. So people from Southern Heaven-Opening were allowed to shout with excitement, but those of us from Search Province couldn't call out a couple of times? They're still the strongest force in our Search Province!

Jin Pingqi and the others hovered in the air. Accustomed to such prejudice, they took it in stride.

Then they looked toward one spot, and their pupils constricted.

"Isn't that the ancestor? Didn't he leave to travel the world and train? Why is he here?"

"Did you notice? The ancestor's aura seems much stronger. Don't tell me he's already reached the seventh layer of the Nascent Soul Realm?"

"How is that possible? Wasn't he only at the sixth layer three days ago?"

"Strange. Who are those three beside him? They're only around eighteen, yet they've reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. That woman in white is even at the Foundation Establishment Realm Sixth Layer. What a monster!"

"Could they be personal disciples the ancestor took in while traveling the world?"

The Azure Feather Sect disciples exchanged bewildered looks and sent voice transmissions back and forth, each discovery more startling than the last.

"Sect Master, should we go over and ask?" they asked Jin Pingqi.

"All ri—"

Jin Pingqi was curious too, and was about to nod when he felt Mo Lingyuan's gaze.

Their eyes met, and Jin Pingqi understood what Mo Lingyuan meant.

"Forget it. The ancestor will explain it to us in time."

He looked away and stopped the disciples, who were itching to move.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Elsewhere.

"Xingfeng, Muxue, Guyu, look over there." Mo Lingyuan pointed toward the Azure Feather Sect disciples.

The three followed his finger, but were left puzzled.

"They're disciples of my Azure Feather Sect. Remember their faces, and don't hurt them in the secret realm."

"If they run into trouble, help them if you can," Mo Lingyuan instructed.

He knew that although the three had not reached the Foundation Establishment Realm Eighth Layer, few inside the secret realm could match them.

After all, each of them possessed a Spirit Weapon and cultivated a Heaven-Tier Upper Grade Cultivation Art. Even their Source Mansions were far larger than those of ordinary cultivators!

"Understood, Elder Mo!"

Boom!

Suddenly, boundless Sword Qi erupted near the Qigu Secret Realm.

Whoosh!

At the same time, countless swords whistled and wheeled through the sky above the secret realm, dazzling everyone.

"What is this?"

Everyone stared at the swords, dumbstruck. Speculation broke out at once. "Could it be the Proud Sword Sect?"

"That's right. It's us!"

A confident, coldly arrogant voice rang out.

In an instant, a white-clad figure appeared above their heads.

His white robes billowed and his white hair streamed behind him. Hands clasped behind his back, he stood proudly, like an immortal descended from heaven.

The sword on his back glimmered with a faint light. One glance was enough to tell it was no ordinary weapon!

Whoosh!

Behind him, streaks of sword light flashed past. The Proud Sword Sect disciples flew in atop their swords, every one of them dressed in white, carefree and unrestrained!