Undercurrents Surge

"But... what about my parents?"

The next day, in the Shantytown of Flying Cloud Market, candlelight flickered dimly. Qing Yuan's face, reflected in a jade-inlaid bronze mirror, looked somewhat grim.

Beside him, Qing Zheng controlled a Puppet, his expression grave.

"That beast Ling Leng stole my Baleful Pill and destroyed the formation. The Treasure Pavilion is bound to discover the pill. It's only a matter of time before our betrayal of the sect comes to light."

"If we want to stay alive and find another chance at Core Formation, our only option now is to submit to the Yi Wood Sect."

Qing Zheng's brows drew tight. The mere mention of Ling Leng made both brothers grind their teeth.

"Could Chang Hao have any leads on Ling Leng?"

"I had a fragment of his human soul. It's gone now, so I'm afraid he's met with disaster. Ling Leng is vicious and meticulous. He probably used Chang Hao to steal the pill only to throw others off his trail."

Qing Zheng shook his head gently and took several deep breaths, his voice thick with exhaustion.

"The Water Marsh Gang promised we wouldn't have to act ourselves. We only need to cooperate and shut down the market's protective formation for three breaths. They'll handle the rest."

"Junior Brother, this is our last chance."

"The Water Marsh Gang? Do they think the Clear River Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators are mere ornaments? Even if the Yi Wood Sect swallows the five great markets, will the Luo Shen Pavilion stand for it?"

Suspicion filled Qing Yuan's eyes. He tried to pour himself a cup of hot tea, but his hand would not stop trembling, and tea spilled across the floor.

"What if the Yi Wood Sect has another backer?"

"You mean..."

Qing Yuan's pupils widened slightly. His throat went dry, and he swallowed again and again.

The Yi Wood Sect lay near the border of the Azure Source Domain, separated from the Hidden Abyss Domain, which was controlled by Dragon Elephant Mountain, one of the Dao Sect powers, by only three Boundary Rivers. Though two other vassal sects nearby normally watched and checked one another, the Yi Wood Sect was indeed among the sects closest to Dragon Elephant Mountain's territory.

Dragon Elephant Mountain excelled in the path of Body Cultivation. To its cultivators, the flesh was a Dao artifact, blood and qi the true elixir, and sheer strength could shatter ten thousand arts.

Its core Arcane Canon, the Dragon Elephant Mountain-Suppressing Art, could, when cultivated to its subtleties, forge a dragon-elephant body impervious to all arts and strong enough to break heaven and earth. It was said to reach the pinnacle of strength and grant boundless might. Its path ran directly counter to the Luo Shen Pavilion's, and the two sects were as incompatible as fire and water.

"The Yi Wood Sect wants to seek refuge with... Dragon Elephant Mountain?"

Qing Yuan's lips trembled, but doubt remained in his eyes.

Though Dragon Elephant Mountain and the Luo Shen Pavilion had their differences, both belonged to the Dao Sect and needed to join forces against the Sacred Church. Their relationship remained cordial on the surface. Why would they tear off that facade over a mere vassal sect?

"No... Dragon Elephant Mountain has been on the losing side of its struggle with the Luo Shen Pavilion for years. It doesn't have the nerve."

Qing Zheng shook his head gently, his smile turning bitter. He lowered his voice, unable to keep his lips from trembling.

"I suspect the Bodhi Monastery..."

"The Demonic Church?"

Qing Yuan's voice turned shrill at once. The Bodhi Monastery controlled the whole of the Li Wasteland, which bordered the Kan Wasteland.

But at least two vast domains lay between the Yi Wood Sect and the Li Wasteland. How had the two come together?

"I don't know either. But the Demonic Sect began infiltrating the Kan Wasteland long ago. Wasn't the Demonic Cultivator who took your Water Dragonwood from the Heavenly Demon Sect? Only with the Demonic Sect's help would the Yi Wood Sect dare break away from the Luo Shen Pavilion."

"We're going to stand alongside Demonic Cultivators?"

Uncertainty filled Qing Yuan's eyes as his reflection paced back and forth.

"Junior Brother, things have come to this. Is what we've done any different from what Demonic Cultivators do?"

Qing Zheng clenched his fist so hard his nails nearly drew blood. His voice lost its strength. "For our Dao Path and our lives, we can cast aside anything. Spend more time with your family while you can, Junior Brother."

In Sky-Piercing Market stood a plain two-story house.

Qing Yuan watched the spiritual light fade from the bronze mirror. For a long while, he could not collect himself.

"I only wanted to reach Foundation Establishment... How did I fall this far?"

Qing Yuan panted. His reflection looked haggard and old. Though still young, he had somehow grown white hair at his temples.

He tipped back his head and wept. An infant's cries echoed in his ears, stirring so many emotions at once that he wanted to end his life on the spot.

"My sins are too heavy. There's no turning back... But must I really reach Foundation Establishment?"

"Nine Spirit Stones, fifteen pieces of Spirit Dust, five Qi Gathering Pills, and various other pills..."

On the Treasure Pavilion's trade route, Luo Fanchen confirmed that the formation had been thoroughly destroyed. He then used the Soul Banner to put the uncomprehending mortals to sleep. Once he had dealt with the aftermath, he finally had time to inspect his spoils.

The four robbers who had seized the bodies of Clear River Sect disciples had been poor as dirt. Their Storage Bags were cheap, bottom-rung goods, but the Spirit Stones he scraped together from them were enough to satisfy him. The only pity was Chang Hao's Storage Bag.

"If I'd known he was that weak, I would've held back."

Luo Fanchen sighed. The Purple River Chariot Art had blown apart not only two of Chang Hao's magical artifacts but his Storage Bag as well.

A Storage Bag was, after all, a trifling, low-grade thing. It worked by shrinking objects with the Sleeve-Dimension Art. Only a higher-grade Storage Ring contained spatial laws that could store items securely.

"Master Luo, all the artifact fragments are here."

"Fifteen pieces. Not bad. They should fetch three Spirit Stones."

Luo Fanchen carefully put away the fragments Mo Xue handed him. After tallying all the odds and ends, he estimated their total value at around fourteen Spirit Stones.

Killing people and taking their goods really was the fastest way to earn Spirit Stones.

How many Bloodburst Talismans would I have to refine to make fourteen Spirit Stones?

"Is there anything you want, Mo Xue?"

With Spirit Stones in hand, Luo Fanchen spoke with considerably more confidence. But Mo Xue hung her head, looking uninterested.

"Master Luo, save them for Qiu Yun."

Mo Xue pouted and huffed. "She's hit her rebellious phase lately. She needs a Soul-Washing Crystal to sort out her Desire."

Luo Fanchen smiled and lightly brushed Mo Xue's nose with a finger. The girl shook her head away, folded her arms across her chest, and fixed her almond eyes on Master Luo's lower abdomen, as though she could see through his clothes to Qiu Yun hiding inside.

Over the past few days, she had tried more than once to have a heart-to-heart with Qiu Yun.

But the little girl kept avoiding her, sneaking out to get close to Master Luo only after Mo Xue had fallen asleep.

Mo Xue had taken the initiative completely, yet she felt no joy in winning. Seeing Qiu Yun act so timid and cautious only left a bitter taste in her heart.

I came first. I should be happy. How strange.

"Pfft. Why isn't it you who's hit her rebellious phase? All right, go cultivate. Tomorrow, come with me to wipe out the bandits nearby. Once the Treasure Pavilion caravan returns, we can travel back to Flying Cloud Market with them."

Luo Fanchen gave Mo Xue's cheek a gentle pinch. She puffed out her cheeks, glanced at his lower abdomen, and refused to budge. Instead, she sat down cross-legged on the spot and began breathing exercises.

She'd wait Qiu Yun out. That little girl couldn't hide forever!

"Those two little girls."

Luo Fanchen shook his head helplessly. He could vaguely sense that the sisters had fallen out over something minor, but he had no idea why.

They were important sisters who relied on each other. Surely they would soon put a small rift behind them and be as close as before.

Once Qiu Yun had sorted out her feelings, she would open up to Mo Xue. She was thoughtful and sensible, after all. Luo Fanchen did not know the whole story, and barging in would only make things worse.

Since things had come to this, I might as well cultivate first.

Luo Fanchen summoned the Eight Desolations Record of the Demoness. He had gained much from this battle, and now was the perfect time to take stock and improve.