Change often came with growing pains.
Ye Yun acted as he wielded his sword: precise, swift, and merciless. In just three days, Black Wind Mountain—no, it should now be called the Heavenly Star Pavilion's headquarters—underwent a purge from top to bottom.
Dozens of former Blood Skull Stronghold members, steeped in evil and stubbornly unrepentant, had their cultivation crippled and were driven down the mountain like dogs without a home. Their wails and curses briefly shattered the mountain's "tranquility," but were soon swallowed by the new order. Whether out of fear or a shrewd assessment of the situation, those who remained swore Soul Oaths never to betray their new masters, cowed by Ye Yun's icy gaze and the Ancient Sword he had never even drawn.
Shi Meng and Mo Yu acted with even greater lightning-fast resolve. Within a hundred li of Black Wind Mountain, several small bandit gangs, whether affiliated with the Blood Skull Stronghold or operating on their own, were either pulverized beneath Shi Meng's mountain-shattering fists or erased entirely by Mo Yu's silent daggers. A few Nascent Soul leaders, confident in their own strength, tried to resist, but none lasted more than a few punches and kicks from Shi Meng. As word spread, the Heavenly Star Pavilion's fearsome reputation—or rather, its formidable renown—swiftly replaced that of the Blood Skull Stronghold across the wasteland. For a time, the surrounding factions fell silent as cicadas in the cold, and no one dared venture lightly within fifty li of Black Wind Mountain.
The Blood Skull Steward, the Blood Skull Old Man, was so busy his feet scarcely touched the ground. He knew the old members well and understood his new master's methods, so he spared no effort in putting the stronghold's affairs in order. Taking stock of the stores, reorganizing personnel, drafting new rules... He seemed to have found a second spring, pouring every scrap of shrewdness and ability honed over centuries of running a bandit stronghold into building the "Heavenly Star Pavilion." He could sense that his mysterious master seemed unconcerned with the past, valuing only what they could offer now and in the future. That showed him a glimmer of possibility beyond anything he had known before.
But the greatest change came from Ye Ling.
She chose a valley near a mountain spring, where the baleful energy was relatively thin, as her starting point. When she closed her eyes and pressed both hands against the scarlet earth, emerald light spread outward from her like ripples. It was not dazzling, but it held a vast, pure breath of life.
Hum—
The earth trembled faintly. The instant the green light touched the withered, twisted vegetation, its branches and leaves slowly unfurled like parched land meeting sweet rain after a long drought. The plants shed their dull hues and regained a little vitality. The violent, oppressive baleful energy in the air seemed to be combed smooth by an invisible hand. Though it remained, it was no longer so aggressive.
More astonishing still, at the center of the valley, the once-murky mountain spring with its bloody tang grew visibly clearer under the nourishing influence of the Life Law. Wisps of pure spiritual energy even began seeping from its source!
Although the change was confined to this little valley, covering only a few li, it was as insignificant as a tiny oasis in a desert beside the vastness and deathly stillness of Black Wind Mountain. Yet this sudden patch of vibrant green shone like a beacon in the night, bringing every cultivator of the Heavenly Star Pavilion an indescribable sense of wonder and hope.
They had long since grown accustomed to the wasteland's cruelty and bleak desolation. When had they ever seen vitality so pure, so warm? Some cultivators who had submitted only because circumstances forced their hand watched that patch of green and felt the entirely different atmosphere within the valley, and something quietly shifted in their hearts.
"Withered trees greet spring, stagnant water becomes a flowing spring... These—these are the methods of immortals!" A former Nascent Soul leader of the Blood Skull Stronghold stood at the valley's edge, breathing in the refreshing air as he murmured to himself, his eyes filled with awe.
The Blood Skull Steward was so excited that his aged face flushed crimson. He understood better than anyone what it meant to improve the environment and generate spiritual energy in the Primordial Realm, where resources were exhausted and the Great Dao was incomplete! This was nothing less than a divine ability that defied heaven and rewrote fate! He became ever more convinced that following this master was the wisest decision of his life.
Ye Chen stood atop the main peak, looking down at the speck of fresh green in the valley below and the growing order throughout the mountain, and gave a slight nod.
"Only through destruction and rebuilding can new life emerge," he said softly. "Baleful energy has accumulated on Black Wind Mountain for far too long. Like a deep-rooted, chronic illness, it cannot be cured without potent medicine. Ye Ling is slowly untangling it with the Life Law. Though the results come slowly, her approach strengthens the roots and nourishes the foundation. Given time, this dead land may well become a true spiritual mountain, a blessed sanctuary."
Emperor Xuanwu stood beside him and said, "You are quite right, young master. But the Great Dao of this realm is flawed. Unless the root cause is removed, I fear we will expend twice the effort for half the result."
"No matter." Ye Chen's gaze reached far into the distance. "A meal must be eaten one mouthful at a time, and a road walked one step at a time. First we gain a firm foothold, then we consider the rest. The Demon-Burying Abyss may be a crucial link in unraveling this realm's mysteries."
With a thought, he sensed the Nameless Fragment tucked against his chest. Since Ye Ling had begun purifying the surroundings, the warmth emanating from it seemed a little more pronounced, and its resonance with the Black Iron Piece had faintly strengthened as well. This made him all the more certain that the fragment, the Black Iron Piece, and this realm shared some deeper connection.
"How is Xiaoshan progressing?" Ye Chen asked.
"Young master," reported Ye Yun, who had appeared behind him at some point, "Ye Xiaoshan has combined the Blood Skull Steward's accounts of the Demon-Burying Abyss with Old Man Greenstone's map and the fragment's resonance to draft three relatively safe routes that may lead into the abyss's depths. However, he also noted that the demonic aura and baleful energy within the abyss interfere with perception, and that the terrain may change at any moment. The maps can only serve as references."
"That is enough." Ye Chen nodded. "Have him keep refining them. Also, send out an order: effective immediately, the Heavenly Star Pavilion will recruit disciples from outside, regardless of background, provided they pass an assessment of character. Give priority to those skilled in alchemy, artifact refining, or formations, as well as those who have studied ancient secrets."
What he wanted was not merely a military foothold, but a multifaceted organization capable of providing all kinds of support as he explored this realm's mysteries. Though the Ye Clan possessed deep reserves, in this realm he still needed local forces to act as feelers and supplement its strength.
"Yes!" Ye Yun accepted the order, a glimmer of understanding passing through his eyes. The young master truly intends to put down roots in this realm and place his pieces on the board.
The order spread quickly, causing a considerable stir throughout the Blood-Baleful Wasteland. A mysterious, powerful new faction that had just purged the surrounding area with iron and blood was openly recruiting disciples? And without restrictions on their background? To the many rogue cultivators struggling at the bottom of the wasteland with no way forward, the offer was undoubtedly an enormous temptation.
Although they still knew little about the Heavenly Star Pavilion, the elimination of the bandits around Black Wind Mountain and the faint rumors of "reviving vitality" stirred many hearts. A scattering of cultivators began making their way toward Black Wind Mountain, filled with apprehension and anticipation.
Under Ye Chen's will, the fledgling Heavenly Star Pavilion was sinking its first slender roots into this cruel wasteland at an astonishing pace.
Ye Chen's gaze, however, had already turned toward the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss, shrouded in dense demonic aura. He knew that the true challenges and opportunities both awaited him there.
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