Peering Beneath the Surface
Rejuvenation Valley.
Hua Chunning was born and raised here, and now, revisiting this place, she can't help but feel emotional.
When the Hua Household lineage was severed and they fell into the mortal world, they were still able to occupy a blessed land like Rejuvenation Valley, which was an anomaly. This was undoubtedly due to the protection and tacit approval of Supreme Mystery Mountain and Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain.
Back then, the Hua Household was like a child holding gold in the world; although there were people watching over and protecting them, they ultimately had no power to protect themselves.
When the Azure Cloud Sect arrived in the Southern Edge Continent, they indeed chose the Hua Household and seized Rejuvenation Valley.
This matter has nothing to do with right or wrong; it's simply that after the survival of the fittest, the world returns to its original state.
Lin Muyang naturally knew Hua Chunning's identity and background, so he spoke carefully, only saying that the Azure Cloud Sect treated the Hua Household's illegitimate descendants well, and that the direct descendants of the Hua Household had benefited from the misfortune and gone to Supreme Mystery Mountain, and even fulfilled their wish to support a Supreme Mystery Mountain disciple and the sect leader's personal disciple.
Therefore, there is no enmity or grudge between the Azure Cloud Sect and Hua Household; on the contrary, it is a beautiful story of mutual support and harmony, and both should be happy about it.
Hua Chunning couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.
While Lin Muyang's words were based on flawed logic, they were not entirely false.
Even if he hadn't said anything, Hua Chunning wouldn't have harbored hatred towards the Azure Cloud Sect or acted irrationally.
The debate between the New Method and Old Method is clearly a game played by the adults.
Although the Azure Cloud Sect appeared weak in the face of the Southern Verge Immortal Alliance, it was backed by the entire Central Continent, which was implementing the New Method.
Therefore, Supreme Mystery Mountain, Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain, and even the Southern Verge Immortal Alliance have been quite tolerant of the Azure Cloud Sect.
In the face of such a grand situation, what is the Hua Household?!
They're not even fit to be chess pieces.
Let alone trying to stir up trouble, if they have even the slightest hint of dissent, they will be killed and their entire clan wiped out in an instant.
Hua Chunning had no interest in talking about friendship with her relatives from other branches of the family. She simply glanced at the place and said that she was already being treated with the utmost kindness. Instead, she was more interested in the renovations and arrangements made after the arrival of the Azure Cloud Sect.
Lin Muyang was immediately relieved and then took Hua Chunning to tour various parts of Rejuvenation Valley.
The Azure Cloud Sect Southern Verge Immortal Alliance are mutually wary of each other.
The Southern Verge Immortal Alliance fears that destroying the Azure Cloud Sect will become an excuse for a large-scale invasion by the Daoist sects and immortal dynasties of the Central Continent.
Ironically, the very person who protected Southern Edge Continent has perished!
What will the Southern Verge Immortal Alliance rely on to resist the Golden Core and even Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Central Continent?!
The Azure Cloud Sect naturally had its own fears.
The Golden Core Ancestor committed the taboo crime of stealing an infant, and was caught red-handed by a rival sect, resulting in his immediate death and the dissipation of his Dao.
The Azure Cloud Sect was a major problem that everyone in the Central Continent avoided, and countless enemies were waiting to take advantage of their misfortune. Moving the entire sect to the Southern Edge Continent was a desperate move made when there was no other way out.
If the Azure Cloud Sect were truly destroyed by the Southern Verge Immortal Alliance, the news would only bring applause from many people when it reached the Central Continent, but no one would think of avenging the Azure Cloud Sect.
"Fellow Daoist Hua, look, this is the medicine garden." Lin Muyang, being of high status, led Hua Chunning through the area without hindrance, and even in the core area of the medicine garden, no one stopped them.
"The herb garden..." Hua Chunning, who now also majors in [Yi Wood], has developed some interest in it.
Judging from the categories alone, the Azure Cloud Sect is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
Hua Chunning did not recognize many of the spirit medicine.
What truly caught Hua Chunning's attention was the method by which the herb garden promoted Lingji.
Hua Chunning stretched out her hand, and there was a slightly damp and cool feeling in it.
The Spiritual Qi in this herb garden is so dense that it resembles clouds and mist.
Lin Muyang glanced at it and explained with a smile, "This is my sect's secret [Lesser Five Phases Spirit Gathering Formation]. It can extract Spiritual Qi from underground Spirit Vein and transform it into the Five Phases Spiritual Qi to nourish the spirit medicine in the garden."
"Of course, cultivators can also achieve twice the results with half the effort if they cultivate here."
"This formation is indeed profound." Hua Chunning nodded slightly upon hearing this, without delving into the details of the formation, but instead asked, "I see that this Spirit Gathering Formation only takes and never returns; won't the underground Spirit Vein be drained sooner or later? What will happen then?"
Lin Muyang was taken aback, somewhat puzzled, but considering that the person in front of him was an ancient cultivator who practiced Old Method, he replied matter-of-factly, "Then... we'll just find a new Spirit Vein."
Hua Chunning paused slightly upon hearing this, then pondered for a moment before saying, "That does make sense."
Hua Chunning was naturally not allowed to enter the Azure Cloud Sect's true core alchemy room and power transmission hall.
Lin Muyang only gave Hua Chunning a brief explanation outside before heading elsewhere.
Ahead lies the former site of the Hua Household hall.
It has now been transformed into a place for the Azure Cloud Sect leader to hold meetings and cultivate.
Hua Chunning suppressed the strange emotions in her heart, but looked at the tall trees on both sides.
They were all pine, cypress, camphor, and fir trees, thriving and looking quite extraordinary.
Hua Chunning cultivated the [Yang Spring] imagery and [Yi Wood] Cultivation Method, was extremely sensitive to vitality. He vaguely sensed that these trees, though seemingly ordinary and harmless, held a mysterious secret. So he asked Lin Muyang for guidance.
"Fellow Daoist Hua truly lives up to his True Disciple of a great sect; his insight is truly remarkable." Lin Muyang first offered a compliment, then said with considerable pride, "Like the herb garden, these spirit trees are also the true foundation of my Azure Cloud Sect."
"Spirit wood is not only a precious material for refining weapons, but it can also be used to form large arrays to defend against invasions from external enemies."
"The methods of arranging and controlling the formation are techniques that my Lin Household learned from the ancestral lineage and have passed down to this day!"
"I see, that's truly eye-opening." Hua Chunning exclaimed in admiration, then focused intently on the examination.
These giant trees are thick and tall, clearly grown using Secret Method.
Therefore, although it belongs to [Jia Wood], it has the feeling of being strong on the outside but weak on the inside, and having an unstable foundation.
There are quite a few of them; as the saying goes, many trees make a forest, so this can also be considered a [Gathered Wood].
These trees are scattered throughout the valley according to some kind of array, and in many places they are even arranged in single rows, so they can hardly be considered a forest, let alone a [gathering].
It resembles [A] but is not [A], it resembles [Collection] but is not [Collection].
Such an absurd and unorthodox formation, defying all principles, somehow manages to form an array to protect the sect.
It seems this New Method does indeed have some hidden secrets.
Hua Chunning listened to Lin Muyang recount the glorious past of the Lin Household's ancestors, she occasionally chimed in with agreement, but a sudden realization dawned on her mind.
I had long heard that Azure Cloud Sect, though called a sect, was actually ruled by the Qiao and Lin families in turn.
Currently, the Azure Cloud Sect has two Foundation Establishment. The one publicly known as Foundation Establishment is the Azure Cloud Sect leader, surnamed Qiao. The one secretly known as Foundation Establishment is the Grand Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect, surnamed Lin.
This giant tree formation is a secret passed down through the Lin Household.
Needless to say, cultivating medicinal herbs and refining elixirs is undoubtedly a tradition passed down in the Qiao Household.
"We've arrived." Lin Muyang was still somewhat reluctant to leave, but he had to stop. "Fellow Daoist Hua, please. The sect leader is already waiting in the hall."
Hua Chunning nodded slightly and stepped inside.
The Azure Cloud Sect still treated them with great courtesy.
Inside the hall, there was not only Qiao Yunzhong, the Foundation Establishment Leader, but also several elders and True Disciple.
Hua Chunning glanced at them briefly, then bowed respectfully. "Hua Chunning, a disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain, has been ordered to visit Azure Cloud Sect. Greetings, Sect Leader Qiao!"
"You must have had a long journey." Qiao Yunzhong's name comes from a medicinal herb called Eucommia ulmoides, and he himself is quite steadfast and reliable, avoiding any frivolousness. He nodded slightly to Hua Chunning and then introduced the people in the hall.
Hua Chunning greeted everyone politely, taking the opportunity to carefully sense their auras.
Although you can't use [Qi Observation Technique] to see it, lest it be offensive.
However, after sensing the situation, just as Hua Chunning had predicted, the people in the hall were clearly divided into two categories.
Firstly, like Lin Muyang, he possesses a spirit that is vigorous and majestic.
Secondly, like Qiao Yunzhong, he had a medicinal fragrance about him.
The surnames Qiao and Lin are truly distinct and evenly matched.
However, Qiao Yunzhong's aura was clearly the strongest in the hall, unmatched by anyone else.
It seems that the Lin Household's Foundation Establishment have not yet made an appearance.
Just as Hua Chunning was probing the secrets of the Azure Cloud Sect, a young disciple in the hall couldn't help but jump out and say, "I have long heard of the profound and unfathomable Old Method, but it is a pity that I have never been able to see them, which I deeply regret."
"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Hua could demonstrate something, so that we may broaden our horizons?"