CHAPTER 453: RESTLESS YU QINGYAN

Meanwhile, at the Frigid Peaks of the Northern Arctic Dominion, just outside the still-shimmering entrance to the Secret Realm, Yu Qingyan restlessly paced inside her tent as she waited for Lin Mo’s reply.

They had just retreated from the Secret Realm. For the past two days, after they harvested and planted new spiritual herbs in the garden that they encountered, they passed three more areas, and yet Yu Qingyan felt like they were still far from where the true legacy left behind was located.

The first area had been a test of order. They had entered a vast, silent library, the ’Archive of Whispers’, where countless memories and fragments of knowledge floated like motes of dust in the air, disorganized and chaotic. Their task was to sort it out. To categorize the whispering memories into their correct chronological and thematic order. It was a painstaking exercise in information management, a test of patience and clarity of mind that took them nearly half a day to complete. It would be longer if not for Yu Qingyan and the entire Verdant Sky Pavilion members that she brought with her. Even her two disciples, Little Spring and Mei Ling, were delighted that they could be useful in the expedition.

The second area was a test of logistics, called the ’Weaver’s Loom’. A colossal, impossibly complex loom stretched before them, its threads made of tangled, chaotic spiritual energy. They had to untangle the knotted threads and re-weave them into a perfect, harmonious pattern without a single thread breaking. It was a test of teamwork and precise energy manipulation, forcing them to coordinate their efforts to bring order to a system on the verge of collapse.

In this area, the challenge amped up as they had to prevent some spiritual constructs from trying to disrupt them. They fought valiantly and the Celestial Duel Gear provided them an edge to fight off hordes of enemies.

The third, and final area they cleared, was the ’Sculptor’s Garden’. It was a vast field of raw, uncarved spirit jade boulders. Their only tool was a single, ethereal chisel that could only be wielded by one person at a time, and only if the entire team focused their will into it. The test was one of creation and shared vision. They had to collectively decide on a form and then work in perfect unison to carve a magnificent statue of a celestial crane taking flight.

Each test had been a profound lesson in a different aspect of ’convenience’: information management, logistical harmony, and creative, unified purpose. Or so that was her understanding of it.

But the same with the garden where they harvested rare spiritual herbs, they also got rewarded from each area they cleared.

For example, after clearing the Archive of Whispers, each member of the expedition received a [Tome of Mental Clarity], a one-use consumable artifact that permanently increased their comprehension speed and mental resilience. It was a treasure that would make any scholar or sect elder weep with joy.

After conquering the Weaver’s Loom, they were gifted with [Flow-Weaver Gloves], an earth-grade artifact that improved the smoothness and efficiency of their spiritual energy circulation, reducing waste in every technique they performed.

And from the Sculptor’s Garden, they were each given a flawless, uncarved spirit jade block of the highest quality, a priceless material for any artificer or formation master.

The rewards were immense, but the true prize was enlightenment. Each test refined not their cultivation, but their mindset. They were learning to think not as individual warriors, but as a cohesive, efficient unit. They were learning the Dao of Convenience.

But now, they are stuck. The white stone path had led them to a shimmering, opaque wall of emerald light, an impassable barrier that radiated an aura of profound, ancient authority. Master Xiu, their formation expert, had confirmed it wasn’t an array they could decipher. It was a seal. A lock that required a specific key.

"Any word from our dear Shopkeeper?" Chu Yueying asked, her voice laced with a hint of impatience as she leaned against a rock, polishing her crimson saber. "As much as I’m enjoying this scenic tour of an empty world, I’m starting to miss the chaos. I heard on the Bulletin Board that the barbarian chieftain is already on his way to clearing the second area of his Anchor. We’re falling behind on the leaderboard."

Yu Qingyan sighed, closing her Distributor Interface. Lin Mo’s status still showed him as ’Busy’. Of course, he was. The Divine Lecture was today. The entire realm’s attention was focused on his store. "He’s occupied, Yueying. We knew this. Besides, he told me that this was my fortuitous encounter. Yet, we’ve hit a wall we can’t bypass and all I can do is wait for his counsel."

"Are you actually waiting for his counsel, or are you just missing him? Didn’t you ask him to come?" Chu Yueying retorted with a smirk.

Yu Qingyan looked at her before lowering her gaze.

She couldn’t deny it. Chu Yueying was probably right and that only added to Yu Qingyan’s frustration.

This was her opportunity yet she was failing. She looked at her team. Their initial excitement remains since they’ve gotten the benefits from completing all those challenges.

In the end, the decision to retreat was her own choice, and they simply followed her.

But was that the right choice?

She clutched the Distributor Token in her hand. ’Shopkeeper, do you have time to come to my location?’ The message she had sent felt like a desperate plea now.

She knew he couldn’t just drop everything, but a part of her had hoped for a miracle, for him to appear with a clever solution and that infuriatingly confident smile of his.

And right at that moment, her Distributor Token vibrated. The waning light in her eyes lit up as she hurriedly opened it again to read his response.

Shopkeeper: "Miss Yu, I’m relieved to hear from you. Considering your message, I suppose you encountered a mishap in your expedition. I’ll make some time to visit your location after the Divine Lecture is over. For now, if you have nothing else to do, I encourage you to check out the lecture. Someone will possibly post a recording of this later."

A wave of relief so profound it almost made her knees buckle washed over Yu Qingyan. He had replied. And he was offering to come.

Next to her, Chu Yueying shook her head at seeing Yu Qingyan’s gloomy aura immediately dispelled with just one reply from Lin Mo.

’This woman is hopeless. Geez, am I going to lose? Should I also step up my game?’ She thought as she watched Yu Qingyan’s fingers fly across the interface.

She’s replying instantly while also detailing the progress of their expedition.

It took quite a while to finish but once she’s done, Yu Qingyan stood up and faced Chu Yueying, "He said he’ll come. For now, let’s wait for the Divine Lecture."

"Fine. Why don’t you try and consolidate your cultivation first? You’re ready to form your core, am I right? You have the Core Formation Pills prepared and the Core Compression Art memorized. I’ll stand guard." Chu Yueying suggested, her expression turning serious. "The Secret Realm is the perfect place for a breakthrough. The spiritual energy is pure, and there are no external disturbances. It would be a waste not to use it."

Yu Qingyan hesitated. Chu Yueying was right. She had been on the cusp of a breakthrough after being exposed to the ancient spiritual energy inside. Her Foundation had already become a solid, unshakeable platform. The only thing she lacked was the final spark of enlightenment and the perfect, safe environment.

This place offered the latter in abundance. But was now the right time?

"Don’t overthink it, Qingyan," Chu Yueying said, seemingly reading her mind. "The Shopkeeper is busy changing the world. The best way we can help him is by getting stronger ourselves. A Golden or even a Silver Core like me will be a significant leap. It’s a convenient power-up, don’t you think?"

That was the final push Yu Qingyan needed. The logic was inescapable. Chu Yueying had already taken the leap, and Jiang Jianxin before her. She couldn’t afford to fall behind, not if she wanted to continue being a valuable asset to the store and... to him.

"Alright," Yu Qingyan said, her voice firm with newfound resolve. "You’re right. I will make the attempt inside. Everyone!" She called out to her team who were all busy with their Viewing Jades, surfing the threads and videos posted, be it about the Divine Lecture, the new Anchor or the Flash Raid that had just concluded.

"Shopkeeper will be coming to join us but for now, you’re free to do whatever you think is best for you. I’m also going to attempt my breakthrough inside, Elder Chu will be standing guard for me. Be vigilant and don’t allow anyone to step inside the formation surrounding this place."

"As you command, Elder Yu!" Jian Lie, the rogue swordsman, declared cupping his fists in front of him, wishing her the best of luck. Little Spring, Mei Ling, and the rest of the team followed suit as they stared at her with profound respect and delight.