CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 323 REUNION! [SEEKING MONTHLY PASS!]

"This—"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

True Martial Ancestor naturally wanted to survive as well. Upon hearing this, a conflicted expression flashed across his face before he stopped insisting further.

Galaxy Ancestor was swift and decisive.

He knew True Martial Ancestor’s injuries couldn’t be delayed. After finalizing the plan, he set out together with True Martial Ancestor to purchase a portion of "Five Elements Extinguishing Powder" from Four Directions Sect.

Afterward, he had True Martial Ancestor stay in the cave abode to recuperate with pills.

Galaxy Ancestor, meanwhile, was busy traveling around, looking for buyers for the "Green Grain Sword" and two newly obtained Third-order Magical Treasures.

The Four Directions Sect squeezed the price too low.

The "Green Grain Sword," priced at 18 million Spirit Crystals, was only offered 15.5 million—a difference of a full 2.5 million Spirit Crystals.

The two Ancestors were broke to the bone; every single Spirit Crystal mattered, so they were naturally unwilling to sell at such a low price.

Thus, they purchased a portion of pills with the 2 million Spirit Crystals they had, and during this time also sought buyers elsewhere in hopes of negotiating a better price.

Only after exhausting all options did they reluctantly return to Four Directions Sect.

Day after day passed.

Galaxy Ancestor was a stranger in Magic Sound Mountain. Holding three Magical Treasures in his hands, he was pressed for time and couldn’t manage to find buyers.

In the end, he had no choice but to sell it at a loss to Four Directions Sect.

The "Green Grain Sword" fetched 15.5 million Spirit Crystals.

The other two much lower-tier Third-order Magical Treasures combined fetched only 1.68 million Spirit Crystals.

Thus.

Altogether, they managed to gather just 17.18 million Spirit Crystals.

Adding that to the 2 million Spirit Crystals they carried, they were still about 1 million Spirit Crystals short of the needed 20 million.

The two of them scoured everything they had.

They sold every piece of Spiritual Medicine, refining material, pill, talisman, and, ultimately, even the treasured Magical Treasures they had spent years refining back on Wuhe Star.

After painstaking efforts, they barely managed to scrape together a little over 1 million.

This was just enough to treat True Martial Ancestor’s injuries, but the remaining Spirit Crystals could only cover their shared rental of a single Class-D cave abode in Magic Sound Mountain for ten years at most.

Yet, the cave abode was cleverly designed to provide Spiritual Energy for cultivation to only one person.

True Martial Ancestor needed Spiritual Energy to heal, so Galaxy Ancestor could only stand by helplessly, unable to cultivate himself. With neither Spiritual Energy nor Spirit Crystals, he had no access to pills either.

A wretched state indeed.

But an even graver issue loomed—after ten years, when they would become too poor to afford accommodations at Magic Sound Mountain, they would be forced to leave.

By then, they would be penniless, bare-handed, and vulnerable—how would they fend off the Taiyin Sect?

This was another cruel question.

True Martial Ancestor focused on healing.

Galaxy Ancestor was restless day and night.

Time flew, and three years passed.

...

One day.

True Martial Ancestor was, as usual, inside the cave abode in secluded cultivation, meticulously refining the "Taiyin Six Absolute Divine Needles" within his Divine Soul.

Meanwhile, Galaxy Ancestor.

Unable to cultivate in the cave abode, idle boredom led him to wander around Magic Sound Mountain most of the time, broadening his horizons while looking for ways to earn money.

In terms of the former, he gleaned significant insights.

Yet the latter—he hadn’t stumbled upon a profitable pathway.

At dusk.

True Martial Ancestor finished channeling his techniques, his mind greatly fatigued, his face showing signs of exhaustion, and his body drenched in sweat.

Three years of enduring the inhumane torment of the "Taiyin Six Absolute Divine Needles," combined with watching Galaxy Ancestor’s daily busyness and the impending specter of the Taiyin Sect’s pursuit after ten years, weighed heavily on his heart.

True Martial Ancestor’s pressure was enormous.

"Ah!"

Standing up, True Martial Ancestor couldn’t help but sigh.

Back on Wuhe Star, upon advancing to Divinity Transformation, he radiated arrogance and determination. Upon entering the starry realm, his ambition soared equally high.

But, having experienced the desolation of the cosmos and braved countless dangers, his initial vitality had settled, and he came to understand that the starry realm was far less delightful than expected.

"Only managed to wrest two Third-order Magical Treasures from that cave abode."

"Worth a mere 1.68 million Spirit Crystals."

"Yet these injuries of mine cost a full 20 million."

True Martial Ancestor felt bitter.

Every time he thought about this, comparing the meager 1.68 million against the hefty 20 million, his heart throbbed painfully.

Trailing circles inside the cave abode, his mind replayed these thoughts. When he recalled Galaxy Ancestor, the feelings of guilt deepened.

The sun dipped westward.

As dusk fell.

True Martial Ancestor figured that Galaxy Ancestor would soon return, but it was then that commotion sounded from outside the cave abode.

Looking out, True Martial Ancestor was instantly delighted!

...

"True Martial Elder Brother!"

Chen Jichuan spotted the surprise written across True Martial Ancestor’s face and himself showed an expression of joy.

Since parting ways at Wuhe Star, three hundred and fifty-five years had elapsed.

Having just returned, he learned from the Magic Sound Mountain envoy that his letters had reached their mark and both Ancestors had arrived.

Without pausing for rest, he headed straight to their cave abode.

After three centuries.

At last, they were reunited.

Back then, when the Galaxy Sword Sect and True Martial Immortal Sect merged into one, Chen Jichuan transitioned from calling True Martial Ancestor "Fellow Daoist" to "Senior Brother."

Galaxy Ancestor ranked oldest.

True Martial Ancestor was second.

Chen Jichuan was last.

In the vast, bleak, and perilous starry realm, encountering an old acquaintance—and more importantly, a brother from the same sect—stirred heartfelt emotions in both.

"After the two of you left, one hundred and twelve years later, Xiao Lan and Huang Quan advanced to Divinity Transformation, and I likewise departed."

"Relying on the Universe Spirit Shuttle left by the Nine Peak Ancestor, I spent fifty-seven years reaching Magic Sound Mountain."

"Then remained at Magic Sound Mountain for sixty-six years without seeing either of you."

Chen Jichuan sat with True Martial Ancestor, recounting the situation on Wuhe Star after their departure and his journey into the starry realm, arriving at Magic Sound Mountain.

He shared a rough summary.

Then turned to True Martial Ancestor and asked, "By my calculations, with the two of you traveling swiftly, you should have arrived at Magic Sound Mountain within two hundred years. Was there trouble with the Star Map or danger along the way?"

True Martial Ancestor’s injuries couldn’t escape Chen Jichuan’s scrutiny; knowing their delay had likely resulted from hardship, he asked directly.

Upon hearing Chen Jichuan’s question.

True Martial Ancestor sighed and smiled bitterly, saying, "You’ve guessed correctly. This journey—"

He shook his head and began recounting their arduous trek.

It turned out.

The two Ancestors left Wuhe Star, fearful of losing their way in the starry realm. Thus, they adhered closely to the Star Map hand-drawn by Chen Jichuan, traveling swiftly toward Magic Sound Mountain.

After one hundred and eighty years, approximately four light-years from Magic Sound Mountain, they were fortunate enough to encounter a cave abode moving rapidly through the cosmos.

The two Ancestors noticed the cave abode was blood-stained and ownerless.

This aroused their intent.

"My Senior Brother and I spent twenty years breaking down the layered arrays within and around the cave abode."

"But unexpectedly."

"Just as we entered the cave abode, two other Divinity Transformation cultivators showed up. Their capabilities were average but they could control the cave abode. My Senior Brother’s ’Green Grain Sword’ was sharp, injuring them severely and forcing them to rely on the cave abode for protection."

"However, those two claimed to belong to the ’Taiyin Sect’ and launched a covert assault. I was struck by the ’Taiyin Six Absolute Divine Needles,’ and my Senior Brother, concerned for me, refrained from prolonged conflict. Thus, we only took two treasures from the cave abode before departing."

"Later, the Taiyin Sect somehow tracked us down."

"My Senior Brother and I fled desperately."

"Amid the panic, we nearly became lost. Twists and turns, peril and struggle, coupled with my injuries from the ’Taiyin Six Absolute Divine Needles,’ transformed what should have been a twenty-year journey into over a hundred grueling years before finally reaching here."

True Martial Ancestor recounted their ordeal, still shaken and filled with hatred at even the mention of the Taiyin Sect.

"Taiyin Sect."

"They hail from ’Changyun Star,’ a minor sect with six Divinity Transformation cultivators."

"They’re infamous for shady tactics, imprinting arrays onto one cave abode after another, scattering them across the cosmos as ’bait’ specifically designed to lure low-level Divinity Transformation cultivators."

Having spent over six decades at Magic Sound Mountain, Chen Jichuan, leveraging his skill in alchemy, had forged wide connections and expanded his knowledge. He had indeed heard of various forces operating in Magic Sound Mountain, including the Taiyin Sect.

More than this.

He had even encountered Taiyin Sect Leader "Hee Lengchan" once during a minor trading event.

A seemingly affable middle-aged man whose cultivation had reached the tenth level of the Heavenly Human Realm.

Through their "baiting" methods, he had amassed substantial wealth. Paired with his numerous tricks and excellent escape techniques, most in the Heavenly Human Realm chose not to provoke him.

It turned out they had extended their claws to Galaxy and True Martial.

"As expected!"

"My Senior Brother and I always found it suspicious and suspected a trap. Now it appears the truth is confirmed!"

True Martial Ancestor gnashed his teeth with hatred.

"Taiyin Sect."

Chen Jichuan’s expression darkened as well.

Sects like Taiyin, preying upon cultivators in the starry realm through various methods, were innumerable in the endless expanse.

Most were extremely troublesome.

But Chen Jichuan had plenty of methods to deal with them.

If trouble came knocking, he would not consider letting it slide.

For now, however, this wasn’t the focus he meant to share with True Martial. Turning his gaze, Chen Jichuan frowned, saying, "Senior Brother’s injuries have been dragged on for far too long. While the ’Five Elements Extinguishing Powder’ does have miraculous effects for refining the ’Taiyin Six Absolute Divine Needles,’ its toxicity damages your health with each dose consumed. Continuing its usage is inappropriate."

Chen Jichuan discerned True Martial Ancestor’s condition, recognizing the lingering effects of the ’Taiyin Six Absolute Divine Needles’—as well as reliance on "Five Elements Extinguishing Powder" for treatment.

But there were many ways to resolve the "Taiyin Six Absolute Divine Needles"; the "Five Elements Extinguishing Powder" was by far the worst option.

"Junior Brother—"

True Martial Ancestor smiled bitterly, helplessly saying, "I too know the damage inflicted by the ’Five Elements Extinguishing Powder.’ But compared to my life, it can’t be helped. Moreover, the cost of these pills has already exhausted everything. Even the ’Green Grain Sword’ you gifted me was sold at a loss to the Four Directions Sect. Had you delayed returning by seven years, Senior Brother Galaxy and I wouldn’t even be able to afford this cave abode and would have been forced away from Magic Sound Mountain."

As an elder brother.

His dismal plight, compounded by having dragged Galaxy Ancestor into exhaustion, left True Martial Ancestor deeply ashamed when speaking before Chen Jichuan.

"In the starry realm, opportunities and perils coexist."

"Ups and downs are commonplace; Senior Brother need not dwell on it."

Chen Jichuan sensed True Martial Ancestor’s feelings and firmly replied, "On this recent trip, I was fortunate enough to secure some gains. Senior Brother’s injuries can be entrusted to me—I will ensure no lingering damage remains."

"Since Junior Brother has returned, I can’t avoid troubling you."

"But my injuries, as long as I can preserve my life, are satisfaction enough. There’s no need for you to overextend yourself. Instead, when Senior Brother Galaxy comes back, let’s focus on devising plans to address the Taiyin Sect—that is what matters most."

True Martial Ancestor knew his own condition.

These injuries had already cost a full twenty million Spirit Crystals relying only on the substandard "Five Elements Extinguishing Powder." According to Chen Jichuan’s approach, it would likely take thirty million or more.

He feared Chen Jichuan would over-commit at present but regret it later. Such hesitation, in turn, would only add to embarrassment.

"The Taiyin Sect must be dealt with."

"But Senior Brother’s injuries cannot be shirked."

Chen Jichuan had always been honest and sincere.

Having the means to heal True Martial Ancestor’s injuries, he had no intention of standing idly by.

Without further conversation.

He hurriedly left the cave abode.

Upon his return.

Inside the cave abode, both True Martial Ancestor and Galaxy Ancestor were present.

...