CHAPTER 20: LEVEL 1 SPIRIT ITEM: YELLOW BLOSSOM FRUIT

Qi Yuan put the matter of the Black Mountain Sect to the back of his mind. He led his knife along and continued to stroll.

Along the way, whispers drifted to his ears, each one condemning the Black Mountain Sect.

"The Black Mountain Sect is truly vile!"

"How dare they injure Senior Brother Zheng! Do they think nothing of our Divine Radiance Sect?"

"Hmph, all because of their Sect Master's powerful godfather!"

"Yet they dare to plan for the Foundation Establishment Event only half a month from now! The sheer audacity!"

"What? The Black Mountain Sect too?!"

"I heard the chief disciples of several peaks are still in council over yesterday's incident... but that one is still walking his knife...?"

"Ssh! He hasn't even reached the Foundation Establishment realm. What use is there for him to be in those discussions?"

"He probably can't even defeat Chu Tianxiong."

"Don't say that. Senior Brother isn't forming his foundation because he can't. He simply doesn't want to. Do you honestly believe he means to stay stuck at the peak of Qi Refinement realm forever?"

Despite hearing everything, Qi Yuan's face betrayed not the slightest reaction.

***

In the Moonwatch Continent...

Jin Li's face lit up with joy. "Aunt Qin, have your injuries healed?!"

Aunt Qin nodded. "Thanks to Your Majesty's gift of Emperor Medicine, my feeble body has recovered at last! My strength has also climbed another step!"

A burden was alleviated from Jin Li's heart. "That's good."

Aunt Qin had watched over her ever since her parents passed away. As such, Jin Li relied on her greatly. However, another concern rose in her mind.

"Aunt Qin, the duel against the Southern Feng Empire's state preceptor is in six days. Do you have the confidence to win?"

That duel would decide the fate of Jin Li and her followers. If they lost, Sima Ting'd surely seize the chance to strike, and Jin Li would be too powerless to resist. Meanwhile, forcing resistance would only drag her loyal followers into an early grave.

A shadow clouded Aunt Qin's expression. "Yesterday, the Crown Prince of the Southern Feng Empire visited Sima Ting. Sima Ting bestowed upon him a great elixir—the Blood-Sealing Pill of Primal Unity."

"What?!" Jin Li gritted her teeth so hard they almost bled. "Sima Ting's schemes are plain as day!"

The state preceptor was already a powerhouse at the late King realm. His cultivation art was the Dragon-Elephant Infernal Sutra—his strength grew more terrifying the stronger his blood and vitality became. At its peak, he could command the power of a hundred dragons and elephants.

Before this, Aunt Qin—empowered by the Nine-Petal Qiluo—had been a shade stronger than the state preceptor. However, with Sima Ting's supreme vitality elixir, the balance had shifted. The state preceptor's strength would soar from the late King realm to its peak, perhaps even brushing against the Emperor realm.

As things stood, Aunt Qin was no match for him—and it was all because of Sima Ting!

Hua Xian fumed. "Is Sima Ting not afraid of drawing the ire of all under heaven?"

The man didn't even try to hide his ambitions anymore.

Jin Li frowned, drawing out the remainder of her Emperor Medicines. "Aunt Qin, if you take these, could it raise your strength in time?"

Aunt Qin's eyes widened in shock. She had no idea where Jin Li had obtained so many precious Emperor Medicines.

"If I consumed them, I could break through to the Emperor realm in three years. That's too long..." Her voice was thick with regret.

Jin Li furrowed her brow even more, her mind racing for a solution.

Should I hire an Emperor realm powerhouse with the Emperor Medicine? That's just impossible. Seek some ferocious short-term stimulant? Unfeasible.

She had hit a roadblock.

Briefly, she recalled Qi Yuan's words about subduing a few demons in the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone to aid her. However, subduing forbidden zone demons was no simple matter. It was idle talk and nothing more.

Where could she find a method to quickly raise Aunt Qin's strength?

Unable to think of one, she turned to Aunt Qin. "Aunt Qin, for now, conceal the fact that your injuries have healed. Don't let Sima Ting learn of it. I will find a way to raise your strength."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

***

Qi Yuan respectfully stood at the center of the vast and empty great hall. "Greetings, Sect Master."

The Divine Radiance Sect's sect master, Lord Withered Tree, glanced at him with a hint of mockery. "So, you still acknowledge me as your sect master?"

Months ago, Qi Yuan had accused him of being a spy from the Demonic Desire Sect out of nowhere. His heart had nearly leapt from his chest. He thought his cover was blown, and that the Seven-Colored Peak Master had joined hands with the other peak masters to apprehend him.

However, it turned out to be a false alarm. Qi Yuan had been spouting nonsense.

Nevertheless, his ties to the Demonic Desire Sect were indeed deep. He'd been planted in the Divine Radiance Sect by one of the Demonic Desire Sect's elders. From a labor disciple, to outer disciple, to core disciple—he had taken each step in fear.

He'd frequently contact that elder, but the response would always be "wait a little longer."

Day after day. Year after year. Until at last, he was a trembling undercover agent no more, but a sect master.

When that elder saw him again, Lord Withered Tree had donned a new face entirely.

"A demonic cultivator dares sow discord between me and the Divine Radiance Sect?"

Hearing that, the Demonic Desire elder, who was already at death's door, keeled over on the spot.

Qi Yuan lazily regarded Lord Withered Tree. "You've done nothing to harm the Divine Radiance Sect. Why wouldn't I call you Sect Master?"

Lord Withered Tree stared at him with a turmoil of emotions. Does this Seven-Colored Peak disciple know my secret after all? Or is it all coincidence and bluff?

Then, he cut to the chase. "Qi Yuan, I have a task for you."

The chief disciple's demeanor grew serious.

"Half a month from now is the Foundation Establishment Event." A sharp gleam flashed in Lord Withered Tree's eyes. "This time, it is hosted by our Divine Radiance Sect. The Great Shang Kingdom, the Floating Mountain Sect, Demonic Desire Sect, and others will all send disciples to compete for the level 1 spirit item: the Yellow Blossom Fruit."

A level 1 was the best among the three high-grades, making it incredibly rare in the Great Shang Kingdom. Apparently, not even the most elusive elites of Great Shang—those who had built their foundations with high-grade spirit items—had ever used a level 1 item.

Qi Yuan froze. "Why don't the senior brothers and sisters contend for it?"

Lord Withered Tree sighed. "We didn't expect the secret realm to only form a few spirit items this time, among which is the Yellow Blossom Fruit."

Had he known, he'd never have let the other chief disciples form their foundations early. Now, only Qi Yuan remained at the Qi Refinement realm. Coincidence, or perhaps, the Seven-Colored Peak Master's deliberate arrangement—leaving the finest spirit item for her disciple.

"This time, you will lead our sect to the Foundation Establishment Event. Qi Yuan, I hope you will win glory for our sect and seize the Yellow Blossom Fruit!"

Qi Yuan's expression was helpless. "Can I not take part?"

"No!" Lord Withered Tree cut him off. Then, remembering Qi Yuan's nature, he said, "You only need to fight once, at the very end. It won't take more than an hour."

Qi Yuan finally nodded.

"Fine." He bowed. "Sect Master, I'll take my leave."

Watching him go, Lord Withered Tree could only smile bitterly. Was placing their hopes on Qi Yuan really the right choice? Regardless, if the Yellow Blossom Fruit fell into the hands of another sect and birthed a powerhouse akin to the Black Rooster Demon, the consequences would be dire.

While the sect master was in contemplation, Qi Yuan suddenly paused mid-step. "Sect Master, I'm curious about something. Is the Great Shang Empress beautiful?"