CHAPTER 54: YOUR SECT OR YOUR DAUGHTER?

***

Several months later.

Mu Ying Sect.

News about the Mu Ying Sect searching for many pill ingredients spread not only throughout Zhoguang City, but also throughout the southern region of the Ming Zhao Kingdom.

Not only did the city residents know about this, but all the other sects did the same, including the Gu Yang Sect.

The head of the Gu Yang Sect, Yan Zan, was very curious as to why Ying Ying had ordered so many of her disciples to go in search of five specific materials. Yan Zan held an urgent meeting to discuss the Mu Ying Sect’s actions.

"I suspect that they are looking for pill ingredients for their sect leader’s poison," said another elder.

"I think the same. Especially since all the materials they’re looking for are level five and six. It’s impossible for them to make low-level pills if they sent so many disciples," replied another elder.

Yan Zan, a man with white hair tied back and wearing a black and gold robe, turned to look at a female elder. Among all the elders of the Gu Yang Sect, only that female elder had the ability to refine high-level pills.

She was a level 4 alchemist and the highest-ranked alchemist in the sect. Her name was Mei Ji.

"What do you think, Elder Mei?" asked Yan.

Mei Ji stepped forward, stood on the carpet, and faced Sect Leader Yan Zan. She clasped her hands together and bowed to him before answering his question.

"After observing the materials used and their correlation with the poison in Ying Ying’s body, it is possible that they are making a level 7 pill," replied Mei Ji, surprising Yan Zan.

"A level 7 pill?"

"That’s right," explained Mei Ji, nodding while keeping her attention focused ahead, "She is making a Heavenly Pearl Purity Pill."

"What is that?" asked Yan Zan.

"According to ancient records, that pill is used to detoxify toxins in a cultivator’s body. Its detoxification limit is Soul Ascension," Mei Ji replied.

"So, as long as the person who poisoned Ying Ying wasn’t at the Soul Ascension stage when it happened, that pill can eliminate the poison. Am I right?" Yan Zan asked. Mei Ji fell silent.

With a heavy heart, Mei Ji nodded in agreement with Yan Zan’s statement. According to his guess, Ying Ying’s poison would be easily destroyed by the pill because the ancestors of the Gu Yang Sect were still at the Soul Formation stage.

Yan Zan was extremely angry. He slammed his throne while clicking his tongue, turning his head to the right and left.

"Damn you, Ying Hao! How could he have a high-level alchemist?" Yan Zan asked.

He stared straight ahead, looking at the five elders of his sect carefully. If they wanted to foil the Mu Ying Sect’s plan, then the only thing they could do was prevent the pill ingredients from being sold to Ying Ying.

"Spread the order! All disciples above the Foundation Establishment must go on an urgent mission. Prevent the Mu Ying Sect from obtaining the material!" Yan Zan said firmly.

"Buy it from the auction at a high price! If they get it, kill them!" Yan Zan added.

"Yes!" all the elders said firmly, understanding the situation.

The five sect elders flew away from the main building to convey the mission from Sect Leader Yan Zan. The man was still seated on his throne, feeling annoyed that the Mu Ying Sect had found the best way to get rid of the poison.

"Ying Hao! Who is your most reliable cultivator?

Elsewhere, Li Xun looked up at the sky and clearly saw many practitioners from the sect leaving. They flew with magic swords, all with one goal: to obtain the materials for the pill belonging to Sect Leader Ying Ying.

"They are truly relentless in their pursuit of the pill ingredients," replied Li Xun.

"We’ve been here for several months now. Is the Azure Pillar Sect okay?" asked Li Xun, turning to look at Li Shen.

"They’ll be fine. No cultivator below the Immortal Ascension stage can break through the sect’s defenses," revealed Li Shen.

"I’m just curious about the results of the Huang Valley Trials, especially whether Xiao Bai and Hao Ziyue managed to become champions," explained Li Shen.

Li Xun fell silent, then nodded in agreement. She was also quite curious about the progress of the children of the Li Family, especially since there would soon be new sect disciple selections in every practitioner family.

However, the woman was fully aware that she and Li Shen were trapped in another kingdom far from the Qing Yan Kingdom. This made it impossible for Li Xun and Li Shen to return home quickly.

"What will we do if the pill is successfully made? What will you ask of them?" asked Li Xun.

"There’s nothing good to ask of them. I don’t need anything from them except one thing," replied Li Shen.

"What is it?"

"Half of the fragment of this mountain’s Spiritual Energy Essence," Li Shen answered.

"Wait? What’s the fragment for?" Li Xun asked.

"This mountain used to be an active volcano. I can see the shape of the crater and the black soil in it. It’s certain that this mountain is inactive because they extracted its spiritual energy into essence," Li Shen replied.

"That essence is extremely pure, abundant, and powerful. However, it has a harsh backlash effect. I will try to purify it with other essences to control its energy, then I will bestow it upon Xiao Bai," revealed Li Shen.

"With that, he can ascend to the Nascent Soul realm much faster, in less than 150 years."

Li Xun was stunned. Yesterday, she witnessed the moment when her father opened the Hall of Void. That was shocking enough. Now, he planned to extract Spiritual Energy Essence from this mountain for one of his disciples to use.

"His ambition is quite shocking, terrifying, and also makes me curious. What exactly is the reason Father descended from the Immortal Palace to the Mortal World?" asked Li Xun.

As the two were talking, Li Shen’s attention was diverted to the side. There, he saw Ying Hao arriving with Ying Ying.

Their arrival certainly had its own reason, related to the materials needed to make the pill.

"Master Li," Ying Hao greeted, Li Shen nodded flatly.

"What is it?" Li Shen asked.

Ying Hao patted his magic pouch and took out three materials inside a wooden box. The black-bearded man handed them directly to Li Shen, who opened the box.

The three materials were Starleaf Flower, Heavenly Spirit Grass, and Life Essence Dew. They had obtained the three materials thanks to their success in auctions in several cities. However, Ying Hao said that he still needed the last two materials: Earthpulse Stone and Scarlet Soul Vine.

"Where are the remaining two materials?" asked Li Shen.

"About that... The Gu Yang Sect managed to get them," explained Ying Ying.

Li Shen narrowed his eyes. He did not accept the three materials, but instead returned them to Ying Hao. Li Shen explained that he would accept all the materials when they were complete.

"If you knew they took those materials, shouldn’t you have taken them back?" asked Li Shen.

"Our sect doesn’t have any cultivators at the Soul Formation stage. Challenging those with ancestors would be bad for us," replied Ying Hao.

"So, you care more about the existence of your sect than the life of your own daughter?" asked Li Shen, stepping past Ying Hao.

"No, it’s not like that. I—"

"I understand," interrupted Li Shen.

"But I’m only helping you with refining the pills, I won’t accept your begging me to take those two materials from them."

"You have to do it yourself even if it threatens your life."