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Outside Pot Valley, immense pressure roiled, and the skies seemed to shift.

The Wuji Holy Sect and the Yellow Springs Netherworld, two behemoths that had dominated the Northwest Cultivation Realm for years, were now at daggers drawn.

From the ranks of the Yellow Springs Netherworld, a Foundation Establishment Master, his features obscured by the dense Ghost Qi roiling around him, stepped forward. His voice, like Nine Nether Ice and filled with suppressed fury, echoed through the valley:

"Wuji Holy Sect!

You launched an unprovoked sneak attack on the Yin Ruins Shiyi Realm under my Yellow Springs Netherworld’s jurisdiction, imprisoned my Disciples, and sealed our gateway. What is the meaning of this? 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Do you truly wish to provoke a war between our two Sects and turn the entire Northwest Land upside down?!

This is a Secret Realm of my Yellow Springs Netherworld! Withdraw at once, or else..."

Before he could finish, a Master from the Holy Sect’s side—a man of ethereal bearing, holding a Duster—let out a soft chuckle. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly cut through the other’s furious shout, tinged with a hint of mockery:

"Oh? A Secret Realm belonging to your Yellow Springs Netherworld?

This humble Daoist is curious. If it truly is your esteemed Sect’s Secret Realm, why wasn’t it established within your Netherworld Ghost Mansion? Why, instead, is it out here in the middle of nowhere, in unclaimed territory?

Could it be that anything your Yellow Springs Netherworld fancies, even if it’s at the ends of the earth, becomes your private property simply by carving your name on it?

Such logic is something my Holy Sect has never heard of, I’m afraid.

I imagine if you tried to argue this in front of the entire Cultivation Realm, it would be met with universal laughter."

His words were spoken at a leisurely pace, yet each one was like a dagger to the heart, striking directly at the Yellow Springs Netherworld’s weak spot!

They had only recently discovered this Yin Ruins Shiyi Realm by chance and had not yet managed to fully control or relocate it.

Its geographical location was indeed not within the core of their traditional sphere of influence.

The Holy Sect Master’s words immediately choked the group of Masters from the Yellow Springs Netherworld, causing their auras to falter and their expressions to turn ugly, yet they could not directly refute him.

After all, according to the unspoken rules of the Cultivation Realm, an unclaimed Secret Realm belongs to whoever discovers it first and has the ability to occupy it.

They had discovered it, yes, but before they could "fully occupy" it, the Holy Sect had stuck its foot in the door.

If they continued to act belligerently, they would only be proving the saying that "anything they fancy becomes their property."

At that point, the Yellow Springs Netherworld would find itself standing against the entire Northwest Cultivation Realm.

The Masters of the Yellow Springs Netherworld were so aggrieved they could have spat blood!

’Isn’t this the fucking pot calling the kettle black?!’

’It was clearly your Wuji Holy Sect that acted without honor, sending people for a sneak attack.’

’This is obviously retaliation for what happened at the Peach Garden Secret Realm.’

’But... but that time with the Peach Garden, it was clearly your Holy Sect that set a trap to lure us in, causing us to suffer devastating losses.’

’And you motherfuckers still have the gall to come looking for revenge?!’

’Is there no justice in this world?!’

However, these aggrieved words could only be roared internally; they could never be said out loud.

In the games played by the Demon Dao, victory often went to the more shameless and ruthless party.

Reason only existed within the range of a Flying Sword and Magic.

And so, both sides stuck to their guns, their war of words escalating, neither willing to yield an inch.

The immense pressures of the Foundation Establishment Masters clashed and compressed in the air, throwing the Primordial Qi above Pot Valley into disarray and causing thunder to rumble faintly.

The situation grew increasingly intense, looking as though a full-blown war could erupt at the slightest disagreement.

An earth-shattering event like this could not possibly escape the notice of the other powers in the Northwest Cultivation Realm.

For a time, nearly every faction, from the Major Sects down to the Cultivation Families, turned their attention toward Pot Valley.

All manner of probing Divine Senses and faint Escape Lights flickered in and out of existence in the surrounding area.

Everyone loves a good spectacle, especially when it involves two behemoths they couldn’t possibly afford to offend going at each other’s throats.

Many factions were also secretly calculating whether they could find an opportunity to fish in troubled waters during this clash of titans.

However, just as the storm was gathering and all the factions were holding their breath, ready to act at a moment’s notice...

...the Inner Mansion True Cultivators of the Wuji Holy Sect, scattered far from the main battlefield at Pot Valley, seemed unusually "calm."

Or rather... busy.

Not a single one of them was getting close to the main battlefield at Pot Valley, which was clearly a meat grinder.

Instead, they were taking advantage of the "golden opportunity" created by their own ten Masters, who had the full attention of the Yellow Springs Netherworld’s main forces and leadership pinned down at Pot Valley.

Like wild horses let off the leash, they were frantically raiding and plundering the Yellow Springs Netherworld’s Marketplaces, resource points, and peripheral strongholds scattered across the Northwest.

The Holy Sect’s True Cultivators who had descended from the mountain this time were ruthless and swift, and the Holy Sect had also specifically dispatched numerous Qi Refining Cultivators from the Holy Sect’s Outer Mansion to support them.

In an instant, signal fires of war rose all across the Yellow Springs Netherworld’s rear territories.

Calls for aid flew toward Pot Valley like snowflakes in a blizzard, making the Yellow Springs Netherworld’s leadership at the front fly into a rage, yet they were unable to be everywhere at once.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t considered sending Foundation Establishment Masters back to suppress the raids.

But the Holy Sect’s earlier "all thunder, no rain" solemn protest was now having an unexpected effect.

The Yellow Springs Netherworld had previously joined forces with several other Major Sects to openly hunt down a lone Qi Refining Disciple from the Holy Sect. That was arguably acceptable; in the Demon Dao, there’s little talk of fairness.

But to openly dispatch a Foundation Establishment Master to deal with the Holy Sect’s Qi Refining Disciples? That would truly be breaking the rules.

The Demon Dao may be cruel and believe in the law of the jungle, but certain bottom lines still existed.

If Foundation Establishment Cultivators were allowed to wantonly attack Qi Refining Disciples...

...the entire order of the Northwest Cultivation Realm would completely collapse.

Everyone would live in fear, and Low Tier Disciples would have no room to survive.

In the long run, would there even be a Northwest Cultivation Realm left to play in?

Sooner or later, their home turf would be overturned by those Righteous Dao bastards from the south and the Dynasty Imperial Court.

The leadership of the Yellow Springs Netherworld understood this principle, as did the other Sects that were watching from the sidelines.

Therefore, even though their rear was being harassed to the point of desperation, the Yellow Springs Netherworld could only grit its teeth and send out more Qi Refining Disciples to intercept the raiders, unable to easily deploy their Foundation Establishment Masters.

A tense standoff at Pot Valley, with daggers drawn on the front line;

a rear battlefield where the Holy Sect’s True Cultivators fished in the troubled waters, reaping enormous benefits.

This storm, personally stirred up by the Holy Sect, had become a veritable carnival for its Disciples.

...

"Zhang? So this is where you’re hiding."

On the edge of a secluded mountain forest, a man with long, flowing hair and a shrewd look on his face strolled over to Qi Yun, who was sitting cross-legged under a mossy rock face.

He was holding a dark-colored leather Scroll, which he waggled slightly.

"I’ve got a lead on that thing you asked me to look into."

Hearing the voice, Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes—which he had disguised to look somewhat murky—and glanced at the man before him.

The man’s name was Ning Feng, and he was rather well-known among the Holy Sect’s Inner Mansion True Cultivators.

He wasn’t known for his combat prowess, but for his extensive network and his talent for trafficking in information and resources.

A well-connected "Businessman," you could say.

He had barely participated in any fighting since descending the mountain on this trip, yet through his silver tongue and his buy-and-sell schemes, he had made a fortune.

"Oh? That was fast. You live up to your reputation as a big-time Businessman. Your connections really are extensive."

Qi Yun chuckled in his slightly hoarse voice and casually reached for the Scroll in Ning Feng’s hand.

But Ning Feng’s wrist flicked back deftly, dodging Qi Yun’s hand. He wore the signature smile of a Businessman—warm on the surface, but yielding nothing:

"You can have the information, but don’t forget our agreement.

Three thousand Thousand Crane Talismans, not one less.

Friendship is friendship, but business is business. This little brother needs to see some sincerity first."

"I know, I know. Do you not trust the character of Zhang Mazi?" The pockmarks on Qi Yun’s face seemed to bunch together as he cracked a smile that appeared honest but was impossible to read.

"Here are five hundred. I’m out of materials for Talisman Making. Once I’m back at the Sect, I’ll make up the rest as soon as I can."

With that, he took out a thick stack of exquisitely crafted Thousand Crane Talismans from his Storage Magic Bracelet and handed them over.

Ning Feng took the Talismans. A quick sweep of his Divine Sense confirmed the quantity and quality were correct, but a hint of hesitation still crossed his face.

His gaze swept over Qi Yun’s worn-out Daoist Robe and the Soul Refining Banner beside him, as if he were weighing something:

"Only five hundred... Senior Brother Zhang, you... How about you leave something else with me as collateral?

Just to put your little brother’s mind at ease, you know?"

He was clearly afraid Qi Yun would default on the debt and wanted more collateral.

"Forget it then. I’ll find someone else to ask." Qi Yun didn’t indulge him for a second. His expression darkened, the good-natured look vanishing in an instant as he reached to take back the five hundred Thousand Crane Talismans.

The movement was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"Alright, alright, alright!" Seeing this, Ning Feng quickly stuffed the Talismans into his robes, a smile plastered on his face.

"It’s our first time doing business, and we’re fellow Sect brothers. I’ll trust you this once.

Senior Brother Zhang, you can’t screw me over. If you default, I’ll report you to the Sect’s Steward."

He spoke threatening words, but in his heart, he knew that this Thousand Crane Talisman was highly effective and extremely useful for reconnaissance and setting up patrols. He would have no trouble selling them.

The value of three thousand of them far exceeded the cost of digging up this information.

For such a profitable deal, it was worth taking a small risk.

With that, he handed the leather Scroll to Qi Yun.

Qi Yun accepted the Scroll but noticed that Ning Feng was still standing there with no intention of leaving, just looking at him curiously.

"What? Is there something else? Or do you... want to take a tour of my banner?" Qi Yun’s brow furrowed as he reached for the Soul Refining Banner leaning beside him.

Black energy swirled faintly across the banner’s surface, emitting a sinister, cold aura that seemed to want to snatch away one’s very soul.

Ning Feng’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly waved his hands.

"No need, no need! You’re busy, Senior Brother Zhang, you’re busy!"

He let out a dry laugh and, as if afraid of being tainted by that unlucky Soul Banner, turned and strode quickly away.

His flowing hair whipped in the mountain wind as he quickly disappeared among the trees.

After confirming that Ning Feng was long gone, Qi Yun finally turned his attention back to the leather Scroll in his hand.

Some time ago, seeing the friction between the Holy Sect and the Yellow Springs Netherworld intensifying and the situation growing more chaotic, he had decided to get rid of the hot potato in his hands as soon as possible—the Golden Ring of the Seven Kills Sect.

Constantly being on the radar of an assassin organization was not a long-term solution.

To this end, he had even used the art of the Blood-Drawn Profound Mechanism to perform a divination, wanting to see if the matter would bring fortune or misfortune.

Unexpectedly, the result of the divination was the "Greatly Favorable" hexagram.

It showed that although the matter would have its twists and turns, the final outcome would likely be beneficial to him—greatly beneficial, in fact.

This result was quite a surprise, and it strengthened his resolve to get to the bottom of the matter as quickly as possible.

Thus, he had sought out the well-connected Ning Feng and paid a price to have him investigate the specifics of that ancient Sword Cultivator’s legacy ground.

In any case, he was currently wearing the "Zhang Mazi" persona.

His aura and methods were completely different, so he wasn’t afraid of exposing his original identity and attracting unnecessary trouble.

Taking a deep breath, Qi Yun slowly unfurled the leather Scroll in his hand. He immersed his Divine Sense within it and began to read the detailed information Ning Feng had gathered about the mysterious legacy ground.

And as the contents flowed into his mind’s eye, a look of surprised delight gradually appeared on his face.

...