"I only tell you this so you understand the full picture," the Cangxuan Old Ancestor said. "Since you are secretly protecting Fuyao and Ye Chen, you are a friend of the Grand Dao Sect."
Lu Xuan felt a twitch in his cheek.
Man, I guess I still have a lot of leveling up to do, he thought. The Grand Dao Sect is this powerful, yet they're so low-profile. The Southern Wilds must have some serious hidden enemies, otherwise, they'd have conquered the world already!
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor narrowed his eyes, studying Lu Xuan. "Fellow Daoist, if you have any requests, please state them."
Lu Xuan pondered. "Anything at all?"
The Old Ancestor nodded. "Anything."
Lu Xuan pulled out his identity token, his face completely serious. "Old Ancestor, transfer one billion Contribution Points to this token."
Hiss! The Cangxuan Old Ancestor inhaled sharply, a sound like a spiritual beast drawing breath. Preposterous! He stared intensely at Lu Xuan, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. Has the true magnate already left this body? No one but Lu Xuan could be so utterly shameless!
After a moment of silence, Lu Xuan added, "Don't worry, Old Ancestor. These points are just for exchanging treasures and cultivation techniques for Ye Chen and Fuyao."
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor considered this. "How about this: thirty million Contribution Points? Is that acceptable?"
Lu Xuan countered, "One hundred million."
The Old Ancestor's face twitched. "Forty million?"
Lu Xuan held firm. "Eighty million."
Finally, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor slammed his hand down, settling the matter. "Fifty million Contribution Points. Not a single point more! Any higher, and the Grand Dao Sect will face Contribution Points inflation!"
Lu Xuan extended his right hand. "Deal."
Beside them, Ji Fuyao was utterly dumbfounded. As expected of Master! She thought, He so easily tricked... ah, no, won fifty million Contribution Points!
A moment later, Lu Xuan reassured the Old Ancestor, "Rest assured, Old Ancestor. With me on Azure Mystery Peak, there won't be any problems."
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor nodded, highly satisfied with their secret meeting.
He suddenly remembered Ji Fuyao's condition and looked at Lu Xuan. "Oh, right. Fuyao suffered a soul-scorch injury. Her condition..."
Before he could finish, Lu Xuan waved a hand and smiled. "Don't worry. I dabble a bit in the Path of Medicine. Fuyao's injury was a minor issue; I've already handled it."
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor nodded, sending a wisp of divine sense to briefly check Ji Fuyao. He was slightly astonished. "A soul-scorch injury is extremely tricky. I never expected it to recover so quickly in your hands. It seems I worried for nothing."
Ji Fuyao's face flushed slightly as she recalled the intimate scene of Lu Xuan treating her. Her delicate body trembled, and she subtly touched the fiery red phoenix robe she was wearing.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled. "Fellow Daoist, I won't disturb you further! Farewell!"
Lu Xuan replied with a straight face, "See ya."
In short order, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor shattered the seals and restrictions on the cave dwelling and soared into the sky. Watching his retreating figure, Lu Xuan's lips curled into a slight smile.
Ji Fuyao smiled softly. "Master... that was brilliant."
Lu Xuan chuckled. "Now I can go to the Grand Dao Hall and exchange more treasures and techniques for you and Ye Chen."
Ji Fuyao bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, Master."
Soon after, Ji Fuyao left Lu Xuan's cave dwelling and returned to her cultivation. Lu Xuan, meanwhile, lay down on his Profound Ice Bed to rest.
Ding! Host's eldest disciple, Ji Fuyao, is cultivating! Beginning cultivation synchronization!
Ding! Host's second disciple, Ye Chen, is cultivating! Beginning cultivation synchronization!
As the voice faded, two streams of pure spiritual energy surged into his body, continuously pouring into his Dantian.
Lu Xuan murmured, "Why is Ye Chen cultivating? Hasn't he entered the secret realm yet?"
***
Meanwhile, the Sect Master arrived at a hidden location. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor was sitting on a long river, leisurely fishing for spiritual fish.
The Sect Master approached him and respectfully asked, "Old Ancestor, did you meet the powerful figure?"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor nodded and recounted the events that transpired in Lu Xuan's cave dwelling.
The Sect Master frowned. "That expert still refuses to reveal himself?"
The Old Ancestor's gaze was profound. "Perhaps his identity involves some deep secrets. Since he is inconveniently low-profile, so be it. Ye Chen and Ji Fuyao are ultimately disciples of our Grand Dao Sect, and this expert is clearly sparing no expense in nurturing them."
The Sect Master nodded in agreement. To allow Ji Fuyao to jump from Third-stage Profound Venerate to Profound Saint in three months, he must have poured a massive amount of heavenly treasures into her. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor instructed, "From now on, stop worrying about Lu Xuan. Let him be."
"Understood," the Sect Master replied.
After a brief silence, the Sect Master suddenly thought of the Heavenly Net Hall. His expression changed. "Old Ancestor, surely Great Emperor Xueli of the Heavenly Net Hall wouldn't dare step onto Grand Dao Sect territory, would he?"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor let out a cold laugh. "If he dares to come here demanding someone, I will ensure he never returns!"
Killing intent erupted, sharp and palpable. The Sect Master's heart clenched. It was clear the Old Ancestor was truly enraged.
***
Simultaneously, outside the Grand Dao Sect, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor's warning echoed across the Southern Wilds.
"Ji Fuyao is a disciple of my Grand Dao Sect's Azure Mystery Peak. Anyone who dares to bully the young with their seniority or harm her in the slightest, no matter how far they flee, will be executed!"
A massive wave of shock swept through the various states. This was the first time in nearly a thousand years that the Grand Dao Sect had publicly declared protection over a single disciple: Ji Fuyao of Azure Mystery Peak!
Powerful cultivators across the states immediately began to gossip. "I heard Ji Fuyao was nearly killed by a Great Emperor from the Heavenly Net Hall in Cangzhou. An unknown expert from the Grand Dao Sect intervened and saved her, which is why the Cangxuan Old Ancestor is so furious!"
"Azure Mystery Peak? Isn't that the peak where Lu Xuan lives?"
"What the hell is going on? Lu Xuan took another disciple?! And the Grand Dao Sect is actually letting him guide such a monstrous talent?"
As Ji Fuyao's fame spread far and wide, Lu Xuan's name once again followed suit. The vast majority of experts were utterly bewildered. Lu Xuan, a mere Qi Refinement stage cultivator, now had two peerless disciples! It was beyond ridiculous!
Soon, the secrets of the Fuyao Dynasty were revealed, and the feud between the Heavenly Net Hall and the Empress's lineage came to light. Many were shocked to learn that Ji Fuyao was a descendant of the former Fuyao Dynasty.
Great Emperor-level experts quickly pieced together the scattered clues, understanding the full scope of the incident. "Three thousand years ago, the Heavenly Net Hall annihilated the Fuyao Dynasty overnight. Empress Fuyao died in battle, and her elite forces escaped, splitting into three major powers: the Fuyao Dynasty Dragon Guards, the Ye Family of Qingcheng, and the Drunken Immortal Pavilion of Cangzhou. Three thousand years later, a successor to the Fuyao Dynasty emerged—Ji Fuyao. She joined the Grand Dao Sect under Lu Xuan of Azure Mystery Peak. She has already reclaimed the Dragon Guards and the Ye Family. However, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion betrayed her and defected to the Heavenly Net Hall, which is why the Heavenly Net Hall set up a killing trap to eliminate the remnants of the Fuyao Dynasty..."
This was the extent of the knowledge held by the powerful figures in the Southern Wilds. The crucial detail—that Ji Fuyao was the reincarnation of the Empress—remained a closely guarded secret, known only to the Heavenly Net Hall and the Cangxuan Old Ancestor. Neither side would release such explosive information yet.
Immediately, experts across the states discussed the matter with great interest. "In the end, Ji Fuyao didn't die. She was rescued by her protector, and the Cangxuan Old Ancestor was so enraged that he destroyed a branch of the Heavenly Net Hall."
"Alas... this matter has truly escalated. Great Emperor Xueli, an Elder from the Heavenly Net Hall's main branch, has already arrived in Cangzhou. It's said he won't let this go!"
"Heh. On one side, you have an ancient, dominant power that has stood firm for countless epochs, and on the other, a newly risen, aggressive overlord from the last few millennia. I wonder if the Heavenly Net Hall has the guts to clash with the Grand Dao Sect?"
"Now that the Bronze Ancient Palace has appeared, a Great Era is dawning. Even if the Heavenly Net Hall and the Grand Dao Sect don't immediately erupt into full-scale war, the seeds of conflict have been sown! When the great change descends and the Ultimate Path opens, a battle between the Heavenly Net Hall and the Grand Dao Sect is inevitable!"
The entire region was in an uproar, with everyone waiting for the Heavenly Net Hall's response. As a newly established, aggressive overlord, the Heavenly Net Hall was known for its ruthless, high-profile, and arrogant style, having destroyed countless major powers over the centuries. Would they dare attack the Grand Dao Sect?
Everyone sighed, noting that the Grand Dao Sect had been involved in quite a few incidents lately. First, the tragic death of the Supreme Profound Sect's genius alchemist, and now this feud with the Heavenly Net Hall. What a turbulent time!
***
Soon, these events reached the vicinity of the Sky Blade Gate. Near the Sky Blade Gate, an Ancient Inheritance site had not yet fully opened. Elder Mu and several other powerful figures were working together to lay down seals and restrictions around the site.
They had confirmed that this was a low-star Martial Dao Great Emperor's inheritance. The Bronze Ancient Palace had once passed through the small world where this inheritance resided, leaving behind a wisp of its Dao and Essence. Now, Elder Mu and the others were simultaneously setting up seals and trying to siphon off this wisp of essence.
Divine radiance surged here, and endless, brilliant Great Emperor Dao patterns flowed outward. A mysterious, obscure aura enveloped the small world of the Martial Dao Great Emperor's secret realm. In their minds, this single wisp of essence left by the Bronze Ancient Palace was priceless, far exceeding the value of the inheritance itself! They carefully condensed Dao patterns, breaking into the secret realm to seize the essence and claim the fortune within.
Everyone present felt a sense of profound awe. The mere temporary presence of the Bronze Ancient Palace had left behind such terrifying Dao and Essence, which had infiltrated the Martial Dao Great Emperor's inheritance, making it incredibly difficult to strip away.
At that moment, a Great Emperor from the Ancient Qin Family spoke, "If we can obtain this wisp of essence, we might be able to glimpse the hidden location of the Bronze Ancient Palace and find it."
A Great Emperor from the Yao Family nodded. "Indeed. The Ancient Supreme Artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace, is of immense significance to us. The Martial Dao Great Emperor's inheritance is nothing; the supreme secrets within the Bronze Ancient Palace are the key to reaching the Ultimate Path!"
The Grey-robed Great Emperor from the Heavenly Net Hall glanced at Elder Mu. "The Great Era of this epoch has finally arrived. Some dominant powers are gilded on the outside but rotten within, possessing only a false reputation. They are long past their prime and should vanish from the Southern Wilds."
The atmosphere immediately froze. Everyone looked at Elder Mu and the Heavenly Net Hall Great Emperor. They were all aware of the Ji Fuyao incident. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor had destroyed a Heavenly Net Hall branch, and given the Hall's style, the matter would not end there.
Elder Mu let out a cold snort. "You needn't worry about my Grand Dao Sect, Your Excellency. Half the history of the Southern Wilds bears the shadow of the Grand Dao Sect. Who are you to speak ill of us?"