Several months had passed since Zhu Ju last saw Yan Bohu.

This Innate from Hejian Prefecture had once been a top figure in the Mortal World, but after stepping through the gates of an Immortal Sect, he had been reduced to the lowest rung.

The gap was too vast, and he had been unable to recover ever since.

This was especially true after seeing Zhu Ju and Ning Ruxue, who had entered the Sect with him, break through one after another to become Inner Sect Disciples. In contrast, his own progress after years of bitter cultivation was slow, and he had completely lost his fighting spirit, even considering a return to the Mortal World.

At least.

In the Mortal World, as an Innate Martial Artist, he was revered by all and wouldn’t have to suffer the torment of being inferior.

The last time they met, Yan Bohu had looked utterly dejected, but this time was different.

His eyes were bright and full of spirit, his beard was meticulously trimmed, his collar was neat and clean, and his long hair was impeccably groomed.

He was like a whole new person.

Martial practitioners were generally unconcerned with appearances, especially men. It was rare for one to be so clean and tidy.

’So...’

’A woman!’

"Junior Sister Muk Yun is a native of the Ten Thousand Mountains. She joined the Bright Void Sect last year and is an Outer Sect Disciple of the Flying Phoenix Lineage."

Yan Bohu said with a smile,

"I met Junior Sister Muk at a banquet. With a few senior brothers playing matchmaker, we’ve already decided to get married."

"Congratulations!" Zhu Ju clasped his hands in salute.

"Brother Yan, don’t forget to inform me when the wedding day comes."

"Of course, of course." Yan Bohu scratched the back of his head with a silly grin.

"Who would have thought? I’m over fifty, and I’ve finally found a place to belong here. It’s all fate."

"Sigh."

His expression shifted as he said,

"I plan to bring a few of the younger generation from the Yan Family over from the Mortal World. If I cultivate them well, perhaps they can join the Sect."

"Being in my fifties isn’t too old for an Innate. Junior Sister Muk and I can still have a few more children."

"Spoiling my children and grandchildren, living out my golden years in peace..."

Zhu Ju nodded slowly.

’It seems Yan Bohu has given up on his own path of cultivation and started thinking about his descendants and his own life.’

’This is a good thing.’

’Instead of pinning his hopes on the slim chance of advancing on the path, taking a step back to enjoy life is what most people would choose.’

’After all, those with the potential to reach the Dao Foundation are few and far between.’

’As expected.’

’Only a woman can truly change a man.’

"That’s a nice Qiankun Bag you have there, Brother Yan."

"My junior sister embroidered the yuanyang ducks." Yan Bohu picked up the Qiankun Bag, gently stroking the embroidered yuanyang duck pattern on it.

"She’s very skilled with her hands and loves to sew and mend things. I came to the Marketplace this time to buy her some special needles and thread."

"Senior Brother..."

He took out an object and handed it over.

"This is for you."

It was a tassel pendant that would hang from a fan, intricately woven in the design of a Flying Phoenix bringing good fortune.

It even had a faint trace of Spirituality.

"It’s a Protective Talisman my junior sister wove. It has some minor defensive properties, but it’s not worth much. I hope you won’t look down on it, Senior Brother."

"I wouldn’t dare." Zhu Ju accepted it.

"Thank you, Brother Yan."

"Um..." Yan Bohu wrung his hands, looking a little embarrassed.

"Junior Sister Muk plans to make a living by weaving and selling Spiritual Objects. If you think it’s good, Senior Brother, maybe you could recommend it to others."

"Of course," Zhu Ju nodded.

"Senior Sister Pei is here."

As the two were speaking, Pei Jingque descended from the sky on her Flying Ship, calling for those returning to the Sect to gather.

Zhu Ju glanced behind Pei Jingque.

Cao Lei.

He hadn’t seen this inner sect senior brother for some time either.

*

*

*

WHOOSH!

The Flying Ship pierced through the cloud bank, speeding along just above the thick layer of clouds.

The Gang Wind buffeted them.

A Spiritual Light rippled across the surface of the Flying Ship, and the dozen or so people standing on its deck remained as steady as if they were on solid ground.

"Controlling an artifact to travel a thousand miles, roaming between heaven and earth."

Someone murmured,

"Now this is what it means to be a true cultivator, the methods of the Immortal Family."

Zhu Ju smiled but said nothing.

The Flying Ship beneath their feet was a genuine High Grade Spiritual Artifact. A Qi Refiner below the Late-Stage Innate realm would find it difficult to control.

Even an ordinary Late-Stage Innate cultivator would not be able to carry over a dozen people with such ease.

’The methods of the Immortal Family?’

’It’s not that easy.’

WHOOSH!

Just as they were flying along, a faint gray glow rose from a mountain peak ahead, blocking the Flying Ship’s path.

"Miss Pei, why the hurry to leave?"

The gray glow was a cloud of ash, upon which stood a handsome man in a sapphire-blue robe.

"I have prepared a banquet especially for you at my Cave Mansion, Miss Pei. It would not be too late to leave after the feast."

The newcomer stood on the gray cloud, his aura radiating outwards. He was clearly an Innate Qi Refiner who had already broken through the Nine Acupoints.

"It’s him!"

"The Mosquito Feather Scholar, Li Yi! A Guest Minister recruited by the Xiao Family’s Marketplace, hailed as a genius Loose Cultivator with the potential to reach the Dao Foundation."

"What’s he doing here?"

"..."

The crowd whispered amongst themselves.

Zhu Ju, however, fixed his gaze on the gray cloud beneath the man’s feet, his eyes flickering as his expression hardened slightly.

It wasn’t a gray cloud at all, but countless tiny flying mosquitoes. If one listened closely, a buzzing sound could be heard.

The noise was jarring and chaotic, exuding a malevolent aura.

"Li Yi."

Pei Jingque frowned.

"I’ve already told you, what you proposed is absolutely impossible. Sister Xiao Luomei has already refused you on my behalf."

"Miss Pei, why must you be so heartless?" Li Yi sighed softly.

"I only wish to borrow the Mountain-Shifting Seal for a year. I will certainly return it, and I am even willing to pledge my own legacy as collateral."

"We have known each other for many years, and our friendship is not shallow. Can you not even lend me one item for a time?"

"I’m sorry," Pei Jingque shook her head.

"The Mountain-Shifting Seal is a legacy treasure of the Dragon Head Lineage. Never mind outsiders, even disciples of the same lineage are forbidden to touch it."

"There is no need to mention this matter again!"

"..." Li Yi opened his mouth, then sighed helplessly.

"If that is the case, then I have been a bother."

"Hmph."

Pei Jingque’s expression remained unchanged. With a light tap of her foot, the Flying Ship transformed into a streak of light and shot forward.

’Something’s wrong!’

A warning suddenly flared in her heart.

"Watch out!"

Zhu Ju suddenly shouted.

SWOOSH!

A dozen or so pitch-black, perfectly round pills the size of a child’s fist abruptly appeared near the Flying Ship.

Yin Thunder Pearls!

BOOM!

The Yin Thunder erupted, turning the hundred-meter radius into a sea of lightning. The Flying Ship caught within it was nearly disintegrated on the spot.

If they hadn’t circulated their True Qi in time to fully activate the Defense Array on the Flying Ship, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

After taking the hit, the Flying Ship careened lopsidedly toward the ground.

"Li Yi!"

Barely managing to land the Flying Ship safely, Pei Jingque roared in fury,

"How dare you! How dare you ambush and kill disciples of the Bright Void Sect! Are you not afraid of retaliation from the Bright Void Sect and the Xiao Family?"

"The Bright Void Sect?" At this, Li Yi dropped all pretense. His face turned cold as the thousands of mosquitoes at his feet swarmed to surround the Flying Ship.

"It’s precisely the Bright Void Sect that I’m targeting!"

"Haha..." A hearty laugh rang out.

"There’s a saying in the Mortal World: a mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake."

"Your Bright Void Sect are outsiders. Not only did you forcibly seize territory in the Ten Thousand Mountains, you also want to exterminate all the Loose Cultivators. This is utterly intolerable!"

"Everyone, come out!"

SHIMMER...

Ripples appeared in the surrounding space as figures emerged one after another, their powerful auras rocketing into the clouds.

Breaking Five Acupoints!

Breaking Seven Acupoints!

Breaking Nine Acupoints!

...

A group of Tribulation Cultivators had been lying in ambush here.

The hearts of the Bright Void Sect disciples on the Flying Ship sank.

This group was dressed in various styles and possessed formidable strength. Every one of them had murder in their eyes; they had clearly come prepared.

For some time now, there had been no trace of Tribulation Cultivators in the vicinity, and the Bright Void Sect disciples had let down their guard. They never expected to be ambushed.

Moreover, their target was clearly the Core True Inheritance of the Dragon Head Lineage.

"Qiu Qi!"

Watching a figure approach, Pei Jingque’s beautiful eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing here?"

"A fair question." The man named Qiu Qi appeared to be in his early twenties, his face covered in scars. He shouted,

"The Ten Thousand Mountains don’t belong to anyone. If the Bright Void Sect can come, why can’t the Joyful Sect?"

’The Joyful Sect?’

’This person is actually a disciple of the Demonic Joyful Sect?’

"Pei Jingque."

Qiu Qi clasped his hands behind his back and spoke leisurely,

"Hand over the Celestial Spirit Technique, and I can let you live."

"The Celestial Spirit Technique?" Pei Jingque snorted coldly.

"So it was you who stole the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill."

"The Celestial Spirits and Earthly Evils is one of the top inheritances of the Jade Void Sect. Once mastered, it can remake the world and is considered a supreme Wonderful Dharma. The Jade Void Sect has now been destroyed, and only the Dragon Head Lineage of the Bright Void Sect still possesses this inheritance." Qiu Qi approached with his hands behind his back, speaking slowly.

"And do you think the Joyful Sect is the only one coveting the Celestial Spirits and Earthly Evils?"

"After all, it is an inheritance with a Golden Core Method. Once news of it spreads, how could the Loose Cultivators of the Ten Thousand Mountains not be tempted?"

The Loose Cultivators of the Ten Thousand Mountains rarely possessed a complete Dao Foundation inheritance, let alone a Method that led directly to the Golden Core.

The Celestial Spirits and Earthly Evils was no ordinary Golden Core Method.

Over the years, various forces had infiltrated the Dragon Head Lineage, all hoping to obtain this inheritance.

Clearly, the Earth Evil Mysterious Skill had already been leaked.

However, only a few Core Disciples had been taught the Celestial Spirit Technique, and they were extremely cautious whenever they went out.

In fact, most of the time they never left Dragon Head Peak at all, which gave those people no opportunity to act.

This plot against Pei Jingque had obviously been in the works for a long time.

Zhu Ju’s eyes flickered. His gaze lingered on Pei Jingque for a moment before he slowly tightened his grip on the hilt of his Cross and Vertical Saber.

’Pei Jingque is stalling for time.’

’She’s probably waiting for reinforcements. After all, this place isn’t far from the Xiao Family’s Marketplace or the Bright Void Sect.’

’If reinforcements arrive,’

’they will most likely be Dao Foundation Cultivators.’

’As long as a Dao Foundation Cultivator takes action, no matter how many Tribulation Cultivators are here, they’ll be nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs, easily shattered.’

’But...’

’If I know this, how could Qiu Qi and Li Yi not know it as well?’

’This group is letting Pei Jingque stall for time, completely unhurried. I’m afraid they have their own ace up their sleeve.’

BOOM!

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a terrifying aura erupted in the distant sky, like a Celestial Sword hanging upside down.

A Dao Foundation Cultivator from the Celestial Sword Lineage had arrived.

Joy appeared on the faces of the Bright Void Sect disciples, but the expressions of Zhu Ju and Pei Jingque sank abruptly.

Suddenly, two more powerful auras appeared, intercepting the Dao Foundation Elder from the Celestial Sword Lineage midway.

SWOOSH!

Pei Jingque thrust something into Zhu Ju’s hand and urged,

"If you’re in danger, tear this. It can keep you safe for a while."

"Go!"

With a low shout, she flipped her slender hand. A great seal flew from her palm, transforming in mid-air into a small mountain that crashed down violently toward Qiu Qi and Li Yi.

The Mountain-Shifting Seal!

BOOM!

The ground for a li in every direction trembled violently, and even the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was scattered into disarray by the blow.

Go!

Zhu Ju’s figure flickered as he charged to the side.

As he rushed forward, several Spirit Talismans appeared in his hand, their Spiritual Light flashing as they quickly attached to his body.

Light Body Talisman!

Vajra Talisman!

...

His powerful Divine Soul Power allowed Zhu Ju to control his body with micro-level precision. His True Qi was connected to his Inner Core, allowing each step to unleash explosive power and achieve lightning-fast speed.

WHOOSH!

SWISH! SWISH!

He became an afterimage as he flew forward.

Behind him,

"Die!"

Murder shone in Pei Jingque’s eyes. Her figure flashed, covering a hundred meters in an instant. Her slender palm sliced through two people’s bodies like a sharp blade.

SLASH!

Protective Spiritual Artifacts and powerful physical bodies were like paper before her slender hand, torn apart with ease.

At the same time, she waved her long sleeves, unleashing thousands of violent streams of Sword Qi that bombarded the area in all directions.

Combined with the incredible destructive power of the Mountain-Shifting Seal, she single-handedly held back a group of experts.

’A chance!’

Zhu Ju withdrew his Divine Thought and accelerated his frantic sprint.

"AHHH!"

Just then, a familiar scream came from the side.

Yan Bohu was only at the Innate realm and hadn’t even opened his first Acupoint. Although he had started running in time, he was still caught by two Tribulation Cultivators.

The abilities he had been so proud of in the Mortal World were useless against Acupoint Breaking Qi Refining Masters.

He was about to be killed on the spot.

SWOOSH!

Five beams of sword light crisscrossed in the air, instantly twisting the two Tribulation Cultivators’ heads from their shoulders.

"Go, quickly!"

Zhu Ju shouted from a distance, then turned and charged forward again.

For the sake of their acquaintance, this was all he could do. Now, it was up to Yan Bohu’s own fate.