Chapter 468: Beyond the Wooden Door
Chapter 468: Beyond the Wooden Door
"Senior Shen... Are you alright?"
Wen Qiujin, as the leader of the Water Moon Trade Alliance, quickly regained his composure, but as he approached Shen Yi, he felt the dense demonic aura emanating from her and couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
He unexpectedly uttered a pointless question.
The group of demons and monsters from earlier seemed incapable of harming Shen Yi in the slightest.
Wen Qiujin's face turned ashamed as he said, "Autumn Gold is just a businessman and can't help you much, so please accept my apologies."
These seemingly apologetic words caused the faces of those around him to change slightly.
His words all but directly expressed his dissatisfaction with those few attendants.
Given Wen Qiujin's calm temperament.
This statement was almost a direct indication of his intention to deal with them later.
"..."
The few attendants hovering in the air quietly glanced at each other.
Then, they sighed slightly and descended towards the ground.
There were only two tasks, and they were too afraid to offend the Dragon Palace to carry out the first one, and they were unable to accomplish the second.
They stood silently behind Wen Qiujin, their eyes carrying a hint of shame, as they turned their gazes towards Shen Yi.
The strength displayed by this young disciple of the Immortal Sect had far surpassed the imagination of ordinary cultivators.
Not to mention the Divine Palace, which was illuminated only by pure purple qi and free of any impurities. Even in tales, it was rare to find someone bold enough to exaggerate to such an extent.
By using the purple qi of chaos to empower his spiritual body cultivation technique, he had forcibly crossed the watershed of the late Returning Void stage.
Never mind the realm.
Relying on his profound and mysterious cultivation technique, he toyed with a group of aquatic demons and monsters at the seventh layer of the Returning Void stage.
As the saying goes, spectators often see more of the game than the players.
Although their auras were similar, the moment Shen Yi made her move, they had already lost any chance of escape.
The foundation of the Immortal Sect truly made this group of attendants, who relied on the Water Moon Trade Alliance for their livelihood, envious.
"..."
Wen Qiujin glanced at the few attendants behind him but did not reprimand them on the spot.
He was merely dissatisfied with their insubordination and felt that the heavenly treasures he gave them every month were somewhat wasted.
However, after putting himself in their shoes.
If he were an attendant, he would probably have made the same choice.
After all, who could have guessed that a young cultivator who appeared to be at the fourth layer of the Returning Void stage would actually possess an eighth-layer Returning Void puppet and possess strength comparable to it himself.
With just one person and one puppet, they had annihilated a rather remarkable aquatic force and wiped out their elites.
Such achievements were enough to spread across the southern waters and lands, establishing a significant reputation.
With Wen Qiujin's knowledge and experience.
These methods were probably even more profound than those of the usual proud sons of heaven.
Even among the famous direct disciples of the Seven Sons of South Hong, it would be difficult to find someone comparable to Shen Yi at the same level.
Wen Qiujin was not afraid of retaliation from the aquatic races.
Judging from the fact that those demons and monsters dared not reveal their identities before their deaths, it was clear that this incident had not been authorized by the Dragon Palace.
"Although Senior is powerful and capable of slaying demons and eliminating evil, it is still best to be cautious. After all, demons and monsters can never be completely eradicated, and there is no such thing as being too cautious in this world..." Wen Qiujin reminded in a low voice.
Shen Yi glanced at him and nodded slightly, "Thank you."
This was a reminder for her to be wary of internal traitors.
After all, she had just arrived on the island, and during the time it took to eat a meal, the aquatic races had already found her.
It was impossible for there to be no one sending messages behind the scenes.
However, there was no point in rushing to find the culprit.
Shen Yi took a step away from the crowd and began walking towards the Water Moon Trade Alliance.
The few clan elders of the Chen family and the people from Qinghai Mansion quickly followed, and unlike the others, they were aware of something even more terrifying.
Before facing off against this group of aquatic races.
Shen Yi had just destroyed a demon cave and had almost killed a proud son of heaven at the sixth layer of the Returning Void stage.
If it had been any other cultivator, they would probably still be recovering from their injuries, if not stabilizing their qi. Yet, Senior Shen appeared as calm and unperturbed as ever, which was truly incomprehensible.
"Hiss."
As they watched the figure in the ink-colored robe return, the numerous members of the Water Moon Trade Alliance who had gathered earlier subconsciously moved backwards.
They did not possess the discernment of Wen Qiujin or the attendants.
All they knew was that this young cultivator was incredibly powerful and had a heavy killing intent. In their line of work, encountering someone like this meant that it was best to stay out of their way.
Zhang Ye watched as Shen Yi approached him, swallowed his saliva, and felt the suspicious gazes of those around him.
He subconsciously straightened his back, his face reddening as he cupped his hands and greeted, "Junior Zhang Ye greets Senior Shen!"
Bless my soul, when have I ever had such clout? Just a word from Senior Shen will give me more leverage when negotiating prices in the future.
I must have good eyes, as I recognized that Senior Shen was no ordinary person from the very beginning...
"How much did she offer you?" Shen Yi asked casually.
"I'll take care of the person."
Instead of reaching for the bag, Shen Yi nodded and said, "You take your share, and the rest are mine."
They had all risked their lives to gather these treasures to aid in her cultivation. Even though she was a bit strapped for resources at the moment, there was no need to be overly greedy.
"Look at what you're saying..."
Old Man Zhang instinctively wanted to give the same excuse he had used when depositing the treasures, but upon seeing Shen Yi's serious expression, he hesitated and then awkwardly opened his storage bag, carefully dividing eighty percent of the treasures into another bag.
"If it weren't for your help, I would have gotten a similar amount elsewhere... Moreover, with your background in the Immortal Sect, the land you choose for them will definitely be more suitable."
"Rest assured."
This time, Shen Yi did not refuse and took the storage treasure, "Thank you for your hard work."
In the waters and lands of South Hong, it would be difficult to find a safer place than a Harmonious Treasure Land.
"If you have any instructions for me in the future, feel free to find me at any time." Old Man Zhang rubbed his face vigorously. It was just a normal business transaction, yet he felt strangely flustered.
Suddenly, a scene from Xiao Family Fortress flashed through his mind.
They had agreed on a price beforehand, which was a bit high, but Senior Shen had handled the matter efficiently. Instead of taking advantage of Treasure Flower Fairy's vulnerable state, she had not asked for any additional compensation.
Senior Shen might not be a saint, but she was definitely not a bad person.
"..."
Wen Qiujin quietly watched the scene unfold before him.
As the leader of the Water Moon Trade Alliance, such a small transaction should hardly interest him.
However, at this moment, he quietly turned around and instructed one of his guards, "Add the portion from Sky Sword Sect to the one from Nanyang Sect, and bring them to me."
"But we just made the delivery..." The guard was confused. Even though Shen Yi was exceptionally strong, she was still within the scope of the late Returning Void stage. It didn't warrant changing the rules.
If she got used to this, what if she came by whenever she felt like it in the future?
"Go and do it."
Wen Qiujin did not offer any further explanation.
He withdrew his gaze.
With Shen Yi's abilities, it was only natural that she had supporters among the Seven Sons of South Hong.
One might even say that she was a personal disciple of the sect leader, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a future giant in the Harmonious Void Realm.
The image he had imagined—of someone riding on the fame of the Seven Sons of South Hong and leeching off the Water Moon Trade Alliance—was completely different from the reality before him.
Just from observing Shen Yi, one could deduce that the Nanyang Sect was a true Immortal Sect.
When dealing with an Immortal Sect, one should show the appropriate respect.
A loyal servant does not serve two masters.
Moreover, timely aid is always more valuable than help given when one is already prosperous.
Wen Qiujin recalled that the Nanyang Sect members had arrived riding the Blue Lion Spirit Puppet from the Puppet Sect. After a moment's thought, he also instructed someone to bring a simple yet ancient-looking flying sword pendant.
Along with the prepared tribute, he walked forward.
"Senior Shen, these are the Water Moon Trade Alliance's tokens of respect for the Nanyang Sect. I, Wen Qiujin, have been preoccupied with trivial matters and was unable to greet you properly. Please accept this flying sword as a small token of my appreciation. I hope you won't refuse, Senior Shen."
"..."
Shen Yi looked at the storage bag being respectfully offered to her and glanced at the flying sword pendant.
After a moment's thought, she nodded slightly, "Thank you. Consider this a down payment for next time."
If they truly owed her a tribute, they wouldn't have put on such a show when she arrived, nor would they have kept silent about it.
Hearing this, Wen Qiujin gave a noncommittal smile.
Indeed, merchants rarely misjudge people.
Moreover, from this statement, it seemed that Shen Yi held a rather high position in the Nanyang Sect.
...
Without the female cultivators' musical performance, it was just Wen Qiujin and a few attendants seeing the Blue Lion Spirit Puppet off into the clouds.
After leaving the Water Moon Trade Alliance, Shen Yi casually took out the pendant, which transformed into a long sword emitting black light. She stepped lightly onto it.
Although this object was sword-shaped, it was not a combat treasure but merely served as a means of transportation.
While its function was singular, it was undoubtedly many times faster than the Dragon Leap Heaven's Female, which had been created by observing a fairy bathing.
With a slight infusion of spiritual energy, she quickly left the Blue Lion Spirit Puppet far behind.
"Wen Qiujin really knows how to spend money," Jing Jingsong whistled. This flying sword was definitely a rare treasure. With Qinghai Mansion's background, they wouldn't even dare to dream of such a luxurious item.
However, it made sense. If one wanted to curry favor with Senior Shen, ordinary gifts simply wouldn't cut it.
Shen Yi familiarized herself with the flying sword and soon arrived at the place Old Man Zhang had mentioned. She saw the countless tired-looking people from Xiao Family Fortress, stretching as far as the eye could see.
She waved her hand slightly, and nearly twenty Blue Lion Spirit Puppets appeared in the air.
"You are responsible for bringing them back. It's fine to take your time, but if you encounter any danger, inform me with a jade slip."
"Rest assured, not a single one will be left behind," they assured.
"Mhm."
Shen Yi nodded and once again mounted his flying sword, disappearing into the clouds.
With the replacement flying sword, the return trip took less than two hours, whereas the journey there had taken four to five days.
Back at the familiar Nan Yang bas-relief, Shen Yi opened the grand formation and, as if remembering something, took out a stone talisman and sent it toward the Ancestral Hall: "I've been a bit busy lately, so I'll trouble Elder Xuan Qing to handle the opening and closing of the formation."
It would have been fine to give it to Nie Jun as well, but his cultivation was too low, and he had just gained access to numerous cultivation techniques, so he was eager to focus on his practice.
After much thought, it seemed that only Xuan Qing had the free time.
As for the safety of the sect's treasure site, if Xuan Qing truly had such intentions, he would have taken out the Sect Master's talisman long ago.
"Uh."
Sitting on a meditation cushion, Li Xuanqing received the stone talisman, propped his chin with one hand, and fell into contemplation.
Opening and closing formations... Wasn't that just keeping watch over the door?
Had Li Xuanqing really fallen to such a state?
"Huo."
Shen Yi didn't have the time to sympathize with Elder Xuan Qing's predicament.
He put away his flying sword pendant and landed in front of a light screen, stepping through it.
"Paying respects to the Sect Master," the many figures in the hall said as they stood up in unison. Among them were familiar faces like Xu Qing'er and Nie Jun, cultivators who had lingered in the Nan Yang treasure site for many years. They were now tirelessly absorbing the treasures within the Treasury Pavilion, not daring to slack off for a moment.
"Carry on," Shen Yi nodded, heading straight for the spiraling staircase.
He still hadn't forgotten.
There was still an unopened wooden door at the top of the stairs.
If he guessed correctly, the key should be the white jade talisman that belonged to the Sect Master.
Upon reaching the top floor of the Treasury Pavilion, Shen Yi anxiously eyed the wooden door before him. He took out the talisman from his ring and channeled his energy into it.
He hadn't noticed it before, but now, with just a touch of his energy, Shen Yi felt the difference in this white jade talisman.
If he could barely activate the stone talisman when he first entered the Returning Void realm and open the grand formation in half an hour, now that he had reached the mid Returning Void stage, he had exhausted most of the energy in his energy palace, yet it felt like a drop in the ocean.
However, the door soon opened, and a burst of white light sucked Shen Yi inside. When his vision cleared, his surroundings had transformed into a white expanse, like a sea of clouds, pure without a hint of impurity.
Seated in the middle was a figure with a kind face and white hair, dressed in plain blue robes.
The old man opened his eyes and smiled, "Xuanqing has arrived. What law do you wish to learn today?"
"Tsk."
Shen Yi furrowed his brows, staring at the old man before him and gradually realizing something was amiss.
After a moment, he tried walking to the side.
But the old man's gaze remained fixed on the door, repeating, "Xuanqing has arrived. What law do you wish to learn today?"
"..."
Shen Yi slowly clenched his fists, feeling that something was very wrong with the Nan Yang Sect from top to bottom.
He had figured it out—this was just an illusion.
There was no vitality, not even a hint of consciousness.
Perhaps its only purpose was to make the personal disciple who once entered feel a sense of care and companionship.
"What law?"
"You, you..."
The old man sighed, his tone gentle. "Xuanqing, you always bite off more than you can chew. All the spiritual laws here require great perseverance to cultivate to perfection. You keep starting new practices and abandoning old ones. If you don't change your ways, I will expel you from the sect."
Hearing the words "spiritual laws," Shen Yi raised an eyebrow.
It seemed he had stumbled upon something extraordinary.
But soon, a proud voice echoed in his mind, carrying a minuscule memory from the Tian Yan Forty-Nine insights.
"With my talent, I can master myriad laws, understand yin and yang, ascend to the heavenly court, and achieve the supreme immortal fame!"
As if hearing these words, the old man sighed, a hint of helplessness in his smile. "You will come to grief!"
At the same time, in the Ancestral Hall, Xuanqing seemed to sense the opening of that door.
He stood still for a long while, his body suddenly trembling as he walked towards the tall statue of the sect's ancestor and leaned his hard face against the statue's boots.
"You were right."
Only soft whispers and wisps of smoke drifting through the air remained in the Ancestral Hall.
Some mistakes could never be undone, and some longings were better left unmentioned.
The gap between mortals and immortals was just too vast.
(End of Chapter)
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