"Song Tingye?"

His gaze shifted slightly, and Qi Xiu summoned the image of that County Magistrate in his mind: elegant, refined, and cultured, yet his eyes always held a hint of cunning, revealing a man whose schemes ran deep.

Back when he was in Baoho County, he had quite a few interactions with this County Magistrate. Later, an incident involving several carts of grain had led to a life-and-death struggle between him and some demons.

In the blink of an eye, over ten years had passed since they last saw each other.

When he left Baoho County, he was but a mere Common Realm Loose Cultivator. Without Cultivation Techniques, backing, or support, he was a "three-no's" person through and through.

But now, he was the personal disciple of the Shenxiao Sect, a top-tier traditional institution. He had a Sect Master at the Primordial Spirit level, a master who was a Dao Expert, and a group of martial brothers in the Blood-Stained Realm.

It truly felt like seas had turned to mulberry fields, and people were no longer who they once were.

"How did you run into him?"

"This Prefect Song is quite remarkable nowadays. He serves as the Water Army Commander of Dianchuan Province, commanding nearly two hundred thousand naval troops. He holds immense power and is considered one of the most influential figures in the entire Dianchuan Province. Additionally, his reputation is excellent. Since taking office, he has personally led the navy through various waterways, exterminating Demonic Evil Cultivators and protecting the people. It's said that many people living along the rivers are even planning to build statues and temples in his honor. The key point is..."

Pausing his speech, the Daoist of the Taiyin raised an eyebrow and smiled, "When I saw him, he had already reached the Blood-Stained Realm."

"The Blood-Stained Realm?"

An expression of mild surprise crossed Qi Xiu's face as he rubbed his thumb ring.

He possessed the Divine Marvel. And even after joining the Shenxiao Sect, he was still a considerable distance from the Blood-Stained Realm.

His Fifth Senior Brother, Ge Ping, had joined the sect at the age of thirty-five and hadn't managed to break through to the Blood-Stained Realm even after fifty years.

Yet this County Magistrate Song, in just over a decade, had made a three-level leap to reach the Blood-Stained Realm.

This genuinely surprised Qi Xiu.

"Surprised, aren't you? I was quite surprised at the time as well. Speaking of which, Original Self, you should have noticed this long ago, right?"

Leaning against the rock, Daoist Taiyin tilted his head slightly, his deep red eyes exuding an unusual glimmer.

"Song Tingye, Li Jiufang, and Sun Xingshan—the County Magistrate you once unexpectedly saw being rescued by a Blood-Stained Realm cultivator. These individuals had average cultivation but mysterious origins. Behind them, there was clearly an extremely powerful clan. This clan seemed to be simultaneously supporting many individuals like Song Tingye. They appeared out of nowhere, volunteering to become County Magistrates in towns and counties of all sizes. Then, they continuously climbed the ranks. And with seemingly limitless resources, they rapidly established their grand image, rooting it so deeply in the hearts of the common people that it became unshakable. The methods of these people were almost identical, as if they had undergone systematic training. And they did all this for only one purpose..."

Meeting Daoist Taiyin's blood-red, profound gaze, Qi Xiu frowned slightly, uttering a term, "Human Path Merit."

With a snap of his fingers, Daoist Taiyin's face held an interested expression, "Clearly, this mysterious clan possessed a cultivation methodology that greatly differed from the normal path. They used Human Path Merit to swiftly increase a person's cultivation. A Common Realm County Magistrate becoming a great cultivator of the Blood-Stained Realm in just over a decade. Even an ancient major sect like the Shenxiao Sect wouldn't have such a terrifying record, right?"

"Regardless of their motives, the appearance of these individuals has, at least, significantly eased the tragic conditions in some counties. But..." Qi Xiu trailed off.

"But..." The smile on Daoist Taiyin's face grew, and he looked as if he relished the chaos. "Those who don't seek small advantages surely have a greater strategy in mind. These mysterious clan members, who made such brilliant, savior-like debuts, are ultimately after only one thing..."

Qi Xiu's gaze met that of Daoist Taiyin.

"They want to overthrow the Gao Family! To become the new rulers of Dianchuan Province!"

CRACK-BOOM—

Just then, a clap of thunder boomed, and lightning flashed across Guanlan Cliff, casting shadows over Qi Xiu's and Daoist Taiyin's faces.

"If that's true, then aside from the three hundred and sixty paths of demons that have poured into Dianchuan Province, Song Tingye and his group are an even deeper, hidden crisis. Once the problem with the Demonic Evil Cultivators is resolved, they could jump out at any time to fight the Gao Family for Dianchuan Province. I'm afraid even more people will die then."

With a solemn expression, Qi Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly.

Civil war is a conflict far more brutal than one with external enemies.

"But in the end, these are not concerns for us Dao-Entering Realm cultivators."

Stretching luxuriously, Daoist Taiyin slowly rose to his feet, looking off into the distance, "Our main concern now should be cultivating to reach the Blood-Stained Realm as quickly as possible. Original Self, how many of your three hundred and sixty-five Mixed Primordial Beads have you cultivated?"

"One hundred and thirty-six."

After scanning his internal state, Qi Xiu detected the teasing in Daoist Taiyin's tone.

Compared to ordinary Dao-Entering Realm cultivators, the effort and hard work he needed to put in at this realm were thousands, even tens of thousands of times greater.

Although he had only completed about a third of the three hundred and sixty-five Mixed Primordial Beads, this speed was already very fast. After all, according to his original calculations, he would need a full eighty years to completely cultivate these three hundred and sixty-five Mixed Primordial Beads. But now, less than ten years had passed, and he had already completed nearly a third of them. This meant that even if he just cultivated step-by-step at his current speed, he could expect to cultivate all three hundred and sixty-five Mixed Primordial Beads before he turned fifty.

"It's a long and arduous journey."

Turning around, he sighed, and Daoist Taiyin, with his back to Qi Xiu, waved his hand, "That's it, I'm off. Take good care of yourself. Who knows, perhaps the next time we meet, I'll have reached the Blood-Stained Realm before you. HA HA HA HA, it's very possible, very possible indeed!"

Amidst hearty and unrestrained laughter, Daoist Taiyin transformed into a streak of dark, cold light and instantly vanished into the distance.

Qi Xiu remained, standing silently on Guanlan Cliff, quietly watching Taiyin's carefree figure disappear.

Hmm, being surpassed by my own avatar is indeed a bit embarrassing. Alright then, I'd better hurry up too.

...

「Months went by.」

Wei Wujie, under the dual ministrations of the Hua Sheng Thunder Pond and divine soul elixirs, finally made a complete recovery. Moreover, due to this high-pressure battle, his cultivation realm, which had seen no progress for a long time, showed subtle signs of loosening. It was a blessing in disguise; he had broken through his old limits to establish a new foundation.

Nangong Qingqiu and Li Jun, though not as fortunate, were extremely satisfied that they had successfully rescued Ge Ping and that not a single one of their martial brothers had died.

And in this battle at Divine Sorrow Ridge, the one who gained the most was Ge Ping himself. Having experienced this calamity, he finally comprehended the Mystical Mechanism of Taoist Skills, dispersed the fog of confusion, and gained the foundation to advance to the Blood-Stained Realm. Although he hadn't advanced directly yet, he would surely be promoted to the Blood-Stained Realm in three to five years at most, or one to two years at least.

"Disciples."

Thunder rumbled as Daoist Yunxiong arrived on a rainbow, landing before his disciples.

"The Sect Master is free today and wishes to see you. Prepare yourselves quickly; we depart immediately."

"Ah, the Sect Master wants to meet us?"

Wei Wujie's mouth fell open in astonishment. He had been in the Shenxiao Sect for over a hundred years but had never once seen the Sect Master. That was a genuine Primordial Spirit Boss, after all! This surprise came too suddenly.

"Eldest Brother, it was the Sect Master who saved us, remember?" Li Jun gently reminded him from the side.

"Forgotten my ass! I was unconscious like a dead pig back then. How the hell would I remember anything?"

Wei Wujie spat towards Li Jun, then stepped forward, chin held high, "I'm the Eldest Brother. When we see the Sect Master, I should stand at the very front."

"Hmm?"

Daoist Yunxiong's eyebrow arched as his gaze swept over.

Stung by that sharp, piercing gaze, Wei Wujie shrank back and quickly changed his tune, "Of course, I'll still have to stand behind Master."

"BOO~"

Amidst a collective groan, the group set off for Sect Master Peak to meet the Supreme Sect Leader, Dongfang Qing.

...

Verdant white reeds stretched out, as if lost in a drunken slumber, heedless of any return.

As the most sacred Sect Master Peak of the Shenxiao Sect, this mountain, standing at the very center of the entire Mountain Gate, was not as grand, majestic, or filled with boundless divine light as Qi Xiu had imagined. However, Sect Master Peak was truly immense. Compared to Yunti Peak, this Sect Master Peak was at least ten times larger, with continuous side peaks that made it resemble an independent mountain range.

By a stream in the middle of the mountain, amidst countless green and white reeds, stood Dongfang Qing, the Supreme Sect Leader of the Shenxiao Sect. His trouser legs were rolled up as he stood in the water, holding a bamboo fishing spear, intently eyeing the fish swimming by.

Under Daoist Yunxiong's lead, the group arrived at Sect Master Peak.

From afar, they saw Dongfang Qing, dressed like a plain farmer, utterly unremarkable.

Wei Wujie's expression turned strange, and he opened his mouth to quip, but fortunately, the quick-eyed and nimble-handed Li Jun clapped a hand over it from behind.

"Gotcha!"

Quick of eye and swift of hand, Dongfang Qing decisively thrust his spear. Water splashed, and a smile spread across the Supreme Sect Leader's face.

"Ah, you're here. Perfect timing. I've just caught a fish."

Seeing the group from Yunti Peak waiting on the bank, Dongfang Qing chuckled and slowly raised the bamboo spear in his hand.

BOOM—

In an instant, the void trembled. The terrifying aura that instantly erupted was like a horde of dragons emerging from the sea, overwhelming the entire space.

And what Dongfang Qing had skewered on his bamboo spear was no mere stream fish. It was clearly a Dragon Whale, over a thousand meters long, covered in golden Dragon Scales! Two golden dragon whiskers adorned its fins and mouth, and it radiated a scorching hot vitality like a blazing sun—an immense beast!

"Eldest Brother, if you have something to say, go ahead and say it now." Understanding the situation, Li Jun let go of the hand covering Wei Wujie's mouth and smiled, patting his shoulder.

"Say what!" Wei Wujie glared at Li Jun and became a lot more subdued.

The Dragon Whale's aura was clearly that of a peak Blood-Stained Realm expert, yet Dongfang Qing had impaled it with an ordinary bamboo spear, rendering it motionless.

Such was the power of a Primordial Spirit Boss!

Dongfang Qing casually flicked the Dragon Whale up. His palm glowed, and with a grinding motion, this enormous Dragon Blood descendant was transformed in an instant into five bowls of shimmering golden soup, circulating with endless divine light.

"This Dragon Whale Soup is very hot; it needs to cool for a bit before you can drink it."

Setting the bamboo spear aside, Dongfang Qing rolled down his trouser legs and said gently, "Actually, there's nothing particularly special about calling you here today. Firstly, I wanted to see how your injuries have recovered. Secondly, I previously said I would reward you handsomely. As Sect Master, I naturally cannot go back on my word. So I plan to give each of you a treasure. A treasure that you have never seen before."

...

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