Chapter 956

Huayun Province is a coastal major province in eastern Da Jin, with port towns built along the sea, and many overseas cultivators frequently appear at coastal market towns, trading various demonic beast materials for inland cultivation resources. Thus, the province’s major market towns thrive year-round, and the sects managing these markets enjoy steady wealth, earning vast amounts of spirit stones annually.

Even some remote minor market towns, if blessed with advantageous geography, also bring in substantial income.

Kaizhou Town is a small settlement just over two hundred li from the sea, and several li away lies a small hill. The hill stands only two to three hundred zhang tall, covering an area of more than ten li, with a spiritual vein that is short and inferior—too meager even for larger cultivation clans to notice.

Yet within this barely worthy of being called a spiritual mountain dwells a minor cultivation sect: the Tianfu Sect. This sect is among the lowest rungs of cultivation organizations, with no more than a hundred disciples including the Sect Master and Elders; thus, though the spiritual vein is small, it barely suffices for the sect’s needs.

Yet despite its current decline, the Tianfu Sect boasts an ancient lineage.

Though not an ancient sect like Taiyi Sect or Yinluo Sect, which trace back to antiquity, the sect’s founder, the Tianfu True Person, once terrified all of Da Jin with his three secret talismans, nearly securing the sect a place among the Ten Great Orthodox Sects of that era. At its height, the sect boasted tens of thousands of disciples and dominated an entire province.

Yet it was talismans that brought its glory—and its ruin. Though the Tianfu Sect possessed some skill in talisman crafting, its core cultivation techniques were mediocre, and after several generations, the sect rapidly declined. By today, tens of thousands of years later, the Tianfu Sect survives only by relying on a few unique talisman secrets.

Such a fallen sect attracts few high-level cultivators, except those from similarly destitute minor sects. The daily duty shifts of Tianfu Sect disciples are thus extremely leisurely—usually spent in meditation or idle chatter.

On this day, two Qi Refining disciples guarding the mountain gate sat together, sighing heavily, looking utterly listless.

“Senior Brother Li, is the market town really going to close? Though I’ve only just joined, I know the Sanyuan Market Town accounts for nearly half our sect’s income. Without this source of spirit stones, our sect will struggle even more to survive.” The sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy, with clear, handsome features, murmured to the other.

“Whether it closes or not isn’t up to us. A few days ago, Lingfeng Sect delivered a final ultimatum: either merge with them, or shut down within three months. It’s pure bullying by power!” The other, a young man of twenty-four or twenty-five with a slightly stocky build, sighed helplessly.

“Merging the market town… sounds acceptable?” The younger disciple exclaimed.

“Acceptable? I heard from a senior uncle that after the merger, we won’t be allowed to interfere in any business at the market. Lingfeng Sect will just give us a thousand spirit stones a year. What’s that even good for? Less than a third of our original income!” The young man grumbled bitterly.

“So little? Then how can our sect agree? Even if Lingfeng Sect is powerful, wouldn’t Jinxia Mountain and Mingyang Valley object? The Sanyuan Market Town is jointly managed by all three of us. If we unite, we needn’t fear Lingfeng Sect so much.” The younger disciple’s eyes darted as he spoke, puzzled.

“Hmph. Alone, Lingfeng Sect isn’t something we need to fear. But I heard the Shanyang Sect is behind this move—it’s a genuine mid-tier sect, not something our minor sect can oppose. Today, the Sect Master summoned the other two sect leaders here, surely to discuss a response. Neither of those two sects is stronger than ours; they won’t easily give up their market income.” The young man explained.

“Shanyang Sect? This… this is definitely not something our Tianfu Sect can provoke. It seems our sect won’t survive this crisis.” The younger disciple, upon hearing the name Shanyang Sect, sank into deep despair.

If the sect’s income plummets, the spirit stones each disciple receives annually will plummet too.

“Forget it. This isn’t something low-level disciples like us can meddle in. Let the Sect Master and Elders handle it. Even if our sect is at its worst, it’s still better than becoming a lone cultivator. Let’s just keep guarding the mountain gate. Don’t discuss this anymore—or other senior uncles might find out and deduct our spirit stones…” He sighed, as if accepting it, then glanced idly upward—and suddenly froze in shock.

The younger disciple, startled, followed his gaze. Far across the horizon, spiritual light flickered, then a green aura several zhang long suddenly appeared in the sky, streaking toward them at breakneck speed.

“Which elder is this? It’s heading straight for us!” The green aura moved with astonishing speed, drawing near in moments. The younger disciple cried out in alarm. Though he had only recently joined, he knew such a dazzling flight aura could not be produced by any of the sect’s few Foundation Establishment senior uncles—he was deeply uneasy.

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s here to see our senior master?” The young man, equally confused, could only offer this self-reassurance.

Moments later, the green aura flew near Baizhu Mountain. Seeing the two Tianfu Sect disciples from afar, it flickered and descended, its light condensing to reveal a young man in green robes, around twenty years old, standing several zhang before them, arms folded behind his back, gazing at them.

“Is this Baizhu Mountain, Tianfu Sect?” The young man’s face was ordinary, but his aura was extraordinary. He glanced at the faintly visible mountain gate’s protective barrier and asked calmly. It was Han Li, who had vanished from the Jiaoyi Society. It had been four months since he escaped the Ancient Demons.

“This is indeed Baizhu Mountain. What service can this junior offer you, Elder?” Though the two disciples were low-level and could not sense Han Li’s true cultivation, they instantly recognized him as a senior cultivator above Core Formation. They exchanged glances, and the young man quickly bowed deeply.

“Good. I’ve brought something deeply connected to your sect. I wish to meet your Sect Master. Inform him.” Han Li nodded calmly.

“Yes, Elder, please wait.” The young man fumbled for a transmission talisman, whispered a few words, then hurled it behind him.

The talisman instantly burst into flame and vanished into the barrier.

Though Han Li appeared motionless, he had quietly swept his spiritual sense over the small mountain. Though blocked by the barrier, he could still sense its general state.

His brow furrowed slightly.

He had expected Tianfu Sect to be small, but a cultivation sect with only a hundred people, and only one Core Formation beginner’s aura detectable on the mountain? It was exactly as the Yun Elder from Yinming Lands had described—a bottom-tier minor sect.

Had it not been for the appearance of those evil dragons in Huayun Province, and his own knowledge of the Jiangling Talisman’s crafting method, he would never have come to such a place.

Moments later, a series of yellow lights flashed behind the two guards, and a mountain gate over ten zhang tall materialized.

From within the gate, several cultivators walked out together.

Passing the two disciples, they glanced at Han Li—and all immediately paled. An old man in yellow brocade robes rushed forward, bowing deeply with extreme reverence.

“Junior Yue Zhen, Sect Master of Tianfu Sect, humbly begs forgiveness for failing to greet you in person, Elder! Your arrival is an honor we did not deserve!”

Though Yue Zhen, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, could not discern Han Li’s exact realm, as Sect Master he had far greater experience than the two disciples—he had met several Nascent Soul cultivators before. Sensing the same overwhelming aura from Han Li, he was filled with dread.

Such a powerful cultivator could destroy their minor sect with a flick of the finger. Their fate was now uncertain.

He had assumed the transmission talisman signaled only a Core Formation cultivator. To be safe, he had sent for the sect’s sole Elder, the Core Formation senior uncle. Now, he realized it was utterly unnecessary.

“Heh! Don’t panic. I’m here only on someone’s behalf—no ill intent.” Han Li chuckled softly at their nervousness.

“On someone’s behalf? I’m confused. But this isn’t a place to speak. Elder, please come up the mountain and rest. We can discuss it properly then.” Yue Zhen’s heart eased, then he seized the chance to invite Han Li up the mountain.

“Up the mountain? Hmm, very well. This matter cannot be explained in a few words.” Han Li paused, then nodded.

“Then please, Elder, enter.” Yue Zhen beamed, stepping aside to let Han Li pass first, showing utmost respect.

Han Li needed no ceremony—he stepped straight through the gate.

The other cultivators followed respectfully, bowing their heads.

Baizhu Mountain was small, so the peak held few buildings: one grand hall, several pavilions, and separate quarters for disciples’ cultivation. Han Li was directly led into the grand hall.

To Han Li’s surprise, two middle-aged cultivators, not dressed in Tianfu Sect robes, sat inside.

The moment they saw Han Li and sensed his aura, they leapt from their chairs in shock and hurried over to bow.

Han Li merely waved a hand dismissively and sat down without ceremony.

The others dared not sit, standing respectfully beside him. Yue Zhen, apologetic, turned to the two outsiders.

“My two fellow Daoists, a distinguished guest has arrived. We must postpone our discussion on that matter.”

“Haha, of course. You must attend to such a distinguished Elder first.”

“Indeed. My brother Lu and I will take our leave.”

The two cultivators quickly expressed understanding, their faces filled with envy. They bowed again to Han Li, then withdrew from the hall.

Almost simultaneously, a flash of white light shot into the hall, and a white-robed elder materialized within the glow.

Yue Zhen and the others immediately beamed and stepped forward to bow. “Senior Uncle Wen!” “Senior Uncle Wen!”

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