Chapter 196: 196. Chapter 193: Shao Sect Yi Yi Jiang

196. Chapter 193: Shao Sect Yi Yi Jiang

Half an hour later, Ding Huan stared blankly at the scene before him.

A massive black hole appeared before him; what he saw seemed like countless universes flashing past in an instant.

Carefully infiltrating his spiritual sense into it, he immediately felt the boundless expanse of the cosmic void.

If Ding Huan's spiritual sense had not been tempered in the cosmic void, it would have been instantly swallowed upon entering.

Ding Huan clenched his fists in excitement; his original plan had been to find the black hole vortex and immediately return to tell Yan Mei and Lao Liu.

Because he definitely needed to buy a spaceship, then enter the black hole to explore the boundless universe and refine his cosmic Foundation Establishment concept.

Now, whether by sight or by spiritual sense, this place was the true, boundless universe.

If so, why did he need to enter the black hole?

After sensing that the cosmic black hole vortex had no effect on him, Ding Huan was about to find a position directly facing the black hole to contemplate his Foundation Establishment Dao, when he saw a sword.

The sword was half-buried in a massive blue stone, half-sticking out of it, and the blue stone faced the black hole vortex leading to the universe.

Ding Huan landed on the blue stone, pulled lightly, and the sword appeared in his hand.

Waves of scorching energy surged forth; when Ding Huan infiltrated his spiritual sense into it, he realized this was not merely a magical artifact, but something beyond even that.

Could this be the legendary immortal sword born within the Sword Storage Mountains?

No time to study it now—deal with it later. Ding Huan tossed the sword into his Star House, then sat cross-legged on the massive blue stone, facing the black hole vortex.

When he had refined his technique in the small courtyard of the Great Crystal District, he had sensed his first Zhou Tian.

But back then, he had not been in the boundless universe, so he could not comprehend the direction of that Zhou Tian.

Now, as he felt it again, the instant his spiritual sense touched the cosmic void, he immediately understood the origin of the first Zhou Tian of his new technique.

At that moment, Ding Huan felt his entire soul wandering through the boundless universe.

His prior deductions and understanding had been on the right path: the great has no corners, the great sound is silent, the universe is vast, and it begins from nothingness…

To forge a Dao foundation with oneself as the universe, one must begin with a single speck of dust in the boundless starry sky.

The only difference from before was that this speck of dust was not himself, but his Dao.

His Dao now was a speck of cosmic dust…

As Ding Huan's thought arose, his Daoic awareness merged with the boundless universe, and his first Zhou Tian formed naturally.

Celestial energy flowed from Yongquan to Qiuxu, then to Kunlun, then to Zhubin…

After just one Zhou Tian, Ding Huan felt his cultivation plummeting wildly.

Ding Huan jolted awake in alarm.

? co

If this kept dropping, wouldn't he be unable to leave the Sword Storage Mountains?

The Sword Storage Mountains are filled with toxic mists—how can one joke around here without cultivation?

No, he was creating his own technique.

Previously, he had cultivated the Luo Shi Jing; that technique came from the hide scrolls—who knew if it had flaws?

Since he was cultivating his own technique, the results from the Luo Shi Jing must dissipate.

He could create this new technique because most of his theoretical knowledge came from the hide scrolls, but the core philosophy was his own.

That is, the overall framework was his conception; using the knowledge from the scrolls could not possibly be wrong.

Let it dissipate—it's no big deal.

But before it dissipated, he had to create another Zhou Tian—one for neutralizing poison.

He didn't just want to dispel the poison; he wanted to absorb the celestial energy contained within it.

Determined, Ding Huan simply placed a fragment of Zhan Shen Crystal Vein beneath himself and arranged all his Zhan Shen Crystals around his body.

Today, if he failed, he would die here—he absolutely would not return empty-handed.

After merging once more with the boundless starry universe within the black hole, Ding Huan quickly constructed his second Zhou Tian.

Then he kept testing, kept refining the Zhou Tian circulation.

Until the third Zhou Tian, the fourth Zhou Tian…

…

After its previous fame from recruiting disciples from the Mortal World, the Yanyue Sect became famous again.

The reason: Yi Yi Jiang, the Shao Sect of the Yanyue Sect, had been taken as a direct disciple by Qiao Sha, a senior elder of the Huangshen Sect, the top sect of the Third Heaven Star Continent.

The Huangshen Sect was the top sect of the Third Heaven Star Continent—and thus also the top sect of the Ascension Realm.

Being taken as a disciple by a Huangshen Sect elder was such an honor that other sects could only envy it in their dreams.

So today, as the Shao Sect of the Yanyue Sect returned to the sect, the entire Yanyue Sect was decorated with lanterns and banners, bustling with celebration.

"Congratulations, Shao Sect!"

As Yi Yi Jiang stepped through the sect's protective array, the disciples waiting on both sides of the entrance road shouted in unison.

Farther away, Qing Yu's voice among the crowd was louder than anyone else's.

Although Yi Yi Jiang's appearance was ordinary, beyond his exceptional talent, his conduct was also praised by all.

Seeing all the sect disciples come out to welcome him, he stopped to thank each one personally—this only deepened the impression of his impeccable grace; he did not look down on these low-ranking disciples because of his status.

Someone like him being taken as a direct disciple by a Huangshen Sect elder was truly deserved honor.

Because Yi Yi Jiang greeted each disciple individually, this stretch of road took a full hour to traverse.

Yi Yi Jiang's reputation for approachability and exceptional talent spread rapidly throughout the sect.

Many female disciples within the sect envied Guan Ai—a woman from the Mortal World, whose talent was merely average.

How could she have caught the Shao Sect's attention and become his future Dao partner? It was as if her ancestors' graves were smoking with fortune.

The peak where the Yanyue Sect's Shao Sect Yi Yi Jiang resided was the famous Spirit-Rich Peak: Chang Yue Peak.

Yi Yi Jiang's first act upon returning to Changyue Peak was to summon his steward:

"Steward Mi, when I came back today, why didn't I see Guan Cui?"

Steward Mi was Mi Qian; though he was merely a peak steward, his strength and authority were far from low.

He was a true True Pill realm expert, whose True Pill was of exceptionally high quality, and he had the potential to ascend to higher levels.

Because he managed Changyue Peak for the Shao Sect, he received far more cultivation resources each month than ordinary elders.

Gu Youchang was also an elder of the Yanyue Sect, yet his cultivation resources were less than one-tenth of Mi Qian's.

With such abundant resources, he was utterly loyal to the Shao Sect, Yi Yi Jiang.

Now, when Yi Yi Jiang asked about Guan Cui, he immediately replied:

"Guan Cui went to Yanyue City—apparently to purchase something. But her maid Qing Yu is still in the sect; she even participated in welcoming the Shao Sect today."

Yi Yi Jiang frowned slightly:

"If she went to Yanyue City, why didn't she take her own maid with her?"

Steward Mi replied respectfully:

"I too find this puzzling. Logically, Qing Yu is Guan Cui's maid, and they should be very close.

Yet every time Guan Cui travels, she never takes her maid. Within the sect, their relationship also doesn't seem particularly intimate."

Mi Qian was genuinely confused—slots from the Mortal World to the Dao Cultivation World were extremely precious.

As the Shao Sect's prospective Lady, Guan Cui received two Mortal World slots, yet she seemed to value neither of them.

One slot was inexplicably given to a cook, and the other was inexplicably given to a maid she wasn't close to.

Yi Yi Jiang fell silent for a moment before saying:

"Go, bring Qing Yu to me."

"Yes." Mi Qian responded and swiftly departed.

Just over ten minutes later, he arrived at Changyue Peak, controlling his flying sword with Qing Yu in tow.

"Qing Yu bows before the Shao Sect." Qing Yu, thrilled to be summoned by the Shao Sect, blushed deeply.

She had long resented Guan Cui for never taking her along—but now, she suddenly felt grateful Guan Cui hadn't taken her.

If she had been taken, how could she have spoken so closely with the Shao Sect? Even if she spoke, it would have been alongside the Young Lady.

Yi Yi Jiang's expression was gentle as he asked softly:

"Are you accustomed to living in the Yanyue Sect?"

Qing Yu had never heard such thoughtful words—not because she'd never heard kindness, but because the Shao Sect's status was so vastly above hers, yet he cared for her personally.

Her voice trembled with excitement:

"I'm very accustomed to it. Thank you, Shao Sect."

"Just call me Brother Jiang. We'll be living together from now on—we're family."

Hearing Yi Yi Jiang say they would live together, Qing Yu felt heat surge through her body; her heart even pounded wildly.

Would the Shao Sect let her accompany him first? If she could spend one night beside him, her status would instantly soar.

No—even now, right here, she was willing.

The thought made her legs feel weak, and her eyes filled with a misty sheen, thick with desperate longing.

"Can you tell me about your journey here?" Yi Yi Jiang added, noticing Qing Yu hadn't answered.

Qing Yu snapped out of her daydream, as if doused in cold water:

"Yes, when the Young Lady came, she brought me and another cook…"

"Another cook?" Yi Yi Jiang asked, surprised.

Qing Yu nodded: "Yes, his name is Ding Huan. The Young Lady greatly admires him and treats him well."

"How well?" Yi Yi Jiang's tone remained unchanged.

Qing Yu said:

"Ding Huan was originally hired by the Young Lady as a cook. After everyone became familiar, she stopped making him work hard in the kitchen.

She originally intended to invite him to the Yanyue Sect, but then Ding Huan offended Elder Qiong…"

"How did he offend him?" Yi Yi Jiang's smile remained unchanged.

Qing Yu continued without pause:

"Ding Huan acquired a Ningsing Bamboo on the journey. Elder Qiong wanted to buy it, but Ding Huan refused.

If not for the Young Lady speaking up for him, Elder Qiong would have made Ding Huan regret it."

"You say that mortal cook obtained Ningsing Bamboo? And your Young Lady pleaded for him?" Yi Yi Jiang seemed doubtful and asked again.

"Yes. Ding Huan's food is delicious, and he gets along well with the Young Lady. So when she saw Elder Qiong had ill will toward him, she pleaded on his behalf. I even spoke a word for Elder Qiong—and was scolded by the Young Lady."

Qing Yu answered as if she knew nothing.

Yi Yi Jiang smiled, clearly pleased with her answer: "Steward Mi, I'm about to depart for the Huangshen Sect. Please deliver this cultivation technique to Cui.

Tell her to practice it diligently and wait for me—I will return to fetch her."

As he spoke, he pulled out a storage pouch and handed it to Steward Mi.

"Yes." Steward Mi accepted the pouch.

But Qing Yu's eyes flickered with a hint of disappointment—it wasn't the outcome she wanted. The Shao Sect was truly magnanimous.

"Qing Yu, you've done well too. After this, Steward Mi will teach you some things. Study hard—don't fall too far behind." Yi Yi Jiang clearly hadn't forgotten Qing Yu.

"Yes, thank you, Shao Sect!" Qing Yu exclaimed, thrilled.