Chapter 171: A Boundless Path, Seeking Only Success

When the two visitors saw the disciples of the Spirit Field Valley, a faint smile touched their lips. They were reminded of their own early days when they had just joined the Gufeng Sect, full of struggles with their fellow disciples. As their cultivation and their age had increased, those struggles had forged their relationship into one as strong as iron. Now, when they occasionally drank and chatted, they would speak of those early days and laugh until tears streamed down their faces.

That time when they had just entered the sect… The two of them exchanged a look, and from each other’s eyes, they saw the same feeling. That had been the most beautiful, most interesting time.

The nearby disciples were discussing amongst themselves. “Why do you think these two disciples from another sect have come to visit?”

“I heard that the outside world has been very unstable lately. Maybe it’s because of that?”

“Impossible. If something major had happened in the cultivation world, they wouldn’t have sent two juniors. An elder would have come personally to negotiate.”

“That’s true. Then what could it be? Look at that perfect pair, it’s enough to make anyone jealous.”

Just then, a disciple said with a sneer, “What perfect pair? I think they’re a pair of adulterers.”

Chang Aotian, who was already some distance away in his carriage, seemed to have heard the slander. He turned his head, and a sharp killing intent flashed in his eyes, locking firmly onto the disciple who had spoken out of turn. The disciple instantly felt a chill run through his body. He couldn’t help but tremble, his face turning deathly pale, as if he had just seen a ghost.

“What a powerful aura!” The nearby disciples who saw this all shut their mouths, not daring to speak recklessly again.

After the two visitors had gone far, the crowd of onlookers dispersed. Ye Yiming also said to Qin Haoxuan, “Let’s go. We should get back to cultivating.”

Qin Haoxuan nodded silently, his heart in turmoil. Although he couldn’t be sure if the swords on their backs were flying swords, he was certain they were no ordinary blades. If they were indeed flying swords, then that was truly terrifying. In the Taichu Sect, only the Sect Master and the elders of the Elder’s Council possessed true flying swords, yet in their sect, even ordinary disciples had them. The gap was simply too vast.

In his eyes, these two from the Gufeng Sect were just passing travelers. No matter what happened, his most urgent task at hand was to refine the Thousand-Mile Talisman. Otherwise, he would be in great danger after “Entering the Mortal World.”

Returning to his room, Qin Haoxuan thought for a moment and then said with determination, “Senior Brother, I am preparing to officially begin refining the Thousand-Mile Talisman tonight.”

Ye Yiming’s expression turned grim. “What are your chances of success?”

Qin Haoxuan pondered for a moment and, after careful calculation, said, “Only about twenty percent.”

Ye Yiming’s expression was grave. “A twenty percent success rate is very low. You only have two sets of materials. If the refining goes wrong and you fail, it will be very tight on time to gather more materials to try again.”

“I can only succeed; I cannot fail,” Qin Haoxuan said, his voice firm. “To survive, I have to bet everything. When Xing comes tonight, I will begin. He has experience with setting up spirit stone arrays.”

After they spoke, Qin Haoxuan picked up another piece of black iron and skillfully carved the inscriptions. A pale red flame emerged from the infusion array, and he began the refining process. He tried to use his spiritual sense to gauge the temperature of the fire and the material’s tolerance. If the material couldn’t take it, he would immediately lower the temperature. The two-finger-sized piece of black iron shrank by half.

Next was the infusion. The spiritual fire vanished, and strands of spiritual energy quickly surged from the spirit stone. Under Qin Haoxuan’s direction, they were evenly channeled into the black iron. To an outsider, his movements were simply skilled and focused, but in reality, he was constantly using his spiritual sense to monitor the changes in the spiritual energy. The talisman’s body was extremely sensitive; if the infusion was even slightly uneven, it would immediately crack, and all his effort would be for naught.

After about thirty breaths, the small piece of black iron was filled with spiritual energy. But because the iron could not store it, the energy quickly dissipated after the infusion was complete.

After finishing the entire process, Qin Haoxuan let out a long breath, but his expression did not relax. He knew this was just practice with black iron; the real thing would not be so simple.

Watching his skilled movements, the worry on Ye Yiming’s face did not lessen. With his current ability, he could easily refine some basic talismans, but for a powerful one like the Thousand-Mile Talisman, to have even a twenty percent chance of success was already quite impressive.

At that moment, Xing, upon whom Qin Haoxuan was pinning his hopes, was bowing and scraping before Zhang Yang, trying to find out the real reason for the two visitors’ arrival. Zhang Yang’s brow furrowed. He was very displeased with Xing’s gossiping and said in a gruff voice, “I don’t know.”

Xing looked slightly disappointed. Just as he was about to go and ask someone else, Zhang Yang grabbed him and said with a fierce, impatient expression, “Didn’t you say you were on good terms with Qin Haoxuan? How is it that you still haven’t managed to trick him and bring him to me? Don’t you know I have a use for him?”

Xing bowed and smiled obsequiously. “This lowly one is useless, useless. Please calm your anger, Boss. I will redouble my efforts and speed up the process of tricking that bastard Qin Haoxuan and tying him up for you.”

As he said these words, in his heart, he had already killed Zhang Yang a hundred times over. He thought to himself, If that guy Qin Haoxuan hadn’t forbidden me from eating people, you would have been my first meal. With your pathetic bit of strength, you dare to lecture me? You really don’t know what’s good for you. Just wait until I get out of here; you’ll be the first one I eat, to appease the hatred in my heart.

However, while he was thinking this, his face and his words showed none of it. Although he hated Zhang Yang to the extreme, he was even more aware of what would happen if his identity were exposed.

Zhang Yang glared fiercely at him and snapped, “Get out of here then, before the sight of you ruins my mood!”

“Yes, yes! I’ll get lost right now!” Xing repeatedly bowed and exited the room. It wasn’t that he was afraid of what Zhang Yang would do to him; he was afraid that if he looked at him for a moment longer, he would be unable to contain his hatred and would flatten him into a meat patty and eat him raw.

The Gufeng Sect’s Chang Aotian and Xu Qing rode their carriage up the winding “Stairway to Heaven” and, after about two hours, arrived at the Taichu Grand Hall. The hall was magnificent and grand, so vast that one could not see its end.

When they arrived, the attendant was already waiting. He put on a slight smile. “Senior Brother Chang, Senior Sister Xu, our Sect Master and the four Hall Masters are waiting for you in the main hall.”

Chang Aotian smiled slightly. “My apologies, Senior Brother Attendant. The scenery along the way was too beautiful, and my junior sister and I couldn’t help but linger for a moment. No wonder your esteemed sect’s disciples progress so quickly. Living in such an earthly paradise, one’s mind is at peace; it would be difficult to cultivate slowly even if one wanted to.”

Xu Qing added, “It’s just that a few of your disciples were quite impolite. Just now, a senior brother spoke out of turn, and my senior brother had to warn him with a glance. For this discourtesy, I apologize to you, Senior Brother Attendant.”

Her words were barbed, a stark contrast to her sweet appearance. The attendant was secretly surprised but simply said, “If our disciples have caused any offense, I ask that you please forgive them.”

Just as Xu Qing was about to say something more, she was stopped by a look from Chang Aotian.

“Let’s not delay any longer,” the attendant reminded them. “The Sect Master and the Hall Masters are waiting. Please.”

Just as they approached the ninety-nine white jade steps leading to the main hall, the massive red wooden doors, a full ten inches thick, swung open with a boom. A vast and powerful aura washed out from within, like a torrential river, inspiring an urge to prostrate oneself in worship.

Chang Aotian and Xu Qing solemnly bowed and announced in loud, clear voices, “Disciples of the Gufeng Sect, Chang Aotian and Xu Qing, pay our respects to the Sect Master of the Taichu Sect!”

From within the hall came the resonant voice of Huanglong. “Welcome the guests!” As his voice faded, six clear, melodious chimes rang out.

With solemn expressions, Chang Aotian and Xu Qing respectfully entered the Taichu Grand Hall. Huanglong sat on the main seat, with the five Hall Masters seated on either side, all of them looking stern and majestic. The hall itself was a powerful array, and the subtle killing intent it radiated was enough to make one’s heart tremble.

Both of them were stunned by the sheer power of the place, but Chang Aotian quickly recovered and paid his respects. Even Huanglong showed a hint of approval.

The Gufeng Sect was the guardian sect of the neighboring Gufeng Kingdom. Its relationship with the Taichu Sect was neither good nor bad.

Huanglong squinted his eyes, his thoughts unreadable. He gestured with his hand. “Please, sit.” With a ripple of spiritual energy, two chairs materialized before them.

After the initial pleasantries, Huanglong got straight to the point. “I just exchanged letters with Master Gufeng three months ago. For what reason has he sent you here this time?”

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