Chapter 574

Chapter 574: Gathering from All Sides

The Saint’s Secret Vault hovered mid-air on the mountainside, flickering between visibility and transparency. The bizarre structure appeared both solid and intangible, impossible to touch.

A strange glint flashed in Ye Yun’s eyes as the Ancestor of the Sword Path’s words shocked him. If this vault wasn’t created by the Immortal Sword Sect’s saint, who else could have done it? The Ancestor insisted the Immortal Sword Sect’s saint lacked the power to hide a vault within space.

This realization made sense to Ye Yun. He’d always found it odd. Legends claimed the Immortal Sword Sect’s saint, while besieged by sects, had set up a delaying array to buy time before sealing their cultivation and treasures in a secret realm.

But how could someone on the brink of collapse have time to craft such a vault? And why hadn’t it been breached in a millennium? If merely a spatial array blocked Nascent Soul stage Ancestors while Golden Core stage disciples lacked the skill to crack it, why had no geniuses emerged in centuries to succeed?

This logic was flawed.

Moreover, the Misty Sect, the Great Qin Empire, and Divine Grace Palace all had saints. Even if the Immortal Sword Sect’s saint was powerful, they’d been at death’s door. How formidable could a hastily made vault be? Any saint’s intervention should’ve shattered it long ago.

Ye Yun had occasionally pondered this but never dwelled on it. Now, seeing the vault hidden in space and hearing the Ancestor’s doubts, everything clicked.

This Saint’s Secret Vault wasn’t left by the Immortal Sword Sect but by an unknown expert. Concealing it in space required mastery of spatial laws and immense power. While understanding spatial laws isn’t rare—Golden Core stage cultivators can grasp basics—executing such feats demands extraordinary skill, perhaps only achievable by Heavenly Realm immortals.

This wasn’t a mere spatial array. Ordinary saints could hide arrays in spatial layers, but this was a massive vault. Spatial layers have chaotic currents and lethal winds—building here required unmatched power, far beyond ordinary saints.

Ye Yun’s eyes burned with urgency. He yearned to enter, find the soul-healing pills, return to the Jin Kingdom to save Su Ling, then roam freely—cultivating, visiting the Jiaoyue Dynasty, or even Lingxiao City in the Central Continent.

“Divine Grace Palace Master, years have passed, yet your elegance remains,” a voice boomed. A black-robed elder stood mid-air, hands behind his back, exuding a gentle but oppressive aura.

“Master Hei Xu of the Xuan Yuan Sect! Seven or eight years, no? Surprised your sect still dares show itself,” Yu Qingzhi remarked, smiling faintly.

“The Saint’s Secret Vault’s opening is a grand event for the Great Qin’s cultivation realm. Though not a top sect, the Xuan Yuan Sect’s reputation demands participation,” Master Hei Xu chuckled, pride flashing in his eyes.

“Master Hei Xu, I’m shocked your sect still exists,” Tian Yunzi said coldly, murderous intent barely veiled.

“Peak Master of the Absolute Heart Peak, your words sting. While my sect’s strength pales next to Divine Grace Palace, I match you. Eager to duel? I’ll oblige,” Master Hei Xu retorted, eyes sharp.

Their gazes clashed, sparks crackling in the air.

“Master Hei Xu, Tian Yunzi—both pinnacle Nascent Soul stage Ancestors—take your fight elsewhere. Don’t disrupt the disciples opening the vault’s first layer,” a raspy voice cut through the crowd.

Master Hei Xu glanced up, startled. “Misty Sect’s master Hua Changchun himself! Astonishing. The vault’s first layer warrants your presence?”

The speaker materialized from thin air, landing on a distant peak—Hua Changchun, the Misty Sect’s master. Behind him, seven or eight Nascent Soul stage Ancestors (Fifth Level or higher) appeared, faces stern.

“Where’s the Great Qin Empire?” Master Hei Xu scanned the area coldly.

“The royals flaunt their power by arriving late. A pointless question,” Tian Yunzi sneered.

“I hear the royals have saints, but they won’t come unless the empire’s doomed. Nascent Soul lackeys? Nothing to fear,” Master Hei Xu scoffed, arrogance flaring.

“A minor sect like Xuan Yuan dares mock the royals? Foolish,” Hua Changchun laughed. “The vault’s spoils are decided: 40% to the royals, 50% split between Misty Sect and Divine Grace Palace, 10% for the rest.”

Master Hei Xu sneered and said, “The Saint’s Secret Vault belongs to all cultivators of the Great Qin Empire, not just your three families. Is this distribution method fair? No, not at all. Since there’s no fairness, what’s there to discuss? Once the vault opens, everyone shall rely on their own abilities!”

Rely on their own abilities!

The four characters boomed like thunder, echoing across the sky.

In the valley below, disciples and Higher-ups of the major sects stood ready. Though they resented the unfair distribution, none dared voice complaints against the three major powers. These factions could obliterate entire sects with ease.

But when Master Hei Xu roared those words, their suppressed fury erupted. Led by an unknown voice, they roared in unison, the sound rolling like heavenly thunder.

“You see—this isn’t just my will, but the people’s. While your three factions hold the method to unlock the vault and keys, claiming 90% is unacceptable. A larger share is reasonable, but not nine-tenths!” Master Hei Xu declared coldly, his gaze sweeping the valley with a flicker of triumph.

Hua Changchun of the Misty Sect frowned. “This plan isn’t an issue for my sect—we only take 20%. But Divine Grace Palace holds 30%, and the royal family 40%. If they agree to reduce their shares, so will we.”

“Excellent!” Master Hei Xu turned to Divine Grace Palace Master Yu Qingzhi. “What say you, Palace Master Yu?”

Yu Qingzhi replied calmly, “Divine Grace Palace defers to the Great Qin royal family. Convince them, and we’ll have no objections.”

Master Hei Xu hid his surprise. He’d expected no concessions from the two factions, given the Xuan Yuan Sect’s weaker standing. Yet now, victory hinged solely on persuading the royal family. As the instigator, his sect would claim the lion’s share—a prospect that drew a smug smile.

“For millennia, Great Qin has thrived through unity!” he proclaimed. “The royal family will surely grant us more training resources for the cultivation realm’s advancement!”

A spatial gate suddenly tore open hundreds of zhang away, swelling to ten zhang wide. A middle-aged man in a yellow python robe emerged, followed by seventy Golden Core disciples—all at the sixth level, having survived heavenly tribulation—and twenty Nascent Soul Ancestors, each at the Fifth Level or higher.

The display of power stunned the crowd. Even the Misty Sect’s three hundred Golden Core disciples paled in comparison—only ten, including Murong Wuqing, had endured tribulation.

“The royal family!” Master Hei Xu muttered, eyes sharpening.

Leading the group was Prince Jing, the emperor’s third brother.

Yu Qingzhi stepped forward, clasping her hands. “Prince Jing, we didn’t expect you to lead this expedition.”

Prince Jing smiled. “Palace Master Yu, your cultivation nears the Earth Immortal realm. A half-step away, perhaps?”

She laughed. “The Earth Immortal realm is a chasm none here can cross. Even Tian Yunzi, ‘strongest below Earth Immortal,’ remains stuck. Why else would we seek the Saint’s Secret Vault?”

Prince Jing chuckled, then acknowledged Hua Changchun with a nod. Both sect leaders owed no bows except to the emperor.

His gaze hardened as it landed on Master Hei Xu. “Who are you?”

“We met a decade ago, Prince Jing. Have you forgotten?”

Recognition flashed. “Ah—Master Hei Xu of the Xuan Yuan Sect. Reaching the Nascent Soul’s pinnacle is… impressive.”

Master Hei Xu bowed. “You flatter me. Your cultivation rivals mine, worthy of the emperor’s trust.”

“I heard you dispute the vault’s distribution.”

“Merely a suggestion. The three factions claim 90%, but the Misty Sect and Divine Grace Palace have agreed to yield shares. Now, we await the royal family’s… generosity.”

Prince Jing glanced at Yu Qingzhi and Hua Changchun. “Is this true?”

Yu Qingzhi nodded. “We follow the royal family’s decision.”

Master Hei Xu smirked. “Your answer, Prince Jing?”

The prince’s smile vanished. “Since when does a minor sect like Xuan Yuan dare demand terms from me? It seems Great Qin’s majesty has been forgotten.”

Murderous intent flooded the air.