Chapter 180

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Chapter 180: Feng Yuanxi

“By the way, what did you do with that Void Refinement stage cultivator?” Xu Fan asked. If the body was still around, he planned to turn it into a puppet.

“I handed it over to Grape to make into a puppet,” Xu Yuexian replied. This way, the sect would gain another Void Refinement stage fighting strength.

“Haha, that’s my kind of thinking,” Xu Fan chuckled. A Void Refinement stage puppet could be useful for many tasks.

“Of course,” Xu Yuexian said with a sly smile, always aiming to maximize benefits.

As they chatted, Qiu Ziyuan, who was managing the sect’s affairs, arrived on a spiritual boat, landing not far from Xu Fan and Xu Yuexian.

“Master, I’ll head off to cultivate now,” Xu Yuexian said upon seeing Qiu Ziyuan, knowing Xu Fan had other matters to attend to.

“Go ahead.”

After Xu Yuexian vanished like a streak of light, Qiu Ziyuan approached Xu Fan from behind.

“Grand Elder,” Qiu Ziyuan greeted with a bow.

“I’ve decided to establish the Outer Sect of Hidden Spirit Sect, mainly to recruit accomplished wandering cultivators.”

“We’re currently building an island 100,000 miles northwest of Hidden Spirit Island. Go and discuss the future plans for the Outer Sect with the newly appointed Outer Sect Elder,” Xu Fan instructed. He preferred to leave such tasks to others, as they provided good training for the sect’s disciples.

“Please give me some guidance, Grand Elder,” Qiu Ziyuan said, recognizing this as an opportunity to prove himself.

“Just focus on making the sect profitable,” Xu Fan said casually.

“Understood.”

With Xu Fan’s orders in hand, Qiu Ziyuan flew toward the Outer Sect construction site.

As the acting manager of Hidden Spirit Sect, his authority was second only to the peak masters when it came to Grape’s operations.

Monitoring the sect’s puppets also fell under his responsibilities.

“Our first-generation disciples need to grow stronger quickly.”

On the spiritual boat, Qiu Ziyuan recalled the recent live broadcast of the Beast Race Invasion he had seen in the sect’s square. Thousands of Thick-Shell Honey Badgers, all at least at the Golden Core stage of cultivation.

In contrast, the strongest of his first-generation disciples were only at the late Foundation Establishment stage. He wondered how long it would take for them to truly become the backbone of the sect.

However, after witnessing the Thick-Shell Honey Badgers’ invasion, all first-generation disciples had realized that the sect was not a safe haven.

Their safety was secured by the sect’s countless puppets, but if those puppets failed to hold back the beasts, it would be their turn to fight.

As he approached the Outer Sect construction site, Qiu Ziyuan saw dozens of small islands being moved by the sect’s underwater tool puppets.

In the distance, a swordsman floated in mid-air, gazing intently at the giant island being built below.

“This is truly a marvel! I never imagined Hidden Spirit Sect had such power,” Shi Zhan remarked, watching the tool puppets at work on the lake’s surface and lakebed.

The Giant Ship hauling a mountain range in the distance left Shi Zhan in awe.

During his treasure hunting adventures, he had met many fellow cultivators, some of whom had shared tales of the legendary Giant Sea Ship that could navigate the Endless Sea, even in the presence of Great Ascension beasts.

“That’s the Giant Power Vessel crafted by Elder Sha, designed to carry heavy loads on the water,” Qiu Ziyuan explained as he appeared beside Shi Zhan.

“I am Qiu Ziyuan, a first-generation disciple and manager of Hidden Spirit Sect. Greetings, Outer Sect Elder.”

Dressed in a blue robe, Qiu Ziyuan’s scholarly appearance reminded Shi Zhan of an old friend.

“Qiu Ziyuan, you’re too kind.”

“Elder Xu has already brought it up. Let’s discuss the future plans for the Outer Sect here,” Shi Zhan said formally, not underestimating Qiu Ziyuan despite his Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.

“Sounds good. Let’s focus on finishing the construction of the Outer Sect island first,” Qiu Ziyuan replied, projecting a virtual light curtain that displayed the future appearance of the Outer Sect island once completed.

“This is the Outer Sect island. Take a look and let me know if there’s anything that needs improvement,” he said.

As Shi Zhan gazed at the light curtain in front of Qiu Ziyuan, he felt the stark difference between a ragtag group and a well-organized force. Just the Shadow Technique alone was something he couldn’t match.

“I think it should be…” Shi Zhan didn’t dwell on his thoughts and quickly began discussing the construction plans for the Outer Sect island with Qiu Ziyuan.

A month later, the Outer Sect island of the Hidden Spirit Sect was completed.

The entire island was oval-shaped, with only one town currently built, intended to house ordinary citizens in the future.

The rest of the area was reserved for a comprehensive zone for cultivators, featuring spaces for cultivation, markets, alchemy, and artifact crafting.

“Let’s turn this place into a unique fairy city. Elder, your vision has already been approved by Elder Xu,” Qiu Ziyuan said with a smile.

“Elder Xu fully supports your idea and hopes you can transform the Outer Sect of the Hidden Spirit Sect into your ideal place in the future.”

“This idea came to me while I was traveling through the central continent,” Shi Zhan explained.

As he looked at the massive giant island ahead, Shi Zhan couldn’t help but think of the woman he could never forget, wondering if she had built her hometown as they had once planned.

While Shi Zhan was lost in thought, a sudden flash of spiritual light appeared above the giant island of the Outer Sect. A stunning woman dressed in a Nine Wind Source robe appeared mid-air, her clothes fluttering as if she were a celestial being descending to earth.

Her cold, indifferent face radiated an aura of dominance, as if she ruled over all.

Just moments ago, Shi Zhan had been reminiscing about his beloved when he suddenly felt an unforgettable presence.

He looked up sharply and was instantly captivated.

“Chang Ning,” Shi Zhan murmured dreamily.

At that moment, Xu Fan, who was a hundred thousand miles away, saw the woman in the Nine Wind Source robe through the light curtain.

Xu Fan glanced at the regal woman and then back at Shi Zhan, who was completely entranced, and instantly imagined a million-word storyline.

Titles like “In the Upper Realm: I Serve the Empress as the Vanguard,” “Those Years as the Empress’s Loyal Follower,” and “Enduring the Shame of a Massive Debt in Spirit Stones, Just to Wait for the Empress’s World” would undoubtedly be masterpieces if written.

Feeling the woman’s aura, Xu Fan called Xu Yuexian over.

“Yuexian, do you remember the small world not far from our sect?” Xu Fan asked.

“Yes, that unified world’s dynasty left a deep impression on me,” Xu Yuexian replied, recalling her surprise during the exploration of that small world.

“Tell me about that dynasty,” Xu Fan urged.

“It was called the Western Yuan Dynasty, originally a small border country, not much larger than our Hidden Spirit Island.”

“That small country was weak and on the verge of being swallowed by its neighboring country.”

“At that critical moment, the only princess of the dynasty took over the national seal from the critically ill emperor and, with decisive action, united all the forces across the country…”

After Xu Yuexian finished recounting the dynasty’s rise, Xu Fan asked, “What was the name of the empress?”

“Feng Chang Ning.”