Chu Xuan was laden with treasures aplenty.
As for the treasures needed for foundation building, they were even more numerous.
He did not mind bestowing some items he no longer needed to Huang An.
Given Huang An's disposition, stepping into the Foundation Establishment stage might well bring some surprises.
Of course, if he failed to advance, it would matter little.
It would merely be a move in passing.
Contented, Chu Xuan swiftly departed.
...
At the Hundred Refinements Sect, atop Original Dao Peak, Shang Tianjue stood at the summit, gazing northward.
A step behind him, an elderly crone with wispy hair and wrinkled skin stood respectfully.
This crone was the Nascent Soul ancestor of the Hundred Refinements Sect, Miao Zizai.
Miao Zizai whispered, "Young master, it is too soon for you to act. Every ten years, the Feather Transformation Palace communicates with all Nascent Soul cultivators of the eastern, western, northern, and southern territories through the Heavenly Patrol Mirror.
With the current efforts to locate you and the second young master, these exchanges will undoubtedly become more frequent. The death of Shentu Jin will sooner or later come to the attention of the Feather Transformation Palace."
Shang Tianjue did not respond immediately but said calmly, "Elder Miao, are you afraid?"
Miao Zizai smiled, "My life, young master, was one you dug out from a pile of corpses. If you demand it now, it is yours."
Shang Tianjue spoke evenly, "Elder Miao, in three years, the extraterritorial battlefield will open."
Miao Zizai was startled, then as if struck by a thought, a brilliant light sparked in his eyes.
...
"To be ranked among the fifth-level cultivation sects, one must have a cultivator at the Deity Transformation stage. The Heavenly Dao Immortal Alliance grants such sects the right to enter the extraterritorial battlefield.
Additionally, contributing extremely rare treasures can also earn one the privilege to enter. The extraterritorial battlefield opens every five hundred years, and each opening requires a large number of Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators to clear the field.
The benefits of the extraterritorial battlefield are numerous, foremost being the plethora of cultivators' corpses, followed by fragments of magical treasures, and various ancient and lost techniques and scriptures..."
Chu Xuan positioned himself comfortably, flipping through an aged tome.
Following the destruction of the Heaven Burning Sect, their library had been plundered by lesser sects and rogue cultivators.
Chu Xuan had arranged for Song Junjie and Qian Tang to acquire many books.
Such a major sect indeed held many secrets, even unknown to Chu Xuan.
For instance, this extraterritorial battlefield, scarcely known among Golden Core cultivators.
After all, it opens once every five hundred years. And the lifespan of a Golden Core cultivator also spans merely five hundred years.
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Nonetheless, the existence of the extraterritorial battlefield is no taboo.
It's simply that its knowledge is not widespread, known but to a few.
"I wonder what kind of place it truly is; should the opportunity arise, it might be worth exploring," mused Chu Xuan.
Primarily, he wished to witness different landscapes, having no interest in the corpses of cultivators.
...
Two months blinked by, unusually tranquil.
In the abrupt demise of the Heaven Burning Sect, vast vacuums emerged within the Yue Kingdom. Lesser sects were nearly at each other's throats.
Under such circumstances, the Hundred Refinements Sect showed no intention of moving south. It seemed they were waiting for something.
During this period, the Hidden Mountain Gathering organized another Golden Core assembly.
Chu Xuan attended once again. He noticed the absence of Deep Sea. But there were two new members.
This meeting was rich with intelligence. Not just about the Hundred Refinements Sect and Heaven Burning Sects. But also about Myriad Islands Lake.
The power distribution and general situation of Myriad Islands Lake were clarified to Chu Xuan.
That day, Yuan Zichu, who seldom made personal visits, came calling. His arrival surprised Chu Xuan.
Since that time when all his defenses were crushed by a single punch, there had been little contact between them.
Why the sudden visit?
Once Yuan Zichu and Chu Xuan were seated, he immediately inquired, "Fellow daoist He, are you aware of the stirrings at Myriad Islands Lake to the north?"
Chu Xuan shook his head, "What stirrings? I keep to myself and am uninformed."
Myriad Islands Lake, vast in area, was home to various powers. One of the largest is the Alliance of Twenty-Six Islands.
This power was located at the southernmost part of Myriad Islands Lake, often interacting with the Hundred Refinements Sect.
The Hundred Refinements Sect, with its vast resources, had established a Treasure Ship Market at the lake's edge.
Through this market, the sect exchanged goods with the cultivators of Myriad Islands Lake.
The profits were substantial. To say the Alliance of Twenty-Six Islands did not covet this would be impossible.
However, the strength of the Hundred Refinements Sect always surpassed that of the Alliance, and the latter dared not provoke any incidents.
Yuan Zichu clenched his fists, "The Alliance of Twenty-Six Islands covets our Hundred Refinements Sect's Treasure Ship Market, covertly instigating rogues to disrupt the market.
The market's profits have greatly diminished over the past two years. Our sect showed some forbearance, only to be met with their increasing audacity!
Just three days ago, two of our sect's stewards were killed! Intolerable is an understatement! The sect has called upon the Golden Core elders to go and guard the Treasure Ship Market!"
Yuan Zichu declared somberly, "I have volunteered to go there and suppress the audacity of those Myriad Islands Lake cultivators!"
Chu Xuan nodded, "With such resolve, fellow daoist Yuan, the sect master will surely be gratified."
Yuan Zichu earnestly said, "I know fellow daoist He, that you are powerful. Why not join me? With your cultivation level, you could certainly turn those Myriad Islands Lake cultivators on their heads! The contributions to the sect would be substantial, would they not?"
Chu Xuan frowned, "I've said before, I do not delight in strife or bloodshed. Why involve me in such matters? Let this be the last time you seek me for such endeavors! Qian Tang, show the guest out!"
With a sweep of his sleeve, he turned and left.
Qian Tang, who had been standing in the hall, quickly approached, "Elder Yuan, this way, please."
Yuan Zichu's expression was one of astonishment. He had thought Chu Xuan's previous refusals were mere formalities. He hadn't expected him to actually mean it!
"Fellow daoist He, you... Ah... How could you miss such an opportunity?"
Yuan Zichu shook his head and left, his sleeves fluttering. He had long regarded Chu Xuan as a person of note, intent on forming an alliance in this manner.
Last time was the same. And so was this time. Both attempts were rebuffed by Chu Xuan. There was nothing to be done but to find someone else.
Chu Xuan merely scoffed. Though the Alliance of Twenty-Six Islands had Nascent Soul ancestor just like the Hundred Refinements Sect, the Alliance, comprising twenty-six large islands and nearly a hundred smaller ones, was often issuing multiple orders, creating chaos.
They were completely disorganized. How could such a fragmented force dare to oppose the well-disciplined Hundred Refinements Sect?
The so-called rogue cultivators disrupting the Treasure Ship Market was likely a drama orchestrated by the Hundred Refinements Sect themselves. This scheme was probably led by Shang Tianjue.
Chu Xuan could not fathom the "Overlord's" motives. But he wanted no part in such a play.
At first glance, it seemed like an easy job. But who knew what those two Nascent Soul old monsters from the Hundred Refinements Sect were thinking? If they needed a few lives to ignite a war, they wouldn't care whose lives were sacrificed.
"Yuan Zichu, oh Yuan Zichu... I hope you survive."
Chu Xuan was indifferent to it all. In a blink, he returned to Blue Star, continuing his cultivation of the "Yin Thunder Evil Technique."