Chun Jun Mountain Range, Ancient Qinglan!

Soon, the azure jade flying boat carried Ye Qing and Liu Xundao away from the territory of the Eastern Region.

They entered the airspace above a vast, mist-shrouded ocean that stretched boundlessly.

After flying for a while, the surroundings were entirely vast ocean, making it difficult to discern their position.

Fortunately, the flying boat was equipped with a detailed navigation chart, so they were in no danger of losing their way.

After traveling at high speed across the vast sea for some time, the clear outline of a massive landmass...

...finally appeared at the edge of their vision.

They had arrived at Canglang Prefecture!

The azure jade flying boat streaked through the sky like a bolt of green lightning as it entered Canglang Prefecture.

It then pierced through clouds and waves, racing toward the Chunjun Mountain Range.

Soon, a continuous range of undulating mountains came into view.

Below, the mountains were lush and green, shrouded in dense Spiritual Qi.

It was even a bit more concentrated than in many places in the Eastern Region.

"Young Sect Master Ye, we are about to arrive at the Chunjun Mountain Range," Liu Xundao introduced, pointing ahead while standing on the deck of the flying boat.

"To avoid unwanted attention and facilitate our operations, the Elders and Disciples the Sect stationed here years ago established a power called the 'Chunjun Sect.' Publicly, it is known as a second-rate School in Canglang Prefecture to serve as a cover for the secret mining of that yuan crystal vein."

"The current Sect Master of the Chunjun Sect is named Gu Changfeng. He is an external Elder of our Sect and possesses a cultivation at the Nascent Soul Seventh Layer, making him a capable combatant in Canglang Prefecture."

Ye Qing nodded, his Divine Sense stirring slightly.

He had already sensed that the mountain range in the distance was densely packed with Formations, and its various Auras were well-hidden.

It was indeed a stronghold that had been cultivated for many years.

As Liu Xundao spoke, he took out a communication jade talisman.

He sent a message into it:

"Sect Master Gu, we have come to provide support by order of the Sect Master. We are about to arrive."

...Meanwhile, deep within the Chunjun Mountain Range, inside a magnificent hall.

An elegant middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe...

...was sitting across from a young woman of peerless beauty dressed in a light green dress, sipping fragrant tea.

This middle-aged man was none other than the Sect Master of the Chunjun Sect, Gu Changfeng.

The young woman opposite him was his only daughter, Gu Qinglan.

"Father, that Wang Family is going too far. Not only have they blockaded several of our businesses, but now they are even demanding that we hand over the mineral vein. Their Old Ancestor is a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Eighth Layer. Can we... really stop them?"

Gu Qinglan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a hint of worry touching her beautiful face.

Hearing this, Gu Changfeng laughed, set down his teacup, and his eyes flashed with confidence.

"Qinglan, set your mind at ease. Our Chunjun Sect is not some rootless rogue power."

"Standing behind us is the colossus of the Eastern Region—the Taiyi Sect!"

"Moreover, I just received a message from Peak Master Liu Xundao. The reinforcements sent by the Sect will be here any moment!"

He stood up, his eyes shining with sharp light.

The Aura of a Nascent Soul Seventh Layer expert naturally emanated from him.

"Come! Follow your father out to welcome the Sect's envoys!"

"With the Taiyi Sect's reinforcements here, a mere Wang Family is not worth mentioning!"

...A moment later, in front of the Chunjun Sect's mountain gate plaza.

Gu Changfeng had brought his daughter Gu Qinglan and the only three Nascent Soul Elders in the Sect to wait.

The cultivation of these three Elders ranged between the Nascent Soul Fifth and Sixth Layers. At this moment, they all wore expressions of excitement and anticipation, frequently glancing toward the sky.

Finally!

A streak of green light pierced the horizon, and an ancient and elegant azure jade flying boat tore through the clouds.

It slowly appeared in everyone's sight.

On the flying boat, the Taiyi Sect's unique and profound Sect insignia and Aura were clearly visible!

"They're here!" an Elder whispered excitedly.

Gu Changfeng's spirits were also lifted, and his face was covered in a warm, welcoming smile.

Under the eager gaze of the crowd, the azure jade flying boat came to a steady halt above the plaza.

Then the hatch opened, and two figures, one following the other, stepped out.

Leading the way was a man with white hair and beard, possessing an immortal-like air; it was the Peak Master of Xundao Peak, Liu Xundao.

Following behind him was a young Cultivator dressed in green, with a handsome face and an otherworldly temperament.

However... when he saw that only two people had disembarked from the flying boat, the smile on Gu Changfeng's face instantly froze.

The three Nascent Soul Elders behind him, as well as his daughter Gu Qinglan, were all stunned.

No one else?

Just... two people?

The reinforcements consisted of only two people?

A strong sense of unease welled up in Gu Changfeng's heart, and he subconsciously swept his Divine Sense over them.

Liu Xundao, Nascent Soul Sixth Layer.

He recognized this man. As the former number one Prodigy of the Eastern Region, his status naturally needed no explanation.

But the young man behind him... Nascent Soul First Layer?!

Gu Changfeng's heart skipped a beat and sank halfway.

This... this had to be a joke, right?

Facing the Wang Family, which was backed by a Nascent Soul Eighth Layer Cultivator, the Sect had only sent one Nascent Soul Sixth Layer and one Nascent Soul First Layer junior?

Despite the turmoil of shock and incomprehension in his heart, Gu Changfeng was an old hand in the Jianghu after all, and he didn't let a hint of it show on his face.

He quickly composed himself and went forward with a face full of smiles.

"Peak Master Xundao, your arrival honors us. Please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner!"

"And this is..."

Liu Xundao smiled slightly and stepped aside to introduce him: "Sect Master Gu, this is our Taiyi Sect's newly appointed Young Sect Master, Ye Qing."

Young Sect Master?!

Gu Changfeng's heart jolted again, and the look he gave Ye Qing instantly became incredibly complex.

So young, and he's the Young Sect Master?

But he still immediately bowed in greeting: "So the Young Sect Master has come in person! Gu Changfeng pays his respects to the Young Sect Master!"

The three Elders and Gu Qinglan behind him also hurriedly followed suit.

"Sect Master Gu, there is no need for such ceremony," Ye Qing said calmly, his expression serene.

His gaze swept over Gu Changfeng, his eyes shifting slightly.

With his current perception...

...he could naturally clearly sense that although this Sect Master Gu's Aura was thick, it was faintly unstable.

It seemed that because his Divine Soul had suffered some old injuries over the years, he was now in a state of Divine Soul instability.

If he were to engage in battle, his Nascent Soul Seventh Layer cultivation could probably only exert seventy to eighty percent of its full power at most.

The group was welcomed into the Sect's main hall and took their seats as hosts and guests.

After some pleasantries, Gu Changfeng finally couldn't suppress the doubt in his heart and asked cautiously:

"Peak Master Xundao, I wonder... how many waves of reinforcements does the Sect plan to send? When will the subsequent main force arrive?"

In his mind, Ye Qing and Liu Xundao might just be the vanguard sent by the Sect to scout the situation first.

After all, the matter of the yuan crystal mine was of great importance; the Sect couldn't possibly be so careless.

A real main force would surely follow to provide support; that was the only logical conclusion.

However, hearing his words, Liu Xundao smiled slightly, his tone relaxed.

He spoke:

"Sect Master Gu, you are overthinking. The Sect has only sent this one wave of reinforcements."

He paused, looking at Gu Changfeng's instantly changing expression.

Smiling, he added confidently:

"Rest assured, with us here, resolving the trouble with the Wang Family will be more than enough."

Liu Xundao thought to himself:

If it were just me alone, facing the Wang Family with a Nascent Soul Eighth Layer Cultivator—especially a Canglang Prefecture Cultivator—I naturally wouldn't dare to talk so big.

But with the Young Sect Master on this trip, it's a completely different story!

But his confidence, in the eyes of the uninformed Gu Changfeng...

...seemed like blind arrogance.

Gu Changfeng's heart was filled with bitterness, feeling as though the last shred of hope was about to be extinguished.

But he still didn't give up, and holding onto a sliver of possibility, he asked tentatively, "Could it be... that you two have brought some powerful treasure from the Sect?"

"To deal with a mere Wang Family, why would we need to use a Sect treasure?" Liu Xundao waved his hand, looking as if it were only natural.

A Wang Family that didn't even have a Nascent Soul Ninth Layer, using a treasure?

Even if they had a Soul Transformation...

...it wouldn't be necessary!

But—

It was over!

Gu Changfeng's heart completely sank to the bottom.

Only two people had come, there were no reinforcements, and they hadn't brought any treasures!

One was a Nascent Soul Sixth Layer with a damaged Foundation, and the other was even less impressive... how could they possibly fight?

He forced a thin smile onto his face and gave a few dry responses before arranging for Ye Qing and Liu Xundao to go to the guest rooms to rest.

After Ye Qing and the other left, Gu Changfeng slumped powerlessly onto the Sect Master's throne and let out a long sigh.

One Nascent Soul Sixth Layer, one Nascent Soul First Layer, and they hadn't brought any trump cards.

How could they resolve the Wang Family's trouble?

The Taiyi Sect... did they intend to abandon the Chunjun Mountain Range?

At this time, Gu Qinglan walked over to him with graceful steps.

She comforted him softly:

"Father, don't worry too much. The Sect acting this way perhaps... naturally has its reasons."

"I have heard of Peak Master Liu Xundao's deeds; he was once the number one Prodigy of the Eastern Region, and his strength is surely extraordinary! And that Young Sect Master Ye, since he could be appointed as the Young Sect Master, he must have his own extraordinary qualities. Since the Sect only sent the two of them, they must have the confidence to resolve the trouble."

"Confidence? Heh..."

Hearing this, Gu Changfeng shook his head with a bitter smile, his expression becoming even more dejected.

"Qinglan, you don't understand. Liu Xundao... I naturally know of him. Back then, he was amazingly talented and dominated his generation in the Eastern Region; how glorious was he? But in the end, he damaged his Foundation and has been stuck at the Nascent Soul Sixth Layer for many years; he's no longer the man he once was."

"Setting that aside for a moment, what I find most incomprehensible is that Ye Qing... he is actually the Young Sect Master of the Taiyi Sect!"

A hint of confusion appeared in Gu Qinglan's beautiful eyes:

"Is there... some problem with that?"

Gu Changfeng sighed:

"The problem is huge! Think back, how proud was Liu Xundao's talent? The Sect only began considering appointing him as Young Sect Master after he broke through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage and displayed a hint of invincibility."

"But later he suffered an Inner Demon Tribulation and his Foundation was damaged, so the matter was dropped."

"Yet this Ye Qing, I hadn't even heard his name before, and his cultivation has only recently broken through to the Nascent Soul First Layer, yet he has ascended to the heavens in a single step and become the Young Sect Master of the Taiyi Sect!"

His voice carried a hint of disappointment that was hard to conceal.

"It gives me the feeling that the Sect... seems to be on a downward slope."

"Furthermore, for something as monumental as discovering a yuan crystal mine, they only sent him and Liu Xundao over."

"I even seriously suspect that this Young Sect Master Ye is too young and eager for glory. To establish prestige within the Sect, he took this matter upon himself, but in reality, he didn't take it seriously at all, which is why he only brought Liu Xundao with him!"

Hearing her father's analysis, Gu Qinglan fell into silence.

After a moment, she gently shook her head.

"Father, although I only had a brief exchange with Young Sect Master Ye, he... he gives me a very good feeling. He's very steady, not like the kind of person you described."

"Oh?"

Gu Changfeng gave his daughter a strange look upon hearing this, then suddenly laughed and teased:

"You girl, you're not speaking up for him just because that Ye Qing's face is handsome, are you?"

"Father! What are you saying!"

Gu Qinglan's pretty face flushed red, and she stomped her foot in mock anger.

However, Ye Qing's otherworldly handsome face and those calm, deep eyes involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

Her heartbeat did indeed quicken for no apparent reason.

In truth, she really did feel a strange sense of confidence in Ye Qing.

Seeing his daughter's bashful appearance, how could Gu Changfeng not understand?

He only sighed and said earnestly:

"Qinglan, don't be foolish. Your father has seen much of the world, and I'll say this: you can't judge a person just by their appearance; you have to look at what's inside."

"The cultivation world is very cruel; everything is based on strength. If someone is just a pretty face with nothing inside, no matter how good-looking they are, it's useless!"

"Forget it, they are reinforcements sent by the Sect after all; I shouldn't be saying these things behind their backs."

He pondered for a moment, as if having made a decision.

"In any case, since the Sect has sent people, we cannot fail to show our appreciation. How about this: some time ago, didn't I luckily obtain a piece of 'deep sea profound ice jade' from the depths of the Endless Sea? This item has the miraculous effect of calming the mind and soul. Take it and help me deliver it to Peak Master Liu Xundao."

Hearing this, Gu Qinglan was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but say:

"Father! That piece of deep sea profound ice jade has a significant suppressive effect on your Divine Soul injury. Are you really going to give it away?"

"And... why give it to Peak Master Liu Xundao? With the Young Sect Master here, logically, shouldn't the gift be given to the Young Sect Master first?"

Gu Changfeng waved his hand, a shrewd light flashing in his eyes.

He chuckled and spoke:

"That's where you're wrong. Only the two of them came as reinforcements, and that Young Sect Master Ye Qing, with his Nascent Soul First Layer cultivation, is clearly here just to gain some prestige; he can't be relied upon. There is only one piece of jade, so naturally, it must be used where it counts!"

"Whether we can overcome this crisis will likely depend on Peak Master Liu Xundao taking action. Everything depends on this Peak Master, so we naturally cannot mistreat him."

"As for Young Sect Master Ye, after the matter is resolved, I will find a way to prepare a generous gift to send over. Alright, no more talk, go and get it done!"

With that, he handed a piece of jade that was deep blue throughout and emitted a bone-chilling cold to his daughter, then waved her away.

After Gu Qinglan left, without the deep sea profound ice jade, Gu Changfeng felt his Divine Soul waver.

It felt as if needles were stabbing into his Sea of Consciousness, and his face instantly turned a bit paler.

Coupled with his worry over the Sect's reinforcements and the anxiety of not knowing if this trouble could be resolved...

...he suddenly felt a splitting headache and a look of pain appeared on his face, followed by another long sigh... On the other side, Gu Qinglan was carrying that piece of deep sea profound ice jade, followed by a close personal maidservant.

She was walking toward the courtyard where Ye Qing and Liu Xundao were resting.

When she reached a fork in the path, as if possessed, she did not walk toward Liu Xundao's room, but thought for a moment.

Then, she walked straight toward the direction of Ye Qing's room.