165: Chapter 164 The Fox Borrows the Tiger's Power

The voice was calm and unhurried,

yet it carried an unquestionable pressure.

Like a giant boulder smashing into a deep pond, ripples spread rapidly. The Wanze True Mansion erupted into chaos.

The first to react were the Disciples guarding the mountain gate.

The moment they heard that voice, their legs went weak.

That was not the pressure of the Golden Core Stage, nor even that of the Early Nascent Soul Stage.

It was the Late Nascent Soul Stage, an existence standing at the very peak of this sea region. They scrambled inside, crawling and rolling while shouting: "Enemy attack! Late Nascent Soul! Enemy attack!"

The news reached the inner Sect, the Hall of Elders, and the place where the Sect Master was in seclusion.

The entire Wanze True Mansion was like a precision machine, instantly springing into action. The light of the Formations grew brighter, and patrolling flying boats turned around to form defensive arrays on the perimeter. Inner Sect Disciples were urgently recalled, and the defensive Formations of every peak and island were activated. But no one dared to strike first. A Late Nascent Soul Stage expert was not someone they could afford to provoke.

Seven streaks of light flew out from the depths of Wanze Island.

They were all at the Late Golden Core Stage—four men and three women, with neat robes and solemn expressions.

They flew before Yun Ming and stopped dozens of zhang away, not daring to get too close. Leading them was a white-haired old man with a thin, refined face and a steady aura.

He took a half-step forward and gave a respectful bow: "This Junior is the Grand Elder of Wanze True Mansion. I greet you, Senior. We did not know you were visiting and failed to welcome you properly; I hope you can forgive us."

Yun Ming did not return the gesture.

He suspended there, looking down at the seven of them with an expressionless face. The Fuli Heaven-Concealing Record disguised his aura flawlessly; that Late Nascent Soul Stage pressure was like a great mountain, making it difficult for the seven people opposite him even to breathe.

“Where is your Sect Master?” Yun Ming spoke, his voice flat yet carrying an unquestionable majesty.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on the white-haired old man's forehead as he said cautiously: “The Sect Master is... currently in seclusion. May I ask what important matter brings Senior here? If it is convenient, would Senior care to enter the Sect for a chat? This Junior has already had tea and refreshments prepared—”

“No need,” Yun Ming interrupted him. “I’m not going in. I’m just here to say one thing.”

The seven of them breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously.

It was good that he wasn't going in. If this Senior entered, they would have no idea how to serve him properly.

If any part of their hospitality was lacking and offended him, the entire Wanze True Mansion would suffer for it.

“Please speak, Senior,” the white-haired old man said respectfully.

Yun Ming glanced at them, his tone indifferent as if he were discussing a trivial matter: “I have established a Daoist field in a distant place near the Tianshui Sect. The place is small and inhabited by Mortals; I do not wish to be disturbed. However, people from your Wanze True Mansion have repeatedly gone to my Daoist field, loitering around and disturbing my quiet cultivation. I have come today to ask: is this your rule, or do your people simply not know the rules?”

The expressions of the seven people changed simultaneously.

Someone opened their mouth to say something but swallowed it back down.

The white-haired old man's face was the most unsightly.

He immediately guessed it involved Qian Jin’s matter and knew he had sent two more people to investigate later. But those people had never returned; they thought they were on other missions outside. Who would have thought—they had offended this lord?

“Senior, please appease your anger!” The white-haired old man bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching his knees. “This Junior was indeed unaware of this. I will certainly investigate thoroughly upon my return and ensure such things never happen again!”

Yun Ming looked at him without speaking.

That gaze was as calm as water, yet it left the white-haired old man’s back completely drenched in sweat.

After a long while, Yun Ming finally nodded: “Fine. I’ve said my piece. You decide how to handle it.”

The seven of them repeatedly voiced their agreement, each bowing lower than the last.

The white-haired old man cautiously asked again: “Senior, may I ask where the Daoist field is located? I will certainly warn the Disciples to avoid that sea region and never dare to disturb Senior again.”

Yun Ming waved his hand: “No need. That place is destitute and has nothing. If you don't go, I’ll have my peace.” He paused, then suddenly changed the subject, “By the way, I am an Alchemist. If you have any need for Alchemy in the future, you can find me. Provide your own Materials; the price will be fair.”

The seven were stunned. An Alchemist? In this vast sea, an Alchemist was rarer than a Golden Core Yao Beast.

This Late Nascent Soul Stage Senior was actually an Alchemist as well?

The white-haired old man reacted fastest, hurriedly saying: “Senior is truly virtuous! I will certainly report this to the Sect Master. If there is an opportunity in the future, we will surely come to trouble you.”

Yun Ming nodded: “Fine. That is all. I am leaving.”

He turned and transformed into a streak of light, flying toward the distance.

The light was fast, disappearing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.

The Late Nascent Soul Stage pressure dissipated with him, and the sea surface returned to calm.

The seven people remained suspended in mid-air, gazing at the distant streak of light. For a long time, no one spoke.

“Grand Elder,” a middle-aged female Cultivator beside him spoke, her voice still trembling slightly, “is what this Senior said... true? Is there really some Daoist field over by the Tianshui Sect?”

The white-haired old man was silent for a moment before shaking his head: “I don’t know. But regardless of whether it’s true, we can’t afford to offend him. In the entire Wanze True Mansion, only the Sect Master can withstand a Late Nascent Soul Stage expert. The Sect Master is in seclusion; what do we have to face him with?”

“Then Qian Jin and the others...”

“If they’re dead, they’re dead,” the Grand Elder interrupted her, his tone cold. “Who told them to be so blind as to run to someone’s Daoist field and act wildly? Their deaths are not undeserved.”

No one spoke again.

The seven silently flew back to Wanze Island and landed before the main hall.

The white-haired old man dismissed the others and went alone to the Sect Master's place of seclusion.

He stood outside the door for a long time but still didn't dare to disturb him.

Before going into seclusion, the Sect Master had said not to disturb him unless it was a matter of heaven-shaking importance. Did this count? A Late Nascent Soul Loose Cultivator had built a Daoist field at their doorstep, and their own deacons had been blind enough to disturb him, leading the man to come knocking. It was both a big and small matter. But at least the man hadn't struck. Since he hadn't, there was still room for maneuver.

The white-haired old man stood for a while before turning to leave.

He returned to the Hall of Elders and convened a meeting of all the Elders currently in the Sect. The hall was filled with people, each with a solemn expression. The white-haired old man recounted the events, and the room immediately erupted into a hubbub.

“Late Nascent Soul? Building a Daoist field over by the Tianshui Sect? That place is so poor it doesn't even have Spiritual Qi; why build a Daoist field there?”

“Perhaps he just likes the peace. You all know the temperaments of those great Cultivators.”

“What about Qian Jin and those few? Dead? Not even a message was sent back?”

“Offending a Late Nascent Soul expert—it would be a miracle if they came back alive.”

“So what do we do now?”

Everyone was asking the same question.

The white-haired old man sat at the head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he spoke slowly: “First, from today onward, no Disciple is allowed to approach the sea region near the Tianshui Sect. Especially that archipelago—no one is permitted to go. Second, send someone to check if there really is a Late Nascent Soul Daoist field in that area. If you find it, steer clear; if you don't, steer clear anyway. Third—” He paused, his tone becoming meaningful, “That Senior said he is an Alchemist. Do any of you know a reliable Alchemist? Our Sect's Alchemy Hall has been producing pills that are becoming more and more outrageous these past few years.”

Someone below let out a chuckle, which was quickly stifled.

“Then it’s settled,” the white-haired old man stood up. “Meeting adjourned.”

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Standing at the hall's entrance and looking at the dark, heavy sea in the distance, the white-haired old man felt something was off. That Late Nascent Soul Loose Cultivator had appeared too suddenly.

He had lived here for so many years and had never heard of such an expert nearby.

But he didn't dare to gamble. What if it was true? What if the man really was a Late Nascent Soul Alchemist who just wanted some peace and quiet there? He couldn't afford to gamble. The entire Wanze True Mansion couldn't afford to gamble.

Five years.

It wasn't long, but it wasn't short either.

It was long enough for a coconut tree to grow from a seedling to bearing fruit, for a child in a fishing village to go from toddling to running all over the beach, and for an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator to steadily cross the threshold into the Middle Stage.

Yun Ming sat cross-legged in the Quiet Room on Wanghai Peak. Five Golden Cores rotated slowly within his Dantian, more solid and bright than they had been five years ago.

Golden Core Middle Stage.

The day of the Breakthrough brought no worldly anomalies, no Lightning Tribulation, and no auspicious clouds; it was simply a natural progression. Spiritual Qi seeped into his body from the world in threads, merging into his Dantian and being absorbed by the five Golden Cores. Once enough was absorbed, he broke through. It was as simple as eating or drinking.

He opened his eyes, feeling the power within his body that was several times more profound than five years ago, and lightly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

For five years, he had spent all his time on cultivation. It wasn't that he had suddenly become diligent, but the mountain that was Wanze True Mansion weighed on him, forcing him to be diligent. A lie is a lie after all; he didn't know when it might be exposed. Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after, or perhaps never.

Body Refining. Both the Cold Spring Jade Quenching Record and the Indestructible Body of Ten Thousand Tribulations had been cultivated to Third-grade Perfection. His Physical Body was now incredibly powerful; a common Early Golden Core Stage attack hitting him wouldn't even scratch his skin. With a Third-grade Perfection Body Refining cultivation paired with his Golden Core Middle Stage Realm, he was confident he could suppress any Late Golden Core Stage expert within ten moves.

Alchemy. He had refined many pills over these five years. He had mastered the jinyuan pill, with a success rate stable at over fifty percent. He had also attempted to refine several Fourth-grade Medicinal Pills; while most failed, he occasionally produced a batch or two. A Third-grade High Grade Alchemist was already considered a rare talent in this sea region. He distributed the pills he refined to the villagers to condition their bodies and provide the children with Spiritual Qi. The villagers didn't know the value of these pills, only that the medicine Mr. Yun gave them was tasty and made them feel healthy. That was enough.

Divine Soul. His cultivation of the Great Thousand Star Evolution Sword Diagram had never stopped. His Divine Sense could now cover a radius of three hundred miles, exactly double what it was five years ago. Everything within those three hundred miles was within his perception. He knew which sea regions had schools of fish, which islands had sea birds nesting, and the position of every boat. He could even perceive the auras of those Mortals—who was sick, who was tired, who was in a bad mood. He rarely used this ability because it wasn't necessary, but he had it.

Magic Treasures. The array-breaking sword, xuanming heaven-covering umbrella, blood-transforming eerie glow needle, zhoutian yuan-magnetic realm-suppressing tower, Nine Heavens Sky-Net Sword Array, jiuyou soul-capturing banner, and the various Magical Artifacts and Spirit Treasures he had randomly drawn over the years—he had refined those he could and mastered the usage of those he couldn't. The map of mountains and rivers hung quietly in his Sea of Consciousness, tightly linked to his Divine Soul as if they were one. The golden crow feather was still inside the cauldron of all things mother qi, and he could now manipulate its flames with ease. Although he couldn't yet fully unleash the power of the golden crow feather, it was more than enough to burn a few Golden Core Cultivators to ash.

Everything was improving.

Except for that one matter.