A gentle breeze stirred as white clouds drifted across the endless sky. A flying boat cut swiftly through the sky. It had departed from Tianlan Immortal City and was now speeding toward Green Pill Valley. It crossed the Thousand Li Bamboo Sea, soared past the Green Pill Valley's marketplace, and revealed before the eyes a series of towering and uneven peaks.
Luo Chen, dressed in white, stood tall upon the flying boat. The rushing wind lashed against his face, whipping his robe and black hair into a fierce flutter. As he looked down at the shattered remains of the small mountains beneath him, a quiet sense of confidence rose in his chest. That feeling only deepened when he reached the outskirts of Green Pill Valley and laid eyes on Yuanhua Mountain. Once etched indelibly in his memory, it now stood at only half its former height.
Yuanhua Mountain was the very gateway to Green Pill Valley. Not only was it a convergence point of spirit energy with the density of a third-tier spirit vein, but it also served as one of the Five Peaks Enclosing the Valley, a conduit for the power of a grand formation. Now, the three-thousand-zhang peak had been cleaved cleanly in half by a single sword strike. What used to be the middle of the slope had become the summit, and the slanted break was smooth as a mirror. Moreover, frightening remnants of sword energy lingered upon it.
It was clear that the sword strike delivered by Adept Yaoguang had been unimaginably brilliant. Luo Chen even suspected it had not been the work of a mere Adept.
Such cultivators could certainly shatter mountains and cleave rivers. In fact, even Luo Chen himself was confident that he could reduce a thousand-zhang mountain to rubble by brute force. Yet such feats depended on striking unclaimed and unprotected land. A place as vital as Yuanhua Mountain would have been guarded by a massive formation and defended by Golden Core cultivators of equal strength; how could an ordinary sword strike possibly have severed it so effortlessly?
The only explanation was that Adept Yaoguang, though merely at the late stage of the Golden Core Realm, had drawn upon something bestowed by the Sage of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. Without that, Green Pill Valley's defenses would have held firm. Luo Chen was fairly certain of that; had the Sage not done something, the valley could have resisted for decades, even against the full might of the Sword Sect.
"Who goes there?"
As Luo Chen observed the scene, a Green Pill Valley cultivator flew over to intercept him.
Luo Chen drew out a token and tossed it forward. "I am Luo Chen, retainer of the Tao family!"
The man caught the token and studied Luo Chen with uncertainty. Then, as if recalling something, he approached more closely and asked with hesitation, "Are you perhaps Senior Dan Chenzi?"
Luo Chen gave a slight nod. "Yes, I am."
Once his identity was confirmed, the man's expression grew noticeably more respectful. "Senior, have you come to visit the Tao family? If so, a short detour to the south will bring you to Xiao Nanshan."
Luo Chen waved with a faint smile. "Not so. I seek an audience with your sect's Dao Scion, Fellow Daoist Tao Wan. Is she available?"
The disciple froze at those words. Although Tao Wan was born of the Tao family, her foremost status now was as Dao Scion of Green Pill Valley. Since Luo Chen had addressed her by that title, it was clear that his purpose lay not with the Tao family but with Green Pill Valley.
After a brief hesitation, the man said, "My status is too low for me to know whether the Dao Scion is available. Please wait a moment while I make a report."
"Of course," Luo Chen replied with a faint smile.
Under the disciple's guidance, he descended from the sky and landed at the base of Longshou Peak.
"Senior, my apologies. We usually receive guests at the Greeting Hall on Yuanhua Mountain, but since that place is... under repair, we must host you here at Longshou Peak instead."
"Doesn't matter, I don't mind."
The disciple quickly arranged tea and refreshments for Luo Chen before leaving Longshou Peak and flying toward Qingyun Peak, where the sect leader and Dao Scion resided.
Once he had gone, a thought stirred within Luo Chen. He stepped outside the hall and gazed into the distance. With his exceptional eyesight, the scenes unfolding dozens of li away lay clear before him.
Upon Yuanhua Mountain, countless Green Pill Valley cultivators busied themselves transporting materials and repairing the foundations. Even powerful Initiates personally cut boulders to fill the mountain. Though the site bustled with frantic activity, many faces still betrayed an unease that could not be hidden.
Luo Chen had not witnessed the event firsthand, but intelligence reports had long since told him what they had endured. That peerless sword strike had cleaved not only the physical Yuanhua Mountain. It had also cut through a mental mountain—the mountain of pride Green Pill Valley's cultivators had nurtured for centuries.
What use was it to be a major sect? Their enemy was an upper sect. In the face of such a power, no matter how wealthy Green Pill Valley was, it was nothing more than a lamb awaiting slaughter.
Under such circumstances, the once-proud disciples of Green Pill Valley, stripped of their arrogance, had become more fearful and lost than rogue cultivators.
As Luo Chen observed their restless expressions, he made a silent note of it. Even during the harshest days for the Luo Tian Society, there had always been someone to step forward and steady the hearts of the lower ranks. Yet now, the junior cultivators of Green Pill Valley stood in confusion; the leaders' attention no longer rested on them. That could only mean greater conflicts were festering within the sect's upper echelon. Perhaps he had come at just the right moment.
Longshou Peak was home to Green Pill Valley's most battle-hardened cultivators. Their excuse for not receiving him at Yuanhua Mountain could be justified by the ongoing repairs. Even so, he might reasonably have been directed to Qingyun Peak, where most of the sect's affairs were managed. Instead, he had been placed amid the warriors of Longshou Peak. This arrangement was not targeting him alone, but every outsider who had entered Green Pill Valley in recent days.
A faint smile touched his lips. Green Pill Valley is nothing more than a startled bird.
Without realizing it, the corners of his mouth had curved upward.
***
Within Qingyun Hall atop Qingyun Peak, nearly all of Green Pill Valley's Golden Core Adepts were gathered. Only a few remained in seclusion.
The heads of the five peaks—Qing Danzi, Qing Yunzi, Adept Longshou, Adept Baisu, and Adept Yuanzhen occupied the seats of honor. Alongside them were other Adepts: Chi Ding, Xing Yun, and Long Quan. The only Initiate present was the Dao Scion, Tao Wan.
She stood respectfully behind Sect Leader Qing Yunzi, her face calm as the elders bickered endlessly, though irritation churned within her heart. Ever since the Sword Sect's siege, the elders had argued without end, yet no resolution had emerged.
Some had argued for surrendering the Nascent Soul alchemical formula, but Qing Danzi rejected the idea, citing the binding alliance with the Falling Cloud Sect. Others pressed for the Falling Cloud Sect to intervene, but Qing Yunzi warned then that if they leaned too openly toward that side, the Sword Sect might return in fury. Others raised concerns about their vassals' wavering loyalty, but Adept Longshou sneered. "You think they'd dare?"
Some proposed invoking their five-hundred-year alliance pact to demand accountability from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. Yet among all the Golden Core elders present, none dared step foot on Jade Emperor Mountain.
Only the proposal to rebuild Yuanhua Mountain and restore the Five Peaks formation received unanimous approval. Even so, the lingering sword energy upon Yuanhua Mountain had become the greatest obstacle. Unless a sage was invited, it would take a full century for the energy to dissipate. In the meantime, the Five Peaks could not be restored, and by the time a hundred years passed, the valley's internal structure would have long since solidified. Advancement to a fourth-tier spirit land might then remain forever out of reach.
Just as frustration welled in Tao Wan's heart, a sudden pulse stirred within her. A jade token descended into her palm, shimmering brightly.
"Martial Uncle, an urgent matter outside requires my attention," she said respectfully.
Qing Yunzi cast her a glance and gave a faint nod. Tao Wan rose lightly on her toes and slipped quietly from the rear of Qingyun Hall.
Once outside the grand hall, the mountain breeze brushed against her face, and she let out a long and steady breath. No matter how heavy her usual responsibilities were, she had never felt quite like this before. Hesitation tugged at her steps, and her thoughts shifted back and forth without resolution. The entire sect now seemed like a beast without reins, wandering aimlessly with no sense of direction. Though still circling in place, in truth, nothing was being accomplished. The feeling was intolerable.
She shook her head and activated the jade token.
"Dao Scion, Senior Dan Chenzi seeks urgent audience. We have placed him at the Greeting Hall at Longshou Peak."
Tao Wan frowned. "Luo Chen? What business could he have with me at such a time? Shouldn't he be in Tianlan Immortal City, dealing with the problems of his own society?"
The thought of that organization stirred an unexpected envy. Sure, it was just a small-size force, but size carried its own advantages. As its founder, Luo Chen ruled with absolute authority. Whatever he wished to do, he could do without hindrance.
Much unlike Green Pill Valley—vast and prosperous, yet shackled by endless constraints. Though she bore the title of Dao Scion and shone with prestige before others, behind the scenes, she labored like a beast of burden.
"Had I known, I would never have fought for this title," she muttered. "I'm toiling like an ox, and whatever benefits come from it are nothing compared to the carefree life Eldest Senior Brother enjoys."
She gave a self-mocking smile, then mounted a cloud and flew straight toward Longshou Peak.
***
Before long, she arrived at her destination. Even before entering the hall, her voice rang out. "Fellow Daoist Luo, I trust you have been well."
As she stepped inside, Luo Chen greeted her with a cheerful smile. "I am quite well, but I wonder whether your position as Dao Scion still feels secure."