"Daoist Elian!"
As Elian stepped into Lingmiao Pavilion, a familiar voice greeted him.
Looking up, he saw Wei Xuyuan approaching, his face lighting up with joy.
"I never expected to meet you here in Yan Kingdom."
"It's indeed a rare occurrence," Elian replied with a smile before asking, "Brother Wei, are you here for…?"
He trailed off, and Wei Xuyuan nodded with a somber expression.
"I am here for the Wood Element Crystal. If I fail again this time, I fear I'll have to face the wrath of the Wei family."
Hearing this, Elian remained calm and nodded slightly.
Wei Xuyuan, now nearing 180 years of age, had little time left in his lifespan. Unless he consumed a rare longevity treasure, this might be his last chance to break through to the Purple Mansion stage. If he failed again, the Wei family would exhaust its foundation and face hardship for the next century.
Elian smiled faintly and said, "Brother Wei, you've already opened three meridians of the Purple Mansion path and taken a Profound Origin Pill. If you obtain the Wood Element Crystal, I believe your success is certain."
"I hope so," Wei Xuyuan replied, visibly relieved by the encouragement. He had already completed 30% of the Purple Mansion Dao Veins and, with the Profound Origin Pill, his spiritual energy was far more robust than most Foundation Establishment cultivators.
With the Wood Element Crystal, his chances of success would rise to 50%, high enough to justify the Wei family's all-out support.
Suppressing his concerns, Wei Xuyuan smiled and said, "This must be your first time in Yan Kingdom. Allow me to introduce you to some of the notable figures here."
As Wei Xuyuan spoke, Elian learned about some of the attendees and the individuals best avoided. For top-tier Foundation Establishment cultivators like themselves, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators posed little threat. However, some participants had formidable backgrounds and abilities that warranted caution.
Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, one individual, Deng Yuanwu, stood out, making Elian feel a rare sense of pressure. Deng Yuanwu was a tall, imposing man with an extraordinary aura. He was accompanied by two elegant women, both late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, underscoring his exceptional status.
Wei Xuyuan noticed Elian's gaze and quietly warned, "That's Deng Yuanwu, a member of the Deng Immortal Clan and one of their core descendants."
"This individual is not to be trifled with," Wei Xuyuan added softly.
Elian quickly understood Deng Yuanwu's identity. He was a favored grandson of the Deng family's Golden Core patriarch, having grown up with every possible advantage.
Under his grandfather's favor, Deng Yuanwu had attempted to break through to the Purple Mansion stage three times, achieving 90% of the Dao Veins despite his failures.
Additionally, he had consumed treasures similar to the Profound Origin Pill, giving him spiritual energy comparable to a typical Purple Mansion cultivator. His strength was undeniably formidable.
Wei Xuyuan then quietly transmitted additional information.
"Though he has a three-element spirit root, Deng Yuanwu has never lacked resources. He also practices a dual cultivation method that draws power from others."
"Those two female Foundation Establishment cultivators accompanying him were likely once pillars of their respective clans. Now, they've become his cauldrons, their cultivation bases used to fuel his."
"Unfortunately, the Deng family wields near-absolute power in Yan Kingdom. Even other Purple Mansion clans can only form alliances to resist them. For ordinary Foundation Establishment clans and cultivators, they're untouchable."
Hearing this, Elian's gaze grew cold, and a flicker of killing intent crossed his heart.
Unlike legitimate dual cultivation methods, the technique Deng Yuanwu practiced came from demonic paths. It allowed cultivators to drain energy from their cauldrons, speeding up their progress but severely damaging their victims' cultivation bases—sometimes even causing them to fall in rank.
While common among demonic cultivators, who prioritize selfish gains over morality, such practices were considered taboo for righteous cultivators, as they mirrored the methods of demonic sects.
In Chu Kingdom, the three great sects had jointly banned such practices. Yet here in Yan Kingdom, someone was brazenly using this technique.
"Practicing such an openly demonic technique—does no one in Yan Kingdom stop him?" Elian asked coldly.
"Yan Kingdom only has five Golden Core cultivators, and three of them belong to the Deng family," Wei Xuyuan replied with a sigh.
"The Dengs have absolute power. No one dares challenge them."
Hearing this, Elian suppressed his killing intent. Though his nature was sharp and intolerant of evil, he was not reckless. The political dynamics in Yan Kingdom were vastly different from Chu Kingdom.
Chu Kingdom faced the constant threat of demon beasts from the vast Swamp and demonic cultivators from the Demon Lair. The three major sects bore immense pressure to unite the cultivator clans in defense of their shared land. As a result, internal stability was prioritized.
In contrast, Yan Kingdom enjoyed a far more favorable environment. In the past, the Ji Immortal Clan, former rulers of the Six Nations, had exterminated the high-level demon beasts in Yan Lake to secure its fifth-rank water vein. Today, the lake remained guarded by a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Ji Clan, deterring any demonic threats.
The only external threat to Yan Kingdom came from the Blackhawk Demon King in the Azuregreen Mountains, and even it avoided venturing into the lake region.
With little external pressure, Yan Kingdom's high-level clans flourished, leading to increased internal competition. While Purple Mansion clans could still form alliances, smaller Foundation Establishment clans often struggled to survive.
"Look, the barter gathering is starting," Wei Xuyuan said.
At that moment, the barter gathering officially began. The first participant to step forward represented the Yan Kingdom Cultivator Alliance.
A graceful woman in the ninth level of Foundation Establishment ascended the stage. Her presence was powerful, and Wei Xuyuan had earlier identified her as Yuan Weiwei, a cultivator from the Yuan Immortal Clan. The Yuan Clan was one of the two dominant forces within the Yan Kingdom Cultivator Alliance, boasting a Golden Core patriarch.
As the Yuan Clan's representative, Yuan Weiwei wasted no time on words and presented three treasure boxes.
The first contained a violet jade, the second a verdant crystal, and the third a cyan-colored pill.
"Violet Sun Jade, Wood Element Crystal, and Green Jade Barrier-Breaking Pill…"
The audience gasped at the sight of the three treasures.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D