From the moment he saw the coin, the shopkeeper sensed something was amiss. This currency—so distinct—could only have come from beyond the borders of the Qingshan Immortal Sect. Perhaps even from outside Xuezhou itself. This possibility alone compelled him to report the matter to the sect.
It was an instinctive action, shaped by years of conditioning.
Across the Qingshan territory, every ancient city had disciples of the Immortal Sect stationed there. The Eternal Coin quickly fell into the hands of one such disciple. With their knowledge and sharp eyes, it didn't take long for them to realize the coin's extraordinary nature. They dared not delay and immediately sent it up the chain—directly into the heart of the Immortal Sect.
Not long after, the Eternal Coin arrived at the Qingshan Immortal Sect.
Though the sect was composed of nearly a hundred mountain peaks, nine stood out as its core branches. Chief among them was Qingsong Peak, the main artery of the sect.
At this very moment, atop Qingsong Peak, a vast hall loomed high—its plaque bearing the name Heavenheart Hall (天心殿).
Inside, a group of immortal-like cultivators sat in solemn silence. At the highest seat sat a middle-aged man with streaks of silver at his temples and a natural, commanding presence. An invisible pressure radiated from him.
This man was Qing Yunzi, Sect Master of the Qingshan Immortal Sect and Lord of Qingsong Peak.
The others present were none other than the heads of the remaining eight peaks:
Ling Jianzi, Lord of Qingjian Peak
Chang Chunzi, Lord of Budao Peak
Miaoyue Fairy, Lady of Xiannü Peak
Baiku Daoist, Lord of Kuzhu Peak
Nan Mingzi, Lord of Lihuo Peak
Medicine Maniac Elder, Lord of Qianling Peak
Black Dragon Daoist, Lord of Lingshou Peak
Bailian Daoist, Lord of Tianfu Peak
Each radiated a restrained, yet palpable power—should they choose to unleash it, mountains could crumble, and seas could overturn.
The Eternal Coin, gleaming gold, passed silently from hand to hand.
Qing Yunzi looked at the others and asked, "What do you all make of this coin?"
"It is undoubtedly an Eternal Coin minted by the Great Yi Dynasty," declared Chang Chunzi, his face ruddy and youthful like a newborn's. "I witnessed it myself at the Dragon Palace auction. I even exchanged for several coins at the time—this one is exactly the same. No question."
The others nodded.
"This coin never left the sect," said Bailian Daoist, his tone serious. "We use it internally as a precious cultivation aid—its energy rivals that of spirit pills. Its sudden appearance outside means only one thing: the newcomers are either from the Great Yi or have obtained its currency by some other means."
The mention of Great Yi drew grim looks. After all, they had encountered Yi Tianxing himself in the Hanhai Dragon Palace. They had always known that a confrontation would come.
"If they are indeed from Great Yi, this is not a trivial matter," Qing Yunzi said gravely. "The four newcomers are still at the inn. What do you propose we do?"
"Dynasties like Great Yi have a hunger for conquest," Bailian Daoist said coldly. "Now that they've found this place, they'll surely send troops to conquer it and turn the entire region into their territory. I've met the Yi Emperor. He's not someone who would allow us to rule over millions of humans and harvest their faith. He won't tolerate it."
"Hmph! We are an immortal sect, transcendent beyond worldly dynasties," Nan Mingzi scoffed arrogantly. "Let Great Yi take the land—they still have no authority over us. The mortal world should kneel before the Immortal Sects, not the other way around."
Many cultivators within the sect shared that sentiment: that cultivators were superior, that mortals should worship them and receive their protection in return.
But Qing Yunzi shook his head. "Brother, you're being too narrow-minded. We may be an immortal sect, but we are still part of the human race. Great Yi is no ordinary dynasty—Yi Tianxing once stood above all geniuses in the God-Demon Battlefield, even suppressing extra-dimensional evils. This is no weak regime. Their dynasty is built by cultivators as well. To underestimate them is to court disaster."
He paused, then continued, "Miaoyue, come with me. We'll meet these newcomers ourselves. Their open use of the Eternal Coin was a message to us. Ignoring it would only make the sect look cowardly."
Moments later, two streaks of light tore across the sky and descended upon the inn.
The inn, now strangely quiet, had emptied. Only Jia Xu and his three companions remained, sitting calmly.
When Qing Yunzi and Miaoyue arrived, Jia Xu and Zhuge Zhengwo exchanged glances—they knew immediately these were the Immortal Sect's powerhouses.
"This humble one is Qing Yunzi, Sect Master of Qingshan Immortal Sect," he said directly, looking at Jia Xu. "May I ask where you are from and where you are going?"
"Envoy of Great Yi, Jia Xu, greets the Sect Master," Jia Xu replied with a smile, offering a courteous salute.
He showed neither arrogance nor fear. His manner was calm and utterly unaffected by status.
"Please, be seated."
Once seated, Qing Yunzi resumed, "Since you are an envoy of Great Yi, you should've informed us earlier. We would've welcomed you properly into the sect, instead of allowing you to dwell here in such humble lodgings. It was our oversight."
"It was we who arrived unannounced," Jia Xu replied politely, then added with a wry smile, "However, does the Sect Master know… that Qingshan Immortal Sect is on the brink of calamity?"
"Calamity?" Qing Yunzi raised an eyebrow, unruffled. "What calamity do you speak of?"
Jia Xu leaned forward. "Our intelligence reports that the Ice Crystal Race has risen as the dominant power of Xuezhou. They've formed an alien dynasty and established a royal court. Their warriors are everywhere, and they could amass millions—or even billions—in an instant. Right now, they've already begun surrounding the Qingshan mountains."
He didn't stop there. "We've also received word that experts of the Corpse Demon Hall have appeared nearby. The corpse poison they wield is terrifying. Once released, it could turn the entire region into a wasteland of walking corpses. Should they join forces with the Ice Crystal Race, Qingshan Immortal Sect will be in grave danger."
"Impossible!" Miaoyue Fairy snapped. "The Corpse Demon Hall and Ice Crystal Race have a blood feud! The Ice Crystals tried to annihilate them once, and both sides suffered heavy losses. There's no way they'd join forces—your claim is absurd!"
"To you, perhaps," Jia Xu replied calmly. "But consider this: the Ice Crystal King is preparing to ascend from King Court to Imperial Court. Any remaining human sects stand in their way. The Corpse Demon Hall knows it can't infect the Ice Crystal Race, but it can infect humans. By turning humans into corpse slaves, they gain strength—and weaken the Ice Crystals' hold over the land. A temporary alliance makes perfect strategic sense."
Qing Yunzi's expression darkened.
Indeed, the logic was sound. Humans were the ideal vessels for corpse transformation. In a short time, the Corpse Demon Hall could mass-produce countless undead soldiers.
"If the Sect Master dispatches scouts, they'll find clues," Jia Xu continued. "Your sect may be powerful, and your defenses tight, but nothing in this world is truly impregnable. The people under your protection are too weak. A single breach would cause catastrophe."
青山仙门危矣—the Qingshan Immortal Sect truly stood on the edge of peril.