Mo Yuwan swept her divine sense over the crowd, a faint smile curling at her lips as she said,"Everyone, since you've all benefited from Yu Xing City, shouldn't you contribute a bit in return? The Ancestor of Haoran Sect left behind two storage rings specifically for rebuilding the city. What about the rest of you?"
The cultivators who had profited from the underground palace instantly felt a pang of regret. Why hadn't they slipped away during the chaos earlier?
Of course, the smarter ones had already done just that. But those who stayed behind to watch the spectacle were now out of luck—Mo Yuwan had drafted them to help rebuild the half-ruined Yu Xing City.
Meanwhile, Xiao He, who had been monitoring events from the shadows, had already left quietly after the Nascent Soul evil cultivator and Li Chang were destroyed. Their plan had failed yet again. What caught him off guard was how quickly Wei Yunxi had grown. He had a strong feeling that she would one day become the bane of all evil cultivators.
Ye Yirui had chosen to remain in Yu Xing City for the time being, weighing whether to visit the Haoran Sect in person.
Ran Yi, however, advised her gently, "Young Valley Master, the elders of Yaowang Valley likely already know you've left. Since we've identified the heir of Yixian Gate, we could visit her on behalf of the valley and propose a knowledge exchange in alchemy. That way, we might be able to trade for what you desire."
Ye Yirui shook her head. "That little girl is far too clever and perceptive. She'd sense my intentions the moment I spoke. Right now, before she fully comprehends the Yixian Gate's legacy, I might still have a chance. But if I miss this window, any future trade will come at a much higher cost."
"But..."
"No buts. Once we gather all the information on Wei Yunxi, we set off. With Zhao He Zhūnzhě accompanying us, there's nothing to fear."
"Yes, Young Valley Master."
Ran Yi promptly left to collect information on Wei Yunxi.
Ye Yirui absentmindedly touched the multicolored string bracelet on her wrist, lost in thought for a moment before taking out a jade slip she had transcribed. She then began poring over it intently.
It wasn't that she didn't want to take the books and jade slips from the scripture pavilion—each was imbued with restrictions that made it impossible to store them in a storage bracelet.
She had tried walking out of the pavilion with one in hand, but the moment she stepped out, the jade slip vanished from her grasp and instantly reappeared back where it belonged.
So she had no choice but to read and transcribe them one by one, replicating the most critical volumes in the hopes of finding what she sought within them.
Back in Haoran Sect, Wei Yunxi finally allowed herself to relax completely.
Yu Feng eyed her calm expression with a grin. "Nephew Wei, don't get too comfortable just yet. You still have to report to the Sect Master. Have you figured out what you're going to say?"
Wei Yunxi's mouth twitched. She admitted that she'd acted a bit domineering earlier, leaning on the authority of Hao Hui Zhūnzhě. While it had felt satisfying at the time, now she had to face the complications that came with inheriting the Yixian Gate legacy.
"Thank you for the reminder, Zhūnjūn. I'm already thinking it over," she replied wearily.
Beside her, Cao Yi, Lin Keyang, and Zhang Lingrui all tried to suppress their laughter. They had gained quite a bit from this adventure and felt they owed her, so they eagerly chimed in with suggestions.
Cao Yi was the first to speak. "Junior Sister, a sect's legacy is immense. No one person can carry it alone. Since you're a disciple of Haoran Sect, why not discuss with the Sect Master how to leverage the power of the entire sect?"
Zhang Lingrui quickly agreed. "Exactly. Alchemy and pill refining share a lot in common. Yu Huo Zhūnjūn of the Dan Peak would probably love to exchange insights with you. Combining the strengths of both disciplines could push him to new heights."
Lin Keyang was more direct. "I soaked in the medicinal pool at Yixian Gate and broke through to late Golden Core. Once I finish absorbing the rest of the medicinal power, I'm confident I'll reach the peak of the Golden Core stage.
That medicine is extremely beneficial for body cultivators, and Haoran Sect has many. The Sect Master definitely won't pass up the chance to strengthen our ranks."
Yu Feng Zhūnjūn listened with a smile. It was obvious these three were firmly in Wei Yunxi's corner.
Wei Yunxi agreed with them. If she kept all the benefits to herself, she would become a target of envy and resentment. There would be plenty who'd want to rob her.
But if she handed the benefits over to the sect, those same people wouldn't dare say a word. A sect was a massive entity—far beyond the reach of individual cultivators or clans.
With that thought in mind, her heart settled. After bidding farewell to the trio, she followed Yu Feng Zhūnjūn to the main peak to meet Sect Master Yu Geng.
Yu Geng had already received a voice transmission from Hao Hui Zhūnzhě. He knew Wei Yunxi had returned unharmed and even brought back the Yixian Gate legacy. Now, he was trying to figure out how to persuade her to share that inheritance with the sect when Yu Feng brought her in.
Wei Yunxi bowed respectfully. "Disciple Wei Yunxi greets Martial Uncle. Thank you for intervening in time. Without your help, I would've been in serious danger."
Yu Geng smiled warmly. "You're the only heir of Senior Brother Yu Ling. Of course I'll look after you."
Wei Yunxi bowed again, and without waiting to be prompted, she explained everything that had happened after she and Lin Sheng's group parted ways. She kept only one thing to herself—absorbing Yixian Gate into her personal space. Everything else, she shared openly.
At the end, she added sincerely, "Sect Master, I was lucky to obtain the legacy, but it was only possible thanks to the support of Ancestor Hao Hui and the protection of Martial Uncle Yu Feng. I intend to hand the Yixian Gate legacy over to the sect."
Yu Geng's eyes narrowed slightly, then he asked with a probing tone, "Yun Xi, is that your true intention—or just a way to avoid trouble?"
Wei Yunxi replied without hesitation, "It's both. I do wish to avoid unnecessary complications, but it's also what I truly want.
The legacy of an entire sect is vast beyond measure. I wouldn't even know how long it would take to fully comprehend it alone. Sect Master Bai of Yixian Gate wished for their teachings to be carried on. I can't do that on my own, so I want to rely on the strength of the sect.
Besides, the alchemical arts can be integrated into Dan Peak as a new branch. Just because someone lacks the talent for refining pills doesn't mean they can't excel at medicine. It gives our disciples another path to choose."
Yu Geng burst out laughing. "Well said! No wonder Senior Brother Yu Ling thought so highly of you. You've got the vision and the magnanimity—that's what it takes to walk the path of cultivation.
To cultivate is to seek the truth within illusion. You've already touched the threshold of the immortal path. Your future is promising indeed!"
Wei Yunxi gave a sheepish chuckle. With that kind of praise, she felt a bit embarrassed. She couldn't exactly admit she was doing this just to avoid a headache.
At that moment, Yu Huo Zhūnjūn arrived after hearing the news.
"Big Brother, this girl Yunxi has returned?"
Yu Geng grumbled, "She's standing right in front of you. What, did you actually tear yourself away from your pill furnace?"
Yu Huo Zhūnjūn had asked just for form's sake. Now, he looked at Wei Yunxi with eyes shining like he'd just found a top-grade spirit plant. "Yunxi girl, want to improve your pill refining skills? I heard from Zong Hao that you're skilled in alchemy and even discussed techniques with Dan Yang. He gained a lot from it. I can teach you higher-tier methods."
Yu Geng nearly slapped his own forehead. His younger brother was too transparent. Couldn't he at least try to hide his motives?