Ye Yirui's words made the hall fall silent at once. The First Elder cleared his throat.
"Since the Young Valley Master has spoken, we will of course cooperate fully. However, this is an internal matter of Medicine King Valley. There is no need for outsiders to get involved, is there?"
His meaning was pointed. Everyone present understood, and Ye Yirui naturally knew whom he meant.
Given the commotion earlier, all the elders knew two powerful figures had come to Medicine King Valley. At first, they thought the visitors were here to request pills. After Ye Chengbi's affair came to light, they realized those two had another purpose for coming.
Ye Yirui looked calmly at the First Elder. "First Elder, Wei Yunxi Zūnzhě is here at my invitation to treat my younger brother. Zūnzhě has no interest in meddling with Medicine King Valley's internal strife. You may set your minds at ease."
The Second Elder's eyes turned as he asked, "Young Valley Master, the Wei Yunxi Zūnzhě you mentioned, is that Wei Yunxi of the Western Region's Haoran Sect?"
"It is."
"Young Valley Master, since Wei Yunxi Zūnzhě is a successor of Yixian Gate, she and Medicine King Valley share a common origin. We should take the initiative to befriend her. Using the pretext of treating Xiao Chen to invite her as a guest of the valley was the right move."
Faced with the Second Elder's one-hundred-eighty-degree turn, Ye Yirui remained composed. The Third Elder gave a cold snort."The Young Valley Master already said she invited Wei Yuchen's physician. If you wish to forge ties, you can pay a visit yourself and see whether she is willing to receive you."
"Third Elder, are you deliberately picking a fight with me? Is Ye Yirui not the Young Valley Master of Medicine King Valley? Does she not represent the valley?"
"Tsk. And who was it just now shouting that the Young Valley Master had failed in her duties and owed everyone an explanation?"
"I was simply stating facts. With everyone watching, we nearly let the Tree of Vitality be stolen. Was that not a mistake?"
"Second Elder, you seem to want to have it both ways."
Seeing the quarrel about to erupt, Ye Ancestor slapped the table at his side and said coldly,"Enough. All of you, be silent. Look at the timing. You are still bickering here. Do you want to provide more jokes for others to laugh at?"
The two elders glared at each other, unwilling to yield, then both held their tongues. Ye Yirui stood respectfully and said nothing more.
Ye Ancestor stroked the beard upon his chest. "Third, assist the Young Valley Master in cleansing the sect first. Do not give evil cultivators any opening. What happened at Huaxian Gate is a lesson paid in blood."
"Yes, Ancestor."
The Third Elder answered at once.
When Huaxian Gate hosted the Five Region Grand Tournament, evil cultivators exploited a gap, and many Nascent Soul cultivators died. The blast from the self-detonation of an immortal artifact shook the heavens that day. Medicine King Valley, also in the Central Region, naturally received the news. No wonder Ye Ancestor treated this with such gravity.
Ye Yirui and the Third Elder then left the council hall.
Only then did Ye Ancestor let his expression sink. "First Elder, Second Elder, everything has an order of importance. If Medicine King Valley truly becomes a back garden for evil cultivators, no matter how much you do, you will only be making wedding clothes for someone else. Do not mistake the root for the branch and suffer a total loss."
Without waiting for replies, he vanished from the chief seat.
The First and Second Elders exchanged a dark look, then left the hall.
Haoran Sect, Western Region Guest Peak
Yu Ling received a flying-sword message from her disciple and shook her head. Beside her, Hao Yan raised a brow. "What is it? Wei Yunxi cannot make it back?"
Yu Ling nodded. "Mm. Wei Yunxi is entangled in matters at Medicine King Valley and must remain there a few days. She asks us to depart first."
Hao Qing thought for a moment. "She did not go alone. Xun Kun of Kunmo Sect is accompanying her. I suspect she is unwilling to let Xun Kun return alone, so she is delayed."
"No matter. In that case, we proceed as planned. Hao Yi Zūnzhě is still waiting for us."
Two days after the three reached agreement, Haoran Sect set out with Mingjian Gate and the Loose Cultivator Alliance, returning to the Western Region.
Kunmo Sect
Upon receiving a flying-sword message from Xun Kun, Wu Tong Zūnzhě furrowed his brows. On the journey back to the Southern Region, he had planned to draw closer to Xun Kun. Times had changed. Xun Kun had reached Divine Transformation, and Wu Tong Zūnzhě did not want the matter of Jin Can to cause a rift between them.
For two days, Jin Can had not seen Xun Kun at the temporary encampment. She asked around everywhere, even sought out Xun Yan, but Xun Yan refused to see her. Furious and helpless, she turned to Wu Tong Zūnzhě.
"Ancestor, Xun Kun is not at the temporary cave dwelling."
Wu Tong Zūnzhě put away the message sword and said coolly, "Jin Can, once we return to the sect, you had best enter seclusion and raise your cultivation. Stop pestering Xun Kun.
He will not take disciples for now. Even if he seeks a cultivation partner, he will not choose a small Foundation Establishment cultivator like you. You offer him no assistance. Do not harbor delusions."
Jin Can's face turned pale. Clearly, even the Ancestor would not take her side this time.
Seeing her bite her lip without answering, Wu Tong Zūnzhě's tone grew colder. "Jin Can, do you understand?"
"Yes, Ancestor. Jin Can understands."
She bowed with reddened eyes and withdrew from Wu Tong Zūnzhě's cave. Turning, she ran back to her quarters and wept.
This incident finally woke Jin Can up. Her strength was insufficient. Even if she wanted to fight for something, she lacked the qualifications. After returning to Kunmo Sect, she settled her heart and focused on cultivation, no longer coveting what did not belong to her.
Jihan Gate of the Northern Region
After returning to the encampment, Han Lian kept to her cave dwelling to consolidate her realm, contacting only Xun Kun, Yun Chen, and Wei Yunxi. The ten years in the sealed land had affected her deeply. She had thought she missed the opening of the Misty Snow Domain, but what felt like ten years inside had been only ten days outside.
So when Wei Yunxi and Xun Kun came to find her, she sent a flying-sword message to Han Xiao Zūnzhě of her sect to inquire about the entrance to this cycle's Misty Snow Domain. A reply had yet to arrive.
Cultivators of the other four regions had already set out after receiving compensation from Huaxian Gate. After consulting with the leading Zūnzhě, Han Lian decided to wait for the Ancestor's reply before departing.
The day after Xian Yao and Xian Feng's long talk, they went to the guest peak to visit Wei Yunxi, only to find nothing. Wei Yunxi and Xun Kun had left Huaxian Gate the previous day, and she had not been informed. Hao Qing Zūnzhě received them instead.
"Xian Yao Daoyou, what business do you have with Wei Yunxi? If it is convenient, I can pass along your message."
Xian Yao had not expected Wei Yunxi to be absent from Huaxian Gate. "In that case, I will wait and seek her when she returns."
"Wei Yunxi has matters to handle and will not return to the Western Region for now. Haoran Sect will depart tomorrow. If it is urgent, you may send her a transmission."
Xian Yao could only nod and take her leave.
Another day later, Han Lian finally received her master's reply. Reading it, she could not tell whether it was good news or bad. If they set out at once, they could still make the opening of the Misty Snow Domain. The problem was that this time, the entrance to the Misty Snow Domain lay at the deepest part of the Polar Extreme Wind Zone.