Chapter Sixty-Six: The Hunt for Demons

Nanmen Luo took the black token handed over by Jiang Yan, weighed it in his hand, and then asked with some curiosity, "Sect Master Senior Brother, did you refine this yourself?"

Jiang Yan nodded. "I made it using the newly established sect's artifact refining room."

Nanmen Luo's ugly face showed a hint of surprise as he exclaimed, "Artifact refining room? Sect Master Senior Brother, you've built an artifact refining room as well!"

Jiang Yan paid no mind to Nanmen Luo's astonishment; instead, he counted on his fingers. "The sect's spiritual fields are overseen by Sister Wan, and the alchemy room is also managed by her. Junior Brother Mu only cares about doing business. The first batch of spiritual grains in the fields is about to ripen. Soon, I'll have him sell them in Linqing Prefecture or Dongping County to test the results. But as for the artifact refining room..." Jiang Yan deliberately slowed his speech, casting a hesitant glance at the shocked Nanmen Luo.

"Alchemy room?" Nanmen Luo was nearly bowled over by the Sect Master's words. Since when had their sect managed to set up an alchemy room? Wasn't that something only major sects could afford?

Seeing Jiang Yan's gaze, Nanmen Luo blurted out, "Sect Master Senior Brother, I'll take charge of the artifact refining room. Sister Wan already manages so much; it's not good for her to be overworked. Since Junior Brother Mu wants to do business, I'll manage the artifact refining room for you."

Jiang Yan looked at Nanmen Luo with a smiling, magnanimous air. "Junior Brother, the artifact refining room is not a pleasant place, and artifact refining consumes quite a bit of spiritual power. Your cultivation progress might slow because of this..."

Nanmen Luo's ugly face tensed; he stood up, speaking with great resolve. "Sect Master Senior Brother, rest assured. Though I am dull-witted, with your guidance, I can certainly manage the artifact refining room well."

A hint of hesitation flickered in Jiang Yan's heart. While Nanmen Luo was bold and straightforward, he was never enthusiastic about artifact refining. Now he was willing to take on the task only because of Jiang Yan's provocation. This might not be good. If he couldn't become an artifact refiner, even if he managed the room, it would do little to advance his cultivation.

Nanmen Luo saw Jiang Yan's hesitant expression and his face became agitated. Dropping to one knee before Jiang Yan, he vowed, "Sect Master Senior Brother, I promise that if I take charge of the artifact refining room, I will become an artifact refiner and not let you down."

A trace of difficulty crossed Jiang Yan's face, but he sighed deeply. "Very well, Junior Brother Nan, come with me."

...

Tianshan, Sect Hall

Lu Tiannan frowned at the white-clad child kneeling below, his tone cold and severe. "You say Junior Brother Meng Lu's soul lamp has been extinguished?"

The child trembled on the ground, his voice quivering as he replied, "Disciple... disciple had gone home to visit family some days ago. Upon returning yesterday, I found my master's soul lamp had already gone out."

"Worthless!" Lu Tiannan's robe sleeve swung, spiritual power bursting forth and striking the kneeling child. The child felt a sudden pain in his chest, then his body grew light as his back slammed into the hall wall, and all sensation faded.

With a thud, the child's body fell into the corner of the hall.

Lu Tiannan looked with disgust at the dead child, then angrily turned to an elder seated below. "Elder Li, what do you make of Junior Brother Meng Lu's soul lamp extinguishing?"

Elder Li stood, bowing to Lu Tiannan. His graying beard twitched as he replied, "Sect Master, Junior Brother Meng Lu's soul lamp going out surely has something to do with Mount Hua. Why not let me personally deal with Mount Hua?"

Lu Tiannan frowned in thought for a moment, then closed his eyes, his body slowly leaning back against his chair. His voice carried a hint of fatigue. "Let's hold off. In a month, it's the annual demon hunt. I heard Mount Hua has advanced to a second-rank sect. If so, during the hunt, they'll be grouped with the second-rank sects. We'll have plenty of opportunities to deal with Mount Hua then. Hmph."

"And regarding our recent eradication of the Violet Robe Sect, Jin Yan Sect hasn't said anything. That worries me," Lu Tiannan said, still with his eyes closed.

Elder Li was momentarily stunned, but he quickly praised the Sect Master's foresight and keen vision, assuring him that Jin Yan Sect, being a prestigious sect, would not compete with theirs.

At that moment, a white-robed disciple from Mount Hua hurried into the hall and whispered a few words to Elder Li. Elder Li frowned upon hearing this, but still reported to Lu Tiannan, "Sect Master Senior Brother, the cause of Senior Brother Lu Xiya's death remains unknown."

Lu Tiannan erupted in fury, leaping to his feet, his eyes blazing as he shouted, "A bunch of useless fools! How long has it been? One cultivator at peak Qi Training, ten Tianshan disciples—even if ambushed by ten peak Qi Training experts, there should be some clue left behind. Yet you useless lot haven't found a single piece of information…"

Elder Li's beard jerked upward, his eyes showing a hint of anger, though his voice remained calm. "It's not that we can't find anything. On the night Senior Brother Lu Xiya died, someone saw a young monk from Huasheng Temple returning from the east city. Outside the east city gate was where Senior Brother Lu Xiya died. But Huasheng Temple isn't part of Tianshan…"

"Investigate! Turn Huasheng Temple upside down if you have to! Those bald donkeys dared to provoke my brother—reckless fools! Investigate!"

Lu Tiannan's roar echoed from the sect hall, reverberating across the peak of Tianshan…

...

Sect Hall

Jiang Yan sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion atop the hall's platform, eyes closed in cultivation. Above his head, a misty white vapor continually overflowed and slowly dissipated into the air…

Ning Qian and Zisu sat nervously cross-legged on cushions below the platform, watching Jiang Yan as he cultivated.

"Ah..." After a long while, Jiang Yan finally exhaled deeply, ending his cultivation. He felt a secret dread—cultivating the seventh meridian was indeed difficult. Though he resided atop Mount Hua, benefitting from the sect's spiritual energy amplification, and the hall itself further enhanced the spiritual energy, after half a month of cultivation, he saw no sign of breaking through the meridian barrier.

He had just cultivated for over half an hour, and his spiritual power was overflowing, but the barrier of the seventh meridian still showed no sign of yielding. After exhaling deeply, Jiang Yan slowly opened his eyes. Although he had not advanced, his spiritual power had grown a little purer.

Seeing Ning Qian and Zisu sitting cross-legged below, Jiang Yan smiled and asked, "How are your cultivations progressing?"

Ning Qian glanced at Zisu, but did not speak first. Zisu, unconcerned, replied, "Master, I've been at the sixth layer of Qi Training for over half a year now. Recently, you gave me the formula for the advanced phase of the Water Transformation Technique, but after over half a month of cultivation, I've seen no sign of breakthrough. Please advise me, Master."

Jiang Yan frowned. Zisu seemed to be pushing herself too hard lately, her eyes clouded by vengeance. He spoke earnestly, "Haste makes waste, Zisu. Remember this. Though your cultivation technique is top-tier, human strength has its limits. Think about how many years it took you to reach the second layer of Qi Training, and then how many days you've spent on the advanced Water Transformation Technique."

Zisu's icy forehead showed a hint of surprise, her gaze suddenly lost. Jiang Yan's words threw her into deep reflection.

"Alright, Ning Qian, do you have any questions?" Jiang Yan turned, looking gently at the puzzled Ning Qian.

Ning Qian rose, bowing respectfully to Jiang Yan. "Master, your insight is clear. Haste makes waste—I understand now. Though I advanced to the third layer of Qi Training quickly, that was thanks to you. I've been too eager. Your teaching, Master, I will remember."

Jiang Yan sighed inwardly. It seemed his eldest disciple was also anxious about the wager three years from now. Compared to his recent breakthrough to the third layer in a single day, his cultivation had slowed lately, worried he might fall behind Zisu in three years.

Still, Ning Qian's comprehension was quite good; he had understood Jiang Yan's advice to Zisu even before it was directed at him. Jiang Yan was curious about his disciple's innate talent.

Thanks to hdzx for continued support to Solitary Fisherman of Snow and Pear Blossom Language, and for your repeated generosity—Hongyan offers sincere thanks. Now on Sanjiang, those who can vote, please do so; after all, each vote earns ten points.