Chapter 59: The Battle of the Chu Sect

"Pei Huoyu, what exactly do you want!"

The vitality of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was truly formidable. Even with his skull piled together, Liuhuo's spiritual sense still flickered.

Liuhuo roared in rage.

Though artifact refiners were highly respected by those of the same rank, that did not apply when dealing with a madman.

"Return my Five Elements Mountain!"

Liuhuo shouted repeatedly, trying to break free from the five-colored ropes binding his body. Yet, no matter how he mobilized the fire spiritual energy in his body, not only was he unable to escape, but the ropes only tightened further.

He could only be horrified by Pei Huoyu's terrifying strength.

"You were the one who died outside first. I waited for you for years and you never came to claim it. Who can you blame for that? It's your fault for provoking other Foundation Establishment cultivators outside."

Pei Huoyu gripped the bloodstained bronze cauldron. He was not one for close combat, but today his temper was too great.

"Which auction was it? Who was the host?"

"What are you planning to do?"

Sensing the murderous intent in Pei Huoyu's eyes, Liuhuo was alarmed. Was this lunatic really going to such lengths for a low-grade second-rank magic weapon?

"Will you talk or not!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Speak! Are you going to speak?"

"Ugh!"

"Wait, wait, I'll tell you... it's—"

"Pei Huoyu, how dare you—"

A miserable scream was abruptly cut off. In the grand hall, only the sultry heat of the rising fire-trapping formation remained. Pei Huoyu stood up and tossed aside the bronze cauldron, his gaze indifferent as he looked at the corpse at his feet.

After a moment's hesitation, he began gathering the things in the hall, collecting even the remains.

At last, he found the jade token that controlled the grand formation in the hall.

The blazing formation paused for the space of a breath, but the cultivators of Sunfire Residence waiting outside, listening for movement, did not notice the brief stoppage.

This formation was a mid-grade second-rank array. When fully activated, it could withstand and suppress even late Foundation Establishment cultivators. In all of Ninefold Immortal City, few could open it from the outside.

Those outside could not discern what had transpired within; they could only wait for the array to cease functioning.

Even so, there were guesses. Master Liuhuo had sent the Five Elements Mountain to auction, and as luck would have it, it had failed to sell for more than a dozen times before. No one expected it to finally be sold, only for the rumored original owner—presumed dead— to return.

...

A quarter of an hour later.

Outside the fifth-floor auction hall.

Having straightened his appearance, Pei Huoyu strode toward the auction venue.

Less than half an hour later.

A thunderous explosion rocked the auction hall. A spiritual radiance, several zhang in size, burst in midair, leveling the surrounding buildings.

"Activate the grand array! Kill this criminal!"

Wenshan, the Foundation Establishment cultivator presiding over the Immortal City auction, fired a crimson arrow of light into the sky, illuminating Ninefold Immortal City.

The scarlet arrow exploded, causing countless cultivators in the city to look up in shock.

This was the signal arrow for activating the city-guarding grand array.

Since the founding of the Immortal City, it had been used only a handful of times, always when a Foundation Establishment cultivator acted within the city.

Bands of spiritual light soared up in the city, forming curtains of light that began to converge above the sky.

...

At the point where the array was closing, thunder rumbled. A streak of lightning formed a massive thunderball, several tens of zhang across, blasting a huge hole through the array.

"A Ban-Forbidding Pearl!"

Wenshan's expression changed at the sight.

"Someone dares cause trouble in the Immortal City—after him!"

With whistling sounds, several streaks of light shot from all corners of the city, pursuing the direction where the array had been breached.

...

Night fell.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators who had given chase returned and gathered at the highest point of Ninefold Immortal City.

Here stood a stone fortress, a thousand zhang across.

The fortress was built along the cliff face, with the rear palace half-embedded into the rocky mountainside.

At this moment, outside the palace, a dozen or so Foundation Establishment cultivators assembled.

The leader, resplendently robed, radiated authority without anger.

"Wenshan, was the man caught?"

"Reporting to Grand Elder, he escaped. The villain's strength is formidable. Though only at mid-Foundation Establishment, his combat power rivals the late stage."

Wenshan bowed his head as he spoke.

"What exactly happened?"

"This villain previously commissioned the city's artifact refiner, Liuhuo—"

"Liuhuo is already dead," the leading Grand Elder said indifferently. "I went to Sunfire Residence, opened the array, and found the hall had long been ransacked. The man first sought out Liuhuo, then came for you."

"Is it really worth such a commotion for a second-rank magic weapon?"

All present were Foundation Establishment cultivators; some were puzzled. A matter of a thousand or two spirit stones meant little to them.

"I heard Liuhuo mention that the materials for the artifact were provided by the man himself. Could it be there was something hidden within the Five Elements materials? Yet Liuhuo had spent over a hundred years honing his craft—he couldn't possibly miss any mysteries in the materials."

Wenshan frowned.

The leading Grand Elder glanced at the others. "The City Lord has been in seclusion for years, and people think it's time for a new master. Now a rogue cultivator has killed our artifact refiner and walked away unscathed. This cannot be left as it is."

"Pei Huoyu must be pursued. Issue a bounty. Any cultivator who discovers his whereabouts will be rewarded."

"Grand Elder, messengers from the Azurewater Sect and Sunlight Sect have come several times. How shall we reply?"

"Tell them the City Lord is in secluded cultivation and will not interfere in the conflicts between the sects of Chu. As long as they do not fight within the Immortal City, we will not take sides."

"Grand Elder, the City Lord has been secluded for over twenty years. Now, with the three sects of Chu on the verge of war, should we not ask the City Lord to emerge and take charge?"

Seeing all eyes turn toward him, the Grand Elder himself hesitated.

It was one thing for a true Core Formation cultivator to seclude himself for cultivation, but a pseudo-Core cultivator could not advance their realm further except by comprehending spells. To remain in seclusion for twenty years at a stretch—who would not be suspicious?

Moreover, there had long been rumors that the City Lord's lifespan was nearing its end.

For a moment, everyone's gaze turned to the palace embedded in the rocky cliff at the back.

Inside the palace was a cave mansion carved within the mountain, where the City Lord, Master Qiu Shan, was said to be in seclusion.

...

"City Lord, we seek an audience."

After exchanging glances, the group approached the palace and bowed respectfully.

Now, with the situation in Chu growing perilous and the three great sects, once harmonious, showing signs of mutual strife, the independent Immortal City was already being affected.

At such a time, only the City Lord's presence could deter wrongdoers and stabilize the situation.

"The situation in Chu is dire. We beseech the City Lord to come forth and preside over the city."

The group prostrated themselves outside the hall, repeatedly entreating.

Yet there was no response from within.

In the past, even if the City Lord did not emerge, he would at least send a transmission.

Should war break out among the sects of Chu, the independent Immortal City would inevitably be affected. For such matters, which concerned the city's fate, the City Lord should not remain silent.

"Grand Elder."

After several rounds of pleading with no answer, the group looked to the leading Grand Elder.

He glanced at the others, and after an exchange of looks, he rose and walked into the palace.

Rumbling—

The tightly closed doors were pushed open, revealing a stone tunnel leading deep into the mountain. Spiritual fire sconces lined the walls, casting an eerie silence.

"City Lord, your subordinate has matters to report."

Taking courage, the Grand Elder proceeded to the deepest part of the tunnel, stopping before an earthen-yellow formation blocking the way.

...

"City Lord!"

As the formation dissipated, at the heart of the stone cave, atop a lotus-shaped stone dais, sat a thin figure draped in voluminous robes, cross-legged.

The head hung low, utterly devoid of life.

"City Lord!"

A dozen figures stared at the form on the dais, their bodies wavering as a single thought filled their minds.

It was over!

Without the City Lord's presence, Ninefold Immortal City would no longer be able to stand as an independent power.

Azurewater Sect, Shadowbamboo Valley, Sunlight Sect—all would treat them as they pleased.

As the three sects began their internecine war, the Immortal City would be in grave danger.

...

Myriad Star Sea, Thousandleaf Island.

After entering the city, Shen Lian did not rush to sell his self-refined pills. Instead, he wandered through the shops, purchasing some herbs.

Through subtle inquiries, he learned that within the Thousandleaf Alliance, the pill trade was monopolized by two Foundation Establishment clans: the Bai and the Lu.

Aside from these, the scattered first-rank alchemists were hardly worth mentioning.

This was mainly because the cultivation level on Thousandleaf Island was not high, and it was far from the central regions of Myriad Star Sea. There were no powerful pseudo-Core or true Core Formation clans or sects.

With no strong external threats, the few Foundation Establishment clans monopolized all the cultivation resources in this part of the sea.

If he wanted to sell pills long-term on Thousandleaf Island, he would inevitably have to clash with the Bai and Lu clans.

"Sigh..."

Standing outside a medicinal garden, Shen Lian let out a soft sigh.

He was about to break his promise.

He still remembered, full of righteous indignation, his vow to help loose cultivator friends drive down the price of pills.

Now that he had become an alchemist, he had to face the harshness of reality.

"Is there something you need, honored guest?"

As Shen Lian sighed, a woman in a blue gown, smiling radiantly, stepped out from the shop.

Beneath her skirt, white lotus cloud-patterned slippers moved gracefully, spiritual light blossoming at her feet.

Not only did lotuses bloom underfoot, but her entire body swayed with each step, the undulating waves enough to leave Shen Lian dizzy.