Chapter 112: Return to Yunmiao Mountain Range, Secluded Breakthrough

Half a year later, the Yunmiao Mountain Range.

Nearly thirty years had passed since Jiuyou last visited this mountain range. While the landscape hadn't undergone earth-shattering changes, it had transformed considerably.

The most notable difference was the former site of the Crystal Spirit Sect. That location had now been replaced by a massive cultivator city. However, the city was still under construction, far from complete, clearly having been built not long ago.

Back then, all the high-ranking members of the Crystal Spirit Sect had vanished overnight. The other two sects had fallen into heightened alert, and other forces dared not rashly encroach, fearing they might draw the attention of that mysterious old demon of the Demonic Path. And so, for nearly a decade or more, the entire Yunmiao Mountain Range remained quiet.

Although Heavenly Seal Mountain and Spirit Twilight Valley hadn't relaxed their vigilance, with only two sects guarding an entire mountain range, it inevitably invited covetous glances from other forces. Thus, some factions secretly dispatched disciples to infiltrate and scout the situation.

When Heavenly Seal Mountain and Spirit Twilight Valley caught wind of this, they naturally couldn't hold back either, secretly sending disciples to search the mountains. Yet after several years, not a trace of the evil cultivator was found. Only then did they slowly come to believe that the evil cultivator had left after destroying the Crystal Spirit Sect.

With the Crystal Spirit Sect annihilated, its ruins were left vacant.

Originally, three factions had jointly controlled the Yunmiao Mountain Range. With one now gone, their collective strength naturally took a hit. To prevent other forces, or even the royal family, from casting greedy eyes their way, they joined forces with another major sect from the nearby Misty Veil Mountain Range. Together, the three factions built a massive cultivator city on the ruins of the Crystal Spirit Sect.

This way, they could both utilize the spirit vein and boost their economies. With three factions joining hands, other powers dared not stir up trouble behind their backs, nor covet the Yunmiao Mountain Range any longer.

Now, Cloud Mist City had begun to take shape. Various merchant associations and cultivators drawn by its reputation came and went, streams of multicolored spiritual light intertwining in a bustling spectacle.

...

Meanwhile, at Spirit Twilight Valley.

Today, Spirit Twilight Valley seemed somewhat different from usual.

The entire mountain gate was sealed shut, and the protective mountain array had already been secretly activated. Above the valley, a faintly visible transparent blue light barrier enveloped the whole valley, ready to be triggered at a moment's notice should any mishap occur.

Most of the disciples within the valley were strictly forbidden from going out.

They had no idea what was happening. Some packed up their belongings, thinking an enemy sect had come knocking. Others quietly made inquiries, and a small fraction managed to glean bits of information through their connections. Each of them wore expressions of shock and envy, tinged with a hint of excitement.

The entire mountain gate was on high alert.

Deep within Spirit Twilight Valley stood a peak brimming with dense spiritual energy.

This peak was covered from top to bottom with various grand formations, fortified with absolute thoroughness, as if afraid the slightest mistake might occur. Within dozens of miles around the peak, apart from a single blue-robed figure deep within, there was no one else.

"What? Junior Brother Shao's Soul Lamp went out? When did this happen, the day before yesterday?"

Within a cave dwelling on the peak, that blue-robed figure, a middle-aged man with graying temples and deep forehead wrinkles, wore a somewhat anxious expression. He held a piece of emerald green jade slip in his hand, clearly in voice transmission with someone. Judging by the voice, it sounded like a young woman, her tone delicate and soft.

"The ancestral masters have sent word for you to rest assured and focus on Nascent Soul Formation. As for Senior Brother Shao's death, the sect will investigate to the very end. What matters most right now is that you form your Nascent Soul as soon as possible. The entire mountain gate is now under full lockdown. I hope Senior Brother won't let this affair affect your state of mind."

The middle-aged man's face was stern, his voice deep and raspy.

"I understand."

The moment he cut off the transmission and turned around, the corner of his eye caught sight of something that made his blood run cold. On the stone platform where he had been sitting cross-legged in meditation, a figure in a green robe now stood, appearing as if from nowhere.

It was a young man with handsome features and eyes as deep as an abyss. Standing there, he exuded an intangible coldness, an aura of a superior being that commanded respect without needing to speak, making it impossible for anyone to dare meet his gaze directly.

The middle-aged man's eyes flew wide open, his face flooding with utter shock.

He couldn't fathom how this figure had broken in. The sect had sealed the mountain, and even this peak was covered with grand formations from top to bottom. Even the sect's strongest, the Grand Elder at Mid-Nascent Soul, couldn't possibly have infiltrated so silently.

How had this person done it?

Could he be... an old monster at Late Nascent Soul?

The moment this speculation arose, the middle-aged man startled even himself. Why would a grand cultivator at Late Nascent Soul come running to their tiny Spirit Twilight Valley? And why seek out him, a mere Golden Core cultivator?

Cold sweat had soaked his back without him even realizing it.

His body trembled uncontrollably. The figure in the green robe revealed not a sliver of aura, only gazing at him from afar with a pair of cyan eyes. There was not a trace of human emotion in them, cold as a stagnant pool of dead water.

Before he could even beg for mercy, the figure in the green robe grew larger and larger within his reflected pupils.

The entire process passed without the slightest ripple. The peak remained as tranquil as ever, all the various grand formations still operating. No one noticed what had transpired within this mountain.

Deep within the peak.

Jiuyou sat cross-legged on the stone platform.

On the other side of the cave dwelling, in a dark secret chamber, the blue-robed middle-aged man from earlier was bound hand and foot by countless cyan chains, collapsed on the ground. The meridians in his body were blocked, leaving him unable to summon even a trace of mana.

Jiuyou hadn't killed him, only locked him up. If this man died, his Soul Lamp would go out. Jiuyou didn't want the people of Spirit Twilight Valley to discover something amiss so quickly.

Jiuyou took a deep breath.

Fortunately, his concealment arts were exceptional. Half a year ago, he had fled the Cold Ruins in one go, climbing over mountains and ridges to return to Qian Prefecture. After returning, he inspected the Storage Pouches of those two Early Nascent Soul cultivators. Nothing of much value, but something was better than nothing.

He had originally planned to find a place rich in spiritual energy to break through to Late Nascent Soul.

By chance, he captured a Golden Core elder from Spirit Twilight Valley who had been out on business. After some interrogation, he learned of the changes in the Yunmiao Mountain Range, and also of Spirit Twilight Valley secretly arranging for disciples to undergo Nascent Soul Formation.

As for Thousand Leaf City, he naturally had no intention of returning.

He was about to go into secluded breakthrough training, and there was no guarantee that the people of Precious Heaven Pavilion wouldn't make a move against him behind his back if they learned of his return. Even if that surnamed Dong feared him and dared not act, who could say whether Shangming, who had possessed the Blood Abyss Sect elder, wouldn't trace the clues and come looking for trouble.

And so, today's events came to be.

It had to be said, Spirit Twilight Valley's preparations were quite thorough. If it had been any other Nascent Soul cultivator, they probably couldn't have infiltrated so silently.

But Jiuyou's Divine Sense far surpassed those of the same cultivation level, and combined with his ability to alter his appearance and conceal his aura, he managed to slip in completely unnoticed.

Moreover, the sect's mountain gate was tightly sealed, the spiritual energy was abundant, and this peak had been designated as forbidden ground by Spirit Twilight Valley's higher-ups to prevent anyone from disturbing disciples undergoing Nascent Soul Formation. It suited his purposes perfectly.

Once everything was ready, he could begin his assault on Late Nascent Soul.

And once he became a Late Nascent Soul cultivator, even if the people of Spirit Twilight Valley belatedly realized something was wrong, they wouldn't dare voice a single word of complaint to his face.

...