I Won't Stop You

"Almost got caught."

Amidst flickering light, a figure appeared standing atop a rocky outcrop. Ye Chuan emerged within a mountain stream, having fled the recent battlefield. He let out a slow exhale.

"Time to switch back." Ye Chuan released his spiritual sense, and after confirming no one was nearby, he changed out of his black attire and back into Qingyun Sect robes.

Originally, he had been returning to the sect in Qingyun Sect attire when Ji Dan intercepted him.

Then, after switching to black clothes to join the commotion, he ended up getting beaten by that person disguised as Bai Qianshuang.

"I'm still too weak. When will I ever ascend and become an Immortal Emperor?" Ye Chuan adjusted his sleeves before pulling out his phone and opening the gacha page.

"Most of the techniques have already been pulled—just duplicates left now, and I can’t seem to get any legendary ones." He began fine-tuning his combat prowess.

The strength of the techniques he could draw was directly proportional to Bai Qianshuang’s favorability.

The higher the tenant’s favorability, the higher the quality of the related items.

To progress further, aside from leeching techniques from the sect, he’d have to work on deepening his bond with Bai Qianshuang.

"And then there’s this." Ye Chuan took out a storage pouch.

It belonged to Zi Ning'er—freshly plucked from her pocket, still warm from her body heat. When he opened it, he noticed a mark left inside, likely a restriction she had placed.

"Won’t stop me." Ye Chuan wasn’t worried about any seal. After opening the pouch, he probed it with his spiritual sense.

Huh?

Where’s the Black Tortoise essence blood?

He noticed only miscellaneous items, some spirit crystals, and clothes inside—nothing else.

"Did I grab the wrong one?" After thoroughly searching and confirming the absence of what he sought, realization slowly dawned on him. "What?"

Seriously? After all that effort, he got nothing?

But that couldn’t be—he had searched Zi Ning'er thoroughly, and she only had one storage pouch on her.

"Tch." Frustrated, Ye Chuan could only stash Zi Ning'er’s pouch away for now.

At least there were some spirit crystals inside. Not a total loss.

After tidying up, he set off toward Qingyun Sect.

---

Meanwhile, within Qingyun Sect, a group had gathered in the grand hall of Tianheng Peak.

"To think remnants of the Yuxu Demon Sect still exist—and in numbers exceeding a hundred. Hmph." A disdainful snort came from Qin Tianya, the sect master. "That demoness should’ve been executed immediately."

Who would’ve thought Qingyun Sect would nearly lose several core disciples and elders?

"Are you alright, Ning'er?" Qin Tianya asked.

"Just minor injuries, nothing serious." As she spoke, Zi Ning'er retrieved a storage pouch from her chest. "This contains the Black Tortoise essence blood."

The one that had been stolen wasn’t the pouch holding the essence blood—she had kept that one pressed against her chest. When Ye Chuan had searched her, he hadn’t directly grabbed that spot, only brushing past it.

That was why he hadn’t found it.

Inside the glass container, the essence blood radiated a dense vitality.

"Well done." Qin Tianya waved his hand, storing the essence blood away. "All disciples and elders who participated in this auction shall be generously rewarded."

"Many thanks, Sect Master!" The disciples and elders below cheered.

Qin Tianya tapped his fingers against the white jade table before him, deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke. "This sect shall activate the Heavenly Water Mirror."

The Heavenly Water Mirror?

The announcement instantly sparked excitement among many.

The mirror could peer into the past, replaying events that had occurred. It seemed this ambush had finally pushed Qin Tianya to use the secret treasure’s power.

"Sect Master, is this to investigate the thief from before?" Elder Ziyun inquired.

Having suffered injuries twice—once from the explosion of the scripture pavilion and again from the pill garden theft—Elder Ziyun bore a deep grudge against the culprit.

"No. It is to investigate the remnants of Yuxu Sect… If they regain momentum, they will undoubtedly threaten Qingyun Sect." Qin Tianya paused, as if recalling the shadowy figure.

"As for that strange shadow, we can investigate it as well."

Elder Ziyun’s face brightened at the mention of tracking the shadow. His previously weary expression regained some vigor.

"The Heavenly Water Mirror is currently recuperating in the secret realm. In three days, this sect shall activate it." Qin Tianya waved his hand. "Go and rest now."

"Yes."

With the meeting adjourned, Zi Ning'er helped Elder Ziyun out of the hall.

"Master, are you feeling better?" Zi Ning'er asked as she supported him.

"Ning'er, I’m fine." Ziyun shook his head. "You’ve worked hard during the auction. Return to your cave abode and rest."

Zi Ning'er nodded but then seemed to remember something. "Master… I heard you only gave Huang Haotian, your new disciple, a single Nine-Purity Core Formation Pill?"

Ziyun smiled meaningfully.

"Nine-Purity is correct, but I also supplemented it with a Six-Purity Core Formation Pill. Did Huang Haotian tell you this?"

"Yes."

"Heh." Ziyun narrowed his eyes. "Still, the boy is indeed a rare talent. Reaching the quasi-Core Formation realm before twenty—even surpassing your achievements back then."

The key point was that Ye Chuan was a rogue cultivator, meaning he had grown up with scarce resources—vastly different from sect disciples raised with ample support.

"Ning'er, I want you to become the leading figure of Flying Sword Peak in this generation." Ziyun said calmly. "A seedling like him cannot be allowed to fall into another peak’s hands."

Ziyun had taken in Ye Chuan to strengthen Flying Sword Peak—but not to the point where he would overshadow Zi Ning'er.

"Master, I believe I am no worse than Junior Brother Huang. I hope you will guide him well so that Flying Sword Peak may rise even higher." Zi Ning'er insisted.

"With his talent, he will surely reach the Nascent Soul realm and beyond."

"Enough. I’m tired." Ziyun waved his hand, cutting her off.

Zi Ning'er fell silent for a long moment before finally letting the matter drop.

"For the upcoming Qingyun Secret Realm expedition, I’d like to bring Junior Brother Huang along." Zi Ning'er said. "The sect master did promise us a reward."

Ziyun was taken aback before sighing. "Ning'er, why must you concern yourself with him?"

"Because if I don’t, it may become a demon in my heart." Zi Ning'er clenched her fists.

"I fear no one. I refuse to believe I am inferior to anyone."

Ziyun: "…"

At the mention of a "demon in her heart," Ziyun seemed surprised that his actions had affected her so deeply. Finally, he relented.

"If the sect master permits it, I won’t stop you."

"Good."