Some acts of extravagance are all show with no substance.
The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect, however, has perfected both.
During his time at the Tianyan Sect, Chu Xingchen never wandered around aimlessly—he was either at Zhuji Peak or out on assignments.
At the very least, he had genuinely never visited places like the so-called "Feminine Peaks."
The architecture of Bai Xuanling's Zhuji Peak wasn’t just modest by Tianyan Sect standards; even compared to their own sect in Yuzhou City, it could be considered rough and simple.
Clearly, Bai Xuanling didn’t care whether his resting and seclusion quarters were aesthetically pleasing or not.
As long as the essentials for cultivation were present, that was enough.
Even if Bai Xuanling had refined tastes, Zhuji Peak remained unadorned and plain.
The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect, on the other hand, took extravagance to the extreme—though not in its architecture, but in the details.
Every little thing in the sect exuded sheer opulence.
Chu Xingchen ran his fingers over the table before him—crafted from white jade and faintly radiating spiritual energy. How exquisite.
His gaze then shifted to the emerald-green jade teapot and cups, masterfully crafted and also shimmering with a subtle spiritual aura. Whether it was due to ingenious craftsmanship or the rarity of the materials, he couldn’t tell.
"Not all that expensive. At the very least, the sect master would be willing to give you more money—Tianyan Sect’s reputation is worth far more than these trinkets."
Bai Xuanling took a seat nearby, pouring himself a cup of tea while casting an amused glance at Chu Xingchen.
"What kind of talk is that? Do I really seem like that kind of person?" Chu Xingchen first feigned solemnity before breaking into a slight smile.
"Should I just ask the sect master directly for the money?"
Bai Xuanling’s expression remained unreadable, as if he had anticipated this. "Perform well, and I’ll put in a word for you."
Chu Xingchen grew slightly more serious as he asked,
"Has Tianyan Sect overreacted a bit…? The Luo Yue incident shouldn’t have provoked such a strong response."
Bai Xuanling took a sip of tea, finding it inferior to Qinghe’s brew, before explaining,
"Because Luo Yue is merely a pretext. After the great division of the world, everyone appears peaceful on the surface, but none dare show signs of weakness."
"Once you have one spiritual vein, no one minds having a second. And those without one wouldn’t refuse one either."
"The Eighteen Immortal Sects may stand above all, but that very prominence also makes them the most visible targets."
"To maintain their lofty status, these eighteen sects have shed far more blood and sweat than others—because there are always more waiting to kick them when they’re down."
"Tianyan Sect has also tread carefully for millennia, never daring to make a single misstep."
"Of course, the situation isn’t that dire now. We’re just securing compensation for Luo Yue while Tianyan Sect grabs some benefits for itself. To outsiders, the sect must never appear as the easiest target. That said, outright life-and-death conflicts between the Eighteen Immortal Sects are unlikely."
"Otherwise, the Central Plains’ Buddhist sects would’ve been wiped out long ago. So don’t overthink it."
Chu Xingchen nodded in understanding. "Got it. I’ll make sure to perform well."
Bai Xuanling said no more. After finishing his tea, he flipped the cup upside down and returned it to its place before leaving.
Chu Xingchen was sharp—no need to spell everything out for him.
Daoist Yuyang paused in his steps, eyeing Xu Jin with suspicion.
This man had called him out in the dead of night, claiming to have something important to discuss.
Out of courtesy, Daoist Yuyang had agreed, but the further they walked, the more secluded the surroundings became—with hardly a soul in sight.
His tone grew slightly stern.
"If you have something to say, say it directly. I’m not in the mood for a stroll."
Xu Jin stopped and turned around. "I heard you crossed blades with Chu Xingchen."
Daoist Yuyang’s expression remained placid.
"I’m just a mediocrity—hardly worthy of crossing blades with him. If that’s all, I’ll take my leave."
Xu Jin was taken aback before recalling his first encounter with Chu Xingchen. Back then, he’d merely scoffed at the man’s arrogance…
They were all prodigies—since when did grievances get settled by tattling?
At first, he thought he’d misheard the muttered "mediocrity."
Xu Jin hurriedly called out, "Wait—Brother Yuyang, I didn’t mean—"
"Enough." Daoist Yuyang’s voice carried a hint of disdain. "If you wanted to ask about Chu Xingchen, why not approach him directly? Skulking around for information reeks of pettiness."
Xu Jin let out a bitter chuckle, his expression tinged with helplessness. "I did visit him, but he refused to see me—told me to take any matters to Senior Bai instead."
"Typical of him. Had I known this was your intent, I wouldn’t have agreed to meet either. If you have business, take it up with my sect master."
Without hesitation, Daoist Yuyang turned and walked away.
Xu Jin quickly added, "If I recall correctly, Chu Xingchen once planned to ambush the Mist Mystic Temple."
Daoist Yuyang didn’t stop.
The operation hadn’t involved Tianyan Sect alone—Chu Xingchen had simply outshone the rest.
Who knew if the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect had also played a part?
Even today, that seemingly dim-witted woman from Xiaoyun Palace had acted strangely, avoiding his gaze entirely.
She might’ve been involved back then too.
Besides, the Mist Mystic Temple affair had no real bearing on the current matter.
Handling affairs required focus—mixing in too much only risked failure.
Moreover, being two-faced lacked backbone.
As Daoist Yuyang’s figure receded into the distance, Xu Jin found himself at a loss for words, despite the countless arguments he’d prepared.
He envied those two—carefree, unburdened by hesitation.
After a long silence, as Daoist Yuyang’s silhouette vanished completely, Xu Jin exhaled slowly, his gaze lifting to the waning moon above.
They were all prodigies. Perhaps he surpassed them in cultivation, but in spirit, he’d fallen short.
Morning.
By convention, grand gatherings involving multiple factions of the Eighteen Immortal Sects would begin with an elaborate welcoming ceremony—complete with a lengthy program of performances.
But this time, before even the initial formalities could conclude, the core disciples of every sect had already dispersed.
With tacit agreement, the ceremonies were stripped down to the bare minimum.
Fewer formalities meant fewer complications.
As part of the Eighteen Immortal Sects, most conflicts—overt or covert—were now settled by their disciples.
A measure of restraint, keeping tensions at a manageable level.
After all, for major sects, a clash between Mahayana cultivators could easily escalate into a battle between Tribulation Transcenders.
Every power had its hidden elders.
Moreover, high-level battles tended to be too destructive, with aftermaths too messy to handle. Letting the younger generation settle disputes was far more practical.
Besides, for Mahayana and Tribulation Transcenders to fight so recklessly would be downright undignified.
Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect—Martial Void Arena.
The spectator stands hovered high above, while the actual dueling grounds lay far below.
Hundreds of formation arrays enclosed a peculiar arena.
To mortals, the space would seem vast—comparable to a small city. But to cultivators, it was laughably cramped.
Yet… this arena seemed to hold secrets of its own.
The Tianyan Sect certainly didn’t join forces with so many other immortal sects just to sit around drinking tea and exchanging pleasantries. If they didn’t stir up a fight and flaunt Chu Xingchen and Yanyun’s prowess, their trip would have been a complete waste.
Xu Jin’s gaze swept over the Tianyan Sect’s seating area, but he only spotted Yanyun sitting there calmly, her expression unreadable. Chu Xingchen, however, was nowhere to be seen.
Just as he began to wonder where the young prodigy had gone, his eyes instinctively turned toward the Taidao Sect’s direction. He had intended to observe Daoist Yuyang, but to his surprise, Chu Xingchen was right there among the Taidao Sect’s disciples—enthusiastically slinging an arm around Daoist Yuyang’s shoulders.
Strangely, the people around them seemed entirely unbothered by this.
Even more baffling, Daoist Yuyang was wearing… a bright, cheerful smile?
At a glance, anyone unaware of the truth might assume Chu Xingchen was actually a member of the Taidao Sect.