What is due east

As someone born in the cultivation world, He Yi knew that anything connected to yin energy was generally not a good thing.

Or rather, it was basically always a calamity. This was common knowledge etched into the bones of every cultivator in the cultivation world.

With no mind to continue meditating, He Yi sat upright and waited for a response from the spirit-sensing talisman he had used earlier.

Could this have something to do with that Jishi stone…?

A short while later, the spirit-sensing talisman responded.

Spirit-sensing talismans were generally used to search for spiritual energy, but He Yi’s was somewhat different.

After modifying it himself, He Yi had expanded the range of things it could detect considerably.

He usually used it as a means of exploration.

Based on the feedback from the talisman, his earlier perception had not been an illusion.

Although the sensation had been brief, something had indeed been drawing the yin energy toward it.

However, after the spirit-sensing talisman flew a considerable distance, it still failed to find the exact location before that force disappeared.

It seemed that the force was not particularly close to where he was.

Otherwise, given the speed of his spirit-sensing talisman, even if it could not pinpoint the exact location, it should at least have locked down the general area.

Although it could not determine the precise location, it had revealed the general direction.

He Yi raised his eyes and looked toward the pitch-black horizon in the distance.

The moon was completely concealed by dark clouds, making tonight especially gloomy.

The force drawing in the yin energy was coming from due east.

The next day.

Li Zhouxuan had just finished the morning court session in the imperial capital. He was planning to grab something to eat during the brief bit of free time before the small meeting with his close ministers. He usually had little appetite before court and ate very little, but after an entire morning session, his stomach was already protesting loudly.

Unexpectedly, one of his attendants came to report that the envoy sent by the cultivation world wished to see him.

Li Zhouxuan had no choice but to reluctantly order the food cleared away and receive He Yi.

“May I ask what brings Immortal Master He here?”

After spending some time together, Li Zhouxuan knew that He Yi was not the sort of person who acted superior or enjoyed being flattered. As a result, he dispensed with much of the unnecessary formality in his speech.

He Yi got straight to the point as well.

“What lies due east of the Pusi Kingdom?”

“Due east?”

Li Zhouxuan was taken aback. He instinctively glanced toward the hall’s entrance, unsure why He Yi was asking such a question, but he still answered honestly.

“If you mean within our kingdom, then due east lies Hufang Province. There are two sects there: the Shangyang Sect and the Lingxian Sect. Both are allied sects of our Pusi Kingdom.”

“If you mean beyond our borders, then due east is an enormous stretch of deep mountains and dense forests, where few people ever set foot. I’ve heard that some savages live there. Farther east lies the sea. Across the sea is the Diquang Kingdom. And if you continue east…”

“Very well. Thank you, King Li. I understand.”

He Yi interrupted him at the right moment.

By the time that force reached the imperial capital, it had already weakened considerably. After coming to the Pusi Kingdom, He Yi had gained a rough understanding of its territory. Judging by the distance, the force’s effective range should not extend beyond the kingdom’s borders. Otherwise, its power would be truly incalculable.

Based on He Yi’s experience, he could roughly determine that even a Void Refining cultivator, or even a Deity Transformation cultivator exerting themselves normally, would be unable to accomplish something of this magnitude.

Unless they went all out.

There should not be such a powerful existence in the mortal realm…

Of course, it was also possible that remnants of the Jishi faction were causing trouble.

However, the Jishi qi and yin energy did not actually originate from the same source, so the Jishi faction should likewise have difficulty achieving something on this scale.

After pondering for a moment, He Yi said nothing more and took his leave.

As soon as he saw He Yi leave, Li Zhouxuan immediately waved for his attendants to serve the meal.

He had barely eaten two bites when an inner attendant came to report that Immortal Master He intended to leave the imperial capital and travel for a few days.

Li Zhouxuan had no objections.

After all, the man was an Immortal Master from the cultivation world. What objections could he possibly have? The only thing he could do was send a message to the old ancestor and report the matter.

Then he had to hurry and finish his meal. He still had a small meeting with his ministers later.

A plague had broken out in the southern region some time ago. Although it was not a particularly deadly illness, it had still caused considerable disruption to the people’s lives.

Fortunately, perhaps influenced by the Lingxian Sect, the Qinghe Sect—which had never cared about the people within the kingdom—had actually mobilized as well, working with the imperial court to provide relief.

Changming Mountain had been completed, but Lin Xiao did not excitedly drag everyone over to see it as he usually would.

Because, well, the situation was rather awkward.

It was difficult to handle.

If something else had been completed, gathering everyone for a tour would have been perfectly fine. But Changming Mountain was different.

After all, who would build an empty cemetery, invite everyone over to look around, and then say:

“Look! I built this for everyone! Once we’re gone, we can all be buried here!”

And yet Changming Mountain really was the first incredible project Lin Xiao had completed entirely on his own…

Not being able to show it off to everyone was making him feel terribly frustrated.

Sigh.

Just as Lin Xiao was worrying over this, Liu Yunan happened to solve the problem for him.

That day, after finishing the construction of Changming Mountain, Lin Xiao finally had time to give the research group a dedicated lecture on cultivation techniques.

Everyone was studying diligently on the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion. Just as Lin Xiao finished answering their questions, he saw Liu Yunan making exaggerated facial expressions at him outside the pavilion.

Noticing that the few people studying the techniques had temporarily stopped asking questions, Liu Yunan finally dared to send Lin Xiao a voice transmission.

“Brother Xiao, Brother Xiao, come over quickly! I’ve got something to show you!”

Lin Xiao walked out in confusion.

Not wanting to disturb the research group’s studies, the two of them went down to the sixth floor.

Before Lin Xiao could even ask what was going on, Liu Yunan gave him a mysterious smile.

“Brother Xiao, I made it!”

As he spoke, he took several large sheets of paper from his storage ring.

“Take a look. Is this what you meant by a sect newsletter?”

He then pulled out his little notebook and opened it, explaining to Lin Xiao:

“I’ve also worked out the department structure for the sect newsletter. For now, it will be placed under the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. In the future, it will be fully responsible for coordinating news from the cultivation world and the Mo Residence. There will be one editor-in-chief in charge of the general direction and reviewing manuscripts, as well as two editors responsible for compiling information and writing the newsletter…”

Looking at the preliminary design for the sect newsletter in his hands, as well as Liu Yunan’s plans for organizing the department, Lin Xiao was both surprised and delighted.

“Good work, Yunan!”

Lin Xiao immediately pulled Liu Yunan along to the small building he had newly established for the sect newsletter.

Once inside, the two of them began tinkering with things in the building. They worked until night fell, then dawn broke again.

The following morning.

That day happened to be the day Lin Xiao was scheduled to give a lecture at the Cultivation Hall on Qingyun Peak.

The disciples of Qingyun Peak were all filled with anticipation.

Although their sect master was young, his cultivation was profound, and his lectures were interesting as well. Everyone liked him very much.

The disciples originally thought that today’s class would proceed normally, just as it always did.