Chapter 24: Preparing to Leave the Sect
Chapter 24: Preparing to Leave the Sect
Three days had passed since the conclusion of the Sect Grand Competition.
Three days had also passed since Luo Ningshuang arrived at the Three Saints Sect.
For the entirety of those three days, the two of them had barely exchanged a word.
Luo Ningshuang spent her days doing just three things: eating, refining pills, and cultivating.
Su Ming’s routine was even simpler. After reaching the Longevity Realm, he could go days—even weeks—without eating or drinking, so all he did was cultivate like a madman.
Whenever they did cross paths, their interactions were purely transactional.
This left Meng Shu somewhat anxious.
I went through the trouble of bringing her here, and this is how things turn out?
But since it was Su Ming’s personal matter, Meng Shu couldn’t say much.
During this time, he had also noticed something peculiar about Luo Ningshuang.
The spiritual energy she refined seemed to vanish without a trace, never flowing into her dantian or qi sea.
Yet, Meng Shu couldn’t figure out where that energy was going.
He promptly reported this discovery to Su Ming, who simply replied, “Don’t worry about it. When the time is right, everything will resolve itself.”
Since his young master had spoken, Meng Shu stopped overthinking it and focused on his own task—selling the pills Luo Ningshuang refined to the Three Saints Sect.
The result? The sect’s alchemy division was nearly driven to ruin.
Pills of the same grade from Su Ming’s side were 20% more effective yet priced the same.
Whether out of respect for Su Ming or simply for the superior quality, the Three Saints Sect had no reason to refuse.
This, of course, left the alchemy division’s elders and disciples in misery.
Though Su Ming was only selling low-tier pills like Qi Nourishing Pills and Qi Condensing Pills, those were the alchemy division’s main source of spirit stones.
High-tier pills had their market, but the risk of a cauldron explosion during refinement was high—one mishap, and the losses would be devastating.
The alchemy elders had complained to Li Jianping multiple times, begging him to intervene and stop Su Ming from selling his pills.
But every time Li Jianping heard this, his head throbbed.
And his troubles didn’t end there.
The Three Saints Stone Tablet in the sect’s forbidden grounds had suddenly lost contact with their ancestor—fine, that was one thing. But then, just yesterday, Su Ming sent him a message asking when the Three Saints Secret Realm would open.
After Su Ming had already emptied the sect’s treasure vault, how could Li Jianping dare open the secret realm now?
It’d be like unleashing a wolf into a sheep pen.
But refusing would only provoke Su Ming.
Now, just hearing Su Ming’s name gave Li Jianping a headache.
His only option was to stall—delay until he had no choice but to open the secret realm, delay until the Three Saints Sect’s ancestor gave him a response.
Just then, an elder arrived and reported, “Sect Master, the Canghai Sword Sect has sent a distress call. They claim they’re under attack by a beast tide and can’t hold out much longer…”
The Canghai Sword Sect sounded impressive in name, but in reality, it was pathetically weak. Their strongest member, the sect leader, had only broken through to the Nirvana Realm three years ago.
It was no surprise such a minor sect couldn’t withstand a beast tide.
“Send a few Longevity Realm disciples to handle it. Consider it training for them…”
As Li Jianping casually said this, his eyes suddenly lit up.
He had found his excuse to stall.
If this worked, he could delay the opening of the Three Saints Secret Realm by at least a week!
Without another word, Li Jianping left the elder behind and flew straight to Chenyang Peak.
Before he even reached the courtyard, he sensed the aura of the Profound Yang Flame Cauldron.
“Sect Master, what brings you here unannounced?” Su Ming walked over to Li Jianping, holding a roasted spirit sweet potato.
“Care to try one? The Profound Yang Flame Cauldron gives it a unique flavor.”
Li Jianping nearly coughed up blood in rage.
That was one of their sect’s most treasured artifacts! They only brought it out for refining top-tier pills, treating it with the utmost care. Yet here was Su Ming, running it at full power just to roast sweet potatoes!
Not only had he stolen their cauldron to refine pills, but they also had to pay for the very pills he made with it. The sheer audacity!
But in front of Su Ming, Li Jianping could only force a smile and say, “No, thank you. I came to ask the Holy Son to assist the Canghai Sword Sect… They’re currently besieged by a beast tide. Without aid, countless lives could be lost.”
Su Ming narrowed his eyes. “Sect Master, sending Longevity Realm disciples to rescue a sect seems a bit inappropriate, no?”
“The Canghai Sword Sect is a minor sect. The beast tide threatening them can’t be stronger than the Nirvana Realm. I’ll dispatch elders for support, but I also hope the Holy Son can lead our younger Longevity Realm disciples for some real-world experience.”
“Ah, I see… Sect Master, since I’ve taken on the role of Holy Son, I suppose I should shoulder some responsibilities.”
Li Jianping’s heart skipped a beat. He had expected to argue further, but Su Ming had agreed so readily.
“However, I expect the Three Saints Secret Realm to be ready by the time I return…”
Su Ming’s blatant demand made Li Jianping sigh inwardly. Just as I thought.
But any delay was better than none.
“Holy Son, rest assured. On the day you return from aiding the Canghai Sword Sect, the Three Saints Secret Realm will be open—I stake my life on it!”
“Then it’s settled. When do we leave?”
For once, Li Jianping detected a hint of urgency in Su Ming’s tone.
He instinctively assumed Su Ming was revealing his eagerness to plunder the secret realm.
“You can depart tomorrow.”
“Good. You may leave. Tomorrow, I’ll lead the team to assist the Canghai Sword Sect.”
With that, Su Ming turned and walked away without so much as a glance back, showing no respect for the sect master.
He had far more important matters to attend to.
Once back in his room, Su Ming looked down at the storage ring on his finger.
“Li Jianping, I never expected you’d deliver me straight to where I wanted to go!”
The ruins containing Chu Fan’s core cheat—his ultimate golden finger—were located near the Canghai Sword Sect!
In the original storyline, Chu Fan was chased into those ruins by Hai Wuliang, the sect leader of the Canghai Sword Sect, and there, he obtained his most powerful advantage.
“It’s the same beast tide, but two months earlier than in the original plot…”
But this trip to the Canghai Sword Sect wouldn’t be straightforward. It was a setup—a classic case of betrayal.
Because the sect was small and resources were scarce, the Canghai Sword Sect had long since exhausted everything in their vicinity.
They had considered relocating, but that would mean living under another sect’s rule—or worse, dissolving entirely.
Hai Wuliang, having grown accustomed to being a local tyrant, refused to bow to anyone.
So he came up with a ruthless scheme.
He would falsely claim an unstoppable beast tide, lure other sects into sending aid, and then rob them blind.
In the original story, Chu Fan happened to stumble upon Hai Wuliang setting up large amounts of Beast Attracting Incense during a nighttime excursion.
When his plan was accidentally exposed, Hai Wuliang immediately tried to kill Chu Fan. The protagonist barely escaped using a life-saving treasure and, in the process, stumbled upon the ruins he had been desperately searching for.