In a way, the fact that Chu Jun was crippled was even harder for the Lishui Sect to accept than if he had been killed, and their anger was particularly intense.
Unavoidably, some restrained but nasty conflicts arose between Qiyun Sect and Lishui Sect. Although the incidents were minor, they were all very troublesome and amounted to the Lishui Sect’s retaliation.
However, these matters had nothing to do with Ye Zhen. The Sect Leader Guo Qijing and several other elders who handled worldly affairs were the ones running about to deal with them.
It was said that three days after Chu Jun had been disabled, Chu Taiping quickly took in five concubines for him, placing his hopes on the next generation.
This was also an important reason Chu Taiping could still restrain himself; had Chu Jun truly died, a fierce clash would have been inevitable. Of course, who would win and who would lose in that case would be another story altogether.
Once Meng Xiaoyue let go of this knot in her heart, her Sword Dao cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. But for Ye Zhen who had returned to the sect, there was an abundance of melancholy.
After calculating, it had been nearly two years since Caiyi left Qiyun Sect, and still, there was no news of her. Every time he returned to Fairy Peak, Ye Zhen felt a multitude of yearnings.
The so-called sight of objects bringing back memories of people was just like this.
If he were out experiencing the world, Ye Zhen’s longing would be much diluted.
According to Ye Zhen’s thoughts, he wanted to leave the sect once more for some experience in the outside world. However, Sect Leader Guo Qijing explicitly expressed his hope that Ye Zhen would stay in the sect for several months or half a year before making any decisions.
At this delicate moment, with the Sword Origin Empire always ready for a counterattack, both the Phantom Divine Empire and the Gu’an Empire were deeply wary of the rapid rise of the Black Water Empire. And now, due to the matter with Meng Xiaoyue, Qiyun Sect had some unpleasantness with Lishui Sect. Guo Qijing hoped Ye Zhen would stay to oversee the sect and stabilize the situation.
Unknowingly, Ye Zhen had grown from an unnoticed servant disciple into a significant force within Qiyun Sect, with the power to even influence the prosperity and decline of the sect.
Ye Zhen could only agree to Sect Leader Guo Qijing’s request!
One day, Sect Leader Guo Qijing personally issued a Sect Leader Token, summoning Ye Zhen for a meeting.
"Ye Zhen, the dojo in Gold City County Town has been completed a few days ago and will start recruiting disciples and imparting martial arts in a few days. What do you think about you, as an elder of the sect, personally presiding over the opening ceremony?" Guo Qijing asked.
"There’s no need for that; it’s better to keep a low profile. By the way, Sect Leader, who is the elder assigned to guard the Gold City Dojo?" Ye Zhen asked.
"My original intention was Deacon He Dan. He is loyal, careful, and diligent, with pure mastery of the cultivation at the peak of the Fifth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm. I estimate that he will be able to break through to the Soul Sea Realm within five years, making him the best candidate to oversee the Gold City Dojo.
However, a few days ago when the appointment was being decided, Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing actively volunteered to take up the post, saying that his cultivation hadn’t progressed for many years due to being tied up with worldly matters. He planned to guard and engage in silent cultivation at the Gold City Dojo. I tentatively decided to let Elder Zhongli oversee for five years. After that, He Dan will take over. What do you think?" Sect Leader Guo Qijing explained.
A flicker of joy suddenly appeared on Ye Zhen’s face. He felt more at ease with Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing overseeing the Gold City Dojo. Even more importantly, after Zhongli Jing’s five-year tenure, many things would become routine. The successor, He Dan, influenced by his predecessor’s policies, would likely continue the same strategies set by Guardian Elder Zhongli Jing.
As for the fixed strategy for overseeing the Gold City Dojo, it was actually quite simple: take care of the Ye Family, gradually support them, enhance their strength, and protect the Ye Family at all costs in times of danger.
"Then that’s for the best!"
"Since you agree, I will issue the Talisman Summoning right away for Elder Zhongli to take up his position. Additionally, following your low-profile approach, we won’t announce the opening of the Gold City Dojo to the whole world; we’ll just quietly attract people from all directions!" Guo Qijing said.
"Thank you, Sect Leader!"
Ye Zhen solemnly thanked Sect Leader Guo Qijing. He knew the significance of the opening of a new Dao Field in the sect.
Each of the sect’s external fields basically served as a crucial department for the sect, collecting materials and amassing wealth.
Almost all fields were situated in famous cities, strategic water routes, or at the very least, county capitals. The idea of opening one in a small county town like Gold City County or even a county city had never happened before.
It was entirely for Ye Zhen that a Dao Field was being opened in Gold City County, a small county town, and even a Soul Sea Realm elder was designated to oversee it. The preferential treatment was clear.
After some thought, Ye Zhen took out the General-Level Celestial Spirit Boat he had acquired from the Tiannan Hua Family.
Seeing this General-Level Heavenly Spirit Ship, Sect Leader Guo Qijing was immediately astonished.
As a Vein Forging Realm powerhouse, Guo Qijing was well aware of the capabilities of this General-Level Heavenly Spirit Ship. At full capacity, it was said to be capable of destroying even Vein Forging Realm strongmen.
In other words, one General-Level Heavenly Spirit Ship was akin to having a fearsome Vein Forging Realm strongman, essentially giving the sect one more enormous trump card.
"Sect Leader, I acquired this Heavenly Spirit Ship from the Tiannan Hua Family. I’ve used it a few times, and its power is truly extraordinary. However, the consumption is indeed too terrifying, and it’s too much for an individual to bear. It would be better to offer it to the sect, where it can be put to greater use!" Ye Zhen said.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Sect Leader Guo Qijing excitedly repeated the word "Good" three times, "With this Heavenly Spirit Ship in hand, even if the Phantom Divine Empire or the Gu’an Empire secretly supports the Sword Origin Empire, I am no longer afraid. Once the Grand Elder makes a complete breakthrough to the Vein Forging Realm, my Black Water Empire will be thoroughly stabilized!"
"Is the Grand Elder about to make a breakthrough?" Ye Zhen suddenly felt elated, this was definitely good news.
"Yes, this is all thanks to you. Ever since you claimed the top spot in the Black Dragon Ranking, our Qiyun Sect has been flooded with good news. In two years, not only has the number of elders in the Soul Sea Realm increased to fourteen, but a second Vein Forging Realm powerhouse is about to emerge."
"Sect Leader, the Grand Elder’s breakthrough is a matter of course, how dare I claim the work of the heavens for myself?"
"The power of luck is elusive and intangible, invisible, untouchable, yet it exists very tangibly. Since you won the top spot in the Black Dragon Ranking and opened the Black Dragon Secret Palace, our Qiyun Sect has begun a earth-shattering transformation..."
Sect Leader Guo Qijing’s words abruptly reminded Ye Zhen of the black radiance that had been infused into his body from the left eye of the Black Dragon, which had now completely taken over his second Innate Bloodline. Aside from a small reaction when practicing the Black Dragon Tyrant of Heaven Style, there was no other change.
But Ye Zhen was certain that the black Dragon Qi filling his second Innate Bloodline was no waste; it must be that he did not understand how to stimulate it or had yet to find the trick to do so. Perhaps one day, it would bring him a pleasant surprise!
Ten days later, a Talisman Communication suddenly fell from the sky, startling Ye Zhen who was in the midst of cultivation.
This Talisman Communication was not from just anyone, but from Hai Luoshuang, the Tower Master of Stars Tower.
The content of the Talisman Communication was simple, informing Ye Zhen that if he had time to spare, he could make a trip to Star Luo City, as she had something to discuss with him.
However, the message conveyed no urgency, merely suggesting that Ye Zhen visit Star Luo City at his convenience, without specifying a precise time.
In such circumstances, Ye Zhen had no intention of leaving immediately because another grand event was arriving in two months, and he could simply visit Star Luo City along the way.
Ye Zhen’s primary task at the moment was to break through the last barrier and elevate his Cultivation to the Fifth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.
A year ago, when Ye Zhen left Thunder Ridge, his Cultivation had already reached the Late Stage of the Fourth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, just one step away from the Fifth Stage.
However, this one step had taken Ye Zhen an entire year to cross, yet still he had not succeeded.
Originally, Ye Zhen’s rapid progress in Cultivation was aided by the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering and the Hundred Herbs Body Forging Pill, but now normal cultivation was excruciatingly slow.
After a year, he still had not broken through from the Late Stage of the Fourth Stage to the Fifth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm. Although this had been partially delayed by his involvement in the Eastern Expedition, its impact on his cultivation was minimal.
This showed just how slow the progression of Cultivation can be for regular Martial Artists.
Going by the current pace, for regular Martial Artists to advance their Cultivation from the Fourth to the Fifth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm would take at least three years at the fastest, and that is under the assumption of sufficient Cultivation Resources and a Bloodline no worse than Ye Zhen’s.
It’s worth noting that although Ye Zhen only possesses an Innate Bloodline of Four Veins, his Bloodline, strengthened by the Black Dragon Fortune, is extraordinarily robust, easily twice as thick as those of regular Martial Artists.
One of Ye Zhen’s Bloodline Veins is equivalent to more than two of theirs.
Based on this, Ye Zhen’s Cultivation speed is certainly not inferior to that of a Heavenly Pulse Warrior with Eight Veins, and is even stronger than Meng Xiaoyue, a middle grade Heavenly Pulse Warrior with Seven Veins.
By this logic, for regular Martial Artists to raise their Cultivation from the Fourth Stage to the Fifth Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm would probably require around five years of arduous effort, and if Cultivation Resources are lacking, it could take seven to eight years or even a decade.
A month later, atop Fairy Peak!
Boom!
Sitting atop a large rock on Fairy Peak, Ye Zhen felt a slight tremor in his Dantian, as the last barrier, under the assault of Spiritual Power, quietly dissipated.
Ye Zhen felt an abrupt release in his Dantian, and the faintly emerging four Innate Bloodline Veins within his body were like four channels reaching up to the heavens, drawing in the omnipresent Primordial Qi from the void into his body. Under the operation of the Shattered Jade Scripture, the vast influx of Primordial Qi was completely transformed into Red Jade Spiritual Power.
For the first time in so long, the Spiritual Power within Ye Zhen’s Dantian began to grow freely, no longer feeling the discomfort of being squeezed in bit by bit as before.
Not only that, but every meridian, every blood vessel, every acupoint, every bone, and the Red Jade Spiritual Power contained within the Five Internal Organs and Six Hollow Organs within Ye Zhen’s body were all connected and flowing, as if part of a whole, beginning a grand circulation.
This marked the beginning of the Red Jade Battle Body’s approach from the Great Accomplishment realm towards the pinnacle of perfection.
Once Ye Zhen’s Jade Battle Body reached the pinnacle of perfection, his body’s Restoration Power would reach a terrifying level, and even the regeneration of a small part of a severed limb might become possible.
The regeneration of a small part of a limb is something that 99% of Soul Sea Realm Martial Artists cannot achieve. The primary reason lies in the fact that the Restoration Power of the Red Jade Battle Body is twice that of a regular Acquired Spiritual Body.
"At last, just before that grand event arrives... I’ve made the breakthrough..." Ye Zhen slowly opened his eyes. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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