C10 The Journey to the Royal Sect

Three days later, Liu Ao was set to depart. Ye Chen handed him several bottles of Pills and slipped a golden fire talisman into his pocket.

"Mr. Ye, what's this?"

"This golden fire talisman was bestowed upon me by our Master. It can unleash an attack equivalent to a cultivator at the pinnacle of the Qi Refining Realm. Should you face any peril in the future, use it to defend yourself."

Liu Ao felt the gift was exceedingly generous and initially tried to decline, but ultimately he couldn't resist Ye Chen's goodwill. "Rest assured, I'll be safe with the protection of the Profound Sword Formation in the valley."

The brothers then went their separate ways; Hsu Qi returned to the mountains to pursue his cultivation, and Ye Chen resumed his study of sword techniques.

That very night, Ye Chen was startled to see a fiery column rising from the back mountain, tinged with streaks of purple amidst the crimson blaze.

Ye Chen's brow furrowed at the sight. Such a distinctive fire column could only be produced by a golden fire talisman, and Liu Ao was the only one in the Void Returning Sect who possessed one.

What was happening?

Driven by curiosity, Ye Chen made his way toward the back mountain. His mastery of the Wandering Space Step allowed him to advance swiftly and silently.

Before long, he found himself in a forest where the ancient trees, some centuries old, stood tall and dense, with slivers of moonlight filtering through the foliage.

"Something's not right. Since when did Dian Cang Mountain have such large trees?"

Observing the unusual surroundings, Ye Chen crouched to inspect the soil. It was not rich enough to sustain such a lush woodland.

Filled with bewilderment, Ye Chen pressed on and soon came upon a blast site. An expanse of a hundred meters lay in ruins, scorched and flattened.

The remnants of the fire had died down, but intermittent crackling sounds pierced the silence, and sporadic glimmers of light danced eerily through the dark woods.

In the dim light, Ye Chen spotted a shard on the ground that seemed oddly familiar.

As he picked it up, an intense sensation from four years prior washed over him, and his heart felt as if it might skip a beat.

He immediately executed the Space Steps and simultaneously cast the Wind Rider Technique, teleporting dozens of meters in an instant. Only then did he see that the ground where he had just stood was now scorched and barren.

His body was drenched in cold sweat, thankful for his quick escape. A moment's hesitation could have meant his end.

However, a chilling voice suddenly pierced the silence, sending a wave of dread through Ye Chen, as if a pack of wolves were prowling through the forest around him.

The darkness concealed untold numbers of malevolent spirits, ready to encircle Ye Chen at any moment.

With no concern for concealing his power, Ye Chen quickly activated the Wind Rider Technique, attempting to flee, but he was firmly grasped by two large hands.

The sensation from his waist was unmistakable; he was trapped in an unyielding grip, as if caught in a vice.

Suddenly, a ray of light burst from his chest, projecting the image of a Talisman before him. The sound of something slicing through the air echoed from a distant valley.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In an instant, the Profound Sword Formation encircled Ye Chen, and the shadowy figure was bathed in light, revealing its true form.

"Sect Master?"

The Void Returning Taoist fixed a cold stare on Ye Chen and huffed, "Are you the Third Elder's disciple?"

Ye Chen, despite his confusion, quickly prostrated himself, "Yes, Sect Master, I am indeed your disciple, Ye Chen."

"Do you realize that this is a sacred and forbidden area of the Void Returning Sect? Unauthorized entry is strictly prohibited, punishable by death!"

The full force of a Foundation Establishment pressure bore down on him, leaving Ye Chen visibly shaken, "I've been assisting my master with pill refinement in the valley all year and was unaware of this rule."

"I only came because I saw flames reaching to the heavens and feared another attack from the seven great sects. I wanted to assess the situation. I beg your forgiveness, Sect Master!"

His explanation seemed plausible, and considering Ye Chen's unique status, the Void Returning Taoist managed to quell his anger, "The Profound Sword Formation acts as an automatic guardian. You must be the direct disciple of the Third Elder, correct?"

"Reporting to the Sect Master, indeed, Shu Yuan acknowledged my aptitude for alchemy and thus accepted me as his direct disciple."

"Hmph, today I will spare you out of respect for the Third Elder. However, if you dare to intrude upon the forbidden area again, I will show no mercy and you will be executed on the spot!"

Drenched in cold sweat, Ye Chen clutched the fragment in his hand and wobbled back to the valley. It was clear that the Third Elder was already aware of the recent events, and with a gesture, he summoned the Profound Sword Formation.

"Master."

"From now on, if you leave the valley without my permission, I will destroy your cultivation and banish you from the sect!"

The Third Elder spoke with a fury akin to that of an enraged old lion.

"Master, wasn't the Sect Master accompanying Liu Ao to the Extreme King Sect? How then did the fragment of the pill bottle I gave him end up in the back mountain? And why did the Golden Fire Talisman detonate there?"

The myriad of questions swirling in his mind threatened to overwhelm Ye Chen.

"Where do you come up with so many questions?" The Third Elder infused a golden light into Ye Chen's body, "This is my seal. If you dare to leave the valley, the Profound Sword Formation will be activated instantly, reducing you to mincemeat!"

"Unless you can break my seal, resign yourself to a life confined within this valley."

The Third Elder's voice faded into the distance. Forgoing his usual indulgence in drink, he remained in the Pill Refining Pavilion, furiously fanning the flames, seemingly still in a foul mood.

With his mind burdened by doubts, Ye Chen had no choice but to obey the Third Elder's commands and carry on with menial tasks.

The events of that day continued to haunt him, and he had a nagging suspicion that the Void Returning Sect was not as straightforward as it appeared, with numerous secrets likely lurking behind the mountain.

Lacking the strength to uncover the truth, Ye Chen resigned himself to diligently refining pills and crafting weapons, his communication with Liu Ao having been severed.

Observing the shift in Ye Chen's demeanor, the Third Elder eventually imparted all of his knowledge to him. Five long years passed.

Ye Chen not only mastered the art of crafting Golden Fire Talismans but also managed to produce a series of pristine ones using his own clay jar.

Inside the modest wooden cabin, Ye Chen caught sight of his chin's emerging stubble in the mirror and let out a wistful sigh. Time had flown; he had already spent a decade with the Void Returning Sect, and he was now twenty years old.

Elder Chen Chong had mentioned that after ten years, he could return home to visit his parents. Ye Chen intended to do just that, but first, he needed to pass the Third Elder's assessment.

The task seemed straightforward: refine two high-grade magical instruments on his own, a challenge specifically designed for those in the Qi Refining Realm.

For those who had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and beyond, the ability to wield magical treasures was theirs—a subtle difference in terminology, yet the disparity in power was immense.

Over the last ten years, the Third Elder had imparted all his knowledge to Ye Chen, holding nothing back. Despite this, he was reluctant to let his pupil leave the valley.

This reluctance was the reason behind the requirement to create two high-grade magical instruments. Only a cultivator who had attained the sixth level of the Qi Refining Realm could craft such instruments.

By setting this standard, the Third Elder aimed to naturally extend Ye Chen's stay in the valley, especially since he was currently at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm.

In comparison to the perils of the outside world, the safety of the valley was undeniable. Both the Void Returning Sect and the Cultivation Realm were fraught with dangers, and any repeat of the forbidden area's intrusion from years past could spell disaster.

Ye Chen was well aware of his master's concerns for his safety. Given his master's remaining lifespan of roughly three hundred years, Ye Chen's initial desire was to care for him in his twilight years, honoring the bond they had forged over the decade.

Yet, the sudden arrival of a long-missed, familiar voice caused Ye Chen to abandon his previous plans.