An hour later, Lingxi had suffered thirteen consecutive defeats.
At this moment, the spiritual power within Lingxi was completely exhausted.
Although her injuries weren’t severe, she still needed some time to recover.
Sensing that she had drawn a step closer to the Golden Core realm, Lingxi departed from the youth with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Yun Lian finally regained her composure during the latter half, focusing earnestly on comprehending sword intent.
Now, she too had reached a new understanding, sitting cross-legged in a corner of the courtyard, her sword resting on her knees, as she quietly explored sword intent in her mind.
Seeing the girl so absorbed, Chen Yuyang did not disturb her.
But before he could return to his room to cultivate, a voice echoed in his mind.
[ Yuyang, come to the side hall. ]
It was a message from Tai Lingxuan.
Chen Yuyang paused for a moment and replied inwardly:
[ Master, you’ve returned? ]
[ Mm. ]
Two days ago, Tai Lingxuan had received a message.
The seven great sects were once again summoning their sect leaders to discuss important matters.
Chen Yuyang wasn’t sure what the conference would be about, but he suspected it was related to the Ziyang Secret Realm.
He soared into the air, swiftly making his way to the Hehuan Sect’s side hall—though to be precise, this was now the location of the sect’s new main hall.
Inside the main hall, Chen Yuyang saw that stunning silhouette, standing with her back to the door, hands clasped behind her.
“Master, your disciple has arrived.”
Chen Yuyang bowed slightly.
“Yuyang!”
Tai Lingxuan turned around, her eyes settling on the young man.
“Master, what was discussed at the conference?”
“There were three main matters.”
“Which three?”
“The Alchemy Conference, the Heavenly Pride Rankings Tournament, and the Ziyang Secret Realm.”
Tai Lingxuan didn’t conceal anything.
As she spoke, she raised three fingers.
She had summoned Chen Yuyang precisely to tell him these things.
Chen Yuyang’s pupils contracted.
“Aren’t the Alchemy Conference and the Heavenly Pride Rankings Tournament both held every five years? The last ones were just two years and one year ago, respectively.”
Tai Lingxuan nodded, her expression grave as she said, “I’m aware. But now, the cultivation world of the Northern Domain may be facing a great war!”
Chen Yuyang’s eyes widened.
“Is it the Ziyang Secret Realm?”
Tai Lingxuan nodded again and continued:
“That’s right. The seal on the demon tower inside the secret realm has already been broken.”
“Although there hasn’t been a demon beast rampage this time, it’s probably because the most powerful demon kings haven’t fully awakened yet.”
“But three years from now, that may no longer be the case.”
“We can’t predict how many demon beasts are sealed under the demon tower, but based on its scale and level, Qiankun Sect estimates that there are at least fifty thousand Golden Core-level demon beasts inside, as well as dozens of Nascent Soul and Unity Realm demon kings. There may even be an even higher-level demon emperor!”
“If a demon emperor exists, that would at least be equivalent to a Great Ascension realm cultivator… And demon beasts are already at the top of their class within the same realm… To completely suppress one, you’d need at least three Great Ascension cultivators.”
“The seven great sects have already decided to have their secluded ancestors come out to face the crisis together.”
“But the massive demon horde remains a huge threat.”
“Even if all the sect disciples are combined, their numbers would only match the demon horde, and their strength is uneven—they cannot compare.”
“So, after much discussion, the seven great sects plan to hold another round of the Alchemy Conference and the Heavenly Pride Rankings Tournament, to select geniuses and outstanding alchemists from each sect. They will focus on cultivating these talents to prepare for the Ziyang Battle three years from now.”
Chen Yuyang nodded repeatedly, showing his understanding.
Faced with a possible war threatening the entire Northern Domain, prioritizing resources for the brightest talents and strengthening the backbone of the cultivation world was indeed the best choice.
“This time, the seven great sects are putting aside their rivalry and have offered generous terms.”
“The top thousand on the Heavenly Pride Rankings can choose to study at any of the seven sects, using their resources to cultivate. Later, during the war, they’ll repay by slaying a certain number of demon beasts.”
“The top hundred can freely choose one of the seven sects’ ultimate arts and receive treatment equal to a direct disciple.”
“The top ten, in addition to the above, will each receive a fifth-grade spiritual weapon and over a thousand supreme-grade spirit stones as a reward.”
“And the champion will be awarded over ten thousand supreme-grade spirit stones and a sixth-grade spiritual weapon.”
At these words, Chen Yuyang’s eyes widened with surprise.
In previous Heavenly Pride Rankings Tournaments, the sects never gave much importance; disciples participated more for form’s sake, with rankings followed by symbolic rewards and encouragement.
In comparison, the rewards this time were truly unprecedented.
“Of course, as for whether you participate in the Heavenly Pride Rankings or not, it doesn’t matter to me. What I mainly want to discuss with you is the Alchemy Conference.”
“The Alchemy Conference is divided into three age categories: the young generation, the middle generation, and the senior generation, with age limits at under twenty, twenty to fifty, and over fifty.”
“To be frank, Yuyang, your talent is exceptional, especially in alchemy.”
“You’re only fourteen, yet you’ve already become a third-grade alchemist through self-study.”
“But as your master, I have little to teach you or offer you.”
“However, if you join the Alchemy Conference, you’re certain to astonish everyone in the under-twenty division.”
“I did some checking. Among the younger generation, most under-twenty alchemists are only at second grade, with only a few direct disciples from the Pill Sect reaching third grade, and all of them are older than you.”
“With your current skills, entering the top ten among young alchemists should be no problem. At that time, you’ll have a chance to be personally guided by a Pill Sect elder or even the sect master, as well as receive a great amount of alchemy resources.”
Tai Lingxuan looked at the youth with eager eyes as she spoke.
She believed Chen Yuyang would surely achieve a good result.
When the time came, a broad and smooth path—one she herself couldn’t offer him—would open up before him.
“Alchemy Conference…”
Muttering to himself, Chen Yuyang’s eyelid twitched.
To be fair, he ought to compete in the senior division.
Having him compete in the youth division was almost bullying the others.
After all, he’d refined himself over a hundred lifetimes, and his alchemy skills were nearly at their limit.
Pill Sect elder, sect master?
Who would be teaching whom, really?
But looking at Tai Lingxuan’s expectant gaze…
Could he refuse?
Probably not.
“Master, when will the Alchemy Conference be held?”
“Very soon. Preparations will begin after this sect conference, and in three months, on the sixth day of the first month, it will be held at the Pill Sect.”
Tai Lingxuan promptly replied.
“As for registration, don’t worry, I’ll handle it for you. In this time, just focus on refining your alchemy techniques and recipes. If you need any materials, just tell me.”
With this, Chen Yuyang gave up on any thoughts of refusing and nodded his assent.
“All right, Master. I’ll devote myself to refining my alchemy skills.”
“Mm, don’t put too much pressure on yourself—just do your best.”
Tai Lingxuan continued gently.
Chen Yuyang gave a respectful bow, said nothing more, and turned to leave the hall.
Outside the hall, the sky above was shrouded in thunderclouds.
“Is the storm coming?”
Chen Yuyang muttered to himself, his gaze somber.
Three years from now, when the Ziyang Secret Realm opens, war will erupt.
No one knows how that battle will end, for even our side can only guess at the enemy’s true strength.
“In the worst-case scenario…the Northern Domain’s cultivation world is defeated, nearly wiped out, its people plunged into misery.”
At this thought, Chen Yuyang’s pupils narrowed.
In the past hundreds of thousands of years, he’d witnessed countless such events unfold.
Calamities bringing devastation had happened more than once or twice.
There was even a time so catastrophic that he’d seen the sun extinguished, spiritual energy cut off.
More than once, Chen Yuyang had intervened, reversed the situation, or played a crucial role.
But for the war three years from now…
As he was now, just at the Golden Core realm, there was very little he could do, even if he wanted to help.
Unless he cast everything aside and focused solely on breaking through.
But that would cause endless harm to his cultivation path, especially since this was his final life of reincarnation—he had to achieve perfection, to do justice to hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation.
In the worst-case scenario…
He might have to flee the Northern Domain’s cultivation world.
But…
Chen Yuyang felt a spasm in his chest, his heart tightening.
Could his master escape?
What about his senior and junior sisters?
Chen Yuyang did not know.
But deep down, he sensed that most likely, Tai Lingxuan would choose to stay and fight to the end.
When that happened, what would he do…
Chen Yuyang sat down on the steps in front of the main hall, propping his chin in his hand, his gaze vacant as he looked into the distance at the gathering black clouds.
Through a hundred lifetimes, one thing Chen Yuyang always took seriously was avoiding entanglements of karma.
So, across a hundred reincarnations, he’d spent most of his time in seclusion, rarely interacting with others.
Even when he did join sects and was accepted, he would observe how others treated him and repay accordingly, to settle any karmic debts.
Things didn’t have to be perfect, but at the very least, he had to live with a clear conscience.
With peace of mind, the path of cultivation would be smooth.
Yet even across a hundred lifetimes, what had never happened before was—having a woman, and her being his close master.
Even if it was forced upon him.
But this entanglement, this karmic bond, was heavier and deeper than any before.
This wasn’t something he could ignore by pretending to be ignorant, nor was it something he could trick himself about by saying, “I’m the victim here.”
If he were to stand by and watch Tai Lingxuan die, then his feelings for her and this betrayal of his own heart would one day become his heart demon, causing him to halt forever.
Thinking this, Chen Yuyang scratched his head with a bitter smile.
“Since I’ve already been caught up in this karma, then this is the tribulation I cannot escape in this life.”
Muttering to himself, the youth sprang to his feet.
Yet just then, a figure silently appeared behind him, startling Chen Yuyang.
Master, when did she come?
Did she hear what I just said?
Chen Yuyang kept his face composed, though his heart was in turmoil.
But when he looked back, he saw that Tai Lingxuan hadn’t even glanced at him.
Instead, she was gazing earnestly, intently at the distant sky.
“What tribulation of yours?”
“That’s your junior sister Lingxi about to break through.”