105: The storm is brewing.

Taihe Sect, Inner Sect Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

The blue-gray stone hall was grand and solemn, with colorful spiritual light faintly flowing on the towering jade pillars day and night.

This should have been a place of tranquility, but now it was crowded with shifting figures, constant whispers, and footsteps, exuding a sense of tense clamor.

Deacon Disciples in a hurry often entered and exited the side hall, holding Jade Slips or scrolls stamped with crimson seals. Snippets of conversation like "Xuan Yin Palace," "front line," and "conscription" were heard incessantly.

News of Lei Huo Mountain had already spread within the Sect. While it wasn't exactly a state of panic, the atmosphere was indeed much more solemn.

Yu Xuzi stood before the spiritual wood long table for "Inner Sect Disciple Registration," the pressure of his newly formed Dao Foundation slowly releasing from his body.

Behind the long table sat a fair-faced middle-aged deacon with a cultivation at the Peak Mid Dao Foundation Realm.

He was unhurriedly wiping a spiritual seal used for registration, his eyelids drooping, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents in the hall.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother, on officially joining our Taihe Sect's Inner Sect."

"Among the eight Peaks of the Inner Sect, you may choose one for yourself first."

Yu Xuzi knew the rules.

A newly promoted Inner Sect Core Disciple has one opportunity to actively apply to join the Inner Sect Peak of their choice.

The eight Peaks each have their own Legacy and different focuses.

But each one is overseen by a different number of Mystic Fetus Realm Immortal Master Elders; some have as many as four or five, while others have only one or two, making the difference in status obvious.

Which Peak one joins still largely determines the smoothness of their future path of Dao.

Of course, Yu Xuzi didn't care about these things.

Among them, besides the half that specialized in Artifact Refining, there was Tiangang Peak, which focused on slaughter and warfare; Disha Peak, which excelled in Formations and Restrictions; Qingmu Peak, which was proficient in Alchemy and medicine; and Bailing Peak, which specialized in spiritual plants and beast taming.

Of course, the most central main Peak lineage, Taihe Mountain, was not among them.

That was only for the Prodigy True Disciples to join.

Yu Xuzi looked at the fair-faced deacon and said in a steady voice, "Senior Brother, I, newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple Qiu Dao, wish to join Qingmu Peak for my cultivation."

The deacon's hand wiping the spiritual seal paused. He lifted his eyelids and glanced at Yu Xuzi with some surprise.

"Qingmu Peak?"

He spoke slowly, putting down the spiritual seal in his hand. "Junior Brother Qiu, are you sure you want to go to Qingmu Peak? Although Junior Martial Uncle Qingmu's Alchemy skills are unrivaled in the Sect, and the wonders of the Alchemy cauldron are indeed desirable."

"However..."

He drew out his words, his gaze flickering over the Storage Pouch at Yu Xuzi's waist before glancing at the back of a deacon hurrying past outside with a red-stamped Jade Slip.

He said pointedly, "Right now, the Sect is in a turbulent period. People are needed everywhere, and everyone wants to stay in the Sect for logistics. Qingmu Peak isn't that easy to get into."

"Moreover, if the information I have is correct, Junior Brother Qiu seems to have entered our Sect relying on Artifact Refining skills? Could it be that you are also skilled in Alchemy?"

Yu Xuzi understood. Under the cover of his sleeve, an inconspicuous Storage Pouch slipped out. He gently pushed it with his fingertips to the inner edge of the long table, stopping right by the deacon's hand.

"I have just entered the Inner Sect, and my cultivation is not yet stable. I truly do not wish to go to the front line. Here are some Spirit Stones for you to enjoy some tea, Senior Brother."

"As for Alchemy, please rest assured, Senior Brother. I am indeed an Alchemist as well, capable of completing the routine tasks of Qingmu Peak."

Yu Xuzi wasn't worried about his own safety.

He just didn't want his cultivation to be delayed, and he had no interest in risking his life for the Taihe Sect.

The reason he didn't join the other Peaks specializing in Artifact Refining was that there were simply too many Artifact Refiners in the Taihe Sect; they weren't precious at all, and there was still a risk of being sent to the battlefield.

Alchemists were different.

They were much scarcer in the Taihe Sect. Unless it was absolutely necessary, they likely wouldn't send him to the battlefield.

The deacon's face remained expressionless, but his fingers skillfully swept the Storage Pouch into his sleeve, making it vanish.

Sweeping his Divine Sense inside, he immediately nodded in satisfaction.

"Mhm."

His voice lowered, becoming almost inaudible, yet every word reached Yu Xuzi's ears clearly. "Very well, since you are sincere about joining Qingmu Peak, I shall process the paperwork for you now."

"However, I must warn you in advance, Junior Brother. After applying for Qingmu Peak, they will still conduct an assessment of your Alchemy skills."

"If you fail, your opportunity to actively choose an inner Peak will be wasted, and you will have to unconditionally follow the Sect's assignment to join a certain Peak."

"Of course, in the current situation, you might even be sent directly to the front line!"

"And even if you successfully join Qingmu Peak, your Alchemy tasks will increase significantly in the future. If you cannot submit enough Medicinal Pills by the deadline, you might still have to take a trip to the battlefield."

As he spoke, he picked up the spiritual seal.

Dipping it in special spiritual ink, he firmly stamped the "Qingmu Peak Assessment" mark on Yu Xuzi's identity jade plate... Outside the Taihe Sect, the news of Lei Huo Mountain's destruction spread rapidly, shaking the entire Xuan Yin Continent and causing an uproar in the Cultivation World.

The fall of The Two Sages of Lei Huo was regrettable, but in the end, they were just two Mystic Fetus Immortal Masters, and they were of Loose Cultivator origin. On the surface, it seemed like no big deal.

But the one who acted was Venerable Huixing, who had already clashed with The Two Sages of Lei Huo a year ago and was then dissuaded by Immortal Master Minglou of the Taihe Sect.

More importantly, those killed were part of a force subordinate to the Taihe Sect, people whom Immortal Master Minglou had personally vowed to protect!

Clearly, everyone could see that Venerable Huixing's actions were practically grinding Immortal Master Minglou's face—and the Taihe Sect's face—into the dirt!

The Taihe Sect would definitely not let this matter rest.

For a time, the atmosphere in the Xuan Yin Continent's Cultivation World began to grow oppressive, a heavy sense of an impending storm permeating heaven and earth.

As expected.

In the middle of the sixth month of the 22nd year of the lunar calendar.

The Taihe Sect made a strong public statement, denouncing Venerable Huixing for violating the rules of the Cultivation World by destroying the Taihe Sect's subordinate force, Lei Huo Mountain, and demanding that Xuan Yin Palace hand over Venerable Huixing for severe punishment by the Taihe Sect.

Naturally, Xuan Yin Palace could not possibly agree.

Because before Venerable Huixing acted, he had likely already consulted with his Sect.

He was perfectly aware of the consequences his actions would cause.

Therefore, Xuan Yin Palace's stance was equally firm!

They had long found the Taihe Sect disagreeable.

Back and forth, the war of words between the two sides gradually escalated.

But in truth, they both understood that there was nothing left to discuss.

The Lei Huo Mountain incident was merely a fuse!

In reality, what the Taihe Sect coveted was a larger share of interests in the Xuan Yin Continent!

Even if they couldn't pull Xuan Yin Palace down from its position of absolute hegemony in one go, they at least wanted to stand on equal footing with them and no longer be suppressed by Xuan Yin Palace.

All based on True Monarch Taihe alone!

And naturally, Xuan Yin Palace could not simply give up its existing hegemonic status; the conflict between the two sides was fundamentally irreconcilable!

Then, in early August.

Both Xuan Yin Palace and the Taihe Sect fell silent.

The war of words stopped instantly!

But the atmosphere over the Xuan Yin Continent grew increasingly heavy, a deathly silence that left countless low-level Cultivators uneasy and fearful.

When immortals fight, Mortals suffer.

Compared to these two behemoths, these low-level Cultivators were indeed no different from Mortals.

Next, both sides began continuously mobilizing troops and generals, summoning a large number of subordinate forces to march toward the borders of their respective spheres of influence!

At the same time, their respective Sect envoys were probing the attitudes of other forces overseen by Dharma Aspect True Lords.

Either recruiting, befriending, threatening, or plotting in secret.

A great war that would likely sweep across the entire Xuan Yin Continent had become inevitable!