1: Chapter 1: The Beginning of Breaking the Impasse, Heavenly Secrets Revealed

In the Lu Family of Yunzhou, at Qingyun Peak, the faint fragrance of Purple Valley Spiritual Plants rose in curls from a bronze tripod.

The incense smoke was like silk, slowly dissipating within the Immortal Cave, blending with the naturally condensed Spiritual Qi in the air to form a hazy, pale purple mist.

This mist drifted past the century-old Spiritual Plants on the sandalwood shelf, past the white jade water vat filled with cold spring water in the corner, and finally dissipated silently among the carved beams and painted rafters.

Lu Changyuan stood by the window, toying with a smooth white jade token in his hand, his gaze fixed on the sky outside.

Above Qingyun Peak, three streaks of sword light were cutting through the clouds at extreme speed.

Those were the people of his eldest brother, Lu Changchuan; he recognized the color of that sword light—crimson-gold, the "Crimson Firmament Sword Technique" of the Lu Family's direct lineage.

The Third Young Master's side was not idle either; just yesterday, they had borrowed two Guest Elders at the Foundation Establishment Stage from the Sect.

On the surface, they claimed it was for sparring, but in reality, it was a show of force toward the Family Head.

The Family Great Competition was three months away.

"Fifth Young Master."

A low call came from behind, but Lu Changyuan did not turn around.

The old servant, Lu Fu, bowed his back, the wrinkles on his face bunched together from anxiety, his voice suppressed very low: "The Eldest Young Master sent someone to sound out the situation again yesterday, saying… saying that as long as the Fifth Young Master is willing to publicly express support before the Great Competition, after the matter is settled, the usage rights for the Spiritual Vein of Qingyun Peak can be increased by another twenty percent for you."

Lu Changyuan gave a light "Hmm" as a response.

"There is also news from the Third Young Master's side," Lu Fu continued, his voice laced with irrepressible worry, "saying that if the Fifth Young Master does not pick a side, then after the Great Competition…"

He paused, leaving the second half of the sentence unsaid.

He didn't need to finish; Lu Changyuan knew what it meant.

He spun the white jade token in his hand between his fingers and sighed softly.

This jade token was the proof of his direct lineage identity, bestowed upon him by the Family Head himself when he was sixteen.

It was warm, precious, but also heavy, like a millstone pressing on the necks of every Lu Family descendant.

"Lu Fu," he spoke, his voice calm, "how many years have you followed me?"

"Replying to the Fifth Young Master, exactly fourteen years."

"Then you should know," Lu Changyuan turned around, his eyes deep and restrained, a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, "that I am someone who never does things without assurance."

Lu Fu was stunned, then saw Lu Changyuan take a scroll with a faint golden luster from his sleeve.

It was a specially made token engraved with the five Seal characters "Star Sea Reclamation Order."

It was a new policy issued by the Lu Family Head three days ago—any direct descendant of the Lu Family could hold this order to go to the Endless Star Sea, representing the Lu Family to develop barren islands and establish branches.

Seventy percent of the resources obtained would go to the Family, and thirty percent would belong to the pioneer.

Lu Fu's eyes widened.

"Fifth Young Master, you… you are going to the Star Sea?"

"Hmm."

Lu Changyuan tucked the token back into his sleeve, his tone casual, as if he were merely talking about where to dine today, "The Eldest Brother and Third Brother are fighting fiercely. If I watch from the sidelines, I will be a target sooner or later. Instead of waiting to be used as a pawn, I might as well go out and travel."

"But the Star Sea is treacherous, with Yao Beasts running rampant, and those…"

"Lu Fu."

Lu Changyuan gently interrupted him, walked back to the desk, and sat down, picking up a bamboo slip to read, his expression composed, "Go prepare a pot of Purple Valley Spiritual Tea for me. Tonight is the fifteenth; the moonlight should be quite good."

Lu Fu opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing more and bowed out.

The Immortal Cave returned to silence.

Lu Changyuan put down the bamboo slip and closed his eyes.

He certainly knew the Star Sea was treacherous.

He also knew that with his current cultivation at the Qi Refining ninth layer, in that sea area, any third-grade Yao Beast could tear him apart.

But he also knew what was waiting for him if he stayed in the Lu Family.

Eldest Brother, Lu Changchuan, cultivation at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, backed by the Family Grand Elder.

Third Brother, Lu Changyue, cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, his biological mother being the legitimate wife of the Family Head, with a deep Foundation.

And him, Qi Refining ninth layer, his biological mother being merely a side concubine of the Family Head, with no Foundation within the Family.

After the Great Competition, no matter who won, he, the fifth son who helped neither side, would not have a good ending.

Rather than waiting for death, it was better to take the initiative.

He got up and walked to the side room, pushing open a hidden wooden door.

There wasn't much inside: a green wooden box, a jade rack hanging with dharma robes, and three long cases with Seal Talismans attached.

The box contained the Spirit Stones he had saved over the years and a few bottles of standard Medicinal Pills, while the long cases held the Talismans and defensive Magical Artifacts he usually couldn't bear to use.

The quantity wasn't shabby, but if he were really thrown into the Endless Star Sea, it would only be enough to give him a bit more confidence before landing; it was far from secure.

Lu Changyuan scanned them, reviewing the items in the box in his mind.

He calculated clearly what he could take, what must be left at Qingyun Peak, and what would alert others if moved.

The Lu Family gave him a direct lineage identity, not the position of Young Lord that no one could touch.

Once the wind direction was set after the Great Competition, what would be left in this Immortal Cave of his lineage would not necessarily be up to him to decide.

Therefore, he had to secure the Foundation he needed before the situation completely closed in, and he had to forge his own path first.

Outside the window, the moon quietly climbed to the peak of Qingyun Peak.

The full moon was like a plate, the moonlight like water, pouring in through the lattice window, falling on Lu Changyuan's cyan dharma robe, staining it silver-white.

At this very moment, deep within Lu Changyuan's Sea of Consciousness, something moved.

It was a Jade Slip.

Ancient, cyan, he did not know how many years it had been sleeping in his Sea of Consciousness, but at this moment, under the infiltration of the moonlight, it slowly began to glow.

Lu Changyuan opened his eyes abruptly.

He felt it.

That Jade Slip, which had been suspended in his Sea of Consciousness since he was born and had never reacted, was now absorbing the moonlight pouring in from outside the window.

The patterns on its surface were lighting up one by one, as if some ancient Seal was being lifted.

He held his breath and sank his Divine Sense into his Sea of Consciousness.

The Jade Slip hovered in the center of the Sea of Consciousness, the cyan light growing stronger and stronger.

Finally, three lines of small golden characters slowly emerged from the surface of the Jade Slip, clear and solemn:

[In the underground market of Yunzhou, a dusty pearl is waiting for a buyer; within three days, the Opportunity will be lost.]

[At Black Wind Gorge, someone has set up a kill trap; those who pass will surely die.]

[At Blue Moon Island, the Seal of ancient Cultivator ruins is loosening; a great Opportunity will appear.]

Lu Changyuan stared at the three lines of text for a full stick of incense time.

His heartbeat was very steady.

From the first time he sensed this silent Jade Slip in his Sea of Consciousness when he was ten, he knew it would be useful sooner or later.

He had waited eight years.

Now, it had spoken.

"Dusty pearl…" he repeated these three words softly, the corners of his mouth slowly curling up.

Underground market.

Within three days.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the full moon outside, his eyes deep and calm.

Lu Fu walked in with the Spiritual Tea, saw the Young Master standing by the window, the moonlight stretching his shadow very long, and did not dare to make a sound for a moment.

"Lu Fu," Lu Changyuan spoke, his voice calm, yet carrying a certainty that made it impossible to ignore, "Tomorrow morning, go prepare a concealing dharma robe of an ordinary Loose Cultivator for me, and take out five hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

Lu Fu was stunned: "The Fifth Young Master wants to go to…"

"The underground black market."

Lu Changyuan retracted his gaze, turned around to take the Spiritual Tea, and took a light sip, "Before leaving Yunzhou, I must first go and retrieve the first piece of my Foundation."