95: The Secrets of the Land, the Soul-Severing Cold Needle

The cave was terrifyingly silent; the halo of the fire-starter cast swaying shadows on the stone walls, reflecting Qi Yuan's inscrutable expression.

Wen Ren's words were like a massive boulder thrown into a deep pool, stirring up unprecedented waves in his heart.

Earth Spirit Secret Realm? Clear profundity Sect's legacy? The Zhao Kingdom Imperial Family searching in secret?

Each of these terms was as heavy as a thousand catties, far exceeding the limits of what a small Qi Refining Family in a border prefecture could bear.

His original plan was to wait until the third generation of the Qi Family grew a bit more and their wings were slightly fuller before secretly splitting the Family.

He would disperse some of the potential Disciples and resources—a 'cunning rabbit with three burrows'—to cope with any possible future Family disasters.

It was also to spread the risk for his potential Child Seal Reincarnation, so he wouldn't be wiped out in one fell swoop.

But now, this sudden, shocking secret was like an invisible giant hand, crudely disrupting all his calculations.

Being swept into a storm of this level, one misstep could mean that, let alone splitting the Family to preserve its seeds, even the Foundation of Green Cloud Mountain might be uprooted and crushed into dust!

Cold sweat almost soaked through his back.

Just as his thoughts were like a tangled mess and a bone-chilling coldness gripped him, Wen Ren's weak voice sounded again:

"Fellow Daoist... there is no need to be overly fearful.

This matter... might not be entirely a disaster for us."

Qi Yuan suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze shooting toward Wen Ren like lightning.

Wen Ren took a breath and continued:

"Though the Imperial Family might have found clues to the Secret Realm, how could such a vital place allow outsiders to meddle?

The twelve major powers of the Zhao Kingdom are intricately intertwined, and it would be difficult for the Imperial Family to monopolize it.

Therefore... I heard the higher-ups' intention is perhaps to have the various Immortal Families of the Southern Yue Prefecture's many prefectures contribute their strength to explore the Secret Realm together, each according to their own Opportunity."

Joint exploration by Immortal Families?

Qi Yuan's mind raced, instantly capturing the key point.

That's it!

Back then, when the clear profundity Sect was destroyed, although the Zhao Kingdom Imperial Family was the main force, several Nascent Soul powers adjacent to the Southern Yue Prefecture—such as the Longquan Sect he originated from, as well as the remnant forces of the Yue Kingdom—had more or less meddled or taken advantage of the crisis.

Even if the Imperial Family finds clues now, if they want to completely cast aside these powers and take it all for themselves, they probably lack the strength and would easily trigger a backlash.

This 'joint exploration by Immortal Families' is likely a product of compromise, an excuse to shut the mouths of other Nascent Soul powers!

They would let these local Southern Yue families, who were more or less connected to the major powers...

Either as their branches or established by the descendants of their Disciples, go in and compete.

No matter who benefits, the meat will ultimately stay in the Southern Yue pot; it's better than having powers from outside the prefecture directly intervene.

And for the Imperial Family, they can use the strength of these local snakes to explore the Secret Realm while also taking the Opportunity to observe, or even secretly control and weaken, some Immortal Families that might be too deeply involved with outside prefectures... killing multiple birds with one stone.

A fine calculation! A brilliant open scheme!

Seeing his changing expression, Wen Ren knew he had understood the situation and sighed:

"So, in this Xuan Mountain area, we four brothers are nothing more than white gloves in someone's hands."

"Who is the mastermind?"

Qi Yuan's voice was dry.

Wen Ren gave a bitter smile, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes:

"Who else could it be?

In this Yunliao Prefecture, those who can drive us and make the other three families collectively turn a blind eye... are none other than the Lin and Li families."

The Lin Family! The Li Family!

Qi Yuan's mind suddenly cleared, yet he felt bone-chillingly cold.

So that's how it is!

No wonder chaos is rampant in the prefecture, yet the three families' reactions are ambiguous.

No wonder the "Four Fiends of Xuan Mountain" could be so rampant on Yuhuang Mountain... behind all this, the shadows of these two Foundation Establishment Families are pulling the strings!

They are clearing the field for the potential "joint exploration by Immortal Families," eliminating dissidents and consolidating their own right to speak within the prefecture!

And himself, perhaps because he showed potential in talisman crafting, or perhaps because of a faint connection to the Tao Family's past...

Or perhaps simply because the Qi Family's origin wasn't clean enough, he became one of the targets that needed to be "warned" or even "eliminated"!

What a Lin Family! What a Li Family!

The Qi Family is on the edge of the Lin Family's influence; he had visited many times in previous years but could not even see their Family head once. It seems they intend to get rid of what they look down upon!

"When might that Earth Spirit Secret Realm open?"

Qi Yuan suppressed his surging rage and pressed for an answer.

Wen Ren shook his head, his face full of helplessness and bitterness:

"How could we know such core secrets?

Likely only the heads of those two families know a thing or two.

Perhaps... within a few years, or perhaps... it will require even longer preparation."

Qi Yuan fell silent.

Uncertain timing meant the crisis was hanging overhead, unknown when it would fall.

Earth Spirit Foundation Establishment... even back in the Longquan Sect's Outer Sect, this was only a legendary Opportunity.

Inner Sect Disciples might have a slim chance to fight for it, but Outer Sect Disciples couldn't even dream of it.

Although the Longquan Sect had Secret Realms, they had to share them with allies like the "Tianyan Sect," and one could imagine how fierce the competition for slots was.

If one could establish their Foundation with earth spirit qi... not only would the success rate of Foundation Establishment greatly increase, but the future path of the Dao would also be much broader, even offering a glimmer of hope to reach the Nascent Soul stage!

To any Qi Refining Cultivator, this was an irresistible temptation!

A crazy thought quietly sprouted in his cold heart like a vine.

The risk was immense; one slight mistake would mean the destruction of the Family and the death of its people.

But the Opportunity was also unprecedented!

If he could seize a sliver of Opportunity for the Qi Family, and for himself, within the gaps of this storm... his gaze gradually deepened, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the cold spine of the azure profound sword, the sensation helping him maintain his final clarity.

Wen Ren had been staring at Qi Yuan's expression, and now, seeing his gaze shift...

Especially that fleeting look of determination, alarm bells rang in his heart, and terror instantly flooded over his previous bitterness.

"Fellow Daoist!

You... you have already established a spirit contract with me!

If the oath is broken on the spot, the backlash will be no small matter!"

He shouted hoarsely, trying to grasp at the last straw.

Although there were loopholes to exploit in a spirit contract, if one blatantly broke the contract immediately, the resulting backlash and Heart Demon disturbance were definitely not something a Qi Refining Cultivator would easily endure.

Qi Yuan slowly raised his eyes; his gaze toward Wen Ren no longer held any ripples, leaving only a bottomless, cold pool.

He didn't speak, but simply pointed his finger like a sword, and a condensed strand of mana shot out silently, accurately entering the space between Wen Ren's eyebrows.

Wen Ren's eyes widened, filled with terror and unwillingness; he let out a muffled groan and fainted once more, unable to even put up a struggle.

Outside the cave entrance, Ling Qi, who had been standing with her head bowed and doing her best to block her own perception, suddenly heard Qi Yuan's cold voice:

"Fellow Cultivator Ling, come in."

Ling Qi's heart tightened, and she hurriedly bowed and entered.

She saw Wen Ren unconscious on the ground, while Qi Yuan stood nearby with his hands behind his back, his expression terrifyingly cold.

"Fellow Cultivator Ling."

Qi Yuan's voice held no emotion, yet it made Ling Qi's spine turn cold.

"The time has come to test your loyalty."