Three months later.

　　“Greetings to Sect Master and both elders from Si Yu!” Si Yu entered the rear hall covered in dust and bowed to the small group seated there.

　　“Hey, Little Green!” Out of habit, Shen Ying raised her hand to wave at Si Yu and the latter’s eyes brightened immediately. Her exhausted body perked up at once.

　　“You’re back?” Lonemoon scanned her from head to toe. “How did it go? Did everything go smoothly?”

　　“Yes!” Si Yu nodded. She took off the storage bag which was hanging by the side of her body and handed it over. “Whatever Elder has instructed, your disciple has completed. This is what Exalted Immortal Shu told me to pass to you.”

　　“What is it?” Shen Ying asked curiously. She had not seen Little Green for a few days because she had been sent out by Father Niu.

　　“The remaining fees,” Lonemoon answered. He took the storage bag and opened it. A white flash of light shone from within. Everyone present was nearly blinded by the immortal stones that were packed to the brim.

　　So… so many!

　　Shen Ying and her broke followers fell silent in shock!

　　“Didn’t I give Shu Jiang several talismans to sell the last time?” Lonemoon used his divine perception to scan the contents of the bag before, satisfied that there was the correct amount, he put it away. “Judging by the time, he should have already sold a portion of it. That was why I sent Si Yu out to collect the agreed-upon monies due.”

　　He’s Father Niu indeed. He actually sold those pieces of air-selling talismans? It looks like he sold them for a considerable price too.

　　Lonemoon suddenly recalled something and turned to the person beside him. “Yi Qing, have you set up the array to target divine perception that I told you to set up all around the demonic Qi?”

　　“Yes,” Yi Qing replied, nodding. He poured a cup of tea for Shen Ying and continued, “I did it yesterday.”

　　“That’s good!” Now he could let the first batch of people who bought the talismans enter the demonic Qi to train. What’s more, that area was already isolated from the sect using an isolation array. That way, the immortals who entered would not disturb the disciples’ training, and they would not find out the truth about the demonic Qi as well. That array had been handed over to Yi Qing by Xun Shu; ordinary people would not be able to break through it.

　　“Oh yes, is Yu Hong back yet?” He suddenly recalled another matter.

　　Si Yu shook her head. “I did not bump into Senior Sister on my way back here.”

　　Lonemoon counted the time that had passed and realised that it was not yet time for Yu Hong to return. He instructed Si Yu to get some rest and was planning to discuss matters regarding the demonic Qi with the other two when he realised that Yi Qing and Shen Ying were already happily talking about what dishes they should add.

　　“We have money now, Chef. We can prepare afternoon tea!”

　　“What do you want to eat, Master?”

　　“Anything will do. We could have melons, chicken, mixed seafoods, asparagus, winter bamboo shoots, magnolia tablets, duck, fish head… anything like that!”

　　“Yes, Master! No problem, Master!”

　　Lonemoon: “…”

　　These wastrels!

　　——————

　　Shan Dong Immortal Abode.

　　“What did you say?” The corners of Xun Shu’s mouth twitched. He looked at the composed woman standing in front of him and wondered if he had misheard her. “Who sent you here?”

　　“I am a senior disciple of the Invincible Sect,” Yu Hong said, stepping forward with cupped fists. “My Sect Elder Lonemoon sent me here.”

　　Xun Shu’s expression darkened. “Tell me again. What did he send you here for?”

　　Yu Hong did not seem in the least bit nervous. She repeated herself calmly, without rushing. “My sect’s elder said that Young Emperor Xun has a big heart and promised that if my sect meets with any difficulties, you would try your best to help us. My sect is not lacking in anything but a batch of immortal weapons. We do not expect Young Master Xun to exhaust too much energy on our sect, so… we have prepared the raw materials for refining weapons. We would like to request that Young Emperor help us to refine a few immortal weapons using these materials.”

　　“You call this ‘a few’? Do you think I don’t know how to count?” Xun Shu pointed at more than ten storage bags sitting on his desk. He had an urge to throw them all at the visitor’s face. “Do a few immortal weapons need more than ten storage bags’ worth of raw materials?!” Don’t think I don’t know – you’ve clearly brought all the raw materials you dug out from the Immortal Territory!

　　“Thank you, Young Emperor!” Yu Hong bowed once again.

　　“Get out!” Xun Shu glared at her. She was indeed Invincible Sect’s disciple. She was as annoying as the three people he had met. “I’m not a weapon moulder who is going to work for free for your sect. If you want immortal weapons, look for someone else!”

　　Yu Hong glanced at the storage bags on the table and surprisingly did not insist. She walked forward and picked up the storage bags saying, “My Elder said that if Young Emperor isn’t free, I should not force you.”

　　Xun Shu eyed her suspiciously. Is she giving up so easily? This does not seem like the rascals’ style! He watched her as she bowed respectfully and said, “My Invincible Sect does not force people to do what they do not want to, especially if they’re ungrateful ingrates!”

　　“…” Was she scolding him?

　　“My elder also said that they had Young Emperor to thank for the help you extended to them in the immortal territory. Our Sect Master will come some time in the future to visit Young Emperor and your bloodline for a sweet reunion.”

　　“…” Is this a threat? This definitely must be one!

　　“I will take my leave!”

　　“Come back!” Every vein in Xun Shu’s temple was throbbing as he gritted his teeth and snatched the storage bags from Yu Hong’s hands. Through his gritted teeth, he said, “I… will refine them!” F*cker! He had clearly just been threatened. Anybody could come except for Shen Ying!

　　“Thank you, Young Emperor!” Yu Hong thanked him immediately. She retrieved a parchment roll from inside her robes and handed it over. “My elder said that this is a list of the immortal weapons that we will need you to refine. You just have to follow what is written.”

　　Xun Shu reached for it but lost his grip on it so that it fell on the floor. The roll fell onto the floor and unrolled itself, revealed a list several metres long. The writings were incredibly small and there was hardly any space between each line. There were at least a thousand weapons’ names written on it.

　　Yu Hong: “…”

　　Xun Shu: “…”

　　Xun Shu felt like a blood vessel had burst inside his brain.

　　A while later…

　　“Get out!” He shouted so that his voice echoed throughout the Shan Dong Immortal Abode and at least a hundred metres beyond…

　　——————

　　An incredible thing had happened in the immortal realm recently. The “Treasure Tower” which belonged to Exalted Immortal Shu auctioned several spirit transmission talismans every few months. It was said that these talismans could send one’s divine perception into a sacred place. This sacred place had wondrous surroundings. When one’s divine perception entered this sacred place, one’s cultivation, immortal techniques and even heart and perception would improve rapidly. The same effect would take place regardless of one’s cultivation level.

　　When the news spread, multitudes of immortals became excited. This was especially so after the first batch of immortals emerged from this sacred place. A few of their cultivation levels had indeed increased; even immortals who had not improved in ten thousand years suddenly experienced a breakthrough in their cultivation. This news spread quickly across Chong Zhen. Everyone rushed to enter Treasure Tower in the hopes of obtaining just one talisman to bring them to the sacred place.

　　But there were few talismans available. They were only put on auction every few months – and sometimes even half a year. Its price was through the roof. The price of each talisman was about several hundred thousand immortal stones on average, and sometimes even over a million. Yet, it was still just a talisman.

　　Because of this, many immortals who were unable to obtain the talisman became resentful toward the Treasure Tower. Yet, they could do nothing about the situation. Some immortals even attempted to locate the sacred place by themselves. No matter how hard they looked, however, nobody knew where this place was really located.

　　At least, that was the case for everyone except those of Invincible Sect, whose cultivation levels were swelling and whose hands were cramped from counting cash.