With the end of the Five Region Grand Tournament and the disciples of each region returning to their sects, rumors flooded the cultivation world about the accident in the tournament, that the Shanhe Scroll had been seized by evil cultivators.
The few who survived and walked out of the Shanhe Scroll had all advanced to Divine Transformation. What allowed so many to advance at once was none other than Ran Xi Zūnzhě of Haoran Sect. The breakthrough potion she refined forced those who had been Nascent Soul cultivators to advance to Divine Transformation, preserving their lives and letting them break free of the Shanhe Scroll.
Once this news spread, cultivators across the five regions finally grasped what it meant for Yixian Gate's sole inheritor to exist. A potion that could force a breakthrough, likely something only Ran Xi Zūnzhě could refine in the entire Weiyu Realm, stirred countless hearts at once.
Even the number of visitors calling on Haoran Sect suddenly swelled. When Haoran Sect disciples went out to temper themselves, they were peppered with questions. Some even hinted they were willing to pay spirit stones to purchase Haoran Sect's internal potions. They would take them even if they were not the breakthrough kind. Haoran Sect's disciples could only rub their foreheads.
Yu Huo Zhēnjūn barreled in to find Yu Geng, asking after Ran Xi's whereabouts. Learning that she had not returned to the sect at all and had gone straight to the Northern Region, he sighed for half a day, feeling he had missed the freshest news.
Yu Geng rubbed his temples and handed him a jade slip. "Stop sighing. Look at this first."
After reading, Yu Huo Zhēnjūn frowned. "I do not know how much of this is true, but the praise of Ran Xi is a bit much."
"Good. Your pill furnace has not melted your brains. Someone is targeting Ran Xi. Combine it with the recent rumors. What do you think they want?" Yu Geng asked directly.
Yu Huo Zhēnjūn's eyes turned. "They are after the recipe for Ran Xi's forced-breakthrough potion. They want to lift her onto an altar, then force her to hand it over."
"Tch. Did not expect you to think quickly when alchemy is involved." Yu Geng, for once, praised his own senior brother.
"Tch. What kind of line is that? I am at least a Nascent Soul cultivator. If I could not see this, I would have lived in vain. What did the Ancestor say?"
"The Ancestor said the recipe is Ran Xi's own fortune. If she wishes to give it, the sect will not stop her. If anyone tries to force her, the sect will not agree.
The image-recording jades they brought back finally have a use. The Ancestor ordered the Hive to release the inside story of the Shanhe Scroll, to let cultivators understand how brutal that battle really was. Let those scheming against Ran Xi see clearly what fate awaited them had Ran Xi and the others failed. Let them face reality and stop being led by the nose."
He handed Yu Huo Zhēnjūn another jade slip. Inside was a condensed record of Ran Xi and the others' ten-year war within the Shanhe Scroll, including every cultivator who self-detonated. Whether righteous or demonic, none should be forgotten.
After reading, Yu Huo Zhēnjūn drew a long breath. The sense of an approaching storm grew stronger. He looked up. "Why show me this?"
"To raise your guard. Ran Xi said half of Yixian Gate's inheritance has already been given to the sect. You have been studying potion refinement as well. If they cannot find Ran Xi, they will turn on you."
Yu Huo Zhēnjūn waved a hand. "Do not worry. I know my own combat strength. I will not leave the sect unless necessary."
At least he had that much self-awareness.
"You may not need to leave the sect, but what about your disciples? Do they not go out to temper themselves, to complete sect tasks?"
That gave Yu Huo Zhēnjūn pause. He quickly ran through his disciples. Wei Zonghao was in seclusion seeking a breakthrough, so he was fine for now. The other two were out training and had not returned.
Yu Huo Zhēnjūn stood at once. "Thanks for the reminder. I will send them a message to keep quiet about being disciples of Haoran Sect while they are outside."
Before Yu Geng could reply, the man disappeared from the hall.
In Haoran Sect's rear forbidden grounds, inside the cave dwelling of Hao Yi Ancestor, Xiang Sizhi lounged on a soft couch in a purple-red robe, smiling. "Tch. Outstanding disciples sometimes do make us elders work harder."
Hao Yi Ancestor shot Xiang Sizhi a glare. "Since when did Ran Xi become your junior? She is a Divine Transformation cultivator now."
Xiang Sizhi ignored Hao Yi Ancestor, idly tapping her nails. "She may be Divine Transformation, but her age is not enough to make up even a fraction of ours. How is she not a junior? When this Zūnzhě made a name, she was still queueing at the underworld."
Hao Yi Ancestor waved a hand, uninterested in the argument, and went straight to the point."Have the jade slips I asked you to spread been distributed?"
"Rest easy. This concerns the stability of the Western Region. The message slips have been sent out. Through the Loose Cultivator Alliance's connections, copies have also been carried to the other four regions. The cultivation world will learn the truth about this Five Region Grand Tournament.
"Have you already notified Huaxian Gate?"
"Rest assured. I delivered the jade slip to Huaxian Gate at once. It records their fallen disciples as well. They have no right to hide the truth."
"Good. Do not forget to remind Ran Xi."
"Relax. That girl is sharp. Otherwise, why would she avoid returning to the sect and head straight to the Misty Snow Domain? She did not want to come back and deal with this mess."
Far away in the Northern Region, Yunxi sneezed. She felt someone chirping about her behind her back. Han Lian looked over with concern. "Ran Xi, are you all right?"
Ran Xi waved a hand. "I am fine. Someone is probably cursing me."
Xun Kun's mouth twitched. He said evenly, zz"Who dares curse you now? They are discussing you."
Yunxi was about to speak when the shopkeeper personally entered the private room with a tray, set the store's treasure on the table, and beckoned nine attendants to follow. Each placed a tray before them. After dismissing his staff, the shopkeeper began a warm and detailed introduction of the items.
Listening to the introductions, Yunxi felt she wanted everything. Her shopping impulse awoke. In the end she bought three cloaks in red, white, and black, plus a delicate hand warmer for heat, and a deep-sea ribbon designed to protect the eyes.
The rest were swept up by the other three. After a lavish rain of spirit stones, the shopkeeper's smile nearly closed his eyes. He presented each of the three with a Supreme Amethyst Card. Future purchases at any of their stores would come with a discount and priority selection, all to deliver the most prestigious service.
Satisfied with the trip, the three did not linger and returned to Jihan Sect.
When Han Lian escorted them back to the guest peak, she saw Hao Miaoling waiting at the foot of the mountain.
Yun Chen and Xun Kun had never met her. Yunxi preferred no entanglement. With a quick voice transmission explaining who Hao Miaoling was, the three flickered away to their own courtyards without showing themselves.
Han Lian revealed herself before Hao Miaoling, her expression cool. "Junior Sister Hao, what business brings you to the guest peak?"