I'm in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have one equipment slot!

In Tiantian City, in a separate pavilion in the west of the city, which was temporarily occupied by the Ghost Spirit Sect and had been placed under strict restrictions.

The atmosphere was as oppressive as frozen ice.

Wang Tiansheng sat upright in the head seat, his face ashen, his fingers unconsciously tapping the back of the chair, making a soft "tap-tap" sound that was particularly clear in the quiet hall.

Below, several elders of the Ghost Spirit Sect stood with their hands at their sides, not daring to breathe, their faces filled with fear and unease.

Just now, the disciple who was sent out to gather information reported the detailed information he had collected about that "Zhou Yuan".

A lone cultivator, without any sect or faction.

Cultivation level: Mid-Nascent Soul stage.

However, the rumors about his actual strength are increasingly alarming.

Easily killing the Nascent Soul Master Mulan, instantly killing two black-robed Nascent Soul cultivators who were suspected to be from the Great Jin Dynasty and skilled in ghostly supernatural abilities... These achievements have been verified through multiple channels and are basically true.

Especially the comments circulating among the high-ranking members of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance about his ability to kill two early-stage Nascent Soul demonic cultivators in a dozen breaths made Wang Tiansheng's heart sink to the bottom.

What does this mean?

This means that the strength of this "Zhou Yuan" is far beyond that of an ordinary mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!

His decisiveness in killing and the sharpness of his supernatural powers are probably comparable to that of the infamous Tianhen Old Monster in the Tiannan cultivation world, who is known as the "Number One Rogue Cultivator in Tiannan"!

Even more so!

Even a major demonic sect like the Ghost Spirit Sect would be unable to withstand provoking such a ruthless person!

A Nascent Soul cultivator is the backbone of a sect; the death of even one is a devastating blow.

Including him, the sect leader, the Ghost Spirit Sect now only has four Nascent Soul cultivators left.

The most powerful cultivator among them, the Soul Shattering True Man, was only at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. However, upon hearing his assessment, he admitted that he was not entirely confident in defeating Zhou Yuan and might even be at a disadvantage.

What's even more troublesome is that during the investigation, it was discovered that Zhou Yuan and Han Li both came from Huangfeng Valley and were fellow disciples!

Although the old patriarch Linghu of Huangfeng Valley is nearing the end of his life and will soon pass away, it is precisely because of this that he is more likely to go crazy for the sake of the sect's continuation!

If, on his deathbed, he were to try and take his enemies down with him, or risk everything to support his two former disciples... Wang Tiansheng didn't even dare to imagine the consequences.

Avenging his brother is important, but if he were to drag the entire Ghost Spirit Sect into an abyss of no return, then he, as the sect leader, would be a sinner for all eternity.

"Revoke the bounty." Wang Tiansheng remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly, his voice hoarse and dry, as if he had used up all his strength. "Spread the word that... the bounty was merely a harmless joke by our Ghost Spirit Sect to seek acquaintance with Fellow Daoist Zhou. Now that we know Fellow Daoist Zhou dislikes being disturbed, the bounty is naturally nullified. At the same time..."

He paused, a hint of pain and determination flashing in his eyes, and continued, "The news has been released that, after a detailed investigation by our sect elders, Vice Sect Master Wang Tiangu was accidentally killed when he triggered an ancient restriction within the ruins of an ancient cultivator while exploring them. It has nothing to do with anyone else."

He gave himself a way out!

While attributing his brother's death to an "accidental relic" was frustrating and disgraceful to the sect, it was the wisest and safest choice at the moment. The priority was to appease the terrifying "Fellow Daoist Zhou," eliminate direct hostility, and then plan further later.

Wang Tiansheng was able to ascend to the position of sect leader not only because of his cultivation level, but also because of his ability to be flexible, adaptable, and ruthless.

Upon hearing this, the elders in the attic twitched their facial muscles, but none of them voiced any objection.

They also knew that continuing to fight against a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator—a formidable, elusive, and unburdened figure—would be detrimental to the Ghost Spirit Sect. This grudge could not be avenged at the moment.

"Yes, Sect Master," an elder replied in a low voice, and left to carry out the order.

Soon, the news that the Ghost Spirit Sect had withdrawn the bounty and announced that Wang Tiangu had died in an "accidental" manner spread like wildfire throughout Tiantian City.

"Hey, the Ghost Spirit Sect really messed up this time, they've backed down!"

"How can we not back down? That Senior Zhou, I heard he kills Nascent Soul cultivators like it's nothing, he even killed two demonic cultivators from the Great Jin! How many Nascent Soul cultivators does the Ghost Spirit Sect have left? Enough for him to kill several more times?"

"Wang Tiansheng is quite tolerant. Even with his own younger brother dead, he can swallow his anger and find a way to save face."

"What can we do if we can't bear it? If we really anger that evil star, and he sneaks up on the Ghost Spirit Sect's gate in the middle of the night, who can stop him?"

Throughout the city, cultivators were buzzing with discussion, most of them with a sense of schadenfreude. The six sects of the demonic path usually acted arrogantly and had made many enemies. Now that they saw the Ghost Spirit Sect suffer a setback, many cultivators felt a sense of satisfaction.

Zhou Yuan's reputation, along with the Ghost Spirit Sect's "backing down," became even more prominent in Tiantian City and the surrounding area in a strange way.

Just as the controversy surrounding the Ghost Spirit Sect's admission of defeat was still raging, another piece of news emerged in Tiantian City, like a drop of water thrown into a pot of boiling oil, stirring up even greater waves.

It is said that in the chaos of the Mulan invasion and the border collapse, in addition to Zhou Yuan's great power, there was another rogue cultivator named "Han Li" who also shone brightly!

This person, also in the border region, with the cultivation of the early Nascent Soul stage, ruthlessly killed a Nascent Soul stage mage from the Mulan Grassland!

Their record is equally outstanding!

What astonished and amazed everyone even more was that, with the in-depth digging and "unintentional" revelations by those with a keen eye, a startling connection was uncovered—

Zhou Yuan and Han Li, these two Nascent Soul cultivators who rose to fame and displayed astonishing strength in this great battle, actually both came from Huangfeng Valley, one of the seven sects of Yue Kingdom!

Moreover, the two were from the same school, both being direct disciples of the late Elder Li Huayuan!

They are genuine fellow disciples!

"What?! Senior Zhou and that Senior Han are actually fellow disciples? And both from Yellow Maple Valley?"

"My God! What incredible luck has Huangfeng Valley had? No, what terrible misfortune has befallen them? How could they have allowed two such unparalleled geniuses to leave the sect?"

"I heard that both of them disappeared two hundred years ago when they evacuated Yue Kingdom from Huangfeng Valley. I never expected them to reappear two hundred years later, one already at the mid-Nascent Soul stage and the other at the early-Nascent Soul stage!"

"A Nascent Soul cultivator in his two-hundreds-years-old age! Especially Senior Zhou, who has already reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage in his two-hundreds-years-old age! This cultivation speed is unheard of! At this rate, he might be able to break through to the late-Nascent Soul stage in his three-hundreds-years-old age, becoming the fourth great cultivator in Tiannan!"

"If Huangfeng Valley had been able to keep those two back then... no, even just one of them, they would be a first-rate sect by now! Why would they have ended up eking out a living in a place like Beiliang Kingdom?"

"Hehe, I heard that back in Yellow Maple Valley, these two were quite unremarkable in terms of talent, especially Han Li, who seemed to have a pseudo-spiritual root? Now they've both advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, with formidable strength... There's definitely something fishy going on here! Most likely, they discovered a complete ancient cultivator's ruins or cave together, obtained an incredible opportunity and inheritance, hid away and cultivated in seclusion for two hundred years, and only then did they soar to great heights!"

Various speculations, discussions, exclamations, regrets, and even jealousy echoed throughout the streets, alleys, teahouses, and taverns of Tiantian City. Zhou Yuan and Han Li, these "fellow disciples," and the Yellow Maple Valley behind them, instantly became the hottest topic in the cultivation world of Tiannan.

Countless people are curious about what exactly happened in Huangfeng Valley back then that caused these two treasures to be lost.

Some people marveled at the wonder of fate and destiny, which could create such a legend.

The distance between Tiancheng and the Northern Liang Kingdom, where Huangfeng Valley is now located, is not far.

These heated discussions quickly spread to the Northern Liang Kingdom and to the gates of Huangfeng Valley as people moved about.

……

In the depths of the Yellow Maple Valley in the Northern Liang Kingdom, there lies a cave dwelling filled with spiritual energy.

Linghu Patriarch, the only Nascent Soul cultivator in Yellow Maple Valley,

As he listened to Lei Wanhe and Nie Ying's detailed report below, his usually calm and composed face revealed an unusual expression of extreme shock and disbelief. The teacup in his hand fell to the jade floor with a "crack" and shattered, but he was completely unaware of it.

"What...what are you saying? Zhou Yuan? Han Li? Both of them...were once disciples of my Yellow Maple Valley? Now, one is in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, and the other is in the early-Nascent Soul stage? And they even killed Mu Lan and a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Demonic Path on the border?" Linghu Patriarch's voice trembled slightly, whether from excitement or some other complex emotion.

"Reporting back to the Ancestor, it is absolutely true."

Lei Wanhe bowed, his tone certain, "Senior Zhou personally admitted it and addressed me as his senior uncle. As for Senior Han's matter, it's a rumor circulating in Tiantian City, so it should be true. Moreover, according to our investigation, both of them were indeed disciples of Li Huayuan's junior brother."

Upon hearing this, Elder Linghu fell silent.

Only his slightly heavy breathing could be heard in the cave.

After a long while, he slowly asked, "Han Li... I have some recollection of him. Back when we were evacuating Yue Kingdom, to cover the retreat of our elite disciples, I arranged for a group of disciples to stay behind and draw the attention of the demonic path. Han Li... seemed to be among them?"

Lei Wanhe's face showed a hint of embarrassment as he said in a low voice, "Yes... Senior Han was indeed assigned to that group of disciples who stayed behind to cover the rear. As for Senior Zhou... he went out to train on his own back then, and then disappeared without a trace. The sect always thought he had perished."

"..." Linghu Patriarch fell into a long silence again. The wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen, and the expression in his eyes was uncertain, with regret, remorse, helplessness, and a trace of indescribable bitterness.

In order to protect the core elites of the sect, sacrificing some disciples as bait was the most "wise" yet ruthless decision he, as the sect's patriarch, had to make under such dire circumstances. Otherwise, the lineage of Huangfeng Valley would probably have been extinguished long ago.

He did not think he was wrong.

But... who could have imagined that among those disciples who were "abandoned" back then and seemed to have mediocre talents, there was actually a hidden dragon like Han Li?

And Zhou Yuan, who went missing and was thought to be dead, became a Kunpeng soaring through the nine heavens!

If only I had known... If only I had known...

The thought flashed through Linghu Laozu's mind, but he forcibly suppressed it. There's no going back. No one can predict the future when they make their choices.

"Alas..." Elder Linghu sighed deeply, his voice filled with endless感慨 and vicissitudes, "Young Li... died too young, his fortune too thin!"

He knew in his heart that if Li Huayuan were still alive, with that master-disciple bond, he might have a good chance of persuading Zhou Yuan and Han Li to return to Huangfeng Valley, at least to have them registered in name only.

But now that Li Huayuan has long since died in battle, this connection has become much weaker.

Especially Han Li, who was "abandoned" by the sect back then, how could he not have resentment in his heart?

It is extremely difficult to win them over.

"Do you know where those two are now?" Linghu Patriarch composed himself, a glimmer of hope rekindling in his eyes. As long as they're still alive, there's still a chance!

Even if they can only win back one person, it would be a chance for Huangfeng Valley to defy fate!

"Reporting to Ancestor, according to news from Tiantian City, Senior Zhou seems to be cultivating in seclusion somewhere in Dongyu Kingdom, with a fixed cave dwelling. As for Senior Han... his whereabouts are elusive and difficult to find," Lei Wanhe reported truthfully.

"Dongyu Kingdom..." Ancestor Linghu pondered for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and he had already made a decision, "Then let's go find Zhou Yuan first! As for Han Li... we'll find a way to contact him later."

He quickly weighed the options in his mind.

Han Li harbors resentment towards the sect, and his whereabouts are uncertain.

Zhou Yuan was not "abandoned" back then; he simply disappeared on his own. Therefore, he should have had much less animosity towards the sect, and with a fixed cave dwelling, he was easier to contact.

Winning over Zhou Yuan would obviously give them a better chance of success.

"Make preparations, you will travel to Dongyu Kingdom on my behalf!"

Linghu Laozu stood up, his tone resolute.

For the future of Huangfeng Valley, he had to be willing to risk his reputation when necessary!

……

Zhou Yuan was completely unaware of the various controversies and discussions that arose because of him.

He drove the Wind Chariot, carrying Yuan Yao and Yan Li, and traveled at high speed. After more than a month, they finally returned safely to Ling Shu Mountain in Dongyu Kingdom.

After breaking the cave's restrictions and returning to this secluded home he had cultivated for many years with the two women, Zhou Yuan felt a sense of peace in his heart.

The conflicts and wars outside seemed to be kept out by those layers of formations.

"Brother Zhou!"

"Master!"

Sensing their return, the three women, Zi Ling, Mei Ning, and Ouyang Qing, who remained in the cave, happily came out to greet them.

Upon seeing Zhou Yuan and the other two return safely, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Although they were cultivating in their cave, they had vaguely heard news of the unfavorable situation at the front and the fall of Fengyuan Kingdom through various channels, and they were constantly worried about Zhou Yuan and the others.

The women's reunion was naturally lively. Yuan Yao and Yan Li were surrounded by Zi Ling and the others, who chattered excitedly about their experiences at the Tiannan First Trade Fair and their journey along the way.

The cave was filled with the clear, cheerful laughter of women, which dispelled the gloom brought by the war outside.

Zhou Yuan watched them talk with a smile, feeling at peace.

He didn't join in the women's chatter. After giving a few brief instructions, he entered the deepest and most heavily guarded cultivation chamber in the cave by himself.

Sitting cross-legged on the futon in the center of the quiet room, Zhou Yuan took out the treasure from his storage bag that Yin Yue had taken away in advance from the Cangkun Mansion and that he had never had a chance to examine closely.

That seemingly ordinary, simple scroll was originally enshrined on the altar on the first floor of the Jade Pavilion.

The scroll is made of an unknown dark gold wood, and the rolled-up scroll is made of some kind of pale yellow animal hide, which is warm to the touch and has a very faint sandalwood scent.

Zhou Yuan carefully unfolded it slowly on the jade platform in front of him.

When the scroll is fully unfurled, it is about three feet long and about one and a half feet wide.

The painting depicts neither landscapes, flowers, birds, nor immortals and goddesses, but a Confucian scholar standing with his hands behind his back and his back to the viewer.

The scholar was tall and straight, wearing a faded blue robe, his hair tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, giving him an elegant yet unconventional appearance.

He stood on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by clouds and mist, with distant mountains appearing dark and indistinct.

Although it was only a silhouette, it possessed a unique aura of aloofness and pride, as if it were about to ride the wind and return home, or as if it were quietly looking down on the vicissitudes of human life.

At his waist, there seemed to be a long sword with a sheath, the hilt of which was ancient and simple.

The painting is simple in brushwork, profound in artistic conception, and the painting skills are superb. It perfectly blends a sense of solitude and subtle sharpness into this silhouette.

But apart from that, there seemed to be no spiritual energy fluctuations, just like a top-notch literati painting in the mortal world.

Zhou Yuan's gaze swept carefully over every detail of the painting, and his divine sense permeated it like mercury, sensing it meticulously.

At first, there was nothing unusual.

However, when he focused his consciousness on the scholar's back in the painting, especially the long sword that was faintly visible at his waist—

"Buzz..."

On the scroll, the simple ink lines seem to come alive, gently rippling with an extremely subtle spatial ripple that is barely perceptible to the naked eye!

A strange, extremely subtle yet highly refined energy emanated quietly from the painting.

"Huh? What's this...?"

Just as Zhou Yuan's heart stirred and he was about to investigate further, the divine thought transmission from the bamboo tube "Dongfu Tian" behind him, which had been silent all along, suddenly rang in his mind:

"A mustard seed space? A rare spatial treasure! There's probably a whole different world inside!"