Qi Yuan put the matter of the Black Mountain Sect out of his mind.
Holding his knife by its leash, he continued his stroll.
Along the way, he heard many murmurs, all denouncing the Black Mountain Sect.
"The Black Mountain Sect is truly abominable!"
"They even injured Senior Brother Zheng! They have no regard for our Divine Light Sect at all!"
"Who told their sect master to have such a powerful foster father?"
"What's even more infuriating is that the Black Mountain Sect is actually coming to take part in the Foundation Establishment Grand Gathering in half a month!"
"What? The Black Mountain Sect is coming too?!"
"I heard the head disciples of the various peaks are all conferring about yesterday's incident. Why is that one... still out walking his knife?"
"Keep it down! Has he not even established his foundation yet? What good would it do for him to join the discussion?"
"He probably couldn't even beat Chu Tianxiong."
"Don't say that. Is Senior Brother not establishing his foundation because he doesn't want to? He definitely doesn't want to stay stuck at Qi Refinement perfection either."
Qi Yuan listened to all of this without any apparent reaction.
...
Wangyue Continent.
A look of delight appeared on Empress Jin Li's face. "Aunt Qin, have your injuries healed?"
Aunt Qin nodded. "Thanks to the imperial medicine bestowed by Your Majesty, this old woman's wounds have finally fully healed, and my strength has even climbed to a higher level."
"That is wonderful." The stone weighing on Jin Li's heart finally fell away.
After her imperial father and mother passed away, Aunt Qin had watched her grow up.
She relied heavily on Aunt Qin.
However, recalling something, she asked, "Aunt Qin, the duel against the National Preceptor of Southern Feng in six days—do you have confidence?"
The duel in six days was a matter of life and death for Jin Li and her followers.
If she lost, Sima Ting would certainly seize the opportunity to strike.
At that point, Jin Li would have no power to resist.
Resisting by force would only cause those loyal to her to die prematurely.
Hearing this, a cloud of worry crossed Aunt Qin's face. "Yesterday, the Crown Prince of Southern Feng paid a visit to Sima Ting.
"Sima Ting gifted him a supreme pill named the Primordial Blood-Locking Pill."
"What!" Jin Li ground her teeth. "Sima Ting's wicked ambition is known to all!"
The National Preceptor of Southern Feng was a late King-rank powerhouse.
He cultivated the Dragon Elephant Purgatory Art.
The more robust the practitioner's vital energy and blood, the stronger their might. At its peak mastery, it yielded the strength of a hundred dragon elephants.
Previously, Aunt Qin, having consumed the Nine-Flower Brocade, was a notch stronger than the National Preceptor of Southern Feng.
However, the pill Sima Ting gifted was a supreme-grade blood-vitality medicine.
Taking such a pill would be like adding wings to a tiger, ensuring a massive surge in the National Preceptor's strength.
Advancing from late King rank to perfection would be child's play, and he might even catch a glimpse of the Emperor rank.
Against the current National Preceptor of Southern Feng, Aunt Qin was no match.
And the one responsible for all this was Southern Qian's Chancellor, Sima Ting.
"Is Sima Ting not afraid of universal condemnation?" Beside them, Hua Xian, commander of the Imperial Guard, was equally incensed.
Sima Ting was becoming less and less discreet.
Jin Li furrowed her brows. Bringing out the remaining imperial medicine, she asked, "Aunt Qin, if you consume these imperial medicines, can they raise your strength?"
Seeing the imperial medicine, shock flashed through Aunt Qin's eyes.
She had no idea where Her Majesty had obtained so many precious imperial-grade medicines.
"If I consume these imperial herbs, I am confident I could break through to the Emperor rank within three years.
"However... there isn't enough time." Regret filled Aunt Qin's voice.
Jin Li's brow knitted tightly as she pondered a way to break the deadlock.
Hire an Emperor-rank powerhouse with the imperial medicine?
Ruled out.
Seek out ferocious, desperate stimulants to temporarily boost their strength?
Out of the question!
For a time, Jin Li was at her wit's end.
She could not help recalling what Qi Yuan had said about taming a few lesser demons in the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground to help her.
The thought flashed through her mind and vanished.
Subduing garment demons—how could that ever be simple?
It was mere idle talk.
She wondered where one could possibly find a way to swiftly raise one's cultivation.
Unable to think of anything, Jin Li looked at Aunt Qin. "Aunt Qin, for now, keep the news of your recovery hidden. Do not let Sima Ting find out. As for raising our strength, I will find a way."
"Understood."
...
"Greetings, Sect Master."
Inside the vast, empty hall, Qi Yuan stood in the center with a respectful demeanor.
True Monarch Kumu glanced at Qi Yuan, a hint of teasing in his expression. "So you still acknowledge this old man as your Sect Master."
A few months ago, this head disciple of Seven Colors Peak had suddenly declared that the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect—meaning himself—was actually a spy for the Demonic Desire Sect.
Back then, he had been shaken to his core, thinking his identity had been exposed and that the master of Seven Colors Peak had joined forces with the other peak masters to purge him.
To his surprise, it had been a false alarm—pure nonsense spouted by Qi Yuan.
He did indeed have deep ties to the Demonic Desire Sect, having been personally delivered to the Divine Light Sect by an elder from that very sect.
From a chore disciple, he worked his way up to an outer disciple, and then to a true disciple.
Day after day, his heart had hammered in his chest.
He frequently contacted that elder.
Every time, the elder told him to wait a bit longer.
Day after day, year after year, he trod carefully, until from an undercover spy he became the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect!
And when that elder met with him again, True Monarch Kumu had completely changed his tune: "A demonic scoundrel dares attempt to drive a wedge between this Venerable One and the Divine Light Sect?!"
That Demonic Desire Sect elder had already had one foot in the grave, and hearing those words, he dropped dead on the spot.
Qi Yuan looked at True Monarch Kumu and said lazily, "You haven't done anything to betray the Divine Light Sect. Why shouldn't I call you Sect Master?"
True Monarch Kumu looked at Qi Yuan with exceedingly complicated emotions.
This head disciple of Seven Colors Peak was eccentric and enigmatic. How in the world had he known that he was an undercover agent from the Demonic Desire Sect?
Or had it really been a wild guess?
"Qi Yuan, I have a task to entrust to you." True Monarch Kumu returned to business.
Qi Yuan's demeanor also turned serious.
"In half a month, it will be the Foundation Establishment Grand Gathering." Mentioning this, a sharp glint flashed in True Monarch Kumu's eyes. "This Foundation Establishment Grand Gathering will be hosted by our Divine Light Sect.
"At that time, Great Shang, Floating Mountain, the Demonic Desire Sect, and other factions will all dispatch disciples to participate and compete for a first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item... the Yellow Flower Fruit."
A first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item was the best among the top three grades of Foundation Establishment spiritual items.
In Great Shang, it was exceptionally rare.
Rumor had it that among the elusive powerhouses of Great Shang, only a handful had established their foundations using top-three-grade spiritual items.
And not a single one had used a first-grade item.
That showed just how precious a first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item truly was.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan was taken aback. "Why didn't my senior brothers and sisters wait for this Yellow Flower Fruit?"
"We didn't expect it either. Only a few Foundation Establishment spiritual items bore fruit in the secret realm this time, and among them happened to be this Yellow Flower Fruit," True Monarch Kumu sighed with regret.
Had they known in advance that a first-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item would appear,
he certainly would not have allowed the head disciples of the peaks to establish their foundations early.
Now, among the head disciples of the various peaks, only Qi Yuan had not yet established his foundation.
True Monarch Kumu felt this might be a coincidence.
Yet it could also be the handiwork of that person on Seven Colors Peak.
She might have deliberately left a high-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item for her disciple.
"Therefore, this time you will lead our Divine Light Sect to participate in the Foundation Establishment Grand Gathering.
"Qi Yuan, I hope you can uphold our sect's glory and seize the Yellow Flower Fruit!"
Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt rather helpless. "Can I not participate?"
"No!" the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect flatly refused. Mindful of Qi Yuan's temperament, he added, "You only need to take the stage once at the very end. It won't take even an hour."
Seeing this, Qi Yuan finally agreed. "Fine."
"Sect Master, I take my leave." Qi Yuan turned to go.
Looking at Qi Yuan's nonchalant attitude, the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He wondered if placing their hopes on Qi Yuan was truly reliable.
If that Yellow Flower Fruit was snatched away by another sect, creating another powerhouse like Old Demon Black Chicken, the consequences would be dire.
Before he could dwell on it further, Qi Yuan suddenly paused in his tracks.
"Sect Master, the Empress of Great Shang... is she pretty?"
Chapter 20