Chapter 80: Two Hours — Don’t Come Over

“They finally found the right path.”

Shang Liu’s tightly furrowed brows finally eased a little as she unconsciously turned the ring on her finger.

On the Shadow Recording Stone, the Azure Profound Sect’s First-Seat team was advancing along another route, already having traced the spiritual energy of the second Wood Core Flower and heading in that direction.

The second Wood Core Flower had been artificially grown outside the field. Unlike the first one, which sprouted from a seedling, this one entered its blooming phase immediately after being placed, releasing its fragrance to attract nearby magical beasts.

To avoid interference from any informed elders and ensure fairness in the trial, the task of placing the second flower was assigned by drawing lots among the four great sects. The final choice fell to a senior from the Clear Thought Sect who hadn’t known the positioning of the teams before entering.

This time, luck didn’t favor any one sect disproportionately. The second Wood Core Flower wasn’t too far or too close to any of the four teams. With the Returning Immortal Sect already holding one flower, the remaining three sects had an equal shot at the second.

“This round really handed the Returning Immortal Sect a stroke of luck,” commented an Azure Profound Sect elder who specialized in alchemy.

They were no longer in the side hall. During the scheduled rest period, each sect’s elders had returned to their lodgings, leaving only members of the Azure Profound Sect in this room.

“The Returning Immortal Sect usually has rotten luck, but every now and then they strike uniquely good fortune. Ever since the founding of the Grand Immortal Trials, we’ve never seen anything quite like this. Murong was right, the entry system definitely needs revision.”

Shang Liu replied, “That’s for the next trial. Whether or not it changes depends on the sect leaders after this one’s over.”

“Our sect leader has already brought it up with the others. The Clear Thought Sect’s leader said he doesn’t mind—he’s never been keen on meddling in these affairs. The Crimson Sky Sect’s leader seemed agreeable,” the alchemy elder said.

“But the Returning Immortal Sect’s leader…”

He hesitated, drawing glances from the others.

Shang Liu asked, “What about him?”

“He’s gone into seclusion again. No response whatsoever.”

Silence fell over the room.

Shang Liu chuckled softly. “No one even knows how many years the Returning Immortal Sect’s leader has spent in seclusion. He barely emerged for a year before going back in… perhaps it’s for the best. The sect’s been leaderless for so long, on a steady decline. Maybe by the time he comes out next, they’ll no longer be among the Four Great Sects.”

Another elder from Azure Profound Sect laughed. “That’ll be soon, once this trial is over. I thought the other three sects would easily push the Returning Immortal Sect out, since all their first-seats are Heaven-grade spiritual roots. Who’d have thought that sect would get lucky and recruit a few Heaven-grade ones of their own?”

“Baili family’s young master, Ji family’s only daughter, Wen Ya’s son, and that Heaven-root artifact refiner from the Xu family… any of them, taken alone, is on par with the best from other sects,” Shang Liu noted. “Once the trial ends, send someone to reach out to them.”

“You mean…”

Shang Liu looked out the window, where the Azure Profound Sect’s Sect Tower stood—not far away, a structure built by the legendary first-rank artifact refiner Yuan Gui himself. It was thanks to his unparalleled talent that the Azure Profound Sect had climbed to where they were today.

“The Talent-Seeking Pearl may miss people, so other methods are necessary. They’re all still young. It would be a waste to let their prime years rot in a bottom-tier sect.”

“The deeper into the trial we go, the clearer it’ll become where the best path lies.”

—

Meanwhile, at the Crimson Sky Sect’s rest area.

The Skydome Instrument had already transported out all eliminated disciples. Some were knocked out due to the harsh environment—this happened across all sects—but most were from the formation teams. Among the First-Seat teams, only one member had been eliminated.

Because they were the sole First-Seat to drop out early, everyone’s eyes drifted toward the Crimson Sky Sect’s resting area, and toward Changsun Li.

It was late. Eternal lamps lit the surroundings. Changsun Li had been lingering nearby, never straying far.

He didn’t look well. The alchemy elder stationed outside the field offered to check his injuries, but was refused.

No one knew what exactly had happened inside the illusion realm. Curious spectators were already flying back to check the Shadow Recording Stones.

Speculation buzzed over who had defeated Changsun Li.

Anyone familiar with noble families knew he was the second heir of a prominent body cultivator clan. He had become a disciple of the Crimson Sky Sect’s Third Elder at a young age—a heaven-blessed talent that all other body cultivators envied.

It was hard to imagine any fellow body cultivator defeating him—let alone humiliating him enough to force him out like this.

Unless… it had been the Azure Profound Sect’s First-Seat Sword Cultivator.

“…First-Seat, the elder wants to see you,” the alchemy disciple stationed outside said nervously.

Sitting in silent thought, Changsun Li lifted his head to see his sect elder had already arrived.

Cheng Ling looked him over, eyes stern, gaze sweeping across the injuries.

“I saw your recording,” he said coolly.

Changsun Li turned his head away, bloody at the mouth, saying nothing.

Cheng Ling grabbed his collar and snapped, “You refused to follow orders. Look at the recording stone—do you see any of the other First-Seats from the Four Great Sects daring to twist their commander’s orders like you did?”

“Even that brat from the Shen family had to yield to his team’s artifact refiner in the illusion realm. What gave you the right to act on your own?”

Changsun Li’s lips moved. “I…”

“You thought you could beat Wen Yun, didn’t you?” Cheng Ling continued. “Just because his mother died doesn’t mean his spiritual roots vanished. You haven’t seen him in years, haven’t gauged his abilities, and yet you still had the nerve to provoke him?”

Changsun Li’s gaze dimmed. “Disciple admits his mistake.”

Seeing him lower his head, Cheng Ling’s anger lessened somewhat. He was, after all, one of their own. Beneath the fury was more disappointment and heartache.

“This time, we’ll let it go. When Shuang’er comes out, go apologize to her. Next time you face a new opponent—don’t charge in blindly.”

“…Understood,” Changsun Li mumbled. “How are the others in our sect doing?”

Cheng Ling’s expression darkened. “Not well. The first Wood Core Flower ended up in the Returning Immortal Sect’s second team’s hands. The second flower’s spiritual trace has already been picked up by Azure Profound Sect.”

Changsun Li’s head snapped up. “There are two Wood Core Flowers?”

“There are. It’s a long story—check the Shadow Recording when we’re back,” Cheng Ling said. “But Shuang’er’s team is close to one of the Returning Immortal Sect’s second teams. That team has no real leader. If we use some force, we might still get a ranking.”

“How did they get a flower in the first place…? If they already found it, why haven’t they picked it yet?”

Cheng Ling said in a low voice, “Their second-seat sword cultivator got ridiculously lucky. As for why they haven’t picked it yet, we don’t know. Murong Yi and Wan Bai won’t say—they seem to be worried about something.”

Changsun Li fell silent, then said firmly, “Our command team will place. Crimson Sky Sect won’t lose to the Returning Immortal Sect.”

“What happens in the illusion realm is their task. You’ll come back with me to rest and study the recordings. Wen Yun’s moves against you were clever—watch closely. Next time, you’ll need a counter.”

“Yes.”

Changsun Li lowered his head in reply, a flicker of unreadable emotion in his eyes.

Next time, he would defeat Wen Yun.

And that second-seat sword cultivator who had humiliated his comrades—she wouldn’t be spared either.

—

Inside the illusion realm, on the grass where the Returning Immortal Sect was resting—

Xu Xianxing took out some spiritual materials and began repairing Wealth Bringer (MC’s Sword). The damage was severe—some of the nicks had to be cleaned before they could be patched.

He used a magic crystal knife to cut off the jagged edges of the damaged part, and in the next moment, a foul odor immediately spread.

“Ugh—”

Qu Ruo Tian gagged, nearly vomiting.

Bai Li Que had smelled this scent before, but when he inhaled again, he still couldn’t maintain his facial expression. His brows furrowed in discomfort.

Bai Li Que: “This time I smell it.”

Lian Mu: “You can smell the stench but not the fragrance, you’re really hopeless.”

Bai Li Que covered his mouth and nose: “Your sword… it can’t always be like this, right? Didn’t you find someone to refine it after the entrance retest?”

Lian Mu said: “It’s been like this before and now, and it might stay like this in the future.”

Bai Li Que: “…”

This was Qu Ruo Tian’s first time smelling it, and tears were almost forced out of his eyes: “Junior Sister, how could your sword… be like this?”

He had only seen sword cultivators who added fragrance and elegance to their swords, never one with such a foul smell.

“You just don’t understand.” Xu Xianxing continued to repair the sword as he spoke, “I think this sword is quite good. It’s both beautiful and practical, and it has an extra self-defense feature compared to ordinary swords.”

Lian Mu leaned in and whispered, “Actually, you talisman cultivators could also create something like this. You can add a bit of something to the normal runes, and when fighting someone, it might seem like you just made one move, but towards the end, you release a little stench to catch the opponent off guard and knock them out.”

Qu Ruo Tian: “?”

Qu Ruo Tian: “I’m from the Hui Xin Sect, I don’t fight with others.”

Lian Mu looked at Bai Li Que, who suddenly fell silent for a moment, then said: “…I’m neutral between the two sects, leaning towards Hui Xin.”

Meaning he could both attack and defend, but preferred the latter.

After hearing Lian Mu’s suggestion, Bai Li Que found it interesting, though he felt it was a bit underhanded.

He was considering whether to try it when Xu Xianxing spoke first: “Then I’ll modify my spatial pouch too. If someone steals it, the spiritual power inside will be different when opened, and I’ll release a stench to knock them out.”

Bai Li Que also made up his mind: “I’ll think about how to add stinking runes.”

Qu Ruo Tian: “???”

Qu Ruo Tian immediately felt his understanding of the world had been shaken. He stood up, wanting to move a bit farther away to smell some normal air.

However, as soon as he took a step, his communication talisman suddenly became hot.

Qu Ruo Tian pulled out the communication talisman, ignited it with spiritual power, and heard the voice of a disciple from Returning Immortal Sect:

“Senior Brother, don’t come over!! Don’t let the chief team…”

Before the other side could finish, a muffled groan sounded, as if something had struck them, and they couldn’t speak anymore.

The sound from the communication talisman echoed in everyone’s ears nearby.

Then, a cold female voice followed: “The second-seat team from Returning Immortal Sect is in our hands. If you want to save them, come to us immediately, we’ll only give you two hours.”

Someone from the Returning Immortal Sect team recognized the voice—it was the chief sword cultivator of Crimson Sky Sect.

———

Changing Lian Mu’s Sword Name to “Wealth Bringer” from now on