Chapter 184: Azure Profound Sect’s Sect Master — Not Looking for a Second Time

Lian Mu returned to her quarters and, with two hours left before dawn, quickly lay down to catch some sleep.

The next morning, she went straight to find her sectmates for breakfast.

Crimson Sky Sect really didn’t have a dining hall. Everyone had to run to the beach to fish for food. The first time it seemed novel, but after a while, the charm wore off. Those who found it too troublesome or were simply lazy resorted to Grain Abstinence Pills to get by.

Aside from Guan Huailin, no one from the Returning Immortal Sect’s Chief team had any interest in going to the dueling grounds. Since it wasn’t mandatory, they preferred to take it easy, spending most of their time cooking instead. They’d squat by the seaside for half the day without a care.

When Lian Mu arrived, she saw Xu Xianxing and the others gathered around a pot, chatting.

There weren’t many people on the beach—mostly slackers from various teams. The Returning Immortal Sect’s Chief team stood out like a sore thumb among them.

Bai Li Que was the first to spot Lian Mu. “You’re up and about?”

“I’ve had enough rest.” As Lian Mu walked over, Xu Xianxing scooted aside to make room for her.

Lian Mu sat down in front of the pot. It was filled with a chaotic mix of seafood, and the aroma was unusually rich and fresh.

Ji Mingyue asked, “Did Azure Profound Sect give you any trouble?”

Lian Mu shook her head. “No. Ying You’s on the brink of death—they’re too busy trying to keep him alive. Besides, they don’t really have grounds to come after me. Injuries during battles in the Illusion Realm are common.”

Wen Yun looked puzzled. “Why did you cut Ying You’s hair? And what did that Venerable Elder mean when he told you to shut up?”

They had already watched the recording five or six times. Everyone knew it was because Lian Mu had cut off that strand of white hair from Ying You that he suddenly collapsed. But… how had she known that was his weakness?

Lian Mu didn’t bother hiding anything from them. “I accidentally entered Ying You’s Heart Realm Trial and saw a few things.”

Wen Yun: “!”

Xu Xianxing: “?”

Bai Li Que: “……”

Ji Mingyue: “Huh? You… That explains it. No wonder the Azure Profound Sect’s Venerable Elders have been flying off the handle every time they see someone from Crimson Sky Sect. This whole mess… Azure Profound Sect will probably take it out on the Crimson Sky Sect’s artifact refiner who designed the Illusion Realm.”

Xu Xianxing wiped his forehead and lowered his voice. “Does Ying You know it was you who went in?”

Lian Mu replied, “Seems like he does.”

He had even asked if it was her inside the Heart Realm.

There was no point in hiding it now, so Lian Mu simply admitted it.

“We’re screwed,” Xu Xianxing muttered. “Azure Profound Sect is bound to come after you eventually. Ying You is their precious golden boy. They’ll want to eliminate anyone involved in this. When it comes to protecting their own, they’re the craziest of the Four Great Sects.”

Wen Yun sneered, “What, you think our Returning Immortal Sect is easy prey? If Azure Profound Sect wants to come at us, we’re not afraid.”

Lian Mu remained calm. “It’s fine. I’ve got a plan.”

She had a Sword Contract with Ying You—she was the master in that bond. If Azure Profound Sect really dared to come after her, Ying You’s life would be forfeit. She had plenty of ways to stay alive, but Ying You’s life was in her hands, completely defenseless.

Ji Mingyue warned, “Still, you should be careful. I heard someone from their sect is coming today. They should be arriving any minute now.”

Just as she finished speaking, a group of figures flew down from the sky—escorts of Venerable Elders from the Azure Profound Sect.

The disciples who had been cooking over the fire quickly stepped aside, clearing a space. More disciples from various sects began gathering on the beach, clearly drawn by the spectacle.

Xu Xianxing picked up the pot and bolted for a corner, worried someone might kick it over. The others stood as well, turning to look in the direction everyone was facing.

This stretch of beach was the first landing point when entering Crimson Sky Sect territory. Whenever outsiders arrived, this was where Crimson Sky Sect would receive them. With such a grand display today, it was obvious—someone important was coming.

Lian Mu swept her gaze over the crowd but didn’t see the Sect Master of the Crimson Sky Sect.

Shang Liu descended from the sky, his eyes skimming past a row of disciples before landing on the people from the Crimson Sky Sect. He asked, “Where is your Sect Master?”

Lian Mu: “……”

She had a strange feeling that, just for a moment, Venerable Elder Shang had glanced in her direction.

He definitely knew what had happened last night.

Lu Feishuang replied to Shang Liu, “Our Sect Master is not available to receive guests and has sent me in his place to greet the Sect Master of the Azure Profound Sect.”

Lian Mu raised an eyebrow: Even the Azure Profound Sect’s Sect Master came?

Shang Liu said coldly, “Is he truly unavailable, or is he just refusing to show the Azure Profound Sect any respect?”

Lu Feishuang’s face remained expressionless. “What Venerable Elder Shang chooses to believe is your own business.”

Everyone: “!”

As expected of the notoriously arrogant Crimson Sky Sect—even their disciples dared to throw attitude at a Venerable Elder from another sect.

Was the Crimson Sky Sect so confident now that they believed they could suppress the Azure Profound Sect?

Shang Liu gave a cold snort, turned his head, and said nothing more.

The entire atmosphere instantly froze. No one dared to speak, and no one dared to leave early.

Half an hour later, Lian Mu’s neck was sore from standing. She turned to look at the others, hoping to drag someone along with her to slip away.

But just as she turned her head, a thunderous roar erupted from the sea. A massive fish-like water beast leapt out from the surface, spraying a jet of water before slamming its tail down, sending waves towering over ten zhang high crashing toward the shore.

The waves carried spiritual energy fluctuations as they surged toward the beach.

“Oh no! It’s a water beast! Get out of the way!”

The sudden demonic beast attack shattered the previously tense calm. Caught off guard, the disciples didn’t react in time.

Lian Mu had no idea what was going on: Weren’t they just waiting for someone? Where did this demonic beast come from?

As the waves were about to engulf the beach, the water beast leapt out again—this time aiming straight at all of Yinghui Island. The waves it stirred up were enough to drown half the island.

Lian Mu happened to be standing closest to the sea.

In the nick of time, a crimson figure flashed past the crowd—it was the Sect Master of the Crimson Sky Sect. He placed a hand on Lian Mu’s shoulder and gently pushed her back, smiling as he said, “Step back, kid.”

With that, he threw a punch through the air. A surge of powerful fire-element spiritual energy blasted apart the incoming wave, instantly turning it into a rising mist. The aftershock struck the airborne fish-like beast, reducing it to dust in the blink of an eye.

The mist rose into the sky, forming rain that fell from the clear blue sky, and a rainbow arched over the sea.

In a single move, both the demonic beast and the wave were dealt with.

The Crimson Sky Sect’s Sect Master withdrew his hand, his smile unchanged, but his voice turned cold. “Hua Qiuxin, get out here.”

No one responded.

The Sect Master continued, “Hiding in the shadows and manipulating a demonic beast—were you trying to drag the other disciples into this too?”

The crowd erupted: “!!!”

Lian Mu had never heard that name before. After being pushed aside by the Sect Master, Ji Mingyue quickly rushed over and pulled her to safety.

“Who’s Hua Qiuxin?” Lian Mu whispered.

Xu Xianxing replied, “You don’t know? She’s the Sect Master of the Azure Profound Sect, and the disciple of Yuan Gui, the number one artifact refiner. She’s considered the second-best artifact refiner alive.”

Lian Mu used spiritual energy to dry the water from her clothes. “That demonic beast just now—was it summoned by her? Is the Azure Profound Sect’s Sect Master a beast tamer?”

But beast tamers usually can only bond with a single demonic beast. If the beast is injured, the master suffers as well. That water beast had been obliterated by a single punch from the Crimson Sky Sect’s Sect Master… didn’t that mean the Azure Profound Sect’s Sect Master was…

“She’s not a beast tamer, but she can control demonic beasts,” Bai Li Que explained. “The Sect Master of Azure Profound Sect possesses three peerless Spirit Artifacts. One of them is called the ‘Demonic Command Disc.’ With it, she can command demonic beasts without being affected by them. She’s likely the only person since the Lord of Shifang Nether Soil who can control a horde of demonic beasts. That’s why, among the Four Great Sects’ territories in the Shifang Nether Soil, Azure Profound Sect holds the largest share.”

Lian Mu nodded. “I see.”

Xu Xianxing added, “See that? Us artifact refiners are pretty amazing.”

In truth, artifact refiners weren’t as fragile as the world believed. They cultivated through their tools, and a powerful artifact refiner could forge all kinds of peerless Spirit Artifacts—offensive, defensive, healing—capable of overwhelming sword cultivators and body cultivators of the same level.

Being an artifact refiner was only tough in the early stages. Once they broke through, they became truly versatile, nearly unbeatable in any situation.

But those who reached such heights could be counted on one hand. All in all, in the world of cultivation, there was no distinction of status or title—only strength mattered. Weakness was the original sin.

“Hua Qiuxin, I’ll say it one more time—get out here,” the Sect Master of Crimson Sky Sect said, his smile fading slightly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, wisps of white mist drifted across the sky. Moments later, several figures in white appeared before the crowd.

Shang Liu bowed slightly. “Sect Master.”

Only then did everyone get a clear look at the Sect Master of Azure Profound Sect. Her features were sharp and commanding. She stood atop a silver kite, a spinning compass floating in her hand. Her sleeves fluttered in the wind, and though rain fell around her, not a single drop touched her.

Several Elders stood behind Hua Qiuxin, one of them with a head of white hair. Lian Mu recognized him—he was Ying You’s master.

“If I didn’t use a little force, would you have come out?” Hua Qiuxin said coldly from above. “Yin Chongyang, are you tired of living? You dare let something go wrong in the Illusion Realm of the Immortal Sect Grand Competition?”

She came in swinging, her harsh words catching everyone off guard.

Yin Chongyang replied, “I’ve explained the Illusion Realm incident many times. It was caused by the Feihong Sword Spirit. If Azure Profound Sect keeps pressing the issue, I won’t mind reshaping the Vermilion Bird Southern Ridge.”

He wasn’t bluffing. Among body cultivators of this era, he ranked in the top three. Shen Minglu, the Sect Master of Clear Thought Sect, could move mountains and fill seas. Yin Chongyang, with a single punch, could flatten peaks and reverse rivers.

But the Sect Master of Azure Profound Sect was also known for her temper. With the two of them facing off, everyone began to wonder—were they about to clash right here?

Yet the expected confrontation didn’t happen. Hua Qiuxin let out a cold laugh and said, “You gathered all these disciples just to use them as your shield? Clever. Since the juniors are present, I’ll let the Illusion Realm matter slide—for now. I’ve come today to take my sect’s disciple back.”

Yin Chongyang chuckled. “According to the rules, disciples from each sect must remain at Crimson Sky Sect for half a month. Leaving early isn’t allowed.”

Lian Mu instantly understood Crimson Sky Sect’s true intention—they were stalling, trying to drag Ying You to his death.

Azure Profound Sect had come to take Ying You back for treatment. If they succeeded, Crimson Sky Sect would lose their advantage in the remaining rounds of the Illusion Realm.

After all, this year, Crimson Sky Sect was aiming for first place in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition.

They’d never taken first before, and now that they had a chance, they were pulling every trick they could. If they could take out even one competitor, they would.

Hua Qiuxin said, “And if I insist on taking him today?”

Yin Chongyang replied, “It’s not impossible. But that wouldn’t be fair to the other sects. If you want to leave, then all disciples from the Four Great Sects must leave together.”

If the Azure Profound Sect were to leave on their own, it would essentially sever ties with the other three sects. The Sect Master of the Crimson Sky Sect had clearly calculated this well—if all Four Great Sects departed together, the Azure Profound Sect would be forced to stay. The more people involved, the more chaotic things became, and any slight disturbance would quickly be noticed by outsiders.

This move, from start to finish, was meant to put the Azure Profound Sect in a difficult position.

Sure enough, Hua Qiuxin fell silent for a moment, then tilted her head slightly as the white-haired Elder behind her leaned in and whispered a few words.

Hua Qiuxin said, “Then we’ll all leave together—not a single one left behind. That way, certain people won’t have anything to gossip about behind our backs.”

Yin Chongyang, as if he had expected her to agree, remained unfazed. “Seems like you really care about that disciple. Still, no one could’ve predicted someone would break into the Heart Realm Trial. Let’s just hope that person forgets what they saw in there sooner rather than later.”

Lian Mu, suddenly called out: “…”

He’s definitely doing this on purpose, isn’t he?

At the mention of that, Hua Qiuxin’s gaze sharpened instantly. Her eyes swept over the gathered disciples below, finally landing on the group from the Returning Immortal Sect.

There was no doubt—before the Azure Profound Sect’s Sect Master arrived, she must have already received word. In one glance, she locked onto Lian Mu.

Lian Mu stared right back, openly and without flinching, even blinking at her.

Hua Qiuxin withdrew her gaze without a word, then led a group of Azure Profound Sect Elders into the Crimson Sky Sect to retrieve their people.

“My young friends,” Yin Chongyang said with a beaming smile, “I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay at the Crimson Sky Sect much longer. Sect Master Hua wants you to depart immediately for Vermilion Bird South. Go pack your things. If you’ve taken a liking to Yinghui Island, you’re welcome to visit again anytime after the Immortal Sect Grand Competition.”

Upon hearing this, the disciples from the other three sects fell silent: “…”

Visit again? No thanks.

With Crimson Sky Sect’s open-air dining hall and their peculiar way of doing things, no one was eager for a second visit.