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After a year of battles, Qi Yuan's strength had become widely recognized among the disciples of the six sects. As word of his achievements spread, his reputation grew considerably.
When Qi Yuan returned with a significant number of magic identity tokens and evidence of his accomplishments, he silenced many doubters, solidifying his status. A powerful figure had emerged from Huangfeng Valley.
Qi Yuan smiled and greeted his peers before heading into the exchange tent, where he encountered Chen Qiaoqian's fifth uncle, a fair-skinned, rotund man who managed the merit exchange.
"Brother Chen, I'm here to exchange for a set of Meteor Flying Needle magic weapons," Qi Yuan said.
"Hey, what brings Brother Qi here? The first thing he says is to exchange magic weapons," Fatty Chen replied with a grin.
The Chen family had been closely observing Qi Yuan. A year earlier, they had received a letter from Hong Fu, a Jindan-stage cultivator, instructing them to postpone Chen Qiaoqian's marriage. The letter provided no further details, leaving the Chen family puzzled. When they learned that Qi Yuan had connections with not only Qiaoqian but also another woman linked to Hong Fu, their confusion deepened.
Concerned about Qi Yuan's growing influence, the Chen family tasked Fatty Chen with watching Qi Yuan closely. Over the past year, Fatty Chen had reported Qi Yuan's increasing achievements, which greatly impressed the Chen family. With Qi Yuan's outstanding performance and cultivation in the late Foundation Establishment stage, it seemed highly likely he would eventually form a golden core. The Chen family began to see Qi Yuan as a valuable connection for the future.
Qi Yuan handed over a special token and said, "You've done a lot for me. Bring me a few bottles of high-quality blood-recovering pills as well."
"Of course, Brother Qi. Please wait a moment."
Fatty Chen quickly retrieved the requested items. He returned shortly, placing a jade box and several bottles of pills on the table.
Qi Yuan inspected the pills first, taking in their fragrance and nodding with satisfaction. After years of experience, he could easily distinguish high-quality pills. He then opened the jade box to find a set of thirty-six fine needles that shimmered like stars. Each needle radiated the aura of a magic weapon.
Pleased, Qi Yuan collected his items, exchanged a few words with Fatty Chen, and left.
Back at his tent, Qi Yuan immediately began practicing with the Meteor Needles. After marking them with his spiritual imprint, he inserted them into his Magic Harp. The harp's internal suction secured the needles in place. With a palm strike, Qi Yuan activated the harp, sending the Meteor Needles shooting out at incredible speed before returning to their slots.
The effort drained Qi Yuan's magic power entirely, leaving his meridians aching. Despite cultivating the Dayan Technique, which enhanced his spiritual consciousness, his body still protested from the strain. Clearly, the Meteor Needles were a powerful but taxing weapon, best reserved for dire situations before he reached the Jindan stage.
For the next two months, Qi Yuan dedicated himself to crafting blood-nourishing pills in preparation for condensing a blood lotus seed. After consuming eight full storage bags of pills, he finally succeeded in forming a blood lotus seed within his body. Though the process was costly, the result was worth it — the blood lotus seed carried the power of an early Jindan-stage attack, a valuable asset in a life-or-death moment.
One day, Qi Yuan received a letter from Han Li. When he read it, disbelief crossed his face. Han Li — the infamous figure known as the god of death — had invited him to join in a battle against the Emperor of Yue.
Emperor Yue possessed several powerful treasures, including the Xuanyin Sutra, the Blood Spirit Diamond, the Blood Condensation Five Elements Pill, and an incarnation technique. Among these, only the incomplete Xutian Map was of questionable value.
The Xutian Palace in the Chaos Star Sea required the Xutian Map as an entry pass, making it indispensable. Qi Yuan knew he needed more pieces of the map to gain entry.
He had already begun raising blood jade spiders using the Chaos Cauldron. Missing the opportunity to enter Xutian Palace without a complete map would be a terrible setback.
With a plan forming, Qi Yuan decided to seek out additional map fragments in the Chaos Star Sea. He intended to invite Master Hongfu and Nangong Wan to join him. With a few decades of cultivation, these two prodigies had strong potential to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. If they succeeded, they could protect him from threats like Ji Yin, Xuan Gu, and Man Hu Zi.
Relying on his own strength to face such powerful figures would be risky. With the Great Teleportation Order in hand, Qi Yuan could freely travel between Tiannan and the Chaos Star Sea. By trading rare resources, he could accumulate wealth, gain influence, and build power.
Control was crucial — Qi Yuan had many people to protect, and establishing his own force was essential. The Yue Kingdom, now heavily targeted by the six evil sects, was not safe for long.
His plan involved building influence in Tiannan through resource trade, supplying rare materials that were otherwise scarce. By winning favor with key figures like Nangong Wan, he could create a strong support network.
Despite having the Chaos Cauldron, Qi Yuan avoided producing pills or weapons openly. Drawing attention to himself as the source would be dangerous. Instead, by trading resources acquired in the Chaos Star Sea, he could build a safer and more sustainable path to power.
Qi Yuan packed his belongings and informed Nangong Wan, Master Hongfu, and Dong Xuaner of his plans. After leaving the front-line base, he set off toward the capital, determined to prepare for the challenges ahead.
(End Of Chapter)