Nameless Region Arc - Chapter Sixty-Nine: Emerging from Seclusion

Inside the small cabin of the Xingyan Sect, everything looked as if it had just been made. The dust-clearing formation had swept away every mote, leaving no trace of the passing decade.

On the bed, a young Daoist opened his eyes. His gaze was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, filled with endless mysteries, as if the laws of the world were evolving within them and eons streamed silently past. His dark pupils resembled enigmatic black holes, drawing in the soul with irresistible force.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, this sensation vanished like a mirage, leaving only a pair of unnaturally calm eyes, so still they seemed almost abnormal.

He coughed softly—he had not spoken for years, and for a moment, even the act of forming words felt unfamiliar.

“How many years has it been? It must have been a long time. Judging by the length of my beard, I must be at least twenty-five now; I can control my bodily development.”

Turning his spiritual sense inward, he smiled. “Seventh tier of Foundation Establishment. By now, Little Sun and Little Moon must have reached the Golden Core stage. How embarrassing!”

With that, he released his spiritual sense. His soul power surged outward with a force that swept past a hundred meters in an instant, already at the level of a Golden Core cultivator.

A kilometer... two kilometers... three... six... seven!

It finally stopped at seven kilometers, the range of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator’s spiritual sense—meaning his soul was as powerful as those who had reached the late Golden Core realm.

Is this the soul power of the Golden Core stage? Perhaps my plans can be altered, though that would be too risky. To become the master of this microcosm or to completely refine it—what a headache of a choice! Well, I’ll see how things change when the time comes.

After ten years of intense study, his mastery of formations had transformed, and his soul had grown unconsciously by leaps and bounds.

His soul now surpassed his physical cultivation by a whole major realm—enough to shock the entire cultivation world, even stir the great domains!

“The time is ripe. The great battle must begin!”

Rising, his joints crackled with sharp pops, and the air resounded with a succession of sonic booms.

He opened the cabin door, and from outside, thick, vibrant green leaves stretched inward—it was the blood-rising grass that had grown for ten years, now thriving even more under the spiritual energy of the Sect Leader’s Peak.

Stepping out, he dissolved the seclusion formation, and immediately a barrage of transmission talismans and spiritual messages flooded toward him—at least a hundred in total.

He swept his spiritual sense over them, absorbing all the messages, and shook his head with a wry smile. “What a pity. I wanted to go out and enjoy a spiritual meal, but it looks like that won’t be possible right now!”

Some messages were from Kong Xiaori and Kong Xiaoyue, others from Luo Tuan, Xu Yuan, Hua Yuanyuan, Xuan Qizi, Chen Yan, Li Li, Qiao Yixue, Ran Ziyu, and more. But most came from Xu Yuhan. She treated him like a diary, writing everything—her cultivation progress, alchemical attempts, amusing tales from the outside world, all sorts of trivialities.

“This girl seems to have fallen for me. But I’ll never be a suitable Dao companion for her—her intentions are misguided from the start.”

From these messages, he learned what had transpired over the past decade and understood that the situation at Xingyan Sect was now far from optimistic. Yet, this was exactly what he had hoped for—or rather, he was the very cause of the current predicament.

Gazing at the cabin, now buried beneath the blood-rising grass, he waved his hand, sending out two flying swords to harvest great bundles of the herb, which he stored away.

Just as he was about to leave the Sect Leader’s Peak on his sword, Xuan Qizi’s voice echoed in his mind: “Xuanhong, come to Xuanqi Hall.”

He smiled faintly. What was meant to come would always come; after a decade of seclusion, how could the Sect Leader not harbor suspicions?

Changing course, he arrived at the hall. Within, Xuan Qizi sat solemnly at the head. Sensing Xuanhong’s cultivation, a look of disappointment flickered across his eyes.

“Disciple Xuanhong greets Master.”

Xuan Qizi nodded. “Wait for the other elders to arrive.”

“Yes, Master.”

Soon, Elder Liu Xiang, Xu Yuan, Luo Tuan, Formation Hall Master Wan Huanbai, and fifteen other Golden Core elders entered, with Li Li and three others absent from the sect.

Mao Yishan, Xu Yuhan, Yi Xiaozhi, Ran Ziyu, and Jiang Ti arrived soon after. All were surprised to see Xuanhong, except Xu Yuhan, who was exuberant and rushed toward him for a hug, which he deftly avoided.

Xuan Qizi began, “Now that all are here, let us begin. Xuanhong, you have been in seclusion for ten years and three months. Now that you’ve emerged, what progress have you made?”

Xuanhong bowed and replied, “My aptitude is limited. Despite abundant resources, my cultivation remains at the seventh tier of Foundation Establishment. From Senior Sister Xu’s messages, I’ve learned of the sect’s current plight. With such meager strength, I’m afraid I offer little help. However, I do have some talent with formations and have now attained the rank of a second-grade formation master. I hope this may aid the sect.”

Xuan Qizi said, “There is no need to blame yourself. Cultivation is a matter of innate talent, not something for which you are at fault. But to become a second-grade formation master in just ten years shows your exceptional talent. Everyone has their strengths—making the best of yours is the mark of a true cultivator. Still, with war looming, you must strive to improve your cultivation. In the sect’s treasury are ten supreme spirit stones. Take three for your use.”

Before Xuanhong could thank him, Elder Liu Xiang interjected, “Senior brother, I don’t think that’s appropriate. As sect leader, you should treat all equally. You can’t dispense the sect’s treasures for personal reasons. If the day comes when we need those spirit stones in battle against the Corpse Sect, one man’s mistake could cost us all!”

Xuan Qizi snorted, “As the current sect leader, do I need your permission to use spirit stones? Mind your place, Elder Liu!”

Liu Xiang chuckled. “I dare not, but it is inappropriate. Your disciple has not brought any benefit to the sect, nor performed any sect missions in over ten years. How will those who have bled and toiled for the sect feel? This will affect your reputation if word spreads, don’t you think?”

All present could see the power struggle unfolding. Xuanhong knew it was time to speak, so he bowed and said, “The Elder speaks truthfully, Master need not be troubled on my behalf. As your disciple and a core disciple of Xingyan Sect, it is my duty to serve the sect. After this meeting, I will immediately report to the mission hall for a task.”

Liu Xiang smiled, “Nephew Xuan, do not resent me. I only act for your reputation’s sake.”

Xuan Qizi shot Liu Xiang a cold glance and said to Xuanhong, “Since you’ll be undertaking a mission and are unfamiliar with recent developments, let Mao Yishan and Ran Ziyu accompany you.”

“Yes, Master.”

Suddenly, Formation Hall Master Wan Huanbai spoke. “Xuanhong, you claim to be a second-grade formation master. Let me test you to see if your title is well-deserved.”

“Please, elder, set the challenge.”

Wan Huanbai nodded, stroked his long white beard, and with a wave of his whisk, a formation core appeared out of thin air, hovering above Xuanhong’s head and trapping him within a formation.

“This is a simple second-grade formation. Let’s see if you can break it within a quarter of an hour using your knowledge.”

Xuanhong closed his eyes, a flicker of mockery deep in his gaze. This so-called test was but a pretense—it was really to see whether his formations resembled those inside the World Pearl. If they did, it would confirm that he had spent the last decade plotting within the microcosm.

But they were doomed to be disappointed. He raised his hand, gathered spiritual energy at his fingertip, and drew a circle—a vortex—which touched the barrier of the formation.

“A Five Elements Trap Formation. This tests not only my formation skills but also my understanding of the elements. Though it’s only a second-grade trap, to break it requires profound knowledge of the five elements. If I break it too quickly, it will confirm their suspicions that I’ve been scheming in the microcosm.”

So, for the next quarter hour, Xuanhong employed the principles of the Eight Trigrams, using them as his method for breaking the formation. His soul power drained rapidly, sweat beading on his brow as if he were facing a tremendous challenge. Xu Yuhan watched anxiously, her fair hands clenched tightly.

As the quarter hour slipped by, Xuanhong opened his eyes with a look of frustration and resignation, his performance so convincing that even Xuan Qizi and Liu Xiang could detect no flaws.

“Disciple is inept. Ten years of painstaking study and I cannot even break a simple trap formation. I await my master’s punishment.”

Wan Huanbai waved his hand. “No need to blame yourself. It’s not a matter of talent—I failed to consider that a Five Elements Trap Formation tests elemental mastery. You are not yet thirty; how could you match an old fellow who has lived for centuries? Don’t be discouraged. Given another hour, you might well succeed. You have a solid foundation.”

Xuanhong nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Thank you for your praise, elder.”

Xuan Qizi and Wan Huanbai exchanged glances and, having satisfied themselves that Xuanhong posed no threat, Xuan Qizi addressed the six disciples before him.

“You six are the future pillars of Xingyan Sect. Out in the world, remember not to fight needlessly. The Corpse Sect disciples now possess not only vast stores of pills but also the techniques of the Ghost Sect. One-on-one, you are at a disadvantage—this is not your fault.

“There is no disgrace in outnumbering your foe. You are brothers and sisters; only unity can bring victory. The conflicts ahead will only grow in number and intensity. Xuanhong, you must quickly grow accustomed to this style of fighting and use your formation skills to aid your comrades. This is your duty as a core disciple. Now, all of you, you may leave. The elders and I have other matters to discuss.”

“Yes, Master.”