Chapter 397 I Established a Sect in the Cultivation World (26)
Inside the Starry Secret Box, Jing Bai squatted in front of Zhou Jue, his golden vertical pupils filled with worry.
She poked Zhou Jue's cheek with her little hand, but Zhou Jue didn't react; he was as still as an old monk in deep meditation.
Jingbai dared not disturb him any longer, so he sat to the side, idly pulling weeds, occasionally glancing up at Zhou Tian. When he got really bored, he would transform back into his original form and lie down next to Zhou Jue to cultivate.
She could sense that Zhou Jue's aura was undergoing a strange change, sometimes as obscure as an abyss, and sometimes as vibrant as the rising sun.
Zhou Jue's consciousness was currently immersed in an ocean composed of countless runes.
Array, pill, weapon, talisman.
These are the four core elements of the "Book of All Things".
Each path contains the supreme method from beginner to direct path to the Great Dao.
She witnessed the derivation process of countless ancient elixir formulas, from the proportions of medicinal herbs to the control of the heat, every detail was crystal clear.
She saw how the most ordinary iron could be forged into a blade capable of severing laws through billions of stacked runes.
She saw the formation's structure; it was no longer a simple outline of patterns, but rather a direct mobilization of the laws of heaven and earth, setting up an unparalleled formation capable of being formed and destroyed in an instant.
This knowledge, along with what she had previously learned from the system, the old tree senior, and the listening sea beast senior, corroborated and integrated with each other.
Many things that were previously obscure and difficult to understand are now suddenly clear.
Her mastery of formations and alchemy skills are rising at an alarming rate.
Meanwhile, outside...
Cloud City was in complete chaos.
The news of the collapse of the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Palace secret realm and the theft of its inheritance by a mysterious female cultivator spread like wildfire throughout the entire immortal city.
"Have you heard? That female cultivator is a Nascent Soul stage expert!"
"That's not all! I heard that she single-handedly outmaneuvered three Nascent Soul stage elders of the same level!"
"Really? That's amazing?"
"How could this be fake! More than a hundred people witnessed it outside the secret realm! That female cultivator pretended to be a Golden Core cultivator, deceiving everyone. In the end, when the secret realm collapsed, she ran away with the inheritance right in front of everyone!"
"What do you mean by this inheritance?"
"Who knows? But in the past, they would inherit the mantle of a great master, or have magical artifacts, spirit stones and other treasures. This time, that female cultivator ran away too fast, without revealing any information."
Restaurants, teahouses, markets... everywhere was talking about this.
The versions of the story have become increasingly outrageous.
Some say the female cultivator is the reincarnation of an ancient powerful being, some say she is a saintess sent out by a hidden sect for training, and some even say she is not human at all, but the transformed guardian spirit of the secret realm.
The three Nascent Soul cultivators who lost track of Zhou Jue even offered an exorbitant reward.
"A reward of 100,000 high-grade spirit stones will be given to anyone who provides clues about the female cultivator!"
"A reward of 10,000 top-grade spirit stones will be given to anyone who can confirm their identity and origin!"
"Whoever captures it will be rewarded with 500,000 high-grade spirit stones, a Heaven-rank cultivation technique, and a spirit treasure!"
A generous reward will surely attract brave men.
The entire Cloud City, and even all the surrounding forces, were mobilized. Countless cultivators flooded the streets, carrying all sorts of portraits, and questioned people everywhere.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait and cooperate with the inspection."
"Girl, take off your veil."
"Fairy, please leave a trace of your breath to cooperate with the examination."
In an instant, the city was filled with unease, and any female cultivator traveling alone became a prime suspect.
In the city lord's palace.
A middle-aged man dressed in a purple-gold robe with a dignified face was listening to his subordinate's report.
"Lord of the city, we still haven't found her. Those three seniors have turned the city upside down, leaving no stone unturned, but the female cultivator seems to have vanished into thin air."
The middle-aged man's brows were furrowed.
He is the city lord of Cloud City, a genuine eighth-level Nascent Soul cultivator.
"How could a living person, especially one at the Nascent Soul stage, just disappear like that?"
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"Could she have already left the city?" the subordinate asked cautiously.
"impossible."
The city lord shook his head.
"The city gate array has been open the whole time. Unless she has a top-level spatial magic treasure that can hide from the 'Heavenly Mirror Array', there is absolutely no way she could leave quietly."
"Then...could she have used some top-tier disguise technique or concealment skill?"
"Possibly."
The city lord stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the still bustling, yet turbulent, immortal city below.
"Pass on my order: Didn't Tianbao Pavilion still have a group of people's identity jade tokens being held captive at their auction? Investigate them one by one!"
"yes!"
"Also, notify the manager of Ziyun Pavilion to come see me."
"Ah? City Lord, the Purple Cloud Pavilion is backed by the Southern Region..."
"Just go when I tell you to, stop talking nonsense!"
Yes! Yes!
His men scrambled out of the room.
A glint of light flashed in the city lord's eyes.
He was equally determined to inherit the legacy of the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Palace.
Just because others can't find it doesn't mean the city lord's mansion can't find it.
As long as that person is still in Cloud City, there will definitely be some clues.
Meanwhile, in the secret chamber of Ziyun Pavilion.
The old man in the late Nascent Soul stage who had traded with Zhou Jue was now as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
"How could it be her? Why her of all people?"
He paced back and forth, his forehead soaked with cold sweat that had soaked his collar.
He never dreamed that the mysterious "senior" who exchanged the token for the Heavenly Rank cultivation technique and the Breakthrough Pill a few days ago was actually the "treasure-stealing female demon" who was now wanted throughout the city.
What if the City Lord's Mansion investigates him? How can he explain it? Even though it has nothing to do with them, will the City Lord's Mansion take their anger out on him?
"No...no...we have to think of a way..."
The old man gritted his teeth, took out a communication jade slip engraved with intricate cloud patterns from his storage ring, and infused it with spiritual power. The jade slip flashed with light, and a phantom appeared in front of him.
The old man knelt down respectfully: "Disciple greets Sect Master!"
Amidst the light and shadow, a dignified voice rang out: "What's the matter that you're so panicked?"
"Sect Master! Something terrible has happened!"
The old man recounted everything that had happened in Cloud City, including his transaction with Zhou Jue, in detail and without concealing anything.
He said in a trembling voice, "This disciple is worried that the City Lord's Mansion will eventually find out about our Ziyun Pavilion. That female cultivator's background is too mysterious. If we get involved, it may be detrimental to our sect!"
There was a long silence on the other end of the jade slip, as if they were digesting this astonishing news.
A moment later, the authoritative voice rang out again, but this time it carried an uncontrollable excitement and solemnity: "...Are you sure that the person who received the inheritance is the one you made the deal with?"
"Absolutely true! The female cultivator's aura hasn't changed!"
"Good...good...good!" The sect leader said "good" three times in a row, his excitement almost overflowing: "You did a great job! This matter must not be made public, and not a single word must be revealed to outsiders! If the city lord's mansion comes to investigate, you should say that the person who made the transaction that day was wearing a black robe and his aura was concealed, and that you knew nothing. They would not dare to touch our Purple Cloud Pavilion!"
The old man was taken aback, not understanding why the sect leader reacted this way.
The sect leader continued in an unquestionable tone, "From this moment on, utilize all the resources of the Purple Cloud Pavilion in the Eastern Continent, not to track her down, but to protect her secretly! At all costs, ensure her safety and clear all obstacles for her! If there is any news about her, report to me immediately!"
"Sect Master, why is this?"
Upon hearing this, the sect leader laughed and said, "A bunch of fools! Since the secret realm has collapsed, the inheritance must have been obtained by that female cultivator. Since she showed a cultivation level of Nascent Soul at that time, her cultivation level will only be higher when she reappears. Making enemies for nothing is not as worthwhile as winning her over."
"Remember, we can only try to win people over amicably; we must never annoy them!"
"Yes! This disciple will remember."
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