Zhang Yan contemplated briefly. Although Huang Shouhe certainly wouldn’t dare replace the lower-grade Cave Mansion with another to deceive him, the ease with which Huang handed over a Blessed Land surely had reasons unknown to him. Still, he chose not to delve too deeply. Cultivation was never a smooth road; a few twists and turns were nothing to fret about.
After Zhang Yan bid farewell and left, Huang Shouhe let out a few mocking laughs, with a face full of smugness as he headed to the rear hall. Yet there, he saw an old Daoist walking toward him. Startled, Huang imdiately composed himself and offered a respectful bow, saying, "Junior Master Wu."
The elderly Daoist was none other than Wu Yu, the Pavilion Master of Yue Tian Pavilion. Upon seeing Huang Shouhe, he lightly nodded and asked, "That one by the na of Zhang Yan ca today?"
"Yes, he ca."
"Hmm, which grade of Cave Mansion did you assign him?"
"He is a Lower Court entry-level disciple, so I followed convention and granted him a Blessed Land."
Wu Yu raised his eyelids slightly and asked again, "Which Blessed Land?"
Huang Shouhe hesitated montarily, then lowered his voice, saying, "The one on Spiritual Paper Island."
Wu Yu frowned and said, "You granted him that torturous place of golden wind and fierce fire?"
Huang Shouhe hurriedly replied, "Though I explained the reasons, that man is arrogant and rebellious. He ignored my advice, thinking I was rely bluffing. Thus, I could only agree to let him have it. This cannot be blad on ."
Wu Yu gave him a few glances and sighed, "Be wise in what you do." He shook his head and walked away without another word.
Before leaving, he eyed Huang Shouhe coldly, seeing Huang still smug and unaware of his folly. Wu Yu couldn’t help but let out a sneering laugh. Zhang Yan had barely entered the Upper Court yet had already received a female attendant from Master Sun himself. While Master Sun seldom interfered in trivial matters, there was undoubtedly a chance he intended to use Zhang Yan as a Wayfinding Stone. Getting involved in the conflict between disciples and noble families was no easy endeavor—couldn’t Huang see that many stewards were desperate to avoid it? Yet here Huang was, eager to ingratiate himself with the Wang Family. He’d better be careful not to end up crushed to pieces with no burial ground!
Zhang Yan, accompanied by a guiding Deacon Daoist boy, exited Yue Tian Pavilion and saw Die’er waiting outside for him. Zhang Yan instructed her, "Go inform Lady Tang that I have chosen a Blessed Land."
"A Blessed Land?" Die’er’s eyes lit up with joy as she asked, "May I know where it is? I’ll tell Yan Lady right away. We have a flying boat, so we will join you soon."
Zhang Yan said, "That works. The location is on the southwestern Spiritual Paper Island."
Die’er gasped, covering her mouth, "Spiritual Paper Island?"
"Hmm? Is there sothing wrong?"
Die’er exclaid urgently, "Young Master, Spiritual Paper Island’s spiritual chanism is oppressive, with gold and fire energies rampant and harsh. It’s not a spirit land for cultivation but truly a place of death and despair!" She added with a hint of complaint, "Young Master, Yan Lady resides in the Jade Flower Cave Heaven with an Embroidered Immortal Robe at her command. She cannot endure hardship as you can. Why not choose another place instead?"
Zhang Yan frowned, his voice cold as he said, "Is your mistress seeking to cultivate and ascend to immortality or to enter a palace as a queen? On the path of the Great Dao, only resolute progress, the cutting through of thorns, and bitter trials lead the way forward—not comfort, luxury, or prosperity. If she is unwilling to follow , she need not co."
With that, he flicked his sleeve, boarded the Daoist boy’s flying boat, and soared away.
Die’er was left furious and flustered, stamping her feet in frustration, yet she had no choice but to return to report.
Soon, Tang Yan learned of the news but remained silently contemplative for a long ti.
Ling’er approached with so concern in her expression, saying, "Yan Lady, who would have thought this Zhang Yan to know the Upper Court’s ways so well, leaving us no room to extricate ourselves? That Steward Huang is truly despicable—to even offer up such a treacherous land. Aren’t we all destined to suffer alongside him now?"
Tang Yan parted her lips slightly and said, "It doesn’t matter. We’ll bear it for a few months. Zhang Yan does have so abilities; otherwise, he wouldn’t have beco a Lower Court entry-level disciple. Still, his ridian manifestation is in the form of mist. Let’s see how he attempts cultivation in a Cave Mansion of golden wind and fierce fire. Three months later when the Immortal Master inspects cultivation progress, if he still hasn’t improved, Wang Lang will erge from his retreat in six months. Dealing with Zhang Yan would be effortless then. In the anti, just be cautious and avoid letting Zhang Yan catch hold of any pretext that might allow him to retaliate against us."
Ling’er cautiously suggested, "Why not let Yan Lady speak frankly with Zhang Yan and make him realize the situation?"
Tang Yan shook her head and said, "Master Sun’s gift cannot be treated as a ga. If Zhang Yan is incapable of supporting us, the Immortal Master likely wouldn’t concern himself. However, should we act on our own initiative, do you truly think Master Sun wouldn’t kill us?"
Ling’er shivered in fear and dared not dwell further on the topic. After so thought, she attempted to console Tang Yan, saying, "Wang Lang is highly gifted, having practiced with Jade Liquid and tempered his bones since birth. He began cultivating at age nine and is now eleven years in, already reaching the Second Realm within the Ming Qi Stage. Furthermore, he hails from the Hao Pu Wang Family. Recently, he beca a disciple of Immortal Du De, and his prospects are boundless. Moreover, his affection for Yan Lady runs deep; he surely wouldn’t let you down."
Tang Yan nodded with a sigh, saying, "Let’s hope so."
By now, Zhang Yan had already ascended above Spiritual Paper Island aboard the flying boat. The Daoist boy driving the vessel pointed below, saying, "Senior Brother, the Cave Mansion is atop that mountain peak."
Before Zhang Yan could survey the scene closely, he felt a wave of oppressive Evil Qi rushing toward him. Squinting his eyes briefly, he opened them again and saw the island’s center shrouded in steam and rolling clouds. The tallest peak was a barren cone resembling a volcanic crater, while surrounding the island were towering ancient trees and spiritual birds and beasts bounding freely, filling the air with a thriving vitality.
From a cultivator’s perspective, the island’s spiritual energy soared sky-high, shooting like swords and rainbows and swirling like fiery dances. The entire island seed gripped in golden-red hues of energy flas. The Heaven and Earth Essence Qi here was indeed overly abundant.
The Cave Mansion assigned by Huang Shouhe was undeniably a place of cultivation, but excessiveness often brought peril. This Cave Mansion, for instance, was plagued daily during the tis of Mao, Wu, and Shen hours with golden wind and fierce fire, capable of boiling veins, scorching ridians, cutting bones, and scraping skin. The spiritual chanism was too domineering, and staying here for prolonged cultivation risked foundational harm.
The noble family disciples cultivating within Mingcang Sect rarely had ridian manifestations tied to gold or fire attributes. Even when they did, they typically occupied Cave Mansions with gentler spiritual chanisms. This particular mansion had remained unclaid for years—no one dared take it.
The flying boat descended slowly. The Daoist boy seed unwilling to stay too long in such a place, hurriedly dropping Zhang Yan off, spouting a few reminders, and then swiftly departing.
With his feet firmly planted, Zhang Yan carefully sensed the spiritual chanism surrounding him. Instead of dismay, a hint of joy flickered across his face. His copy of the Taiyin Golden Book required refinent through golden wind, fierce fire, golden thunder, and Electric Slaughter Gang Qi to temper his True Essence and produce Qian Ling Gold Qi. This Cave Mansion happened to be a perfect match, sparing him from searching high and low.
What others deed a place of death and despair, he considered a genuine Cave Heaven Blessed Land. Looking up to the skies, he laughed aloud, saying, "As they say, ’One person’s poison, another’s redy.’ Nothing could exemplify that better than this!"
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