"Thank you, Lord Xiao," Chu Ming bowed and expressed his gratitude.
"What are you thanking for? You were chosen by my father and Uncle Shen. Helping you is my duty."
Xiao Wen waved his hand and then left.
...
Late at night.
Two figures moved through the moonlight and soon arrived at the small courtyard where Chu Ming resided.
"Clan Leader." The two n bowed in salute.
They were none other than Feeng Zhi and Feeng Yi, elders of the ridian Unlocking Realm from the Wind Spirit Race, who had hurried over upon receiving a ssage from Chu Ming.
"Rise, did you bring the Purple Palace Round Wood?" Chu Ming asked in a low voice.
"Clan Leader, we brought it," Feeng Zhi replied, bringing out five segnts of the purple wood.
Chu Ming gently waved his sleeve and collected them all.
"I need you to handle sothing."
"Please instruct us, Clan Leader."
"To the west of Pingzhong County, investigate the Great Derivation Sect, a Martial Arts Sect."
"Understood."
The two figures slipped back into the darkness and vanished from the courtyard.
Chu Ming checked the ti, put away the purple wood, and then disappeared.
Reappearing, he was already less than half a mile away from the granary in the eastern city of Pingzhong County.
He hid in the shadows, taking out the Purple Palace Round Wood and the Primordial Golden Sword.
The golden sword danced around the purple wood, interweaving a golden arc, and the purple wood soon transford from ordinary lumber into a Purple Sandalwood Sculpture.
Though he had morized the overall appearance and every detail of the Purple Sandalwood Sculpture, the first sculpture was still sowhat rough.
Without pausing, he took out the second segnt of purple wood and once again controlled the primordial artifact for carving.
With the experience from the first, the second sculpture was quite similar.
Unfortunately, it still couldn’t be a perfect replica.
He continued with the carving of the third segnt of purple wood.
A mont later.
"Done."
The third sculpture was identical to the one Xiao Wen had obtained.
After putting away this purple wood sculpture, he continued carving another one.
Soon, another Purple Sandalwood Sculpture was completed.
Chu Ming carefully stored the two sculptures yet remained at the spot.
He was there not only to investigate the large granary but also to wait for The dicine Maniac.
Before setting out, he had instructed The dicine Maniac to track Threads of Nourishing Essence and Red Light Treasure Water. If all went according to plan, The dicine Maniac should have already arrived here and might also know what was going on with the batch of scorched grain and straw.
Inside the large granary, the Blood Evil Sect was secretly inserting Threads of Nourishing Essence and Red Light Treasure Water into the grain and straw.
Every grain cart had part of its load hidden in the very center of the straw, and the corresponding weight of straw was removed, showing the elaborate efforts of the Blood Evil Sect.
About half a quarter of an hour later, the Sword Gourd Spirit detected a figure.
Chu Ming’s figure instantly vanished, silently appearing behind the figure.
"Yao Qi."
Hmm?!
The dicine Maniac, just arriving, was startled, but upon recognizing the voice, he quickly turned and saluted, "Benefactor."
"No need for formalities."
"Benefactor, the Blood Evil Sect painstakingly smuggled Threads of Nourishing Essence and Red Light Treasure Water from Xirong County to Pingzhong County, and now they’re hiding these materials in the grain and straw... they..."
The dicine Maniac was puzzled by the Blood Evil Sect’s actions, unaware that the grain and straw from this granary were ant for the Tiger Armor Army.
"Let ask you, do you know about the small granary to the north, piled with a lot of burned grain and straw?" Chu Ming didn’t explain further.
"Those grains? It was the Great Derivation Sect in Pingzhong County that set them on fire."
"The Great Derivation Sect?" Chu Ming was intrigued.
"Yes, the Commandery Mansion sent troops to destroy the Great Derivation Sect, and thus they turned against the Commandery Mansion in Pingzhong County."
"Do you know why the Commandery Mansion in Pingzhong County wanted to destroy the Great Derivation Sect?"
"Rumors say it was because the Great Derivation Sect was in collusion with the Blood Evil Sect, leading to its destruction, but I’ve heard sothing different."
"Speak."
"When the Great Derivation Sect was setting the grain afire, I happened to be hiding nearby and overheard the disciples say that the real reason for their destruction was related to their patriarch."
"You must be aware of a recently erged faction, right?"
"The Martial Immortal Alliance."
"Indeed. It is said that behind the Martial Immortal Alliance lies the Imperial Court, which I previously didn’t believe, but through the affairs of the Great Derivation Sect, I suspect there’s a ninety percent chance the Imperial Court is involved."
"The Martial Immortal Alliance, using Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivation techniques as a lure, recruiting masters from across the land, carries impure motives and uses thods that are less than reputable."
"The Great Derivation Sect’s patriarch, Lix Yan, a strong ridian Unlocking Realm late-stage practitioner, would certainly be a target for the Martial Immortal Alliance."
"I’ve crossed paths with Lix Yan several tis. He was wholly devoted to martial arts with a decent talent, reaching the ridian Unlocking Realm in just fifty years."
"Eventually, he established a Martial Arts Hall in the County City of Pingzhong County, gained considerable wealth, occupied a mountain peak, and founded the Great Derivation Sect, a notably renowned Martial Arts Sect in Pingzhong County."
"He acted with uprightness, never bullying the weak, and strictly forbade his disciples from engaging in such acts, expelling those who violated the code and abolishing their Qi Blood."
"The Great Derivation Sect maintained favorable relations with the Commandery Mansion in Pingzhong County and had assisted them multiple tis in suppressing bandits."
"To say Lix Yan collaborated with the Blood Evil Sect, I find it hard to believe."
"If I’m not mistaken, the Great Derivation Sect’s downfall was likely because Lix Yan refused to join the Martial Immortal Alliance."
"Of course, that’s just my speculation. The exact reason is probably known only to Lix Yan himself."
The dicine Maniac finished, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.
Chu Ming, observing The dicine Maniac, seed to understand, "You’ve also received an invitation from the Martial Immortal Alliance, haven’t you?"
"I..."
"After this matter, take Jiaang Jing, Jiaang Yan, and Shen Yi and leave Xirong County."
If the Great Derivation Sect’s fate was tied to the Martial Immortal Alliance, then The dicine Maniac could no longer remain in Xirong County. Otherwise, he might end up like the Great Derivation Sect.
"Leave Xirong County?"
The dicine Maniac felt a tightening in his heart, but knowing the stakes between the unknown Martial Immortal Alliance and his benefactor, he understood what choice to make.
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