Chapter 128: Aftermath

Three days after the wedding, Zi Wuji sent someone to deliver the key to the Purple Mansion's library.

It was not a physical key, but a Jade Slip containing a catalog of all the Cultivation Technique and secret arts of the Purple Mansion, ranging from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul, and from thunder techniques to Formation, having everything one could need.

Su Yun flipped through it and tossed it to Valley Master Su Yao. "You take a look first; keep what is useful and put away what is not."

Valley Master Su Yao took the Jade Slip, probed it with her Divine Sense, and her expression changed slightly.

The Purple Mansion's collection was even richer than she had anticipated; there were over a dozen Cultivation Technique for the Nascent Soul Stage alone, some of which were ancient secret arts that had long been lost.

"Master, these Cultivation Technique are priceless. Are you sure you don't want to keep them for yourself?"

Su Yun shook his head. "Cultivation Technique are meant for people to practice. I cannot practice them all by myself, so it is better to give them to you. If you become stronger, I become stronger."

Valley Master Su Yao was silent for a moment, then nodded. She understood the Master's meaning.

The spiritual power fed back through those Enslavement cultivation methods was the true source of the Master's power.

No matter how good a Cultivation Technique is, it is useless if not practiced. And if they practice it, it is equivalent to the Master practicing it.

In the days that followed, Qinghe City became busy.

Valley Master Su Yao led the Disciple of Medicine King Valley to begin large-scale Alchemy, Fairy Ziyun was responsible for allocating the Spiritual Plant, and Zhou Ruoling assisted from the side.

The three of them worked with tacit understanding, refining hundreds of bottles of Medicinal Pill every day, ranging from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage.

Lie Yunyan led the Disciple of Tianhuo Sect to temper the Meridians for those female Golden Core cultivators, exhausting themselves every day, but the results were remarkable.

In just half a month, more than a dozen Peak Golden Core Stage cultivators achieved a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage.

Fairy Jianyun led the female cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion to be responsible for the defense of Qinghe City.

She set up a Heavenly Sword Formation around the outskirts of the city, with thirty-six Flying Sword suspended above the city walls, operating day and night.

This Formation could withstand a full-strength blow from a Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator; it was Fairy Jianyun's trump card.

Zhou Yuanshuang led people to continue clearing out the remaining forces of Yuxu Palace.

Those male cultivators were all sent to the Southern Region, and female cultivators who were willing to stay remained, while those who were unwilling were given enough Spirit Stone to leave.

Most of the female cultivators chose to stay. They had heard that following Su Yun could help them break through their Bottleneck, so who would want to return to that lifeless Yuxu Palace?

Zi Ling also stayed in Qinghe City. She practiced with Zhou Ruoyun every day, and the two girls of similar age soon became close.

Zhou Ruoyun taught her how to make snacks, and she taught Zhou Ruoyun thunder techniques; their days passed peacefully and comfortably.

Zi Wuji occasionally came to see his daughter, and seeing the smiles on Zi Ling's face, he felt a mix of emotions in his heart.

He had lived for several hundred years, and for the first time, he felt that he might have done something right.

That evening, Su Yun was drinking tea in the courtyard when Hu Meiniang walked in from outside. "Master, there is news from Junior Martial Uncle Liu."

Su Yun put down his teacup. "Speak."

Hu Meiniang said: "The Immortal Alliance has officially dissolved. The Seven Great Immortal Sects have each dispersed; the remaining Disciple of Yuxu Palace have all gone to the Southern Region, and the Heavenly Sword Pavilion and Hehuan Sect have merged into Qinghe City. The remaining four immortal sects have also expressed their willingness to submit and will pay tribute on time every year. The Central Region now bears the name Su."

Su Yun nodded after hearing this. There was no surprise, nor was there any unexpectedness. All of this was within his expectations.

Hu Meiniang looked at him, wanting to say something but hesitating. Su Yun looked up. "Is there anything else?"

Hu Meiniang bit her lip. "Master, this subordinate has a question to ask."

Su Yun hummed in acknowledgment. Hu Meiniang said: "What does the Master want to do next? The Central Region is already yours, and no one in the Southern Region dares to provoke you. Do you still have any goals?"

Su Yun was silent for a moment.

He looked up at the sky. The sun was setting, and the horizon was dyed a golden red.

In the distance, mountains stretched on, endless. "Do you know how big this world is?" Hu Meiniang was stunned for a moment. "This subordinate does not know."

Su Yun said: "I don't know either. But I know that the Central Region is only a very small part of it. To the north is the Northern Wilderness, to the west is the Western Region, and to the east is the Eastern Sea. In those places, there are old monsters at the Soul Transformation Stage, powerful beings at the Body Integration Stage, and even legends at the Undergoing Tribulation Stage."

Hu Meiniang's expression changed slightly. "Does the Master want to go to those places?"

Su Yun smiled. "Not now. I am too weak; going there would be suicide." He paused and continued: "We will talk about it after I achieve a Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Stage."

Hu Meiniang breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that the Master would run to those dangerous places right now.

A Mid Nascent Soul Stage cultivator going to the Northern Wilderness was no different from seeking death.

Su Yun saw through her thoughts and ruffled her hair. "Rest assured, I am not that stupid." Hu Meiniang blushed and leaned into his arms.

Days passed by. The scale of Qinghe City grew larger and larger, transforming from a small city into a center covering an area of a thousand miles.

Every day, Loose Cultivator came by reputation, wanting to join Su Yun's forces.

No men; women stay. This was Su Yun's rule, and it had never changed.

Those newly arrived female cultivators went through layers of screening; those with good Aptitude stayed, and those with average Aptitude were given enough travel expenses to leave. Even so, in just one month, Qinghe City had over three hundred more female cultivators.

Golden Core Stage cultivators made up the majority, and there were many Foundation Establishment Stage ones as well; occasionally, a few Loose Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage also came by reputation.

Su Yun accepted everyone who came. He personally enlightened every newly arrived female cultivator.

Golden light flashed, and they became his people. Inside his Dantian, the spiritual power fed back poured in continuously.

His cultivation level climbed steadily, getting closer and closer to the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

That day, Valley Master Su Yao came to find him. "Master, I have achieved a Breakthrough."

Su Yun looked up. The energy around Valley Master Su Yao was flowing, more than twice as deep as before. Peak Nascent Soul Stage. She had been stuck at that Bottleneck for three hundred years, but after following Su Yun for less than two months, she had achieved a Breakthrough.

Su Yun nodded. "How do you feel?"

Valley Master Su Yao took a deep breath. "I feel very good. Give me another half a year, and I am confident in attempting a Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Stage."

Su Yun raised an eyebrow. "Soul Transformation Stage?"

Valley Master Su Yao nodded. "Medicine King Valley has an ancient secret method called the Soul Transformation Stage Pill Formula. It requires ninety-nine types of Spirit Medicine, most of which I have already collected; I am only missing the last three."

Su Yun asked which three.

Valley Master Su Yao said: "ten-thousand-year ganoderma, nine-turn dragon saliva, and the sap of sky thunder bamboo. Although ten-thousand-year ganoderma and nine-turn dragon saliva are precious, they can always be bought by spending some Spirit Stone. The sky thunder bamboo is difficult. This type of Spirit Medicine only grows on the edge of the Thunder Pool in the Northern Wilderness, guarded by Soul Transformation Stage thunder beasts; ordinary people cannot get it at all."

Su Yun was silent for a moment. "The Northern Wilderness."

Valley Master Su Yao nodded. "Only there."

Su Yun thought for a while. "When I achieve a Breakthrough to the Late Nascent Soul Stage, I will make a trip there."

Valley Master Su Yao's expression changed. "Master, the Northern Wilderness is too dangerous. The Soul Transformation Stage thunder beast, and your current cultivation level—"

Su Yun raised his hand to interrupt her. "That is why I said I would go after the Breakthrough."

Valley Master Su Yao opened her mouth but did not speak again. She knew the Master's character; once he had decided on something, no one could persuade him otherwise.

That night, Su Yun gathered everyone. The courtyard was full of people, from Peak Nascent Soul Stage to Early Stage Foundation Establishment, a dense crowd.

Su Yun stood on the steps, his gaze sweeping over them. "I will be in seclusion for a period of time. While I am away, Valley Master Su Yao will manage the affairs of Qinghe City, Fairy Jianyun will be responsible for defense, and Zhou Yuanshuang will keep an eye on the outside. If there are matters that cannot be resolved, wait until I come out."

Everyone agreed in unison.

Su Yun looked at Valley Master Su Yao. "We will discuss the Soul Transformation Stage Pill when I come out."

Valley Master Su Yao nodded.

Su Yun turned and walked into the study, closing the door. He sat down on the meditation cushion and closed his eyes. Inside his Dantian, the Nascent Soul sat quietly, nine-colored light flowing around it. He was just one last step away from the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

For this step, the spiritual power fed back was enough. All he needed to do was wait. Wait for that Enslavement cultivation, wait for the spiritual power to gather, and wait for that barrier to be broken through.

He was not in a hurry. Time was on his side.