Tang Yanchang was an Elder of the Withered Demon Sect.

At the Late-stage of Foundation Establishment, he enjoyed a status within the Withered Demon Sect equal to that of an ordinary Elder at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, all thanks to a highly compatible bloodline transplant.

Influenced by his bloodline, he was especially sensitive to various forms of power, particularly Demon Power.

Suddenly, as he moved swiftly, Tang Yanchang sensed something was wrong.

’It’s a fluctuation of Spiritual Power!’

The Spiritual Power fluctuation was so subtle that he couldn’t determine the strength of its source.

However, he could determine the general direction of the fluctuation.

’How could a Spirit Refiner...?’

Just as Tang Yanchang locked onto the location where the Spiritual Power was being emitted, he was pierced through the heart. His defensive measures were completely useless, and his life force was rapidly draining away.

In that moment, Tang Yanchang still couldn’t make sense of the situation.

’Why would a Spirit Refiner appear here?’

He was on his way to carry out a mission in the territory of Mountain Ghost Valley.

His final thought was a simple deduction: the Spirit Refiner was most likely from the Purple Mist Sect, not the Hundred Peaks Sect.

The moment Fang Yun sensed something was wrong, he immediately struck. Although it wasn’t from the optimal distance, he still managed a fatal blow.

On the sword-type Spiritual Artifacts he refined, there was one Spirit Pattern he always had to inscribe. This Spirit Pattern accelerated the loss of life force, giving his enemies little chance to recover.

’This Late-stage Foundation Establishment Demon’s Perception was incredibly strong.’

Fang Yun looked at the body of the Late-stage Foundation Establishment Demon on the ground, then began to clean up the scene, leaving not a single trace behind.

Successfully killing the Late-stage Foundation Establishment Demon earned him over a million Talent Points.

After collecting his spoils, Fang Yun continued on his way to the Purple Mist Sect.

What Fang Yun didn’t know was that his actions had just ignited a conflict between the Withered Demon Sect, a Demon Core Formation Influence, and Mountain Ghost Valley, a Ghost Cultivator Core Formation Influence.

If he had known about the mission this Late-stage Foundation Establishment Demon was on, he might have understood the implications.

Afterward, while still in the Withered Demon Sect’s territory, Fang Yun also handily dealt with four Qi Refining Stage Demons before entering the territory of the Hundred Peaks Sect.

He would be even more ruthless if he encountered any Demons or Ghost Cultivators here.

...

「Late August.」

Fang Yun was not far from the Purple Mist Sect’s headquarters.

He had entered the Purple Mist Sect’s territory seven days prior.

The territory of a Nascent Soul Influence was vastly larger than that of a Core Formation Influence. Even traveling at the normal flight speed of an Early-stage Core Formation cultivator, it would still take over a day to get from the edge of the Purple Mist Sect’s territory to its headquarters.

’So this is the Purple Mist Sect.’

Even from his current position, the concentration of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi had already begun to change.

From a distance, Fang Yun saw the main gate of the Purple Mist Sect. The gate alone was magnificent. The difference in grandeur compared to his own sect’s gate was stark—truly befitting a Nascent Soul-level influence.

Flanking the gate were Outer Sect Disciples of the Purple Mist Sect, all of them at the Peak of Qi Refining.

"Senior, may I ask your name?"

The Outer Sect Disciple of the Purple Mist Sect on the right asked Fang Yun, his tone even and entirely lacking the high-and-mighty air often associated with disciples from a major sect.

"Fang Yun, from the Celestial Cloud Sect."

"Ah, Senior Fang. Please wait a moment."

The disciple on the right glanced at his counterpart on the left. After receiving a nod, he immediately went to announce the arrival.

’Nine years ago, Elder Ruan Hanfan of the Purple Mist Sect visited the Celestial Cloud Sect. The appointed time is approaching, so the Outer Sect Disciples guarding the gate should have at least some information about me.’

’If these disciples knew nothing about the situation, it would reflect poorly on how the Purple Mist Sect handles its affairs.’

Before long, a Core Formation Stage cultivator emerged from within the Purple Mist Sect. It was none other than Ruan Hanfan, the very same man who had visited the Celestial Cloud Sect nine years prior.

Upon seeing him, Fang Yun immediately offered a salute.

"Senior Ruan."

"Fang Yun, you’ve arrived." Ruan Hanfan looked Fang Yun up and down, then nodded and waved a hand. "Come with me."

"Yes, Senior."

As they flew, Fang Yun respectfully kept his position slightly behind Ruan Hanfan.

After a short while, Ruan Hanfan asked a question.

"Fang Yun, did you travel here alone?"

’Just because Fang Yun appeared at the gate alone doesn’t mean he traveled the whole way by himself. A Core Formation expert from the Celestial Cloud Sect could have escorted him as far as the Hundred Peaks Sect’s territory before leaving, which would have greatly increased his safety. Or, if they were still concerned, they could have brought him to a location not far from the Purple Mist Sect itself.’

"I came alone."

"Hmm, impressive. How was your journey?"

"I was quite lucky; it was a very smooth trip."

"That’s good."

When Fang Yun mentioned being lucky, Ruan Hanfan assumed it meant he hadn’t encountered any Foundation Establishment Stage practitioners of Evil Demons and Crooked Paths, and that he had managed to avoid detection.

’He knew Fang Yun’s concealment arts were brilliant, but no matter how skilled, one couldn’t possibly stay hidden for an entire journey, right?’

’The Spiritual Power consumption would be immense.’

In reality, when Fang Yun spoke of good luck, he was mainly referring to the over one million Combat Talent Points he had harvested.

’It really was good luck. I never expected to run into a Demon at the Late-stage of Foundation Establishment.’

Led by Ruan Hanfan, the two arrived near a small hill.

’The Purple Mist Sect’s grounds were massive, far larger than the Celestial Cloud Sect. The distance they had just traveled from the main gate was already greater than the entire north-to-south span of the Celestial Cloud Sect.’