Chapter 553

Chapter 553: Unexpected Gains

"Wait!"

Just as the two were about to strike, a voice echoed from the Divine Grace Palace.

"I said earlier that any further battles must first resolve the previous incident," Tian Yunzi declared, his eyes locked on Cang Ye and Cheng Yuweng.

"Exactly! We demand an explanation for today’s events," Shu Anshi growled beside Tian Yunzi, face flushed with anger. Had Yan Rushui not glared at him with frosty intensity, he would’ve already rushed to Suxin’s side.

"What incident?" Cheng Yuweng feigned ignorance, brows furrowing slightly.

"How do you account for Cang Ye’s cowardly attack on Suxin?" Shu Anshi barked.

"What’s there to account for? Wasn’t it declared a draw? After Ye Yun’s duel with Jun Ruolan, we’ll leave the Divine Grace Palace," Cheng Yuweng retorted.

Shu Anshi’s laughter rang out, sharp with fury. Murderous intent solidified in his eyes. "So Vice Sect Leader Cheng refuses to take responsibility? Fine! I’ll slaughter Cang Ye first, then see what excuses you make."

"Insolence!" Cheng Yuweng’s face purpled with rage. How dare this junior threaten to kill his disciple in his presence?

"Tian Yunzi! Is this how you train your disciples?" Cheng Yuweng spat through clenched teeth.

"My disciples need no lectures from you," Tian Yunzi replied mildly. "Yours, however, clearly learned their treachery from somewhere – master and disciple sharing the same rotten roots."

Cheng Yuweng’s retort died in his throat, leaving him trembling speechless with anger.

"What compensation do you want?"

Cang Ye, now recovered from Yu Qingzhi’s soul-crushing pressure that had briefly scattered his true qi, spoke up impulsively.

Cheng Yuweng whirled to glare at his disciple – not for the sneak attack, but for this foolish admission that would invite extortion.

As predicted, Tian Yunzi immediately seized the opening.

"Two Moon Goddess Pills. Several hundred thousand Immortal Spirit Stones. Or perhaps two top-quality Immortal artifacts? Failing that, we’ll settle for examining your Misty Sect’s precious Misty Record cultivation manual."

Cheng Yuweng nearly choked. Moon Goddess Pills were rarer than phoenix feathers. The requested Immortal Spirit Stones could bankrupt small kingdoms. Their sect only possessed two top-quality Immortal artifacts, reserved for existential crises. As for the Misty Record? That was their foundational scripture, guarded tighter than the Sect Leader’s life!

"Don’t jest, Tian Yunzi! Even if I possessed such treasures, your Divine Grace Palace couldn’t stomach claiming them!" Cheng Yuweng sneered, though sweat dampened his collar.

"Do you imagine anything exists in the Great Qin Empire that I dare not take?" Tian Yunzi’s quiet words hung in the air as murderous intent coalesced into a gleaming sword pointed at Cheng Yuweng’s throat.

The vice sect leader froze, feeling death’s chill kiss his Adam’s apple. "Name… reasonable terms," he stammered, teeth chattering.

Tian Yunzi gestured to Shu Anshi. "Handle this."

As Shu Anshi stepped forward, the psychic sword dissipated – though its phantom edge still pricked Cheng Yuweng’s neck.

Trembling with humiliation, the Misty Sect’s second-in-command seethed. Tian Yunzi and Yu Qingzhi’s overwhelming cultivation levels pinned him more effectively than chains. A mere glance from these experts could cripple his combat strength. Escape was impossible; dignity already lay trampled in the dust. News of this disgrace would spread through cultivation circles like wildfire.

"Master Yan, how is Suxin?" Shu Anshi glared at him before turning to Yin Suxin.

Yin Suxin still lay in Yan Rushui’s arms, her face deathly pale, blood soaking the front of her robes.

"Her life is preserved, but her cultivation level suffered damage. This may hinder her future breakthroughs." Yan Rushui replied coldly, having regained composure. She knew killing Cang Ye and Cheng Yuweng within Divine Grace Palace was impossible, and now considered tailing them for an ambush after their departure.

Shu Anshi exhaled deeply. "Cheng Yuweng, I’ll keep this simple. Produce soul-mending pills. Replace Suxin’s destroyed Immortal artifact. Add two thousand Immortal Spirit Stones for her recovery. Agreed?"

Cheng Yuweng’s brow furrowed. "A low-quality Immortal artifact I can provide, but two thousand stones and soul pills? That’s unreasonable."

"Refuse, and neither of you leaves Divine Grace Palace alive today." Shu Anshi’s voice turned glacial.

"Your palace wouldn’t dare!" Cang Ye shouted.

A silver flash cut through air. Cang Ye screamed as his severed arm thudded to the floor.

"Who struck? Does Divine Grace Palace seek war with Misty Sect?" Cheng Yuweng roared, face purpling with rage.

"One arm insufficient to silence you? Shall I take another?" Yan Rushui carefully set Yin Suxin down and rose. She’d severed Cang Ye’s limb during Cheng Yuweng’s momentary distraction.

"A senior attacking stealthily? Shameful!" Cheng Yuweng spat.

Yan Rushui barked laughter. "I adapt quickly. Object? Let’s duel properly." Privately, she knew no faction would support Cang Ye after today’s humiliation – not even his own sect.

"No soul pills exist here – only our Sect Leader holds such treasures. One thousand Immortal Spirit Stones, and this defensive Immortal artifact." Cheng Yuweng flicked his sleeve, sending glowing stones and a Jade Pendant clattering before Shu Anshi.

The pendant dangled from golden thread, faint light pulsing within. "Forged by an ancient sage. Blocks three strikes below Nascent Soul stage. Equal to low-quality Immortal artifact."

"One thousand? I said two. And this trinket stops Golden Core attacks? How many Golden Core fools survive Suxin’s blade?" Shu Anshi kicked the stones aside, murderous intent blazing.

"Wait! Its true power purifies spiritual energy from the world!" Cheng Yuweng blurted, jaw tightening. "Channel your true qi through it – returns refined energy multiple times over. Boosts cultivation exponentially."

Shu Anshi’s eyes sharpened. High-level cultivators spent lifetimes purifying energy. This artifact could revolutionize training. "This… qualifies as Immortal artifact. But Suxin’s soul injury remains. No divine medicine means permanent damage."

"Soul pills are rarer than phoenix tears! Great Qin Empire’s royalty hoards them all. Use your own stock first – I’ll reimburse later."

"Your promises hold less value than gutter water." Shu Anshi sneered. With Saint’s Secret Vault’s impending opening and inevitable clashes between their sects, extorting maximum gains now was essential – as Tian Yunzi’s mental message had clarified.

"You overreach, Shu Anshi!" Cheng Yuweng bellowed. The pendant alone surpassed ordinary Immortal artifacts!

"Objections?" Tian Yunzi’s voice cracked like a whip. As Absolute Heart Peak’s ruthless enforcer, he relished provoking Misty Sect’s vice leader.

Cheng Yuweng seethed helplessly. Against Tian Yunzi’s authority, his sect title meant nothing.

"Take this then." He produced a crimson Immortal herb glowing with inner fire, its unopened bud leaking fragrant energy. "Never seen its like. Spiritual energy density dwarfs common herbs. Accept it as soul-pill substitute – or get nothing."

"What is this?" Tian Yunzi asked, his eyes filled with confusion.

"It is indeed an Immortal herb, one I’ve never seen before, though its purpose remains unknown," Divine Grace Palace Master Yu Qingzhi responded. Spiritual energy pulsed from the plant, its surface shimmering faintly, hinting at its rarity.

Yet neither Tian Yunzi nor Yu Qingzhi could identify the herb’s true nature or effects.

As the herb hovered in the air, the group scrutinized it intently, but their confusion only deepened—none recognized it.

Suddenly, Ye Yun, standing motionless in the void, felt a surge of mental intent pierce his mind.

"That’s the Nine Nether Profound Underworld Herb! It bridges the living and the dead—priceless!"

The Ancestor of the Sword Path, now awake, had glimpsed the fiery-red herb through Ye Yun’s eyes and cried out urgently.

"Nine Nether Profound Underworld Herb? Such a plain name," Ye Yun thought, communicating through mental intent.

"Ah, but it’s also called the Spirit Linking Herb. Does that ring a bell?" The Ancestor’s voice trembled with excitement.

Ye Yun’s mind reeled. He’d read of this legendary herb in ancient texts during his days at the Heavenly Sword Sect. When matured, it bore a fruit known as the Nine Nether Pearl, said to allow passage between the realms of life and death.

Born alongside the fundamental laws of heaven and earth, this herb was as ancient as sword intent itself. While less potent in combat, its power to traverse the boundary between yin and yang made it invaluable.

Mortals who died descended into the Nine Nether Realms, destined for reincarnation. Yet with this herb, one could retrieve souls from the underworld—defying the natural order. Such an act invited heavenly wrath, but surviving the tribulation could grant immortality.

Nine Nether Profound Underworld Herb!

Ye Yun’s gaze sharpened as he stared at the glowing plant before Divine Grace Palace. Every fiber of his being urged him to seize it and stash it within his Thunder Sound Metamorphosis ring.

"This herb is unusual, but ultimately useless. Compensate me with five hundred Immortal Spirit Stones instead," Tian Yunzi declared after a moment’s consideration.

"You—!" Cheng Yuweng choked on his rage but remained powerless.

He emptied his Storage Treasure, scraping together four hundred Immortal Spirit Stones—tributes collected during his tenure as an outer sect elder. Tian Yunzi accepted them without hesitation.

At Tian Yunzi’s gesture, Shu Anshi gathered the stones while his master examined the scarlet herb.

"I’ll award this to my disciple. Should Ye Yun lose, Shu Anshi claims it. If he wins, it’s his. Any objections?" Tian Yunzi’s tone brooked no argument.

Notably, Divine Grace Palace Master Yu Qingzhi remained silent, as if this arrangement had his tacit approval.

Shu Anshi shrugged. "Give it to Junior Brother Ye. He’s resourceful and fortunate—perhaps he’ll uncover its secrets."

"Agreed. This way, he’ll focus on his duel with Jun Ruolan," Tian Yunzi nodded.

Ye Yun’s pulse quickened. He’d been scheming to steal the herb, yet here it was being handed to him freely.

"Enough delays," Ye Yun exhaled, turning to Jun Ruolan with a challenging smirk. "Our turn."

Jun Ruolan flicked her wrist, the red silk scarf transforming into a blood-colored long sword. Crimson light bathed the arena.

"Last time, you wielded that purple long sword with the Thundercloud Lightning Sword technique. Let’s see if it survives this." She tilted her blade, the air thickening with the metallic scent of blood.

"You’re abandoning your mid-grade Immortal artifact for a sword?" Ye Yun raised an eyebrow.

The scarf rippled, its fabric solidifying into a gleaming blade. "Who said I abandoned it?"

Ye Yun’s eyes narrowed. The transformation was flawless—no illusion, but raw metamorphosis.

"Few in the Great Qin Empire have seen an artifact like this," Jun Ruolan purred, caressing the crimson steel. "The Illusory Rainbow shifts between seven forms. This blade? It shatters low-grade Immortal artifacts. Let’s test your purple sword’s resilience."

She twirled her weapon, unleashing a tidal wave of blood-red energy that stained the sky.

Cold light flashed in Ye Yun’s eyes as Purple Shadow appeared in his grip. Violet ripples erupted from the blade, clashing against the crimson tide in a storm of opposing hues.