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Atop Qing Yun Sect's main peak, beside the grand hall, lay a secret chamber—the sect's treasury. Unlike other sects' heavily guarded vaults, its proximity to Sect Master Gu Fei Tian's seclusion chamber ensured its safety, needing no guards. A Supreme Earth-Grade formation barred entry, controlled solely by Gu Fei Tian.
Lan An, unfazed, summoned Purple Heart Void-Burning Flame, incinerating the formation. Stepping inside, his Piercing Weakness Vision scanned the spacious chamber. Stone protrusions lined the walls, bearing various items.
A jade bottle caught his eye, identical to those used by Gu You and Gu Dun Di. Inspecting it, he read: Seizing Spirit Pill raises a cultivator below Perfection-Stage Spirit Transformation by one minor realm, but halts progress forever.
"No wonder Gu Fei Tian didn't use it to fight," Lan An muttered, pocketing the bottle. Though useless for him or his women, it could fetch a fortune.
Surveying further, he found heaps of spirit stones hundreds of thousands of Supreme-Grade. He stored half in his Spirit Realm Pearl for Mu Zi Yin, Bai Su Mei, Li Zhu Luan, and Liu Shi Qin's cultivation, reserving the rest for Bing Lan Xi, acknowledging her pivotal role.
Next were spiritual pills, mostly aiding wind spiritual root cultivators. Only Liu Shi Qin (Ice/Wind dual roots) and Yan Die Qing (at her clan) could use them. He took half, leaving the rest for Bing Lan Xi.
The arsenal held nearly ten thousand swords: mostly Yellow-Grade, a thousand Mysterious-Grade, and fewer than ten Low-Tier Earth-Grade. Higher-grade weapons were claimed by elders. "Should've looted their storage rings before letting them flee," Lan An regretted, chuckling. "Still green at sect-sacking."
Sweeping the treasury clean, he inspected Gu Fei Tian's storage ring. It held more spirit stones, a Supreme Earth-Grade sword art Green Breeze Sword Art containing Full Gale Slash and Cloud-Splitting Slash, a Supreme Earth-Grade art Great Wind Tempest, and a High-Tier Earth-Grade movement art Wind Rider Leap. Only Great Wind Tempest intrigued him, awaiting a Wind Cauldron.
A thick, faintly glowing hide appeared, etched with an incomplete map. "A cave or treasure?" Lan An mused.
"The hide is from a Bright Heaven Elephant's belly, a Primordial beast mastering Light attributes, rivaling Integration-Stage cultivators when mature," Jin Ni said gravely.
Lan An's heart raced. A map on Integration-Stage beast hide was no trifle, but incomplete. Summoning Gu Fei Tian's Nascent Soul, he demanded, "Where'd you get this?"
"Don't kill me!" it begged, spineless. "Tell me, and I'll consider sparing you," Lan An lied.
"I stole it from a small clan," Gu Fei Tian confessed.
"Which clan? Details," Lan An pressed.
"As a youth, injured during training, a clan saved me. I noticed this hide, sensed its value, and offered to buy it," Gu Fei Tian stammered.
"Go on," Lan An urged, edging Purple Heart Void-Burning Flame closer.
"They called it a heirloom, refusing to sell. So I stole it and killed them," Gu Fei Tian admitted, trembling.
"Scum. They saved you, and you repaid with slaughter," Lan An sneered, restraining his urge to crush the soul. "Where was this clan? Their name?"
"North of Ice Heaven Continent, near Huang Lian Mountain Range. They were surnamed Feng," Gu Fei Tian recalled.
"Feng Clan? Anything else?" Lan An pressed.
"That's all!" Gu Fei Tian insisted.
Lan An resealed the soul, storing the map carefully. He'd seek similar fragments later. Entering the sect's Scripture Pavilion, he found mostly Yellow and Mysterious-Grade arts, sweeping them into his ring like scrap paper.
Now a tycoon, carrying a Seventh-Grade sect's wealth, he'd spark envy if word spread. Entering Spirit Realm Pearl, he sought to reassure his women.
Shortly after Lan An vanished, two figures arrived at Qing Yun Sect's peak, their Spirit Transformation soul senses sweeping the ruins. Two elders, white-haired, in daoist robes, rode swords.
"We're too late," one sighed.
"Who dares destroy a righteous sect so swiftly, ignoring our Three Sword Alliance?" the other fumed.
"Such speed demands caution," the first warned.
"For a thousand years, our three sects' bond is renowned. We must avenge Qing Yun Sect," the fiery elder declared.
"Justice is due, but this is grave. I'll consult my sect master," the calmer replied.
"Hmph, same. Let's see who dares touch our alliance," the other sneered, flying off.
"Reckless, relying on our strength. We might shrink to One Sword Alliance," the remaining elder muttered, shaking his head. The fiery one hailed from Fire Sword Sect, he from Water Mysterious Sect.
Qing Yun Sect, Fire Sword Sect, and Water Mysterious Sect formed the Three Sword Alliance over a millennium ago, famed for their swordsmanship and mutual aid. If one fought, the others covertly supported. But Gu Fei Tian, trusting Gu Wen Tian's emergence, hadn't sought aid, stingy with the costly "gifts" required. His greed cost the sect's existence, branding him its eternal sinner.
Sensing the emptied treasury, the Water Mysterious Sect elder departed to report to his sect master.
Inside Spirit Realm Pearl, Liu Shi Qin, Mu Zi Yin, Bai Su Mei, and Li Zhu Luan surrounded a mountain of spirit stones, the air thick with spiritual energy. A trove of artifacts dazzled them, their worry easing. Their man's haul proved his safety against a Seventh-Grade titan.
Space rippled, and Lan An appeared. "Little Nam! Husband!" Four joyful cries rang out, the women enveloping him.
Warmth filled Lan An, their concerned faces making his efforts worthwhile. "Are you hurt?" Mu Zi Yin, Bai Su Mei, and Li Zhu Luan inspected him, nearly stripping his robes.
Lan An laughed, "Mind your manners with Aunt here."
The trio blushed, noticing Liu Shi Qin's amused smile. "Little Nam, tell us everything," Liu Shi Qin said, yearning to check on him but restrained by the others, feeling a pang.
"Here, gifts," Lan An beckoned, seating them. He handed Liu Shi QinQing Yun Sect's wind arts. "Top-tier techniques," he explained, recounting the sect's fall, including Bing Lan Xi's role.
The women's reactions varied: Liu Shi Qin smiled knowingly, Mu Zi Yin and Li Zhu Luan pouted, while Bai Su Mei remained unfazed, adoring Lan An's allure. "You're sure she can handle Gu Wen Tian? He's Void Refinement," Mu Zi Yin asked, gripping his hand.
Lan An sighed, "I'd help, but Void Refinement experts tear space to flee. I can't keep up."
They nodded, understanding the gap below Void Refinement. "Ants beneath Void Refinement" wasn't an empty phrase speed alone outmatched them.
Lan An produced three stones. "Why these? What's inside?" Li Zhu Luan asked curiously.
"Secret," Lan An grinned. The women huffed, plotting to tease him if nothing emerged.
Crack! A stone shattered, lightning flashing. Little Lion, lounging lazily, leapt up, frenzied, charging Lan An.
A translucent orb, fist-sized, crackled with thunder energy. "A Beast Core!" Bai Su Mei gasped.
Realization dawned. In the cultivation world, Third-Order beasts formed Beast Cores in their brains, storing their essence and attributes. Unlike human Nascent Souls, these endured, growing with the beast. High-grade cores were prized for alchemy, crafting, or cultivation.
"This core's owner was likely Sixth-Order or above, rivaling Void Refinement," Bai Su Mei said gravely.
"Sixth-Order Perfection," Jin Ni confirmed to Lan An.
"Remarkable," Lan An marveled. Such cores were near-unobtainable, even with wealth, as hunting Sixth-Order beasts in their domains, guarded by lesser beasts, was suicidal. Mu Zi Yin's near-death against a Tree Demon paled in comparison.
Chirp!Little Lion begged, eyes blazing. "It's a thunder beast. This core's a heavenly treasure for it," Bai Su Mei said, petting it.
"Can you refine it? You're too young," Lan An worried.
Chirp!Little Lion nodded confidently. "It can store and refine it gradually, but the risk of body explosion is high, depending on its will," Bai Su Mei explained.
"Fine, don't disappoint me," Lan An said, tossing the core. Little Lion swallowed it whole.
CHIRP! It roared, body swelling, pained by the core's energy. Lan An and the women tensed, fearing for their beloved pet. Lightning crackled within it as Little Lion's Purple Thunder suppressed the core.
After fierce struggle, a thunderous eggshell encased Little Lion, glowing. "It subdued the core's spirit," Bai Su Mei sighed in relief.
Lan An and the women relaxed, cherishing the cub. Picking another stone, Lan An smashed it under their eager gazes.