“Has a Golden Core cultivator from the Little Sky Net Sect arrived?”

Han Yu felt a distinct tremor through the invisible connection. “Is he here to demand the spindle back? Or is there another agenda?”

Realizing this was far above his pay grade, Han Yu immediately went to find his Master, Elder Lü.

Elder Lü dared not delay. He whisked Han Yu straight to the main peak to convene with Sect Leader Qi and Elder Yan.

The atmosphere in the grand hall instantly tightened. Sect Leader Qi kept Han Yu close, prepared for any unforeseen circumstances, while orders were issued to fully activate the Guardian Formation. The entire sect braced for an assault.

But the attack never came.

To everyone’s surprise, Han Yu sensed that the intruder had stopped approaching. He wasn’t hiding, exactly, but he wasn’t advancing either. He was hovering near Qiuxian Town, just outside the valley’s perimeter.

“Why stop there?” Han Yu wondered aloud.

He relayed this to Sect Leader Qi. The Sect Leader was equally baffled, but caution prevailed. They waited in silence, weapons ready, scanning the horizon.

Half a day passed. The presence didn’t move.

After a brief consultation, Sect Leader Qi turned to Han Yu. “There is still a trace of his imprint left on the spindle. Finish refining it.”

“If he reacts, we will shield you.”

Han Yu nodded and sat cross-legged in the center of the hall. He summoned his five invisible Star Luo Threads, wrapping them around the silver spindle to grind away the final layer of resistance.

He pushed his Spiritual Power. The last remnant of the original owner’s will shattered.

Han Yu blinked, looking toward the direction of Qiuxian Town in surprise.

“He… left?”

Sect Leader Qi and the Elders exchanged stunned looks.

“He just left?” Elder Yan frowned, suspicious. “He sensed his artifact being seized, realized he couldn’t take it back, and simply walked away?”

Elder Yan scoffed, his brow relaxing. “The Little Sky Net Sect’s movements are mysterious, and their motives are opaque. We’ve never been friends. Conflict was inevitable regardless.”

“Indeed,” Elder Lü agreed. “Disciple, since he doesn’t dare to knock on our door to claim it, finish the job. Make it yours.”

Sect Leader Qi nodded slowly, his expression contemplative. “The Little Sky Net Sect’s secret arts share a common origin with the techniques of the Central Heaven Domain. The Upper Sects are plotting against the Southern Domain, targeting Wanchun Valley specifically. It is unlikely the Little Sky Net Sect is ignorant of this.”

“We must assume they are enemies, not friends.”

“Han Yu, erase the connection completely.”

After speaking, Sect Leader Qi closed his eyes, sinking into deep thought.

Han Yu’s mind raced as he worked. The ‘Star Luo Traction Technique’ the Sect Leader gave me shares an origin with the Little Sky Net Sect. That means the Sect Leader’s mysterious benefactor… must be from the Central Heaven Domain.

The Upper Sects are plotting against us. Does that mean the Sect Leader will eventually have to fight his old friend?

Pushing these heavy thoughts aside, Han Yu focused on the spindle. Under the watchful eyes of the three Golden Core powerhouses, he began the final refinement.

Another half-day passed.

The silver-white sheen on the spindle faded, vanishing from the visible spectrum entirely. It hovered in the air—tangible to the touch, deadly in combat, and responsive to command—but completely invisible to the naked eye. Only high-level Spiritual Power could detect its faint fluctuations.

Simultaneously, a mental map of the spindle’s structure etched itself into Han Yu’s mind. The connection to the Little Sky Net cultivator was severed cleanly.

At that moment, his fifth Star Luo Thread matured fully. Han Yu felt a strain on his consciousness; limited by his Qi Refining fifth-layer cultivation, five threads were his absolute limit.

Twenty-one crows. Five Star Luo Threads.

To push these secret arts further, he needed raw power. He needed to Breakthrough.

After Sect Leader Qi and Elder Yan confirmed that the artifact was safe and free of traps, Elder Lü finally relaxed. He escorted Han Yu back to his courtyard, instructing him to focus on cultivation.

Outside Qiuxian Town.

Two figures wearing veils stood with their hands clasped behind their backs, gazing toward the misty peaks of Wanchun Valley.

Qin Ting, his figure slender and imposing, spoke via telepathy. His mental voice carried an ambiguous, hard-to-distinguish tone.

“We reported Song Wanxiong’s breakthrough to the Upper Sect, yet there has been no response. What exactly is happening in the Central Heaven Domain? Is the Upper Sect so preoccupied with its own affairs that they ignore a new Nascent Soul?”

Xiao Wen responded calmly. “I originally thought the ‘Thirty-Year Agreement’ was just the Upper Sect toying with us. Now… perhaps they have their own difficulties.”

“However, judging by the situation inside the valley, the Upper Sect clearly has plans in motion.”

Qin Ting snorted coldly. “That Upper Sect disciple is too rude!”

“It is one thing for him to lurk inside Wanchun Valley undercover. But what is the meaning of refining my Heavenly Mechanism Spindle right in front of me?”

“Furthermore, why send a disciple with such low cultivation to infiltrate? What is their game?”

Xiao Wen lowered his voice, sounding cautious. “Perhaps Wanchun Valley hides a treasure we cannot imagine. Why else would an Upper Sect disciple travel millions of miles to play spy here?”

“As for your spindle… just spend another ten years condensing a new one.”

“Let him have it. Perhaps the envoy will put in a good word for you later. You might even receive a fortune—”

“Or get struck dead by a Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation?” Qin Ting scoffed. “In their eyes, have we ever been equals?”

With a wave of his sleeve, he turned and flew away.

Xiao Wen chuckled, summoning his own retrieved silver spindle. He stepped onto it and followed.

Far below, the residents of Qiuxian Town—rich or poor, noble or commoner—looked up to see two streaks of light vanishing into the horizon. cries of “Immortal Master!” erupted, creating a lively stir in the sleepy town.

The sun and moon flowed. Seasons passed without sparing spring or summer.

It was harvest time again at the Spirit Field Department.

Hua Qi walked among the golden fields with his hands behind his back. He watched the Laborer Disciples sitting cross-legged among the Green Grain Spirit Rice, absorbing the dense wood qi. His brow was furrowed, his expression pensive.

After completing his inspection, he returned to the Steward’s office.

In the training yard, a woman was practicing spells. It was Senior Sister Li. She had recently broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining, and she was using spellcasting to stabilize her volatile Spirit Breath.

A crowd of Outer Disciples and Laborer Disciples had gathered to watch, eager to broaden their horizons. Hua Qi joined them.

Swoosh!

A Wind Blade slashed through the air.

At the ninth layer, Senior Sister Li’s Wind Blade Technique was a different beast entirely. It was thicker, faster, and hummed with a power that no early-stage defensive spell could withstand.

After a few more repetitions, she stopped, accepting the awe and praise of the crowd before walking back to the office.

Hua Qi followed her. “Senior Sister Li, your mastery of spells is becoming frighteningly expert.”

“Compared to my Little Eighteen, I am still far behind,” Senior Sister Li laughed, wiping sweat from her brow. She glanced at him sharply. “Hua Qi, you’ve been distracted lately. Something on your mind?”

Hua Qi hesitated, then nodded. “Senior Sister Li, the Battle Hall has expanded aggressively over the last six months. They handle almost all external missions now.”

“I need to know… if I want to leave the Sect for a personal matter, do I have to go through the Battle Hall?”

Senior Sister Li raised an eyebrow. “You want to leave? Why?”

“It’s about Ji Yida,” Hua Qi explained. “I accepted his belongings and promised to settle his family in the Western Moon Kingdom. I need to fulfill that oath.”

He sighed. “Before, the region was too dangerous. But now the Spirit Beast Sect is gone, peace has returned, and Wanchun Valley controls the mortal kingdoms again. With the Immortal Destiny Grand Ceremony approaching… I feel I must go now.”

Senior Sister Li nodded understandingly. “Ah, that matter.”

“I never liked Ji Yida much, but a promise is a promise. You should handle his affairs.”

“So, do I have to go to the Battle Hall?” Hua Qi asked.

“Yes. It’s a new Sect rule,” she confirmed. “All disciples leaving the valley must undergo one month of combat training at the Battle Hall. It’s to prevent our people from getting slaughtered the moment they step outside.”

She smiled teasingly. “Actually, it’s not a bad thing. You can visit my Little Eighteen while you’re there.”

“You haven’t seen him since he left the Spirit Field, have you? It’s been a year.”

Hua Qi nodded, feeling a weight lift off his chest. “Indeed. The Green Grain has been harvested twice since then.”

He smiled nostalgically. “Junior Brother Han… he should be close to the fifth layer of Qi Refining by now, right?”

Senior Sister Li looked at him, a strange, knowing smile playing on her lips.

“Maybe. You’ll understand once you meet him.”

Little Eighteen is much more formidable than any of you imagine.