Shang Lu instinctively wanted to refuse whatever new gift the Immortal Master was offering. But when he looked up and saw the small, wooden disc etched with the patterns of the Ancestral Tree, his eyes went wide. His gaze locked onto the object, unable to tear away.

“Is this… a Sect Entry Token?”

“Correct. After I made a contribution to the sect recently, they awarded me this Keepsake Token.”

Han Yu pressed the token into the old servant’s trembling hand. “Since you have aspirations for the younger generation of your family to step onto the path of cultivation, this token is exactly what you need. It will guarantee them a chance.”

Shang Lu’s voice shook violently. “It is suitable… it is too suitable. But this item is far too precious! Even if this old servant were to trade his worthless life a hundred times over, it would not be enough to—”

“When you came to warn me, did you not risk that same life?” Han Yu interrupted gently. “Take it.”

Without waiting for another refusal, Han Yu turned and walked into the house, leaving the servant standing in the courtyard.

Behind him, Shang Lu dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground in a deep, reverent kowtow. “Thank you, Immortal Master Han! Thank you for your infinite grace!”

Inside the room, Han Yu bowed. “Master.”

Elder Lu sat by the tea table. He gestured for Han Yu to sit. “Wan Xianglin has confessed everything. We performed a Soul Searching on him to verify the truth, and then gave him a quick death.”

Han Yu sat silently, waiting for the details.

“The origin of this tragedy is truly regrettable,” Elder Lu said, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and sorrow. “Originally, Wan Xianglin was chosen as an external Deacon because we trusted him. We needed someone to coordinate our disciples outside.”

“However, after his master, Elder Zhao, died unexpectedly, Wan Xianglin’s mind became twisted. He felt that with his backer gone, the sect no longer cared for him. He believed we were sending him—a man with no one to rely on—out to die.”

Elder Lu shook his head. “On the surface, he remained calm, but inside, he was seething with resentment. When he encountered agents from the Spirit Beast Sect, he didn’t hesitate. He defected immediately to secure his own safety.”

“If he had simply spoken up… if we had known he harbored such fears… would the sect ever have arranged things this way?”

“But he said nothing,” Elder Lu continued, his expression hardening. “He convinced himself that the sect was persecuting him. His paranoia grew until he committed a grave mistake that could not be undone.”

“He colluded with the Spirit Beast Sect. He personally murdered the two disciples we sent to the Ten Thousand Beasts Market. He fabricated false intelligence to blind us. He even sold his loyalty to the enemy completely, returning to probe the secrets of our earth veins—and the secrets of your talent.”

“There was no turning back for a traitor like that. A quick death was the only mercy we could offer. As for the disciple who helped him threaten Shang Lu? He violated the most sacred rules of the sect. He has been severely punished.”

Han Yu sighed. “Wanchun Valley has always been lenient and kind to its own. It was his own dark thoughts that led him astray.”

“It was also our failure to notice his mental state,” Elder Lu admitted heavily. “A tragedy of our own making.”

“However, through the Soul Searching, we finally obtained concrete intelligence regarding the Spirit Beast Sect.”

Elder Lu leaned forward, his face grim.

“The Spirit Beast Sect is not sparing mortals. They are imprisoning them within the inner circle of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. They are raising them like livestock to be slaughtered slowly.”

Han Yu felt a chill run down his spine.

“Furthermore, the practice of the Blood Refining Technique has spread throughout their ranks. The Ten Thousand Beasts Market is openly selling essence blood to fuel this demonic art. The Spirit Beast Sect… has completely transformed into a Demonic Cultivator Sect.”

“As for the ‘Saint Blood Perfected One’ wreaking havoc in the Eastern Sea Kingdom? That is a diversion. The Spirit Beast Sect is colluding with independent Demonic Cultivators to keep Ye Guxing occupied far away from home.”

“Master,” Han Yu asked, “what will Wanchun Valley do next?”

“We cannot wait any longer. If we delay, they will slaughter countless innocents to mass-produce powerful disciples.” Elder Lu’s eyes flashed with killing intent. “The Sect Leader has already contacted the Supreme Elder of the Spirit Sword Sect. The evidence is irrefutable. Our two sects must join forces to eradicate this cancer.”

“The Spirit Sword Sect has agreed. Their first priority is to recall Ye Guxing to destroy the Spirit Beast Sect. Their second is to send envoys to the Mystic One Sect and the Little Sky Net Sect, demanding they take a stance.”

“If those sects still possess a shred of righteous shame, they will not stand by while a Demonic Sect rises.”

“And if they refuse to act?” Elder Lu’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Then the entire Southern Region will fall into a war between Righteousness and Demons. I do not know where such a path would lead.”

Han Yu nodded slowly, his heart heavy.

A storm was brewing over the Southern Region. The peace was already shattered; now, it was only a matter of time before the blood began to flow in earnest.

Back in his room, Han Yu pushed the thoughts of war aside and resumed his cultivation.

Political maneuvering was for the Elders. For him, there was only one priority: increase his strength. In the coming chaos, strength was the only guarantee of survival.

The next day, Han Yu returned to the Battle Hall.

He spent the first hour sparring with several disciples, correcting their forms and answering their questions.

Since he hadn’t been cultivating for long, his theoretical knowledge wasn’t vast, and there were questions he couldn’t answer. However, today, Sect Leader Qi had decided to visit the Battle Hall personally.

The Sect Leader stepped in to answer the more complex questions, then took a moment to specifically instruct Han Yu on the nuances of the Star Luo Traction Technique.

Under the Sect Leader’s guidance, Han Yu manipulated the Star Luo Thread, causing it to spiral and coil around objects with liquid grace.

“Excellent,” Sect Leader Qi nodded with immense satisfaction. “You manipulate it with ease. Practice this secret technique diligently. You will benefit endlessly from it.”

Elder Lu stormed in at that moment, his face dark. He crossed his arms, glaring at the Sect Leader as if watching a thief eyeing his jewelry.

Nearby, Ye Shinian, the Sect Leader’s personal disciple, watched his master treat Han Yu with such warmth. The competitive fire in his eyes rekindled.

“Junior Brother Han,” Ye Shinian called out, stepping forward. “Yesterday you said you barely managed to defeat me by going all out.”

“Let us spar again today. What do you say?”

Today, my Master is watching. I have prepared countermeasures. I will not lose again.

Sect Leader Qi and Elder Lu both smiled, turning to watch the two young geniuses.

Han Yu frowned slightly. He glanced at the hourglass.

“Today?” Han Yu shook his head. “It is better to wait until tomorrow.”

Ye Shinian blinked, stunned. “Why wait until tomorrow?”

“My two-hour shift at the Battle Hall is over. I need to go back and cultivate.”

As soon as the words left Han Yu’s mouth, Elder Lu’s face lit up with delight. “Yes, yes, correct! Han Yu, cultivation is the priority. Go back quickly, don’t delay!”

Han Yu bowed respectfully to the Elders, turned, and walked away without hesitation.

Ye Shinian stared at his retreating back, unwilling to let it go. “Then we fight tomorrow!” he shouted.

He turned to Sect Leader Qi, eyes full of expectation. “Master, will you come to the Battle Hall tomorrow?”

Sect Leader Qi rubbed his chin, hesitating. “Tomorrow… I think I will not come.”

It wouldn’t be kind for me to come specifically to watch you lose again, would it?

Ye Shinian’s face fell. “Master, I—”

“You really want me to watch?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Very well. I shall come.” Sect Leader Qi sighed softly. “But you must remember, Shinian: victory and defeat are temporary states. The path of immortality is not solely about competing for superiority. Losing to Han Yu… it does not prove you are weak.”

“Yes, Master,” Ye Shinian responded, lowering his head.

Internally, however, he was frustrated. Why does Master assume I will lose before we even fight? I don’t believe it. Han Yu gave everything he had yesterday. I know his tricks now. I can win.

Once Ye Shinian had left to prepare, Sect Leader Qi turned to Elder Lu with an annoyed expression. “Why do you guard him like a hawk? Could I possibly steal your disciple?”

“Don’t judge me by your own standards,” Elder Lu huffed.

“I assume that as the dignified Sect Leader, you wouldn’t stoop to poaching,” Elder Lu added, realizing he might have been too blunt. He quickly changed the subject. “However… your disciple is going to suffer quite a setback tomorrow.”

“It can’t be helped. He has had smooth sailing his entire life,” Sect Leader Qi said, watching the empty doorway. “Suddenly seeing me value Han Yu… it is inevitable he would feel threatened.”

“In terms of raw cultivation speed, Han Yu cannot compare to him. But in terms of combat sense and technique mastery? How many disciples in Wanchun Valley can compare to Han Yu’s monstrous talent?”

The two old men stood in silence for a moment, the conversation naturally drifting back to the looming threat in the Southern Region.

“Being anxious won’t speed things up,” Sect Leader Qi said quietly. “It will take time for the Spirit Sword Sect to recall Ye Guxing from the East. It will take time to get a response from the Mystic One Sect and the Little Sky Net Sect. We might be in limbo for ten days, perhaps half a month.”

“Rather than sitting in the main hall staring at maps, it is better to come here.”

“True,” Elder Lu agreed. “Let us wait. Tomorrow, we will come together to watch the children fight.”