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A group of people eyed him disdainfully—so even their master could stoop to flattery toward superiors.

When they returned to the main hall, they found the Peak Lords from various peaks already gathered there, conversing with Daoist Min.

Upon seeing their arrival, the Peak Lords stood and addressed Sheng Zhenhai, "Daoist Min will be staying at our Chixiao Sect for some time. Ensure his comfort."

Sheng Zhenhai and the others bowed in agreement.

After the Peak Lords departed, Sheng Zhenhai was about to make arrangements for Min Kuangxing's lodging when the latter said, "No need. I can stay on the same peak as Elder Uncle Chui and the others."

Sheng Zhenhai glanced at Ning Yuzhou and, noticing no objection, made no further arrangements.

"Master, we'll take Elder Uncle to rest first," Wen Qiao said cheerfully.

Sheng Zhenhai nodded kindly. "Go ahead. Rest well."

After Wen Qiao, Ning Yuzhou, and Min Kuangxing left, Sheng Zhenhai summoned his eldest and second disciples, instructing them to give a full report of their journey to the Inner Sea so he could prepare accordingly.

—

Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou escorted Min Kuangxing to Jucui Peak.

Along the way, Chixiao Sect disciples who spotted them greeted them enthusiastically, though they looked at Min Kuangxing with curiosity. Since Min Kuangxing had concealed his cultivation, they merely saw him as a young man whose aura was indistinguishable—never suspecting he was a Patriarch of the Yuan Emperor Realm.

Especially the female disciples of Chixiao Sect—upon seeing Min Kuangxing's strikingly handsome features, their hearts skipped a beat.

Beautiful appearances always bring visual delight, which can easily stir emotions.

"Ning Yuzhou, Little Sister Qiao, who is this…?"

"He's my great-uncle," Wen Qiao replied brightly. "He's already married, and has more than a dozen sons and grandsons."

The female disciples: "…" Their fantasies instantly shattered.

Quickly deterring any unwanted attention toward her great-uncle, Wen Qiao turned to Min Kuangxing and said, "Great-Uncle, before we left, I promised Grandaunt I'd keep an eye on you and ensure you don't attract inappropriate admirers."

Min Kuangxing: "...Thanks a lot!"

"You're welcome."

Suddenly, another figure flew rapidly toward Jucui Peak on a sword.

Perhaps due to impatience, sparks flickered around him, reflecting his fiery temper.

"Ning Yuzhou! Chui! You're finally back!"

Duan Haoyan leapt off his spirit sword, practically steaming with frustration, immediately ranting, "Where have you been all this time?! Gone for two whole years—I've been waiting forever!"

Wen Qiao asked, "Have you refined all ten thousand spirit-amber crystals?"

"Finished long ago!" Duan Haoyan snorted, his breath smelling of sulfur, as if his entire body were burning. "The Duan family name stands for something!"

Wen Qiao gave a calm "Hmph" and said coolly, "If you've finished refining them, you were free to leave. Why wait for us?"

Duan Haoyan: "..."

Seeing his reaction, Min Kuangxing and Ning Yuzhou realized—the fool had simply forgotten and foolishly remained at Chixiao Sect awaiting their return.

What a poor soul.

Duan Haoyan scowled and turned away without a word.

Wen Qiao called out, “Did you wait for us on purpose?”

Duan Haoyan stopped and replied stiffly, “Not really. I just wanted to ask if you still have any spirit-condensed stones left. I can help refine them.”

“Huh? Didn’t you say they were too hard to refine and that you didn’t want to bother?” Wen Qiao asked in surprise.

“They are difficult,” Duan Haoyan admitted, “requiring extremely precise control of the strange fire. But I discovered that refining spirit-condensed stones strengthens my connection with the fire, even nourishing it. My fire has undergone noticeable changes recently…”

After his explanation, the three finally understood that not only had Duan Haoyan refined his control over the strange fire through this process, but certain substances released during refinement were absorbed by the fire, causing it to grow stronger.

Wen Qiao couldn’t help but think about how the spirit-condensed stones were formed and the so-called Life Water from that pool. Could the essence within the Life Water also benefit strange fire?

She glanced at Ning Yuzhou, who gave her a confirming nod. Then she said to Duan Haoyan, “We still have spirit-condensed stones. Here’s another ten thousand—keep refining them.”

Duan Haoyan happily took the stones and left, heading straight back to the forging chamber in the Heavenly Artifact Peak.

The disciples there were quite familiar with him. After all, the Duan clan’s strange fire was renowned across the Central Continent, and even alchemists and artifact forgers sometimes sought to borrow it. Since Duan Haoyan was willing to stay at the Scarlet Heaven Sect and use his fire to refine materials, the sect gave him special privileges, allowing him to stay as long as he liked and providing excellent service.

After he left, Ning Yuzhou and the others returned to their mountain dwelling on Verdant Peak.

Wen Tuti and Shi Wuming had already come back earlier and cleaned and prepared a room for Min Kuangxing to settle into.

As soon as they sat down, Min Kuangxing pulled out a sound transmission talisman and listened to its message.

When he finished, he told Wen Qiao, “Chui, Mu Bei has led the Min clan’s disciples to purge the Floral Pavilion. Unfortunately, the Floral Immortal self-destructed midway, so we couldn’t get anything out of her.”

“Self-destructed?” Wen Qiao frowned. “Why do they always resort to self-destruction?”

Wen Tuti and Shi Wuming chimed in, “Exactly! Don’t they realize how gory it looks? It’s messing up the place!”

“That person who attacked Sister back in Dongling also self-destructed. If I hadn’t reacted quickly, we’d all have been hurt.”

Min Kuangxing had also heard about their encounter in Dongling with a Yuanzong-stage cultivator who possessed the rare ice-type treasure, the Snow Domain Pearl. In the end, though, Wen Qiao had seized it for Yi Xuan’s use—an incident that could only be described as adding insult to injury.

“It must be related to the puppet insects implanted in their bodies,” Min Kuangxing said. “Once they fail, they have no choice but to self-destruct—it’s not their own will.”

Ning Yuzhou nodded. “Back then, that person self-destructed because Chui mentioned the Min clan. It’s clear they wanted to prevent her from investigating the clan’s affairs and didn’t want her to be reunited with her kin.”