Provocation and Mediation to Resolve Difficulties

The towering cliffs were shrouded in a thick, dark mist.

A flying shuttle, riding on a beam of light, arrived from afar and plummeted towards a wide, open space outside the stilted building.

A moment later, two figures emerged from within, both dressed in Taoist robes and exuding an air of extraordinary bearing.

The leader was a fair-skinned man in his thirties, wearing a black and red Taoist robe that billowed in the wind. He was none other than Wang Fu, a disciple of the Melting Gold Valley.

He was squinting, surveying the surrounding ruins and ravines, lost in thought.

Not far behind him followed a young girl with a youthful appearance and a slightly naive look in her eyes. She was also at the third level of Qi Refining, but her aura was a little weak, suggesting that she had not broken through recently.

The girl was still holding a brass array plate in her hand. She glanced around with a hint of curiosity and couldn't help but ask:

"Didn't Senior Brother Wang say that this place might be dangerous? Junior Sister, I've looked around but haven't noticed anything unusual."

Wang Fu shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile:

"Junior Sister Lu comes from a prestigious family of the second rank, and she has not been through the breakthrough for long. She is not experienced in the ways of the world and therefore has little understanding of the dangers of the outside world."

"This place was a stronghold of heretics who had been lingering there for a long time, causing trouble in all directions and becoming a scourge. Fortunately, Junior Brother Yan took action to plan and arrange things, and wiped them out in one fell swoop, relieving the valley of its worries."

When Wang Fu spoke of this, he couldn't help but feel emotional, and sighed repeatedly:

"Junior Brother Yan is indeed a remarkable talent. With just a little provocation and a few adjustments, he has caused these heretical insects and internal worms within the Daoist lineage to quarrel and wear each other down..."

"As for us, we can sit back and watch the dog fight unfold, which is quite enjoyable!"

"Now, this vast land of abundant resources has finally come under the control of my Gold Melting Valley!"

Junior Sister Lu asked in confusion:

"Junior sister is still puzzled. If she only cares about this land of resources, why doesn't Senior Sister Zhu just order us disciples to take action and wipe out these heretics?"

Instead of taking the direct route, they opted for the indirect one, which involved many unnecessary detours. They even specially selected a manager to handle things on their behalf.

"Isn't this just going to unnecessary trouble?"

Wang Fu pondered for a moment before shaking his head and saying:

"How can we possibly fathom the thoughts of the person in charge? However, in my humble opinion, since the person in charge holds a high position and a great reputation, it is impossible for him to do everything personally. He must have some capable hands and eyes."

"Moreover, there are mountains beyond mountains, and the three valleys are not a monolithic entity. Constrained by overt and covert rules, disciples like us face many obstacles in our actions."

"But Junior Brother Yan is different. He hasn't become a disciple in charge yet, so some things can only be done legitimately by using the identity of 'shopkeeper'!"

"So that's how it is..."

Junior Sister Lu nodded as if she understood, and was about to speak again.

Suddenly, rustling sounds came from all around, and then more than a dozen heretical cultivators, dressed in tattered clothes and looking disheveled, timidly poked their bodies out.

Upon seeing this, Junior Sister Lu frowned slightly and subconsciously began to circulate her inner energy.

But Wang Fu reached out and stopped him, and then the dozen or so heretics bowed down and hurriedly said:

"We, being practitioners of unorthodox paths, have seen the eminent disciples of the Jade Sleeve Sect. We now wish to abandon darkness and embrace the light, to submit to the Jade Sleeve lineage, and to serve them as beasts of burden for the rest of our lives, with absolutely no disloyalty!"

Wang Fu pointed at them, then turned to Junior Sister Lu and said:

"Junior sister, have you seen this? This is the true face of these heretical insects. They are all two-faced and opportunistic."

"You think you can become a disciple of the Jade Sleeve Sect? You should first be a pig or a dog for ten lifetimes to wash away your stench!"

"Is Senior Brother going to kill them?"

Lu Shimei paused slightly, but asked with anticipation.

Wang Fu shook his head and said with a grin:

"Junior sister, you are mistaken. There is a saying in the world that excrement can fertilize the fields, which shows that even waste has its uses."

"These heretics, though despicable, have had their magical powers stripped away and been sent to various resource-rich areas to work as laborers or slaves. In a way, their talents are being put to good use, and their lives in this world have not been in vain!"

Junior Sister Lu then smiled and said:

"That's only right!"

Wang Fu looked up at the clouds and saw another flying shuttle coming from afar.

"The other fellow disciples have all arrived. They can handle things here. We'll change our route and head to the market to help Junior Brother Yan clean up the mess."

"Okay, senior brother."

……

……

Time flies like an arrow, and the sun and moon pass by like flowing water.

Three days later.

As the morning mist breaks through the dawn, colorful birds perch on branches, and tender seedlings sprout in competition, it is truly a wonderful scene of winter passing and spring arriving, with all things coming to life!

Inside the Cui Shu Lou, in a warm and fragrant quiet room.

Yan Chen's breathing gradually subsided, and he opened his eyes, slowly waking up from his meditative state.

He glanced up at the view outside the window, smiled slightly, and said:

"As spring returns and all things begin anew... I have been a disciple of the Jade Sleeve Daoist lineage for more than two months now."

Looking back, it truly is a case of a thousand sails passing by the sunken ship, things have changed and everything is over.

The changes in the layout of Cui Shu Lou and even the entire Xu Chun Fang over the past three days have been nothing short of enormous.

On the day of the New Year, Yan Chen broke through to the third level of Qi Refining and killed Zeng Deyan.

The Zhao and Huang families were thus wiped out, and all their past sordid dealings were exposed to the world.

Therefore, after the stewards from the valley arrived, they did not spend much trouble and took swift and decisive action to escort all the people surnamed Zhao and Huang, as well as those associated with the heretics, into the valley to be dealt with at their discretion.

As for the final result, it's not hard to guess.

According to the Jade Sleeve School's approach of "making the best use of everyone's talents," these excellent "materials" should be given suitable places to shine and generate value.

As a result, only one of the three major surnames remained, and a power vacuum emerged in Xuchunfang.

But no one paid any attention to this.

The so-called three major surnames are, in essence, nothing more than worldly gentry and wealthy people. There are plenty of people who would like to serve the Jade Sleeve Sect.

Within ten days, people were vying to take over the power vacancies held by the Zhao and Huang families.

Yan Chen glanced at the furnishings of the quiet room, remained silent for a moment, and then sighed softly:

"I am not yet clear about the essentials of mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation. I need someone to guide me. I can no longer be confined to this small market."

"Once things are settled here and the dust has settled, it will be time to return to Melting Gold Valley with Senior Brother Wang and the others to report to Senior Sister Zhu."

With that thought made up, Yan Chen summoned the [Celestial Official Jade Pendant] from the depths of his heart, and his own karma surfaced before his eyes—

Name: Yan Chen

[Realm Level: Qi Refining Realm, Level 3]

[Cultivation Progress: Yang Mansion (None), Yin Mansion (None), Yin Residence (None), Yang Residence (None)]

[Cultivation Techniques: Crimson Cloud Bright Light Control Technique (Rank 9), Azure Origin Bright Light Elixir Formula (Rank 9)]

[Technique: "Tea Stove Brewing Sword Dance and Leaping Song"]

[Taoist Technique: The Incantation to Burn Affection and Desire with the Divine Furnace Fire (Minor Completion)]

"The Yin-Yang Abode... Is this the place where cultivators, after reaching the mid-stage of Qi Refining, store their Qi within their bodies?"

Yan Chen pondered in his heart.

Whether it is the information about cause and effect in the past, or the "Taoist practice" transmitted by Sister Zhu, there is no shortage of mention of "opening up a mansion".

Looking back now, it's just like circulating qi throughout the body—it's of utmost importance in the mid-stage of Qi Refining cultivation!

……