I forge immortality with spiritual treasures.

Chapter 108 A Stormy Era Begins?

Ying Chan has been a disciple of this sect for over a hundred days.

I frequently travel between Tiandu and Juyue, and often visit the Ministry of State Affairs, but this is indeed the first time I have stepped through the gates of the Foreign Affairs Department.

The Foreign Affairs Department, as its name suggests, deals with matters outside the mountains.

If a disciple is in danger, assistance is needed; if a disciple wishes to leave the mountain to travel, registration is required; if a visitor from outside the sect comes to visit the mountain, reception and farewell are required... and so on, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Department.

Even sect missions that require leaving the mountain fall under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Department.

Therefore, there were many people coming and going in the Foreign Affairs Office, and the Taoist priests on duty were all very busy.

Seeing this, Ying Chan had no choice but to find a young Taoist disciple and ask, "May I ask, young disciple, where should I go to find Senior Sister Huang Chan?"

"Senior Sister Huang?"

The young Taoist didn't think much of it and pointed in a direction: "Senior brother, go this way, and then have the young Taoist pass on the message."

"Thank you, young master."

Ying Chan followed the direction indicated by the boy and went to a small hall, where a boy indeed came to greet him.

However, before he could explain his purpose, the boy asked, "Are you Senior Brother Yingchan?"

"Oh?"

Ying Chan thought that Huang Chan must have given instructions beforehand, so he nodded and said, "It was me."

Upon hearing this, the boy bowed and said, "Please come with me, senior brother."

Ying Chan readily agreed and led the boy to a side room. He knocked on the door and heard a woman's voice: "Is it Junior Brother Ying?"

"Yes, I came to inquire as my senior sister suggested."

Ying Chan walked in, and Huang Chan happened to be looking over. She was somewhat surprised to see him.

Yesterday, Ying Chan fell from the sky and then ran back and forth, leaving him covered in wounds and looking quite exhausted. He appeared rather disheveled.

But when we met again today, he had fully recovered from his injuries and was full of energy, displaying a refined and elegant air.

Huang Chan paused for a moment, then said, "Junior Brother, you have quite an extraordinary bearing after resting."

Ying Chan was taken aback, and simply cupped his hands and said, "Senior Sister is too kind."

Huang Chan smiled slightly and led him to sit down at the table before saying, "Junior Brother, what you are most concerned about is the whereabouts of Junior Brother Jiang, aren't you?"

"Indeed, I wonder how he is?"

Huang Chan slowly said, "I also couldn't find any trace of it."

Ying Chan frowned and asked, "This, Senior Sister, is there any oversight?"

"Don't worry, Junior Brother."

Huang Chan said, "I have searched carefully and confirmed that the person is not in the mountains."

"If I'm not mistaken, he must have fled somewhere else, but I can't find any trace of him in the vicinity, so I have a guess."

"Please give me your guidance, senior sister."

Huang Chan said, "I checked with the Daoist Register Office. Junior Brother Jiang is from the South China Sea and is a member of the Jiang family of Changguang Island."

"The Jiang family of Changguang Island?" Ying Chan pondered. "A family of cultivators?"

“That’s right.” Huang Chan said, “The Changguang Jiang Clan is a large clan. The current patriarch, True Man Yashan, is a Golden Core cultivator, and Junior Brother Jiang is his son.”

"I suspect that he possessed a life-saving technique left to him by Master Yashan. After being trapped in the mountains by that heretic, he activated the technique and escaped."

"I have already checked with Mr. Nobunaga Mitsue to confirm this matter, and I should receive a reply within a few days."

"I see."

Ying Chan breathed a sigh of relief: "I never expected Senior Brother Jiang to have such a background..."

Huang Chan chuckled softly, "Our sect is full of hidden talents, so don't underestimate us, junior brother."

Ying Chan smiled upon hearing this and said, "In that case, I can put the weight on my heart for the time being. If the Jiang family of Changguang sends a reply, please let my senior sister know."

"It's natural."

Huang Chan agreed, but seeing that he was already planning to leave, she raised her eyebrows and said, "Junior brother, wait a moment. Have you forgotten these things?" With that, she flicked her finger, and several beams of light fell on the table, revealing its original appearance.

These were the many items that Ying Chan obtained from that unorthodox person.

"Although it wasn't of any use, I still asked my senior brother from Tianlu Mountain to break the restriction."

She pointed to the small golden pouch: "This storage bag contains several kinds of spiritual essences, several hundred magic coins... and some elixirs and medicinal herbs, but I advise you not to use them without permission."

"Besides these, there are also some living souls, bones and blood, which should be the incantations and materials for unorthodox alchemy."

She sighed and said, "I suggest that my junior brother hand it over to the sect for purification and exorcism."

Ying Chan didn't think much of it and said, "That's how it should be."

Huang Chan nodded: "This is not my job. Junior Brother, you can go to the Clean Altar Division later."

Ying Chan accepted the small gold-threaded pouch, then took the white bone bead string and the black jade thumb ring, and asked, "These unorthodox magical artifacts, don't they need to be handed over to the sect?"

"Our sect has always been inclusive and open to all kinds of ideas."

Huang Chan said, "Although unorthodox magical artifacts are not favored by the orthodox sects, our sect does not impose any restrictions on them."

"As long as they are not those cruel and evil artifacts that refine human souls and slaughter living beings, it is fine for disciples to keep the artifacts they seize for protection."

"Of course, Junior Brother can also sell them to Linlang Academy. The fellow disciples of Tianlu Mountain sometimes enjoy studying these strange and unusual magical artifacts and what their merits are."

"I see."

Upon hearing this, Ying Chan accepted the two items and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister."

"Now that today's business is settled, I'll take my leave."

Huang Chan naturally did not try to keep him any longer, and nodded, saying, "Junior Brother, you may go."

Ying Chan cupped his hands in greeting, then got up and walked towards the door.

As we left the Foreign Affairs Office, pondering where to go first, we suddenly heard a commotion: "Have you heard?"

"What did you hear?"

"The Daoist disciple of the Hengfa Sect has betrayed the sect!"

"Daozi rebelled against the clan?"

"Which Daoist is it?"

"..."

For a moment, the Foreign Affairs Department and even the entire State Council became subtly noisy.

Although they didn't shout loudly, everyone passing by was discussing the matter in hushed tones.

"Daozi rebelled against the clan?"

Ying Chan found it strange. A Daoist disciple of a sect, who had received this name, must be a person who was to carry on the sect's lineage. How could he betray the sect for no reason?
The intricacies involved are probably beyond the comprehension of outsiders.

Although he wasn't one to listen to rumors, he was still quite surprised by such news.

Moreover, the Hengfa Sect was a major Taoist sect that was on good terms with our sect. Ying Chan had also seen the brilliance of its disciples and was immediately intrigued.

He slowed his pace and listened to the conversations of passersby:
"Have you heard of that Daoist disciple of the Hengfa Sect, whose Daoist name is Lingyang? He was a figure who cultivated to the highest grade of Golden Core four or five hundred years ago, and I heard that he has already refined his primordial spirit..."

"Refine the primordial spirit? Then why did you betray your sect?"

"How would I know that? I only know that they have now established their own independent operation outside the Wanshan Mountains..."

"Set up your own sect? Are you trying to claim ancestor status?"

"Claiming ancestry and being an ancestor is not as simple as it seems."

"How could the Hengfa faction tolerate him? They'll probably take action soon..."

"If it were a battle between Nascent Soul cultivators, wouldn't it be earth-shattering?"

"The winds are rising and the clouds are surging, truly the winds are rising and the clouds are surging. Could it be that the land of Nanhua is about to suffer another catastrophe?"

(End of this chapter)