I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

But everyone heard those words.

The ghostly mist surrounding Li Wanhun suddenly froze, then surged even more violently. He neither uttered a word in rebuttal nor made any move.

Silence itself is a response.

Liu Suifeng's smile deepened: "It seems I was overthinking it. In that case, see you at the ceremony in three days."

He turned and left with a flourish.

Wu Zhan and Wen Yuan also stepped forward to pay their respects, their attitudes even more solemn than before. Wen Yuan even made a rare joke: "If I had known you had such a trump card, I should have relied on more powerful figures back in the secret realm."

Qin Yuan chuckled.

The three exchanged a few words and then went their separate ways.

At this moment, Mu Changchun and Mu Wanqiu emerged from the Qingmu Sect's camp.

Mu Wanqiu's beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration, but she restrained herself well, offering only a graceful bow: "Congratulations, Senior Brother Qin, on achieving the Refinement of Void Realm. Nine Revolutions Nascent Soul... I have never seen such a foundation in ancient books."

Mu Changchun was more direct. He bowed deeply and said sincerely, "Senior Brother Qin, you saved my brother and me before, and helped my junior brother stabilize his injuries. I will remember this kindness and virtue. If there is anything I can do to help the Qingmu Sect in the future, I will do my best to assist you—although with Senior Brother Qin's current strength, I'm afraid you won't need us anymore."

The last sentence carries a hint of self-deprecation, but more so a sense of awe.

Qin Yuan shook his head: "Senior Brother Mu, you flatter me. The Azure Wood Sect and the Taiyi Sect are both among the five great sects, and there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future. As for your junior brother, has his injury stabilized?"

Mu Changchun quickly said, "Thanks to Senior Brother Qin's Life-Sustaining Pill, Junior Brother is no longer in danger of death. After being sent back to the sect, he will recover after a few months of quiet recuperation."

"That's good."

Qin Yuan paused, his gaze falling on Mu Wanqiu.

"Senior Sister Mu, I have something I'd like to ask you."

Mu Wanqiu was slightly taken aback, then said, "Senior Brother Qin, please speak."

"Within the Green Wood Sect, there is a disciple named Lin Qing'er, who possesses an innate wood spirit body. I wonder if Senior Sister Mu has heard of her?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Mu Changchun and Mu Wanqiu became subtle.

They exchanged a glance, and finally Mu Wanqiu carefully spoke up: "Senior Brother Qin, do you know Junior Sister Lin?"

"Old friend."

Mu Wanqiu paused for a moment, then said softly, "Junior Sister Lin is indeed a naturally born wood spirit body, with exceptional talent. She formed her core less than two years after joining the sect, and is now at the Foundation Establishment stage... mid-Golden Core stage." She seemed to realize that she had let something slip and quickly corrected herself, but Qin Yuan had already sensed something was wrong.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Two years to reach the Golden Core stage, from Foundation Establishment?" His tone remained calm, but Mu Wanqiu inexplicably felt an invisible pressure. "With the aptitude of an innate wood spirit body, normal cultivation should have resulted in reaching the Golden Core stage within a year, and the Nascent Soul stage within three years wouldn't be difficult. Why are you only at the mid-Golden Core stage now?"

Mu Wanqiu lowered her head and did not answer.

Mu Changchun sighed and said in a low voice, "Senior Brother Qin, this matter... is a long story. Junior Sister Lin's aptitude is indeed excellent, and she was highly regarded when she first entered the sect. However, the Qingmu Sect is not a monolithic entity, and some elders... have their own plans."

"Mu Sangzi".

Qin Yuan directly stated the name.

Mu Changchun did not deny it, but smiled bitterly: "Since Senior Brother Qin knows, then I won't hide it from you. Elder Mu Sangzi once wanted to take Junior Sister Lin as his disciple, but she politely declined. Later, he proposed that his nephew from the clan become Junior Sister Lin's Daoist partner, but that was also rejected. Since then, Junior Sister Lin's cultivation resources have been repeatedly deducted, and the Golden Condensation Pills and Primordial Essence Pills that should have been allocated to her are always 'insufficient in stock'."

He paused, his voice even lower: "At the beginning of this year, Junior Sister Lin should have been qualified to compete for the title of Holy Maiden, but Mu Sangzi suppressed her on the grounds that she was 'not experienced enough.' Now, within the sect, her situation... is not easy."

Qin Yuan remained silent.

He didn't get angry, didn't question, and his expression didn't even change.

But Mu Wanqiu felt a chill for no apparent reason.

The chill wasn't directed at her, or even at anyone else. It was merely an outpouring of Qin Yuan's emotions—beneath the calm surface lay an undercurrent powerful enough to swallow everything.

"Thank you for informing me, Senior Sister Mu." Qin Yuan's voice remained calm. "After the Daoist ceremony, I will personally go to the Qingmu Sect."

Mu Changchun's expression changed slightly: "Senior Brother Qin, Mu Sangzi has been operating in the Qingmu Sect for hundreds of years, with numerous disciples and close relationships with several Supreme Elders. Although you are a Daoist disciple of the Taiyi Sect, you are still a junior. If you were to come directly to question him..."

"It's not about accusing someone."

Qin Yuan shook his head.

"It's to visit an old friend."

His tone was calm, but both Mu Changchun and Mu Wanqiu understood him.

It's not an accusation, but it's more serious than an accusation.

The two stopped trying to persuade him. They were never on the same side as Mu Sangzi, and even secretly hoped that someone could break the old man's suppression of the new generation of the Qingmu Sect. They just didn't expect that this "someone" would arrive so quickly, and from outside the sect.

"If Senior Brother Qin needs us, my brother and I are willing to act as inside agents," Mu Changchun said in a deep voice. "We dare not say that we will directly oppose Mu Sangzi, but at least we can pass on messages to Junior Sister Lin and provide her with some protection."

Qin Yuan glanced at him and nodded: "Thank you."

He didn't say anything more polite. He remembered this favor.

After a brief conversation, Mu Changchun and his sister took their leave and returned to the Qingmu Sect camp. Qin Yuan stood alone, his gaze sweeping over the crowd towards the entrance of the War God Temple.

The Temple of War has been closed, and the majestic bronze gate has once again vanished into the void, its next opening unknown.

But some things are just beginning.

"What are you thinking about?"

A clear voice rang out beside me.

Qin Yuan didn't turn around: "I'm thinking about what to do next."

Liu Suifeng had returned at some point and now stood with his hands behind his back, looking side by side with Qin Yuan in the direction where the Temple of War God had disappeared.

Have you figured out the answer yet?

"I have a general idea," Qin Yuan said. "I'll digest what I've gained, stabilize my cultivation level, deal with old acquaintances and past matters, and then—"

He paused.

"Then go to Nanzhou."

Liu Suifeng raised an eyebrow: "Southern Region? Do you know what that is?"

"With the three top sects in charge, and numerous experts at the Dao Integration and Mahayana stages, the five great sects are merely 'subordinate forces' there," Qin Yuan repeated the information he had heard from Zhou Qingxuan. "It is also a true stage for geniuses to compete."

Liu Suifeng was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Back when I was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, I thought about going to the Southern Continent to make my way after the War God Hall. But my master scolded me, saying, 'You haven't even reached the Void Refinement stage yet, are you going to the Southern Continent to deliver vegetables to people?'" He shook his head self-deprecatingly. "Then I obediently cultivated to the Void Refinement stage, and then I discovered... that in the Southern Continent, the Void Refinement stage is just the beginning."

He turned to look at Qin Yuan, his gaze earnest.

"You have just broken through, and although your foundation is strong, your realm is not yet stable. It may not be a wise move to rush to the Southern Continent."

Qin Yuan neither refuted nor explained.

He simply said, "I know."

Liu Suifeng looked at him for a while, then didn't try to persuade him any further.

"The Daoist ceremony will be held in three days, and the sect leader may see you in person." He turned and left, waving his hand behind Qin Yuan. "You can ask him yourself what Nanzhou is really like then."