Mortal: Starting by looting Han Laomo's entire herb garden

Lei Wanhe respectfully reported, "Uncle-Master, my disciple Lu Yan discovered a Core Formation cultivator from the Yuling Sect who had been reborn through possession in Tai Nan Valley. He has captured him alive and brought him back. I feel this matter is of great importance, so I have come to report it."

Linghu Patriarch raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the Core Formation cultivator from the Yuling Sect who was bound hand and foot behind Lu Yan, with a hint of scrutiny: "A Foundation Establishment cultivator captured a Core Formation cultivator?"

He remembered Lu Yan, who possessed both a lightning spiritual root and a molten metal physique. If nothing unexpected happened, he had a good chance of forming his Nascent Soul in the future.

Lu Yan replied, "This disciple was merely lucky. After this person possessed another body, his cultivation level plummeted, leaving him at only the second level of Qi Refining. This disciple was able to succeed by taking advantage of his unpreparedness."

Linghu Patriarch did not reply, but raised his hand and beckoned. The man's body flew over uncontrollably, and his head was grabbed.

He closed his eyes and clenched his fingers slightly.

A moment later, Linghu Laozu's brows gradually furrowed, and his expression changed from calm to solemn, and then from solemn to gloomy.

Neither Lei Wanhe nor Lu Yan spoke, waiting quietly.

The atmosphere inside the cave grew increasingly oppressive, and the flames of the ever-burning lamp flickered on and off without any wind.

After a long while, Patriarch Linghu opened his eyes, his expression shifting between light and shadow, and his voice was low and deep: "Spirit Beast Mountain has submitted to the Six Demonic Sects."

Lei Wanhe's expression changed drastically: "What?"

"If this Core Formation cultivator's memory is correct, the cultivation worlds of Jiang Kingdom and Cheqi Kingdom have already been conquered by the Six Demonic Sects," Elder Linghu said calmly. "They deliberately blocked the news, so we haven't received a single whisper of it yet."

Lei Wanhe gasped, his face turning ashen: "Does that mean Yue Kingdom will be next?"

Linghu Laozu did not answer. He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and remained silent for a long while.

"Go, summon all the Core Formation elders," he suddenly said. "They must all be here within half an hour."

Lei Wanhe quickly responded and turned to leave.

Half an hour later, in the council hall of Huangfeng Valley.

Linghu Laozu sat upright in the main seat, his expression solemn.

Seven or eight Core Formation cultivators sat inside the hall, with Lei Wanhe at the very front, and the other elders lined up in order. The crowd whispered amongst themselves, wondering what had happened.

"Silence." Patriarch Linghu spoke, his voice not loud, but it drowned out everyone's discussion.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Linghu Patriarch glanced at everyone and slowly said, "I have just received news that Spirit Beast Mountain has already sided with the Six Demonic Sects. The cultivation worlds of Jiang Kingdom and Cheqi Kingdom have fallen."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

All the elders were stunned, their expressions shifting from shock to disbelief.

"How is this possible?" A middle-aged elder suddenly stood up, his face ashen.

"The information is conclusive." Ancestor Linghu interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "I personally confirmed it through soul searching. News of Jiang Kingdom and Cheqi Kingdom has been blocked by the demonic path, and their next target is our Yue Kingdom's cultivation world. Moreover, Spirit Beast Mountain could stab us in the back at any time."

The hall erupted in chaos, with elders discussing the matter heatedly. Some were angry, some were fearful, and some were at a loss.

"Silence!" Patriarch Linghu spoke again, his voice carrying a hint of authority.

The crowd then quieted down.

Linghu Patriarch stood up and said in a deep voice, "Issue the order: Huangfeng Valley will be under martial law from today. No disciple is allowed to leave the mountain without permission, and all disciples who are out are to be recalled immediately. The mountain protection formation will be activated around the clock, and the number of patrolling disciples will be tripled."

The elders responded in unison, their faces solemn.

Lei Wanhe suddenly spoke up: "Uncle-Master, what about Lu Yan..."

After thinking for a moment, Elder Linghu said calmly, "This boy discovered the enemy's situation and captured them alive, thus rendering meritorious service to the sect. He is hereby rewarded with 150,000 spirit stones."

Lei Wanhe quickly thanked Lu Yan on his behalf.

Just as everyone was about to leave, Patriarch Linghu said again, "This matter cannot be borne by Huangfeng Valley alone. I must personally go to the other six sects to inform them of the news. While I am away, the affairs of the sect will be discussed and decided by you few."

Lei Wanhe was taken aback, then cupped his hands and said, "This disciple obeys."

Linghu Patriarch nodded, and with a flash, disappeared from the hall.

The elders gradually dispersed, each with a somber expression on their face. Only Lei Wanhe and a few other elders who were walking slowly remained in the main hall.

Lei Wanhe stood there silently for a while, then suddenly sighed.

"The world is about to change."

He walked out of the main hall, looked up at the sky, and saw that the sky was gloomy with dark clouds overhead, as if it were about to rain.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

While the Core Formation Elders were holding their meeting, Lu Yan had already returned to his cave.

Yinyue peeked out from his arms, watching Lu Yan pack his things quickly, and couldn't help but ask, "Brother Lu, are you... running away?"

"What are we waiting for if we're not running?" Lu Yan didn't even look up, stuffing the jade slips, talismans, and pills on the table into his storage bag. "Fighting to the death with the Six Demonic Sects? Isn't that incredibly boring?"

Silver Moon: "..."

Lu Yan kept working, muttering to himself, "What can a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like me do in Yellow Maple Valley? Be cannon fodder? I'll come back after I've formed my Nascent Soul; that would be the greatest way to repay the sect."

Yin Yue's lips twitched: "If Elder Linghu heard you say that, he would hang you up and beat you."

"So don't let him hear." Lu Yan stuffed the last few items into his storage bag, clapped his hands, and stood up. "Let's go, let's go exchange some things first."

He left the stone cave and headed straight for the Hall of Merit, where the sect exchanged supplies.

The hall was deserted, with only one disciple on duty dozing off at the counter.

Lu Yan knocked him awake and handed him a list: "Do you have these materials in stock?"

The disciple on duty rubbed his eyes, took the list, glanced at it, and immediately became wide awake: "Master Uncle, do you need so many materials?"

"If you have it, bring it out; if not, I'll go somewhere else to exchange it."

The disciple on duty hurriedly searched the storeroom and then took out a bunch of things, including materials needed to repair the teleportation array, as well as a large amount of talisman paper, cinnabar, and demon beast blood for refining high-level talismans.

Lu Yan checked everything one by one, and finally paid 50,000 spirit stones before putting everything into his storage bag.

The disciple on duty watched as the large pile of materials was taken away and couldn't help but ask, "What is Uncle-Master going to refine?"

"Refine a celestial sundial." Lu Yan casually replied, then turned and left.

After leaving the Hall of Merit, he walked along the mountain path. After a few steps, he heard a commotion ahead.

"I don't care! I'm going! Master promised me!"

A young woman's voice, both coquettish and domineering, carried a hint of relentlessness.

"Junior Sister Dong, Ancestor Linghu has issued a martial law order, and no disciple is allowed to leave the mountain without permission. Going out now would be disobeying the master's orders." Another voice was deep and calm, with a hint of helplessness.

Lu Yan looked up and saw two people standing at the corner of the mountain path.

One of them was Han Li, whose face was calm, and he was patiently explaining.

The other was a young woman, beautiful and stomping her feet in a fit of anger; she was Dong Xuan'er.

"Senior Brother Han, you're such a coward!" Dong Xuan'er pouted, her face full of disdain. "It's not far from Yan Family Fort. We can go and come back quickly. Who would know? Besides, Master has already agreed to let me go. Is it any of your business?"

Han Li frowned slightly, but his tone remained calm: "Master has already canceled the Yan Family Fortress Treasure Hunt. If Junior Sister Dong has any complaints, she can go and talk to Senior Uncle Hong Fu. There's no need to make things difficult for me here."

Also, I've already reminded my junior sister not to use her charms carelessly. What if she offends someone she shouldn't?

"You!" Dong Xuan'er was speechless for a moment, losing face. She pouted, looked Han Li up and down, and her tone became sarcastic.

"Senior Brother Han, your cultivation is mediocre and your talent is poor. It's already a blessing from our ancestors that you've reached the Foundation Establishment stage. I didn't expect you to be of any help when we went to Yan Family Fort this time. If Master hadn't insisted that you come along, I wouldn't have bothered with you at all."

Han Li's face stiffened.

Dong Xuan'er continued, "The senior brothers and sisters all say that it's already a miracle that someone with a pseudo-spiritual root like Senior Brother Han could even reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Do you really think you're someone special?"

Han Li's eyes widened, his lips moved, but he managed to utter only one word: "You!"

"Senior Brother Lu!"

Dong Xuan'er's eyes suddenly lit up, and she waved to Lu Yan, past Han Li.

Lu Yan was standing not far away watching the commotion. When she called him, he didn't want to turn around and leave, so he could only nod.