Chapter 70: Return to the Sect

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The Eastern Sea.

It was the dead of night.

The clouds had parted, leaving a half-moon suspended alone in the sky.

Azure sea and sky stretched endlessly, the clear waters vast and boundless, the sound of the tides drumming like a distant orchestra. The scenery was pure and open, the waves grand and imposing.

Beneath the cold, clear moonlight, a fishing line pierced through the emptiness, nailing itself straight into the air.

Before long, ripples shimmered through the void.

Three figures appeared quietly and without warning.

“Where are we?”

The trio looked about, seeing only the endless expanse of sea and sky, not a single island in sight.

“No matter what, at least we’re out. Let’s find an island first,” said Pang Yue.

The two women nodded in agreement.

The three summoned their escape lights, chose a direction, and soared off without hesitation.

Pang Yue and Luo Qingyuan combined their lights as they traveled, their intimacy unmistakable, feeding Ye Xue a steady diet of envy and affection all the way.

During the eighteen years within the Primordial Secret Realm, while Pang Yue and Luo Qingyuan grew ever closer, they also caught up on much of the cultivation world’s lore.

For instance, in the Eastern Sea’s cultivation realm, there were nine major sects like the Demon Sigil Sect—each presided over by a formidable cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core stage, their foundations deep, far surpassing ordinary sects.

Beyond the three Pang Yue had encountered before—Heavenly Sea, True Yang, and Harmony Blossom—there were five more: Vajra Monastery, Supreme Purity Sect, Thousand Mechanisms Sect, Hundred Flowers Isle, and the Weighty Mystery Sect.

Above these nine stood the three Nascent Soul powerhouses who ruled the Eastern Sea:

Heavenly Sword Sect.

Heavenly Zen Sect.

Heavenly Demon Sect.

These three stood supreme, each with one or two Nascent Soul masters.

Beneath the nine major sects were the four great Golden Core clans—independent of any sect, yet far exceeding other cultivation families in strength. Even the six great families of the Demon Sigil Sect could not compare.

Pang Yue had already encountered the Zheng family in the outer seas. The other three were also ancient, powerful forces, each ruling over a territory of a hundred thousand miles.

The Eastern Sea was vast indeed. Besides these sixteen great powers, countless rogue cultivators, clans, and sinister organizations thrived, their numbers beyond reckoning.

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For eighteen years, Luo Qingyuan had shared with Pang Yue the lineages, secrets, and histories of these great powers, allowing him to sketch a grand tapestry of the cultivation realm.

Several hours later, a crimson sun leaped above the eastern horizon.

The blue waves glimmered gold; the morning breeze greeted them, leaving the three refreshed, as if freed from shackles.

Soon, they finally spotted an island.

Smoke curled above it, and a mortal town came into view.

On the island’s western side, a harbor nestled, with scattered boats slipping out to sea, heading into the dawn.

Entering the city, the three quickly learned their location.

This was the territory of Supreme Purity Sect, north of the Demon Sigil Sect and a great distance away.

With their bearings set, they pressed on, encountering no trouble along the way. In less than half a year, they beheld the majestic silhouette of Zhuoguang Mountain.

...

At the foot of Zhuoguang Mountain.

Ye Xue took her leave. “Senior Sister Luo, Brother Pang, I must return to my sect and report. Let’s meet again soon.”

Luo Qingyuan smiled gently, glancing at Pang Yue. “I, too, must return to my clan for a while and handle some matters.”

Pang Yue knew she needed to arrange and report the matter of their becoming Dao partners, so he smiled. “I’ll be on Minghu Island. If anything comes up, just send word by flying sword.”

With that, the three parted ways.

Minghu Island’s scenery remained unchanged.

Pang Yue descended by the lakeside in a flash of fire, released the Desolate Pagoda of the Great Dao, ascended to the seventh floor, and called out:

“Yuege, Shuyi—where are you?”

His voice thundered across the island.

Soon, the waters of Ming Lake surged, and a golden light shot from the surface, entering the pagoda.

Within the garden by the lake, rosy clouds and pure light wrapped around a graceful figure, who also flew into the tower.

All the servants, guards, and maids on the island paused, a single thought flashing through their minds:

“The master has returned!”

...

Within the pagoda.

Pang Yue sat upon a jade couch, watching as the two women dispersed their escape lights and entered together.

“Master, you have returned.”

“Fellow Daoist, it has been a while.”

The two greeted Pang Yue, their expressions each unique.

“Has anything major happened in the sect during my absence?” Pang Yue asked with a smile.

Qin Shuyi answered gently, “The biggest event was when you and the others were trapped in the Primordial Secret Realm. Four sects and Arcane Island sent out Golden Core elders, but in the end, nothing came of it.”

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“Only Senior Brother Hong Ren and Senior Brother Meng Zitiao from the Wind Demon Hall managed to escape early and avoid the disaster. If not for the soul lamps of you and Senior Sister Ye Xue still burning, everyone would have believed you perished within the secret realm.”

She paused, then added, “The only mystery is how so many disciples from the four sects and one island survived the secret realm’s deadly cold. Many elders are waiting for the next opening.”

Pang Yue was taken aback. “Many disciples’ soul lamps are still lit?”

Qin Shuyi nodded. “In our Demon Sigil Sect alone, over twenty disciples survived.”

Pang Yue frowned. It seemed those demon-corrupted cultivators hadn’t truly died, but were thought by the five great powers to still be trapped within the secret realm.

They must have escaped long ago—where could they be hiding now?

A few thoughts flashed through his mind, but he set them aside.

What surprised him most was that Meng Zitiao had managed to escape the secret realm ahead of them.

He then looked at Qin Shuyi.

Since cultivating the Supreme Purity Codex, she possessed an ethereal, transcendent grace, the very image of a Daoist maiden—fair as ice and jade, with a celestial aura.

Over these years, she had not wasted her time. Now she had reached the second level of Dao Foundation and was about to step into the third; it seemed she would soon make another breakthrough.

Pang Yue waved his hand, and three Ice Soul Snow Lotuses appeared, drifting before Qin Shuyi.

“These are what I gained in the secret realm. Take them and refine them well; break through to the third level of Dao Foundation as soon as possible.”

Qin Shuyi’s gaze fell upon the snow lotuses, sensing the pure spiritual energy within. Surprised, her feelings became mixed.

She smiled, accepting them. “Thank you, Master.”

With these three lotuses, she would break through within a month, perhaps even advance further.

“You may go,” Pang Yue said mildly.

Qin Shuyi bowed, her figure dissolving into a wisp of clear light and vanishing.

Even Jin Yuege at the side couldn’t help but exclaim softly, casting a few more glances.

Pang Yue smiled wryly. How could he not see that his cauldron was showing off her mastery?

Now, only he and Jin Yuege remained in the room.

After a moment of silence, Jin Yuege finally spoke. “Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on your further progress.”

“Thanks to your help,” Pang Yue replied with a light laugh. “Once I break through to the seventh level of Dao Foundation, you will be free.”

Jin Yuege’s delicate face flushed, then she shook her head and sighed. “I almost thought you wouldn’t return. With your lifespan, you might not have survived until the next secret realm opening.”

Pang Yue’s gaze was resolute. “Now that I’m back, I will exhaust every means to advance to the late Dao Foundation stage. I hope you’ll give me your full support.”

Jin Yuege’s fair face showed both shame and annoyance. She spat, “Since I swore a Dao oath with you, I will do my utmost to help you break through. Must you harp on that every time we meet?”

Pang Yue took her soft hand, drawing her into his arms. Breathing in her orchid-like fragrance, he murmured, “Now all is ready—only the east wind is lacking...”