Du Changyong!
Xu Yang recognized the man with Zhou Jiang. If he recalled correctly, this was Du Changyong, one of Elder Tie Fu’s Inner Disciples. His cultivation had long reached Marrow Cleansing Great Success. They had seen each other in the dining hall many times, but they weren’t acquainted.
’Did the Sect send him to replace me?’
Seeing that Du Changyong had luggage with him, Xu Yang’s heart stirred. A smile spread across his face as he strode forward, cupped his fist, and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Du. Might I ask if you’ve come to take over my post at Moon Lake?"
"Junior Brother Xu!"
Du Changyong returned the gesture, smiling and nodding. "That’s right. Junior Brother Xu, you can return to the Sect."
’So it’s true!’
The smile on Xu Yang’s face grew wider. After a few pleasantries, he quickly led Du Changyong to the storehouse to handle the turnover. The process took about half an hour to complete.
While Du Changyong and Zhao Qing went to familiarize themselves with the mining site, Xu Yang returned to his courtyard and began packing his belongings.
In truth, he had already packed most of it: the valuable claws and beaks from the two Cyan-Scaled Eagles, the Tuo Dragon’s claws, teeth, and the intact section of hide from its tail, and finally, the eight Half-Spirit Weapons.
Adding his clothes and other personal items, it all made for a very large bundle.
After a quick farewell to Zhao Qing, Zhou Jiang, and the others, Xu Yang set off on the road back to the Purple Sun Sect.
...
"I failed. Is breaking through to the Celestial Essence Realm really this difficult?"
Yan Guiyun pushed the door open and emerged, his face somewhat pale.
He had spent months in seclusion attempting to break through to the Celestial Essence Realm, but in the end, he had failed.
His talent was ranked third among the Purple Sun Sect’s Ten Prodigies, yet even after several months, he had still failed.
’There are still over two years until the Secondary Dragon Ascension. I must keep my composure. This was just my first attempt to break through to the Celestial Essence Realm; failure is normal.’
He quickly found an excuse to console himself.
Celestial Essence!
Ninety-nine percent of the Marrow Cleansing Great Success Martial Artists in the Purple Sun Sect were stuck at this barrier for their entire lives. There was no need to be discouraged by failing his first attempt.
’Perhaps I should go out and temper myself. My willpower isn’t strong enough, and my mental state is lacking. That’s the biggest reason for my failure.’
After some contemplation, Yan Guiyun strode out of his courtyard.
He needed battle, life-or-death struggles to sharpen his will. His talent was astonishing, and his journey had been too smooth. When it came to taking that final step, his Heart Spirit wavered, unable to withstand the immense pressure, and he fell short at the last moment.
"Master, your disciple has failed!"
In the Sect Leader’s Hall, Yan Guiyun’s voice was tinged with dejection.
"It is of no matter. Now that you have this experience, you know where you are lacking. You can try again next time," Zhang Jingyuan said, his expression gentle and refined.
He had long known that this disciple of his lacked a sufficient foundation and couldn’t possibly break through to the Celestial Essence Realm on his first try.
If he had truly succeeded, his talent wouldn’t be ranked third among the Ten Prodigies, but first.
According to his calculations, for Yan Guiyun to break through the Celestial Essence bottleneck, he would need to temper himself for at least another year and a half.
Yan Guiyun cupped his fist. "Your disciple’s willpower is insufficient. I plan to go out and temper myself. I ask for Master’s permission."
Even as the Sect Leader’s Disciple, he was still required to undertake garrison missions. After months in seclusion, it was now his turn to be stationed outside the Sect.
However, he had no desire to waste time overseeing some remote location, which was why he had come to seek Zhang Jingyuan’s approval.
"Go. Breaking through to Celestial Essence is your priority. Don’t worry about other matters," Zhang Jingyuan nodded.
Yan Guiyun had a chance at the Secondary Dragon Ascension. As his master, Zhang Jingyuan naturally had to support him wholeheartedly.
A flash of joy crossed Yan Guiyun’s face. He quickly cupped his fist and said, "Your disciple thanks you, Master. I will take my leave."
Once his master, Zhang Jingyuan, nodded, Yan Guiyun withdrew from the hall. He casually grabbed a disciple from Tianquan Peak on the roadside and asked, "Have you seen Yun Heng?"
If he remembered correctly, Xu Yang had gone to Moon Lake before he entered seclusion.
Now that he was heading to the Yunling Mountain Range to temper his will, he thought he might as well take care of Xu Yang. But before killing Xu Yang, he needed to kill Yun Heng first to erase all traces.
He would also ask Yun Heng if Xu Yang was still at Moon Lake. Based on the timeline, Xu Yang might have already returned to the Purple Sun Sect.
"Reporting to Senior Brother Yan, Yun Heng died several months ago," the disciple replied, cupping his fist.
’Yun Heng is dead?’
Yan Guiyun was stunned. Yun Heng had died before he could even make a move. It would save him some trouble.
"How did he die?" Yan Guiyun asked, curious.
"He teamed up with a few disciples who held grudges against Xu Yang from Li Fire Peak. They went to Moon Lake to kill Xu Yang, but Xu Yang killed them all," the disciple explained.
"That idiot!" Yan Guiyun couldn’t help but curse. "Who did he team up with? How did they all die?"
Right after cursing, he realized Yun Heng wasn’t an idiot. He would never have gone to Moon Lake to kill Xu Yang without being absolutely certain of success. The reason he failed must be due to something Yan Guiyun didn’t know about.
"There was Luo Xin from Li Fire Peak and Liu Qing from Medicine King Peak. Five of them in total. It’s said they all had Minor Achievement in Bone Marrow Cleansing Cultivation. However, when Xu Yang left Li Fire Peak, Elder Huoyun gave him a Half-Spirit Weapon for protection, which is why he was able to kill Yun Heng and the others."
A Half-Spirit Weapon. Yan Guiyun suddenly understood.
With Xu Yang at Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement and a Half-Spirit Weapon in hand, he could kill not just a few Martial Artists at Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement, but potentially even one at Marrow Cleansing Great Success.
"Is Xu Yang still at Moon Lake?" Yan Guiyun asked casually.
The disciple replied, "He is, but I heard he’s due back in the next few days."
’Due back? So he hasn’t returned yet.’
Yan Guiyun released the disciple and went straight down Tianquan Peak.
He was heading to the Yunling Mountain Range to temper himself and didn’t know when he would return. If he didn’t eliminate the future threat of Xu Yang now, it wouldn’t be so easy once Xu Yang reached Marrow Cleansing Great Success.
Knowing Xu Yang’s personality, he might not leave the Purple Sun Sect for years after returning this time.
"I will use you as a sacrifice for my sword, to push open the gates to my Celestial Essence."