Translator: CinderTL
After a few casual words, Hao Kong took his leave.
Immediately afterward, a disciple of the He Huan Sect flew over and approached Lan Chen and Song Wen.
It was Mu Yunxin.
Her attire today was vastly different from what Song Wen had seen before.
In the past, Mu Yunxin had always been heavily made up, adorned in colorful robes and fluttering sleeves, radiating an alluring charm.
But today, her makeup was plain and unadorned, her face bare. Her hair was unadorned, and her clothes lacked embroidery. A simple gray-white robe wrapped her completely, leaving not a trace of her usual worldly air.
"Greetings, Ancestor Lan Chen, and Senior Ji Yin," she said after bowing.
"Ancestor, my fellow disciples have sent me to humbly inquire: Now that the Profound Yin Sect has been eradicated, do you have any instructions?"
The fall of the Profound Yin Sect meant that numerous secret realms and treasure grounds had become unclaimed. These places contained vast amounts of cultivation resources, naturally attracting the attention of the Beastmaster Sect's disciples.
Lan Chen replied, "I have already made arrangements for this. Gather your disciples and return to the sect. I will follow shortly."
"Yes, Ancestor! This disciple takes her leave!"
With that, Mu Yunxin turned to leave.
"Little Friend Mu," Song Wen suddenly called out, stopping her.
"Senior Ji Yin, do you have any instructions?" Mu Yunxin asked, bowing deeply.
Song Wen asked, "I'm just curious, why are you dressed like this, Little Friend?"
Mu Yunxin's expression darkened with grief. "My husband has passed away. I'm wearing mourning clothes to commemorate him."
Song Wen immediately remembered the Foundation Establishment Stage male cultivator named Fang Xingyan.
"Little Friend, please accept my condolences. The departed are gone, but the living must carry on. Don't let your sorrow consume you," Song Wen said.
Mu Yunxin's face was etched with sorrow, guilt, and shame.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. But my husband's death was entirely my fault. I killed him."
"How can you say that?" Song Wen asked.
Mu Yunxin replied, "After becoming my husband's dao companion, I didn't restrain myself. I continued to indulge in my worldly desires, believing it was just part of my cultivation. As long as my heart remained true to my husband, I didn't think I was betraying him. But he didn't see it that way. His heart grew heavy with resentment, and gradually, an Inner Demon took root within him. Twenty years ago, when he was forming his Golden Core, the Inner Demon ensnared him. He failed to overcome his Heart Tribulation and ultimately perished."
With that, Mu Yunxin bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Her solitary figure exuded a profound sense of desolation, a sorrow that defied words.
"Ah! Yunxin's heart is now a wasteland. In this life, her cultivation will likely never advance. But aren't we all the same? Without reaching Divine Transformation, we're destined to remain trapped within this narrow world," Lan Chen sighed softly.
"Twenty years?"
Song Wen seemed to recall something, muttering softly.
Lan Chen looked puzzled. "Ji Yin, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Song Wen shook his head. "Fellow Daoist Lan Chen, farewell."
Song Wen descended, landing in Zhou Siyi's courtyard.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Zhou Siyi, Song Wen requested a secret chamber to inventory the spoils from the annihilation of the Profound Yin Sect.
Spirit Stones, Spirit Herbs, Spirit Mines, medicinal pills, Cultivation Techniques, Secret Arts... a chaotic assortment of treasures filled the chamber. Song Wen had acquired a considerable haul, but few items were truly useful to him, mostly low-grade trinkets.
He decided to hand over these treasures to Zhou Siyi, allowing her to select anything she could use. Anything she didn't need, he would take care of disposing of.
Only two treasures truly piqued Song Wen's interest: the Ghost Slaughter Azure Flame within the Yin Soul Banner and Xue Mei's Black Water of Destruction.
He unfastened his storage pouch, retrieved the jade case containing the Black Water of Destruction, and prepared to refine it.
Suddenly, Zhou Siyi's voice echoed from outside the chamber.
"Junior Brother, Senior Lan Chen sent over a batch of Spirit Herbs, including many needed to concoct Blood Demon Pills. How should we handle them?"
Song Wen said, "Since they've already been sent, Senior Sister, please accept them for now. After I emerge from seclusion, I'll personally thank Immortal Maiden Lan Chen."
A moment later, Song Wen noticed Zhou Siyi hadn't left yet, as if she were struggling with something.
"Senior Sister, is there anything else?"
"Junior Brother, Yu Wen wants to see you," Zhou Siyi replied.
Song Wen opened the alchemy chamber door and stepped out, his voice tinged with surprise. "Yu Wen is still alive?"
Zhou Siyi nodded. "That year, when the Profound Yin Sect attacked the Asura Sect, you lured away Gui Ni and the other two Nascent Soul cultivators. Some members of the Asura Sect managed to survive. Yu Wen was among them."
Song Wen asked, "How did Yu Wen know I was here?"
"She doesn't know you're here, Junior Brother."
Zhou Siyi paused, gathering her thoughts before explaining slowly. "After the Asura Sect was destroyed, Yu Wen had nowhere to go. After wandering for a while, she ended up in Bliss City, where she happened to meet me. When she learned of my connection to the He Huan Sect, she settled down in Bliss City. I suspect she learned you were safe when Senior Lan Chen publicly announced earlier that you had joined her in exterminating the Profound Yin Sect. She wants to use me to find out your whereabouts from the He Huan Sect."
Song Wen said, "If that's the case, let's go see her."
With that, the two of them rose into the air and slowly flew toward the outer courtyard.
Upon arriving at the outer courtyard hall, they found Yu Wen standing in the center.
When she saw Song Wen and Zhou Siyi approaching, a look of surprise flashed across Yu Wen's face. She quickly bowed and greeted them.
"Your servant Yu Wen greets the Sect Leader."
Song Wen nodded slightly and took his seat at the main table, gesturing with his right hand.
"Yu Wen, we haven't seen each other in years. There's no need for formality. Sit down and let's talk."
Yu Wen maintained a respectful expression and clasped her hands in a salute.
"Before Master Sect Leader, your servant wouldn't dare sit."
Song Wen said, "The Asura Sect has been destroyed. I'm no longer a Sect Leader. You don't need to continue acting as my subordinate."
Yu Wen replied, "Sect Leader, the Profound Yin Sect has been eliminated, leaving a vast expanse of territory in the former demonic path domain. This is the perfect opportunity to rebuild the Asura Sect."
Yu Wen's words perfectly aligned with Song Wen's thoughts. However, he showed no outward reaction, instead feigning a look of difficulty.
"Establishing a sect involves countless complex matters. Just the two of us would likely struggle to handle it. Moreover, I've been focusing on cultivation recently and can't afford to divert my attention to this."
As if fearing Song Wen would refuse, Yu Wen quickly added, "Sect Leader, you don't need to personally handle this. You only need to oversee the matter from behind the scenes."
"Sect Leader, there's no need for you to personally intervene in this matter. You only need to sit back and oversee from behind the scenes. Besides me and Elder Zhou, Yan, a former disciple of the Asura Sect, also survived. Furthermore, over the years, I've befriended many Foundation Establishment and Golden Core rogue cultivators. With your current reputation, it would be easy to recruit them into our ranks. This would quickly establish the basic framework for the sect."
Song Wen narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sharp and cold as he scrutinized Yu Wen without immediately responding.
All under heaven rush and bustle for profit; all under heaven strive and struggle for gain!
Yu Wen's eagerness to reestablish the Asura Sect was undoubtedly driven by her own ambitions.
Thirty years ago, Song Wen had managed to escape the combined assault of Gui Ni, Yang Yu, and Xue Mei. Now, he had joined forces with Lan Chen and Mo Yexue to annihilate the Profound Yin Sect.
Every cultivator in the Immortal Cultivation World could tell that Song Wen's current strength was at least on par with Lan Chen and Mo Yexue, making him one of the top cultivators in the world today.
With Song Wen as their backing, the Asura Sect, once rebuilt, would undoubtedly leap to the forefront of the Immortal Cultivation World's top sects.
Yu Wen was already a Late Golden Core cultivator. If she could reclaim her position as the Asura Sect's leader, she would have a genuine chance to achieve Core Formation in her lifetime.
(End of the Chapter)
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