The smoke from that earth-shattering battle had barely cleared when the eyes of the capital and the martial world turned firmly to one person: Xiao Wuchen.
In the final round of the Wugen Sect's Meridian Establishment Realm Challenge, he had a hard-fought victory over Su Mubai, the direct disciple of the Haoran Sword Sect. This battle brought immense prestige to the Wugen Sect and officially cemented Xiao Wuchen's place among the martial world's rising stars.
However, the fruits of victory were bittersweet.
In the arena, Su Mubai's Haoran Sword Intent was extremely powerful. Although it didn't kill Xiao Wuchen, the backlash from his overwhelming righteous energy and true qi severely injured him. Returning to his residence, he immediately activated the system and consumed a large quantity of healing pills and rare spiritual materials to stabilise the chaotic energy within his body.
[System notification:
The host has defeated Su Mubai of the Haoran Sword Sect, completing the 'Pulse Building Challenge' stage objective and gaining 500 merit points. They have also received one Pulse Building Stabilisation Pill (Top Grade).
🏔️ A New Threat: The Shadow of the Haoran Sword Sect
Just as Xiao Wuchen was healing his injuries in seclusion, a new storm was brewing.
The Haoran Sword Sect could neither accept Su Mubai's defeat nor tolerate a eunuch defeating the inheritor of their thousand-year-old sword path. The sect's higher-ups acted swiftly, directing public opinion towards the Rootless Sect.
In the gathering places of various martial arts sects and aristocratic families, disciples of the Haoran Sword Sect and their affiliated forces began spreading alarming rumours.
'The Wugen Sect's cultivation methods are bizarre and malevolent, running counter to normal martial arts.'
'Their actions are extreme, no different from the demonic path. The Wugen Sect is a henchman of the demonic path, and sooner or later they will wreak havoc on the world!'
In an instant, the Wugen Sect's reputation in the martial arts world plummeted, and hostility towards the sect and Xiao Wuchen gathered rapidly. Xiao Wuchen realised that he had to contend not only with the intrigues of the court, but also with the "moral blackmail" and "righteous condemnation" of the prestigious sects.
Unaffected by the clamour outside, Xiao Wuchen knew that strength was the foundation.
He took out the Top Grade Foundation Establishment Realm Stabilization Pill awarded by the system. This pill contained pure, gentle medicinal power — a treasure coveted by martial artists.
He sat cross-legged and swallowed the pill.
The medicinal power flowed like a warm current through his limbs and bones, merging perfectly with his existing Foundation Establishment True Qi and beginning to re-establish and solidify his newly broken-through realm.
At the same time, Xiao Wuchen spent 2,000 merit points that he had accumulated since entering the Rootless Sect.
[System prompt:]
The host has spent 2,000 merit points to perfectly solidify the early Foundation Establishment realm.
[Progress: Foundation Establishment success rate 100%, realm stability 100%.]
The merit points not only increased his cultivation level, but also used profound power to perfect his martial arts foundation. What would normally take months of quiet cultivation to achieve was accomplished in just one day and one night thanks to the combined effects of the system and the elixirs.
When he opened his eyes, they shone with restraint, and his aura was perfectly unified, like a steady little mountain. He could clearly feel that his early-stage Meridian Building realm was completely stable, without any restlessness or hidden dangers. This lays an unbreakable foundation for future breakthroughs to higher realms.
He was now a genuine Meridian Building realm expert.
Undercurrents in the Capital: Attitudes towards the Rootless Sect
Following Xiao Wuchen's successful cultivation of his meridians and his subsequent defeat of Su Mubai, he has ascended from the rank of an ordinary Rootless Sect servant to that of a figure capable of influencing both the martial arts world and the imperial court.
On the vast chessboard of the capital, the attitudes of the various factions towards the Rootless Sect are beginning to shift subtly.
Aristocratic families and civil officials: These traditionalists have reached the peak of their aversion to the Rootless Sect. They believe that eunuch interference in politics is problematic enough, and that highly skilled eunuchs are the 'source of national chaos'. They secretly fund groups that spread the doctrines of the Haoran Sword Sect in an attempt to eradicate the Rootless Sect in the name of "demonic" forces.
The military and the royal family: Military generals and members of the royal family are inclined to take a more observational approach. Xiao Wuchen's strength has made them realise that the Rootless Sect has greater armed forces and has risen in status within the power balance. They are considering whether to win the Rootless Sect over, utilise them, or unite to suppress them.
For these low-level martial artists, Xiao Wuchen's rise was the perfect "rags to riches" story. They felt hopeful, but also feared the power of the Rootless Sect. Discussions and imitations of Xiao Wuchen flourished around the capital.
Side Quest: The Jade Buddha Temple's Request
Having stabilised his cultivation realm, Xiao Wuchen was recuperating at his residence one day when a novice monk in a grey robe requested an audience at the door.
With his hands clasped in prayer, the novice monk looked anxious as he handed over a secret letter signed "Abbot of the Jade Buddha Temple".
The Jade Buddha Temple is a historically significant Buddhist temple on the outskirts of the capital, renowned for its "National Guardian Jade Buddha". Legend has it that this Jade Buddha is no ordinary object, but was carved from rare jade passed down through the cultivation world. It is said to possess the power to calm the mind and suppress negative energy.
The letter reads as follows:
'To Lord Xiao:
Recently, evil spirits have been invading the Jade Buddha Temple at night, causing many high-ranking monks to become restless and hindering their meditation. Even more worryingly, it seems that the seal on the base of the temple's treasured 'National Treasure Jade Buddha' has been tampered with. Our martial arts skills are insufficient to investigate the source. We fear that some villains may covet the Jade Buddha.
Having heard of your exceptional martial arts skills and upright character, we earnestly request your assistance in investigating this matter and protecting this national treasure.
Upon successful completion of this task, the Jade Buddha Temple will present you with a long-sealed fragment of the Indestructible Vajra Body Manual.
Respectfully submitted by Abbot Huiming of the Jade Buddha Temple."
[System Notification: Side Quest Triggered]
Quest Name: The Crisis of the National Treasure: Jade Buddha
Quest description: Investigate the cause of the recent evil spirit intrusion at the Jade Buddha Temple and confirm whether the national treasure, the Jade Buddha, is under threat.
Quest rewards: A fragment of the Vajra Indestructible Body Technique and 300 merit points.
Optional objectives:
[1] Go immediately to the Jade Buddha Temple to investigate this matter.
[2] Alternatively, put it aside temporarily and await new orders from the Evil-Repelling Steward.
Xiao Wuchen's heart stirred. The Fragment of the Vajra Indestructible Body Technique was a part of a legendary body-refining technique that would greatly help him to perfect his martial arts system. Moreover, the words 'evil energy', 'seal' and 'national treasure jade Buddha' seemed to subtly point to a greater secret, perhaps related to the Haoran Sword Sect or even the Xuan Yin Sect that he was about to face.
Departure: Infiltrating the Jade Buddha Temple
In order to avoid alerting the imperial court and the Left Commander, Xiao Wuchen donned an ordinary blue robe, posed as a wandering martial arts practitioner and travelled alone to the Jade Buddha Temple on the outskirts of the capital.
Situated on Cangsong Ridge in the northwest of the capital, the Jade Buddha Temple was a place of great religious activity and outwardly appeared peaceful. However, the moment Xiao Wuchen stepped through the temple gates, he sensed an evil aura lingering in the rear half of the temple, clashing sharply with the solemn Buddhist atmosphere.
Abbot Huiming had been waiting for some time. Upon seeing Xiao Wuchen, he disregarded the difference in their status and hurriedly bowed, his face filled with worry.
'Lord Xiao, your willingness to lend a helping hand is truly a blessing for our Jade Buddha Temple and a boon for the people of the capital!' Master Huiming sighed. 'That evil energy... is cold and viscous, like some kind of living thing. Every night, it rises from the depths of the earth and disturbs the monks' meditation."
Investigation: The National Guardian Jade Buddha
Led by Master Huiming, Xiao Wuchen headed straight for the heart of the temple: the Jade Buddha Hall.
Inside, the National Guardian Jade Buddha was enshrined. It was about three zhang tall and carved from a single piece of warm, smooth white jade. The Buddha's face was compassionate, and a faint golden halo emanated from its body. Beneath this halo, Xiao Wuchen's true energy felt a sense of peace.
Master Huiming pointed to the lotus throne beneath the Jade Buddha, which was engraved with ancient runes — the legendary Suppressing Seal.
'My lord, please look. This seal has been flickering erratically for the past month; it is not as stable as it was before.'
Xiao Wuchen approached and touched the sealing runes with his fingertips. An extremely cold and chaotic aura instantly invaded his fingertips. Had his Foundation Establishment stage foundation not been so solid, he would likely have been corrupted by this evil energy instantly.
He immediately activated the system analysis.
[System prompt:
Analysing residual energy fluctuations of the target…
Analysis results: A highly concentrated mixture of yin energy and blood-source spiritual energy has been detected. This energy differs greatly from that used in traditional martial arts and demonic techniques; its essence is closer to the evil forces of the cultivation world.
Energy Judgement: Highly matches the residual energy of the techniques described in the Xuan Yin Sect intelligence report.
Sealing status: The seal itself is sturdy, but the spiritual veins of the earth beneath it are being forcibly extracted by external forces, causing the seal's energy to deplete and disintegrate passively.
'This Jade Buddha Temple has been used as the core of a formation.' Xiao Wuchen's heart skipped a beat. The Xuan Yin Sect didn't intend to destroy the Jade Buddha directly, but rather to utilise the spiritual energy of the earth suppressed by it. This was clearly preparation for a large-scale evil formation.
Upon hearing this, Master Huiming's face turned deathly pale and he exclaimed repeatedly, 'A spiritual acupoint? What are we to do?"
Meanwhile, Xiao Wuchen's gaze was profound; he had already connected the situation at the Jade Buddha Temple with the information about the Xuan Yin Sect that the Left Governor had provided. This was a valuable opportunity to gain insight into the Xuan Yin Sect's modus operandi.
'Master, there's no need to panic,' said Xiao Wuchen. 'I will find a way to resolve this matter completely. However, this matter involves martial arts secrets, so I must first gather more information and build up my strength.'
Master Huiming immediately understood that this was no small matter. He took out a sandalwood box and presented it to Xiao Wuchen with both hands.
'This is a promise from my Buddhist sect. Please accept it, sir.'
Xiao Wuchen opened the box to reveal a yellowed, ancient leather scroll covered in obscure, ancient characters.
[System notification:
The host has obtained the Fragment of the Vajra Indestructible Body.
Merit Points +300.
'I promise you, the Jade Buddha Temple will be safe.' Xiao Wuchen put away the fragment and turned his gaze towards the depths of Cangsong Ridge.
He had determined that the Xuan Yin Sect's operations were taking place in a hidden cave behind the temple. He needed to see the Chief Evil Exorcist as soon as possible to obtain more resources from the palace before eliminating this threat once and for all.
Xiao Wuchen had finished investigating the side quest and received his reward.