The earth-shattering explosion that erased Black Wind Stronghold from the map sent ripples far beyond the Black Wind Mountain Range.
One event bred countless consequences.
Immortal cultivators could be ruthless—but they were never reckless. Anyone without a mind sharp enough to foresee repercussions had long since been eliminated by the world itself.
Qingyun Sect
Skysoaring Palace – Side Hall
The atmosphere was oppressive..
Sect Master Ning Qingxuan sat in silence, his expression calm as still water. His fingers tapped lightly against the white-jade armrest, each soft sound tightening the hearts of the elders standing below. With every tap, their backs bent a little lower.
"Black Wind Stronghold," Ning Qingxuan said at last, voice cold and even, "is gone."
Elder Liu of the Law Enforcement Hall stepped forward, his voice hoarse.
"The entire stronghold, along with Blackmare Peak, was completely obliterated five days ago by an unknown force. All that remains is a crater nearly ten li across. The surrounding rock walls have been vitrified."
The Director of the Affairs Pavilion followed grimly.
"According to the few surviving outer sentries, there was first a blinding white flash. Several breaths later came a shockwave like the end of the world. Forests within a hundred li were flattened."
He paused.
"The Star Moon Sword Sect has reacted strongly. Their border patrols have doubled, and the Shattering Star Elder has personally arrived at the boundary."
Ning Qingxuan's eyes narrowed.
"Black Wind Stronghold was a den of hyenas," he said coolly. "But they handled a great deal of work we could not be seen doing. Who destroyed them—and for what purpose?"
Elder Liu swallowed and presented another jade slip.
"Sect Master, this matter may be linked to another investigation. This is a preliminary report on Outer Sect Disciple Bai Tingjun's shattered Life Tablet, as well as the mass abnormal sleep incident in Shitang Town."
Ning Qingxuan scanned the contents with his Divine Sense. His brow furrowed.
"The Shitang incident traces back to an unknown medicinal pill sold by a Medicine Boy named Chang Le," he said slowly. "Afterward, Ye Yuetang accepted a Bone-Corroding Wolf extermination mission in the Black Wind Mountain Range and left the Sect with this Chang Le."
"Soon after," Elder Liu added carefully, "Bai Tingjun's Life Tablet shattered."
"And Black Wind Stronghold was destroyed near their mission area," Ning Qingxuan continued.
The clues connected like threads pulled by an unseen hand, all converging on a single name.
"Ye Yuetang—Low Grade Spiritual Root, Foundation Establishment Level Six," he murmured. "Chang Le—a Mortal with no Spiritual Root, yet capable of producing pills of astonishing efficacy."
Elder Liu hesitated.
"On paper, neither should be capable of triggering a disaster on that scale."
A sharp glint flashed in Ning Qingxuan's eyes.
"Investigate," he ordered. "Dispatch additional forces to the Black Wind Mountain Range immediately."
"Find Ye Yuetang and Chang Le."
"Alive."
Star Moon Sword Sect
Council Hall
A similar discussion was underway.
"An explosion of that magnitude occurred right at Qingyun's border, and they claim ignorance?" a stern-faced elder scoffed.
"Black Wind Stronghold survived under their nose for years. Its sudden annihilation is highly suspicious."
A female cultivator tapped her fingers thoughtfully.
"Either Qingyun is cleaning house—or testing a new magic treasure."
"Regardless," another elder said coldly, "we investigate. Increase covert scouts. Shadow anyone Qingyun sends to the Black Wind Mountain Range."
An invisible net tightened from two directions at once.
Elsewhere
Chang Le knew none of this.
He was staring grimly at a virtual Medicine Cauldron, irritation etched across his face.
The System had frozen again.
Gray characters glared back at him:
[Next batch alchemy permission: LOCKED]
"Easy to go from frugal to lavish," he muttered bitterly, "but damn hard to go back."
Ye Yuetang's limited savings had long since been drained by the two of them. They were now completely broke.
With a sigh, Chang Le decided to gamble once more.
This time, he fed the System only the lowest-tier spiritual plants—Withered Coagulation Grass and decayed Qi Gathering Blossoms gathered earlier.
[Detected materials: Withered Coagulation Grass x5, Decayed Qi Gathering Blossoms x3]
[Material quality: Trash]
[Select pill quantity (1–9999)]
His lips twitched.
He selected [1].
The cauldron rotated sluggishly, its glow faint. After an uncomfortably long pause, it condensed a single mottled pill.
[Pill name: Unnamed]
[Effect: Preserves appearance; enhances looks until the end of lifespan]
[Side effect: All cultivation lost (reversible through re-cultivation)]
Chang Le's breathing quickened.
"Preserve… looks?"
An effect like this would drive half the cultivation world insane.
Then he saw the side effect.
"Lose all cultivation…"
He glanced at Ye Yuetang, who was meditating opposite him beneath the moonlight. Her cool profile was flawless, her Golden Core aura lending her an ethereal elegance.
"Yuetang," he said quickly, holding up the pill, "check this out—Beauty-Preserving Pill! One swallow and you stay young forever!"
Ye Yuetang opened her eyes, gaze falling on the pill.
"…Pill toxin?" she asked flatly.
"Well—yes," Chang Le admitted hurriedly. "You temporarily lose cultivation. But you can cultivate it back!"
"Ridiculous."
She closed her eyes again without hesitation.
Trading power for beauty was, to her, pure self-destruction.
Chang Le awkwardly withdrew the pill.
"What's ridiculous about it?" he muttered. "Looks are also a form of combat power…"
But he knew it was pointless. For Ye Yuetang, such a pill held no appeal.
Rolling the pill between his fingers, Chang Le's thoughts churned.
His cultivation had always been stacked through pills. He had no real techniques, no proper spells—only System buffs.
"Lose cultivation… for me, that's barely a loss. I can stack it back. But looks? Those are permanent."
Before he could reconsider, he swallowed the pill.
Cool heat surged through his body. His weak Foundation Establishment Qi collapsed within moments.
His legs went soft.
Yet at the same time, his skin grew radiant, his features subtly refined. He seemed to glow from within.
Handsome.
Unreasonably so.
Yesterday was the ugliest day of my life.
Ye Yuetang opened her eyes just in time to see it.
She stared.
Cultivation gone—but his appearance had reached an absurd level.
She felt an inexplicable irritation rise in her chest.
Wasting spiritual plants on something so frivolous…
She didn't know that Chang Le's alchemy results were never truly under his control.
Black Wind Town
Qingyun Sect investigators arrived quietly.
"Senior Brother Chen," a disciple reported, "according to records, Ye Yuetang should be operating nearby."
Chen Feng—Law Enforcement Hall elite, Foundation Establishment Great Perfection—nodded. His Divine Sense spread like a net across the town.
"Too many coincidences," he said coldly. "Follow every lead."
At the same time, Star Moon Sword Sect agents lurked in the shadows, watching.
Black Wind Mountain Range
Chang Le and Ye Yuetang ventured into a secluded valley.
Chang Le insisted on gathering "Starlight Grass," claiming it was vital for a new pill. In truth, he just wanted to drag Ye Yuetang out of endless meditation.
She suddenly halted.
"There's abnormal spiritual fluctuation ahead," she said quietly.
Moments later, they saw it—
A Bone-Corroding Wolf King, writhing in agony, black Qi coiling around its body. Several cultivator corpses lay nearby.
"It's been drugged," Ye Yuetang said grimly.
The wolf roared and charged.
She pushed Chang Le back and met it head-on, sword blazing.
The battle was fierce.
Chang Le could only watch, helpless.
Desperate, he refined one last pill.
[Effect: Five-Second True Man—absolute invincibility when near death]
[Side effect: Five months of erectile dysfunction]
Chang Le went pale.
"…I'll save it as insurance."
He swallowed it.
Moments later, Ye Yuetang ended the wolf king in a single decisive strike.
Then—
"Junior Sister Ye. Chang Le."
Chen Feng's voice echoed from the valley entrance.
They were surrounded.
What followed shattered everything.
Ye Yuetang fled—alone.
Burning her Origin Qi, she escaped the encirclement, vanishing into the forest.
Chang Le was left behind.
No one spared him another glance.
To the great powers clashing around him, he was nothing more than a stone by the roadside.
Sword light flared.
Two sects erupted into battle.
Chang Le curled behind a boulder, heart sinking into despair.
His schemes had failed.
His disguises were meaningless.
And now—
A flying sword slammed into the ground before him.
"Don't run," a cultivator sneered. "I'll deal with you later."
Chang Le's hope collapsed completely.