Chapter 65: Strange Soul and Mind

When the first treasure was brought out, Su Muqing's pupils suddenly constricted, and she missed half a beat of breath.

"This... this is actually the legendary King-grade superior Purple Gold Mysterious Dragon Cauldron!"

She could clearly see that the body of the Purple Gold Mysterious Dragon Cauldron was engraved with intricate ancient dragon patterns, each line radiating a vibrant purple-gold rosy light.

That was a characteristic possessed only by King-grade superior alchemy cauldrons, and it could automatically adjust the temperature of the alchemy fire, precisely controlling the flow of spiritual energy when pills were formed.

A King-grade superior alchemy cauldron could increase the success rate of pills by thirty percent and make the spiritual energy contained within the pills even purer, enough to drive all alchemists in the Eastern Region crazy.

Now it was casually produced by the Xuantian Sect as a "deposit." Such a foundation far exceeded her imagination!

Before she could recover from the shock, the Sword Master Lingxiao produced a translucent white jade box in his hand.

As soon as the lid of the box was opened a crack, wisps of white mist carrying a refreshing fragrance rushed into her face. The moment the scent entered her nose, Su Muqing's originally restless soul instantly calmed down quite a bit.

"It is the millennium-grade Enlightenment Tea!" Su Muqing exclaimed.

Three tea leaves radiating a faint golden luster lay quietly in the box, each containing Dao rhyme capable of allowing a cultivator to experience sudden enlightenment for a day. Such a supreme treasure was enough to drive all cultivators in the Eastern Region crazy!

Su Muqing's gaze was locked firmly on the three golden-tinged tea leaves in the jade box, her fingertips curling slightly due to excessive shock.

Merely a wisp of the tea's fragrance gave her a transparent feeling of "bathing in Dao rhyme."

"This... this is actually complete millennium-grade Enlightenment Tea!" Su Muqing's voice carried uncontrollable trembling, and when she moved her eyes away from the tea leaves, her gaze was filled with awe.

"For cultivators in the Soul Transformation Realm and the Mahayana Stage, this Enlightenment Tea is an even rarer supreme treasure for breaking through shackles!"

"If a Soul Transformation Realm cultivator consumes a single leaf, they can wash away impurities in their soul during enlightenment and break through bottlenecks with ease."

"If a Mahayana Stage cultivator uses it, they can even touch the threshold of the 'Tribulation Passing Stage' by borrowing the ancient Dao rhyme contained within the tea, and even have a thirty percent probability of comprehending an exclusive 'Mahayana divine ability'!"

She took a deep breath, a hint of solemnity added to her tone: "For the past thousand years in the Eastern Region, it was only rumored that the Master of the Immortal Alliance once obtained half a piece of millennium-grade Enlightenment Tea and used it to break through."

"Now Sect Master Ye is using three pieces of millennium-grade Enlightenment Tea as a deposit... Such a generous gesture, I fear even the Immortal Alliance would be hard-put to rival it!"

Before her voice had faded, Su Muqing felt the last shred of hesitation in her heart completely dissipate.

A sect capable of producing such supreme treasures could not only protect the Treasure Gathering Pavilion from the suppression of the Immortal Alliance, but perhaps truly had the capability to resolve her soul crisis. Her mind was already made up.

"To be able to provide cultivation resources for the Xuantian Sect is the honor of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion! Muqing is willing to sign an exclusive supply contract with the Xuantian Sect!"

Speaking of this, Su Muqing changed the subject, suddenly kneeling on both knees, her posture even more respectful than before, her voice carrying earnestness.

"But Muqing has an unrequited request—she is willing to bring the Treasure Gathering Pavilion entirely under the command of the Xuantian Sect, becoming a subsidiary force of the sect!"

"From now on, all mineral veins, alchemist halls, and resource channels of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion will be dispatched by the Xuantian Sect, and an additional thirty percent of the profits will be offered annually as tribute, solely in exchange for the sect's protection and development aided by its momentum!"

Sensing the urgency in her tone, Sword Master Lingxiao felt suspicious in his heart, yet he did not ask much: "This matter requires returning to the sect to report to the Sect Master. If you are willing to go, come with me."

A flash of hope crossed Su Muqing's eyes, and she nodded hurriedly: "Thank you, Protector, for the recommendation!"

The two turned into two streaks of light and flew toward the Xuantian Sect.

Three days later, the two arrived at the Xuantian Sect.

Two streaks of light pierced through the spiritual mist above the Xuantian Sect, landing steadily in front of the white jade mountain gate.

As soon as Su Muqing landed, she was frozen in place by the scene before her, even unconsciously holding her breath.

The mountain gate was carved from millennium-old warm jade, and on the gate pillars standing over ten zhang tall, the three purple-gold characters "Xuantian Sect" were cast from stellar gold, radiating a majesty that suppressed the mind under the sunlight.

Behind the gate, the spiritual mist covering the mountains swirled like a living creature, and pale cyan spiritual energy meandered along the mountain path. Wherever it passed, third-grade spiritual herbs broke through the soil in the crevices of the stones.

The spiritual dew condensed on the leaves radiated a translucent luster, and even the air was filled with the faint fragrance of spiritual plants.

"This... this spiritual energy concentration... a fourth-grade spiritual vein?"

Su Muqing's fingertips moved slightly, instantly enveloped by the rich spiritual energy.

Her pupils shrank, "It is ten times more concentrated than the deepest mineral vein of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion! It is rumored that the spiritual vein of the Xuantian Sect has ascended to the fourth grade. Seeing it today, it is indeed true!"

One must know that in the cultivation world of the Eastern Region, the grade of a spiritual vein directly determined the foundation of a sect.

Sect such as the Azure Fall Sect and the Ten Thousand Thunders Valley being able to possess a first-grade spiritual vein was already a blessing accumulated by their ancestors, while a second-grade spiritual vein required the accumulated efforts of the Immortal Alliance over many years.

As for a fourth-grade spiritual vein, it was a "legendary" existence that had not appeared in the Eastern Region for nearly a thousand years! Unheard of.

The Xuantian Sect possessing a fourth-grade spiritual vein was sufficient proof of its formidable strength.

Sword Master Lingxiao nodded faintly, leading her deeper into the sect.

What she saw along the way made Su Muqing's mind and soul tremble even more:

Inside the spiritual plant garden, outer sect disciples were watering a fifth-grade "Soul-Condensing Herb" with spiritual springs. That rare spiritual herb, which could fetch a million low-grade spiritual stones at an Eastern Region auction, was planted in patches here like ordinary crops;

Further away on the Lingxiao Sword Peak, thousands of sword stones floated in mid-air, the sound of swords vibrating to the sky, and a silver-white sword qi suddenly soared into the clouds, actually cutting the clouds into regular sword shapes, frightening Su Muqing into taking half a step back unconsciously.

The Mahayana coercion contained in that sword qi was three parts more terrifying than the Immortal Alliance elders she had seen!

"That is Peak Master Liu Daochen of the Lingxiao Sword Peak, who specializes in the sword dao." Sensing her loss of composure, Sword Master Lingxiao explained casually.

Su Muqing clenched the silk handkerchief in her sleeve, and the last trace of doubt in her heart completely dissipated. To be able to be personally taught by a Mahayana cultivator—what kind of foundation was this?

Such a sect could not only protect the Treasure Gathering Pavilion from the suppression of the Immortal Alliance, but perhaps truly resolve the soul crisis that had plagued her for many years.

"Let's enter the hall; the Sect Master is already waiting inside." Sword Master Lingxiao stepped into the main hall first. Su Muqing took a deep breath, straightened the hem of her purple skirt, and followed closely into this solemn place.

檀xiang curled in the hall. On the mysterious jade throne, Ye Chentian sat with his hands behind his back, his white robe glowing softly in the spiritual mist.

As his gaze swept over Su Muqing, she felt an unfathomable coercion rush toward her, as if her entire body had been seen through.

"Junior Su Muqing pays respects to Sect Master Ye!" Not daring to show the slightest negligence, Su Muqing knelt on both knees, offering with both hands the pre-prepared resource list and mineral vein distribution map of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

"Junior is willing to submit with all the resources of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. From now on, the mining of mineral veins, the dispatch of alchemists, and the operation of channels will all obey the orders of the sect, and an additional thirty percent of the profits will be offered annually as tribute, solely seeking the protection of the Xuantian Sect!"

The handwriting on the list was neat and clear: five superior spiritual stone mineral veins, three spiritual herb cultivation gardens, more than twenty third-grade alchemists, and resource shops spread across thirty-three prefectures... Such a family fortune was enough to make large sects turn green with envy.

She knew very well that only by handing over all resources could she exchange for Ye Chentian's importance.

Ye Chentian tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his gaze falling on the list, but he did not speak immediately.

He knew that Su Muqing would definitely make demands.

The silence in the hall made Su Muqing's heartbeat accelerate, and fine sweat oozed from her temples. She bit her lower lip and added.

"Junior has one more request... Junior's soul was once eroded by ancient evil entities, and day and night she suffers the torment of soul-devouring. Hearing that the Sect Master has heaven-defying fortune, if she can receive the guidance of the Sect Master, Junior is willing to dedicate the last two secret mines of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion to the sect as well!"

As her voice fell, a sharp gleam suddenly flashed in Ye Chentian's eyes.

Just moments ago, he had sensed that Su Muqing's soul was different from ordinary people, and his spiritual consciousness had immediately swept across her soul.