Qi Yuan put the matter of the Black Mountain Sect behind him. He strolled with his knife.
Along the way, he heard many whispers, all condemning the Black Mountain Sect.
"The Black Mountain Sect is truly detestable!"
"They even injured Senior Brother Zheng, showing no respect for our Shen Guang Sect!"
"Because their sect leader has a good adoptive father!"
"What's even more hateful is that the Black Mountain Sect plans to participate in the Foundation Building Conference in half a month!"
"What, the Black Mountain Sect is coming too!"
"I heard that the chief disciples of several peaks are discussing yesterday's events, but why is he still walking his knife?"
"Quiet down. Hasn't he yet to build his foundation? What's the use of discussing?"
"He's probably no match for Chu Tianxiong."
"Don't say that. It's not that Senior Brother doesn't want to build his foundation. He surely doesn't want to remain at the peak of Qi Refining."
Qi Yuan listened to this, seemingly without any reaction.
...
Wangyue Continent.
Empress Jin Li showed a hint of joy on her face: "Aunt Qin, are your injuries healed?"
Aunt Qin nodded: "Thanks to Your Majesty's imperial medicine, my injuries have finally healed, and my strength has further increased."
"That's good." The stone in Jin Li's heart was finally laid to rest.
After the loss of her father and mother, it was Aunt Qin who watched her grow up.
She relied heavily on Aunt Qin.
However, thinking of something, she asked: "Aunt Qin, do you have confidence in the battle with the Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom in six days?"
The duel in six days concerned the life and death of Jin Li and her followers.
If they failed, Sima Ting would certainly seize the opportunity to strike.
By then, Jin Li would have no ability to resist.
Forcible resistance would only result in the premature death of those who followed her.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Qin's face clouded with worry: "Yesterday, the Crown Prince of Nan Feng Kingdom visited Sima Ting. Sima Ting gave him a grand pill called the Mixed Element Blood Locking Pill."
"What!" Jin Li's teeth gnawed her gums. "Sima Ting's intentions are known to all!"
The Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom was a late-stage king-level expert.
His cultivation technique was the Dragon Elephant Purgatory Technique.
The stronger his blood and energy, the more powerful he became. At the highest level, he would have the strength of a hundred dragons and elephants.
Before, Aunt Qin, who had taken the Nine-Flower Qiluo, was slightly stronger than the Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom.
But now, with the supreme blood and energy pill given by Sima Ting, the Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom would be like a tiger with wings, his strength greatly increasing.
From the late stage of the king level to the peak, it was only a matter of time, and he might even glimpse the emperor level.
Now, Aunt Qin was no match for the Grand Master of Nan Feng Kingdom.
All this was caused by Sima Ting, the Chancellor of Nan Qian Kingdom.
"Isn't Sima Ting afraid of the public outcry?" Beside them, Hua Xian, the commander of the imperial guards, was also extremely angry.
Sima Ting was becoming increasingly blatant.
Jin Li frowned and took out the remaining imperial medicine: "Aunt Qin, can taking these imperial medicines enhance your strength?"
Seeing the imperial medicine, Aunt Qin's eyes flashed with a shocked expression.
She didn't know where the Empress got so many precious imperial medicines.
"If I take these imperial medicines, I am confident I can break through to the emperor level within three years. But... there isn't enough time." Aunt Qin's words were filled with regret.
Jin Li's brows were tightly furrowed, pondering a way to break the impasse.
Hiring an emperor-level expert with imperial medicines?Ruled out.
Looking for some tiger-wolf medicines to quickly boost strength?Not feasible!
Jin Li couldn't think of a good method for a while.
She couldn't help but recall Qi Yuan's suggestion to recruit some small demons from the Yi Guan Forbidden Zone to help her.
This thought flashed by quickly.
Subduing Yi Guan demons wasn't that easy.
It was just talk.
She didn't know where to find a quick way to enhance her cultivation.
Jin Li couldn't think of anything. She looked at Aunt Qin: "Aunt Qin, keep your recovery a secret for now. Don't let Sima Ting know. I will think of a way to enhance your strength."
"As you command."
...
"Greetings, Sect Leader."
In the empty main hall, Qi Yuan stood in the center, showing respect.
Kumu Zhenjun glanced at Qi Yuan, his expression carrying a hint of mockery: "You still acknowledge me as the Sect Leader."
A few months ago, this chief disciple of Qise Peak suddenly exposed that the Sect Leader of Shen Guang Sect, which was him, was actually a spy from the Demon Desire Sect.
At that time, his heart was greatly shocked, thinking he had been exposed, and that the head of Qise Peak, along with the other peak leaders, wanted to deal with him.
Unexpectedly, it was a false alarm, completely Qi Yuan's nonsense.
He indeed had deep connections with the Demon Desire Sect, having been personally sent to Shen Guang Sect by an elder of the Demon Desire Sect.
From a menial disciple, to an outer disciple, to a true disciple.
Day by day, he lived in fear.
He often contacted that elder.
Every time, the elder would say, "Wait a little longer."
Day after day, year after year, he cautiously went from a spy to the Sect Leader of Shen Guang Sect.
When he met the elder again, Kumu Zhenjun changed his face directly: "As a person of the demonic path, you dare to sow discord between me and Shen Guang Sect."
That elder of the Demon Desire Sect was already on the verge of death, and upon hearing this, he passed away directly.
Qi Yuan looked at Kumu Zhenjun, lazily saying: "You haven't done anything against Shen Guang Sect. Why shouldn't I call you Sect Leader?"
Kumu Zhenjun looked at Qi Yuan, his emotions extremely complex.
How did this chief disciple of Qise Peak, who talked nonsense, know he was a spy of the Demon Desire Sect?Or was it completely made up?
"Qi Yuan, I have a task for you." Kumu Zhenjun returned to the main matter.
Qi Yuan's attitude also became serious.
"In half a month, there will be the Foundation Building Conference." Mentioning this, Kumu Zhenjun's eyes flashed with sharpness, "This Foundation Building Conference is hosted by our Shen Guang Sect.
At that time, Da Shang Nation, Xu floating Mountain, the Demon Desire Sect, and other sects will send disciples to participate, competing for the first-grade Foundation Building spirit item... the Yellow Flower Fruit."
A first-grade Foundation Building spirit item is the best among the top three grades of Foundation Building spirit items.
In Da Shang Nation, it is extremely rare.
It is said that among the elusive experts of Da Shang Nation, only a handful have used top three-grade Foundation Building spirit items.
And not even first-grade ones.
This shows the rarity of first-grade Foundation Building spirit items.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan was stunned: "Why don't the senior brothers and sisters wait for this Yellow Flower Fruit?"
"We didn't expect that this time, only a few Foundation Building spirit items would form in the secret realm, including this Yellow Flower Fruit." Kumu Zhenjun sighed.
If he had known in advance that a first-grade Foundation Building spirit item would form, he would never have let the chief disciples of the peaks build their foundations early.
Now, among the chief disciples of the peaks, only Qi Yuan hadn't built his foundation.
Kumu Zhenjun thought this might be a coincidence.
But it could also be a deliberate arrangement by the head of Qise Peak.
She purposely left the top-grade Foundation Building spirit item for her disciple.
"So, this time, it's up to you to lead our Shen Guang Sect and participate in the Foundation Building Conference.
Qi Yuan, I hope you can show the might of our sect and secure the Yellow Flower Fruit!"
Hearing this, Qi Yuan was quite helpless: "Can I not participate?"
"No!" The Sect Leader of Shen Guang Sect firmly refused. Considering Qi Yuan's character, he added, "You only need to go on last once. It won't take more than an hour."
Seeing this, Qi Yuan finally agreed: "Alright."
"Sect Leader, I'll take my leave now." Qi Yuan was about to leave.
Seeing Qi Yuan like this, the Sect Leader of Shen Guang Sect couldn't help but smile wryly.
He didn't know if placing hope on Qi Yuan was reliable.
If the Yellow Flower Fruit was taken by another sect and produced another strong figure like the Black Chicken Old Demon, it would be troublesome.
Just as he was lost in thought, Qi Yuan suddenly stopped.
"Sect Leader, is the Empress of Da Shang beautiful?"