Chapter Forty-Two: Returning to the Gate of Life and Death

Zhou Qi sought out Li Hai once again. Originally, he was supposed to exchange for 87,500 spirit stones, but Zhou Qi decided to accept only 86,000, gifting the remaining 1,500 to Li Hai in hopes of fostering a long-term partnership. However, Zhou Qi sensed that Li Hai might not be able to handle a larger volume in the future. As the three apprentices grew ever more skilled in alchemy, the output would only increase. To maintain a steady collaboration, Zhou Qi realized he would eventually need to find a major sect. The gift to Li Hai was also a way to cultivate multiple friendships; after all, even those bound by interest are friends of a sort.

Upon returning to the cave, Zhou Qi finally settled the wages of his three laborers. The workers were deeply moved, having feared their employer would never pay them. To their surprise, he turned out to be a man of his word. The pay was modest, but the more they worked, the more they could earn—enough to set themselves a small goal once again.

With everything in order, Zhou Qi prepared for a new round of seclusion.

“My good disciple, I never imagined you were hiding here. It took your master quite some effort to find you,” came Liu Ruicai’s voice.

Zhou Qi was startled. How had he found him? Had some mark been placed on him?

“Master, you’re finally here. If you’d been any later, you might never have seen me again,” Zhou Qi burst into tears, looking utterly aggrieved and sorrowful.

“Come back with me! With me around, let’s see who dares lay a hand on you. That Han Yuanzheng, can you believe he wouldn’t even protect his own disciple? Does he think I’m dead?” Liu Ruicai was filled with righteous indignation.

“But Long Chengye is convinced I had something to do with his son’s death, and I threatened the Gate of Life and Death. The sect leader had no choice. If I go back now, it could spark a war between the two sects,” Zhou Qi said worriedly. Who knew what might happen if he returned? His life would no longer be his own, not as carefree as now.

“Don’t worry. Even if the two sects go to war, I can keep you safe. The Immortal Companion Sect has grown much stronger lately, and has been itching to test itself against other sects. Now, with such a good excuse, even the Heavenly Dao Sect will have nothing to say. Even if you don’t return, they’ll attack when they’re ready,” Liu Ruicai explained.

Zhou Qi could only resign himself and follow Liu Ruicai back.

Back at the Gate of Life and Death, Han Qiaoman rushed to Liu Ruicai’s cave as soon as she heard the news. Upon seeing Zhou Qi, she immediately expressed her guilt, saying both she and the sect had wronged him. Zhou Qi, however, appeared unconcerned and harbored no resentment toward Han Yuanzheng. He told Han Qiaoman not to blame her father; when weighing the sect against a single Foundation Establishment disciple, the sect must come first. His words only deepened Han Qiaoman’s remorse.

Liu Ruicai left Zhou Qi outside the cave and departed. Not long after, the sound of battle erupted from the sect’s main hall, half of which was soon destroyed.

Zhou Qi’s feelings were mixed. He couldn’t tell whether his master’s concern was genuine or feigned. An ordinary youth might be deeply grateful, but Zhou Qi had seen such tactics too many times in his previous life. In the end, time reveals a horse’s strength and a person’s heart—one day, Liu Ruicai’s true intentions would become clear.

Liu Ruicai brought Zhou Qi back to the cave. Seeing the place ransacked, he was at a loss for words. The spirit beast was nearly starved to death, and many spirit herbs had been gnawed to nothing.

Well, at least there was no need to explain about the Ghost Flower now.

“Master, I didn’t expect the sect leader would insist I explore the Immortal’s Cave, nor that I’d be ambushed by Long Chengye on my way out. As for the cave…” Zhou Qi began to explain softly.

“No matter. What interests me more is who repelled Long Chengye that day,” Liu Ruicai said with a smile.

“I don’t know, master. After activating the Earth-Breaking Talisman, I just ran for my life. I have no idea who drove Long Chengye off,” Zhou Qi replied. It was better not to mention Di Yi, lest he bring trouble.

Liu Ruicai did not press the matter. After checking Zhou Qi’s cultivation and finding it at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, he was satisfied—Zhou Qi had not neglected his training, and his progress was as expected for someone practicing the Lotus Profound Art. Liu Ruicai then went off to tend to his spirit herbs.

Since he was back, Zhou Qi decided he ought to claim his sect mission contribution points.

At the sect’s main hall, Zhou Qi faced the newly rebuilt hall and bowed to Han Yuanzheng, who sat at the head.

“Disciple Zhou Qi, I left without permission that day. I beg the sect master’s forgiveness.”

“It’s fine. You’ve returned, and that’s what matters,” Han Yuanzheng replied kindly, his expression neutral and his aura somewhat weakened. It was obvious he had suffered at Liu Ruicai’s hands.

“Master, I came to ask about the completion of my sect mission. What about the contribution points?” Zhou Qi paused.

Han Yuanzheng recalled the matter—it was the five thousand contribution points Zhou Qi was after. Since Zhou Qi hadn’t brought up the events of that day, Han Yuanzheng, as sect master, saw no reason to mention them either. He had only hesitated back then, after all, and made no final decision.

“Go to the mission hall and collect them,” Han Yuanzheng said wearily. He was unsure whether Long Chengye would continue to make trouble for Zhou Qi, but with Liu Ruicai back, things had become more complicated. He would have to respect Liu Ruicai’s wishes, as he was no match for him.

Zhou Qi collected his five thousand contribution points at the mission hall, then went to the contribution pavilion to see if he could exchange them for any cultivation arts or spirit tools. If only he could obtain a demon core from a Heart-Seeking Phantom Wolf—it would be perfect for the Bewitching Immortal Grand Array that Xuanxuan True Lord had mentioned. Using a demon core from a true immortal-level Heart-Seeking Phantom Wolf as the array’s core, and true immortal-level succubus blood to inscribe the formation, powered by immortal stones, the array could even trap a true immortal.

If he substituted soul transformation-level materials and powered the array with high-grade spirit stones, could it trap a soul transformation cultivator? Zhou Qi wondered. But even Xuanxuan True Lord didn’t know—the array at such a low level had never been attempted.

At the contribution pavilion, Zhou Qi was dazzled by the endless array of cultivation arts and martial skills. In the end, he chose a sword art suitable for the Foundation Establishment stage, called Myriad Swords Return to One. This technique could conjure countless phantom swords for group battles, or merge all the swords into a single strike of immense power. It required one thousand contribution points, which Zhou Qi spent without hesitation.

Next, he selected the Mystic Thunder Escape Art, also for Foundation Establishment cultivators. With it, one could move as swiftly as lightning. Although it wasn’t quite as fast as Divine Step, which allowed for instant movement, it required much less spiritual power and was thus ideal for prolonged use. This cost another one thousand points.

With three thousand points remaining, Zhou Qi exchanged for a mid-grade spirit weapon, the Immortal-Slaying Sword. Three feet eight inches long, its blade was etched with diamond-shaped dark patterns and inscribed with the words “Immortal-Slaying Sword” in archaic bird script. The entire weapon glimmered with a blue radiance—it would make a striking impression whether used for sword flight or in combat.

The sword cost two thousand points. Zhou Qi then looked at the available demon cores, but most were of the eighth to tenth rank. There were hardly any soul transformation-level cores; after all, that was the sect’s upper limit, and no elder would go out of their way to slay a soul transformation-level demon for the disciples’ sake. There wasn’t even a low-level Heart-Seeking Phantom Wolf core to be found—they were clearly exceedingly rare.

Zhou Qi decided to visit the auction house in Kun City, a large human city not far from the Gate of Life and Death, and within its sphere of influence. The city boasted a population of a million and was exceptionally prosperous. Previously, Zhou Qi had never even dared to dream of such a place, lacking the spirit stones. But now, as a small-time boss, he could finally indulge in such extravagant thoughts.