Splitting the Heave

When Shang Xia returned to the Shang Clan’s territory, he didn’t manage to see his Grandpa Ke.

From what Shang Quan was telling him, the patriarch hadn’t been back for a long time. Even as the person in charge of taking care of the Shang Clan’s matters, he had no idea where Shang ke was. He wasn’t able to learn anything about what the patriarch was doing either as all his questions were ignored.

Shang Xia had a feeling his Grandpa Ke hadn’t been back as he was running around looking for the herbs he needed to craft his advancement medicine.

Even though he didn’t reveal the full recipe to Shang Ke, Shang Xia mentioned about the Spirit of the Four Seasons before.

Enough time had passed for Shang Ke to have met with Kou Chongxue to ask for the Spirit of Spring and the Jade Peach Blossom. Since Shang Ke hadn’t returned, Shang Xia could only assume that he managed to find news on the other spirits.

Just as he was about to make his way back to take a nice rest, he discovered Shang Quan’s unnatural expression.

Shang Xia couldn’t help but chuckle with amusement. “Uncle Quan, what’s wrong, is there something you can’t tell me?” 

Breathing deeply, Shang Quan eventually muttered, “Yan Qi… Your seventh uncle went missing…” 

“What?!” Shang Xia turned to stare at Shang Quan as his brows furrowed deeply. “What happened?! Do we know why he went missing?!” 

Shang Quan hesitated slightly but shook his head.

“Uncle Quan, is there something you can’t say?” Shang Xia growled unhappily.

With a helpless look on his face, Shang Quan eventually sighed, “The old patriarch hasn’t been dealing with matters regarding the clan for a long time now. I can’t get a hold of Patriarch Ke at the moment and there’s no one to deal with this. I reported Yan Qi’s disappearance to them, but I didn’t receive a reply. I was planning to get some of the disciples of our clan and other experts from the institution to help look for him, but most of them were too lazy to bother. There were some who said that they would keep a lookout, but they don’t seem to be serious about it.” 

Shang Xia immediately understood the meaning behind Shang Quan’s explanation.

Yan Qi was a Martial Intent Realm expert, and he was a strong fighting force of the Shang Clan. However, he had the bloodline of those from the Azure Spiritual World and was discriminated against by the cultivators of the Azure Origin World. There were even members of the Shang Clan who were avoiding him.

Even though he managed to gain Shang Bo and Shang Xia’s trust in the recent years, he was still treated as an outsider by many members of the Shang Clan.

Now that Yan Qi was missing in the battlefield between the two worlds, no one knew if he was killed or if he had surrendered and returned to the Azure Spiritual World.

It would be fine if he was killed. However, if he ran away to the Azure Spiritual World, he might be running headfirst into a trap!

Shang Xia thought about it for a second and growled resolutely, “Seventh Uncle won’t go to the other side. We have to look for him! I’ll think of a plan.” 

Shaking his head, Shang Quan muttered, “Actually, I think that Yan Qi’s disappearance has something to do with…” He might not have said who it was related to, but he pointed to the space before him and tapped the air lightly.

Shang Xia was slightly taken aback and he seemed to have thought of something. However, he remained silent and nodded before choosing to return to his room.

After two days had passed, Shang Xia, who didn’t actually exert himself much from his previous talisman crafting phase, was fully rested again.

It was hard to keep track of how long had actually passed in the battlefield between the two worlds. However, the Tongyou Institution lived up to their reputation as they developed a way to record how much time had gone by.

Even though there was still a day left until he needed to start the next batch of talismans, Shang Xia returned to the Talisman Hall a day early to familiarize himself further with things there.

He might have joined them formally, but he didn’t know much about how things were run there. He didn’t even know who his fellow members were!

As a rank three Talisman Master, Shang Xia couldn’t possibly rely on others to introduce him wherever he went. Not to mention the fact that he was probably one of the best rank three Talisman Masters in the institution at the moment. He also needed to look at the inheritance he had been promised. After all, he had been looking forward to them for quite some time now.

However, someone stood in his way the moment he was about to leave.

“Oh? Aunt Xi, when did you come back?” Shang Xia stared at Shang Xi in shock. He also noticed the change in her aura. She seemed to have difficulty suppressing her strength and he chortled with amusement, “You seem like you’re going to undergo your third divine sense transformation, congratulations!” 

Shang Xi nodded and said, “I found an opportunity to break through because of the battles I’ve been through. I came back in order to enter seclusion to complete my third divine sense transformation.” 

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“You came to look for me because…” Shang Xia raised an eyebrow and got to the main point.

“Stinking brat, I heard that you were starting your preparations to break through to the Martial Extermination Realm.” Shang Xi muttered while rolling her eyes.

Shang Xia wasn’t surprised that his aunt received the news. He laughed along with her, “I’m afraid it’s not going to be easy. I have no idea how long I’ll take to be able to finish my advancement medicine.”

Tilting her head to the side, Shang Xi asked, “Is it because of your extermination origins?” 

Shang Xia was slightly taken aback and understood that Shang Ke probably briefed her about the details regarding his breakthrough and he couldn’t help but ask, “Aunt Xi, did you run into Grandpa Ke before coming here?” 

“I didn’t see him. However, he sent me a transmission talisman telling me to warn you to avoid the Yuxi Peak at all costs.” Shang Xi shook her head while saying.

Only then did Shang Xia recall that Shang Ke had told him that it was possible for world origin to exist on the Yuxi Peak. However, he also told Shang Xia that the situation there was unclear and not to head over recklessly.

Now that Shang Ke told Shang Xi to relay the message to not head over to the Yuxi Peak at all costs, it was probably a lot more dangerous than he had expected.

That quickly piqued Shang Xia’s interest. “Is it really dangerous in there?” 

Shang Xi glanced at him from the corner of her eye and warned him seriously, “From what I know, at least two Martial Intent Realm experts and several Martial Extremity Realm disciples have already entered. Not a single one of them managed to return.” 

“I wonder what mysteries are contained within…” Shang Xia thought out loud.

Hesitating slightly, Shang Xi continued, “The Yuxi Peak is extremely weird right now. It seemed to be surrounded by some sort of weird power. Someone guessed that there might be world origin in there. There might also be extermination origins contained on the Yuxi Peak. With the addition of heaven and earth qi from precious herbs, the true qi, and blood qi used by cultivators of both worlds, the entire area is like a giant tank of destructive power. Anyone who enters will be unable to emerge unscathed.” 

“Didn’t the Martial Extermination Realm experts of the institution try to discover what is happening within?” Shang Xia asked.

“That’s what makes it weird.” Shang Xi muttered, “Not a single one of them went over personally to check the area out. That can only mean two things. Either nothing there interests them or they’re not confident of emerging from the Yuxi Peak. From the looks of it, the second possibility is more likely.” 

Shang Xia’s expression flickered unsteadily when he heard her explanation. If there really was world origin there, he had to make a trip over no matter how dangerous it was. Now that there were rumors of extermination origins being there too, he was even more interested in going there. 

Even though Martial Extermination Realm experts might be afraid of the Yuxi Peak, Shang Xia had the Crimson Soul Tablet and the Spirit Extermination Gourd. He wasn’t actually too afraid of the dangers there.

“Are you even more tempted to go to the Yuxi Peak after hearing what I said?” Shang Xi snorted coldly when she noticed the look in his eyes.

“Yep!” Shang Xia thought about how to phrase his words before he continued, “I have to go there eventually. However, I need to deal with the matters in the Talisman Hall first.”

Shang Xi nodded in response. “It’s important to finish what you have to in the Talisman Hall. I learned about the matter of the grand formation around our Observation Peak not too long ago. The Yuxi Peak isn’t going to run away anytime soon. You can head over when you have the time.” 

Before Shang Xia could leave, he was called back by Shang Xi again. “What other ingredients do you need for your advancement formula? Do you need my help to look for them?” 

After thinking about it for a short while, Shang Xia told her about everything else he needed other than the Spirit of the Four Springs, Jade Peak Blossom, Windchime Grass, and Spring Water.

Noting them down, Shang Xi said seriously, “I’ll keep a look out for all of them. As long as I receive news of any of them, I’ll let you know immediately.” 

Shang Xia didn’t stop there. He continued, “Aunt Xi, I also need to ask you to help with something else. I heard that there are many private gatherings among Martial Intent Realm cultivators around our Observation Peak. Even though I told Uncle Quan to help keep a lookout, he’s no Martial Intent Realm cultivator at the end of the day. I can only hope that you can help me with it.” 

“Private gatherings?” Another voice arrived before Shang Xi could say anything. Shang Jian emerged from another entrance and looked at the two of them. “What a coincidence. There will be a private gathering in exactly one month. It’s a little more difficult to enter this gathering than those before as only Martial Intent Realm experts who have completed their third divine sense transformation and above will be allowed in.” 

Shang Xi was also tempted by the news and she asked, “Is this gathering meant to deal with herbs or ingredients required for breakthrough to the Martial Extermination Realm?” 

Shang Jian nodded while chuckling, “Seems like it. Anyone who can attend the gathering this time has to be someone who has the qualification to break through to the Martial Extermination Realm. Everyone only has one goal there and that is to get ready to break through. Most of the treasures traded there should be related to advancement medicine or the like.” 

Shang Xia’s expression was solemn as he thanked Shang Jian for the information. “Second Uncle, many thanks for letting me know.” 

“You’ll learn about it even if I didn’t tell you today. Now that you know, you can start making your preparations.” Shang Jian waved his hands casually and said.

When he was done, he asked Shang Xi about the herbs Shang Xia required to advance before gasping in surprise. “Why does the Nine Leaf Lotus sound so familiar? I heard a piece of news earlier but I don’t know if it’s real. It’s said that Deacon Ge Qingzhu in the institution managed to harvest a pond full of lotuses. He obtained a lot of lotus seeds, roots, and the like. I don’t know the details, but you can try asking to see if he has what you need.” 

Shang Xi thought about it for a second before muttering, “There seems to be a deacon with that name in the institution…” 

Shang Xia’s ears perked up and he hopped away quickly. “Alright! Anyway, I’ll head back to the Talisman Hall now.” 

Looking at Shang Xia’s hastily leaving figure, Shang Jian asked, “Seventh Sister, do you know what type of advancement medicine he’s using to break through?” 

“That damn kid has a lot of secrets on him. Haha, there’s no need for us to dig into his matters. Whatever the case, he’ll always be our nephew.” Shang Xi muttered softly.

Shang Jian also followed up with a chuckle. “That’s true. Oh right. I think Fifth Uncle has already left the battlefield between the two worlds.” 

Raising her eyebrows in shock, Shang Xi gasped, “Oh? Do you know where he went?” 

“I wasn’t too sure. However, he should be looking for those herbs you told me about earlier.” 

Shang Xi was extremely sharp. She quickly thought of a matter and seemed to have made a connection. “Oh, right! It should be autumn outside the battlefield between the two worlds now, right?” 

Shang Jian smiled in response. “Haha… There might not be any Dragon Headed Wintersweet at the moment, but there might be some Glass Daisy Chrysanthemum in the Taihang Mountains. Third Sister is somewhere in the area right now and we can’t forget that she owes the little kid a little too much…”