Chapter 74: A New Spiritual Spring and the Rules of the Vast Sea Immortal Sect

"Hmm?" Shen Yan opened his eyes. "Xuanjizi is here again?" He put away his Zhou Tian True Qi Manual and stepped off the small island. "It is a great honor to welcome you, honored Steward!" Shen Yan greeted him into Qinglian Island.

Looking at the seemingly ordinary Qinglian Island, which had not changed much over the years, and the upright young man before him, Xuanjizi felt a surge of emotion. Twenty years ago, Qinglian Island held a challenge, a life-or-death battle to decide the ownership of this spiritual land. For this, Yan Sheng fought three rounds on the stage. In the end, he risked his life to use a remnant move of the Golden Core Sword Technique, battling Patriarch Zhao Ruoqin of the Zhao family to a standstill, both sides gravely injured.

Afterwards, though Qinglian Island fell to Yan Sheng, misfortune struck less than ten years later; Yan Sheng, having exhausted his lifespan, passed away in meditation. His disciple, Shen Yan, succeeded him and took up the watch over Qinglian Island.

Compared to Yan Sheng, the Zhao, Xu, and Chen families suffered even greater calamity. Patriarch Zhao Ruoqin, in the late Foundation Establishment stage, succumbed to sword wounds and was ambushed on his return journey. Not only did he fall, but the family’s treasures and heritage were seized by enemies. The pillar of the Zhao family thus collapsed. Their mid-tier second-grade Xiaolan Mountain spiritual vein, and the cultivation market they had painstakingly built, became the target of all. Foundation Establishment cultivators from all sides fought openly and in secret, with several losing their lives, and two Foundation Establishment powers were utterly destroyed, turning the land into a bloodbath.

In the end, it was only when the Vastsea Sect intervened and took over the Xiaolan Mountain market that the turmoil subsided. The Zhao, Xu, and Chen families suffered heavy casualties, even losing their spiritual lands and the root of their legacies. In contrast, though Qinglian Island lost its master Yan Sheng, his reputation as a sword cultivator and his unyielding spirit during the contest kept all sides in awe, winning two decades of peace and steady development.

Now, twenty years had passed. Yan Sheng was gone, but his disciple Shen Yan had advanced his cultivation to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Also a sword cultivator, his combat strength was formidable, following closely in his master's footsteps, more than capable of holding Qinglian Island.

By rights, it should be as such. Yet Xuanjizi sighed inwardly, though his face remained calm. Shen Yan noticed, but made no comment. The two of them toured the island, then returned to the guest hall.

"This is Qinglian Tea. Please, honored Steward, have a taste."

"You are too kind, nephew!"

After some polite words, Xuanjizi set down his teacup and said to Shen Yan, "Though Daoist Yan has passed, with you as his successor, Qinglian Island will surely thrive."

"You flatter me, honored Steward," Shen Yan replied, shaking his head.

"I am dull by nature and cannot compare to my master. That I can keep Qinglian Island safe is already a great fortune; I dare not hope for more."

"Haha!" Xuanjizi chuckled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, merely glancing around before continuing, "Your spiritual land is already a mid-grade first-class one. With another twenty or thirty years of nurturing, it should be able to advance to high-grade first-class."

He looked at Shen Yan. "According to the rules of our Vastsea Sect, once a spiritual land reaches high-grade first-class, a market must be established. Furthermore, when Daoist Yan was alive, he made an agreement with our sect to exempt Qinglian Island from labor service for twenty years. Now those twenty years are up; this cannot be extended. You must be prepared, as orders from the sect could arrive at any time."

Shen Yan nodded calmly. "I understand."

"As long as you understand." Seeing Shen Yan so composed and accepting, Xuanjizi nodded to himself.

In Qian Country, the Vastsea Sect controlled everything. Though Foundation Establishment powers could exist, all were subject to the upper sect, integrated into its system and serving its interests. Spiritual lands, for example—though nominally yours, true ownership always rested with the Vastsea Sect. You were merely a tenant. If you could not pay rent or fulfill labor obligations, the sect had the right to reclaim the land.

Moreover, once the spiritual land was cultivated to a certain level, you had to follow the sect’s orders to open a cultivation market and allow the sect to set up a branch shop to sell its goods. After opening the market, taxes and service obligations increased. You had to ensure the market thrived to both pay taxes and earn spirit stones. If the market failed and closed, the spiritual land would be reclaimed by the sect.

The exploitation was severe. But this was the way of the cultivation world—survival of the fittest, layers of oppression, the big fish devouring the small, the small preying on the tiny. No one could remain untouched. Either you climbed aboard this chariot and lived within the system, or you became its enemy. To secretly grow powerful and defy the system was nothing but a fool’s dream—utterly impossible.

Back then, Shen Yan had made a name for himself with one battle, putting on a magnificent show, and invested heavily in spirit stones, thus earning twenty years free from labor. Now, with the times changed and the situation shifting, seeing Shen Yan so perceptive, Xuanjizi did not hesitate further:

"To be frank, my term as Steward of the Vastsea Sect is about to end."

"Oh?" Shen Yan raised his brow in surprise. "May I ask where you will be promoted, honored Steward?"

"What promotion?" Xuanjizi shook his head. "After reporting back to the sect, I plan to retire and enjoy my remaining years."

He looked Shen Yan in the eye and continued, "Your master and I were friends, so there is something..." He paused, not finishing.

Shen Yan understood and said, "Please, honored Steward, instruct me," handing over a storage pouch.

"Ah, you are too formal!" Xuanjizi shook his head but accepted the pouch. "After I leave, my replacement will be one of our sect’s Golden Core candidates—the Law Enforcement Elder’s favored disciple, Yang Zheng."

"A Golden Core candidate?" Shen Yan’s brow furrowed. "Yang Zheng?"

"He is a sword cultivator," Xuanjizi said with a slight cough, hinting at his meaning. "One who is obsessed with the sword."

Shen Yan fell silent for a moment before finally replying, "I understand. Thank you for your guidance, honored Steward."

Xuanjizi sighed, rose to his feet, and said, "Nephew, I know your temperament must resemble Daoist Yan’s, but sometimes it is wise to endure and yield where one must. Retreat, and the world is wide!"

With that, regardless of Shen Yan’s reaction, he patted Shen Yan’s shoulder and departed.

"Safe travels, honored Steward." Shen Yan watched him go, then rose and escorted him to the door.

Moments later, a light streaked away from Qinglian Lake. Shen Yan stood on the shore, watching the figure depart. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, spiritual light rose.

With a hum, the previously unremarkable island was instantly shrouded in clouds and mist, transformed into a fairyland.

All these years, pressured by the Vastsea Sect, he had not dared to expand his influence recklessly, much less openly recruit disciples. After all, to outsiders, Qinglian Island appeared to be nothing more than a low-grade first-class spiritual land, artificially created, with sparse spiritual energy. Shen Yan himself barely had enough for his own cultivation; how could he justify bringing in others to share?

So, apart from changing his identity, he had spent the rest of his time refining pills, artifacts, talismans, and formations.

"But Yang Zheng?" He pondered for a moment, then used the Heavenly Emperor’s Seal to divine information about this man.